From: Jill Biden < wwwfbiagents1@gmail.com > To: Sent: Mon, Feb 28, 2022 4:15 pm Subject: Urgent E-mail Please. From Dr. Jill Biden The White House(Official Residence of the President of the US) 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington DC 20500 USA How are you today? This is last you will ever hear from me and you fail to comply. I am Dr. Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States of America. I am writing to inform you about your Bank Cheque Draft brought by the United Embassy from the government of Kenya Republic in the White House, Washington DC which contains the sum of $10.000.000 millions us dollars credited from the bank of America, the delivery of your funds has been mandated to be deliver to your address Today, Monday 28/02/2022 to you as soon as you get back to me with your full name, complete home address and your cell phone numbers. Bear in mind that I have taken my time to be in charge of your funds as instructed by my husband to ensure that you received your funds successfully from the White House to reduce the economic pandemic and I'm the only one that has your funds in regard to my husband Mr. Joe Biden and you will have to pay the sum of $125.00 only before your Bank Cheque Draft will deliver to you Today, 28/02/2022, the reason why the fee is required is to have your funds clearance paper from the origin of the funds to avoid any harassment from the authority and you are also expecting to be announce as a winner of the said amount by Tomorrow as soon as your fund is delivered to you. So you are urgently advised to get back to me with your full names, complete home address and cell phone numbers and also the payment information today for the immediate effect of your delivery. Note that the $125 is the only fee and final payment you have my assurance. However, according to our agreement with the originated Kenya Republic, all our communications should be on email for record purpose so follow my instruction accordingly, even if you don't have the $125 try to borrow it and send it immediately today because this is your life opportunity and I don't want you to lose the chance any more. Please I will advise you to urgently make the payment ITUNES Cards Of $125 Only to the listed cashier information as instructed you by the originated authority. I will look forward to receiving your email today with the payment to enable the origin to secure the required clearance papers required at White House Kenya to deliver your funds. Note that it will take only 6 hrs to deliver your Bank Cheque Draft in receipt of the $125 payment. Please find the payment data below to send the $125 ITUNES Cards or Google Play Card Of $125 I look forward to your response to your email with the payment today. Dr. Jill Biden Treat Urgent E-mail Please. From: Mrs. Jill Biden < officefileo654r@gmail.com > To: Sent: Wed, Mar 30, 2022 5:01 am Subject: Congratulations From Mrs. Jill Biden The White House (Official Residence of the President of the US) 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington DC 20500 USA How are you today? I am Mrs. Jill Biden and I am writing to inform you about your Bank Cheque Draft brought by the United States Embassy from the government of B, Republic in the white house Washington DC which contains the sum of $35.millions us dollars credited from the bank of America, the delivery of your funds has been mandated to be deliver to your address as soon as you get back to me with your home address and your cell phone number. Bear it in mind that I have taken my time to be in charge of your funds as instructed by my husband to ensure that you receive your funds successfully from the white house to reduce the economy and I'm the only one that has your funds in regard to my husband Dr.Joe Biden and you will have to pay the sum of $100.00 only before your Bank Cheque Draft will deliver to you, the reason why the fee is required is to have your funds clearance paper from the origin of the funds to avoid any harassment from the authority and you are also expected to be announced on BBC World News, CGTN America, CNN International, CNN en EspaAol and Fox News as winner of the said amount on Saturday as soon as your fund is delivered to you. So you are seriously advised to get back to me with your home address and also the payment information today for immediate effect of your delivery. Note that the $100 is the only fee and final payment you will pay, have my assurance. However, according to our agreement with the originator B, Republic, all our communications should be on email for record purpose so follow my instruction accordingly, even if you don't have the $100 try to borrow it and send it immediately today because this is your life opportunity and I don't want you to lose it any more. Please I will advice you to urgently make the payment to the listed cashier information here as instructed you by the originator' s authority. I will look forward to receiving your email today with the payment to enable the origin secure the needed clearance papers required at White House B. Republic to deliver your funds. Note that it will take only 14hrs to deliver your Bank Cheque Draft in receipt of the $100 payment. Please find $100 Steam Wallet Gift Card or Sephora Card iTunes Gift Cards is acceptable,scratch it and attached the picture to us, Attached here is the scanned copy of my valid working identification for your confidence, I look forward to seeing your respond to my email with the payment today. Regards Mrs. Jill Biden The White House (Official Residence of the President of the US)1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington DC 20500 USA If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 WhatsApp has started rolling out a host of new voice note features to its Android, iOS, browser, and desktop apps, including out-of-chat playback and draft previews. In a blog post this week, WhatsApp said the feature was incredibly popular, with users sending an average of 7 billion voice messages per day. Voice messages have made it quick and easy for people to have more expressive conversations, WhatsApp stated. Showing emotion or excitement through voice is more natural than text, and in many situations, voice messages are the preferred form of communication on WhatsApp. Many of the features were previously available to users in the Android and iOS beta programmes. The first new capability is out-of-chat playback, which lets users listen to a voice message outside of a chat. That enables them to multitask or read and respond to other messages within WhatsApp. Other useful additions are the ability to listen to a draft preview of your voice message before sending and pausing and resuming a voice message, in case youre interrupted while recording. The remaining features are as follows: Waveform Visualization : Shows a visual representation of the sound on the voice message to help follow the recording. : Shows a visual representation of the sound on the voice message to help follow the recording. Remember Playback : If you pause when listening to a voice message, you can pick up where you left off when returning to the chat. : If you pause when listening to a voice message, you can pick up where you left off when returning to the chat. Fast Playback on Forwarded Messages: Play voice messages at 1.5x or 2x speeds to listen to messages faster on both regular and forwarded messages. WhatsApp said the new features would be rolled out to everyone on WhatsApp in the coming weeks. It advised users to check their app stores for updates to ensure they are running the latest build. Bigger file sending limit WABetaInfo has also reported good news for users frustrated by WhatsApps file size limits. The company is running a small test in Argentina that allows beta users to send media files up to 2GB. In the official versions of the app, WhatsApp currently limits the size of files to 100MB when using the document option. Media professionals have used this workaround to send photos and videos to avoid WhatsApps aggressive compression algorithms, which cause a significant reduction in quality to keep file sizes small. WABetaInfo said it was unclear whether WhatsApp would be rolling out the increase to 2GB to more users, particularly given that the test is limited to a small subset of users. Now read: WhatsApp privacy under threat Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, has chosen Betty Rhodes and Betty Labastida as the 2022 Napa County Women of the Year. Rhodes is a member of the California Senior Leadership Alliance and has served on the Napa County Paratransit Coordinating Council, Napa as well as Solano Area Agency on Aging and Mollys Angels Board of Directors. She is a Napa Valley Register columnist. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: Subscribe for $5.99 per mo Bettys efforts to make Napa County a better place for our seniors has been inspiring, and I am proud to honor her as Woman of the Year for all that she does in support of our communities," Thompson said in a press release. Labastida is a retired nurse who has volunteered at COVID-19 vaccination sites in Napa County. "Her expertise helped countless people receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and she is the perfect example of the Woman of the Year, Thompson said. Every year, Thompson selects inspiring women from Californias 5th District to recognize their contributions and efforts. The Woman of the Year Recognition Ceremony was started in honor of Womens History Month. You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As statewide tenant protections extend through June, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Thursday he has warned nearly 100 law firms against filing false claims in eviction cases. The attorney generals housing strike force sent letters to 91 law firms in recent days, alerting attorneys not to file evictions against tenants who have applied for state emergency rental assistance. The state bans evictions for nonpayment if a tenant has applied to the states relief program, Housing is Key. More than 100,000 California tenants have pending relief applications. The program was set to close at midnight March 31. We have reason to believe that some landlords and their attorneys may be filing false declarations to push hardworking Californians out of their homes, Bonta said. This is unacceptable, and more importantly, absolutely illegal. California families were already struggling with the high cost of housing before the pandemic, and these past two years have only made things worse. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Attorneys for landlords said the attacks were unfair, and blamed the state for delays in reporting details about aid applications and complex new rules to file eviction papers. This is so clearly politically motivated, said Todd Rothbard, a landlord attorney in Santa Clara who received a letter on March 25. The statewide eviction ban was enacted early in the pandemic to prevent tenants struggling with COVID-19 illness and job loss from becoming homeless. State lawmakers extended a narrow ban for the fourth time on Thursday, protecting renters who have aid applications under review by the state. As many as 373,000 tenants have applications pending or are waiting for their landlords to get paid, according to an analysis of state data by the National Equity Atlas. State housing officials say the number is between 165,000 and 190,000 tenants. The attorney generals office received complaints that some landlords or their lawyers may be falsely declaring that tenants have not notified them of a pending emergency rental assistance application in order to push through evictions, Bonta said. Landlords cannot remove a tenant for unpaid rent accrued during the pandemic unless a tenant has been denied assistance. The landlord can also evict if they have filed for relief and, after 20 days, have not received confirmation that the tenant has also filed an application. Bay Area attorneys receiving the letters said they have no reason to file claims that can be disproved by data from the states Housing is Key website. Some have been asked to preserve files for a potential investigation. Rothbard said delays in reporting applications and serving summons can create a gap between when a suit is filed and when a delinquent renter reaches out to the state. Rothbard believes only three cases of the dozens filed by his office involved a tenant who had an active aid application. In one of those cases, the renter had texted the application to the landlord but mistakenly sent it to an old phone number, he said. The case and two others were dismissed. Daniel Bornstein, a landlord attorney in San Francisco, also received the letter and called it insulting and unfair. The state has made evictions more difficult during the pandemic, and attorneys shouldnt be blamed for logistical errors. When I first got it, I felt vulnerable, Bornstein said. Then, anger. Sid Lakireddy, Berkeley landlord and past president of the California Rental Housing Association, said property owners would rather keep people housed. Evictions are very expensive to process, he said. Its a last resort, not a first resort. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. According to information published by Global Times on March 24, 2022, the US Navy has reportedly deployed three ocean surveillance ships simultaneously to sensitive waters near China over the past week. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Pathfinder-class survey ship USNS Bowditch (Picture source: U.S. Navy) Since March 17, three US surveillance ships have been simultaneously operating in and near the South China Sea: the USNS Bowditch ocean survey ship in waters south of Hainan Island, the USNS Effective ocean surveillance ship in waters north of Huangyan Island, and the USNS Loyal ocean surveillance ship in waters to the east of the island of Taiwan, according to the SCSPI, a Beijing-based think tank. The US Navy has frequently sent spy vessels near China in recent years, but it is unusual to see so many of them present at the same time. An ocean survey ship mainly carries out missions like underwater terrain probing and hydrological surveying, and an ocean surveillance ship is usually responsible for the reconnaissance of underwater targets and the support of anti-submarine warfare, the SCSPI noted. USNS Bowditch (T-AGS 62) is a Pathfinder-class survey ship. She is the third ship in the class. Bowditch is a part of a 29 ship Special Mission Ship program and operates in the South China Sea. The Pathfinder-class survey ships are owned by the United States Navy and operated by Military Sealift Command for the Naval Oceanographic Office ("NAVOCEANO"). These ships are capable of carrying 34-foot (10 m) hydrographic survey launches (HSLs) for data collection in coastal regions with depths between 10 and 600 meters (33 and 1,969 ft) and in deep water to 4,000 meters (13,000 ft). Azerbaijan is trying to take advantage of Russia's involvement in Ukraine events in. Aleksandr Sherin, a former MP of the Russian State Duma and member of the Supreme Council of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), said this in an interview with LDPR TV. "This is the so-called 'normal' behavior of the partners who are waiting for a convenient moment for some time, and when the Russian army participates in such large-scale events, they try to use their opportunity to somehow remind themselves in the international arena, they try to blackmail Russia by the fact that now our main resources and forces are busy," he said. "But they are mistaken in the sense that Russia today is completely busy with its armed forces and resources, but the Russian Federation has sufficient forces and means to adequately respond to all the challenges and threats that may be observed in different border regions After the collapse of the Soviet Union, each republic chose its own path. Armenia is a CSTO member, Azerbaijan did not join the CSTO; moreover, it signed relevant bilateral agreements with NATO member Turkey. Let me remind that Turkey is a state that makes decisions to shoot down our planes. Turkey has never been, is not, and will not be a friendly state. According to that, any state that is in a military alliance with Turkey cannot be our friend either. Sooner or later it will happen. And when there is a conflict of interests, then, accordingly, Azerbaijan plainly and clearly makes it clear that it is not going to take into account the presence of Russian peacekeepers in the territory of the people's republic of Karabakh. We realize the consequences of the national policy of the Soviet Union. And in turn, the Russian Federation must eradicate all these issues from the beginning ... Even when Turkey sided with Azerbaijan, Russia probably should have sided more decisively with Armenia. In that case, many questions might not have arisen today," the politician concluded. In his comment for the Regions.ru portal, Sherin noted that the fears about the possible resumption of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) are not unfounded. "Indeed, we see the attempts of the Azerbaijani side to take advantage of the fact that our [i.e., Russia] views, our armed forces, all our foreign policy structures are directed towards the Ukraine events. But in this situation, in my opinion, Armenia has the right, as a CSTO member, to apply to the Russian Federation. I do not want to give advice to anyone, but I can assume that if there are relevant relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan, and Turkey provides military-technical assistance to Azerbaijan, then Russia, a CSTO member, has rights, powers in relation to Armenia. And if the situation enters such an alarming level, the Armenians will probably have the opportunity and the right to officially apply to Russia for military-technical assistance, which they have not done before. I mean the following scheme: Armenian army and Russian armament. If the Azerbaijani side may have seen some weakness in Russia's actions in Ukraine, then this is a very deceptive impression. Moreover, the situations here are very different. In one case, its about the fact that Russia treats the people of Ukraine as its own citizens and tries to minimize the loss of civilians. But if we talk about the actions of the Armenian army with the help of Russian weapons, then I think that the Armenian army has its principles and tactics. Let's just say that Armenia has just not asked yet for and received the military-technical assistance from Russia, which can radically change the course of events," he said. Apple, Google, Microsoft to introduce passwordless authorization before end of 2023 Japan may start letting tourists into country in June Investigative Committee: Criminal case opened into hooliganism committed by marchers in downtown Yerevan Six people injured in building explosion in Madrid Dollar, euro continue rising significantly in Armenia Swiss police seize more than 500kg of cocaine from cargo for Nespresso factory Law enforcement apprehend 59 people during Fridays civil disobedience actions in Yerevan Karabakh official: Azerbaijani truck committed deliberate crime in Artsakh Committee to Protect Journalists: Armenia law enforcement obstruct journalists covering Yerevan protests Armenia ruling force MP calls on police to inspect opposition 'shelters' where drugs may be kept Artsakh Police investigating Armenian car crash caused by Azerbaijani convoy Situation gets tense on Marshal Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan, ex-president Kocharyans son also there Police apprehend 48 people during civil disobedience actions in Yerevan Police special forces forcibly remove Armenia ex-Police chief from opposition march in Yerevan Situation gets tense during opposition march in Yerevan Ararat Mirzoyan briefs US Senator McConnell on details of Armenia-Turkey normalization process Azerbaijan holding international regatta in occupied Armenian Mataghis town of Karabakh Many members of US Congress give green light for F-16s to Turkey Law amendments propose that Armenia councils of elders members will also be able to be elected community leaders Resistance Movement holding marches in Yerevan in 4 directions Armenia parliament holding special sitting Copper prices falling Armenia FM Mirzoyan, US Senator Menendez stress inadmissibility of provoking tension by Azerbaijan Oil rises in price Bishkek reports that Uzbekistan border guards shoot, kill 3 Kyrgyzstan citizens at border Azerbaijani military convoy throws Armenian taxi into gorge in Artsakh (PHOTOS) Armenia Police: All roads open in Yerevan, provinces Armenia FM in US, meets with International Republican Institute Eurasia regional director US Strategic Command chief warns of deterrence crisis against Russia, China Armenia ex-Prosecutor General, Investigative Committee former chief to remain in custody Newspaper: Armenia President reacts to oppositions struggle Mississippi becomes last US state to recognize Armenian Genocide Resistance Movement rally ends: Citizens remain on France Square Erdogan and Macron discuss Turkey-France relations and Ukraine CNBC: Elon Musk to become interim CEO of Twitter Saghatelyan: Tomorrow from 12:00 we will completely paralyze Yerevan from four directions Finland ready to cut off gas supplies from Russia Resistance Movement marchers return to France Square NEWS.am digest: Large scale protests continue in Yerevan, people forcibly arrested Greece accuses Turkey of stoking tensions in Aegean Sea Resistance Movement rally starts in central Yerevan US Embassy in Havana resumes issuing visas to Cubans Bloomberg: UK and Japan will help Asian countries reduce dependence on Russian oil Dollar, euro gain considerable value in Armenia FLYONE ARMENIA cancels Yerevan flights to, from Lyon, Paris until June 10 Annual inflation in Turkey reaches 69.97% in April Armenia population as of January 1 announced Poland builds 50 kilometers of fence on border with Belarus Azerbaijan promises Europe gas in the hope of loyalty to Baku's crimes Australia allocates $1.4 billion to modernize its Navy Peskov says events unrolling in Armenia are countrys internal affair Grigoryan: Discussions on setting up Armenia-Azerbaijan commission may be completed in near future Red Cross: No Azerbaijani detainees in Armenia Armenia official: Peace agreement with Azerbaijan also means solution to Karabakh issue Armen Grigoryan: There is need to get answers to questions in order to organize Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders meeting Security Council chief: Baku's statements on Armenia territories belonging to Azerbaijan do not contribute to peace Armenia official comments on Azerbaijan president's words about 'Zangezur corridor' Armen Grigoryan: Armenia and Azerbaijan could exchange enclaves FT: Erdogan used mediation between Russia and Ukraine Person dies after being hospitalized from one of tents at France Square in Yerevan Armenia to get 22.6M loan from International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Armenia ruling force MP: Oppositions goal is not saving Karabakh but changing of power President says Artsakh continues to maintain its vision for future, toward independence Oppositions uncrowded marches show lack of public support, says Armenia ruling force lawmaker Trade in Armenia increased by over $1 billion, PM says Scuffle breaks out during civil disobedience march in Yerevan, police attempt to apprehend opposition MP Pashinyan to Bennett: I am hopeful that Armenian-Israeli relations will flourish in near future Armenia ruling power legislator: This opposition has always run away from truth Civil disobedience motorcade being held in Yerevan EU to ban Russians from buying European real estate US defense industry facing problems due to supply of weapons to Ukraine Armenia FM holds discussion at Atlantic Council, speaks about process of normalization of relations with Turkey Newspaper: Armenia opposition MPs to lose their parliamentary mandates? Newspaper: Artsakh President says we would not have had so many casualties if war had started half year later Civil disobedience march kicks off in downtown Yerevan Civil disobedience actions resume in Yerevan Blinken tests positive for Covid 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 YEREVAN. Zhoghovurd newspaper of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: RA former Chief of Police Vladimir Gasparyan, who is accused in a criminal case under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Committee, has left Armenia. According to the accusation, the lieutenant general, who has held high positions in the law enforcement system for 18 years, has legalized the more than 2 billion dramsor 4 million [US] dollarshe received through criminal means. The former police chief signed a statement not to leave the country, but on January 18 the Prosecutor's Office had announced that the Prosecutor General's Office () had sent, with relevant instructions, Vladimir Gasparyan's case back for further investigation. And while the Anti-Corruption Committee is conducting an additional investigation, and even more, another criminal case against the RA former Chief of Police is being examined in the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan, the judicial system allows Gasparyan to leave the country. According to Zhoghovurd dailys information, Vladimir Gasparyan has left the country and is in Moscow. We tried to find out the information from the RA Prosecutor General's Office where in response they informed [that] in the case on V. Gasparyan, the court has upheld the motion of the defense to temporarily lift the exit restriction on him in order to go abroad for [medical] treatment. During the discussion of the motion in court, the prosecutor objected todisagreed withit. Within the framework of The Role of the Legislature in the United States Program, we met with Jackie Speier, a Member of the House of Representatives and Co-Chair of the House Committee on Armenian Affairs in Washington, DC. Taguhi Tovmasyan, an MP of the opposition "With Honor" Faction in the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia and Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, on Friday morning wrote this on Facebook. Mrs. Speier is one of the few congresswomen who regardless of the continuous intimidations by Azerbaijan, paid a visit to the Republic of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], also goes on with supporting the Armenians through her daily efforts, and I express my deep gratitude to Mrs. Speier. The discussion was again about the rights of the Armenians, living in Artsakh, blatantly violated as a consequence of Azerbaijan's coordinated genocidal policy. I presented Mrs. Speier the results of the fact-finding activities, gained through my visit to Artsakh: 1. Azerbaijan forcibly displaces the Armenians living in Artsakh through the threat of psychological pressure and force; 2. Azerbaijan is resorting to provocations in Artsakh, where the Russian military is carrying out a peacekeeping mission, making use of the Russia-Ukrainian war; 3. On March 24, 2022, the Azeris invaded Artsakhs Parukh community and adjacent positions and settled there. As a result, 4 servicemen were killed and 18 were wounded. 4. Azerbaijan deliberately cut off gas supply to about 100,000 people in Artsakh, including children, women, the elderly, the sick, even the schools, as well as hospitals and productions, as a result of which a humanitarian crisis appeared in Artsakh. 5. Azerbaijan regularly fires on border settlements, targeting the civilians. Because of such criminal actions, the normal life of the Armenians living in Artsakh was disrupted, other fundamental rights, as the right to life and living a peaceful life, the right to property were violated. We also discussed the possibility of the realization of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination. During the conversation, I respectfully urged the congresswoman to work out clear mechanisms against Azerbaijan and draw the world's attention to Artsakh and Armenia, as silence leads to irreversible consequences, witnessed in Artsakh and on the borders of Armenia now. Azerbaijan continues to occupy the pastures of a number of border communities of Armenia, the Armenian MP added. YEREVAN. During the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the resolution on "Prevention of Genocide" initiated by Armenia was adopted Thursday by consensus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The resolution, traditionally introduced by Armenia, assessing current threats and challenges, outlines the steps to be taken jointly by the UN member states towards prevention of the calamity of genocide, its recognition, restoration of justice, compensation, punishment and ensuring the accountability of the genocide perpetrators. The Resolution is widely supported, as evidenced by its co-sponsorship of countries representing all five regional groups. This year, the Resolution raises such issues as undertaking steps for conflict risk assessments, their prevention, the abuse of new technologies, including the threats of disseminating disinformation through social media, and reiterates the need for ensuring universal ratification of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG). The Resolution proposes to organize a conference within the UN framework, which will be dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Convention. It is planned to discuss the inadmissibility of using social media as a tool of hatred, the MFA added. The ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone must be respected. Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, noted about this in an interview with APA news agency. When asked his view on a five-point proposal which Azerbaijan submitted to Armenia to normalize relations, the EU Special Representative said: Yes, this proposal was made publicly available on 14 March. As I said already in previous comments with other media outlets in the region, the European Union, like many in the international community, has been emphasizing the need for a comprehensive settlement to conflict-related issues. In this regard, any moves in that direction are welcome. Certainly, the Azerbaijani proposal is important, likewise, the Armenian response to the Azerbaijani proposal was made on the very same day. Again, what the European Union believes is important, is that these moves contribute to an environment conducive to discussions for a comprehensive settlement. Commenting on the assertion that the Armenian side allegedly does not fulfill paragraph 4 of the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, and to the question, How will peace be possible if the militarization of Karabakh continues? Klaar responded as follows: Let me reiterate our great concern about the recent incidents near the Line of Contact. The ceasefire must be respected. The EU remains engaged at the highest level to facilitate direct discussions and a lowering of tensions with a view to ensuring a stable and peaceful environment. However, while we call on all sides to respect their commitments under the trilateral statement of November 2020, I also wish to stress that the EU is not a signatory to that statement and is not in a position to review its implementation. And when asked how the war in Ukraine affects the discussions between the EU and Russia on Karabakh, Klaar responded: As EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, I have in the past had regular consultations with Moscow, in particular with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and the Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. These contacts are heavily impacted by the current war. As I said already, the EU has been engaged at the highest level with Armenia and Azerbaijan over the past year, in particular through the personal involvement of the President of the European Council Charles Michel, but also through high-level meetings by European Commissioners, my visits and the daily work done by our Delegations in both countries. The sides perceive the EU as an honest broker with a positive agenda for the region, which is something we value. I can assure you that our efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the South Caucasus will remain at a very high level. Greece can avoid gas supply problems indefinitely, even if Russia cuts off supplies, Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas said, adding that Greece's next payment to Russian supplier Gazprom should be made in April. These measures will ensure supplies without any time constraints if there is enough gas on the world market, Skrekas told the Greek TV channel Skai. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree requiring foreign buyers to pay for Russian gas in rubles starting 1 April. In case of non-payment, the contracts will be terminated. The order has raised concerns about gas supplies across Europe. "The next payment will take place around 20 April, but we can't wait until then to see what happens," he said. Under the emergency plan, he said, Greece, which uses gas mostly for power generation, will receive additional amounts of liquefied natural gas and convert four gas-fired power plants to diesel fuel. It may also increase its purchases of Azerbaijani gas. "With all this, and with available gas volumes on world markets ... there will be no time constraints in terms of security of supply," he said. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, is concerned about the unstable situation in the South Caucasus. He stated about this to the media after his meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. Rau is in Yerevan within the framework of a regional visit. According to him, one of the main messages of these meetings was the concern over the instability of the situation, and the content of his meeting with the Armenian FM referred to the situation in the region and the prospects of cooperation with Armenia. Rau stressed that the current Polish chairmanship in the OSCE contributes to all initiatives aimed at dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Real dialogue is very important for de-escalation, he added, calling on the parties to participate in the dialogue in good faith in order to reach a comprehensive solution to all problems. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office said they hope that progress can be made, in particular, on urgent humanitarian issues, such as the release of prisoners, the exchange of information on missing persons, demining, and the protection of cultural property. He reminded that the cooperation between Armenia and the OSCE has developed for many years, the OSCE has contributed to the reforms in Armenia, and this cooperation shall continue. The OSCE is ready to increase its participation in Armenia and implement new programs in three areas of security, Rau noted, adding that the situation in the wider region requires activeness and proactiveness. Also, Zbigniew Rau thanked Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, for his long-term efforts for peace and stability. Armenia expects a constructive position from Azerbaijan to achieve tangible results. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said this Friday after his meeting in Yerevan with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau. "A meaningful discussion took place in the format of a private and an expanded meeting. Reference was made to the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)] conflict. I presented to my colleague the details of the situation created in the area of [Artsakhs] Parukh village as a result of the invasion of the Azerbaijani forces. We discussed issues related to the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. We also discussed a wide range of issues of regional peace and stability, the priorities and prospects of the Polish chairmanship in the OSCE. I also presented to my colleague the development of the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey without preconditions," Mirzoyan said. The Armenian FM stated that the current Polish chairmanship in the OSCE coincided with the most serious security crisis in Europe: the hostilities in Ukraine. "It is clear that at the moment it is focusing most of the OSCE's attention. But we expect that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains on the OSCE agenda. This is especially important these days when Azerbaijan uses geopolitical processes to pursue a policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh," Mirzoyan said, in particular. He noted that a clear response from the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the international community is becoming a requirement of the situation, and the unimpeded entry of humanitarian organizations into Nagorno-Karabakh is imperative to prevent a humanitarian crisis. The Armenian FM noted with satisfaction that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries gave a clear assessment of the recent escalation, noting that it was the result of the advance of the Azerbaijani troops. "Armenia has been in favor of a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at all stages; and now, too. As it is known, Azerbaijan has presented some proposals to the Armenian side. We considered them acceptable, at the same time noting that they are incomplete, and we have supplemented them with our proposals, adding that the issue of the status and rights of Nagorno-Karabakh is fundamental for us. We expect that the Minsk Group co-chairs will, nonetheless, be able to organize peace talks on this agenda and to sign a peace agreement in the near future," he said, adding that the Armenian side is consistent in this issue, as well as in fulfilling the obligations undertaken within the framework of the trilateral statements signed on November 9, 2020 as well as on January 11 and November 26, 2021. Mirzoyan reaffirmed the readiness of the Armenian side to take steps to improve border stability, and then to begin the process of delimiting and demarcating the border with Azerbaijan. "I also want to mention that, as you know, negotiations are underway between Armenia and Azerbaijan on unblocking [regional] transport and economic communications. We have made proposals, and we are waiting for the response of the Azerbaijani side. We believe that we will be able to achieve tangible results both in terms of unblocking economic avenues and in the establishment of comprehensive peace in a broader sensein the case of the relevant position of international partners and, probably, the constructive position of Azerbaijan," said the Armenian foreign minister. Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine must continue, Moscow is preparing its response to Kiev's proposals and is fixing some steps forward, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. His remarks came at a press conference following talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, TASS reported. "You heard how our negotiators commented on the last round in Istanbul, where for the first time the Ukrainian side put on paper its vision of the agreements to be reached. And these agreements should, in general, be formed first. We are preparing a response, there is a step forward, first of all, in the recognition of the impossibility for Ukraine to be a bloc country, the impossibility for Ukraine to seek happiness in the North Atlantic Alliance - non-nuclear non-aligned status", - said the head of the Russian diplomatic mission. He said that Russia saw from the Ukrainian side a much greater understanding of another reality. "I mean the situation with Crimea and in Donbass," Lavrov continued. - "Regarding potential further contacts, they are now being worked out and will be announced. Moscow advocates that security guarantees be provided not only to Russia, but also to Ukraine and all European countries in accordance with those documents that have been adopted within the OSCE for many years and which proclaimed the principle that no country will strengthen its security at the expense of the security of others. According to the minister, no one would mind if India could support the processes of providing security guarantees with its just positions and rational approaches to solving international problems. Lavrov also noted that he had not heard talk that India might mediate in talks between Moscow and Kiev. STEPANAKERT. A regular meeting of the Security Council under the chairmanship of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Arayik Harutyunyan was held in an expanded format, the Office of the Artsakh President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. In his opening remarks, the President first and foremost noted that the frequent holding of Security Council sittings recently is conditioned by the military-political situation in the republic, especially by the developments in the eastern part of Artsakh. Touching upon the carried out actions and future plans, President Harutyunyan expressed his appreciation to the Defense Army, other power structures and the volunteers, who managed to fulfill the set tasks in a short period of time, suspending the enemy's advance. "We understand that their goal was to capture the whole of Karaglukh [hill]. We should state that the main height of Karaglukh, the highest point, is under our control, but as of today some important hills are under the control of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Our goal is to withdraw the Azerbaijanis to their original positions. Our demand and request to the peacekeeping troops was that the status quo stemming from the trilateral statement should be restored. We will never change this claim," President Harutyunyan said. Arayik Harutyunyan expressed confidence that the purpose of the provocation fomented by Azerbaijan was first of all aimed at discrediting of the role of the Russian peacekeeping forces. "We consider that the Russian peacekeeping forces continue to carry out their mission, notwithstanding that episode," Harutyunyan said. However, the Artsakh President stressed that vigilance should be maintained at a high level until it is clear that Azerbaijan will not resort to such provocations again. "For that very reason, we will take radical and decisive steps in terms of our self-defense in the future," President Harutyunyan said. During the discussion of the issues on the agenda, President Arayik Harutyunyan gave a number of instructions to the responsible officials of the relevant structures. UNITED NATIONS, 01 April (AFP) The UN Security Council on Thursday voted unanimously for a new African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab insurgents have been seeking to overthrow the fragile government for more than a decade. Under the approved resolution, the new mission is projected to gradually decrease staffing levels from nearly 20,000 soldiers, police and civilians to zero by the end of 2024. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) will work to enable Somali forces to take responsibility for security, replacing the current AMISOM mission, whose mandate was set to expire Thursday. The United Arab Emirates, which holds the UN Security Councils rotating presidency this month, announced the resolutions adoption, noting that it was the fruit of several months of constructive exchanges. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres earlier this month endorsed a continuation of the mission, and recommended that force reduction proceed in four phases, beginning after the end of the year. The adopted resolution includes that framework, but endorses the drawdown of 2,000 personnel this year. Amid the ongoing diplomatic crisis due to Russias invasion of Ukraine, the United States welcomed the rare opportunity to help shape the transition of a mission. Richard Mills, the US deputy ambassador to the UN, in a statement praised the efforts to find a credible, shared vision of how to more actively counter Al-Shabaab and transition the responsibility for security to the Somali security forces. He noted that Al-Shabaab is Al-Qaedas largest and best financed affiliate and remains a formidable and adaptable threat to Somalia, and to East Africa more broadly. Somalia has seen a spate of Al-Shabaab attacks in recent weeks as the Horn of Africa nation hobbles through a long-delayed election process. Last week, twin-attacks in the center of the country claimed 48 lives. The United States, Somalias key foreign backer, has imposed travel sanctions on senior political figures for undermining the electoral process. The lower house election was due to be completed on Thursday, paving the way for lawmakers to pick a president. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohameds term ended in February 2021 but efforts to hold an election have failed. The jihadists controlled Mogadishu until 2011 when they were pushed out by AMISOM troops, but still hold territory in the countryside. James Raper will join Emory University in June as the inaugural associate vice president for health, well-being, access and prevention. The new position brings increased focus to the universitys holistic approach to student health and well-being and builds on Emorys commitment to prepare all students for lifelong success and purpose. What is Raper looking forward to in joining Emory? One of the aspects of my work that I love most is balancing the intimacy of one-on-one interactions with big-picture strategy that impacts our community. Meetings with students and colleagues especially those during which we can walk together on campus are when I really learn about what matters to those around me, Raper says. Shared times like these are great opportunities for us to learn and grow together, and I cant wait to find my favorite places to walk on Emorys beautiful campus. The newly created associate vice president position is part of a strategic realignment in Campus Life to enhance integrated health and well-being services, programs and initiatives for Emory undergraduate, graduate and professional students, according to Enku Gelaye, senior vice president and dean of Campus Life. Raper will report to Gelaye with a portfolio of responsibility that includes Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Office of Health Promotion, Office of Respect and Student Health Services (SHS). These four areas carry primary responsibility for student health and well-being and have collaborated closely for years to deliver exceptional services and support for our students, says Gelaye. Now these units will partner even more closely and with greater synergy than ever under the very able leadership of James Raper. We are excited and honored to have a leader with his extensive experience join our team. Raper holds a PhD in counseling and clinical supervision from Syracuse University. He brings to his new role more than 20 years in higher education, providing direct counseling and consultation, collaborative strategic planning, administrative leadership and classroom teaching. Raper currently serves as assistant vice president of health and well-being at Wake Forest University, which serves more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. In that role, he manages a staff of more than 150 and leads the strategic vision and implementation of the universitys campus health and well-being programs, services and initiatives. He supervises Wake Forests Campus Recreation; Center for Learning, Access and Student Success; Office of the Chaplain; Office of Wellbeing; Office of Wellbeing Assessment; Student Health Service; and University Counseling Center. James Raper is the ideal student affairs professional for this new position and is more than prepared to lead our new strategic initiative to further enhance health and well-being services for Emory students, says Gelaye. We are delighted to have him join Emory University and the Campus Life team. Gelayes enthusiasm is shared by other senior executives, including Ravi V. Bellamkonda, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. As Emorys inaugural associate vice president for health, well-being, access and prevention, James Raper will play an important role in our campus-wide efforts to help all students thrive, the provost says. Along with our dedicated team of professionals focused on student health and well-being, James will support Emorys growing emphasis on student well-being and purpose through the Student Flourishing Initiative and other efforts, recognizing these areas as a vital part of students holistic personal and professional development, Bellamkonda adds. Supporting students in and out of the classroom Stepping into a newly created leadership position is not a new experience for Raper. I had the honor to become Wake Forests inaugural assistant vice president for health and well-being in 2019, with a broad portfolio of offices that allowed me to align all of our work around shared, integrated and holistic goals, he says. I love working with my teams to plan, assess and develop interventions to meet the needs of a student community, Raper adds. While there are likely some commonalities across highly competitive institutions like Wake Forest and Emory, Im excited to learn more about what makes Emory tick and listen deeply to students, faculty and staff about how we can best support students in and out of the classroom. But, more importantly, he says, Ive spent thousands and thousands of hours with students, faculty and staff who honored me by sharing their deepest pains and challenges. These experiences have always reminded me that we all struggle at times, and yet we all have amazing capacities for resilience particularly when we allow ourselves to lean on one another. Such stories and voices will always inform the work I do. Whats on the agenda for his first several months in the role? Raper says he will be figuring out where his new position fits in the fabric of campus and student life, and which areas he and his teams can have the most important impact. I will continue to be the lifelong student Ive always been and learn all I can about Emory. I also take very seriously my role as a leader, which means both advocating for students and for the staff I have the honor of leading, as well as creating space for important voices that need to be heard, says Raper. As one of my mentors often says, showing up is what matters most. I plan to show up and keep showing up to listen, learn and advocate. Raper is a licensed clinical mental health counselor-supervisor in North Carolina. His PhD research dissertation included a focus on suicide intervention skill, as does a book chapter that he co-authored, which addresses suicide intervention and crisis response. He is regularly invited to share his expertise in national and international settings on topics that include suicide assessment and intervention, clinical supervision, behavioral intervention and the integration of health and well-being efforts in higher education. He has dozens of presentations and publications to his credit, engages with a range of professional associations, and volunteers with several community service organizations. Raper and his family including his wife Paige, sons Cranford and Emery and dog Waffles enjoy time outdoors and cant wait to explore Georgias many hiking trails when they move from Winston-Salem to Atlanta, he says. On March 17, Emorys Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and the Center for Women hosted the annual Womens History Month keynote. This years speaker was Haben Girma, a disability rights advocate and the first Deafblind woman to graduate from Harvard Law School. In 2013, Girma was recognized by President Barack Obama as a White House Champion of Change. Emorys DEI virtual book club is reading her autobiography, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, with a discussion slated for April 29 at noon. Ani B. Satz, a professor of law and public health at Emory, facilitated the virtual conversation with Girma. Satz teaches health law and disability law, among other courses. Much like Girma, Satz addresses disability accommodation and discrimination in health care and beyond. "Her story is one about the value of diversity and inclusion and seeing human functioning on a spectrum, Satz said. Its about the challenges societal and legal structures pose to that concept of human functioning on a spectrum. I deeply enjoyed her memoir, and one of the most important themes is how ableism is so deeply embedded in our society ... that well-intended people dont realize theyre embracing ableist views. Girma started her career as a fellow with the nonprofit Disability Rights Advocates and currently works as a speaker and consultant. Her Emory keynote focused on dismantling ableism discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior, according to the nonprofit Access Living. At the start of her remarks, Girma pointed out that she uses a braille computer to help her communicate. She also incorporated visual descriptions of herself, her environment, presentation slides and videos to demonstrate multisensory inclusivity. She said this is especially important for Deafblind people who are not white Girma is a Black woman and the daughter of Eritrean and Ethiopian immigrants because audio descriptions often default to whiteness. Sometimes, people argue that appearances shouldnt matter when talking about law, Girma said. Throughout the last few decades, when blind people receive audio descriptions, physical descriptions are only provided when someone is nonwhite. Dont assume whiteness in audio descriptions; all of us have bodies, minds and hearts. [Considering diverse peoples in audio descriptions is important because it influences the inclusivity of] the tech we build and the schools we create. It does matter. Throughout the discussion, Girma recounted instances from her life where ableism slowed her aspirations and how she found the tenacity to keep going. She recalled going to Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and the cafeteria manager refusing to create braille menus. After doing some research, she told the manager that the Americans with Disabilities Act bans schools from denying students with disabilities necessary accommodations. The employee apologized and emailed Girma braille menus daily. The following year, as a result of her efforts in her own case, a blind man started at Lewis & Clark and immediately had access to braille menus. This incident sparked her interest in law. It taught me that when I advocate, I make it easier for others after me, Girma said. We are all interdependent. Many of you enjoy drinking coffee, but very few of you grow your own coffee beans. Girma also shared an instance from her time at Harvard Law. During a networking night, many of the attorneys in the room would not engage with her. One man whom she invited for a conversation only spoke to the interpreter, even commenting on her beautiful German shepherd. It all goes back to fear of someone bringing up discomfort and uncertainties in us, Girma said. Rather than learning to sit with that discomfort, a lot of people choose to shy away and avoid it. If we learn to address our fears, we learn to address ableism, sexism and racism. Girma, who graduated from Harvard Law in 2013, noted that it was a special honor because Harvard had denied admission to Helen Keller decades before on the basis of gender. It was also another full-circle moment when she received a 2018 Helen Keller Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the Blind. After delivering remarks, Girma took questions from attendees. Nikki Warren, a student at Rollins School of Public Health, asked, How do you keep yourself from feeling discouraged? Girma responded with a laugh, Coffee cookie ice cream, going on a walk and connecting with friends. Its important to find out what brings you joy and find ways to do those things. Once you recharge, you can remove the barriers. Karen Effinger, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine, asked, What are the biggest barriers youve found in health care? Girma replied, Im not even sure where to begin. At the eye doctor, Im still being handed copies of paper I cant read and not offered an accessible email or a braille version.... It makes [disabled people] feel like the care system doesnt actually care about our lives. As an attorney and disabled person, Girmas ultimate goal is to see people living with disabilities live the lives they want without being isolated and underestimated. Girma loves to go salsa dancing and spend time in nature both things ableism suggests she cant do. She concluded by encouraging attendees to pick a barrier in their community and put action behind removing that barrier. For example, at Emory, she recommended that each student organization have guidelines on how to host fully accessible events. I didnt need to conquer my disability; I needed to conquer Harvard, Girma said. FY22 has brought in healthy appreciation in stock value of two Tata Group companies -- Tinplate Company of India Ltd and Automotive Stampings and Assemblies Ltd. Stocks of the two firms have seen a massive surge in FY22 on the back of healthy earnings growth, demand and future expansion plans. In FY22, Tinplate Company of India's stocks rose 150 per cent to Rs 401.45 per share, while those of Automotive Stampings and Assemblies' scrip went up by 1,659 per cent to Rs 587.65. "The company (Automotive Stampings and Assemblies) manufactures sheet metal components for tractors and chips for the automotive sectors," said Kshitij Purohit, Lead of Commodities and Currencies CapitalVia Global Research. "Now, China is under a lockdown and this an opportune time for the company to increase world market shares." Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities, said: "Automotive Stampings stock price has been rising and falling circuit to circuit without any major positive or negative news. Hence, the up move over the last few quarters seems to be more due to trader activity in a Tata group company." "Tinplate has shown remarkable improvement in its financial performance since June 2021 quarter. Like a lot of other commodity stocks, Tinplate has also benefited out of resurgence in demand post Covid and the underlying demand from the addressable markets remains buoyant." Jasani pointed out Tinplate, which is a subsidiary of Tata Steel, is looking to ramp up production capacity at an estimated investment of Rs 1,800 crore. "The company, which has a production capacity of 3,79,000 tonnes per annum (TPA), is looking to put up an additional capacity of 3,00,000 TPA at its existing unit in Jamshedpur." IIFL Securities VP, Research, Anuj Gupta said: "Both companies are manufacturing auto parts and in the last 2 year we have seen a jump in metal prices which has benefited both the companies because of higher prices." --IANS rv/vd ( 330 Words) 2022-03-31-23:26:02 (IANS) New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI/PRNewswire): The book captures Anuj's journey of barely twenty-three years, during which he transformed from a reserved but righteous child to a gem of a military professional. Co-author Meena Nayyar says, "I don't need anything in this world but to see my son's face once more. He left us too soon. Writing this book is the least I could have done for him. His memories will forever be preserved in these pages." Co-author Himmat Singh Shekhawat says, "Our men in uniform perform selfless acts of valor without asking anything in return. These brave men and women should be honoured for their sacrifice. The freedom and liberty we enjoy is much because of them who dedicate their lives to protecting the nation." ABOUT THE BOOK In May 1999, the Kargil insurgency was still being viewed as a routine affair. No one quite understood the magnitude of the situation. However, it soon emerged that infiltrators had captured high-altitude posts vacated by Indian soldiers during the winter months and thus had a tactical upper hand, while the Indian Army struggled with intelligence. For the next month or so, Capt. Anuj Nayyar and the men of 17 Jat went on various reconnaissance missions in the boulder-strewn Drass sector where enemy troops had set up base. They fought relentlessly in a gruesome battle for two nights in July, before securing the peak that was critical to the success of Operation Vijay and India's victory in Kargil. Amid heavy artillery and mortar fire, they destroyed four enemy bunkers and neutralized tens of infiltrators in close combat. During the attack on the fourth bunker, the twenty-three-year-old captain was hit by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade, dying instantly but saving the lives of fifteen men in the process, who eventually finished the mission and hoisted the Indian flag on the peak. For motivating his command by personal example and going beyond the call of duty, Capt. Anuj Nayyar was awarded India's second-highest gallantry award, the Maha Vir Chakra, in 2000. This is his story. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Meena Nayyar is the mother Capt. Anuj Nayyar, MVC - a retired librarian of Delhi University, a protective mother and a loving wife. For almost two decades, she had locked Anuj away in her memories. The pain of losing her son was too much to talk about, let alone write a book. It was only after she met Himmat that she started remembering him openly, without guilt. She continues to run Kargil Heights Filling Station as a tribute to her brave son. Himmat Singh Shekhawat has made it his life's mission to help the families of fallen soldiers and share their stories with the world. Along with Shivaditay Modi, he is the founder of Rashtriya Riders, a biking group that pays tribute to the men and women in uniform. He is currently working with MakeMyTrip. For more information, please contact Vandana Rathore at vandana.rathore@harpercollins.co.in And Aman Arora at aman.arora@harpercollins.co.in HarperCollins India publishes some of the finest writers from the Indian Subcontinent and around the world, publishing approximately 200 new books every year, with a print and digital catalogue of more than 2,000 titles across 10 imprints. Its authors have won almost every major literary award including the Man Booker Prize, JCB Prize, DSC Prize, New India Foundation Award, Atta Galatta Prize, Shakti Bhatt Prize, Gourmand Cookbook Award, Publishing Next Award, Tata Literature Live! Award, Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, BICW Award, Sushila Devi Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Crossword Book Award. HarperCollins India also represents some of the finest publishers in the world including Harvard University Press, Gallup Press, Oneworld, Bonnier Zaffre, Usborne, Dover and Lonely Planet. HarperCollins India is now the recipient of five Publisher of the Year Awards - In 2021 and 2015 at the Publishing Next Industry Awards, and in 2021, 2018 and 2016 at Tata Literature Live. HarperCollins India is a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) KHARTOUM, (AFP) At least 45 people have been killed since Tuesday in new tribal clashes in Darfur, a region of western Sudan regularly bereaved by violence, local security authorities said Thursday. Fighting began Tuesday between the African Fallata tribe and an Arab tribe in villages near Nyala, the capital of Southern Darfur, witnesses told AFP. Fighting between the Fallata and Rizeigat tribes left 15 people dead on Tuesday and 30 on Wednesday, said a statement from the Southern Darfur Security Committee, a local government body, adding that women and children were among the victims. Earlier, chiefs of the two tribes told AFP separately that fighting had continued on Thursday. The leader of the Fallata tribe had mentioned about thirty dead so far. A medical source also reported about twenty wounded, some in critical condition, having been transported to nearby hospitals. According to a resident of Southern Darfur, Mohamed al-Fatteh, the clashes broke out after an Arab leader was killed. Earlier in March, clashes between herders and farmers in the mountainous Jebel Moun region of Western Darfur bordering Chad left some forty people dead in a week. Clashes between Arab herders and African farmers over territorial disputes or access to water had already caused the deaths of nearly 250 people from October to December in Darfur, according to a pro-democracy doctors union. The region was ravaged by a civil war that began in 2003 between the Arab-majority regime and ethnic minority insurgents denouncing discrimination. In this conflict, about 300,000 people have died and nearly 2.5 million have been displaced in the first years of violence, according to the UN. Sudan, which emerged in 2019 from thirty years of military-Islamist dictatorship, was the scene of a coup in October that interrupted a process aimed at establishing civilian power, deepening the economic crisis. In Darfur, the security vacuum created by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhanes coup has fostered a resurgence of violence, experts say, with looting of UN bases, tribal fighting, armed attacks and rape. Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], April 1 (ANI/BusinessWire India): In today's world, online shopping has become a joy and exciting task for most customers. These days T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Hoodies etc are in high demand among the youth if they have quotes and themes printed. Online shopping is more accessible with Beziddi.com. This platform provides the latest collection of theme apparel like travel, coding, music, foodie, photography, dog lovers, among others. If anyone's wardrobe has been dreaming of stylish apparel then Be Ziddi will certainly be the best among all the online E-commerce sites. Online Shopping At Be Ziddi is Easy, Convenient and Very Exciting! Established in 2019, Be Ziddi is a lifestyle brand that creates a unique range of clothes for both women and men. This online E-commerce platform provides the latest apparel like t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, trackpants, Joggers, and theme-related clothing. Be Ziddi is founded with the principle of creating a great impact on the audience with their trending apparel. Be Ziddi is the ideal destination when it comes to purchasing the coolest and trending T-Shirts Online, Hoodies, Sweatshirts etc. for both men's and women fashions. Therefore, browse the exciting categories Be Ziddi provides for men's basic clothing as well as an extensive collection of women's apparel. An in-house manufacturing facility enables the company to sell its products at the market's very competitive prices and thus this newly built startup has been able to secure more than 1 lakh customers from all over India within such less time. Founder & CEO of BeZiddi, Mehul Mittal, said, "Most of the internet customers of clothing segment are youth and they want trendy collections. T-shirts, Sweatshirts, Hoodies, Couple Tshirts, Graphic T-Shirts with quotations, Theme based apparel are the items, where youth look for fast-changing design, unique colours. We understand their taste. Our designing team keeps doing research on upcoming trends in our range of products and we keep launching new designs and prints every week. At the same time, we offer our products at a very competitive price, because we are the direct manufacturers, we don't buy items to resell. This is the reason why our customers love us and place repeat orders." This reputed online shopping platform has become the prior choice of the customers as the company believes in offering the topmost quality Graphic T-shirts that can help people to connect with their inner expressions through the type of clothing they wear. This E-commerce platform is not only famous for providing men's trending clothes but also the preferred choice among women. The ideology of Be Ziddi's clothing design is to capture the attention of youth and that is why Be Ziddi has become the preferred choice for Online Shopping for Clothes at the Best Price. Different designs and logos of t-shirts offered by Be Ziddi are incredibly distinctive and eye-catching and they also express good and motivational messages to the reader. This is one of the reasons which makes Be Ziddi an ideal online destination for both men and women. Be Ziddi is a brand that promotes lifestyle fashion for Indians living a contemporary lifestyle, primarily in metropolitan locations, through their unique and distinctive fashion. The idea of beziddi.com is to make an impact by offering fashionable and unique clothing at a reasonable price. Be Ziddi's collection of products is always new and up to date. The company manufactures their own products and cuts down the possibility of a middleman. This Business to customer model allows them to create the top quality fashion at an affordable rate. Various types of T-shirts, Hoodies, Sweatshirts, Bomber Jackets, Joggers, track pants and so much more are just some of the items customers can buy at Be Ziddi. The level of creativity and latest design is the reason that excites the user to visit a website. The experience becomes more thrilling when a user visits an online shopping platform like Be Ziddi as this destination allows a user to shop varieties of clothes from the comfort of their place and enables them to transform their home into a shopping mall. Be Ziddi is playing better than other websites as the platform not only offers superior quality clothes but also at a very reasonable cost. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Appinventiv, a leading digital transformation company has yet again clocked in a successful financial year. The firm has accounted for a total revenue of INR 150 crores in FY 21-22 vis-a-vis FY20-21 when their revenue stood at INR 45 crores. Appinventiv has been augmenting a strong industrial hold in empowering, reshaping & transforming businesses in India, at present the company holds a strong workforce of 900 employees (in India), along with its global presence in the USA, Middle East, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand as a leading digital transformation firm that has served more than 3000+ clients including Fortune 500 companies. With a spirit of reinvention & accelerating digital transformation, Appinventiv has grown its competence in the last seven years & helped businesses expand into the mobile segment. The firm bagged multiple projects with the Indian & Qatar governments and has also worked with 1000+ global brands like Oracle, NASA, KPMG, IKEA, Vodafone, Dominos, ABP Live, Asian Bank, and Pizza Hut. Appinventiv has aided 75% of its partners from the startup division to raise over $700M investment. Appinventiv's next-gen technology and industry-leading expertise has enabled diverse businesses with scalable digital solutions that helped them transform their customer experience. For instance, the firm has developed reliable solutions for transformational patient care and medical support and at the same time helped leading healthcare organizations to digitize and expand their digital footprint. In its relentless pursuit- to craft innovative solutions and deliver unparalleled results, Appinventiv has helped leading consumer brands like Dominos, Pizza Hut, KFC expand their mobile presence & enhance their consumer engagement through a robust and visually appealing food delivery mobile app. Additionally, the firm also developed an app for the Asian Bank app to make cryptocurrency transactions mainstream for consumers. Talking about a successful year Saurabh Singh, Director, Appinventiv said, "We are thrilled to have exceeded our goal of 100 Crores & recording a 100% growth in our revenue for the previous fiscal year; we were affirmative that our strategies will lead us to significant growth. The pandemic made businesses realize that digitalization is an accepted global phenomenon and not a choice anymore. Last year, through our innovative solutions we enabled multiple companies across varied sectors to transform into fully-digital business models. We also expanded our operations in three new cities Dehradun, Chandigarh, and Lucknow." "We are already gearing up for the upcoming financial year & the team is determined to create some of the most immersive products using new-generation technologies. We will be focusing on technologies like Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Edge & Quantum Computing, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, Blockchain and Cyber Security. Additionally, our in-house innovation lab along with our R&D team will be analyzing & decoding the next new-gen technologies like gesture mechanism, neural network connections, IoT, and decentralization. We also plan on adding 2000 proficient & diverse talent to our existing skilled workforce," he added. With its preceding contingency plan, new policies & its fiscal readiness, Appinventiv plans on acquiring and investing in new age technology companies that are paving their way towards disruption with their innovations. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): HireHunch, a Bangalore-based B2B platform that offers interview-as-a-service, has announced raising USD 500K funding in a seed round led by Waveform Ventures. The tech recruitment platform has also been supported with investments from marquee angels like Alok Mittal, Saurabh Bansal, Ramneek Khurana, Deepak Singh Ahlawat, Kshitij Jain, Ram Kuppuswamy, Gunjan Srivastava, Ajay Gopalkrishnan and more. Founded by Nawal Mishra, Amit Kumar and Anjulika Pandey in 2020, HireHunch is a B2B platform focused on enabling the improvement of the tech recruitment funnel for its partners. HireHunch provides trusted and reliable technical assistance enabling reliably fast and cost-effective remote tech hiring. It helps companies in improving their Quality-of-Hire through the platform's two-pronged process (a hybrid of man & machine) by screening the best technical candidates for final interviewing. The AI-enabled platform selects the best candidates who are shortlisted and virtually interviewed by a group of seasoned tech interviewers. This process enables the companies in making their hiring decisions in a cost-effective and timely manner, with the assurance of quality through unbiased, inclusive and fair technical analysis. The USD 500K funding raised will be deployed for innovation-led expansion. Nawal Mishra, Founder of HireHunch said, "The fresh funds will be utilized to develop cutting-edge technologies around various data science initiatives along with strengthening our sales and marketing teams. Our goal is to become the most trusted interviewing platform globally by building a robust platform and community of exceptional technical interviewers." The company is also concentrating on extending its reach across borders, "We are eyeing growth and scale as we innovate and build the solution to a globally relevant business problem." The startup has successfully unlocked 10,000+ engineering hours for 50+ companies including some top unicorns like Lenskart, Lead, Gameskraft, Junglee Games, upGrad, Purplle and other tech startups like GoodWorker, Zupee, Hubilo, Avataar and Tinvio. Arun Tadanki, Lead Investor at Waveform Ventures added, "Hiring is a top priority area for all high-growth companies who are struggling to find internal managerial bandwidth to interview a large volume of prospective candidates. HireHunch is solving the problem by connecting qualified interviewers with companies that need interviewing bandwidth while enabling external interviewers to provide high-quality feedback and analytics to hiring managers." Founded in 2020 with Nawal Mishra, Amit Kumar and Anjulika Pandey as its Co-founders, HireHunch is a B2B platform that provides reliable technical interviewing services to improve the tech recruitment funnel fast & cost-effectively. It helps companies to improve their Quality-of-Hire with HireHunch's critical technical assessments and great candidate experience with 24X7 scheduling convenience. Visit www.hirehunch.com for more information. Waveform Ventures is a syndicate of angel investors including some of the best tech angels, entrepreneurs and CXOs in India. Waveform Ventures invests in all sectors leveraging technology across the spectrum of early stage funding, from pre-launch to Series-A. Find out more at waveform.vc. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI/OP Jindal University): A new book authored by Dr Sreeram Chaulia, the Dean of the Jindal School of International Affairs of OP Jindal Global University, titled Crunch Time: Narendra Modi's National Security Crises (Rupa Publications), was released at the India International Centre in New Delhi on March 31 by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi. Speaking on this occasion, Minister Lekhi remarked that, "This book emphasises the much-required public faith in the state to protect the country form security threats posed by India's external adversaries. The strategic decisions made by PM Modi make the public trust his leadership more." She added that "at the end of the day, foreign policy should be based on core national interests. PM Modi's approach to national security threats posed by external foes is to reassure the people of India that they will be protected and Indian territory is safe. By taking firm strategic decisions during crises such as the Pathankot, Uri and Pulwama attacks by Pakistan, and the Doklam and Ladakh standoffs with China, the Prime Minister has shown a commitment to 'India First' and has placed national security above all other considerations and pressures." The book launch was also graced by former diplomat and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ambassador Lakshmi Puri. Ambassador Puri said that "Sreeram Chaulia's trailblazing book Crunch Time analyses PM Modi's series of decision-making moves during crises with China and Pakistan as part of a bigger transformative path to reinvigorate the glory of India's ancient self Bharat. Under PM Modi, India has moved away from being a soft state prone to taking defensive stances to an aggressive response when India's land and citizens are attacked." Ambassador Puri added that "governments before PM Modi took office would hesitate to respond to aggression by India's two foreign adversaries with the mindset of 'duniya kya sochegi?' (what will the world think?). Now, as Sreeram Chaulia's book Crunch Time has shown, the Modi approach to national security threats is about "duniya ko kya sochna chahiye?" (what should the world be made to think?) The author of the book, Dr Sreeram Chaulia, remarked at the launch event that "India never properly documented national security crisis management by its political leaders. 'Crunch Time' provides an analytical discourse record of four crisis management case studies of India in the Modi era. The book explains the doctrines that mark 'new India' under PM Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval- 'Security First', 'Offensive Defence' and a mobilisation of India's masses to support the state as it took on China and Pakistan in repeated episodes of confrontation since 2016 to present. The central claim of the book is that India ceased being a 'soft state' since Modi came to the helm and that India has found a middle path between passivity and all-out war in its quest to secure Indian territory and people from foreign attackers. The Vice-Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University, Dr C Raj Kumar praised the author of Crunch Time as "a brilliant mind, prolific writer and inspiring teacher who does not stop at academic writings but engages in public discourse through the popular news media." He called Dr Sreeram Chaulia "an inspiring teacher as well who has shaped the minds of hundreds of students at the Jindal School of International Affairs and thousands of young people in India and around the world through his discourses and writings on world politics." There was also a lively panel discussion anchored by Sakal Bhatt, Consulting Editor and Senior Anchor of Doordarshan, at the book launch function. Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain, who wrote the Foreword of Crunch Time, said that, "This book is an important scholarly record of the major national security crises India has faced in recent times. They are all related to military strategy, but Chaulia has brought high-quality academic rigour to understand those very tense moments of contemporary Indian history. The book has shone light on the important events that define the new strategic culture of India. Following PM Modi's tough decisions like the surgical strikes in 2016 and the Balakot airstrikes in 2019, the last nail in the coffin of strategic passivity was his decision to abrogate Article 370 and integrate Kashmir. The crises that Crunch Time describes have successively built up the strategic confidence of the Indian establishment. This book helps to rediscover the growing strength of India." Air Marshal Anil Chopra congratulated the "nationalistic fervour of Crunch Time" and recalled that "after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, the Indian Air Force Chief made an offer to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to carry out strikes and neutralise training camps of Pakistan-based terror groups. But such bold decisions were taken only under the leadership of Modi. With a leader like Modi at the helm, we from the armed forces feel very proud that there is a top-level civilian political backing for us to execute our plans and deter our enemies." Another panellist, Shehzad Poonawalla of the Bharatiya Janata Party, commented, "This book should be catalogued under the category of leadership management apart from IR and politics. It shows the centrality of PM Modi's political leadership in changing India's strategic culture from defensive to assertive. There has unfortunately been a concerted campaign by some political forces in India to generate opposing narratives and destroy public confidence in the state during national security crises with foreign opponents. This book by Dr. Sreeram Chaulia provides the much-needed discourse that can instil confidence in the public about PM Modi's steadfast commitment to national security." The fourth panellist, Executive Editor of TV9 Aditya Raj Kaul, observed, "The Modi government does not believe in the status quo. It focuses on shifting the paradigm. Such paradigm shifts have been brought about by decisions like the surgical strikes and the abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir. How Modi handled challenges from China and Pakistan must be studied in-depth and I urge everyone to read this book to understand the importance of the crisis situations and the decisions made." This story is provided by OP Jindal University. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/OP Jindal University) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 1 (ANI/BusinessWire India): HDFC Bank has been adjudged the Best Performing Bank in SHG Linkage by the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. At a function organised at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, the award was presented by Giriraj Singh, Minister of Rural Development to K Venkatesh, Head - Sustainable Livelihood Initiative, HDFC Bank. Notably, HDFC Bank was the only Private Bank to be felicitated for remarkable work in SHGs - by the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Self Help Group (SHG) is a group lending model with a group of small-time women entrepreneurs coming together for a loan, where the repayment is a collective responsibility of each member in the group. Self Help Group emphasises on the concept of group cohesion and bonding. Due to this structure, an SHG is an evolved group with strong group linkage in place. Given the structure, the Government of India started National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in 2011 as a poverty alleviation project. Implemented by the Government of India under the Ministry of Rural Development, NRLM's focus is to promote self-employment and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the rural poor. As part of NRLM, HDFC Bank provides access to financial services to over 4.5 lakh individuals in unbanked and underbanked sections of society. The Bank has signed MoUs with the State Rural Livelihood Mission of six states, namely Assam, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, the bank has offered advances over Rs 1,000 crore - as of February 2022. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI/PNN): Globally, Electric Vehicle (EV) Adoption is becoming inevitable. There is no more denying that the future of mobility will be electric. The EV revolution has taken the world by storm, with the global market projected to grow by 24.3 per cent in less than a decade. The transition to electric mobility has emerged as one of the promising strategies to decarbonize global mobility. Millions of Electric vehicles are added to India annually. Most of them are two-wheelers and three-wheelers. The government has undertaken multiple initiatives to promote the country's manufacturing and adoption of electric vehicles. Such schemes affect the growth of electric vehicles in a quite positive manner. Even after such support and raising awareness, electric vehicles are getting farther from the Indian market. Various electric vehicle smoke hazard videos are getting viral on the internet, raising the concern for potential buyers. People are keenly talking about how electric vehicles are behaving in Indian conditions. With the rising incidents in electric vehicles, many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are looking forward to solutions to prevent such hazards. Recently, the Ministry also reached out to the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) to carry out investigations into these hazards. Most of these harmful incidents are caused due to improper battery functioning, which has a high chance of thermal runaway causing such fires. Electric vehicles, unlike their ICE counterparts, consist more of electronics than mechanical parts, requiring specific attention during operation, service, and maintenance. Unskilled EV manpower, inappropriate service network, and non-uniform dealer coverage result in various problems and hazards. Born in 2019, E-Vega Mobility Labs, named after the Sanskrit word Vega i.e Velocity, was Started by EV enthusiast Shubham Mishra, CEO (M.Tech in Energy Infrastructure) and Ajay Vashisht, CTO (Ex-DRDO Engineer), with a rebellious spirit and a lofty objective to make user-friendly EV products. E-Vega has built a one-of-a-kind solution named EV Doctor for easy electric vehicle diagnostics leaving no stone unturned for easy and reliable support to users resulting in seamless EV transition. "Yes, electric vehicle batteries are catching fire, and we have overlooked this condition a year earlier. We met various electric vehicle stakeholders who were using cheap multimeters to check battery charge and used bare hands for thermal temperatures. The EV doctor we have developed solves the issue of proper diagnosis of lithium batteries; it's a simple and smart solution for easy health checkups of any battery. This will enable distributors and users for keeping a continuous check on their electric vehicles. We are on an unwavering mission to enable smoother EV transition," said Shubham Mishra, CEO E-Vega Mobility Labs. Increasing EV hazards, improper maintenance, and disturbed supply chain act as a hindrance to EV adoption. EV Doctor is a state-of-the-art machine learning-based device that assists electric vehicle manufacturers and dealers with advanced EV analytics, warranty tracking, resale, and risk mitigation. The product uses physics-based state-space models and statistical approaches for EV battery diagnostics. It provides the optimal method for diagnosing the battery and charger, which helps the key EV stakeholder with appropriate servicing, efficient troubleshooting, and reliable lifecycle management. Such measures help gain constructive user trust and mitigate the potential risks involved. On a mission to enable seamless EV transition, E-Vega is already doing pilot programs with various electric vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators for hassle-free & affordable operation. According to the company, the team has been working on battery technology for the last two years and has achieved substantial growth in terms of credibility. They have also confirmed the launch of a proper user-friendly device to accurately mitigate any risks involved for EV owners. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): The real estate sector has witnessed a massive growth in FY 2021-22, with a significant increase in residential and commercial real estate investments. A report released by Indian Real Estate Industry suggests the real estate sector will contribute a significant 13 per cent to India's GDP by 2025. The market size is expected to grow by Rs 65000 crores by 2040. The real estate sector has also seen remarkable post-pandemic growth, as it brought a lot of fence-sitters to the market to take the final call. According to a recent report, between January and March 2021, Noida accounted for 55 per cent of net absorption, followed by Gurugram at 38 per cent. Many metropolitan cities, including Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, etc. have witnessed a 96 per cent increase in housing sales and an increase of 24 per cent in new projects and launches. FY 2021-22 saw a 129 per cent increase in housing sales in Gurugram and a 116 per cent increase in housing sales in Noida. Delhi witnessed a 100 per cent increase, Ghaziabad stood at 84 per cent and Greater Noida stood at 58 per cent increase in residential sales. According to several developers, the growth in sales is increasing and will soon climb up the pre-pandemic levels. Navdeep Sardana, CMD, Elite Landbase, says, "This is the most crucial time for the real estate sector. Real estate developers have witnessed a significant increase in revenues in the last year, and are expecting the same trend to continue in 2022. The next one or two years will see many new launches, deliveries, and further infrastructural expansions. Customers are looking for the right kind of properties to invest in, and the developers are open to offering their customers both time and support. There is a positive outlook in the real estate sector despite the previous ups and downs due to the COVID-19 pandemic." Delhi NCR stands at the third position after Bengaluru and Pune, with more NRIs and HNIs wanting to invest in luxury properties in the NCR. Around 31 per cent of the HNIs want to invest in luxury residential real estate. The region has seen exponential growth in the high-rise properties by well-known and trusted real estate organizations, which makes NCR, one of the highest on demand locations. One of the most trusted real estate brands, Raheja Developers, says that the next few years will be the most eventful for the real estate industry. "Premium properties, especially 4BHK and large houses are in huge demand in the NCR region. This has made 2021 a favorable year for the real estate sector. Real estate developers are also keen to launch more projects and get done with the under-construction ones because of the high demands. This will give a real boost to the real estate sector in the next one year," adds Nayan Raheja of Raheja Developers. Other NCR-based premium developments like ABA have a similar take on the real estate boom in FY22-23. Amit Modi, Director, ABA Group, President Elect, CREDAI Western UP says that real estate is reaching the pre-pandemic levels, "Many real estate agencies have started adapting to the online modes of transactions. Digital marketing and online registrations are key to increased sales momentum. This has increased the growth level of the real estate market in the Delhi NCR region, thereby increasing the sales and investments." Uddhav Poddar, MD, Bhumika Group, "Despite COVID-19 thwarting the growth prospects of real estate projects in initial times, the realty projects are booming in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. It has seen immense growth in FY 2021-22 and will continue rising and reclaim its pre-pandemic position. The resurgence of real estate has also prompted investors and developers to initiate more projects in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, paying heed to the demands of customers." The real estate companies are also giving prime importance to the latest trends that are catching up with the masses and becoming a tremendous source of money-spinners. Sheeshram Yadav, Founder & MD, TimesPro Consulting says, "It has become important for real estate companies to follow latest trends related to housing policies and strategies in the real estate sector. With the real estate market returning to normalcy post the pandemic season, we are launching several new projects to keep up with the growing demand." This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], April 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): Launched on March 26, 2022, at 12:00 PM, She Loves Code is India's first coding Bootcamp dedicated to women to upskill their IT skills and get placed in their dream job at Rs. 0 upfront fee. We believe women hold the power to innovate change on a larger scale. Our objective is to enhance their IT skills while bridging the gap between them and the recruiters. The launch talked about the current scenario of women in leadership roles, followed by the importance of learning tech for women. The panel included eminent IT women personalities i.e., the Keynote Speaker Annie Mathew, Director Developer Relations at Microsoft Asia Pacific, the Guest of Honour Vidisha Chatterjee, Director of Communications for WhatApp India, and the Guest Speaker Shwetha Rao, Manager at VMware. It was a delightful journey knowing the true stories of such powerful women. The event then covered all the details about the She Loves Code program, followed by a fun and interactive Q&A session with the CEO Osheen Chavhan, where she not only answered any doubts rising but also shared the journey and idea behind this initiative. In India, Female developers today account for hardly 26 per cent of the total developers in the world. This harsh reality reflects the lack of awareness, the right learning platform and opportunities for women in the IT sector. Here's where She Loves Code comes in. She Loves Code offers two courses: Full Stack Development and Cloud Computing. Each course is 6 months (Part-Time), classes on Mondays to Sundays, 6 PM to 9:30 PM. The students are also provided with Live classes including timely live one-to-one Interaction, doubt clearing sessions, acclaimed and experienced tutors, Career Counselling, Live Projects, Interview Preparation and Job Assistance. She Loves Code follows the ISA (Income Shared Agreement) Model, wherein the students can take the entire 5-month course free of cost, and pay only after they're placed, i.e., Zero Upfront fee till you are placed for 4.5 LPA and above. Apply now for the program rebrand.ly/shelovescode-applynow The event was a huge success, with students getting exposure to the successful women in IT, inspiring them to take up careers in tech as well. She Loves Code intends to spread this exposure, while providing the perfect platform for women everywhere, to learn and advance in tech. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) The leaders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences met with actor Will Smith to discuss the ongoing slap incident, before the emergency board meeting. Sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Variety, that the leaders met with Smith on Tuesday to discuss his attack on Chris Rock during the live telecast of the 2022 Oscars ceremony, on Sunday. The outlet was informed that Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson had a conversation with the 53-year-old actor on Zoom about the fallout from the assault during Sunday's Oscars telecast. "The talk lasted for roughly 30 minutes," according to what the source told Variety. Smith apologized again to Rubin and Hudson for his action during their "brief" conversation and also expressed his awareness that there would be consequences and tried to explain why he snapped when Rock made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair, who has alopecia. Following that meeting, the Academy announced that Smith had violated the group's code of conduct and faced "suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions." The Academy also revealed that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony following the incident, but he refused. For a recap, while presenting the best documentary feature at the Oscars, comedian Chris Rock made a joke about Will Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Rock said he couldn't wait to see Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia, star in 'G.I. Jane 2' which led Smith to go up on stage and slap Rock. Smith returned to his seat and shouted, "Keep my wife's name out of your fu**ing mouth!" A few minutes after the incident, Smith was announced Best Actor at the 94th Academy Awards. While accepting his first-ever Oscar for best actor (leading role) in 'King Richard', Smith apologized to the Academy and fellow nominees but did not mention Rock. Following a rage of backlash over social media, including from the Academy, Smith took to Instagram on Monday to apologize to Rock. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Rock declined to press charges against what happened at the Oscars 2022 ceremony. (ANI) It has been a few days since the 94th Academy Awards took place, and there's one moment from the ceremony that still has the internet abuzz. Shortly before Will Smith took home his first Oscar for his performance in 'King Richard', he went on stage to slap Chris Rock over a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. While several celebrities have weighed in on the incident, actor Daniel Radcliffe said he's "already dramatically bored" of hearing responses to Smith slapping Rock during the Oscars and refused to offer his own two cents, reported Variety. During a Thursday appearance on Good Morning Britain, the actor spoke about his new comedy 'The Lost City'. During the appearance, the 'Harry Potter' star was also asked to comment on the Smith-Rock altercation but refrained from giving his take on it. "I saw it. I'm just so already dramatically bored of hearing people's opinions about it that I just don't want to be another opinion adding to it," said the 32-year-old actor when asked about the incident. On being asked whether he has ever experienced awkward moments himself at award ceremonies during his career, Radcliffe said, "I probably have. ... When you're going on stuff as a kid, you're never quite sure if the joke's with you or you're the butt of the joke." The actor added, "So you sort of have a mode of just being like, 'I'll just keep smiling and laughing and hopefully this'll end soon!' " Radcliffe is the latest celebrity to be asked about the altercation, which occurred while Rock was presenting Best Documentary Feature. The comedian seized the moment to crack a few jokes, including one about Pinkett Smith's shaved head. He compared the 50-year-old actor's appearance to that of Demi Moore's look in 'G.I. Jane'. Jada, who recently opened up about living with alopecia areata, was visibly upset, rolling her eyes from her seat. Seconds later, Smith walked onstage and approached Rock, smacking him in front of the audience. The 53-year-old actor also shouted to a stunned Rock, "Keep my wife's name out of your f---ing mouth." Smith then remained seated with his wife at his table for the rest of the event. Rock has so far declined to press charges. When Smith won Best Actor later in the ceremony, he apologised to the Academy and his fellow nominees but didn't mention Rock by name. In his tearful speech, he spoke about acting out of love and protection, saying, "Love makes you do crazy things." The 'King Richard' actor went on to publicly apologise to Rock on social media the following day. On Monday, the Academy said in a statement that it "condemns the actions of Mr Smith at last night's show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law." The Academy then said days later that Smith was actually asked to leave after the incident but "refused." The organisation added, "We also recognize we could have handled the situation differently." The 94th Academy Awards, which took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, was hosted by Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. (ANI) Will Packer, who produced the 2022 Oscars ceremony, recently revealed that cops were prepared to arrest actor Will Smith after he slapped comedian Chris Rock during the award show. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Packer recently appeared in an interview with Good Morning America where he discussed the ongoing slap controversy. The producer said that the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) was ready to arrest Smith until Rock declined to press charges. "They were saying, you know, 'This is battery,' was the word they use in that moment," Packer said adding, "They said, 'We will go get him; we are prepared. We're prepared to get him right now. You can press charges. We can arrest him.'" He continued, "They were laying out the options, and as they were talking, Chris was being very dismissive of those options. He was like, 'No, I'm fine.' He was like, 'No, no, no.' Even to the point where I said, 'Rock, let them finish.'" For the unversed, the LAPD confirmed in a statement that Rock "declined to file a police report." As per The Hollywood Reporter, Packer also shared that he did not speak with Smith on Oscars night. While presenting the best documentary feature award at the Oscars, comedian Chris Rock made a joke about Will Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Rock said he couldn't wait to see Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia areata, star in 'G.I. Jane 2' which led Smith to go up on stage and slap Rock. Smith returned to his seat and shouted, "Keep my wife's name out of your fu**ing mouth!" A few minutes after the incident, Smith was announced Best Actor at the 94th Academy Awards. While accepting his first-ever Oscar for best actor (leading role) in 'King Richard', Smith apologized to the Academy and fellow nominees but did not mention Rock. Following heavy backlash over the incident, Smith took to Instagram on Monday to apologize to Rock. It was recently revealed that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences met with Smith to discuss the incident before the emergency board meeting. Following that meeting, the Academy announced that Smith had violated the group's code of conduct and faced "suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions." The Academy also revealed that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony following the incident, but he refused. (ANI) YouTuber Bhuvan Bam has issued an apology after people expressed disappointment with him for making a derogatory comment on 'pahadi women' in his latest video. Bhuvan took to Twitter and said that he had no intention of hurting anyone and that part of the video has been edited. Issuing a public apology, he wrote, "I'm aware that a section in my video has hurt some people. I have edited it to remove that part. People who know me know I have the utmost respect for women. I had no intention to hurt anyone. A heartfelt apology to everyone whose sentiments have been disregarded. @NCWIndia." The apology came after the National Commission for Women (NCW) asked the Delhi police to file an FIR against Bhuvan Bam for the video. NCW wrote, "@NCWIndia has taken cognisance. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to @CPDelhi to register FIR & to take strict action in the matter. NCW has also written to Secy, Ministry of Electronics & IT to take appropriate action against the YouTube channel for violating the dignity of women." For those unaware, netizens have expressed their anger on social media in his latest video 'Automatic Gaadi' in which he disrespected 'pahadi women' on social media. (ANI) You can take an artist from art but never the art from an artist, just like veteran superstar Sanjay Dutt who made a roaring comeback to Indian cinema after battling cancer. For a recap, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Sanjay Dutt, 62, was diagnosed with lung cancer and the actor went through extensive treatment in Mumbai. Months later, Dutt announced that he was cancer-free. After successfully battling the fatal disease, Dutt has made a comeback to the Indian cinema and has signed some of the most special and highly anticipated projects. Speaking to ANI during a press conference in Delhi on Friday, the 'Munna Bhai' actor opened up about his love for Indian cinema and how he feels proud to be a part of this industry. "I am an artist and till the day I die I'll keep acting if God permits me to," he said. The 'Khalnayak' actor added, "I love what I do. I love the characters I play, I love the body of work I have done and it's been 45 years I have been in the industry and I see the young talent coming up." Dutt also praised his 'KGF: Chapter 2' co-star Yash for achieving heights at such a young age, with his magnificent performance on screen. "I look at Yash and I look at myself 20-30 years back and to see them have this kind of achievement makes me proud. You know being sitting there and seeing all the boys Ranbir, Yash, Ram Charan and JrNTR and all these guys, it makes me proud that in our family of the Indian film fraternity I feel proud to be a part of it," he said. Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt along with Yash, Raveena Tandon, Srinidhi Shetty, producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Kartik attended a press conference to promote their upcoming Prashanth Neel's magnum opus 'KGF: Chapter 2' which is scheduled to release nationwide on April 14, 2022, in Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam. Meanwhile speaking about Sanjay Dutt's upcoming projects, the actor will next be seen in 'Prithviraj' and 'Shamshera'. He recently started shooting for the comedy family drama 'Ghudchadi' co-starring Raveena Tandon in the lead. (ANI) Envisioned under the ambitious Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), Drug Registry is intended to be a single, up-to-date, centralised repository of all the drugs across all systems of medicine which are approved and are available in the Indian market. National Health Authority CEO R.S. Sharma said on the occasion that through Drug Registry, the ABDM aims to provide a standardised, comprehensive set of verified data on all the approved drugs marketed in the country that would enable a more efficient regulatory process. "To enable inclusivity and widen the perspectives on the table, I urge all stakeholders to go through the shared consultation papers and provide us with their valuable feedback," added Sharma. The Drug Registry application is proposed be designed using open-source technologies and will be interoperable. The consultation paper focuses only on Drug Registry within the National Digital Health Ecosystem and offers NHA's current vision on the functionalities of the proposed Drug Registry, the process for its creation and potential benefits to various ecosystem stakeholders. --IANS avr/pgh ( 210 Words) 2022-03-31-22:38:03 (IANS) The decapitated body of the priest was found lying in a pool of blood inside the temple premises on Wednesday morning. The accused was identified as Chaman, a resident of Kadarpur village. He told the police that on Tuesday, while he was cleaning the grave of his uncle, Gobind Das -- the priest, who lived in the temple, started urinating nearby, which led to an argument between the two. "Infuriated after the argument, the accused went to the temple late on Tuesday night, and slit the deceased's throat with a sharp-edged weapon when he was asleep. After killing him, he covered the body with a blanket and fled the spot," Preet Pal Sangwan, ACP (crime), said. The police have also recovered the weapon which was allegedly used to commit the crime from his possession. The victim was from Uttarakhand. He was residing at the temple -- locally known as 'Pigeon Wala Mandir' -- for the last 34 to 35 years. A case of murder was registered at Sector-65 police station. --IANS str/pgh ( 203 Words) 2022-03-31-20:06:04 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Thursday said the Faridabad Municipal Corporation in Haryana is liable to pay solatium of Rs 2,000 per month to eligible persons, whose unauthorised structures on the Aravali Forest area were demolished. A bench, headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, said that until permanent accommodation is offered, the Faridabad civic body should pay Rs 2,000 per month, to the eligible persons, until the date of issuance of possession letter by it. Senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, representing some petitioners, submitted that payment of solatium, which was for a period of six months, must continue till the time the government provides flats in a habitable condition. The civic body counsel submitted before the bench, also comprising Justices A.S. Oka and C.T. Ravikumar, that 1,027 applicants have been found eligible and they would be allotted flats on permanent basis by end of April. The bench said: "Until permanent accommodation is offered to the eligible persons, the corporation shall be liable to pay ex-gratia solatium amount of Rs 2,000 per month until the date of issuance of possession letter by the corporation." As Parikh contended that nobody had occupied the flats, as they were in bad condition, the bench observed that the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation should certify that the premises offered to the people are in habitable condition. It further added that the possession letter can be issued, post certification, and then the premises can be occupied. The civic body's counsel contended that it had earlier informed the court that final possession of the flats will be given by April 30, 2022. The bench emphasized that flats should be made habitable, and those who did not occupy these flats should be compensated. The bench directed the Superintendent of Police, Faridabad, to assist the civic body to ensure that there is no encroachment on the area, where structures were demolished. The top court also reserved its verdict on the separate pleas raising issues in connection with forest and non-forest land in Haryana. It will also continue to hear the matter further on April 26. The top court in June last year, directed Haryana and Faridabad Municipal Corporation to remove all encroachments, which included around 10,000 residential constructions, on the Aravali forest area near the Khori village. --IANS ss/vd ( 396 Words) 2022-03-31-21:36:03 (IANS) The Rajasthan Police on Thursday arrested former BJP MLA Jitendra Gothwal in the doctor's suicide case reported from Dausa district. Gothwal, who is the state secretary of the BJP, was recently in the news for sending a train ticket to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, asking her to visit Rajasthan at the earliest in the context of the alleged gang-rape of a minor in which a Congress MLA's son and his four friends were reportedly involved, reminding Priyanka of her "Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon" slogan. Archana Sharma -- a case against whom was filed for the death of a pregnant woman at a private hospital run by Archana and her husband in Dausa district on Monday night -- was found hanging at her home on Tuesday, as per the police. According to the officials, Gothwal has been accused of instigating the protesters against the doctor couple. There are also serious allegations against him, including blackmailing the hospital management. On his part, Gothwal said that he is being framed for sending a train ticket to Priyanka Gandhi. Meanwhile, the husband of the pregnant woman who died on Monday said that he did not file any complaint against the hospital. "I don't know who got my signature on a plain paper," he said. Sunit, the husband of Archana, told the media that the matter is being politicised. Referring to a local leader named Shivshankar, he said that politicians give protection to such people. "Stop patronising them. All doctors try to save their patients. My wife is gone, but this should not be the case with other doctors," he said. It is alleged that Gothwal instigated the relatives of the deceased woman to launch an agitation against Archana and the hospital. However, Gothwal said, "Even before my arrival, a case had been registered under Section 302. I had sent a train ticket to Priyanka Gandhi and have been punished for that. I will continue to fight for the Dalits." BJP state spokesperson Ramlal Sharma, meanwhile, issued a statement saying that the arrest of Gothwal in this case indicates that the Congress government in Rajasthan is working to cover up its failures. "The police had filed an FIR under Section 302 several hours before Gothwal reached the spot," he said. "The son of a Congress MLA has been booked under the POCSO Act. The MLA claims him to be innocent, but is not presenting his son before the investigating officer," he added. --IANS arc/arm ( 425 Words) 2022-03-31-22:40:03 (IANS) An engineering student in Hyderabad died due to drug overdose, police said on Thursday. The 23-year-old succumbed at a city hospital on March 23 but the case came to light on Thursday (March 31) after police arrested a drug peddler and three consumers. This is believed to be the first such case in Hyderabad and this has been reported at a time when police has intensified the crackdown on drug peddlers and is also taking action against consumers. The youth had become addicted to drugs and used to travel to Goa along with some others to take the drugs. The youth was admitted to Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) on March 19. He was behaving in a strange manner and initially the doctors could not identify the problem. Later, his friends informed the doctors that he was using LSD and cannabis. He was believed to be using a cocktail of drugs. According to doctors, the youth's organs had stopped functioning normally. He died of a brain stroke caused due to drug overdose. Chakravarthy Gummi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Narcotic Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) said the youth's parents did not know the cause of death and they were in a state of shock. The police arrested a drug peddler and three consumers. The deceased student used to visit Goa with them. The police seized 6 LSD bottles, 10 ecstasy pills and 100 grams of hash oil from them. The sleuths of H-NEW along with Nallakunta police made the arrests. They included Prem Upadhya who was visiting Goa frequently for procuring LSD blots and ecstasy pills and selling the same to customers in Hyderabad. Police also arrested three customers aged between 26 and 27 - Ramakrishna, a software employee while Nikhil Joshua is a guitar teacher and Jeevan Reddy a B. Tech Student. In another case, H-NEW along with Bowenpally police arrested two drug peddlers and two consumers. The police seized 25 grams of hash oil from them. The police official said that in recent times several youth and students have become addicted to drugs and they are involved in crime and other anti-social activities. He appealed to the youth and students not to fall prey to drugs and requested the parents to keep a watch on the activities of their children and feel free to approach police or pass information to police to curtail such anti-social activities. --IANS ms/vd ( 408 Words) 2022-03-31-23:12:03 (IANS) "Encounter has started at Turkwangam area of Shopian. Police and security forces are on the job," police said. The firefight took place after a joint team of the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists. As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter. --IANS zi/vd ( 107 Words) 2022-03-31-23:12:04 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu Police have been conducting raids across the state to curb the growing drug menace, and have so far arrested more than 350 people for peddling drugs such as marijuana, MDMA and other narcotic substances. The state police have also alerted the Marine Police and the Indian Coast Guard after receiving intelligence inputs of drugs being smuggled into the country from abroad through certain coastal towns. A senior police officer said that there are several pockets in the state which are used as transport points, and in many cases, youngsters are picked up as carriers. Speaking to IANS, the officer said, "We have already arrested over 350 people who are part of the drugs syndicates, including peddlers, and major operators in some cases. We are also getting inputs about some coastal towns of the state being used as hubs by international drug racketeers, and hence a major crackdown is on." In December 2021, the Tamil Nadu Police had arrested few former cadres of the LTTE for smuggling drugs into the state through the sea route for raising funds for the activities of the organisation. The police are, however, tight-lipped about such networks being used for drug transportation. The crackdown commenced after the intelligence agencies received tip-offs about drug syndicates becoming active in the state. The narcotics wing of the police had recently conducted raids at certain hideouts in Coimbatore and arrested around 100 people from in and around the city. The police said that the drug syndicates are using the services of technical persons and social media for the movement of drugs within the state. Several techies are part of the drugs syndicates in the Metro cities of Tamil Nadu and efforts are on to hunt them down. Tamil Nadu DGP C. Sylendra Babu, who is monitoring the progress of the crackdown, has instructed the officers not to use the local police for the operations out of the fear that some key accused may escape the net. The Marine Police and the Indian Coast Guard are also monitoring the movement of vessels, including fishing boats, as the possibility of smuggling in drugs into the state from Sri Lanka is quite high. --IANS aal/arm ( 380 Words) 2022-03-31-23:28:05 (IANS) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha has convened a one day special sitting of the first session of the 16th State Assembly on Friday, said the Punjab government on Thursday. "Under second proviso to Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (Punjab Legislative Assembly), the Speaker has been pleased to call the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which was adjourned sine-die on March 22, 2022, to meet at 10.00 A.M on Friday, April 1, 2022, in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Hall, Vidhan Bhavan, Chandigarh," said notice by the government. "Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha has convened a one day special sitting of the first session of the 16th State Assembly on Friday i.e. April 1, 2022, at 10.00 am. Live proceedings of this session would be available on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Handles of Punjab Government and CMO," the government of Punjab tweeted on its official Twitter handle. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the students and their parents on Friday in the fifth edition of the 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' event. In the annual event, PM Modi will interact with the students, parents and teachers across the nation and overseas. In the event, the Prime Minister talks about examination stress and related questions. Amid the anticipation ahead of the event, Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday said that he is "looking forward to the programme". "The enthusiasm towards this year's Pariksha Pe Charcha has been phenomenal. Lakhs of people have shared their valuable insights and experiences. I thank all those students, parents and teachers who have contributed. Looking forward to the programme on 1st April," tweeted PM Modi. PM Modi also shared snippets of a series of videos on his YouTube channel from his previous interaction during Pariksha Pe Charcha. These videos cover a wide gamut of issues pertaining to student life especially related to exams. The fifth edition of the annual event will be held in New Delhi in a town-hall interactive format from Talkatora Stadium at 11 am. Crores of students, teachers and parents from India and abroad will be participating, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said earlier. "Pariksha Pe Charcha is a much-awaited annual event in which the Prime Minister responds to questions related to examination stress and related areas posed by students in his uniquely engaging style in a live programme," Dharmendra Pradhan had said. Terming Pariksha pe Charcha, a public movement, the Minister outlined the importance of this year's Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) in wake of the country coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and exams shifting back to offline mode. Underlining the importance of initiatives like PPC in building the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century, he said that PPC is becoming a formal institution through which Prime Minister interacts directly with the students. He informed that select students across the country will also visit Raj Bhawans to watch the event in the presence of the state Governors. He also expressed confidence that state governments across the country will also encourage the participation of students, teachers and parents. The Minister mentioned that PPC will be streamed, not only across India but also in other countries reaching out to the Indian diaspora. He also called for support from the media in making this program a mass movement and ensuring stress-free exams for the students. (ANI) The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday issued a notification enlisting the 'disturbed areas' in Nagaland where Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act (AFSPA) will continue to remain imposed for another six months. The MHA, in its gazette notification dated April 1, 2022, suppressed its older order of declaring the whole of the state of Nagaland as a 'disturbed area', and has withdrawn 15 police stations in seven districts in the state from the status with effect from April 1. In the Gazette Order, the MHA has listed nine districts, including Mon, that will remain under the AFSPA for another six months. Parts of other districts will also continue to remain under AFSPA. These districts are namely Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren, and Zunheboto. "Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren, and Zunheboto districts in Nagaland and the areas in Nagaland falling within the jurisdiction of i) Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima Districts; ii) Mangkolemba, Mokochung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki 'C' police stations in Mokochung District, iii) Yanglok police station in Longleng District; and iv) Bhandari, Champang, Ralan and Sungro police stations in Wokha District, are declared as 'disturbed area' under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2022, unless withdrawn earlier," the MHA informed in its order. Following a firing incident in Nagaland that led to the death of 13 civilians at Oting Village in Mon district, the Centre had accepted the recommendation of a high-level committee to withdraw AFSPA in a phased manner. "In Nagaland, the Centre has accepted the recommendation of a high-level committee formed in the aftermath of the Mon killing to withdraw AFSPA in a phased manner," a Home Ministry release said. The Disturbed Area Notification is being withdrawn from 15 police stations in seven districts in Nagaland with effect from April 1. "In comparison to 2014, there has been a reduction of 74 per cent in militancy incidents in 2021. Similarly, deaths of security personnel and civilians have also come down by 60 per cent and 84 per cent respectively during this period," the release said. About 14 civilians were killed in a botched up operation by the Indian Army on December 4 in the Mon district of Nagaland. The government had said earlier that it was a case of mistaken identity as Army had received information on the movement of extremists in Oting, in Mon district. It had said that a special investigation team has been constituted and has been directed to complete the probe within a month. (ANI) Ahead of BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Rajasthan this month, the Bharatiya Janata Party is getting battle-ready for the Assembly polls due next year in the state. Nadda, who is scheduled to arrive in the state on Saturday will hold a meeting with the core team of the party's Rajasthan unit to check on the preparedness ahead of the assembly polls. He is expected to visit Sawai Madhopur. While the schedule for Amit Shah's visit to Rajasthan is yet to be finalized, he is expected to be in the state for two days likely in mid-April. The Union Minister is expected to be in Banswara, which borders Gujarat. Apart from holding several official functions and functions for the party what is important is his meeting with the state leadership. The visit by both Nadda and Shah is expected to boost the state leadership to prepare itself for the poll contest after having lost the last assembly polls to Ashok Gehlot-led Congress. Notably, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, one of the key figures in the political spectrum of Rajasthan recently met top party leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. In the 2018 Rajasthan Assembly polls, Congress won 100 seats while BJP got 73. Bahajuan Samaj Party (BSP) managed to win six seats. In the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, the majority mark is 101. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, PM Modi shared a picture and said, "I pay homage to His Holiness Dr Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu on his Jayanti. He lives in the hearts of countless people. We will always remember his unparalleled community service and his emphasis on healthcare and education. We will keep working to fulfil his dreams." Notably, PM Modi had paid tribute to Shivakumar Swami while addressing the Mann Ki Baat programme in 2019 and had said that he had dedicated his entire life to social service, working for the social, educational welfare of scores of people. Yesterday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi offered his respects to Shivakumara Swami on the occasion of his Jayanti celebrations at the Sree Siddaganga Math in Karnataka's Tumakaru. A number of political leaders in Karnataka, including former chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, had raised a demand for late Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumara Swami to be granted a Bharat Ratna. Shivakumara Swami died at the age of 111 last in 2019. In Karnataka, Swami was often referred to as 'the walking god' among his followers. His education society runs over 100 educational institutions in the state. The renowned Lingayat seer joined the Siddaganga Mutt in 1930 only to become its seer in 1941 after the death of his 'guru' Uddana Swami. (ANI) The MP, who is on a two-day visit to the state was accompanied by the Congress state unit President DK Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah. "I paid my condolences to Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar and other family members of famous Kannada actor late Puneeth Rajkumar after visiting their home. Puneeth left unforgettable memories for all Kannadigas at a young age," Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Kannada after his visit. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, the party's Campaign Committee chairman M B Patil, and former union minister KH Muniyappa also accompanied Rahul Gandhi. Puneeth Rajkumar, known had passed away on October 29 last year at the age of 46 following a cardiac arrest. He was admitted to Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru, after experiencing chest pain, where he breathed his last. Son of matinee idol Rajkumar, Puneeth was fondly called 'Appu' by his fans. The Congress leader had earlier taken part in the 115th birth anniversary event of late Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumar Swamiji. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had said that Gandhi will be meeting senior leaders, frontal organisation members, party executive committee and will be looking to strengthen the party for the upcoming polls. He will also visit the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office. The Congress leader is scheduled to today visit the KPCC office and attend the executive meeting with the frontals. Rahul Gandhi's visit comes at a time when the state is debating issues like the Hijab ban, restrictions on non-Hindu traders conducting business inside temple premises and the Halal meat row. (ANI) As per Vahan 4 data, as of March 25 this year, a total of 10,76,420 EVs and a total of 1,742 Public Charging Stations (PCS), as per the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), are operational. The Ministry of Power has issued "Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles - the revised consolidated Guidelines and Standards" on January 14, 2022, to accelerate the e-mobility transition in the country, Gadkari said. "Action Plans have been prepared by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) for 8 cities with a 4 million-plus population (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Surat, and Pune)," Gadkari told Lok Sabha. Under these action plans, scenario-wise targets have been prepared for Business as Usual (BAU), Moderate and Aggressive Scenarios for the installation of chargers in these cities. The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) had invited proposals from any Government Organization or Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) to build and operate public EV charging infrastructure on expressways and National Highways under FAME India Scheme Phase-II for Highways and Expressways. On the other hand, PSU Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), in consortium with Convergence Energy Services Limited (a subsidiary of EESL), has been awarded the work for setting up EV charging stations along 16 NH or expressways. In order to facilitate EESL in the above prospect, NHAI has signed an MOU with EESL, the ministry said. As per this MoU, NHAI shall provide space or land near toll plazas and its buildings for the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, based on the revenue sharing model, subject to an agreeable amount to NHAI and EESL. As part of the Wayside Amenities (WSAs), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has also awarded 39 such facilities for development, it added. (ANI) In a major step taken after decades, the Centre on Friday reduced disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the states of Nagaland, Assam and Manipur; and kept it effective in a few districts and areas falling within the jurisdiction of some police stations in these states for next six months. In a gazette notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the AFSPA will be effective in nine districts of Nagaland including Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Zunheboto; and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of 15 police stations comprising Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima District; Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki 'C' police stations in Mokokchung District; Yanglok police station in Longleng District; and Bhandari, Champang, Ralan and Sungro police stations in Wokha District. As per the notifications, these nine districts in Nagaland and areas falling within the jurisdiction of 15 police stations in the state's different districts are "declared as 'disturbed area' under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2022, unless withdrawn earlier". By this step, the AFSPA has been removed from 15 police stations in seven districts in Nagaland with effect from Friday (April 1). The disturbed area notification is in force in the whole of Nagaland since 1995. The Central government took the step after it accepted the recommendation of the committee constituted in this regard to remove AFSPA in a phased manner. Similarly, the government of Assam in the exercise of powers conferred under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (Act 28 of 1958) withdrew the declaration of "Disturbed Area" with effect from Friday (April 1) from 23 districts and one sub-division of the state that include Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Hoyai, Morigaon, Kamrup Metro, Darrang, Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, South Salmara Mancachar, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udaiguri, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar district except for Lakhipur Sub-division. Also, the government declared the areas covering nine districts and one sub-division comprising Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and Lakhipur Sub Division of Cachar district of the state of Assam as "Disturbed Area" for a further period of six months with effect from Friday (April 1), unless withdrawn earlier. The government said that the move was taken after a review of the law and order and security scenario in Assam in the recent past which indicates that the situation has considerably improved in many districts of the state and the presence of extremist elements are confined to only in certain parts of the State. Disturbed area notification is in force in the whole of Assam since 1990. The governor of Manipur has also accorded approval to declare the entire state of Manipur excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 15 Police Stations as "Disturbed Area" for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2022 (Friday) in the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (Act No.28 of 1958). As per the order, AFSPA has been withdrawn from Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lamsang, Patsoi, Porompat, Heingang, Lamlai, Irilbun, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakchin and Jiribam police stations in Manipur. The Disturbed Area Declaration in the entire Manipur (except the Imphal Municipality area) is in operation since 2004. Besides, the disturbed area notification under AFSPA has been completely removed by the Modi government from Tripura in 2015 and Meghalaya in 2018 due to improvements in the security situation. The AFSPA empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior warrant. In 2005, the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee had recommended the repeal of AFSPA and suggested an amendment to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 by inserting a new Chapter with respect to the North-Eastern states. (ANI) Nationalist Congress Party will move to the Kerala High Court against section 144 imposed in Lakshadweep to suppress the protest against land acquisition, said the NCP leader Mohammed Faizal P. P. Lakshadweep MP and NCP leader Mohammed Faizal on Thursday told ANI that the party will move to Kerala HC against the orders of the district administration. "People are protesting because their existence is at stake. The way, the administration is going ahead with the land acquisition; they have a fear that they will be expelled from the island one day with the administration acquiring the entire land. Not even a single penny is promised to the landowners in return for acquisition. No one is against the development or the acquisition; it would have been appreciated if the administration would have followed the proper procedures," he said. The MP also said that Lakshadweep is a small island with an area of only 32 sq km. and a total population of around 64,000. The administration is snatching the land of the people. Land acquisition Rehabilitation Act, 2013 guarantees to provide fair compensation to the families who are affected because of the land acquisition but the administration has not followed any procedure. "The entire land belongs to Scheduled Tribes here, and the Scheduled Tribe Protection Act and Land acquisition Rehabilitation Act, 2013 prevails here, but the administration has waned all the procedures. It did not notify the people of the acquisition. We will definitely approach the High Court of Kerala for this unnecessary imposition of Section 144 and will take all legal opinions to fight in court. The administration is suppressing the voice of the people by passing the prohibitory orders on ten islands." The Lakshadweep district administration imposed prohibitory orders in ten islands of the Union Territory on March 20 under CrPC Section 144 to suppress the protest against land acquisition. On March 22, NCP had staged a protest in front of the Lakshadweep administration office in Kerala alleging that "anti-people" decisions had been taken by it. NCP Kerala president PC Chacko had said that decisions should be taken in the interest of the people of Lakshadweep. "The people in Lakshadweep are mainly dependent on fisheries and the facilities provided or created for fishing are being destroyed by the administration," he alleged. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah who is on a two-day visit to Karnataka on Friday attended the 115th Jayanthi and Guru Vandana program of Shivakumara Swamiji at Siddaganga Math in Tumkur city. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya were also present on the occasion. Shah embarked on his visit to Karnataka which is scheduled to go to the polls next year on Thursday late at night and was received by Chief Minister Bommai, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and other leaders of the state. After attending this program, the Home Minister will also attend other programmes in the state including the Foundation stone laying of the 200-bedded hospital in Sathya Sai Grama in Muddenahalli at around 2.20 pm, according to the Home Ministry. Shah will also attend Karnataka State Cooperative Conference at around 4 pm in Bengaluru Palace. Also slated later in the day is a meeting with a BJP core group of the state. The meeting assumes a lot of significance given the fact that there have been several rounds of speculations that there could be a change of leadership in the state including the Chief Minister as well as the party president. Home Minister Amit Shah will be participating in the core group meeting along with BJP general secretary Arun Singh who is in charge of Karnataka. Top sources in the BJP, while speaking to ANI, rubbished any possibility of a change of leadership in the state. "There is no question of change of leadership in the state... The president (Nalin Kateel) has been given a term and he will definitely complete that," said the sources. (ANI) DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson will introduce a Private Member Bill in Parliament on Friday seeking to amend Article 200 of the Constitution of India and fix the time limit for Governors to decide on the Bills sent by State Legislatures. The Bill states that the Constitution of India is dynamic in nature, with the ability to adapt itself to the changing needs of the nation. Democracy and Federalism are the essential features of the Constitution and part of its basic structure. "The Governor is established as the dejure head of the State and all executive acts are done in his name. However, the Governor is bound by the aid and advise of the elected State Government under article 163 of the Constitution. It cannot be said that the Governor, who is a ceremonial head of the State, cannot impede the lawful and constitutional functioning of the State Government," the Bill said. Referring to the Constitution, the Bill said Article 200 bestows on the Governor the power to provide assent to the Bills passed by the State Legislature. The Governor can also return the Bill to the Legislature for reconsideration or suggest amendments. However, if the Bill is once again passed by the Legislature, the Governor is bound to give his assent. The Governor is further entrusted with an additional power to reserve a Bill for the consideration of the President. However, the Constitution does not prescribe a time limit for the Governor to assent, withhold assent or reserve the Bill for the consideration of the President. "As the Constitutional Head of the State, the Governor owes a responsibility to the people of the State. It is trite in law that any constitutional authority must perform its duties within a reasonable time frame. However, in the recent past; we have seen several instances of Governors holding Bills passed by the State Legislatures for inordinate amount of time, without deciding one way or the other. In some cases, even when ex-facie the Bill has to be reserved for the consideration of the President, the Governors have taken a long time to do so," the Bill said. "This defeats the will of the people since the State Legislature represents the mandate of the people. All Bills passed by the State Legislature are for the welfare of the people of the State. The State Government's functioning cannot indirectly be curtailed and rendered inutile by the actions of the Governor, a Union Government appointee. That infringes the balance of power between the Union and States established by the Constitution," mentioned the Bill. It further said that the absence of a time-limit in article 200 gives the Governor unbridled power to delay the fate of a Bill. Thus, non-prescription of a time-limit is an impediment to the welfare of the people. Thus, the provision must be amended to balance the interest of the people and also provide sufficient time for the Governor to take an informed decision. "It is therefore, proposed to amend article 200 of the Constitution to prescribe a time limit to the Governor for providing or withholding his assent to the Bill or reservation of such Bill for the consideration of the President of India," the Bill added. (ANI) Interacting with board exam students at the fifth edition of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha', Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday advised them to stay away from panic and appear for their tests in a festive mood. "You are not giving exams for the first time. In a way, you are exam-proof. Thus, do not be stressed. Remember, you have overcome such exams before," said PM Modi at the event held at the Talkatora Stadium here today. He further said, "There is no one sitting here who is appearing for exams for the first time. We have become exam proof by repeatedly sitting for exams after equal intervals of time. Exams are a stepping stone in our life." Urging students to stay away from an environment of panic, the Prime Minister advised students to appear for examinations with full self-confidence. "I want students to stay away from a panic environment during exams. No need to copy friends, just keep doing whatever you do with full confidence and I believe all of you will be able to give your exam in a festive mood, without any stress," said PM Modi. Referring to the widespread usage of online mode of education since the onset of the COVID pandemic, the Prime Minister said, "Students should introspect themselves while studying online, whether they actually study or spend time watching reels on social media." "Whatever happens offline, same takes place online. This means the medium is not the problem. Irrespective of the medium, if our mind is delved into the subject, then it won't make a difference is grasping things," he added. The Prime Minister also assured the students that the queries of students that will remain unanswered during the programme due to time crunch will be answered by him on the Namo App. "All the queries of the students that might not be discussed here due to time crunch will be answered by me in the Namo App via videos, audio messages and written texts," said PM Modi. "Today's program is particularly special to me as I meet you all after a long gap," added PM Modi. Meanwhile, students who arrived at the Talkatora stadium to participate in the interaction with the Prime Minister shared their experiences before the commencement of the programme. A class 12 student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kapurthala, Chhavni said, "I am very excited to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and feel very fortunate on getting this opportunity. It is very common for students to experience stress before appearing for examinations. But when the Prime Minister himself interacts with students face-to-face, it acts as a motivating force and it feels really nice to listen to him, it takes away a lot of stress of the students and helps a lot in managing that anxiety." Another student from JNV, Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh said, "I am excited and nervous at the same time. I feel extremely fortunate to get a golden chance to interact with the Prime Minister." "I have never met the Prime Minister in person, never had an opportunity to interact with him in person, so I am really excited to participate in this interaction," said another student of class 10 from Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya, Faridabad. Pariksha Pe Charcha is an annual event in which the Prime Minister responds to questions related to examination stress and related areas posed by students in his uniquely engaging style in a live programme. (ANI) A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul dismissed the plea filed by the Maharashtra government against the Bombay High Court order. The Maharashtra government has challenged the Bombay High Court which has rejected the petition seeking a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) in the case pertaining to former state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. Deshmukh is being probed under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act by the CBI. According to the petitioner, the current director of CBI, was, at the relevant time, heading the Maharashtra Police Force and was directly involved in deciding and implementing transfers and postings of Police officers, therefore, no fair and impartial investigation can take place when the current director is at the helm of affairs of CBI. Therefore the petitioner urged for the constitution of a Special Investigating Team to be monitored on the ground that it is necessary to conduct a fair and impartial investigation. (ANI) A tribal youth who allegedly complained about the irregularities in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and toilet construction was thrashed brutally by the panchayat staff and police constable in Katni district. The incident that took place in Dhimarkheda village was reported after the video of the incident went viral on social media on Thursday. Superintendent of Police of Katni district, Sunil Jain said that the matter has been taken into consideration and the accused seen in the video has been suspended. "The matter has come to my notice and an FIR has been filed against the accused on the victim's complaint under the provision of THE SC/ST act. The police constable involved in the matter has been suspended. I have requested the district collector to act against the other government employees seen in the video," SP said. In the viral video, the two accused of beating the youth have been identified as Kunj Bihari, the panchayat secretary and Amresh Rai, the assistant secretary. (ANI) He alleged that the law and order in Punjab are at a "very low ebb". In another tweet, taking a potshot at the AAP, he said that the recent actions by AAP workers did not indicate Bhagat Singh's ideology. "Kejriwal, your people are going to court in Delhi that your life is in danger, should you worry about the lives of Punjabis too? If it happens in Delhi you call it Vandalism. Look what is happening in Punjab... Another Congress worker was brutally beaten in Sanaur. Law & order at a very low ebb !!" tweeted Sidhu. "Change is not necessarily progressed. This is not 'badlaav' that Punjab signed up for. Murders, Car thefts at Gunpoint, Snatching, Hooliganism & Kabza's... Uncontrolled AAP workers fulfilling selfish motives... Poles apart from S. Bhagat Singh's ideology of selflessness and sacrifice," he added. Earlier on Thursday, Sidhu said alleged that a Congress worker named Iqbal Singh was killed by the AAP workers in village Kasowana, Zira. "Still awaiting action against the AAP workers who brutally killed Congress worker Iqbal in village Kasowana, Zira. Will be attending his 'Antim Ardaas' on Wednesday. We will fiercely rally behind every congress worker, who is our backbone," he added. (ANI) Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday informed the Rajya Sabha that New Delhi Railway Station will be redeveloped to provide state of the art passenger amenities, road infrastructure, and an iconic building to cater to traffic demand of the future. The Minister made the announcement while responding to a query in a written reply, saying the proposal for the redevelopment of the New Delhi railway station will be taken up in a Public-Private Partnership mode. Responding to a question by Aam Aadmi Party MP Sushil Kumar Gupta about whether the government proposes to revamp the New Delhi railway station, the Union Minister said, "The proposal for the redevelopment of New Delhi railway station to be taken up on Public Private Partnership mode aims to provide state of the art passenger amenities, road infrastructure and station with an iconic building to cater to the traffic demand of future." On being further asked whether the New Delhi railway station redevelopment has received environmental clearance from the government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, Vaishnaw said that railway station projects are exempted from seeking prior environmental clearance subject to certain conditions. "However, tree cutting permission has been obtained," he said. The second half of the Budget session of Parliament began on March 14 and will conclude on April 8. The first half of the Budget session began on January 31 and concluded on February 11. (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved the Delhi High Court against the summons issued to its officials by Kolkata Police in connection with an audiotape leak case. The Kolkata Police recently had issued fresh summons to three ED officials. The ED officials have been recently asked to appear before sleuths of the detective department at Kalighat Police Station. The Bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh on Friday took up the matter and tagged this fresh ED application with another similar petition of ED, already pending before the Delhi High Court. The court fixed the matter for April 4, 2022, for hearing. Meanwhile, ASG SV Raju appearing from Enforcement Directorate sought to stay on the summons or interim order to restrain West Bengal Police from any action against the officials. On that, senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa appearing for the West Bengal government assured the court that till the next date of hearing no action will be taken. Along with ASG SV Raju, Advocates Amit Mahajan and Nitesh Rana also appeared for Enforcement Directorate in the matter. Earlier in September 2019, ED had approached the Delhi High Court and sought quashing of notices issued by West Bengal Police against ED officials probing coal mining cases and the alleged involvement of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee in it. The Delhi HC had granted a stay on the notice in December 2021. ED in its plea stated that the respondents despite passing the interim order in order to overreach orders of this Court has issued impugned notice dated March 17, 2022 in apparent attempt to harass, browbeat and stop the officers of ED from discharging the statutory functions. The mala fide of the Respondent is also apparent from the fact that they also filed an application for taking voice sample of the officer of ED in which an ex parte order dated March 29 has been passed by the Judicial Magistrate, Alipore, states ED. ED in its fresh petition seeks quashing of March 17 notice issued in Kalighat Police station under Section 160(1) CrPC. The plea mentioned that the investigation into the illegal coal mining and the role of the complainant Abhishek Banerjee, Member of Parliament and nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is being investigated by the ED in the exercise of its statutory powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in the Headquarters at New Delhi. ED further stated that West Bengal Police FIR has been registered with a malafide intention to derail and delay the investigation under PMLA being conducted by the Directorate of Enforcement. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated the Bharat Darshan Sushasan Yatra of BJP's youth wing BJYM in Bengaluru. The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) said that its workers will be introduced to the country's cultural diversity, traditions and historical richness by experiential tours to different places through the Bharat Darshan. BJYM, in a press release, said, "The BJYM functionaries will also get an opportunity to visit the biggest developmental projects of the various states of the country, see places of historical significance and engage in discussions with startups, entrepreneurs, cottage industries and farmer organisations. This will help the BJYM cadres experience and understand the unity in diversity of our country. The Yuva Morcha functionaries are mainly from the Mandal and District level." Addressing the gathering the National President of the BJYM Tejasvi Surya thanked Amit Shah for launching the programme and guiding BJYM workers on how to serve the country best. "It is only befitting that such a programme is launched by him, under whom India is a lot safer and all parts of the country are truly integrated into this historical civilization," Surya said. The Bharat Darshan began on Friday from Bengaluru and will last for four days. BJYM workers, mainly from the North and Northeast, will experience Karnataka's rich culture through this Bharat Darshan. As per the release, they will go to Hampi and get a glimpse of the vibrant Vijayanagar dynasty. They will also get to visit HAL and see the production of the Tejas aircraft. "With scheduled visits to Nasscom and Ola, the delegates will understand the city's startup spirit and draw inspiration from their journeys. Finally, they will push forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a greener future with a visit to the Pavagada Solar Park, the country's second-largest solar plant, in Tumakuru," the BJP youth wing said. Commenting on the programme, Surya said, "Bharat is much more than a geographical region. It is a fusion of emotions, cultures and millions of people with diverse traditions and sentiments. To serve the country in the true sense, it is very important to understand and feel our country first." "My state Karnataka has contributed tremendously to the history of our civilization. Karnataka's set of traditions dates back to more than thousands of years and its heritage spots are iconic places that India can be proud of. Through this programme, the delegates will get a glimpse of the best things Karnataka has to offer and they will be, in turn, able to take back these learnings to their respective states," he added. (ANI) Milk seller Anil Sharma who offered a 20 per cent discount on the milk to the buyers showing tickets to the film The Kashmir Files, received threatening phone calls. Sharma has lodged a complaint at the Pantnagar police station. Just a few days back, Sharma wrote on a banner outside his dairy shop that anyone who saw the movie 'The Kashmir Files' and showed tickets would get a 20 per cent discount on milk. "I saw this film and thought that if he cannot do anything for Kashmir, then after seeing milk discount for two days, something should be done for the benefit of the people," said Sharma. The 'Kashmir Files' is a film based on the Kashmiri Pandit exodus of the 1990s. The movie, which has entered the Rs 200 crore business club, has been at the centre of public debate since its release earlier this month. (ANI) According to the police, the accused Mithun Tiwari is a stalker and he created multiple fake accounts on Instagram to stalk people. National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal received a complaint on March 17 wherein the complainant reported that someone has created many fake Instagram accounts and threatened her on Instagram for kidnapping and making her morphed photographs viral. A case was registered at South West District Police station under sections 354 D and 509 of the Indian Penal Code. After three days of investigation, the team arrested the accused and blocked five fake Instagram accounts. The police interrogated the accused and found that he was blackmailing the victim by threatening her with morphed pictures. During the investigation, the police sought the details of the suspected Instagram accounts from the Law Enforcement Agency of Instagram. One mobile number and some IP addresses were obtained from Service Providers. (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate on Friday opposed journalist Rana Ayyub's petition seeking to quash the ED's Lookout Circular and its decision to stop her from flying abroad stating that the charges of money laundering against her are serious in nature. Opposing Ayyub's petition, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appearing for the ED submitted that she is involved in a serious offence of misappropriated funds. "She received the money in dollars along with Indian rupees for charity and to help the poor and migrants during the COVID-19 period. We have found that the money for relief work has been siphoned off and fake bills have been submitted by her," Raju said. The Bench of Justice Chander Dhari Singh on Friday sought a status report and listed the matter for April 4, 2022. Appearing for Petitioner Rana Ayyub, Advocate Vrinda Grover submitted that "all money in her bank accounts have been seized. The mala fide is writ large. After February 1, there is no summon by ED and no communication from their side. The ED's action is nothing but a sham because my client is a critic of the government." On Thursday, Rana Ayyub had moved to the Delhi High Court challenging ED's decision to stop her from flying abroad. She sought directions from the Court to enable her to travel out of India and quashing of a lookout circular issued against her. The plea stated that, on March 29, 2022, the petitioner arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to board an Air India flight to London, Heathrow, scheduled to depart at 14:25 hours, to attend events about the global problem of cyber attacks on women journalists, as well as to deliver a keynote speech on the status of journalism in India. However, at around noon, the petitioner was detained in a room adjacent to the immigration counter, and she was informed that the immigration officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs were seeking clarifications regarding some "remark" on the petitioner's file. The petitioner was then informed, over the course of the next hour, that the officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have instructions from the Enforcement Directorate to not allow the Petitioner to board her flight to London, and the immigration stamp on her passport was stamped as "cancelled", plea alleges. Ayyub alleged that she has been harassed, humiliated, and insulted by the mala fide action of the ED, and the organisers of the journalist events in London and Italy have also suffered losses and experienced grave inconvenience and disturbance due to the arbitrary detention of the petitioner at the airport on March 29, 2022. The petitioner is required professionally to frequently travel across the globe, and unreasonable, arbitrary, and mala fide restrictions on such travel is a direct violation of the Petitioner's right to free speech and expression, and right to practice her profession, as a member of the global and national media fraternity, the plea read. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin visited government schools and mohalla clinics with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here on Friday. Stalin, who is on a three-day visit to the national capital, visited Rajkiya Kanya Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in West Vinod Nagar. The officials briefed Stalin about the new education board, Desh bhakti curriculum, happiness curriculum and the entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum, 'Business Blasters' introduced in the schools and overall changes in the education system under the AAP government. The students presented various models and craft projects under the Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum (EMC) which gives Rs2,000 as seed money to students of Classes XI and XII to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Stalin said that his government is replicating the model of Delhi's government schools in Tamil Nadu. "Stalin Government of Tamil Nadu has given special attention to education and health services. Modern school works are being set up in Tamil Nadu. I am sure that Delhi CM will participate in the inauguration function, on behalf of the people of the state, I invite him to attend the function," he said. "Today, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has come to visit our schools and Mohalla clinics in Delhi. It is an honour for us to showcase our schools to him. It is pleasure and privilege to have him," Kejriwal said. Stalin also interacted with doctors at mohalla clinics and learnt about the developments in the health care sector under the Kejriwal government. On Friday morning, Stalin met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at her residence and discussed Tamil Nadu's fiscal demands with her. He is expected to meet Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at Udyog Bhavan in the evening. Earlier on Thursday, Stalin met PM Modi and discussed the economic condition of Sri Lanka. In the meeting, he proposed to send relief materials including food and medicines from the state to Sri Lanka. Stalin thereafter met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. He is also expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to the national capital. Stalin will inaugurate the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) new office in the national capital at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg on April 2. The inauguration of DMK's new office 'Anna-Kalaignar Arivalayam' is going to be a grand ceremony. The party has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders to the inauguration ceremony. (ANI) With an aim to bring artisans to the mainstream markets, an artisan awareness workshop was conducted at the National Institute of Fashion (NIFT), Srinagar on Friday. The two-month-long workshop was sponsored by the office of the Development Commissioner, Handlooms and Development Commissioner, Handicrafts under the Ministry of Textiles (Government of India). The workshop focused on enhancing the operational efficiency and competitiveness of the artisans and weavers. Artisans interacted with the NIFT faculty and students for sharing the nuances of designs, market trends, branding and the use of social media for marketing. "Purpose of the workshop is to hone the skills and improve the income sources of these tribal artisans. These artisans workers have prior experience of handling handloom and in the next two months, the institute will polish their skills in how marketing is done, and how to make better products. I hope this workshop will help them practically," Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza, Deputy Commissioner Budgam told ANI. The workshop would serve as a catalyst in paving way for the artisans in the valley. "We are teaching them product development as it is a skill upgradation programme. All of these participants have past experience of embroidery, what we are teaching them is how to make products and develop a wider range of options thus giving them an opportunity to earn better," said Nowsheen Qazi, the Course Coordinator. The participants were also given information about various welfare schemes meant for the development of the artisan community. "I am really happy to be a part of this workshop. It is going to help us build our future. Ranging from the latest machinery to the recent techniques, we have everything here. This was not possible at home where we only focused on embroidery. We really look forward to improving our skills," said a student, Shazia Jan. (ANI) "I appeal to ULFA-I and other militant organizations which are still in their arms movement, to come forward and take part in the peace process so that we all can make Assam a powerful state of the country," said Sarma in the state Assembly. The Chief Minister said the withdrawal of AFSPA from most parts of the state will usher in a new horizon of a peaceful environment. "The state will get new strengths of development. On behalf of Assam and Northeast, I extend my gratitude to Prime Minister and Home Minister for taking this historical decision," he added. In a major step, the Centre had on Friday reduced disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the states of Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur. (ANI) Union Minister Amit Shah on Friday lauded the ongoing Ayushman Bharat scheme across the country and said that within seven years, the government has made as many as 596 medical colleges across the country and added that the government has provided free treatment worth upto Rs 5 lakh for about 80 crore poor people, under the scheme. Shah along with Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of a medical college hospital at Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapur district. Speaking at the event, Shah said, "Earlier, dearth of doctors in rural areas was the biggest hurdle in the formulation of medical policies. Within seven years, we've made 596 medical colleges. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, we have given the free treatment of worth upto Rs 5 lakh to 80 crore poor people." Earlier in the day, Shah was at the Siddaganga mutt, Tumakuru on the special occasion of Dr Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu's 115th Jayanti. In a tweet today, Shah wrote, "Today, had the great fortune of being at the Siddaganga mutt, Tumakuru on the special occasion of Dr. Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu's 115th Jayanti. Paid my tributes to the beacon of selfless service and humanity." The Union Home Minister said that Dr. Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu had devoted his entire life to providing food, shelter and education to the poor and downtrodden. "Dr Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu had devoted his entire life to providing food, shelter and education to the poor and downtrodden. He was a remarkable soul who empowered countless lives through his noble services and humanitarian efforts. I bow to him on his Jayanti," said Shah. This visit by Shah and other dignitaries holds crucial as the Karnataka Assembly Elections are slated to be held next year. (ANI) "I have full faith in Home Minister Patil and he is doing a good job," the Chief Minister's office said in a statement after the meeting of Thackeray and Patil concluded at 'Varsha' bungalow here. Their meeting lasted for more than an hour. Minister of Tourism of state Aaditya Thackeray was also present at the meeting. Earlier, Patil, an NCP leader, had himself refuted the reports of the Chief Minister being upset with him, over his response to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis' allegation, during the recently concluded Budget session of state legislature, that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) - an alliance of NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena - was hatching a conspiracy to frame some BJP leaders, including himself, in false cases. (ANI) A group of seven students, who were rescued from Ukraine, reached Delhi on Friday from Jammu to meet Union Minister Jitendra Singh to appeal for the Centre's intervention in helping them complete their MBBS degree in India. Union Minister Jitender Singh after meeting the students told media persons that the students have expressed concerns over completing their course and assured them of support from the government. "They (Ukraine returnees) expressed their concern over their future as their studies are suffering. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is always there for them. The government of India is concerned about their future like everyone. They will get the help," he said. Noting that he has a personal connect with these students, Singh said, "During the rescue operation when they were brought back to India, I received them. Later, we made arrangements for their accommodations at Jammu house and was in continuous touch till the time they reached their houses. So they came to meet me." Neha Kaith, a student pursuing medicine from Kharkiv after meeting the Union Minister told ANI, that they are taking online classes but they don't suffice as practical knowledge is of immense importance. Expressing gratitude to the government for 'Operation Ganga', Neha said, "We are taking online classes but in medicine, we also need practical exposure. Thus we appeal to the government to accommodate us in medicine courses in India." Her father, Baba Kaith said, "Future of our kids is in the hand of the Government of India. We belong to a middle-class family. We sent our kids out of the country to study and now the situation is adverse. We request the government to help our children." Another rescued student from Ukraine, Aryan Dubey, a fourth-year MBBS student demanded to complete physical training in India. "We are getting online classes from our university back in Ukraine but in medicine, practical exposure is more important. I want to complete my medicine here and serve here only," he said. (ANI) New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI) In a bid to set the tone for upcoming Assembly polls, Gujarat Bhartiya Janata Party chief CR Patil is distributing the Surat made saffron cap to all the party MPs in New Delhi. The cap or topi as being called in the local language is similar to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen wearing during his Ahmedabad roadshow on March 11, after BJP emerged victorious in four out of five states which recently went to polls. The package being distributed by Patli carries protein bars with the cap. "Many designs of the cap were reviewed after which the final design was approved by the state leadership and the cap was prepared in Surat - known as the textile hub of the country," said party leaders. The party leaders added that the cap has been made with cotton keeping in mind the quality and style. "Unlike the previous caps where BJP was written in the Gujarati language in bold letters this one has been made in a sleek fashionable manner," he added. With a thin patch of embroidery, Bhajpa (in Gujarati) has been inscribed on the cap, accompanied with the party symbol--lotus (Brahm Kamal). The design of the cap seems to be inspired by the traditional cap of Uttarakhand which PM Modi wore during this year's Republic Day. The battle of Gujarat is slated to take place later this year with the BJP holding the bastion strongly for decades with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being the longest-serving chief minister for 21 years before coming to Delhi. (ANI) The sale of non-vegetarian food such as meat and fish has been banned in Dehu in Pune from Friday. This decision was taken at the first general meeting of the newly formed Dehu Municipal Council. The resolution, which was unanimously approved by all parties in February, is being implemented with effect from today. Speaking to ANI today, Prashant Jadhav, chief officer of the Dehu Nagar Panchayat confirmed the news and said, "The decision has been taken considering the sentiments of the locals and the devotees of Sant Tukaram Maharaj. Maharashtra's famous Sant Tukaram Maharaj temple is situated in Dehu city." "In the first general body meeting of the Nagar Panchayat on February 25, a resolution was passed unanimously to ban the sale of fish and meat in the jurisdiction of Dehu town considering the sentiments of local residents," he said. He appealed to citizens that if anyone runs their shops of meat or fish, they should shut them down immediately otherwise administration will initiate police action against the violators. (ANI) With Maharashtra scrapping COVID-19 restrictions and easing the norm on compulsory wearing of masks in public places, a health expert has emphasised caution noting that masks play a significant role in curtailing transmission of the disease. Dr Priya Abraham, Director, ICMR-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) said in an exclusive interview with ANI that masks should continue to be worn, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated places. "I don't think it is time to completely throw precautions away. I personally believe that in any crowded place where we are sitting fairly close to each other or in a poorly ventilated place, we must wear a mask. A mask definitely has a role in curtailing transmission," she said. She said there is also a need to take care that infection does not spread to vulnerable groups such as senior citizens. "Most of the time when children pick up an infection, it is mild or asymptomatic. But when a child with infection comes home and if there is an unvaccinated or a sick, older person, they can transmit the infection," Dr Abraham said. The Maharashtra Government on Thursday announced that all COVID-19 related restrictions including the compulsory wearing of masks in public places will be withdrawn from April 2. It has advised people to follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour but wearing masks will be optional. Fines for not wearing masks in public are likely to be done away in Delhi also. A meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA was held on Thursday and a decision has been taken to do away with a fine for not wearing masks, sources said. COVID-19 cases in India have declined sharply with 1,335 new cases recorded on Friday. Maharashtra on Thursday reported 183 new COVID-19 cases, taking the number of active cases to 902. Delhi reported 113 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. China has seen a rise in COVID-19 cases and has put restrictions in its commercial hub of Shanghai to prevent the spread of the disease. (ANI) On March 30, Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022 to omit the 'Bhogta' community from the list of Scheduled Castes in relation to the state of Jharkhand. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 28, 2022. The Bill, which seeks amendment to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, was passed with a voice vote. It was moved in the Upper House by the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda. The Bill seeks amendment to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 to omit the Bhogta community from the list of Scheduled Castes in relation to the State of Jharkhand and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 for inclusion of certain communities in the lists of Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Jharkhand. According to their traditional beliefs, the Bhogta people emerged from a union of religious preachers and tribal women. The children from these unions became the Bhogta people, most of whom now live in India's eastern states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Bihar. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed the reopening of five floors of Masjid Bangle Wali at Nizamuddin Markaz premises for offering namaz during Ramzan. Justice Jasmeet Singh allowed the reopening of Masjid under the same condition as were laid down at the time of reopening for Shab-e-Barat for offering namaz by devotees. The High Court noted that if more area is permitted for prayer, it would be better in view of COVID protocol. The bench also said that the arrangements will be only for the month of Ramzan and will end with the culmination of Eid. The bench has also been directed to install CCTV at the entry, exit and stairs for the event. The bench directed that there will be prayers, and namaz only but no Tablighi activities and no lecture will be there. This application was moved in the petition by the Delhi Waqf Board and management committee for the reopening of Masjid Bangle Wali for Shab-e-Barat and for the month of Ramzan. The High court on Thursday was informed by the Delhi Police that it will allow the offering of namaz in Masjid Bangle Wali on the conditions laid down by the High Court while granting permission offering of prayer during Shab-e-Barat. Earlier the High Court on March 22, allowed the reopening of the Masjid Bangle Wali for Shab-e-Barat after removing the condition of limiting the number of devotees proposed by the SHO Hazrat Nizamuddin Police station. The bench allowed the reopening of the ground and four other floors of the mosque after hearing the contentions of the counsels of the applicants. The Court had allowed the application after modifying the conditions regarding the bar on foreign devotees, CCTV cameras, and Tablighi activities including others. The court had asked the Delhi Waqf Board and Management Committee to follow COVID-19 protocols and social distancing and to deploy volunteers with a thermal scanner to check the temperature of the visiting devotees. It is also asked the applicants will arrange the thermal scanners. Besides, information regarding the conditions for entry of foreigners will be displayed at every gate. The counsel for the applicant/petitioner Delhi Waqf Board placed in the record the order of February 26, 2022 issued by DDMA withdrawing all the COVID-19 restrictions. Advocate Wajeeh Shafiq, counsel for the applicant had argued that the Markaz premises should be reopened according to the recent order issued by DDMA. What DDMA has said about other religious places will govern this place also. It has been lying closed since 2020. Senior Advocate Rebecca John appearing for the Management committee argued that there is no reason why there should be a restriction on the opening of the premises. Petitioner Delhi Waqf Board through advocate Wajeeh Shafiq has sought to reassess the necessity of keeping the waqf premises, situated at Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin between Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin and police Station Hazrat Nizamuddin, under their locks. The petition said that the respondents have put the waqf premises Masjid Bangley Wali, Madarsa Kashif-Ul-Uloom and the attached hostel situated as Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi under their locks since March 31, 2020. (ANI) "Five AIUDF MLAs came to Chief Minister's residence at around 8 am today. They have tarnished the image of Assam. It is a betrayal in Rajya Sabha elections," reads the official letter of Congress. Congress tweeted the letter with the caption, "Truth shall prevail. BJP won the Rajya Sabha seats piggybacking on AIUDF's back. 5 MLAs of AIUDF seen meeting CM at his residence early in the morning." The Bharatiya Janata Party and its ally United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) bagged both the Rajya Sabha seat from Assam that went to polls on late Wednesday. According to calculations, Congress candidate Ripun Bora was set to win one of the seats with the unified collective support of all the opposition parties in Assam. Earlier, AIUDF had announced their support for Ripun Bora. However, he lost the polls after cross-voting took place between the MLAs of Congress and AIUDF. BJP candidate Pabitra Margherita secured 46 votes while its ally party UPPL's candidate Rwngwra Narzary secured 44 votes in the Rajya Sabha polls. Congress candidate Ripun Bora secured 35 votes whereas 1 vote was cancelled. (ANI) Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Friday recommends there is an immediate requirement for the creation of an "independent umbrella institution", so as to bring various agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), Enforcement Directorate (ED), etc. under one roof. "There is an immediate requirement for the creation of an independent umbrella institution, so as to bring various agencies like the CBI, SFIO, ED, etc. under one roof. This body is required to be created under a statute, clearly defining its powers, functions and jurisdictions. Such a law will also lead to much needed legislative oversight," CJI Ramana said while delivering the 19th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture in Delhi today. CJI Ramana, who was speaking on 'Democracy: Role and Responsibilities of Investigative Agencies', said that this umbrella organisation will end a "multiplicity of proceedings". A single incident these days gets investigated by multiple agencies, often leading to dilution of evidence, a contradiction in depositions, prolonged incarceration of innocents, CJI opined, adding that "it will also save the institution from being blamed as a tool of harassment." "Once an incident is reported, the organisation should decide as to which specialised wing should take up the investigation," CJI said. He also suggested that the "umbrella" organization be headed by an independent and impartial authority, which should be appointed by a committee akin to the one which appoints the Director of the CBI and the head of the organisation can be assisted by deputies who are specialists in different domains. One additional safeguard that needs to be built into the scheme, is to have separate and autonomous wings for prosecution and investigation, in order to ensure total independence, CJI said. He also recommended that there is a need for regular up-gradation of knowledge, deployment of state-of-the-art technology and international exchange programmes to learn the best practices. "With the police and public order under the State list, and rightly so, the burden of investigation is primarily on the state police. There is no reason why state investigative agencies, which handle most of the investigations, cannot enjoy the same level of credibility as that of the national agency," CJI said. "The State agencies must be equipped to deal with increasing challenges in the field of investigation. The proposed Central law for the umbrella investigative body can be suitably replicated by the states," CJI said and opined that a harmonious relationship should exist between the State and Central agencies. CJI also praised DP Kohli, the founding Director of CBI as an exemplary officer, who was renowned for his courage, conviction and remarkable efficiency. His vision turned CBI into the premier investigative agency in India. The Central Bureau of Investigation organised an Annual Lecture in the memory of its founding Director, DP Kohli and also an investiture ceremony to felicitate CBI Awardees in Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. (ANI) As per the document on Security in Public Wi-Fi Implementations-Best Practices, "User data privacy is to be ensured by App Providers and PDOAs. Complete user data and usage logs are to be stored within India" informed the Minister of State for Communications, Devusinh Chauhan. In an official release, the Communications Ministry said "User data privacy is to be ensured by App Providers and PDOAs. Complete user data and usage logs are to be stored within India. Provisions by the App Provider, PDOA and Central Registry Provider to safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of any information about a third party to whom it provides the service." In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Chauhan wrote that the government has added the security-related guidelines under the PM-WANI scheme. Under the PM-Wani scheme, no licence fee is to be paid for providing broadband internet services using public Wi-Fi hotspots. (ANI) The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Friday allowed the Central government's plea to take over the affairs of the Delhi Gymkhana Club and to nominate 15 persons as Directors on the General Committee of the club. The order came from NCLT's bench comprising President Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Member Narender Kumar Bhola. The tribunal was hearing the Centre's plea seeking to nominate 15 (fifteen) persons, to be appointed as directors on the General Committee of the respondent company to manage the affairs of the company. The petition was filed under Section 241-242 of the Companies Act, 2013 by Central India against the Delhi Gymkhana Club. The tribunal today ordered the Centre's petition is allowed and the Central Government is permitted to nominate 15 persons to be appointed as Directors on the General Committee of Respondent Company and manage the affairs of the Company in accordance with the memorandum and Articles of Association and the Companies Act, 2013. The tribunal further said that such Directors so appointed as above will file a report with this Tribunal, once in three months or whenever required. The NCLT also ordered that they are directed to take all actions for restructuring the Gymkhana Club in terms of the memorandum and Articles of Association and take corrective measures which are in violation of the memorandum and Articles of Association and the Companies Act, 2013. A duly authorized person of the newly appointed Directors who form the General Committee of the Respondent Company will file the report including the financial report as indicated above or when required, the NCLT also directed. "The present Administrator or any other person(s)/who may be in-charge of Respondent No.1- Company/Club will hand over charge to the newly appointed Directors of the Respondent No. 1-Company forthwith, " The NCLT said in its 149's page order. The NCLT also directed that the new Directors of the General Committee appointed by the Government in terms of this order shall file a report before this Tribunal immediately on taking over charge of the Respondent Club. (ANI) Congress leader Vivek K Tankha introduced the 'The Kashmir Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022' in the Upper House. The Bill seeks to provide for social, political and economic rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, protection of their property, restoration of their cultural heritage, ensuring their safety and security, provision of rehabilitation and resettlement package to them. Since the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A from Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, there is talks about the rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh on Tuesday had also asked the government to allocate Rs 20,000 crore for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits during the discussion on the Finance Bill-2022 in the Upper House. There was a mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in the wake of the Pakistan-backed insurgency in early 1990. (ANI) He handed over a memorandum on the needs of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin visited government schools and mohalla clinics with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here on Friday. On a three-day visit to Delhi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday met PM Narendra Modi and urged the Centre to allow the state government to provide humanitarian aid to Sri Lankan Tamils. He said many of them are fleeing Lanka and coming to the state through the sea route in the wake of the economic crisis in the island nation. Stalin handed over a 14-point charter of demands to PM Modi. He had also met Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Gujarat High Court to decide afresh over the plea of Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson Tushar Gandhi challenging Gujarat High Court's order refusing to interfere with the proposed redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant also set aside the order of the High Court and sent the matter back to the High Court for fresh consideration. "The High Court has not called for a comprehensive affidavit from the state of Gujarat before disposing of the writ petition (filed by Gandhi). We are of the considered view that it would be appropriate for the High Court to decide upon the issues which are raised in the petition after furnishing to the state of Gujarat an opportunity of filing a comprehensive affidavit dealing with various facets of the matter," the bench in its order stated. "The High Court having disposed of the matter summarily without calling for a report from the state of Gujarat, we are of the view prima facie that the matter be required to be restored to the High Court," it added. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, submitted that government has no objection on matter being sent to the High Court. The bench also clarified that it has not entered into the merit of the issues which are sought to be raised by the petitioner or the correctness of any aspect. Senior advocate Indira Jaising appeared for Gandhi. She contended that Ashram's redevelopment work must be carried out under trustees' supervision. Gandhi challenged the High Court's November 25, 2021 order dismissing his petition in this regard. Earlier, Jaising, while seeking an urgent listing of the case for the hearing, had said the Gujarat Tourism Corporation is undertaking a project for the redevelopment of Sabarmati Ashram. The Gujarat High Court had dismissed Gandhi's petition against the state government's decision to redevelop Sabarmati Ashram. Thereafter, Gandhi approached the top court against the High Court order. Gujarat government had told the High Court that Sabarmati Ashram covers an area of 1 acre which would remain untouched, and the idea was to develop 55 acres of land surrounding the Ashram. The High Court in its order had noted that the State government assured that it will "not touch" three key attractions in the one-acre area housing the main ashram. Gandhi, however, stated that the significance of the land was not limited to the one-acre Ashram itself but covered the entire property on the banks of the Sabarmati. The petitioner expressed fears that the redevelopment would change the physical structure of Sabarmati Ashram and corrupt its simplicity and frugality which embodied the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi, thus making it diametrically opposite to Gandhian principles. He feared that the project would be turned into a commercial tourist attraction that would subsequently be pawned off to a private contractor to be run merely for profit. The Rs 1,200 crore Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project has been jointly undertaken by the State and the Central government for developing the Ashram, where Mahatma Gandhi lived from 1917 to 1930. The project would be developed over an area of 55 acres from the existing five acres by bringing together heritage buildings and restoring the surroundings. (ANI) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has seized assets worth Rs 194.90 crore in the matter of offshore payments received illegally by the beneficial owners of a private company. According to a release by the ED, the agency has seized assets worth Rs 194.90 crore in the matter of offshore payment received illegally by the beneficial owners of M/s GI Retail Pvt Limited, an Indian company owned and beneficially held by Ramu A. Ramasamy, Palaniyapan A Ramasamy, and their family members. M/s GI Retail Pvt Ltd sold its subsidiary company Herms I Ticket India Pvt Ltd to one fund in Mauritius namely EMIF 1A, mainly controlled by one Henry O'Sullivan for a consideration of Rs. 275 Crore in the year 2015. The said EMIF 1A in turn immediately sold the shares of Herms I Tickets Pvt Ltd to M/s Wirecard AG, Germany at an exorbitant price of Euro 320 Million, read the release. The investigation from the perspective of FEMA, 1999 was initiated and it is found that the beneficial owners of GI Retail Pvt Ltd received payment of Rs 195.36 crore over and above the actual sale consideration of Rs 275 Crore from EMIF 1A and Wirecard AG in the accounts of fictitious entities associated with them and located in the United Arab Emirates, the ED said. The said receipt of payment in offshore accounts by M/s GI Retail Pvt Ltd and their beneficial owners is in violation of provisions of Section 4 of FEMA, 1999. Accordingly, the Indian assets in the form of shares, fixed deposits and immovable assets located in India total to the tune of Rs 194.90 Crore has been seized under Section 37A FEMA, 1999, it added. (ANI) "The government intends to make the optimal use of the potential of IT/BT for economic progress. The Union and State governments also wish to strengthen the industrial and trade relationship with South-East Asian countries. The companies based in Bengaluru will be encouraged to expand their activities in Thailand," he stated. He stated this to the delegation led by Nitirooge Phoneprasert, Consul General of Thailand in India who met him at Vikasa Soudha. "Thailand has sought the help of the Government of Karnataka (GoK) in the areas of education and IT/BT. The delegation has also sought us to set up campuses of higher education in their country. The government is looking at it positively," Narayan informed. Minister Narayan also mentioned that the state government plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with the south-Asian country. "Thailand is chiefly dependent on tourism activities. Considering this, the GoK is thinking about entering into MoUs with that country so as to enable Twinning Graduation" he concluded. (ANI) Congress is likely to appoint industrialist Naresh Patel, an influential Patidar community leader, as its chief ministerial face in the run-up to the assembly polls later this year, party sources said. Congress is drawing up a "big strategy" for the Gujarat assembly elections which are crucial for the party after its drubbing in elections to five states. The party has been out of power in Gujarat for almost 28 years and is keen to shore up its prospects in Gujarat. Congress sources said the party leadership is evolving a strategy for the polls and Naresh Patel could soon join the Congress. Election strategist Prashant Kishor is part of the plan for projecting Naresh Patel as chief ministerial candidate, sources said. Naresh Patel is a Leuva Patidar leader and chairman of Khodaldham Trust, which runs the Khodaldham Mata Temple, the kuldevi of Leuva Patels. He is also apparently being wooed by the Aam Aadmi Party. Congress sources said Patel has met the top Congress leadership and may join the Congress during Rahul Gandhi's visit to Gujarat in April. The sources said Naresh Patel may be made head of the party's election campaign committee initially and may be projected as a chief ministerial candidate as the election nears, sources added. Naresh Patel is also known among the Patidar community for his social work and is considered to have influence among other communities also. There is speculation that Prashant Kishor may join the Congress soon. Asked about it, Congress leader Shakti Singh Gohil had said at a press conference that everyone is told "the time of marriage, not at the time of seeing the girl". Sources said Kishor wants Naresh Patel to lead the Congress campaign in Gujarat while Naresh Patel also wants the campaign to be under Kishor's supervision. Congress has conducted an internal survey and the results are favourable towards Naresh Patel, sources said. Congress had given a tough fight to the BJP in the last Gujarat assembly polls. Sources said the survey revealed that the party can again be in a position to give very close contest to BJP with suitable changes. But there are other factors at play as well with Aam Aadmi Party keen to make big inroads in Gujarat after its victory in Punjab polls. Naresh Patel is a new face politically and has not contested any election. There is the risk of the old guard getting upset at any preference given to a new leader and the party has dealt with a similar problem in Punjab. Gujarat Congress chief Jagdish Thakor belongs to the OBC Community and Leader of Opposition Sukhram Rathwa is from Scheduled Tribes. The Congress has support among the Dalit community also. The Congress hopes that social equations will work in its favour in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its election strategy will succeed. The Patidar community has an influence on a sizeable number of seats in Gujarat. Congress is seen to have an edge in Saurashtra due to the agitation of the Patidar community ahead of the last assembly polls. In the last election to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, the BJP won 99 seats with 49 per cent votes and the Congress 77 seats with 41.4 per cent votes. However, in the last four-and-a-half years, more than a dozen MLAs have left Congress. (ANI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday extended his greetings and wishes to the people in the state, on the occasion of Gudi Padwa -Saunsar Padwo and wished the people peace, prosperity, progress and a blessed festival. In his message, the Chief Minister stated, "Gudi Padwa festival is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the New Year as per the Hindu calendar. This festival is also known to be an indication of joy and prosperity to everyone." The Chief Minister further said the festival reiterates commitment to unity in diversity. "Celebrated in the first month of Chaitra, Gudi Padwa is the auspicious festival that derives its name from two words- 'Gudi' which is the flag of Lord Brahma and 'Padwa' which signifies the first day of the phase of the moon." "May Gudi Padwa become a new beginning of our dreams, hopes, and happiness. May this wonderful year bring success and best health to all of us," said Sawant. The CM also urged the people of the State to celebrate Gudi Padwa with a lot more enthusiasm and fervour move towards new expectations and prosperity as he wished everyone happiness and prosperity.(ANI) Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule on Friday introduced 'The Special Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2022' as a Private Member's Bill which aims to provide equal marriage rights to LGBTQIA+ individuals. Seeking an amendment to the Special Marriage Act, the Bill says that "this Act may be called the Special Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2022 and it shall come into force at once." Justifying the reason for the Bill, the Baramati MP in a statement said, "In the year 2018, the Supreme Court of India struck down an archaic, draconian legislation of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 namely section 377. Through this landmark judgement (Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India), homosexuality was effectively decriminalised. While this was a much needed, progressive leap forward, LGBTQIA individuals still face persecution, discrimination and social stigma within society." Justice DY Chandrachud in Justice KS Pattaswamy (Retd) vs Union of India observed that 'family, marriage, procreation and sexual orientation are all integral to the dignity of the individual. Above all, the privacy of the individual recognizes an inviolable right to determine how freedom shall be exercised, she stated. While the determination of one's sexual orientation has been realised, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP said LGBTQIA individuals are still unable to marry and create their own families. "In addition, LGBTQIA couples have no access to rights that heterosexual couples are entitled to upon marriage, such as succession, maintenance and pensions, etc. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to amend the Special Marriage Act, of 1954, to legalise same-sex marriage, and provide legal recognition to married LGBTQIA couples. It will ensure that article 14 and article 21 of the Constitution are upheld, and ensure that LGBTQIA couples are provided with the rights they are entitled to." In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which criminalised homosexuality. Earlier, the Centre had earlier told Delhi High Court that the acceptance of the institution of marriage between two individuals of the same gender is neither recognized nor accepted in any uncodified personal laws or any codified statutory laws. (ANI) The Delhi Government has started an intensive enforcement drive for bus drivers and those of goods carriage vehicles to ensure their adherence to the lane discipline from Friday. Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot inspected the drive, which commenced today, at the ITO intersection and interacted with the enforcement staff on the ground. The Transport Department, in consultation with Delhi Traffic Police and other stakeholders, has identified 46 major corridors for implementation of the drive. The initiative will be implemented in total three phases having a total coverage of 474.91 km in its final phase. Phase 1 will focus on ensuring visibility and impact, while Phase 2 will expand the initiative to the outer ring road and other adjoining areas. PWD Department has been directed installation of signages/warning signages, paining/marking of bus lanes, painting of bus boxes (thermoplastic) and removal of encroachments on the selected corridors. During the drive, buses and goods carriages will have to ply in the segregated and marked lanes for 24 hours. During no entry timings for goods vehicles, light motor vehicles (non-transport/private) may also ply in the earmarked bus lanes. During the inspection, Gahlot said that the safety of citizens on Delhi roads is of paramount importance to the government. "By assigning dedicated lanes to buses and enforcement of the safety measures, we are further committed to make Delhi roads safe for our citizens, motorists, non-motorized transport and pedestrians," he said. "It would also help with reducing the traffic congestion on road. I also urge the bus commuters to wait only at the bus stops and bus queue shelters and not step onto the bus box, so that we can ensure maximum compliance with this drive. We hope to receive maximum cooperation from the citizens for the initiative," he added. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Gujarat High Court to re-examine a plea by Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, against the state government's decision on the redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram project in Ahmedabad. A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the matter can be sent back to the high court, which can decide it on merits. The bench, also comprising Justice Surya Kant, set aside the high court order passed on November 25 last year, which "summarily dismissed" the PIL filed by Gandhi. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Gujarat government, submitted that the area comprising Mahatma Gandhi's Ashram was only a few acres, but the real ashram land was much larger and pointed at the encroachments, which needed to be removed. He said that the state government would file a comprehensive written response, detailing the matter, before the high court, which would dispel all the petitioner's "unverified apprehensions". Mehta further added that the intention was to preserve the sanctity of Mahatma Gandhi' Ashram and a part of the buildings, which was in dilapidated condition, required reconstruction. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, representing the petitioner, and Mehta, agreed that the high court can re-examine the matter and take a decision on it. After hearing arguments, the bench said: "We set aside the impugned judgment of the high court." The plea challenged a Gujarat High Court order, which declined to interfere with the proposed redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram by the Gujarat government. The petitioner contended the redevelopment work should be in the domain of the trusts, including of the National Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust, the Khadi Gramodyog Prayog Samiti, the Harijan Ashram Trust, the Sabarmati Ashram Goshala Trust, and the Harijan Sevak Sangh. The plea further added that their response in the matter should be taken on record. The Advocate General, representing the Gujarat government, had submitted before the high court that the Sabarmati Ashram covers an area of 1 acre which would remain untouched, and the idea was to develop 55 acres of land surrounding the Ashram. The petitioner, in the high court, had claimed that the significance of the land was not limited to the one-acre ashram, rather covered the entire property on the banks of the Sabarmati, which was more than 100 acres. The high court had said: "We are of the considered view that the apprehensions expressed by the petitioner in this petition would all stand allayed as could be seen from the very impugned Government resolution dated March 5, 2021 itself, and if there are any other individual grievances of the person who may be residing in the precincts they would always have their right to espouse the same in an appropriate forum and before the jurisdictional Court and for the said purpose, Public Interest Litigation cannot be ignited." The Rs 1,200 crore-worth Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project has been jointly undertaken by the state and Central government. In the high court, the petitioner contended that the sum and substance of the grievance is that the redevelopment of Gandhi Ashram Memorial proposed by Gujarat by Government Resolution dated March 5, 2021 would transgress the existing working of Gandhi Ashram, known as Sabarmati Ashram, which is managed by Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust formed in 1951. The plea, in the high court, added that it would cause imbalance and thereby the aesthetic value as well as the Gandhian principles enunciated by the "Father of the Nation" would recede to background or in other words, the Gandhi Ashram existing on the banks of Sabarmati River would eclipse by virtue of the said order. --IANS ss/vd ( 626 Words) 2022-04-01-19:16:01 (IANS) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Friday and apprised him about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Lavrov briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Ukraine, including the ongoing peace negotiations. Modi reiterated his call for an early cessation of violence, and conveyed India's readiness to contribute in any way to the peace efforts, the statement said. The meeting lasted for 40 minutes during which Lavrov also informed the Prime Minister about various bilateral initiatives. He, thereafter, left the Prime Minister Office's but got stuck slightly in a traffic jam for a few minutes on way to the IGI airport to fly back to Moscow. Ahead of meeting Prime Minister Modi, Lavrov has said US pressure would not affect the India-Russia relationship and added if India wants to mediate for resolution to the Ukraine problem, such a process can be supported. Lavrov was on a two-day visit to India where he held deliberations with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar over crude oil offer, rupee-ruble payment, ongoing arms deals, Ukraine crisis, and the situation in Afghanistan and Iran. About India playing a bigger role in the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov said: "India is an important and serious country. If India plays that role that provides resolution, India as our common partner.. we are for the security guarantee of Ukraine.. West has ignored it's responsibility...If India is with its position of just and rational approach to international problems.. can support such a process." On India's view on the Ukraine crisis, he said that India's foreign policy is guided by its independent position. "I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterised by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners." India has stayed neutral on seven Ukraine-related resolutions at the United Nations. Lavrov categorically said Russia's aim in Ukraine is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia. During interaction with media persons here, Lavrov, talking about the Ukraine crisis said: "You called it a war, which is not true. It is a special operation, military infrastructure is being targeted. The aim is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia." In their meeting, Lavrov and Jaishankar assessed the overall state of cooperation and considered the implications of recent developments on trade and economic relations. The two ministers discussed developments pertaining to Ukraine. Lavrov briefed the Indian side on Russia's perspective, including the ongoing talks. Jaishankar emphasised the importance of cessation of violence and ending hostilities. Differences and disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and by respect for international law, UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, he added. The ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Lavrov conveyed his assessment of the recent conference on Afghanistan in China. Jaishankar noted that UNSCR 2593 expressed the concerns of the international community and spoke of humanitarian support for the Afghan people. Iran and the JCPoA issue were also featured in the talks. On the supply of crude and arms, Lavrov said Russia will be ready to supply to India any goods which India wants to buy from them. "We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations," he said. Asked whether the rouble-rupee system for bilateral trade is being worked out, Lavrov said: "We have to find ways to bypass impediments." --IANS sk/vd/arm ( 614 Words) 2022-04-01-20:08:03 (IANS) An old friend of India, Sher Bahadur Deuba is visiting India on his first official visit after becoming Prime Minister in July 2021. The three-day visit comes in the aftermath of some bitterness in bilateral relations, particularly under the government of K.P. Oli. The reset in relations is a function of history as India-Nepal ties have stood the test of time, therefore this short trip could provide the necessary impetus. The Nepalese Prime Minister is travelling at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expectations are that both countries will agree upon several pacts relating to connectivity and electricity. Additionally, both Prime Ministers are expected to inaugurate (online) the Kurtha-Jayanagar railway connectivity project. All in all, this visit is appropriately slated to intensify exchanges. The positive signals coming from the Deuba government suggest that Nepal seeks greater Indian involvement in development of several sectors. Healthcare is one such area of cooperation. It is anticipated that an MoU on rebuilding 137 Health Posts with financial assistance from India announced in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake will be announced during the visit. Some announcements are likely to be made on connectivity, energy trading and railway. Notably, Deuba had visited India in each of his four earlier stints as prime minister of Nepal. His last visit to India in his capacity as prime minister was in 2017. Deuba also proposes to visit Varanasi, where several Nepali Congress leaders had been to in the past during the struggle to establish democracy in Nepal. The timing of the visit is also significant. Bilateral relations particularly from the perspective of high-level exchanges and contacts have been at a low for some time now. The last visit was by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli in April 2018, soon after assuming office. Covid-19 also created complications in the relationship, in part, due to the unwarranted remarks by former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on the pandemic and the Kalapani issue. PM Deuba had wanted to visit India during the Vibrant Gujarat summit, but the event was postponed on account of Covid-19. The context for the present visit goes beyond merely an official one with a state visit tag. Nepal's Prime Minister is accompanied by his wife Arzu Deuba, who is well known for her work with NGOs. It is expected that a high-level delegation will accompany the Nepalese Prime Minister. Kathmandu Post reports that an agreement that is expected to be signed is on energy trading between Nepal and India. Nepal sees the potential of surplus power during the wet season, and is looking for a market to sell electricity. Ultimately, Nepal-India relations need to move forward politically. This is the task of the leadership of both countries. Mechanisms to enhance cooperation already exist, the issue is getting them to deliver on existing agreements and pacts. The element of trust and willingness to resolve bilateral differences, like say on the border, will be crucial to continue the fostering of ties. Even here, the issues are not insurmountable. Mutual recognition of each other's security interests is a pre-requisite to take this process forward. High level contact is a part of relationship between India and Nepal. For instance, in November 2021 both leaders met in Glasgow, Scotland, on the sidelines of the UN Climate Conference. They had, as per official sources, "fruitful talks" and Deuba thanked India for providing support to Nepal in essential medical supplies and vaccines in its fight against Covid-19 pandemic. Other formal contacts have been regular since mid-2021. Soon after Deuba took over, Vijay Chauthaiwale, the BJP's Foreign Affairs Department head, visited Nepal. In return, a three-member Nationalist Congress delegation visited New Delhi in October. The delegation met with India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and BJP President J.P. Nadda. In November, Nepal's Army Chief General Prabhu Ram Sharma came on a four-day visit and was conferred with the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army by President Ram Nath Kovind. The current visit is thus a continuation of the long established practice of regular exchanges. Thus, the scope for improvement in ties undoubtedly exists, but with elections round the corner in Nepal in end-2022, one expects limited progress on major issues like the border. However, as recent initiatives have shown, it is possible for India to drive development assistance to benefit the Nepalese people and become a major feel good factor in relations. The example of the railway project connecting Kurtha and Jayanagar is a telling illustration of this type of assistance. India has offered to assist Nepal in any way required. In the recent past, Kathmandu has tried to balance ties between India and China. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit (March 25) to Nepal soon after his India visit was necessitated by Nepal signing the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact with the US. However, the real issues for India relating to Nepal have to do with development and connectivity. Unlike China, which is only interested in extracting its pound of flesh, India has invested in Nepal's development through the years. The interdependence is built on the foundations of a solid people-to-people relations and a development partnership that has stood the test of time. The visit therefore, comes at a time when both sides have to take up the task of resetting ties, not so much as to make any mid-course corrections, but return to the traditional warmth in relations. The groundwork for this has been done. Political will and direction could provide the underpinning for this renewed vigour. While the economic relationship undoubtedly forms the base, newer initiatives relating to security and defence could be explored in depth during PM Deuba's visit. This will strengthen the relationship. The overall matrix of ties is solid. The emotive link that India has with the Gurkhas who have served in the Indian Army provides a natural reason for beginning a new chapter by creating an initiative that will create further employment and generate mutual goodwill. It is hoped that the Nepal's Prime Minister visit will open a new chapter in ties. --IANS pgh/ ( 1024 Words) 2022-04-01-20:08:04 (IANS) Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Friday interacted with the students who had visited Raj Bhavan to take part virtually in the fifth edition of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' and asked the students to develop emotional resilience stating that there should be a determination to deal with situations where there are failures. The Kerala Governor watched the event virtually along with the students. Interacting with the students of St. Teresa's CGHSS, Ernakulam, after the programme in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the students, the Governor said, "There is nothing in this world, no better teacher than failures. When you fail, you have the opportunity to learn so many things. We should try to learn from every small thing and should try to develop emotional resilience. We can deal with situations where we have not been able to succeed. That determination should come." Motivating the students ahead of their examinations, Khan said that there is no student without some productive qualities and therefore they should challenge themselves while doing their duty. "There is not a single person who is total without attributes, without some highly productive quality. But the managers will have to find out and managers include your parents and teachers. They will have to identify your attributes and you need to intensify accordingly. The key is that don't let others intervene, you should challenge yourself in every duty," he said. The Governor stressed on developing emotional resilience and said that success is not succeeding every time, but not giving up on trying is success. "It is absolutely essential to develop emotional resilience. Emotional resilience means it is not necessary every time that you meet success. Who is successful? Success doesn't mean you succeeded every time. Success means that you don't give up. When I failed in achieving something, what does it indicate? Either my plan was not in accordance with the plan of nature or I was not fully prepared to execute it. Never try to blame others. But learn from your failures," he said. Pariksha Pe Charcha is an annual event in which the Prime Minister responds to questions related to examination stress and related areas posed by students in his uniquely engaging style in a live programme. (ANI) On Wednesday, German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung reported that the German defense ministry had prepared a list of weapons worth 300 million euros ($334 million), which included drones and grenade launchers for Ukraine. Germany still refuses to supply offensive weapons, in particular, tanks and fighters, and considers the possibility to provide Ukraine with grenade launchers and anti-aircraft missiles, sources told Die Welt, adding that even these decisions were not agreed with Kyiv. According to the newspaper, Ukraine requests supply of reconnaissance and combat drones, while portable anti-aircraft and anti-tank systems are less needed. On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian forces. (ANI/Sputnik) White House Director of Communications Kate Bedingfield on Thursday (local time) rubbished the allegations of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding Washington's role in an alleged "foreign conspiracy" to oust him from power. "There is absolutely no truth to that allegation," Bedingfield told reporters. Bedingfield's assessment is in line with the Department of State. Earlier, a US State Department spokesperson told ANI, that "there is no truth to these allegations. We are closely following developments in Pakistan. We respect and support Pakistan's constitutional process and the rule of law." Later, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price reiterated the same in his press briefing. The Pakistan Prime Minister on Thursday reiterated his claims of "foreign conspiracy" in the country, saying that a foreign nation is trying to oust him over the "independent" foreign policy choices made by him. Addressing the people of Pakistan, ahead of the no-confidence motion, Imran claimed a foreign nation sent a message that Imran Khan needs to be removed else the country will suffer consequences." "The United States", Imran Khan said in a slip of the tongue and then stated that "a foreign country" had sent a "threatening memo" which was against the Pakistani nation. "On March 8 or before that on March 7, the US sent us a...not the US but a foreign country sent us a message. The reason why I am talking about this...for an independent country to receive such a message... this is against me and the country," he said. Imran Khan said the memo was against him, not against the government. "...it stated that if the no-confidence motion passes, Pakistan will be forgiven, if not, there will be consequences." Pakistan PM earlier shared the contents of a secret letter that was in news last week when he informed a public meeting that his government had received threats from abroad. Imran Khan had claimed that the threatening letter had been sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pakistan media reports said that letter is the word-for-word transcript of a conversation between the diplomats of Pakistan and another country sent to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. The relationship between US and Pakistan has been on the edge since the US withdrew from Afghanistan last summer. The increasing alignment between China and Pakistan also casts a shadow over US policy towards Pakistan. In October last year, Wendy Sherman, the deputy secretary of state and the highest placed US official to visit Pakistan since Biden took over, told reporters her trip to Pakistan was aimed at accomplishing a 'specific and narrow purpose', referring to Afghanistan. In September, Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a hearing on Afghnaistan told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee that Pakistan has a "multiplicity of interests some that are in conflict with ours." In congressional hearings, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said that "we need to fully examine the role of Pakistan sanctuary" in understanding how the Taliban prevailed. In the Senate, 22 Republican lawmakers have proposed a bill calling for Afghanistan's new Taliban government to be sanctioned, along with governments that have supported the Taliban. The bill also calls for a report that will include "an assessment of support by state and non-state actors, including the government of Pakistan, for the Taliban between 2001 and 2020." (ANI) Reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's address to the nation, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday said that the premier has "lost and his government's time is up". He made these remarks after Imran Khan addressed the nation. Bilawal, referring to Imran Khan, said he does not listen to "the former prime minister's" speeches as now, even the people are aware of his "lies," Geo News reported. The PPP chairman said the prime minister has not fulfilled a single promise during his tenure and enslaved the nation to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Bilawal said the prime minister has witnessed his defeat and knows that there is no way to escape -- as the voting on the no-confidence motion against him takes place four days from now, on Sunday, the Pakistani newspaper reported. Bilawal, talking about March 31's National Assembly session where the Opposition's count stood at 175, said: "We have proven that the prime minister has lost majority." Moreover, Bilawal said the PPP has "never compromised" on Pakistan's foreign policy, as it not only condemned the drone attacks during the "war on terror", but it also stopped the NATO supply in Pakistan, Geo News reported. In addition, the former foreign minister of the country, Hina Rabbani Khar, also said that Imran Khan has sabotaged US-Pakistan relations to save his government, the Pakistani newspaper reported. "Thirty years from now, no one will remember who Imran Khan was," she said. "People will only remember that there was a prime minister who sabotaged the US-Pakistan relations to save his own government," Geo News reported. Khar went on to say that the biggest problem with PM Imran Khan is that he hurts the cause of Pakistan while attempting to hurt his opponents. In an address to the nation, Imran Khan accused the opposition parties of trying "to devastate the country" through "foreign conspiracy". "Everyone will remember how you devastated the country through foreign conspiracy. Who were Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq? These were the people who made their countrymen slaves of the British," Khan said. Mir Sadiq was a minister of Tipu Sultan of Mysore. In the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1798-99, he betrayed Tipu Sultan during the siege of Srirangapatnam, paving the way for a British victory. Mir Jafar served as the commander of the Bengal army under Siraj ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal and betrayed him during the Battle of Plassey, paving way for British rule in India. (ANI) As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is on a two-day official visit to India, the US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on Thursday (local time) said that every country has its own relationship with Moscow and Washington is not seeking any change in that. "Different countries are going to have their own relationship with the Russian Federation. It's a fact of history. It's a fact of geography. That is not something that we are seeking to change," Price said during a press briefing. He continued by saying, "What we are seeking to do, whether it is in the context of India or other partners and allies around the world, is to do all we can to see to it that the international community is speaking in unison, speaking loudly against this unjustified, unprovoked premeditated aggression, calling for an end to the violence using the leverage that countries including India, have to those ends." Price made these remarks amid Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to India. He is expected to meet and hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today. "...We understand that what we are asking for, what we are calling for is that all countries use the leverage that they have to make sure that that message is coming across to Vladimir Putin loud and clear," he said. While answering India working out any rupee-rouble conversion for trade, Price said, "I would refer to our Indian partners when it comes to any such rupee-ruble conversion that may have been discussed." Price further said, "When it comes to the Quad, one of the core principles of the Quad is the idea of a free and open Indo Pacific that is specific in that context to the Indo Pacific, but these are principles. These are ideals that transcend any geographic region." "It's not in our interest. It's not in Japan's, Australia's, or India's interest to see flagrant examples of countries whether in Europe, whether in the Indo Pacific, whether anywhere in between, of countries flouting, violating rules-based international order," he added. Russia launched its invasion on February 24 after recognizing the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as "independent republics." Russia has since continued to maintain that the aim of its operations has been to "demilitarize" and "de-nazify" the country. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many Western nations and European countries have imposed tough sanctions on Russia targeting its economy and financial system. (ANI) Daleep Singh was on a two-day visit to India from March 30-31. "I don't have any additional specifics to read out beyond the fact that there were productive conversations. Daleep Singh, the Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics had really good discussions with his counterparts, and I know that the conversation was productive," Bedingfield said during the press briefing. During his India visit, Singh met Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Piyush Goyal and discussed steps to further deepen India-US economic and strategic ties. Meanwhile, India and United States are scheduled to hold 2+2 dialogue in Washington on April 11. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will meet their counterparts Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh will also have other meetings scheduled on the sidelines. (ANI) In order to keep oil prices under control, US President Joe Biden on Thursday (local time) announced to release of one million barrels of oil per day from the country's strategic petroleum reserve for the next six months. The US, EU and other nations barred imports of Russian oil and gas over the country's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. "Today, I'm authorizing the release of 1 million barrels per day for the next six months -over 180 million barrels -for the Strategic -from the -from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve," Biden announced. "This is a wartime bridge to increase oil supply until production ramps up later this year. And it is by far the largest release from our national reserve in our history," he added. He continued saying, "we'll use the revenue from selling the oil now to restock the Strategic Petroleum Reserve when prices are lower so we'll be ready -- we'll be ready for future emergencies." Biden said he has been coordinating with its allies and partners around the world. "Already, I have - we have commitments from other countries to release tens of millions of additional barrels into the market. Together, our combined efforts will supply well over a million barrels a day -- nations coming together to deny Putin the ability to weaponize his energy resources against American families, and families and democracies around the world," he said. Biden said that his plan is about "declaring real American energy independence in the long term so that we never have to deal with this problem again." "Ultimately, we and the whole world need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels altogether. We need to choose long-term security over energy and climate vulnerability. We need to double down on our commitment to clean energy and tackling the climate crisis with our partners and allies around the world," he said. US President stated that he is issuing a directive to strengthen clean energy economy. " I'm going to use the Defense Production Act to secure American supply chains for the critical materials that go into batteries for electric vehicles and the storage of renewable energy: lithium, graphite, nickel, and so much more," he said. Biden further said, "We need to end our long-term reliance on China and other countries for inputs that will power the future. And I'll use every tool I have to make that happen." (ANI) Qasim Wadood, Additional Attorney General (AAG), representing the Pakistan government in the Islamabad High Court, said that the government has put the PECA (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act) ordinance on the back-burner, media report. He further added that the government can take back the ordinance as the Islamabad High Court while hearing miscellaneous applications against PECA Amendment Ordinance on Wednesday called the failure to place the ordinance before the parliament, an ill intention of the Executive, the News International reported. The hearing was before a single bench, headed by Chief Justice (CJ) IHC Athar Minallah. The court inquired from the AAG on what date this ordinance was promulgated. The AAG told the court the ordinance was promulgated on February 18 and was notified in the gazette on February 19. The court remarked failure to place the ordinance before parliament proves ill-intent of the executive, News International reported. The AAG told the court there is a timeline for presenting it before the parliament. It has to be placed before the parliament within this timeline. The executive has to adopt them till the rules are there. Adil Aziz Qazi from the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Usman Warraich and others appeared before the court. AAG further told the court that the different aspects of the promulgation of the ordinance are seen. The powers about the promulgation of the ordinance under Article 89 are given up to what extent. While responding to the court regarding the date of ordinance promulgation, he said that the ordinance was promulgated on February 18 and Gazette was notified on February 19, News International reported. The court remarked the government has to present the ordinance in the Pakistan National Assembly and the Senate session and said, "It cannot be so that it is presented where there is the majority. You have to tell if the executive does not discharge its constitutional obligations; it has its effects. You have to tell this ordinance was placed when and before which house. National Assembly or Senate can reject the ordinance at any time. The constitution makes it binding that an ordinance will be presented before both of the houses of parliament. If the ordinance is not presented today in parliament, then as to why the court should not declare it ill-intent of the executive." The court further observed, "Ordinance has to be presented before both houses of parliament. The executive cannot do this that it presents the ordinance before the house wherein it enjoys a majority. If the Executive has violated its duty, then what will be its consequences? Can the Executive prevent parliament from using its powers for approving or rejecting the ordinance?" "The Constitution says the ordinance will be presented before both the houses of parliament after it is promulgated. Parliament is supreme. It can reject the ordinance. The executive has no power to defy the Constitution. If any House of the parliament does not reject the ordinance, then it will be presented a bill. The Executive is keeping deprived the parliament of its right to review the ordinance. If one house of parliament rejects the ordinance, then it will stand abolished. The court cannot put this case on the back burner," the court added. The court adjourned the hearing of the case till April 04. On February 20, the government had issued a Presidential Ordinance amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) under which the exemption granted to PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) licensed TV channels has been abolished. Criticism has become a crime under the ordinance and the crime will be non-bailable, the police will arrest and hand over the case and the case will be decided in 6 months, according to local news. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will arrive in India on a three-day visit starting Friday. It is his first such visit abroad after assuming office in July 2021. Deuba is expected to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today. While on the second day of his visit, the Nepali Prime Minister is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, besides other engagements. Deuba will be accompanied by a high-level delegation and his spouse Dr Arzu Deuba. Nepal's Prime Minister is visiting India at the invitation of PM Modi. Besides official engagements in New Delhi, the Prime Minister of Nepal will visit Varanasi, UP.In a press statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India and Nepal enjoy age-old special ties of friendship and cooperation. "In recent years, the partnership has witnessed significant growth in all areas of cooperation. The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review this wide-ranging cooperative partnership and to progress it further for the benefit of the two peoples," MEA had said. Deuba was sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal in July 2021. This would be the first official bilateral visit, either incoming or outgoing since he took over the reins. The last HOS/HOG-level visit from Nepal was in May 2019, when then PM K P Oli visited India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. Before that PM Modi had visited Nepal in August 2018 for the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, which was preceded by a State Visit to Nepal in May 2018. PM Narendra Modi had extended a congratulatory message to Sher Bahadur Deuba soon after he won the Vote of Confidence in Nepal's Parliament. This was followed by a congratulatory telephonic conversation on 19 July 2021. The most recent meeting between PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba took place on November 2, 2021, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow. Sher Bahadur Deuba is a veteran politician of the Nepali Congress with a political career spanning over seven decades. This is Deuba's fifth tenure as PM. His first term was from September 1995 to March 1997. He has visited India several times, both when in and out of power. This will be his fifth visit to India as PM, with the last visit being in August 2017. The previous three visits took place in 2004, 2002 and 1996. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will arrive in India on a three-day visit starting Friday. It is his first such visit abroad after assuming office in July 2021. Deuba will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today. While on the second day of his visit, the Nepali Prime Minister will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, besides other engagements. Deuba will be accompanied by a high-level delegation and his spouse Dr Arzu Deuba. Nepal's Prime Minister is visiting India at the invitation of PM Modi. Besides official engagements in New Delhi, the Prime Minister of Nepal will visit Varanasi, UP. In a press statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India and Nepal enjoy age-old special ties of friendship and cooperation. "In recent years, the partnership has witnessed significant growth in all areas of cooperation. The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review this wide-ranging cooperative partnership and to progress it further for the benefit of the two peoples," MEA had said. Deuba was sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal in July 2021. This would be the first official bilateral visit, either incoming or outgoing since he took over the reins. The last HOS/HOG-level visit from Nepal was in May 2019, when then PM K P Oli visited India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. Before that PM Modi had visited Nepal in August 2018 for the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, which was preceded by a State Visit to Nepal in May 2018. PM Narendra Modi had extended a congratulatory message to Sher Bahadur Deuba soon after he won the Vote of Confidence in Nepal's Parliament. This was followed by a congratulatory telephonic conversation on 19 July 2021. The most recent meeting between PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba took place on November 2, 2021, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow. Sher Bahadur Deuba is a veteran politician of the Nepali Congress with a political career spanning over seven decades. This is Deuba's fifth tenure as PM. His first term was from September 1995 to March 1997. He has visited India several times, both when in and out of power. This will be his fifth visit to India as PM, with the last visit being in August 2017. The previous three visits took place in 2004, 2002 and 1996. (ANI) An all-Afghan panel consisting of a scholar, former diplomat and young innovator at the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council discussed the human rights situation in Kabul after the Taliban takeover of the country in mid-August and expressed concern over the transformation of the educational system under Taliban rule which may turn Afghanistan into a hotbed of terrorism. On the side-lines of the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) organised a Webinar on March 30 on 'Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan', in order to illuminate the increasingly deteriorating situation there. Moderated by Junaid Qureshi, Director EFSAS, the session was joined by a large number of attendees, including human rights activists, NGO representatives, diplomats and researchers. The event was held on March 30. Mahmoud Saikal, Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra, Chair of Kabul Association of Integrity, Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan and Ambassador to the United Nations and Australia, noted that human rights violations have become commonplace under Taliban rule. "Male government employees have been forced to pray, grow a beard, and wear traditional clothes, whilst the Taliban have also banned foreign media outlets and restricted the operations of domestic media outlets. To bolster the ranks of its suicide divisions, the Taliban has started to recruit orphans," he said in a statement. He highlighted that the Taliban's transformation of the educational system is likely to make Afghanistan a hotbed of terrorism. Turning toward the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Saikal suggested that 60 per cent of all Afghans are currently in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The international response to the Taliban's takeover, Saikal argued, for instance in the case of UNAMA, has been reactive rather than proactive. He also noted that the existing UN architecture, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Human Rights Council, has been incapable of adequately responding to the deteriorating situation in the country. Saikal concluded that the Taliban's approach toward the Doha Agreement indicates that the Taliban must be judged based on its behaviour rather than its rhetoric. Dr Bahar Jalali, Associate Professor of History at Loyola University Maryland, US and founder of the first Gender Studies programme in Afghanistan, emphasized that the Taliban cannot be described as an Afghan movement as the ranks of the Taliban were recruited from Afghans who had fled to Pakistan and who had thus never experienced a traditional Afghan life. During the 1960s, Dr Jalali noted, the Afghan elite was constituted by a comparatively progressive group that promoted the introduction of a progressive constitution in 1964 that was followed by the election of the first female representatives to the Afghan parliament in 1965. Afghanistan's trajectory changed significantly following the 1978 Saur Revolution, reversing much of the progress that Afghanistan had made in previous decades. Given Afghanistan's historical record regarding female empowerment, she highlighted that the US-sponsored reforms post-2001 did not necessarily reintroduce new social norms but enabled the reaffirmation of values that had been suppressed by the Taliban. Speaking at the event Sara Wahedi, CEO and Founder of Ehtesab, Afghanistan's first civic technology startup echoed the opinions of the previous speakers and argued that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has become extremely dire with the extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions of journalists, human rights activists and individuals who oppose the Taliban regime. In addition, starvation and child labour are on the rise, while a liquidity crisis is crippling the Afghan economy. She further stated that with the presence of the Islamic State in Khorasan Province the status quo has deteriorated even more. Wahedi concluded her speech by emphasizing the importance of protecting and supporting responsible journalism - journalism that takes time and relies on a variety of sources - particularly at a time when people are overwhelmed, politicization is at play, and fake news and misinformation are proliferating. The event was followed by a very vibrant and enlightening Q&A session during which the audience and speakers exchanged opinions on various topics including Pakistan. Asking about 'How is Pakistan's foreign policy towards the Taliban going to develop in the coming months given the Taliban's support for the TTP?', Saikal said that the equation between Pakistan and the Taliban has changed since the latter came to power, as Pakistan's intelligence agency - Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) would like to keep them subservient in order to control them. As a result, Pakistan is likely to ensure that the international community does not recognize the extremist group and encourage international NGOs from Afghanistan to set up offices in Pakistan. Jalali also discussed the normalization of the Taliban in the eyes of the international community and the latter's defeatist attitude, showcasing the West's incompetence and lack of accountability. Moreover, the root cause of the problem according to her was Pakistan remains a major non-NATO ally and thus too important for the US to get sanctioned for its role in nurturing and supporting the Taliban. Saikal concluded that unfortunately, Afghanistan will become a breeding ground for terrorism to China, South Asia, Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas, yet concerned parties, including India, where the gravity of the problem will play out because of Pakistan's strategic depth policy, still seemed unalarmed. (ANI) Refering to the United Kingdom, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that a "powerful country" is angry with Islamabad because of his recent visit to Russia. Addressing the Islamabad Security Dialogue on Friday, the premier said that the "powerful country" is supporting its ally (India). "Today, I read the statement of the British Foreign Secretary that mentioned that they cannot say anything to India as it is an independent state -- I don't blame them for this support, this is our mistake," he said, according to Geo tv. Addressing the ongoing controversy regarding the "threat letter", apparently sent by the US, the premier said that an honourable person is always respected, questioning if a country can threaten another country." On Thursday, talking about the "threatening memo" that the PM claimed to have received against his government from a foreign country, he named the United States to be behind the conspiracy, Geo tv reporter. Earlier, in his remarks, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said our national security policy focuses on peace, cooperation and economy. He reiterated that we want cooperation with all the countries. The national security adviser said that the best experts from around the world as well as intellectuals and cabinet members are attending the security dialogue. The two-day dialogue will bring together Pakistani and international policy experts to discuss emerging challenges in international security under the theme "Comprehensive Security: Reimagining International Cooperation". The Islamabad Security Dialogue is hosting 17 international speakers from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Russia, European Union, Japan, the Philippines and others. (ANI) Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary on Friday said that the securities agencies of the country have reported a 'plot' for the assassination of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. "After these reports, the prime minister's security has been beefed up as per the government's decision," he was quoted as saying by the Pakistan newspaper Dawn. Earlier this week, The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Faisal Vawda also made similar claims that there was a conspiracy developed to assassinate the Pakistani PM over his refusal to "sell the country". While responding to the conspiracy to assassinate the premier was mentioned in the letter, Vawda said that there was a threat to the Pakistan PM's life but remained evasive. He further said that Khan was advised to use bulletproof glasses during his rally at Islamabad's Parade ground. "But as always and as usual, he said my [death] will come when Allah wills. Don't worry about it," Vawda was quoted as saying by Dawn. This news comes a day after the Pakistan PM said that a foreign nation sent a message that he needs "to be removed" or Pakistan will face consequences. "A foreign nation sent a message to us (Pakistan) that Imran Khan needs to be removed else Pakistan will suffer consequences," he said. "The United States", Imran Khan said in a slip of the tongue and then stated that "a foreign country" had sent a "threatening memo" which was against Pakistan. "On March 8 or before that on March 7, the US sent us a...not the US but a foreign country sent us a message. The reason why I am talking about this...for an independent country to receive such a message... this is against me and the country," he said. Imran Khan said the memo was against him, not against the government. "...it stated that if the no-confidence motion passes, Pakistan will be forgiven, if not, there will be consequences." Responding to such allegations, White House Director of Communications Kate Bedingfield on Thursday (local time) denied the allegations regarding Washington's role in an alleged "foreign conspiracy" to oust him from power. "There is absolutely no truth to that allegation," Bedingfield told reporters. (ANI) Beijing is seeking to impose its narrative on United Nations bodies and non-governmental organizations that Taiwan is part of Communist-ruled China, according to the US think tank. Last week, a 50-page study published by the German Marshall Fund of the US warned that Beijing is using its influence at the UN to compel NGOs to rewrite references to Taiwan and revise historical documents, or risk losing access, Nikkie Asia reported. China claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades. The resolution, the report pointed out, does not include the words "Republic of China" or "Taiwan." Nor does it present an institutional position on the status of Taiwan, even though the PRC claims it does, and it just states that the PRC will represent "China" at the UN. As per Nikkie Asia, the report said that Beijing has moved to twist the original text of Resolution 2758 in ways that construe it as equivalent to its "One China" principle. That position states that "there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is a part of China and the government of the PRC is the sole legal government representing the whole of China." "China's distortion of Resolution 2758 has made it exceedingly difficult for Taiwan to participate in UN-affiliated agencies in any way," commented Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Program at the Marshall Fund and the report's co-author. Citizens from Taiwan cannot even visit UN buildings unless they have a travel permit issued by China," said Glaser, a renowned Taiwan expert. "If democracies stood firmly against these PRC efforts, they would have a great deal of leverage." Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the vote, Chinese President Xi Jinping last October hailed the resolution as a "victory of the Chinese people." The study pointed out that Chinese officials pushed authorities to suspend Wikimedia Foundation's application for observership to the World Intellectual Property Organization because content on Wikipedia, which was hosted by the foundation, was at odds with Beijing's Taiwan position, Nikkei Asia reported. Last December, China objected to the participation in the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material of five NGOs, including U.S. think tank, the Stimson Center, which was asked to change references to Taiwan or risk having their attendance blocked. Such moves hamper coordination on transnational issues that pose threats to the safety and well-being of the global community, according to the study. (ANI) Along with his spouse and a delegation of 50 members, Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has embarked on a three days visit to India on Friday, making it the first official visit after assuming the post for the fifth time. The delegation started off from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu today for New Delhi at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Deuba left for New Delhi via a 1.25 pm Nepal Airlines Corporation flight and is scheduled to return home on April 3. The delegation includes PM Deuba's spouse Arzu Rana Deuba, Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka and other ministers, secretaries and officials. During the visit, Prime Minister Deuba will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today. While on the second day of his visit, the Nepal Prime Minister will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, besides other engagements. Apart from other official engagements in New Delhi, the Prime Minister of Nepal will visit Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. In a press statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India and Nepal enjoy age-old special ties of friendship and cooperation. "In recent years, the partnership has witnessed significant growth in all areas of cooperation. The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review this wide-ranging cooperative partnership and to progress it further for the benefit of the two peoples," MEA had said. Deuba was sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal in July 2021. This would be the first official bilateral visit, either incoming or outgoing since he took over the reins. The last HOS/HOG-level visit from Nepal was in May 2019, when then PM K P Oli visited India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. Before that PM Modi had visited Nepal in August 2018 for the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, which was preceded by a State Visit to Nepal in May 2018. PM Narendra Modi had extended a congratulatory message to Sher Bahadur Deuba soon after he won the Vote of Confidence in Nepal's Parliament. This was followed by a congratulatory telephonic conversation on 19 July 2021. The most recent meeting between PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba took place on November 2, 2021, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow. Sher Bahadur Deuba is a veteran politician of the Nepali Congress with a political career spanning over seven decades. This is Deuba's fifth tenure as PM. His first term was from September 1995 to March 1997. He has visited India several times, both when in and out of power. This will be his fifth visit to India as PM, with the last visit being in August 2017. The previous three visits took place in 2004, 2002 and 1996. (ANI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday said that India can mediate between Moscow and Kyiv as the peace talks between the two counties failed to come up with solutions yet to end the war. Responding to an ANI question on the possibility of India becoming a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, he said, "India is an important country. If India sees to play that role which provides resolution of the problem...If India is with its position of a just and rational approach to international problems, it can support such process." Lavrov, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day official visit, also lauded independent Indian foreign policy and discussed a myriad of issues including, US pressure on India, surging energy prices, and sanctions on Russia. "I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterized by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners," he said. When asked about US pressure on India will affect Indo-Russian ties, the Russian FM said, "Have no doubt pressure doesn't affect partnership, I have no doubt no pressure will affect our partnership... They (US) are forcing others to follow their politics." He also slammed for calling the special operation in Ukraine a war when asked about the developments in Ukraine, Lavrov said, "You called it a war which is not true. It is a special operation, military infrastructure is being targeted. The aim is to deprive the Kyiv regime of building the capacity to present any threat to Russia." He also replied to ANI on how he sees India's position in the ongoing war, offer of oil supply to India, and any confirmation on Rupee-Ruble payment and sanctions. "If India wants to buy anything from us, ready to discuss and reach mutually acceptable cooperation," he said, adding "We will be ready to supply to India any goods which it wants to buy from us. We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations." He further said that relations with India were developed over many decades while answering how they can support India in terms of security challenges "Talks are characterized by relations which we developed with India for many decades. Relations are strategic partnerships...This was the basis on which we've been promoting our cooperation in all areas," said Lavrov. (ANI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is paying an official visit to India is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening after concluding talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Russian Foreign Minister will also call on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi later during the day, as per a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs. Lavrov is on a two-day visit to India from March 31 to April 1. Jaishankar met the Russian Foreign Minister for talks where both Ministers assessed the overall state of cooperation. They considered the implications of recent developments on trade and economic relations. The EAM underlined that as a developing economy, global volatility in different domains is of particular concern to India. It is important for both countries that their economic, technological, and people-to-people contacts remain stable and predictable. The two Ministers discussed developments pertaining to Ukraine. Minister Lavrov briefed the Indian side from Russia's perspective, including the ongoing talks. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of the cessation of violence and ending hostilities. "Differences and disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and by respect for international law, the UN Charter, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of states", the EAM stated. According to the press release the Ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Minister Lavrov conveyed his assessment of the recent conference on Afghanistan in China. The EAM noted that UNSCR 2593 (United Nations Security Council Resolution 2593) expressed the concerns of the international community and spoke of humanitarian support for the Afghan people. Iran and JCPoA issues were also featured in the talks. EAM welcomed the Russian briefing on the matter. Notably, the resolution UNSCR 2593 was adopted demanding that Afghan territory not be used to threaten or attack any country and reiterated the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan. The resolution also called for enhanced efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. (ANI) As the war in Eastern Europe entered its sixth-week talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators resumed online on Friday after meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. The talks come in the aftermath of an attack on a fuel depot in Belgorod that the Russian side alleged was carried out by the Ukrainian forces. According to the local officials, Russian forces are blocking the Ukrainian effort to deliver aid to the besieged, southeastern port city of Mariupol, reported Al Jazeera. Moreover, the regional officials say that some of Moscow's troops withdrawing from near Kyiv and Chernihiv. After the delegation-level meeting between Russia-Ukraine in Istanbul, the Russian delegation announced steps for a "drastic reduction in military activity in the Kyiv and Chernihiv directions" and the possibility of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russian forces on Thursday attacked a Ukrainian military base in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.According to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Valentyn Reznichenko, two people were killed and five injured as a result of the attack tweeted the Kyiv Independent. The intense bombardment in the Kharkiv region has prevented the opening of evacuation corridors in the region, Oleh Synyehubov, the head of the Kharkiv region military administration, said in a statement. Meanwhile, in heavy shelling, a school was damaged in the Ukrainian village in Kyiv Oblast. Artworks were scattered on the ground with glass shattered and debris lying on the ground. At least 20 people were killed and 33 injured in a Russian strike on the office of the regional military governor of Ukraine's south-western Mykolaiv region on Tuesday, Ukraine's State Emergency Services said in updated figures released Thursday. Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24 in response to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for protection against intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation, which targets Ukrainian military infrastructure, aims to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine. Moscow has said it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. Western nations have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia. (ANI) Amid the continuing tension along the Durand Line between the Pakistani troops and the Talibani forces, the Foreign Ministries of both sides have exchanged protest notes accusing each other of displaying aggressive attitudes on the border, local media reported. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a note verbale to Afghan Embassy in Islamabad on February 25, condemned the rising incidents of "aggressive attitude, cross border violations and disregard to mutually agreed and established procedures by Afghan border security personnel" and lamented that such incidents were occurring despite the presence of 'Pakistan's Military Liaison Officers' in Kabul and Border Coordination Centers' at Torkham and Chaman, vernacular media said. Pakistan further urged the Taliban to take strong action against their border security personnel involved in such incidents and resolve the disputes through border flag meetings. It has also underscored the need to set up a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) for resolving border alignment issues and construction in contentious areas. Islamabad has already nominated representatives for the proposed JCC, reports further said. Meanwhile, the Taliban regime on March 6, lodged its own strong protest with the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul over-firing of artillery shells, heavy and light weapons firing and violation of Afghan airspace by a Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft/drone at various locations along the Durand Line. Notably, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan does not recognise the British-era Durand Line as the boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Violations along the Durand Line continue to remain a bone of contention between the two countries. Taliban again lodged a protest with the Pakistan embassy in Kabul on March 27 alleging that Pakistani Army officials were issuing a warning to residents of Jaji Maidan District in Khost Province to leave the area or face serious consequences, local media reported. The Taliban also complained that Pakistani Border Forces have continued resorting to firing heavy and light weapons, targeting residential areas along the Durand Line. (ANI) Pakistan's proscribed terrorist outfit Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) carried out two low-intensity blasts at railway tracks at two different locations in Kotri city of Sindh's Hyderabad on Thursday morning for which they claimed responsibility later, saying that the blasts were carried out to send a message to all 'outsiders' to leave Sindh. The terrorist outfit made the claim in an email sent to a reporter. The blast resulted in no casualty, reported Dawn. The blasts were carried out using non-electric explosive devices in Khursheed Colony in Kotri town, Jamshoro district, and near Detha railway station in Hyderabad rural taluka, according to bomb disposal squad (BDS) officials. Terrorists' executed blasts took off at around 7:30 in the morning. The explosion resulted in damaging the track by breaking off a piece of around one foot and seven inches track in Khursheed Colony and about a 10-inch piece of the track near Detha railway station. As the track was damaged, the railway authorities suspended the traffic and the traffic could only be restored after the tracks were repaired by 10 am. Ramazan Panhwar, a bomb disposal squad official said that explosives used in the Hyderabad blast weighed around 200 to 250 grams and the one used in Kotri was 300 to 400 grams, reported the newspaper. Moreover, no electric device was found attached to the explosives which indicated that miscreants lurked in the area when the blasts occurred. (ANI) Former External Affairs Minister (EAM) Natwar Singh on Friday welcomed the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to India and said that the two countries share good relations. "Sergey Lavrov is a friend of India. He'll brief the PM and will explain Russia's policy on Ukraine. We've good relations with Russia, we get armaments from there. Russia has said that Kashmir is part of India which the US, Britain and France haven't," Natwar Singh said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had arrived in New Delhi on the first high-level visit by a Russian leader to India since Moscow's war against Ukraine which began last month. Lavrov held talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today. He also said that the US National Security Advisor (NSA) for International economics Daleep Singh's comments during his recent visit to India were unwelcome. "It was not his business to comment on a matter like this," Natwar Singh said referring to Daleep Singh's remarks that India could not expect Russian help in case of more Chinese incursions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "Relations between India and China are not the concern of the United States. We make our own decisions," Natwar Singh added. Former EAM Natwar Singh also talked about the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India and said that it was a good decision on China's part to make the visit. "Wang Yi was in India only for 18 hours, I don't think he could have the time to have an extensive discussion, but it was good that they thought it was worthwhile to come to India and now Delhi has received so many important visitors in the last few days, so we obviously matter," Natwar Singh said. New Delhi has seen a flurry of visits by foreign leaders over the past fortnight. China's foreign minister Wang Yi had visited India last week. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba met Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) President JP Nadda at the party headquarters in Delhi as part of his three-day visit to India, which began today. BJP President welcomed the Nepali PM at the party headquarters and the two leaders went on to hold discussions. Earlier today, Nepal PM arrived in New Delhi to kickstart his first visit to the country since assuming office in July last year. Nepal's Prime Minister is visiting India at the invitation of PM Modi. Deuba is also scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today. While on the second day of his visit, the Nepali Prime Minister will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, besides other engagements. Besides official engagements in New Delhi, Nepal PM will visit Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. In a press statement, the MEA said India and Nepal enjoy age-old special ties of friendship and cooperation. The last Head of State/Head of Government-level visit from Nepal was in May 2019, when then PM K P Oli visited India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. Before that PM Modi had visited Nepal in August 2018 for the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, which was preceded by a State Visit to Nepal in May 2018. PM Modi had extended a congratulatory message to Sher Bahadur Deuba soon after he won the Vote of Confidence in Nepal's Parliament. This was followed by a congratulatory telephonic conversation on 19 July 2021. The most recent meeting between PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba took place on November 2, 2021, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow. Sher Bahadur Deuba is a veteran politician of the Nepali Congress with a political career spanning over seven decades. This is Deuba's fifth tenure as PM. His first term was from September 1995 to March 1997. He has visited India several times, both when in and out of power. This will be his fifth visit to India as PM, with the last visit being in August 2017. The previous three visits took place in 2004, 2002 and 1996. (ANI) Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Thursday lodged a formal protest with the US over the alleged 'threat letter' that called for the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, local media reported. The acting US envoy in Islamabad was summoned to the Foreign Ministry over the "threatening" letter, hours after the country's top decision-making body on national security voiced concerns over the issue during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Express Tribune reported. A Pakistan Foreign Office official confirmed that a demarche was also handed over to the acting US envoy, adding that the US was told that the use of such undiplomatic language was unacceptable, the report said. "As decided in the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting held on 31 March 2022, the requisite demarches have been made through diplomatic channels," the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement in the early hours of Friday. The NSC meeting was attended by federal ministers for defence, energy, information, interior, finance, human rights and planning, besides the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, services chiefs, national security adviser and senior officers, the report said. The NSC meeting was convened against the backdrop of an alleged "foreign-funded plot" against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The presence of the alleged plot was based on a diplomatic cable the Pakistani ambassador in Washington wrote to the Foreign Office earlier this month, the report said. In an address to the nation on Thursday, Pakistan's embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan had raised a "foreign conspiracy" charge amid the opposition's growing confidence about the no-trust motion against his government that is pending in the National Assembly. "The United States", Imran Khan said in a slip of the tongue and then stated that "a foreign country" had sent a "threatening memo" which was against the Pakistani nation. "On March 8 or before that on March 7, the US sent us a...not the US but a foreign country sent us a message. The reason why I talking about this...for an independent country to receive such a message... this is against me and the country," he said. Later in the day, the United States rejected insinuations made by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding Washington's role in the alleged "foreign conspiracy" to oust him from power. "There is no truth to these allegations. We are closely following developments in Pakistan. We respect and support Pakistan's constitutional process and the rule of law," a US State Department spokesperson told ANI. Khan had waved the "letter" at a public rally on March 27 and said there was a foreign conspiracy to oust him. He had sought to link the opposition's no-confidence motion with a "foreign-funded" move to topple his government. Pakistan media reports said that letter is the word-for-word transcript of a conversation between the diplomats of Pakistan and another country sent to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. In Pakistan's National Assembly, the no-trust vote against the Imran Khan government was deferred to April 3. The proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till April 3 soon after it met on Thursday to discuss the no-confidence motion. Earlier, on Monday, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif tabled the no-confidence motion.Imran Khan is the third Prime Minister to face the no-confidence motion in Pakistan. After the no-confidence motion was tabled with a total of 161 votes in favour, the proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till March 31. Imran Khan received a massive blow when the PTI "lost the majority" in the National Assembly after losing its key ally in the coalition Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P). The MQM announced on Wednesday that it had struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and would support the no-trust vote in the 342-member National Assembly. The government's survival depends on the support of allies such as MQM-P (7 seats), BAP (5 seats), PML(Q) (5 seats), GDA (3 seats), AML (1 seat), JWP (1 seat) and two independents. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla in Delhi on Friday. The Nepalese PM arrived in India today for a three-day visit to the country, accompanied by senior officials and his spouse Dr Arzu Deuba. Nepal's Prime Minister is visiting India at the invitation of PM Modi. Earlier today, the Nepal PM met Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) President JP Nadda at the party headquarters in a courtesy meeting. "Had a courtesy meeting with Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today. India and Nepal are not just neighbours but are very close to each other even from religious, cultural, linguistic and historic viewpoints," Nadda said in a tweet. PM Deuba is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow at Hyderabad House, besides other engagements. Besides official engagements in New Delhi, Nepal PM will visit Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. In a press statement, the MEA said India and Nepal enjoy age-old special ties of friendship and cooperation. The last Head of State/Head of Government-level visit from Nepal was in May 2019, when then PM K P Oli visited India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. Before that PM Modi had visited Nepal in August 2018 for the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, which was preceded by a State Visit to Nepal in May 2018. PM Modi had extended a congratulatory message to Sher Bahadur Deuba soon after he won the Vote of Confidence in Nepal's Parliament. This was followed by a congratulatory telephonic conversation on 19 July 2021. The most recent meeting between PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba took place on November 2, 2021, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow. Sher Bahadur Deuba is a veteran politician of the Nepali Congress with a political career spanning over seven decades. This is Deuba's fifth tenure as PM. His first term was from September 1995 to March 1997. He has visited India several times, both when in and out of power. This will be his fifth visit to India as PM, with the last visit being in August 2018. The previous three visits took place in 2004, 2002 and 1996. (ANI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is paying an official visit to India, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday after holding talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar here. Taking to Twitter, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote, "Russia Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov was received by Prime Minister @narendramodi during his official visit to #India." The meeting is quite significant as it comes at a time when India continues to stay neutral over Russia's war on Ukraine. Lavrov on Friday said that India can mediate between Moscow and Kyiv as the peace talks between the two counties failed to come up with solutions yet to end the war. Responding to an ANI question on the possibility of India becoming a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, he said, "India is an important country. If India sees to play that role which provides resolution of the problem...If India is with its position of a just and rational approach to international problems, it can support such process." Lavrov, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day official visit, also lauded independent Indian foreign policy and discussed a myriad of issues including, US pressure on India, surging energy prices, and sanctions on Russia."I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterized by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners," he said. When asked about US pressure on India will affect Indo-Russian ties, the Russian FM said, "Have no doubt pressure doesn't affect partnership, I have no doubt no pressure will affect our partnership... They (US) are forcing others to follow their politics." He also slammed for calling the special operation in Ukraine a war when asked about the developments in Ukraine, Lavrov said, "You called it a war which is not true. It is a special operation, military infrastructure is being targeted. The aim is to deprive the Kyiv regime of building the capacity to present any threat to Russia." He also replied to ANI on how he sees India's position in the ongoing war, offer of oil supply to India, and any confirmation on Rupee-Ruble payment and sanctions."If India wants to buy anything from us, ready to discuss and reach mutually acceptable cooperation," he said, adding "We will be ready to supply to India any goods which it wants to buy from us. We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations." He further said that relations with India were developed over many decades while answering how they can support India in terms of security challenges"Talks are characterized by relations which we developed with India for many decades. Relations are strategic partnerships...This was the basis on which we've been promoting our cooperation in all areas," said Lavrov. (ANI) Diplomatic observers say the recent statements by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding Washington's role in an alleged "foreign conspiracy" to oust him from power could have a negative impact on bilateral relations and could make US officials more careful in interacting with Pakistan officials. PM Imran Khan in his address to the nation on Thursday named the United States as the country that was allegedly behind the letter, but then quickly corrected himself, saying that it was another country and not America, reported Dawn. The United States on Thursday rejected insinuations made by the Pakistani PM. "There is no truth to these allegations," a US spokesperson said. The commentary made by the top Pakistani leader is hinting toward the 'growing frustration in Washington' over the Islamabad allegations, as per the newspaper. According to the diplomatic observers, embassies and officials of the host nation often use informal meetings to convey "thoughts and feelings" that cannot be sent through proper diplomatic channels. "Embassies are like listening posts. They hear many things and share those with their government for them to read and analyze," said one such observer adding, "But if you make officials of the host nation feel embarrassed, they will not talk to you and your embassy will no longer be a listening post." Moreover, as per a scholar of South Asian affairs Michael Kugelman, at the Wilson Center, Washington "over the history of US-Pakistan relations, it's been quite common for officials on both sides, in private conversations, to vent and share personal and negative assessments on current developments." He termed these allegations made by the Pakistani Prime Minister as "a stretch (of the conversations) to liken this to a threat, much less an indication of regime change." (ANI) Noting that rupee-rouble trade has been going on for a long time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday took a dig at western countries over sanctions and their excluding some Russian banks from the SWIFT system and said there is need to avoid a financial system whose "masters can steal your money overnight". "The rupee-ruble has been going on for a long time. We don't want to depend on a system that would be closed anytime, and we don't want to be part of a system whose masters can steal your money overnight," he said on the exclusion of some Russian banks by western countries from SWIFT messaging system and the potential of rupee-rouble trade. SWIFT is a messaging system that underpins global financial transactions. Rubbishing sanctions, Lavrov indicated that Russia would be keen to use non-western currencies for trade. The Russian Foreign Minister, who is on a two-day visit to India, also said Moscow is ready to supply oil and hi-tech weapons which New Delhi wants to buy from it. "We will be ready to supply to India any goods which it wants to buy from us. We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations," Lavrov said in response to a query by ANI on the supply of crude oil and hi-technology defence equipment to India. The US and other western countries have imposed sanctions against Russia over its "special operations" in Ukraine. The developments have also affected energy prices in the world. Asked if US pressure on India will affect India-Russian ties, Lavrov said, "I have no doubt no pressure will affect our partnership... They (US) are forcing others to follow their politics." He said bilateral ties with India have developed over the decades and said the two countries were good friends and loyal partners. "Talks are characterized by relations which we developed with India for many decades. Relations are strategic partnerships...This was the basis on which we have been promoting our cooperation in all areas," Lavrov said. He said India's foreign policies are characterized by independence and focus on real national legitimate interests "I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterized by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners." Lavrov met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday. Lavrov's visit comes days after China's foreign minister Wang Yi visited India last week. India-US 2+2 dialogue would be held on April 11. The Russian Foreign Minister reached New Delhi after his two-day visit to China. (ANI) After years of negotiations, Australia and India will sign an interim free trade deal on Saturday which will eliminate 85 per cent tariffs on Australian goods exports to India. The deal with India unlocks a market of almost 1.4 billion consumers and would strengthen Australia's economy. "This agreement opens a big door into the world's fastest-growing major economy for Australian farmers, manufacturers, producers and so many more," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in a statement. The Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement will be signed on Saturday in a virtual ceremony by Trade Minister Dan Tehan and India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, Australia said in a statement on Friday night. Morrison and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will witness the signing of the interim agreement, and both countries would continue to work towards a full free trade deal. "After more than a decade of protracted negotiations, Australia and India will sign an interim free trade deal on Saturday. It's a more comprehensive agreement than some anticipated and will be registered with the WTO like a full free trade agreement (FTA)," tweeted Stephen Dziedzic, Foreign Affairs (Asia Pacific) reporter, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, based in Parliament House, Canberra. The Australian government said that the deal will eliminate tariffs on more than 85 per cent of Australian goods exports to India, rising to almost 91 per cent over 10 years. The Australian government is pointing to benefits for a wide range of producers. It said that the tariffs will be eliminated on a number of Australian goods including sheep meat, wool, fresh rock lobsters and some metallic ores. Tariffs to be reduced to zero more gradually for other Australian exports for example avocados, nuts, several beans, cherries and a host of berries. Meanwhile, tariffs were reduced (not eliminated) for Australian wine. But some key sectors are still excluded. Australia has refused to give ground on waiving labour market testing. "Again, not a huge surprise. The government instead unveiled some modest "labour mobility" measures for Indian graduates," said Dziedzic. "That includes opening up 1000 working holiday visas to Indian backpackers. The Government will also allow top Indian IT, Engineering, Mathematics and Science graduates to stay slightly longer in Australia post-study," added Dziedzic. However, Australia has not been able to convince India to tear down barriers to Australian goods in sensitive sectors including chickpeas, and dairy- they are excluded. "This agreement has been built on our strong security partnership and our joint efforts in the Quad, which has created the opportunity for our economic relationship to advance to a new level," Morrison said, referring to the security grouping of India, Australia, United States and Japan. Canberra exported Australian dollar 19.3 billion worth of goods to India in 2021, representing 4.2 per cent of Australia's total exports. (ANI) Experts have raised concern over the implementation of the latest trade deal between Nepal and China as Beijing has been barring exports from Nepal for years for over two years citing COVID-19 restrictions. China has agreed to provide duty-free treatment to goods of Nepali origin covering 98 per cent tariff lines, reported The Kathmandu Post. The two countries exchanged letters on the preferential treatment besides signing other deals during the recent visit to Kathmandu by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Experts however questioned the workability of the pact saying, "For more than two years, China has been preventing Nepali products from entering the country on the pretext of COVID-19. Exports from Nepal to China have almost come down to zero," Dinesh Shrestha, vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told the Kathmandu Post. According to the Nepal Trade Information Portal of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, China has been providing zero tariff treatment to about 8,000 goods originating in Nepal. These products account for 95 percent of Nepal's exports to China. "The question is about the implementation part. Why have Nepali exports to China fallen sharply?" said Shrestha. "And again, it is a matter of how serious the Chinese government will be in implementing the recent agreement." Nepal's exports to China stood at a mere Rs 1 billion in the last fiscal year 2020-21 ended mid-July, while imports amounted to a staggering Rs 233.92 billion. The trade deficit with China amounted to Rs 232.90 billion in the last fiscal year, reported The Kathmandu Post. Nepal's main exports to China consist of incense sticks, handicraft (metal and wooden), noodles, pashmina, readymade garment, leather goods, rudraksha, tanned skin, tea, wheat flour and woollen carpet, among other products. China is Nepal's second largest trading partner, accounting for 14 per cent of its total trade. But Nepal suffers a huge deficit in its trade with its northern neighbour. Moreover, the closure of the Chinese border since early 2020 has affected a large number of Nepali entrepreneurs exporting goods to China. China closed its border points due to the pandemic in January 2020, and they have not been fully operationalized since then, reported The Kathmandu Post. (ANI) A Pakistan journalist, while taking a dig at the statement made by Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding Washington's role in an alleged "foreign conspiracy" to oust him from power, questioned why the United States was invited at the OIC meeting if PM received a threat from the country. Senior Anchor Hamid Mir in Geo News programme "Capital Talk" asked if the US had conveyed such a huge threat to Pakistan then why Imran Khan invited US Under Secretary of state Uzra Zeya to the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers conference held in Islamabad on March 21, reported the News International. Shah Mahmood Qureshi in his tweet said, "Constructive meeting with @UnderSecStateJ, visiting to attend #OIC48CFM, promoting more engagement between US & OIC States. We welcome leadership in the Extended Troika for sustainable peace in Afg. Imp for int'l community to prioritize the humanitarian need of ppl of Afg." "Bilaterally, Pakistan has a longstanding relationship with the US & we believe a regular & structured dialogue process imp to promoting our bilat & shared regional objectives. We look forward to commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year," he said in his second tweet, as per the newspaper. Earlier, in another similar incident, Pakistani journalist, Syed Talat Hussain while taking a jibe at Prime Minister Imran Khan questioned him as to 'why cry global conspiracy' and yet invite the US delegation. Taking to Twitter, Hussain wrote, "So you cry global conspiracy (by Washington) and also warmly invite and welcome their delegation to the OIC conference? Not to mention holding joint air exercises Falcon Talon?" This comes at a time when PM, earlier in the day said that he will share the 'foreign-funded conspiracy' letter with senior journalists and ally party members which has evidence that outside elements are trying to topple the government. Ahead of the no-trust vote against PM Imran Khan, the journalist alerted that some desperate political, legal, procedural, and constitutional options are being contemplated. "Madness Alert- Some desperate political, legal, procedural and constitutional options are being contemplated, which, if exercised, might create an even more desperate situation," wrote Hussain. After the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was tabled in the National Assembly with a total of 161 votes in favour, the proceedings were adjourned till March 31.The no-confidence motion was submitted by the Opposition parties on March 8. The Opposition has been confident that its motion would be carried as many PTI lawmakers have come out in the open against PM Imran Khan. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov here in the national capital and reiterated his call for an early cessation of violence, and conveyed India's readiness to contribute in any way to the peace efforts. The Foreign Minister briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Ukraine, including the ongoing peace negotiation, according to a release by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Lavrov also updated the Prime Minister on the progress of decisions taken during the India-Russia bilateral Summit held in December 2021. The meeting is quite significant as it comes at a time when India continues to stay neutral over Russia's war on Ukraine. Lavrov on Friday said that India can mediate between Moscow and Kyiv as the peace talks between the two counties failed to come up with solutions yet to end the war. Responding to an ANI question on the possibility of India becoming a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, he said, "India is an important country. If India sees to play that role which provides resolution of the problem...If India is with its position of a just and rational approach to international problems, it can support such process." Lavrov, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day official visit, also lauded independent Indian foreign policy and discussed a myriad of issues including, US pressure on India, surging energy prices, and sanctions on Russia. "I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterized by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners," he said. When asked about US pressure on India will affect Indo-Russian ties, the Russian FM said, "Have no doubt pressure doesn't affect partnership, I have no doubt no pressure will affect our partnership... They (US) are forcing others to follow their politics." He also slammed for calling the special operation in Ukraine a war when asked about the developments in Ukraine, Lavrov said, "You called it a war which is not true. It is a special operation, military infrastructure is being targeted. The aim is to deprive the Kyiv regime of building the capacity to present any threat to Russia." He also replied to ANI on how he sees India's position in the ongoing war, offer of oil supply to India, and any confirmation on Rupee-Ruble payment and sanctions. "If India wants to buy anything from us, ready to discuss and reach mutually acceptable cooperation," he said, adding "We will be ready to supply to India any goods which it wants to buy from us. We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations." He further said that relations with India were developed over many decades while answering how they can support India in terms of security challenges "Talks are characterized by relations which we developed with India for many decades. Relations are strategic partnerships...This was the basis on which we've been promoting our cooperation in all areas," said Lavrov. (ANI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that it would be a nice idea to go into early elections after the vote on no-confidence motion and reiterated that the Opposition is part of an "international conspiracy" to remove his government. "Our people who have run away (referring to the coalition allies of PTI)... It is obvious that we can't run the government with them even if we get a majority... So it will be better for Pakistan to conduct an election so that everything is clear about who stands where," Imran Khan said during an interview with ARY News. Imran Khan used the occasion to reiterate his claims of a foreign conspiracy, and lambasted the country's Opposition, particularly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif for being part of an international plot to remove the Pakistani government. "The Opposition is part of an international conspiracy to remove the government... I invited Shehbaz Sharif to a meeting (of Parliament's security council), but he did not come... because he is part of the conspiracy... the Opposition boycotted the meeting," Khan said. Signalling that he may lose the vote on no-confidence on Sunday, Khan raised questions about the Opposition running the government, saying that the Opposition leaders were only busy distributing portfolios among themselves. Imran Khan also underscored that he won't resign and that he will fight till the last ball is bowled and the match is lost. In an address to the nation on Thursday, Pakistan's embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan had raised a "foreign conspiracy" charge amid the opposition's growing confidence about the no-trust motion against his government that is pending in the National Assembly. "The United States", Imran Khan said in a slip of the tongue and then stated that "a foreign country" had sent a "threatening memo" which was against the Pakistani nation. "On March 8 or before that on March 7, the US sent us a...not the US but a foreign country sent us a message. The reason why I talking about this...for an independent country to receive such a message... this is against me and the country," he said. Later in the day, the United States rejected insinuations made by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding Washington's role in the alleged "foreign conspiracy" to oust him from power. "There is no truth to these allegations. We are closely following developments in Pakistan. We respect and support Pakistan's constitutional process and the rule of law," a US State Department spokesperson told ANI. In Pakistan's National Assembly, the no-trust vote against the Imran Khan government was deferred to April 3. The proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till April 3 soon after it met on Thursday to discuss the no-confidence motion. Earlier, on Monday, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif tabled the no-confidence motion.Imran Khan is the third Prime Minister to face the no-confidence motion in Pakistan. After the no-confidence motion was tabled with a total of 161 votes in favour, the proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till March 31. Imran Khan received a massive blow when the PTI "lost the majority" in the National Assembly after losing its key ally in the coalition Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P). The MQM announced on Wednesday that it had struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and would support the no-trust vote in the 342-member National Assembly. The government's survival depends on the support of allies such as MQM-P (7 seats), BAP (5 seats), PML(Q) (5 seats), GDA (3 seats), AML (1 seat), JWP (1 seat) and two independents. (ANI) "Based on initial information, two were killed and eight wounded in the car bomb blast. The injured were admitted to a regional hospital in the provincial capital Herat city," Mirwais Jalali, physician-in-chief of Herat Regional Hospital, told Xinhua. As per a provincial security source, the incident occurred in Jebraheel locality of Herat city around Friday evening. The wounded were receiving treatment in an intensive care unit, said the provincial public health official. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. (ANI) The intelligence agencies in Pakistan have sounded a state of high alert amid fears of political violence involving clashes between the workers of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Opposition on the day of voting on the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, local media reported. "Though the implementation of counter-strategy will be hard to obtain the motive of keeping the peace, because of direct involvement of the ruling party, the law enforcement agencies have decided to overcome the possible clash between the rival political groups," a senior police official was quoted as saying by the News International. He added that the course of action would be finalised one day before the no-trust move. It is yet to be decided whether the additional force of Rangers and other paramilitary forces would be called in to assist civil administration or the police would tackle the situation alone, he maintained. Prime Minister Imran Khan has invited the activists of PTI in front of the Parliament House on the day of the no-trust vote on Sunday, the report said. Consequently, the other Opposition parties are expected to gather their own supporters in the Capital, creating the possibility of law and order situation. Imran Khan is the third Prime Minister to face the no-confidence motion in Pakistan. After the no-confidence motion was tabled on March 28 with a total of 161 votes in favour, the proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till March 31. The proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till April 3 soon after it met on March 31 to discuss the no-confidence motion. Imran Khan received a massive blow when the PTI "lost the majority" in the National Assembly after losing its key ally in the coalition Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P). The MQM announced on Wednesday that it had struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and would support the no-trust vote in the 342-member National Assembly. The government's survival depends on the support of allies such as MQM-P (7 seats), BAP (5 seats), PML(Q) (5 seats), GDA (3 seats), AML (1 seat), JWP (1 seat) and two independents. (ANI) Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov said that for interaction and relations with Afghanistan's new government - the Taliban, Moscow has accepted the credential of the first diplomat introduced by de facto authorities in Kabul, reported The Khaama Press. Lavrov made the remarks in China on Wednesday during a meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries adding the diplomat has entered Russia in February. Lavrov who has also met Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi said his country is worried about the spread of terrorism from central Asian countries, reported The Khaama Press. "Plans and programs of Islamic State (ISIS) and their supporters to destabilize central Asian countries and then Russia is quite concerning. Formation of Ansarullah Fraction and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan on border sides of Afghanistan and Tajikistan are signs of threat," said Lavrov. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry of Afghanistan has not made comments about the issue yet. (ANI) While claiming that he will be appointed as the new Law Minister of Pakistan, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said that in his first action post-appointment he would request the courts to suspend Shahbaz Sharif's bail and would not allow him to become Prime Minister of Pakistan. The information minister also called on for the suspension of Humza Shehbaz's bail. While talking to the media, the information minister said that Shahbaz Shareef and Humaza Shehbaz's dreams would be shattered. Moreover, he also asserted that whosoever is on bail from courts would not be allowed to become Prime Minister of Pakistan and Punjab Chief Minister, reported ARY News. Echoing similar sentiments as that of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Fawad said that we would not let anyone sitting outside the country change regime. Fawad, in yet another claim, said that the ruling party invited alliance parties as well as Shehbaz Shareef to come and witness the 'threatening letter but they refused, which means that they are involved in the conspiracy. In addition to this, while referring to the disgruntled MNAs of the Imran Khan-led PTI, Fawad said that they have been tracking the "meets and greets" and legal action would be taken against the people who would cross the floor in the vote of no-confidence, reported the news channel. This comes at a time when PM, earlier in the day said that he will share the 'foreign-funded conspiracy' letter with senior journalists and ally party members which has evidence that outside elements are trying to topple the government. After the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was tabled in the National Assembly with a total of 161 votes in favour, the proceedings were adjourned till March 31.The no-confidence motion was submitted by the Opposition parties on March 8. The Opposition has been confident that its motion would be carried as many PTI lawmakers have come out in the open against PM Imran Khan. (ANI) Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan should seek an honourable exit, and resign before the vote on the no-confidence motion against his government on Sunday, local media reported. Bilawal said the Prime Minister should fight against the constitutional process honourably and should not seek a "face-saving or a backdoor exit". "You (Imran Khan) were imposed upon this nation... it is about time you should think about your acts. Our steps would strengthen the democracy in this country," he added, reported the Express Tribune. He further said that for the first time in Pakistan's history, a peaceful no-confidence vote is taking place as at many times in the past, unconstitutional means were used for such purpose. "We have taken a constitutional route... it should not be made controversial," he added. Bilawal further expressed hope that there would not be any "unconstitutional" step taken before Sunday's no-confidence vote against Imran Khan. Talking about Imran Khan's allegations that the no-confidence motion is part of a 'global conspiracy' to oust him, Bilawal said that Imran Khan used to say that by tabling the no-confidence motion, the opposition has given him a gift but now declares it a global conspiracy against his government, the Express Tribune reported. "Please, first decide whether it is a gift from us or it is a foreign conspiracy," Bilawal said mocking Imran Khan. In an address to the nation on Thursday, Pakistan's embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan had raised a "foreign conspiracy" charge amid the opposition's growing confidence about the no-trust motion against his government that is pending in the National Assembly. "The United States", Imran Khan said in a slip of the tongue and then stated that "a foreign country" had sent a "threatening memo" which was against the Pakistani nation. "On March 8 or before that on March 7, the US sent us a...not the US but a foreign country sent us a message. The reason why I talking about this...for an independent country to receive such a message... this is against me and the country," he said.Later in the day, the United States rejected insinuations made by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding Washington's role in the alleged "foreign conspiracy" to oust him from power. "There is no truth to these allegations. We are closely following developments in Pakistan. We respect and support Pakistan's constitutional process and the rule of law," a US State Department spokesperson told ANI. In Pakistan's National Assembly, the no-trust vote against the Imran Khan government was deferred to April 3. The proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till April 3 soon after it met on Thursday to discuss the no-confidence motion.Earlier, on Monday, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif tabled the no-confidence motion.Imran Khan is the third Prime Minister to face the no-confidence motion in Pakistan. After the no-confidence motion was tabled with a total of 161 votes in favour, the proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till March 31. Imran Khan received a massive blow when the PTI "lost the majority" in the National Assembly after losing its key ally in the coalition Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P). The MQM announced on Wednesday that it had struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and would support the no-trust vote in the 342-member National Assembly.The government's survival depends on the support of allies such as MQM-P (7 seats), BAP (5 seats), PML(Q) (5 seats), GDA (3 seats), AML (1 seat), JWP (1 seat) and two independents. (ANI) She visited an air force base in the northern city of Hsinchu on Friday, reported NHK World. Tsai was briefed on the equipment designed to increase the survival rate of pilots in emergencies. She told about 70 pilots that they are facing tougher missions due to the current international situation and expanding authoritarianism, reported NHK World. She said combat training will show the world Taiwan's resolve to defend itself. Taiwan's defense ministry says more than 250 Chinese military aircraft in total entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) from January through March 22. The number has doubled from the same period in the previous year. Experts say pilots who encounter Chinese aircraft are shouldering heavier burdens. Two Taiwanese fighter jets crashed during training in January and March. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba met Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda at the party headquarters on Friday and discussed strengthening the ties between the Nepali Congress and the BJP. The Nepal PM was accompanied by his wife Arzu Deuba, Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka, Energy and Water Resources Minister Pampha Bhusal and Health Minister Mahendra Rai Yadav during the meeting. PM Deuba was attending the meeting at the invitation of BJP President JP Nadda. The discussion was held in a cordial environment and political ideas were also exchanged, BJP Foreign cell head Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale informed about the meeting. The two leaders discussed exchange programs involving youth exchange as well as women delegation exchange and said that they will take forward 'party-to-party' dialogues between the BJP and the Nepali Congress. Relations between India and Nepal transcend many plains including Business-to-Business relations and country-to-country relations, however, there was a gap in 'party-to-party' relations, Chauthaiwala said, adding that the BJP President emphasized that the Nepali Congress and the BJP should undertake regular dialogue. Regarding the exchange of party delegations, Chauthaiwale said that one Nepali Congress delegation had already arrived about 2-3 months ago at the invitation of the BJP. The exchange of delegations will go on, and we will regularly exchange youth delegations and business delegations through coordination between both our parties, he added. He further said that the BJP President gave a brand overview of the BJP to the Nepali PM, talking about the functioning of the party, as well as the non-political social welfare work the party volunteers undertook during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chauthaiwale further elaborated that the discussions also involved the old ties between India and Nepal and the cordial relations between the two countries, adding that the two leaders naturally discussed the cultural and civilizational relations between the two countries. "I think the 3-day visit of PM Deuba starts a new chapter between India-Nepal relations. Today's meeting is an important link in that chapter and we will see the long-term results of this meeting. I think a message of natural friendship between the two countries has been sent through this visit (of Nepal PM)," Chauthaiwale said. Earlier today, Nepal PM arrived in New Delhi to kickstart his first visit to the country since assuming office in July last year. Nepal's Prime Minister is visiting India at the invitation of PM Modi. The Nepal PM also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla later today. PM Deuba is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow at Hyderabad House, besides other engagements. Besides official engagements in New Delhi, Nepal PM will visit Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. In a press statement, the MEA said India and Nepal enjoy age-old special ties of friendship and cooperation. The last Head of State/Head of Government-level visit from Nepal was in May 2019, when then PM K P Oli visited India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. Before that PM Modi had visited Nepal in August 2018 for the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, which was preceded by a State Visit to Nepal in May 2018. PM Modi had extended a congratulatory message to Sher Bahadur Deuba soon after he won the Vote of Confidence in Nepal's Parliament. This was followed by a congratulatory telephonic conversation on 19 July 2021. The most recent meeting between PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba took place on November 2, 2021, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow. Sher Bahadur Deuba is a veteran politician of the Nepali Congress with a political career spanning over seven decades. This is Deuba's fifth tenure as PM. His first term was from September 1995 to March 1997. He has visited India several times, both when in and out of power. This will be his fifth visit to India as PM, with the last visit being in August 2018. The previous three visits took place in 2004, 2002 and 1996. (ANI) Ankara [Turkey], April 1 (ANI/Xinhua): The Turkish justice minister said on Friday that he will accept a local prosecutor's demand to transfer a case against suspects in the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi to the Saudi authorities, as Ankara seeks to mend ties with Riyadh. "We will send a positive opinion on the transfer of the case. When the file is transferred, Turkey will stop the case and the trial will continue in Saudi Arabia," Bekir Bozdag told reporters at a press conference. The transfer of the proceedings does not abolish the jurisdiction of Turkish courts, he noted. During the trial, a red notice was issued for 26 people and the extradition of 20 people was requested, but all requests were denied, the minister said, adding Saudi Arabia demanded the proceedings in Turkey be stopped and transferred to its authorities. Since all the suspects are all abroad, the court asked the Justice Ministry for an opinion on this issue, Bozdag noted. The Turkish prosecutor leading the case demanded on Thursday an Istanbul court stop proceedings against suspects in the killing of Khashoggi, hinting that the case should be handed to Saudi judicial authorities. The judges of the court then decided to ask the opinion of the justice ministry regarding the possible transfer of the case to the Saudi authorities, Turkey's semi-official Anadolu Agency reported Thursday. Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018, leading to the arrest of a number of senior Saudi officials in connection with the case. The relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia significantly strained after the murder of the Saudi journalist, as Turkish officials alleged that Khashoggi was killed by a team of Saudi agents. Ankara has been recently seeking to restore ties with Riyadh and other Gulf Arab countries. (ANI/Xinhua) Washington [US], April 2 (ANI/Sputnik): The United States is adding 120 Russian and Belarusian entities to its trade blacklist for their support of the countries' armed forces amid the ongoing special operation in Ukraine, the US Commerce Department said on Friday. "In response to the Russian Federation's (Russia's) further invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Department of Commerce is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding 120 entities under 120 entries to the Entity List. These 120 entities have been determined by the U.S. Government to be acting contrary to the national security interests or foreign policy of the United States and will be listed on the Entity List under the destinations of Belarus and Russia," the Commerce Department said in a notice in the Federal Register. (ANI/Sputnik) The Gazette has been issued considering the prevailing situation in the country and in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community, Daily Mirror reported. It further reported that Sri Lankan President has issued the gazette under the powers vested in him by Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), as amended by Act. No. 8 of 1959. Law No. 6 of 1978 and Act, No.28 of 1988. Moreover, Sri Lanka has also imposed a police curfew in Western Province for six hours. "Police curfew will be in effect within the Western Province from midnight until 6.00 a.m. April 2 (tomorrow)," Police Spokesperson said, according to Daily Mirror. Several protestors gathered outside the residence of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday as the island nation faces an unprecedented economic crisis. The protest was staged over the government's failure to address the existing issues in the island nation. The protesters clashed with the police outside the residence of President Rajapaksa in Mirihana. After the protest, at least ten people were injured including journalists. Sri Lanka's economy has been in a free fall since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the crash of the tourism sector. Sri Lanka is presently facing a foreign exchange shortage which has led to a food, fuel, power and gas shortage and has sought the assistance of friendly countries for economic assistance. Sri Lanka is witnessing at least 10-hour daily power cuts. Sri Lanka's currency has been also devalued by almost SLR 90 against the US dollar since March 8. (ANI) India has remained a reliable strategic partner of Russia traditionally and remembers the help Moscow extended to India in its toughest times in the past. The development of India-Russia relations has been a key pillar of India's foreign policy. Indo-Russian ties enjoy enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationships including political, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, and culture. Russians and Indians, both value and share values like friendship and loyalty, and this is something that unites the people of the two countries and especially the members of their permanent bureaucracies in ways that outside observers rarely ever realize. The particularly privileged strategic partnership between the two countries has become stronger and more diversified over a period of time. In the field of defence, India has longstanding and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia. India-Russia military-technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems. BrahMos Missile System as well as the licensed production in India of SU-30 aircraft and T-90 tanks are examples of such flagship cooperation. Both sides cooperate in the peaceful uses of outer space, including satellite launches, navigation systems, remote sensing and other societal applications of outer space. It is worth mentioning that Indian astronauts, who will fly into space in 2023 aboard an Indian spacecraft, have received basic training in Russia - another enduring symbol of India-Russia friendship. In the area of peaceful use of nuclear energy, Russia is an important partner for India. It recognizes India as a country with advanced nuclear technology with an impeccable non-proliferation record. In Dec 2014, India's DAE (Department of Atomic Energy) and Russia's Rosatom signed the Strategic Vision for strengthening cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is being built in India with Russian cooperation. In the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, while the West has been critical of India's balanced position in accordance with its policy of multilateralism, Russia has displayed understanding vis-a-vis India's stand on the ongoing crisis. Russia's newly appointed Ambassador to India Denis Alipov recently expressed that India was taking a "fairly balanced position" regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He further added that the current situation would not affect Russia-India cooperation in the military-technical sphere. In the pharmaceutical sector, Indian companies could fill in the void created by Western manufacturers. Vouching for enhanced cooperation with India on hydrocarbon supplies, the Russian Ambassador stated that if New Delhi showed interest, Moscow was prepared to closely study the possibility of selling its S-500 system to India. In view of the historical strategic ties between the two countries and in the backdrop of Russia's "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine, interaction with India assumes significant importance for Russia. Moscow considers political dialogue with India to be vital at this stage; and simultaneously recognises that with the expansion of Western sanctions, cooperation with India in the economic sphere has become all the more important. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to India, therefore, needs to be seen, not only in the light of ongoing operation but also from the prism of the vision of both countries to establish a long-term and strategically important cooperation. The relationship between India and Russia has a unique strength that has repeatedly shown that it follows its own logic and is immune to pressure from third countries. (ANI) New York [US], April 2 (ANI/Sputnik): UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths will visit Moscow on April 3 and then will visit Kyiv to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine and a potential for a ceasefire, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday. "My special envoy, Martin Griffiths, was asked by me to pursue a humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine. He will be flying to Moscow on Sunday and after that he will be going to Kiev," Guterres said during a press conference. (ANI/Sputnik) "Police curfew will be in effect within the Western Province from midnight until 6.00 a.m. April 2 (tomorrow)," Police Spokesperson said, according to Daily Mirror. Several protestors gathered outside the residence of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday as the island nation faces an unprecedented economic crisis. The protest was staged over the government's failure to address the existing issues in the island nation. The protesters clashed with the police outside the residence of President Rajapaksa in Mirihana. After the protest, at least ten people were injured including journalists. Meanwhile, fifteen individuals arrested over the protest held in Mirihana were ordered to be released on bail after being produced before Gangodawila Magistrate's Court, Daily Mirror reported. It further reported that each of them was ordered to be released on a surety bail by Magistrate Prasanna Alwis. Sri Lanka's economy has been in a free fall since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the crash of the tourism sector. Sri Lanka is presently facing a foreign exchange shortage which has led to a food, fuel, power and gas shortage and has sought the assistance of friendly countries for economic assistance. Sri Lanka is witnessing at least 10-hour daily power cuts. Sri Lanka's currency has been also devalued by almost SLR 90 against the US dollar since March 8. (ANI) A team of US investigators have departed for China to probe the causes of an airliner crash that killed all 132 people on a Boeing 737-800 operated by China Eastern Airlines on March 21, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Friday. "NTSB team has departed for China to participate in CAAC [Civil Aviation Administration of China's] B-737 accident investigation," Sputnik reported citing NTSB's statement. The US investigators will limit interactions with those outside of investigation similar to the safety protocols at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games earlier this year, the NTSB said. This will allow them to begin work immediately without a quarantine, NTSB further said, according to the Russian News Agency. A China Eastern Airlines plane with 132 people on board crashed in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Flight MU5735, with 132 people aboard, was enroute from the southwestern city of Kunming to Guangzhou on March 21 when it plunged from cruising altitude and crashed. (ANI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday, ahead of a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly, said he has credible information that his "life is in danger", local media reported. He said not only his life was in danger but the Opposition, which is playing in foreign hands, will also resort to his character assassination, Khan said in an interview with ARY News. "Let me inform my nation that my life is at risk too, they have also planned for my character assassination. Not only myself but my wife too," Khan said. As Khan battles to save his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, he said that the "establishment" gave him three options, including the no-confidence motion, resignation from his post, or fresh elections, ARY News reported. Answering a question about what options the Opposition gave him, the Pakistan Prime Minister said that he does not think he should talk to people like Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif. "If we survive (the no-confidence vote), we cannot of course work with these turncoats (who left PTI to join opposition), early elections are the best option, I will urge my nation to give me simple majority so that I won't have to do compromises," he said. Terming the Opposition's no-confidence motion a conspiracy, Khan said he knew about it since August last year and he had reports that some Opposition leaders were visiting embassies, ARY News reported. "People like Husain Haqqani were meeting Nawaz Sharif in London," he said. Khan reiterated what he said in a televised address to the nation on March 31 that a foreign country not only expressed disapproval over his premiership and demanded that he be ousted through no-confidence vote so that Pakistan be "forgiven". He stated that the foreign country objected upon his independent foreign policy. Khan further said the "threat memo" did not only demand a regime change but clearly mentioned that he should be removed as the prime minister. Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Faisal Vawda had also claimed that Imran Khan's life is in danger as a conspiracy has been hatched to assassinate him. In Pakistan's National Assembly, the no-trust vote against the Imran Khan government was deferred to April 3. The proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till April 3 soon after it met on Thursday to discuss the no-confidence motion. Imran Khan received a massive blow when the PTI "lost the majority" in the National Assembly after losing its key ally in the coalition Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P). The MQM announced that it had struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and would support the no-trust vote in the 342-member National Assembly. The no-confidence motion was submitted by the Opposition parties on March 8 after the Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) long march in Islamabad. The Opposition has been confident that its motion would be carried as many PTI lawmakers have come out in the open against PM Imran Khan. Imran Khan is the third Prime Minister to face the no-confidence motion in Pakistan. (ANI) WASHINGTON (AP) Twelve people, including three U.S. Army soldiers, are accused in a large-scale gun trafficking ring that prosecutors allege supplied nearly 100 guns to gang members in Chicago and led to at least two killings, the Justice Department said Friday. The soldiers Demarcus Adams, 21; Jarius Brunson, 22; and Brandon Miller, 22 were enlisted in the Army and stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, where they would legally purchase guns from local dealers in Tennessee and Kentucky, prosecutors charged. The soldiers are accused of selling them to members of the Gangster Disciples street gang in the Pocket Town neighborhood on Chicago's south side, according to the 21-count indictment. The indictment charges the group with conspiring to violate federal firearms laws, among other crimes. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison. The case is part of the Justice Departments push to investigate and prosecute gun trafficking amid rising crime across the U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has vowed to prioritize prosecutions of firearms traffickers and so-called straw purchasers, who legally purchase firearms to sell them to people who cant legally poses guns, often in states with more restrictive gun laws. Related video: Drug, gun bust in Albany lead to indictment of nearly 50 people in June 2021 The Justice Department will spare no resources to hold accountable criminal gun traffickers, Garland said at a news conference Friday. There is no hiding place for those who flood our communities with illegal guns. It does not matter where you are, or how far away you are. If you illegally traffic guns, we and our law enforcement partners nationwide will find you. Prosecutors allege Miller would receive orders from members of the Gangster Disciples in Chicago for specific guns to purchase and he, Brunson and Adams would then buy them from dealers in Clarksville, Tennessee and Oak Grove, Kentucky, and give them to gang members, who paid through money transfer apps, including Zelle and CashApp. Miller also advertised that he had 1,000 rounds of ammunition available for sale, prosecutors say. Story continues Authorities believe the trio provided over 90 illegally obtained firearms to the gang to facilitate the on-going violent disputes between the Pocket Town Gangster Disciples and their rival gangs, the Justice Department said. Investigators believe one of the guns was used in a shooting at a party in Chicago last March that left one man dead, and seven others wounded. Another was used in a killing at a Chicago barbershop in January 2021, according to officials. The nine others charged in the indictment are: Blaise Smith, 29; Rahaeem Johnson, 24; Bryant Larkin, 33; Corey Curtis, 26; Elijah Tillman, 24; Lazarus Greenwood, 23; Dwight Lowry, 41; and Dreshion Parks, 25, all of Chicago; along with Terrell Mitchell, 27, of Davenport, Iowa. Two people who were alleged to be part of the conspiracy were killed as a result of gang violence, which was facilitated by the firearms illegally transferred to individuals in the Chicago, prosecutors say. The indictment spells out how Miller would exchange messages with his associates in Chicago to negotiate the prices of the guns. The silver one a 380 u still want it its a steal, Miller wrote to Lowry in December 2020, the indictment says. Lowry wrote back, Yup cant beat it, according to court papers. ___ This story has been corrected to show Fort Campbell is located in Kentucky, not Tennessee. The widow of a man shot and killed by a Georgia State Patrol trooper in August 2020 will receive a large settlement. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, a trooper attempted to pull over 60-year-old Julian Lewis for a darkened tail light. When the trooper tried making the traffic stop, Lewis sped up and led the trooper on a brief chase. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The trooper used a P.I.T. maneuver to stop Lewis car. The car spun out into a ditch, according to the GBI. According to the incident report, Lewis turned on his hazard signals and motioned with his hand out the drivers side window but did not stop. The trooper went on to write that he feared for his life after stopping the car, leading him to draw his weapon. The incident report says the trooper saw [Lewis] wrenching the steering wheel in an aggressive back and forth manner towards me and my patrol vehicle. It appeared that the violator was trying to use his vehicle to injure me. TRENDING STORIES: Lewis was shot in the face and killed while still sitting in his car about 60 miles northwest of Savannah. Julian Lewis widow, Betty Lewis, was awarded a record-breaking $4.8 million settlement with the state of Georgia, according to her attorneys at Hall & Lampros, LLP. Our hearts grieve for Betty Lewis, who lost her Golden Years with her husband because of unwarranted and unnecessary deadly force during what should have been a routine traffic stop, said Andrew Lampros, Co-Founder and Partner at Hall & Lampros. Attorneys say this is the largest settlement in Georgia since 1990. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Reuters LONDON (Reuters) -Queen Elizabeth plans to attend major celebrations to mark her 70 years on the British throne next month, Buckingham Palace said on Friday, but two out-of-favour royals, Princes Andrew and Harry, will be excluded from one traditional event. The 96-year-old, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, marked seven decades as queen in February, and four days of "Platinum Jubilee" events to recognise that landmark are being held at the start of June. Elizabeth has been struggling with mobility issues, meaning most of her recent public engagements have had to be cancelled, but Buckingham Palace said she did plan to be at a number of events. Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois says Trump shouldn't be allowed to run in 2024 for asking Russian leader Vladimir Putin for a favor. Ting Shen-Pool/Getty Images Adam Kinzinger says Trump should be disqualified from running in 2024. This was after Trump appealed to Vladimir Putin to release information on Hunter Biden. "No former President should ever ask an evil man like Putin for a favor," tweeted Kinzinger. GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger said on Thursday that he doesn't think former President Donald Trump should be allowed to run for office in 2024. Kinzinger referred to Trump's appeal this week to Vladimir Putin to release information on Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son. "No former President should ever ask an evil man like Putin for a favor... like Trump did just yesterday," tweeted Kinzinger. "This is absolutely undermining the national security of this country and should be disqualifying for any re-election," he wrote, calling on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and "every Republican" to address the matter. Trump urged the Russian leader to share information and documents regarding the younger Biden during an interview released Tuesday with far-right journalist John Solomon on Real America's Voice network. During the interview, Trump referenced a GOP-led investigation ahead of the 2020 election into the Bidens by Senate Republicans that produced very few new findings. This report alleged that in 2014, a firm tied to Hunter Biden received $3.5 million from Yuri Luzhkov, a Russian businesswoman and the wife of the late mayor of Moscow. The claim has been disputed by Biden's attorney George Mesires. "She gave him $3.5 million so now I would think Putin would know the answer to that," Trump said in the interview. "I think he should release it. I think we should know that answer." For his part, Trump has heaped praise on Putin on several occasions. At a rally in March, Trump called the decision by the Russian leader to station troops on the border of Ukraine a "great negotiation." Trump spoke kindly of Putin at a CPAC conference in late February, days after the invasion. Story continues "The problem is not that Putin is smart, which of course he is smart, but the real problem is that our leaders are dumb," he told the crowd. At the same event, he described Putin's invasion of Ukraine as "wonderful" and "genius." His repeated praise of Putin has been criticized by various parties including veteran diplomats. Read the original article on Business Insider (Reuters) - AerCap Holdings NV will provide 12 new Airbus aircraft to Italian state-owned carrier ITA Airways starting next year, the world's top aircraft lessor said on Friday. AerCap, which on Wednesday submitted a $3.5 billion insurance claim for more than 100 jets stuck in Russia, has signed lease agreements for 10 new Airbus A320neo aircraft and two new Airbus A330neo planes with ITA. Dublin-based AerCap's exposure to Moscow was the highest among all lessors when European Union sanctions forced the termination of Russian leases, accounting for 5% of its fleet by value. AerCap had 135 aircraft and 14 engines on lease to Russia but has repossessed and removed 22 aircraft and three engines, it said in its fourth-quarter financial results. Meanwhile, the Italian government said on Wednesday it wanted to clinch a deal for the sale of ITA Airways by mid-June. (Reporting by Kannaki Deka and Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi) The Air Force is seeking $5.3 billion in fiscal 2023 to continue revamping its outdated facilities across the globe, nearly half of which comes in the form of major construction projects. These actions undertake urgently needed actions to improve the defense ecosystem and build resilient facilities and infrastructure, the service said in its latest budget request, released on Monday. Three years ago, the Department of the Air Force launched its Infrastructure Investment Strategy that promised to shift from reactively fixing its facilities to proactively upgrading them. While the amount of money sought for that project is growing, the Air Forces major military construction spending is slated to dip as it figures out how to repurpose existing facilities for its future needs. Air Force to focus 2022 construction funds on Europe, Pacific and nukes Proposed construction spans nearly 40 major projects, more than half of which are new starts. The programs prepare the Air Force to bring on new assets like the B-21 Raider nuclear bomber and a new generation of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, and chip away at the approximately $35 billion backlog of deferred care for its bases. Those range in cost from an $8 million security fence around the perimeter of Rygge Air Station in Norway, to a $125 million weapons assembly facility for the B-52 Stratofortress bombers at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The list highlights efforts to build up sparse places to better serve as strategic lilypads, and bolster those already in use. Suggested projects worth nearly $700 million through the European Deterrence Initiative and Pacific Deterrence Initiative include: Storage facilities for equipment that can be used to create an air base from scratch at Icelands Naval Air Station Keflavik and Hungarys Papa Air Base Storage for rapid airfield damage repair equipment at Italys Aviano AB and Spains Moron AB Aircraft parking, fuel tanks and other airfield features on Tinian Island in the Northern Mariana Islands An aircraft corrosion repair center at Japans Kadena AB, which will also get a new search-and-rescue helicopter maintenance hangar The perimeter fence at Rygge Story continues Cost of rebuilding Offutt will be higher than original estimate Also notable for the U.S. military footprint abroad are $50 million worth of upgrades to fuel and maintenance infrastructure at Muwaffaq Salti AB in Jordan, where the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing has appeared to be headquartered since at least 2020. The Air Force does not publicly discuss the extent of its operations from the base, most often referring to it as a location in Southwest Asia. In 2019, The War Zone reported the military planned to spend tens of millions of dollars to turn the remote outpost into a hub for fighter jets, drones, cargo planes and more. Two new dormitories at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and Clear Space Force Station, Alaska, are on the table as well. Still, the focus is on revitalizing its space, not expanding. Growth from [fiscal] 22 to 23 is essentially nonexistent its flat, Maj. Gen. James Peccia, the Air Forces deputy assistant budget secretary, said of the military construction funding request in a briefing Monday. Opinion: The problems at Red Hill in Hawaii are just the start of DOD's infrastructure liabilities Next year, officials plan to draw up a blueprint for closing or demolishing existing facilities to make way for new construction, Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek said. The 2019 investment strategy promised to tear down the worst 5% of facilities service-wide. Many of its building woes have been well-publicized, like the MQ-9 Reaper schoolhouse at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, where duct tape holds equipment together, an abundance of bat poop temporarily closed an entrance, and a sinkhole threatens to swallow one building. Other bases have suffered the effects of devastating natural disasters and severe weather. The pandemic-era shift toward more telework is helping clear space to downsize the Air Forces footprint as well. Another key piece of ongoing refurbishment involves modernizing the maintenance enterprise at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Ogden ALC at Hill AFB, Utah; and Warner Robins ALC at Robins AFB, Georgia. Department of Defense labs face $5 billion infrastructure shortfall An Air Force report submitted to Congress in March noted that the 2,200 pieces of major equipment those worth more than $250,000 used in the Air Forces three main repair shops average 16 years old. Nearly 40 percent are past their reliable lifespan of about 18 years, but those resources arent typically replaced until they reach their mid-20s, according to the report obtained by Air Force Times. The Air Force Sustainment Center turned around more than 600 aircraft, 360 engines, 153,600 components and about 800 software packages in fiscal 2021. Given the complexity and future uncertainties of workload and operational tempos, the United States Air Force must modernize the [depot] infrastructure to meet growing warfighter requirements, reduce sustainment costs, increase flexibility/environmental resiliency and posture for future threats, the report said. Biden's infrastructure plan includes billions to develop emerging tech the military needs The Air Force has funded the replacement of 50 pieces of equipment on average each year for the past five years. But that needs to ramp up to 85 purchases a year if the service wants to meet its maintenance infrastructure goals. Annual spending on those items reached $175 million in 2021, totaling $842 million since 2016, the Air Force said. Those investments are split into four categories: computer software and hardware and telecommunications equipment; minor construction on military facilities; other software development and acquisition; and the other everyday equipment used to repair, upgrade and test military systems. Sustaining an aircraft inventory that averages around 30 years old poses numerous challenges; among them, needing to buy spare parts that are no longer in production, having to rely on a single remaining company for expertise, and continuing slow manual processes that have long been automated in the private sector. US Senate votes down $50B defense infrastructure boost The associated infrastructure is getting too old to reliably work with equally aging planes and weapons, let alone the modern designs coming to fruition. At Ogden in Utah, for example, equipment used to care for landing gear date back to the inception of their associated workloads and are showing negative effects of age and corrosion, the report said. Despite some investments in new equipment that helps protect airmen from hazardous materials in their work, a significant portion of the resources used to remove toxic coatings from landing gear are at risk of failing. Ogden also pointed to one problem unique to the nuclear arsenal: A 25-year old imaging machine that scans the rocket fuel inside of a Minuteman III missile is getting harder to maintain. This equipment assesses if any defects are present in the solid fuel boosters that could affect missile performance, the Air Force wrote. The manufacturer, ARACOR, has dissolved and there are no other repair sources. Therefore, when the system fails, [Ogden] is reliant on a single contractor with system experience to help with troubleshooting and repair. Dozens of VA medical centers slated for closure, total rebuilds under new infrastructure plan Even though the Air Force plans to begin phasing out Minuteman III for the new Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent missiles in the late 2020s, the service argues it should still replace the fuel scanner to be more cost-effective, efficient and safer until the older weapons are retired. All told, the total estimated cost of replacing capital equipment across the three air logistics complexes stands at $4.2 billion, according to the report. As we shift toward fleets that include fifth-generation and beyond capabilities, it is imperative that our air logistics complexes optimize opportunities to stay ahead of future missions, the Air Force wrote. Alex Jones will have to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fines for failing to attend a deposition, a judge has ruled (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Alex Jones is still on the hook to pay daily, steadily increasing fines for skipping a deposition, a judge has decided. Judge Barbara Bellis of Waterbury, Connecticut ruled on Friday that the right-wing conspiracy theorist will continue to pay tens of thousands of dollars for every weekday he fails to attend. The first fine, on Friday, will be $25,000, and will increase by another $25,000 each business day after that. Jones lawyers had asked Judge Bellis to hold off on the fines while he appealed the case to Connecticuts State Supreme Court. Judge Bellis refused. The deposition stems from a lawsuit by the families of children killed in the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Jones, the host of the right-wing program InfoWars, publicly insisted that the shooting was a hoax a false claim that the families say was defamatory. Two days before he was set to testify under oath last week, Jones lawyers made a last-ditch attempt to delay it by claiming he was too sick to attend due to unnamed medical conditions and that doctors had advised him to remain at home. Judge Bellis rejected the request to delay, but Mr Jones failed to show anyway. Lawyers for the Infowars host filed a motion on Thursday asking Judge Bellis to reconsider the fines in light of a newly-scheduled deposition on 11 April - arguing that it was unfair to require him to pay fines totaling potentially $1.65 million for relying on a doctors note to not attend a deposition. Just as the motion was entered, Jones aired his grievances against Judge Bellis on his show, branding her a liar and a thing. We got this judge up in Connecticut, if you could call it that this thing that has just cheated us every way, lied about us, said we didnt give them this, sanctioned us for not giving them the Sandy Hook marketing, Jones said, according to Media Matters. Its like saying give me the unicorn. Dont have one, lady. I know you got a leprechaun. Jones lawyers have promised the pundit will appear for his deposition on 11 April. If the fines continue, that means he will owe $525,000. This is a breaking news story. More to follow Amazon Labor Union (ALU) organiser Christian Smalls and ALU members celebrate official victory after hearing results regarding the vote to unionize, outside the NLRB offices in Brooklyn, New York. Brendan McDermid/Reuters Supporters of the Amazon Labor Union celebrated their victory at the NLRB in New York. Organizer Christian Smalls thanked former CEO Jeff Bezos for going into space. "When he was up there, we was signing people up," Smalls said. Amazon Labor Union organizer Christian Smalls would like to thank Jeff Bezos for going into space. The former Amazon employee spearheaded the first successful effort to unionize an Amazon warehouse, which was solidified after the National Labor Relations Board concluded counting votes Friday. Outside the NLRB offices in Brooklyn, Smalls popped a bottle of champagne and said, "to the first Amazon union in history." The warehouse is in Staten Island, New York, and is known as JFK8. "We want to thank Jeff Bezos for going to space, because when he was up there, we was signing people up," Smalls said. "We were out here getting signatures." Smalls was referring to Bezos' flight with his Blue Origin space company in July. "I want to thank every Amazon employee and every Amazon customer because you guys paid for all of this," Bezos had said after the flight. The NLRB finished counting votes Friday morning. Workers submitted 2654 votes for and 2131 against joining the Amazon Labor Union, a new group that Smalls founded. The ALU is working to unionize another warehouse on Staten Island, which will vote in the coming weeks. Amazon has vigorously fought to keep its warehouses from unionizing. In a blog post, the company said it was "disappointed" with Friday's vote and is thinking about submitting to a federal labor panel an objection related to the conduct of the election. Smalls became a vocal Amazon labor advocate over coronavirus safety measures in March 2020, and was fired the same month for what the company said was an unrelated event. In a leaked memo obtained by Vice in 2020, an Amazon layer told Jeff Bezos was that Smalls was "not smart, or articulate, and to the extent the press wants to focus on us versus him, we will be in a much stronger PR position." Story continues Smalls has remained bullish about the union's prospects throughout months of organizing. "We've never seen a campaign ever like this before. We're not a traditional union. We don't have the resources. We started from scratch with nothing," Smalls told Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider An American engineer abducted in Afghanistan two years ago has appeared in a video pleading for his release to allow him to return to his family. The New Yorker magazine published the video on Friday. In the footage, engineer Mark Frerichs says the video was filmed on 28 November of last year. Mr Frerichs is a Navy veteran and civilian contractor and is thought to be held by the Haqqani network, which is connected to the Taliban. In the video, Mr Frerichs appears alone sitting in front of a dark curtain. He states that the video is being recorded on 28 November 2021 and that he has patiently waited to be released. Id like to ask the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: please release me. Release me so that I may be re-united with my family. Thank you, he says. The New Yorker said they got the video from an unnamed person in Afghanistan. While the magazine stated that they havent been able to verify the source of the video, Mr Frerichs sister Charlene Cakora told the outlet that the man in the video is her brother. This is public confirmation of our familys long-held belief that he is alive after more than two years in captivity, she told the magazine. She made an appeal to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to push for Mr Frerichs release. We consider this to be an important indicator of the Talibans interest in seeking to arrange for Marks immediate release. President Biden and Secretary Blinken, we urge you to take bold and decisive action to bring Mark home, she said. Mr Frerichs was thought to be the only American in the custody of the Taliban when the Biden administration removed all US forces from the country. More follows... American-born ex-hedge fund manager Bill Browder says he feared being turned over to Russian authorities by then-US president Donald Trump after Russian president Vladimir Putin floated a bizarre interrogation exchange proposal during their infamous 2018 summit in Helsinki, Finland. In an excerpt from his forthcoming book reported in The Times, Mr Browder recalled being in the United States during Mr Trumps summit and receiving a slew of incoming text messages, emails and other messages from concerned friends offering him temporary housing and shelter. What the hell was going on? I found the earliest email about the summit between Trump and Putin that was taking place in Finland. The subject was to the point: Putin talking about you now. Thousands of miles away, Mr Putin had invoked Mr Browders name in response to a question from a US reporter, whod asked whether hed consider allowing 12 Russians whod been indicted for interfering in the 2016 US election to be extradited to America for trial. He said hed allow the 12 Russians all military intelligence officers to be questioned by US officials if he could have his own people question Mr Browder in kind. Mr Trump responded: I think thats an incredible offer. For Mr Browder, whod become a frequent target for Mr Putin for advocating for anti-corruption legislation known as the Sergei Magnitsky Act, such a response was ominous, and he quickly told his wife he believed he needed to leave the US immediately. If he got me, he would have me thrown in a Russian prison, where I would be tortured and eventually killed. These were the things I knew for certain, he wrote. What I didnt know was if Trump would follow through on this incredible offer and, if he attempted to, whether Americas legal institutions were strong enough to stand up to him. He would spend the rest of that day explaining why Mr Putin wanted him back in Russia to a series of television outlets, but remained terrified of the possibility that Mr Trump would follow through and order him detained for extradition to Russia. Story continues The next day, Mr Browder wrote that he felt as if the floor had fallen out from under him after then-White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Mr Trump was still considering the exchange, but felt some relief when a state department spokesperson called the proposal and allegations made against Mr Browder and others by Mr Putin absolutely absurd. Sergei Magnitsky was a tax adviser tasked by Mr Browder to find out how his company Hermitage Capital Management had become unwittingly embroiled in a $230m tax fraud against the Russian state. When Magnitsky discovered evidence suggesting Russian government officials were behind it, he himself was arrested and imprisoned. In 2009 he died in prison, apparently beaten to death by prison orderlies after months of mistreatment. Since then Mr Browder has led efforts to establish the Magnitsky Act in countries including the US, the UK and Canada, which imposes sanctions on Russian officials thought to have been involved in his killing and in the original fraud. We may expect spy stories to be suave and elegant, like James Bond, but new AppleTV+ series Slow Horses, starring Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas and Olivia Cooke, gives us the grittier version, almost the antithesis of the usual British spy genre, based on the books by Mick Herron. It feels quirky enough, I would see the trailer and think, 'I think I would tune into that,' Oldman said. I think [its] a very unique take on a genre that we're all familiar with, but it's sort of subverted, and it's just another look at the world through the imagination of Mick Herron and the writers." Unique, as per Oldmans description, is definitely appropriate. You likely wouldnt expect a spy series where our first introduction to the Harry Potter, Darkest Hour and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy actors character involves him letting out a massive fart, that wakes him up from his slumber in a dirty office and his big toe sticking out of a ripped sock. Passing gas aside, Slow Horses is centred around a group of misfit spies, essentially MI5 rejects, who have been demoted to Slough House under Jackson Lamb (Oldman), a previously well-respected spy who has been relegated to being the boss of the slow horses, defined as a group of dysfunctional misfits from the British Intelligence, condemned to a life of admin-hell in a dumping ground of MI5 due to career ending mistakes and personal failures. [Jackson Lamb] is a bully, he farts a lot, and he's disgusting, Saskia Reeves who plays Catherine Standish, Lambs assistant, said. He's got disgusting personal habits but everybody respects him in a weird way. Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden in Slow Horses, premiering globally April 1, 2022 on Apple TV+. River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) is the newest addition to Slough House, after a training exercise went terribly wrong. Even Cartwrights legacy, with his grandfather, played by Jonathan Pryce, a retired spy himself, couldnt keep him out of Slough House. I am surrounded by fk ups in this building but you are the gold standard of fk ups, Lamb says to Cartwright, adding that the only reason he avoided going down for glue was because of his last name. Story continues Kristin Scott Thomas in Slow Horses, premiering globally April 1, 2022 on Apple TV+. At the main MI5 headquarters, called The Park, Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) is second in command and, begrudgingly, sometimes needs to connect with Lamb to coordinate the menial Slough House tasks. At the outset of the series, the best spy at Slough House, Sid Baker played by Olivia Cooke, gathers information about a right-wing journalist. I think what a lot of women do is try and hide their brilliance to make other people, mainly men, feel more comfortable, and I could recognize that in Sid, and also she's doing that for a particular reason, Cooke said. Reeves added that Standish does the same, hiding her brilliance initially in the series. I think Catherine's reasons are more to do with self confidence but she has a particular job to do, which is to run the office as best she can, and all her other desires or talents are ignored really, by others, although she gets the odd moment to show off, she said. Cartwright is tasked with delivering Baker's discovery to The Park but of course, Cartwright is eager to get out of the dog house and wants to take on the investigation of this case himself. This ultimately leads to the Slough House team getting involved in the kidnapping of a Pakistani student and aspiring comic, by a far-right extremist group. Jack Lowden, Christopher Chung, Olivia Cooke and Paul Higgins in Slow Horses, premiering globally April 1, 2022 on Apple TV+. 'You could say every single line, if you wanted to, with sarcasm' Slow Horses, unlike many shows, was able to execute a story with great cynical sarcasm, which isnt often well-translated on the screen. You dont often get to play it, Gary Oldman said. Sarcasm, in my opinion, is one of the highest forms of wit, Jack Lowden added. Its just ladled throughout this piece. You could say every single line, if you wanted to, with sarcasm. It just adds to the world of it and it adds to their cynicism, and their self-interest and just how unhappy they are with the world. It pushes you into making jokes all the time, and the dark things that they see, you've got to be funny, you've got to have a sense of humour. Gary Oldman, known as a great film actor in particular (aside from his brief appearance on Friends), stressed that some of the best stories are being told in series format. I've said over the years that some of the best acting, directing, cinematography, production design, storytelling, writing has all come out of TV, he said. What I love about long form, and particularly I think with Slow Horses,...it's got plot, it's got story, but it's ultimately a character piece. What I've always loved about long form is you can get lost in the characters In movies what happens often is if you've got two hours to tell a story, a lot of character behaviour, all of that has to be cut, it goes because you've got to tell the story and keep it moving. With this, you can really indulge in the characters and you sort of go off the rails for a bit. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) responded to backlash Friday after refusing to answer two questions from reporters about whether transgender people exist. Ducey was taking questions Thursday after signing bills that restrict access to gender-affirming care in his state and bar transgender girls from playing on school sports teams that reflect their gender identity when he was asked if he believes there are really transgender people. Im going to ask you to read the legislation and to see that the legislation that we passed was in the spirit of fairness to protect girls sports in competitive situations, the governor said in response to the latter bill. Thats what the legislation is intended to do, and thats what it does. Ducey was soon pressed on the question again. I am going to respect everyone, and Im going to respect everyones rights. And Im going to protect female sports. And thats what the legislation does, he said. The Republican governors remarks sparked immediate criticism, including from the Human Rights Campaigns Arizona director, who told the The Associated Press that they were appalling. Its quite shocking that he cant even address trans people or even say that he thinks they exist, Bridget Sharpe said. Ducey on Friday responded in a tweet, saying that the reporting of his remarks was being used for divisive purposes. The media is once again attempting to divide people. Yesterday I was asked an absurd and offensive question: Do transgender individuals exist? Of course they do, Ducey wrote, proceeding to highlight a line in the signing letter that says his legislation aims to address specific issues while ensuring transgender people continue to receive the same dignity, respect and kindness as every individual in our society. In addition to the two transgender bills, the Arizona governor also signed a bill this week that bans abortions after 15 weeks, putting him in step with Republican lawmakers across the country who have taken similar action on both issues. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON Despite near daily bombshells relating to the investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, pressure is mounting on lawmakers to finish their probe before the 2022 midterm elections, when Republicans are expected to retake control of the House of Representatives and quash the inquiry. Attorney General [Merrick] Garland, do your job so that we can do ours, Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., said Monday at a meeting of the House's Jan. 6 select committee shortly before voting to hold former Trump White House aides Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro in contempt for refusing to testify. The sophomore lawmaker from Virginia was expressing a growing concern among Democrats that Trumps aides may elude justice, even after a monumental week of revelations surrounding the investigation into the insurrection. On Tuesday, an explosive report from CBS News and the Washington Post revealed a more than seven-hour gap in the White House call logs that overlapped with the riot at the Capitol building. Missing from the logs during that span of time was any sign of reported phone calls with House and Senate Republicans, raising questions about whether the official records had been altered. Last Thursday, the Post revealed efforts by Virginia Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, to pressure then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to pursue avenues to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Justice Thomas was the only member of the Supreme Court to vote to keep the National Archives from turning over Trumps records to the Jan. 6 committee. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House's Jan. 6 select committee, speaks at a panel hearing. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Democrats stepped up their calls this week for Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from all cases involving the insurrection at the Capitol and efforts to block the certification of the 2020 election results. On Monday, a federal judge in California declared in a related ruling that Trump "more likely than not" committed a crime in his attempt to overturn the election results and that one of the architects of the plan to keep him in power, California lawyer John Eastman, would have to turn over 101 emails to the select committee regarding that effort. Story continues We've obviously come into possession of a lot of evidence of individual crimes, and we need to make that available, in whatever the best way is, to the Department of Justice, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a member of the panel, told Yahoo News. But our job goes beyond individual criminal accountability to much broader social and political accountability to ourselves. This is a democracy. We need to deliver a report to the American people and Congress that will be a wakeup call about the threats to constitutional democracy in this new century. The clock is ticking fast for Luria, Raskin and the other committee members tasked with identifying not just the motives of those who sacked the Capitol, but also the possible criminality of those who inspired their actions. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who is widely expected to become speaker of the House if Republicans retake the chamber in the November elections, told Punchbowl News last week that he would refocus the panels work to investigate why Capitol Police and security were overrun by the Trump mob and what current speaker Nancy Pelosis role was in the response. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., speaks alongside Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., during a select committee hearing. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Based on the current pace of contempt charges moving through the justice system, a long line of Trump aides who bore witness to the events leading up to the attack appear likely to skirt having to testify before the committee, a fact that is prompting no shortage of anxiety among Democrats and Republicans serving on the panel. The criminal case against former Trump adviser Steve Bannon for refusing to testify is not expected to take place until the middle of July, just four months before the 2022 midterms. And despite his being formally held in contempt in January, no criminal charges have been filed against Meadows, who initially cooperated with the committee before refusing to do so. The contempt recommendations against Scavino and Navarro mark the fourth and fifth witnesses that the House panel is attempting to compel to testify. A third recommendation of contempt, filed against former Trump official Jeffrey Clark, was put on hold after he agreed to cooperate. Based on the evidence already accumulated, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the vice chair of the committee, has said that lawmakers might recommend criminal charges against Trump for his role in the attack. But veterans of previous investigations into Trump have cautioned against raising expectations of what the panel may find or recommend when it wraps up its work. Steve Bannon leaves U.S. District Court after being indicted for refusal to comply with a congressional subpoena over the Jan. 6 attack. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) The president and his campaigns behavior with Russia was appalling. The president's son asked the Russians for dirt. One of his foreign policy advisers was sitting in European bars talking about how the Russians were providing dirt to the campaign. So their behavior was appalling, Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., and a veteran of the House investigation into Russias support for Trump in the 2016 campaign, told Yahoo News. But we promised more than ultimately was delivered. And that's a terrible mistake. We should let those facts speak for themselves. We shouldn't embellish them. We shouldn't raise expectations about them, Himes said. The panel is expected to launch a slew of primetime public hearings starting in a month or so, after it finishes its work interviewing witnesses in closed-door depositions. The committee is also expected to recommend criminal prosecutions based on its investigation to the Department of Justice, but it will ultimately fall to Garland and his team to decide whether to pursue charges. Heather Ann Thompson, a Pulitzer Prize winner for her history of the bloody 1971 Attica uprising, is suing the state of New York because it has blocked incarcerated people from receiving her book while imprisoned. The New York Civil Liberties Union and the Civil Rights Clinic at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Thompson. "People have a right to read, and people have a right to history," Thompson said in a news release from the Civil Liberties Union. "We also have a right to have our books read. Its a shame we live in a country where we censor people and ideas." Thompson authored "Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising and Its Legacy," considered the authoritative history of the nation's deadliest prison riot. During the 1971 uprising, 43 people were killed 29 inmates and 10 prison employee hostages when police stormed the prison behind a wall of gunfire. Background: 50 years after Attica: The unfinished business of our nations deadliest prison uprising Thompson also served as a lead consultant on the documentary, "Attica," which was a finalist for an Academy Award this year. " 'Blood in the Water' is a carefully researched account that includes the perspectives of incarcerated people, prison guards, their families, government officials and members of the public," Cardozos Civil Rights Clinic director Betsy Ginsberg said in the news release. "It is, simply put, a history book, and its denial to incarcerated people runs counter to this countrys core values." Documentary: Oscar-nominated Attica documentary has multiple Rochester-area connections Prison Guard's Daughter: Her father died in the Attica prison uprising. 30 years later she began to learn the truth The Supreme Court has allowed the banning of certain books in prisons, as long as there is an administrative review process. According to the lawsuit, "Blood in the Water" has been banned at least a dozen times at prisons across New York. Story continues A corrections department directive prohibits materials that "advocate expressly or by clear implication, acts of disobedience" toward "law enforcement officers or prison personnel," the lawsuit states. That directive has been used to block "Blood in the Water" in the prisons. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said Friday it does not comment on pending litigation. Contact Gary Craig at gcraig@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at gcraig1. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Ban on Attica history book 'Blood in the Water' challenged in federal lawsuit WASHINGTON The Biden administration on Friday announced it is rescinding as of May a Trump-era policy that made it harder for migrants to seek asylum in the United States in the name of fighting the pandemic. The policy, called Title 42, allows U.S. border agents to expel asylum seekers to Mexico to prevent the spread of coronavirus and was issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The policy will officially end on May 23. According to a statement from the CDC, the order is "no longer necessary" after "considering current public health conditions and an increased availability of tools to fight COVID-19." Former President Donald Trump created the policy, known as Title 42, to protect the public health in 2020. Since coming into office, the Biden administration has embraced it under the same justification, denying critics' assertions they are using it to curb immigration. More than 1 million individuals have been expelled using Title 42, according to statistics from DHS. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement that DHS will continue to expel single adults and families encountered at the border until the health order is lifted. Once the order is lifted, Mayorkas said that individuals will be processed under standard procedure. We know that smugglers will spread misinformation to take advantage of vulnerable migrants, Mayorkas said in the statement. Let me be clear: those unable to establish a legal basis to remain in the United States will be removed. The administration is not immediately ending the policy because it is implementing a vaccine program to get migrants vaccinated at the border, DHS and State department officials said speaking on the condition of anonymity. The officials said the program began this week at 11 locations along the U.S.-Mexico border, where up to 2,000 vaccines are given daily. DHS is giving the first shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the officials said. The program will expand to 27 locations along the border. Story continues While an increased number of migrants are anticipated, DHS and State Department officials said it is hard to estimate how many migrants are waiting in Mexico. DHS is preparing for increases of border crossings in more remote areas of the border, such as Yuma, Arizona and Del Rio, Texas, the officials said. The White House earlier this week warned that the administration is preparing for an influx of migrants at the border. White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said Wednesday that we are doing a lot of work to plan for that contingency. Mayorkas said in his statement that the administration put in place a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to manage any potential increase in the number of migrants encountered at our border. He said DHS has increased its capacity to process new arrivals, evaluate asylum requests and remove individuals who do not qualify for protection. DHS has redeployed more than 600 law enforcement officers to the southern border and will refer smugglers and certain border crossers for criminal prosecution. The root causes fueling irregular migration predate todays announcement, and we have experienced increases in migration over the past decade and long before, Mayorkas said. The administration will work with other nations to help manage migration in the Western Hemisphere. At the Summit of the Americas in June, regional partners will sign a hemispheric declaration on migration and protections, a State Department official said. Immigration advocates and some Democratic lawmakers have been urging the Biden administration to end the policy. Some advocates and Democrats applauded the administration's move Friday. "America's immigration system has been broken for far too long, which is why the Biden administration's long-overdue decision to end Title 42 is an encouraging first step on the road to creating a much more humane asylum system," Murad Awawdeh, executive director of New York Immigration Coalition, said in a statement. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Missouri, said in a statement that she commends the administration in "taking this long overdue step to end the cruel Title 42 expulsion order." "This racist, inhumane relic from the Trump era has been devastating for migrants fleeing persecution, war, poverty, climate catastrophe and violence in their home countries and who have been forced to seek asylum in the United States," she said in a statement. However, not every Democrat supported ending the policy. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., called Friday announcement a"frightening decision" and called for the policy to stay in place. "We are nowhere near prepared to deal with that influx," Manchin said. "Until we have comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform that commits to securing our borders and providing a pathway to citizenship for qualified immigrants, Title 42 must stay in place. Conservatives and some Republican lawmakers have called on Biden to keep the policy in place. Shortly after the CDC's announcement, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, slammed the Biden administration for ending the order, saying it is "reckless and government mismanagement at its worst." The policy caused an increase of migrants who repeatedly crossed the border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. According to the latest statistics from CBP, more than one-fourth of the border encounters in January were repeat crossers who attempted to get back into the U.S. to seek asylum. Title 42 was not the only Trump-era policy still in place. Biden late last year was forced by the courts to restart the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as Remain in Mexico, which forces migrants to wait in Mexico for their immigration court hearings. Migrants will continue to be enrolled in the Remain in Mexico program as Title 42 comes to an end, DHS and State Department officials said. Reach Rebecca Morin at Twitter @RebeccaMorin_ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Immigration: Biden to rescind Trump-era Title 42 in late May President Bidens move to release about 180 million barrels of oil from the U.S.s strategic reserve is expected to result in a modest drop in gasoline prices. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at gasoline price website GasBuddy, said that prices could drop by 10 to 20 cents per gallon as a result of Bidens announcement that oil will be released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). But he warned that exactly where prices will land in the coming weeks is unclear, since the release isnt happening in a vacuum and other factors may drive prices up or down. The problem I have is could the drop in oil today be offset by current events in the next two weeks that change the situation, De Haan said. Robert Weiner, a professor at George Washington Universitys business school predicted that prices could fall by about 25 cents. Based on past experience, we have some evidence on the effect of SPR releases on oil prices, Weiner said, citing supply disruptions from a decade ago that resulted from the Libyan civil war and a subsequent SPR release by the Obama administration. Biden announced Thursday that the U.S. would release about 1 million barrels of oil per day for six months, a move the administration described as the largest-ever release from the reserve. This is a wartime bridge to increase oil supply until production ramps up later this year. And it is by far the largest release from our national reserve in our history, he said. It will provide a historic amount of supply for a historic amount of time a six-month bridge to the fall. Biden expressed confidence that prices would go down in response though he said he wasnt sure by how much. It will come down, and it could come down fairly significantly, he said, positing that the drop could range from 10 cents to 35 cents per gallon. Gas prices have jumped higher over the past several weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, as the U.S. and other countries imposed tough sanctions on Moscow and some traders rejected Russian barrels. Russia is a major global producer of oil. Gas prices now sit about 70 cents higher than they were prior to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Story continues Bidens decision to open the strategic reserve is intended to offer relief to consumers and provide political help to Democrats. Republicans have been attacking the White House and Democrats over the higher price at the pump. Its added to the malaise surrounding Democrats as they march toward the midterm elections. Claudio Galimberti, senior vice president of analysis at Rystad Energy, said the release would be more effective than prior releases including a 30 million barrel release announced in early March due to its size. The only one thats been credible is the current one and the market is reacting, Galimberti said. The credibility comes with the size of the SPR release. Weiner also said the releases gradual nature, in which barrels will be released slowly instead of all at once, will also help to bring down prices. It sends a reassuring signal that the United States is not just doing a one-off, he said. I think youre getting more bang for the buck by announcing ahead of time that youre going to be doing this in the future as opposed to just saying youre doing it once. He said that the 1 million barrels per day could be thought of as replacing about one-third of the barrels that could be lost in a day as a result of Russias invasion and sanctions and penalties on Moscow. Early estimates suggested that 3 million barrels a day could be removed from the market because of the war, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. If a drop does materialize following the strategic reserve release, it could be a political win for Biden and the Democrats, giving them an action to point to that at least somewhat alleviated high prices for consumers. But Republicans were criticizing the move even before Bidens announcement as damaging U.S. energy security, previewing their line of attack. The Biden administration must not put our future energy security at risk for a short-term attempt to salvage the presidents plummeting poll numbers, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said in a statement on Thursday in anticipation of Bidens move. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In an effort to bring down soaring gasoline prices, President Joe Biden announced a plan Thursday to release 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation's strategic reserves over the next six months. "Our prices are rising because of Putin's actions, Biden said, pinning the blame for higher fuel costs on Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, in addition to pandemic-induced shortages. There isn't enough supply. And the bottom line is if we want lower gas prices we need to have more oil supply right now, Biden added. The release of up to 180 million barrels, the largest since the oil reserve was created in 1974, would act as a wartime bridge through the current crisis to get the country to later in the year, when the White House expects to see higher production levels. Biden also called on Congress to impose new fees on oil companies that hold roughly 9,000 permits to drill on federal lands but arent producing oil what he called a use it or lose it policy to increase supply. U.S. oil companies are recording their largest profits in years and can put those profits toward productive use, a senior White House official said. While some companies have already announced they are increasing immediate production, too many are choosing right now to make extraordinary profits without investing in more supply. Still, as in previous efforts to combat gasoline prices through oil reserve releases, critics were skeptical about the impact the release would have. I do believe the national average could eventually fall under $4/gal in the weeks ahead, but I don't necessarily think this [Strategic Petroleum Reserve] release is the event that will be the primary catalyst for it, Patrick De Haan of Gas Buddy tweeted. If anything it could help get us there quicker, but again, likely at the expense of long term stability. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. By Moira Warburton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill to end the federal ban on marijuana, which has created legal headaches for users and businesses in the states that have legalized it, though the measure was seen as unlikely to pass the Senate. It passed by 220-204, with few Republicans supporting the measure. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, sponsored by Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, which is in the process of legalizing the drug, removes marijuana from the list of controlled substances and eliminates criminal penalties for individuals who grow, distribute or possess it. But the MORE act will need to gain 60 votes in the evenly divided Senate before moving to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature, an outcome widely seen as unlikely given the lack of Republican support for the measure. The bill would "end decades of failed and unjust marijuana policy," Democratic Representative Ed Perlmutter said on the House floor on Thursday ahead of the vote. "It is clear prohibition is over. Today we have an opportunity to chart a new path forward on federal cannabis policy that actually makes sense." He added that the bill does not force any state to legalize marijuana. Marijuana users and businesses that sell it face a complicated legal patchwork in the U.S, where 37 states have legalized it in some form -- either for recreation or medical use -- while 13 still ban it entirely. Because federal law classifies cannabis as an illegal drug with no medical uses, researchers are severely limited in how they can study the drug and its impacts, making policy difficult to write. Cannabis businesses are also largely blocked from the U.S. banking system because of the federal ban. Republican Representative Michelle Fischbach called the legislation "not only flawed but dangerous," arguing on the House floor that it did not protect minors and would encourage people to open marijuana businesses. Story continues Legalization of marijuana is extremely popular among Americans: a 2021 Pew Research Center poll found that 91% agreed that either medical or recreational use should be allowed. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has proposed his own bill that would legalize marijuana, and has committed to moving forward with it in April. (Reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell) WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Minister Liz Truss on Friday discussed additional possible actions to ratchet up their response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. State Department said. The two also discussed next week's NATO foreign ministers' meeting, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. "The two discussed the upcoming NATO Foreign Ministerial meeting and developing additional possible actions to ratchet up our response to Putins continued assault on the Ukrainian people," Price said. The United States, UK and allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions targeting Moscow over the five weeks since Russia launched the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two. Moscow calls it a "special operation." U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo traveled to London earlier this week as part of a trip to Europe to coordinate sanctions with allies over Russia's assault on Ukraine and discuss next steps with partners, including targeting critical sectors of the Russian economy. Adeyemo, speaking in London on Tuesday, warned the United States and its partners plan new sanctions on more sectors of Russia's economy that are critical to sustaining its invasion of Ukraine, including military supply chains. He is just one of several U.S. officials that fanned out this week to press world leaders to keep piling pressure on Moscow or join the campaign of sanctions and other measures, as the initial economic shock to Russia seems to be ebbing. Adeyemo also traveled to Brussels, Paris and Berlin, while deputy national security adviser for international economics, Daleep Singh, pressed Indian officials in New Delhi, and Blinken discussed the Ukraine war with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Morocco. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Chris Gallagher; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Alistair Bell) The Santa Susana Field Lab is in the hills near Simi Valley. California regulators have ordered Boeing to clean up lead-contaminated soil in Sage Ranch Park in Simi Valley. The state Department of Toxic Substances Control says the cleanup is required on about 31 acres contaminated by lead shot, skeet fragments and clay pigeon debris left over from when the area was used as a recreational shooting range. From the 1970s through early 1990s, the land north of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory was privately owned and leased to a gun club for Rocketdyne employees and their families. Boeing, which acquired Rocketdyne in 1996, will fund the cleanup, according to the state. The work is expected to start in August and take about three months. The park is now owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and managed by the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority. The contaminated area has been closed to the public for around six years. After the cleanup, access to a once-popular North Loop Trail likely will reopen. The rest of the park is expected to remain open during the cleanup. More information is available at dtsc.ca.gov. More: Were Boeing's fines after Woolsey Fire reduced because of a conflict of interest? Cheri Carlson covers the environment for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Simi Valley park contaminated with lead, skeet and clay pigeon debris The Razzies have decided to rescind Bruce Williss Worst Performance award in light of the actors recent aphasia diagnosis. Nominations for this years Golden Raspberries nicknamed the Razzies which celebrate the worst in the years filmmaking were announced in February. This year, Willis was given his own category titled Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 Movie, which featured eight films including American Siege, Apex, Cosmic Sin, Midnight In The Switchgrass, and Survive The Game. His performance in 2021s Cosmic Sin ultimately earned Willis the award when the winners list was released last week. The winners were revealed ahead of the announcement that Willis is suffering from aphasia, a form of brain damage that affects language expression and comprehension. On Wednesday (31 March), the Die Hard actors family including his wife Emma, children, and former partner Demi Moore revealed that he had recently been diagnosed with aphasia and that Willis would be retiring from acting. The Razzies have since announced their decision to revoke the actors so-called Worst Performance award, which was deemed inappropriate in light of the new details about his medical condition. The Razzies issued a statement to IndieWire on Thursday (31 March), reading: After much thought and consideration, the Razzies have made the decision to rescind the Razzie Award given to Bruce Willis, due to his recently disclosed diagnosis. (Getty Images) If someones medical condition is a factor in their decision making and/or their performance, we acknowledge that it is not appropriate to give them a Razzie. The Razzies first public comment about Williss diagnosis was posted to Twitter on Wednesday (31 March). It read: The Razzies are truly sorry for #BruceWillis diagnosed condition. Perhaps this explains why he wanted to go out with a bang in 2021. Our best wishes to Bruce and family. After social media users criticised the abhorrent statement, the Razzies responded with a new statement which said: To clarify, we heard about Willis diagnosis at the same time everyone else did... just this morning. After Williss family announced the actors diagnosis, celebrities such as Seth Green and Matthew Marsden paid tribute to the Hollywood legend on social media. SOFIA (Reuters) -Bulgaria's foreign ministry said on Friday it has declared one Russian diplomat "persona non grata" and given him 72 hours to leave the Balkan country over accusations of spying. The expulsion comes amid strained relations between Russia and Bulgaria, Moscow's closest ally during the Cold War but now a European Union and NATO member state that has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Bulgaria expelled 12 Russian diplomats last month over what it said were activities incompatible with their diplomatic status and has called back its ambassador from Moscow for consultations over "undiplomatic, sharp and rude" comments of the Russian ambassador to Sofia. The foreign ministry said it was informed by prosecutors that an unnamed diplomat, accredited as first secretary at the Russian embassy in Sofia, had been involved in unregulated intelligence activity. Earlier on Friday prosecutors said they were also investigating two officials of Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security and a government official for allegedly spying for Russia. Russian embassy representatives were not immediately available for comment. It previously called the accusations about the expelled diplomats unfounded and said the move would hurt bilateral relations. (Reporting by Tsvetelia TsolovaEditing by Chris Reese and Rosalba O'Brien) Around noon one day in May 2016, Hector Velasquez walked over to the passenger side of a black Chrysler 300 sedan and leaned into the open window. A crack rang out, and Velasquez staggered backward, saying, He shot me. He shot me. Someone in the Mexican Mafia had wanted Velasquez dead. Who or why has never been made clear, but a jury this week found the car's driver guilty of killing him. Robert Hinojos, 41, was convicted of murdering Velasquez at the end of a monthlong trial that shed light on the workings of the Mexican Mafia, a group of about 140 men who wield enormous influence in the prisons where most of them live and over street gangs across Southern California. For gunning down Velasquez, prosecutors argued, Hinojos earned a place in the Mexican Mafia, giving him the authority to collect money from drug dealers and gang members on the street and behind bars. The worst thing about it was, this wasnt even personal, Deputy Dist. Atty. Amy Murphy told jurors. There was no indication the men had ever met before the day of the murder. To Hinojos, Murphy said, killing Velasquez was a cold, calculated business decision. Hinojos, who is known as Dopey, went to prison at 19, when he was sentenced to 12 years for an armed robbery. He ended up doing 15 years in all after getting caught smuggling drugs into a Monterey County prison, according to a spokesperson for the state prison system. A member of Brown Nation, a small Latino gang in Paramount, Hinojos gained a reputation in prison as a reliable, efficient moneymaker for several Mexican Mafia members, according to testimony and a former associate of Hinojos who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. Hinojos was one of five camaradas high-ranking associates of the Mexican Mafia who ran a collection racket known as la clica, Spanish for the clique, according to testimony. The clica system arose after a Mexican Mafia member from Rancho Cucamonga, Arthur Turi Estrada, fell out of favor with others in the organization and was stripped of a vast racket that was bringing in money from nearly every California prison, according to testimony and sources. Story continues Hinojos and the other associates men who were just short of being full-fledged members took over Estrada's operation, collecting the money that had once flowed to him and dividing it among various Mexican Mafia members in state and federal prison, according to testimony and sources. Okay, whatever Turi had, whatever neighborhoods he had, they became the clica, holmes, that means all the carnales Mexican Mafia members "are gonna eat from that," one Mexican Mafia associate explained to another in a recorded call that was transcribed and filed in federal court. The clica system ended in 2015 when Mexican Mafia members who had been held for years in isolation in Pelican Bays Security Housing Unit were reassigned to other prisons around the state. With access to cellphones smuggled into prison, Mafia members set about laying claim to territory and settling old scores. It was into this tumult that on Dec. 27, 2015, Hinojos, then 34, was released from state prison. About five months later, a girlfriend called Hinojos from Los Angeles County Jail. The call was recorded and played for the jury. They actually offered me, uh, that promotion, Hinojos said. I just got to, like, kind of, f, uh, stack the cabinets a little bit quicker, you know. To interpret Hinojos words, prosecutors called to the witness stand Rene Boxer Enriquez, a Mexican Mafia member who defected in 2002. He has since testified in dozens of prosecutions of his former confederates, specializing in deciphering coded or veiled messages in phone calls, letters, notes and other communications. When Hinojos said promotion, he meant that hed been offered membership in the Mexican Mafia, Enriquez testified. Needing to stack the cabinets a little bit quicker meant that before he was inducted, hed have to take care of something, he said. The following morning, May 13, 2016, Hinojos met a group of men for breakfast at Denny's. One of them was Velasquez, who was described at trial as being affiliated with Comptons 155th Street gang. Hinojos said he was there to help Velasquez collect a $10,000 drug debt from a leader of Paramounts Dog Patch gang, Mario Snaps Chavarria, according to a witness who was at the breakfast. They left the Dennys to look for Chavarria. Hinojos drove alone in a black Chrysler 300, the witness said. Velasquez was standing near a street curb in Paramount when the Chrysler pulled up. He walked toward the car and leaned into the passenger-side window. Then a shot rang out. The sedan sped off. As he lay dying, Velasquez told a sheriffs deputy that a Hispanic man in a black Chrysler had shot him, the deputy testified. Prosecutors did not say anything at trial about who may have ordered Hinojos to kill Velasquez. Six hours after the shooting, Hinojos girlfriend called his mother from jail, complaining that shed been calling him all day and nothing. Its not ringing. Um, he got that promotion, Hinojos mother said, so hes gonna be offline for like a week. Three days later, the girlfriend called Hinojos from jail and asked: Congratulations or what? He told her he got the job. I finished the project myself, he said. And, um, Im now I just got to wait 'til, like, all the paperwork, basically, to be filed. Enriquez, the former Mexican Mafia member, interpreted this to mean that Hinojos had personally carried out the task hed been ordered to do, that he had been sponsored for membership in the Mexican Mafia and that he was now awaiting the results of the vote. Witnesses for both the prosecution and the defense agreed that Hinojos is now a Mexican Mafia member, and Enriquez testified that some of its most influential figures had pushed for Hinojos to be admitted. They included Jose Joker Gonzales from the Eastsides Big Hazard gang and Michael Mosca Torres, whom law enforcement officials consider the organization's dominant member in the San Fernando Valley. Hinojos lawyer, Marvin Vallejo, acknowledged that his client was a gangster and a drug dealer, but disputed the idea he killed Velasquez to gain entrance into the Mexican Mafia. Point me in the direction of the evidence that says its because he killed Perico, he said, referring to Velasquez by his nickname. Vallejo criticized Enriquez, whom he dismissed as the rapist, the killer, the sex offender, the robber, a prisoner with an agenda, and his interpretation of his clients words. The former Mexican Mafia member testifies as if hes the oracle of Delphi, Vallejo said the only one who can find sinister meaning in innocuous conversation. Every morning, as he was led into the courtroom by the bailiff, Hinojos sporting a goatee and shaved head and wearing a dress shirt, tie and slacks blew a kiss to his relatives in the audience, who had not been able to see him since he was jailed. A judge had barred Hinojos from receiving visits, mail or phone calls from anyone but his attorney. In a petition seeking relief from the restrictions, Hinojos said he was confined to a one-man cell, 5 feet by 7 feet, except for when he takes a shower or goes to the exercise yard. Even then, the petition said, he was locked in a steel cage by himself. County lawyers said the strict confinement was necessary. As one of several Mexican Mafia members controlling the Los Angeles County jail system, they argued, Hinojos had used other inmates PINs to make phone calls and had them send and receive mail on his behalf. Hinojos, they said, is the prime suspect in several ongoing investigations into other serious and violent crimes. Looming over the trial was another murder, one committed after Hinojos had been jailed on suspicion of killing Velasquez. Enriquez analyzed for the jury a video of a jail visit between Hinojos and a different girlfriend, Patricia Aragon. He interpreted a snapping gesture Aragon made to mean she was discussing Chavarria, the gang member whose nickname was "Snaps." And when she formed her hand in the shape of a mouth, Enriquez said, she was raising the possibility that Chavarria was talking to the police. Nah, Hinojos said in the visit. Dont trip. Enriquez took this to mean that Hinojos did not believe Chavarria could be cooperating with the authorities. But later in the conversation, Aragon told him, I dont care about it. Its just going to be, bam. Still later, she told Hinojos, Dont act surprised when it happens. An attorney for Aragon, who has been indicted with Hinojos in federal court on charges of trafficking methamphetamine, did not return a request for comment. Aragon has pleaded not guilty to the drug charges. Amid the possibly illicit exchanges about Chavarria, the couple talked of how Hinojos incarceration would affect their relationship and his hope that she was pregnant with his child. A witness who testified on behalf of Hinojos said he believed the whole conversation had been about their personal lives trust issues that they may be feeling as a couple. But then there is the fact of what happened to Chavarria. Hours after Aragon visited Hinojos in jail, Chavarria was gunned down outside his home in Paramount. Prosecutors said they have no reason to believe that Hinojos ordered the murder. Nonetheless, he was recorded in his jail cell whispering to another Mexican Mafia member, Daniel Danny Boy Pina, that his girlfriend had told him someone had been killed. I think Im thinking thats a good thing, Hinojos said. Im thinking things just got more interesting. His apparent relief at the death of Chavarria whom his girlfriend, at least according to Enriquez, had identified as an informant was evidence he had killed Velasquez, prosecutors argued to the jury. Chavarria probably knew of the plot to kill Velasquez, authorities said, but he was not an informant. The detective who investigated Velasquezs murder, Dean Camarillo, testified that he had never spoken with Chavarria. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Crossing a dry meadow, Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources, left, and Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, second from left, accompany Sean de Guzman, manager of snow surveys, right, as he conducts the fourth snow survey of the season on Friday at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) California is going into spring with a minuscule amount of snow in the Sierra Nevada, leaving the state in a third year of extreme drought and with depleted reservoirs to draw on during whats likely to be another hot, parched summer. The mountain snowpack, as measured by snow sensors across the Sierras, now stands at just 38% of the long-term average. State officials stood on bare ground at a snow survey site in the mountains on Friday, saying the paltry snowpack reflects the states accelerating water challenges with climate change. We are calling on all Californians to use water wisely, to conserve as much as you can, said Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources. Snow typically makes up nearly a third of Californias water supply and feeds reservoirs across Northern California as it melts in the spring and summer. The levels of most of Californias biggest reservoirs, from Shasta Lake to San Luis Reservoir, measure far below average. Climate change is here and its changing our state. Its changing our region, said Wade Crowfoot, the states natural resources secretary. Gov. Gavin Newsom this week issued an order for urban water suppliers to implement more aggressive conservation measures, requiring them to activate Level 2 of their local drought contingency plans to prepare for shortages. Water deliveries have also been cut back for many farming areas in the state this year. Nemeth said those cutbacks are expected to lead to more farmland being left dry and unplanted. Warmer temperatures brought on by climate change have been making droughts more intense in California and across the West. Scientists have found that the extreme dryness since 2000 in the West, from Montana to northern Mexico, now ranks as the driest 22-year period in at least 1,200 years and has been worsened by the heating of the planet. The past three years have been among California's driest on record. Last year, the Sierra Nevada snowpack peaked at 72% of average in April but then rapidly melted during the hottest spring on record. Story continues California ended 2021 with major storms that blanketed the Sierra Nevada with above-average snow. But that bounty swiftly dwindled during the driest January through March on record. State officials spoke at the Phillips Station snow survey site, where theyve been measuring the snowpack since 1941. The snow at the site was 2 inches deep, just 4% of average, said Sean de Guzman, water supply forecasting manager for the Department of Water Resources. Crowfoot noted that seven years ago, during the last severe drought, Gov. Jerry Brown had stood at the same spot on bare, dry ground. Since then, Crowfoot said, five of the last seven winters have been dry. And warmer temperatures have meant that more of the snow and rain that falls is absorbed into dry soils or evaporates before the water can reach streams and reservoirs. The question is, what are we going to do about it?" he said. "We are not bystanders to the climate crisis. We are protagonists. He pointed out that the Colorado River, which supplies water to parts of California and six other states and Mexico, has also shrunk dramatically during two decades of dryness intensified by unprecedented warmth, and is facing "alarming water conditions" as its reservoirs continue to decline. While working to reduce carbon pollution, Crowfoot said, the state needs to adjust to the warmer, drier climate. Communities across our state need to eliminate water waste, continue to become more efficient with the water thats used, Crowfoot said. Echoing an appeal made by Brown during the last drought, he said everyone needs to make conservation a way of life. Californias water management officials use April 1 as a benchmark date for estimating how much water will come from snow because its traditionally when the snowpack reaches its peak. But this year, the snowpack in the northern Sierra Nevada peaked around mid-January and has been shrinking. Reservoir levels statewide are now at less than half their full capacity, about 70% of the long-term average. Nemeth said that in December, at the same site south of Lake Tahoe, the snow had been 6 feet deep. On Friday, the surveyors measured the depth of a patch of snow in the dry meadow. "What we see here today is actually very evocative of 2015, with growing evidence that suggests that perhaps this drought is actually a continuation of that very dry period we experienced several years ago, Nemeth said. "You need no more evidence than standing here on this very dry landscape to understand some of the challenges we're facing here in California, and all Californians need to do their part." She said the many ways people can conserve at home include watering less outdoors, watering at night or letting lawns go brown. In July, Newsom called for Californians to voluntarily reduce water use 15%. But statewide water savings in cities and towns through the end of January stood at less than half that goal. Crowfoot said state officials learned from the last drought that instead of a a one-size-fits-all solution out of Sacramento, communities need to take different steps based on their local circumstances. He said the Newsom administration is working with regulators at the State Water Resources Control Board, asking them to "consider requiring each urban water agency to trigger specific actions." We are confident that these specific actions, combined with the work already underway to build awareness of water conservation, will help us navigate through the drought, Crowfoot said. Nemeth said she expects that in parts of the state, mandatory water restrictions could be in place by summertime. Dialing down outdoor watering, which accounts for about half of urban water use, can make a big difference, Nemeth said. She urged residents to take advantage of rebates that local water agencies offer for removing grass or switching to more efficient appliances. We need to do more, and we can do more. And there are increasing ways to do that, I think, that are convenient, Nemeth said. Some researchers have said the state should adopt mandatory conservation measures and accelerate efforts toward improving water efficiency and invest in projects to recycle wastewater and capture runoff when rains come. "The snowpack survey confirms the historic severity of the drought and is extremely concerning. It underscores that climate change is water change, said Amanda Bielawski, director of communications for the Pacific Institute, a think tank in Oakland. She said the situation should spur water decision makers to push for innovative solutions that put water resilience at the center. Among other things, Newsoms latest drought order directs state regulators to consider a ban on watering "non-functional" grass at businesses and other properties. The order seeks to combat chronic overpumping of groundwater in farming areas, which has left hundreds of homes with dry wells, by prohibiting local governments from granting permits for any new well-drilling that would be inconsistent with management plans. The governor's order also streamlines permitting for groundwater recharge projects, where stormwater runoff can be captured and percolate into the soil to boost aquifers. Under Californias landmark 2014 groundwater law, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, local agencies in areas where aquifer levels have been dropping are required to implement plans to address their overdraft problems by 2040. Those plans have yet to take effect, and many local agencies have yet to limit groundwater pumping. The meager snowpack, earlier snowmelt and warm conditions this year are clear features of the onset of climate change, said Angel Fernandez-Bou, a water researcher at UC Merced. With less surface water for irrigation, farmers may need to pump more groundwater, which is being pumped at an unsustainable rate. Looking to the future, Fernandez-Bou said, potential solutions include establishing sites to recharge aquifers when water is available in wet years, and preparing to shift some farmlands to other purposes, such as solar farms and wildlife habitat areas. According to state data, agriculture accounts for nearly 80% of the water that is diverted and pumped for human use in an average year. California can still have a strong agricultural economy in the future, but it will look different as the state adapts to a more extreme climate, Nemeth said. And the acreage of cultivated farmland is set to shrink, she said, in response to this real need to better manage our groundwater. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Bruce Wayne Ivey entering the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Department of Justice A Tennessee man was sentenced to three years' probation for his role in the Capitol riot. Prosecutors said Bruce Wayne Ivey was one of the first 15 people to breach the Capitol on January 6. Ivey was also one of the first defendants to plead guilty, doing so in June. A Tennessee man, who prosecutors say was one of the first 15 people to breach the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was sentenced to three years of probation on Wednesday, including 60 days of house arrest for his role in the insurrection. Bruce Wayne Ivey, 28, pleaded guilty in June to one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol. He initially faced four charges, including entering and remaining in a Capitol building and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a Capitol building. But as the government works to prosecute the 800 people arrested in connection to the attack, federal prosecutors have offered nonviolent rioters the lesser charge in exchange for their guilty pleas. US District Judge Christopher Cooper sentenced Ivey to serve 60 days of home detention, included in a three-year probationary sentence, and to pay $500 in restitution. The judge also ordered Ivey to agree to regular drug testing and mental-health treatment, said WUSA, which was the first to report the results of the sentencing hearing. Prosecutors had previously requested that Ivey spend 14 days in jail on top of the probationary sentencing, but Cooper declined to issue a split sentence. But the federal government did argue that Ivey should get credit for being one of the first Capitol-riot defendants to plead guilty and praised him for seeking mental-health treatment soon after the siege, WUSA reported. Prosecutors said surveillance footage from the Capitol on January 6 captured Ivey standing next to the Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola, who was caught on camera using a stolen police riot shield to smash a window. Charging documents said Ivey then climbed through the broken window and into the building. Prosecutors said Ivey was the 14th rioter to enter the Capitol that day. Story continues An anonymous tipster alerted the FBI to Ivey's presence at the riot a couple of weeks after the attack, court records said. In virtual court on Wednesday, an attorney for Ivey told the judge that his client was prone to "conspiratorial thinking," WUSA reported. Ivey told the courtroom directly that he "genuinely believed" with every fiber of his being that there was a "global secret state that was plotting to kill off the majority of the human population." Ivey said he sought mental-health treatment two days after participating in the attack and had to spend months recovering from being crushed in a door frame by the mob during the riot. "I can guarantee the court I won't ever be involved in something like this again," Ivey said, WUSA reported. "I'm taking the steps and doing the work to make sure it won't ever happen." An attorney for Ivey did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider By Ryan Woo and Roxanne Liu BEIJING (Reuters) - In China's southern Guangdong province, a teacher was told by her school that she must somehow find four unvaccinated individuals aged 60 or older and get them to take COVID shots to help boost the district's elderly inoculation rate. Otherwise, her performance review would be affected. "But (I) have classes to teach... I can't just leave my students and go looking for a needle in a haystack," the teacher, who goes by the name Sherry, told Reuters. Because some other individuals in her district had been given similar tasks by their employers, Sherry said she had to offer cash incentives from her own pocket to beat the competition to win over the elderly. She said she had spent nearly 1,000 yuan ($158) in total on two people she managed to get vaccinated. In the past month, the Omicron variant has dragged the world's most populous nation into its biggest COVID outbreak since it contained the 2020 Wuhan epidemic, even though the numbers are modest by international standards. There were over 38,000 local symptomatic cases in March, more than four times the number of infections in the whole of 2021. That number did not include those without symptoms, which China classifies separately. Nevertheless, China is maintaining a policy of curbing transmissions as soon as they emerge and considers its elderly as a weak link, given their low vaccination rates. Out of the 264 million people aged over 60, about 20%, had not completed their primary vaccination as of March 25. By comparison, the complete vaccination rate for the 1.41 billion population is around 88%. Officials say some of the elderly worry about potential post-vaccination reactions or deem the shots unnecessary. At a nursing home in Beijing, only three of its 43 elderly residents have been vaccinated, said a representative of the institute surnamed Qin. "None of the family members of any old individuals have voluntarily asked for vaccination," Qin told Reuters, adding that staffers managed to persuade family members of only half of the residents to agree to vaccinations, despite the surge in COVID infections. Story continues Many in the home are under long-term treatment for existing conditions, and their family members worry about how COVID shots could affect routine medication, Qin said. "There will be some families who think that (the elderly) are so old, they don't go out anyway, and are already bedridden, so there's no need for vaccination." VACCINE INCENTIVES China is worried about what happened in Hong Kong, where most deaths in its recent COVID outbreak were the elderly. Beijing has said the flare-up in the former British colony is a lesson the mainland should learn from. Many grassroots leaders have dispatched people to knock on doors to pitch the idea of vaccination to the elderly, keep a record of those yet unvaccinated and their reasons for being so, hold conversations with them to allay concerns about vaccines, and rigorously update how many doses they are short of targets. That method, used in China's mass COVID vaccination drive in 2021, could see renewed momentum as some deadlines near. The northwestern province of Qinghai said it aims to give over 560,000 individuals aged 60 and above a first dose by the end of April. It said in March that officials will be held accountable for any feet-dragging. Taoshan, a district in Qitaihe city in Heilongjiang province, said its fight to vaccinate 83.2% of its residents older than 60 by April 1 "must be won", and it will name and shame people and institutes that have done a poor job. Many areas have doled out incentives for vaccinations like shopping coupons, free groceries and even cash, some of which target the elderly. A neighbourhood in Chaoyang district in Beijing in March sent out mobile phone messages to residents saying those aged above 60 will be given 500 yuan ($79) after receiving their first shot. Sherry, the Guangdong teacher, said a red hot "local market" had emerged in finding yet-to-be-vaccinated elders. Some of her colleagues had paid elders more than 1,000 yuan per person to get them take the shot, she said. "It feels so surreal," she said. (Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) By Mayela Armas and Maria Ramirez GUANTA/CARACAS (Reuters) - On the outskirts of the eastern Venezuelan port town of Guanta, hundreds of trucks line up everyday to unload tons of scrap metal, part of the government's attempt to turn waste into a source of foreign currency. The gathering and sale of scrap has been booming due to the financial needs of President Nicolas Maduro's administration, crippled by low oil production as a result of years of under-investment in the industry and obstacles to selling its most lucrative export due to U.S. sanctions. "Venezuela is going to get lighter, because they're removing all the scrap," said Douglas Lugo, a truck driver on the outskirts of Guanta who used to work in the oil industry before he started to transport scrap material. His truck was weighed down with iron waste such as sheet metal, car parts and pieces of rusty doors. Under pressure from Washington's sanctions, Maduro's government has been exploring a range of revenue options. Although scrap was sold abroad in very low quantities previously, private companies stepped up efforts to export it starting in mid-2020. In 2021, Maduro designated scrap as "strategic", clearing the way for any surplus to be exported, saying it was necessary to "turn it into foreign currency ... to take advantage of every last resource that is out there". During eight years of economic chaos in Venezuela, state controls have increasingly slowed industries such as manufacturing and construction, while mismanagement and underinvestment have hurt the OPEC member's oil sector. State-owned and private companies saddled with outdated plants, equipment and machinery have found it increasingly tempting to sell them as scrap. While the state is behind some such activities, workers and others have also stolen equipment to sell at a profit, prosecutors say. State-owned oil company PDVSA and other state companies have been among the sellers as new projects have stalled and machinery has aged, some 15 sources, including business people from various sectors, carriers, workers and government officials, told Reuters. Story continues The dismantling of equipment and its trade has not been confirmed by the authorities. The communication and production ministries did not respond to requests for comment. Still, port records show that Venezuelan scrap is being exported to countries such as Turkey, India and Taiwan. Although state-owned Corporation Ezequiel Zamora manages much of the scrap at Venezuela's ports, it has signed contracts or "partnerships" with private companies to export it, thus circumventing U.S. sanctions barring Venezuelan state companies from trading abroad, according to a document and two sources. The companies pay Zamora in foreign currency, in cash, then arrange to export the material, two sources interviewed told Reuters. Zamora did not respond to a request for comment. About 25 companies have been officially authorized to transport and sell scrap metal, according to another document seen by Reuters. For all of 2021, 45,500 tons of iron, steel and copper scrap worth US$55 million was exported from two of the country's main ports, according to figures from Import Genius, a consulting firm that gathers customs records, more than double the volume the previous year. There are no numbers on the other ports. Bolipuertos, which manages the ports, did not respond to requests for comment. Scrap metal sales "have increased considerably during the months when the COVID-19 pandemic was most severe, when state revenues were low," local firm Ecoanalitica said in a report in February. On the international market, depending on the type of material, the scrap which the local private companies buy for between US$80 and US$120 per ton can be sold for US$300 and US$700, two sources and two carriers told Reuters. In northern Monagas, an oil zone in the east of the Andean nation, tanks and pipes are being dismantled, said a source in the oil sector and two workers who witnessed how these materials are cut up in warehouses. "Nothing is being restored today, everything is for sale," a source said on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal. Equipment is being dismantled in other oil areas like Zulia and Anzoategui, another industry source said. Neither source specified who within PDVSA is ordering such moves. But with the scrap metal trade booming, some such sales constitute outright theft, according to reports from the police and the public prosecutor's office. Truckers who once worked for oil or coal companies told Reuters they have been increasingly drawn to haul scrap given that they can easily earn 10 times Venezuela's monthly minimum wage of $30. "Everyone is working with scrap metal. Before you didn't see that (...)," said Antonio Astudillo, who used to transport food from Brazil to various Venezuelan states, and since December has been working in the transport of scrap metal to Guanta. "You can make money to survive." (Reporting by Mayela Armas and Maria Ramirez; Additional reporting by Deisy Buitrago in Caracas, Tibisay Romero in Valencia, Mircely Guanipa in Maracay and Anggy Polanco in San Cristobal. Writing by Steven Grattan; Editing by Christian Plumb and David Evans) Apr. 1Female entrepreneurs in the Frederick area can enroll now for S.H.E. Pitch, a chamber-run competition which will help winners fund their business. This is the second year the S.H.E. Pitch will be a main focus of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce's annual S.H.E. Week, an August event the chamber called a "week of events celebrating the Strength, Heart and Equality of women in Frederick County" in a press release. The cash prizes given to the winning entrepreneurs serve as an important way to help get burgeoning businesses off the ground, said Jennifer Gerlock, vice president of marketing and communication for the chamber. "It's just a really incredible opportunity to make an economic impact on entrepreneurs in Frederick County," she said on the phone this week. "The opportunity is both for people who have an idea, who are in the very beginning stages of their business [and] for entrepreneurs who are a little bit farther along on their journey." Enrollments to take part in the program are now open, Gerlock said. She encouraged anyone interested to apply as soon as possible, since the competition takes place over the course of multiple stages. Participants in the contest get access to an online course called Pitch Creator, which will help the participants through making a pitch for the contest over the course of multiple steps with a series of deadlines. Enrolling in the contest early is important, Gerlock said, since it allows the contestant to have more time to work through the course. "Since it's a course and it's self-guided, we need to give people enough time to really work on their business plan and the deliverables that are required," she said. Once the pitches are finalized, they're subject to a round of blind judging. Finalists in two categories one for new businesses, and one for established ones will make their pitches during a ceremony during S.H.E. Week on Aug. 24. One winner will be crowned by judges in both categories, and audience members will be able to vote for a People's Choice prize, as well. Story continues Exact cash values for the prizes have not been determined yet, but she said $5,000 was given to both winners during last year's event, with an additional $500 given to the People's Choice winner, Gerlock said. She said she's hoping this year's prizes will be even higher, thanks in part to partnerships with the Maryland Women's Business Center, Frederick County Office of Economic Development, Frederick Department of Economic Development and Octavo Designs. For information on enrolling in the program, go to frederickchamber.org/shepitch. A release said a $26 fee will be required to "develop the necessary materials needed for judging and progression through the competition." Follow Patrick Kernan on Twitter: @PatKernan Clippers guard Paul George, right, intercepts a pass intended for Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu during the first half Thursday. (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press) That reliable, step-by-step formula for victories was happening again Thursday for the Clippers. The double-digit deficit. The rally behind defense and timely shooting. The pressure applied in the final moments to goad an uncharacteristic opponent mistake. A completed comeback. Repeat. The only surprise in Chicagos United Center was that it was happening against them. Leading by as many as 16 points with 16 minutes to play and eight with 2 minutes 26 seconds remaining, the Clippers were reminded what its like to be on the other end of a deflating comeback in a 135-130 loss after a series of mistakes of either focus, execution or both. With Chicago trailing 118-115 with seven seconds left, wing Terance Mann fouled Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan before an inbounds pass, a foul away from the ball that not only gave Chicago one free throw, which DeRozan made, but the ball back for another possession. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he didnt consider it a foul, but a review of Manns hold on DeRozan did, and with the extra chance DeRozan took a three-pointer only to be fouled by Paul George with 3.5 seconds left. DeRozan made the first two free throws but missed what would have been the winner, preserving a chance for the Clippers to prevail in overtime. Instead, with George remaining on the bench as the Clippers adhered to his minutes limit, DeRozan scored 10 of Chicagos 17 overtime points on his way to a 50-point performance. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, left, talks to guard Reggie Jackson during the first half against the Chicago Bulls on Friday. (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press) It just sucks that we felt like we had it and we let it slip, said guard Reggie Jackson, whose 34 points were two off his season high. Lue said he didnt give any consideration to playing George in overtime after hed logged 32 minutes in only his second game back after a three-month layoff with a torn elbow ligament. But the Clippers shouldnt have needed George in overtime. Ever since their 32-point first quarter, their best opening period in nearly four weeks, opened a 10-point lead behind the Marcus Morris Sr.s badly needed hot start, the Clippers created a role reversal from their usual trail-big, comeback-big script. Story continues An 18-4 run in just five minutes during the second quarter, with the disruptive defensive combination of Robert Covington and Nicolas Batum taking center stage, widened the lead to 15 before halftime. As Chicago (45-32) pulled within single digits early in the fourth quarter, the Clippers pushed back behind gut-check baskets from Luke Kennard, Batum, Jackson and Mann. But we just didnt finish the game, Lue said, lamenting low-quality shot attempts that contributed to 36% fourth-quarter shooting. They are now 10-5 in games decided by three points or fewer, tied for the second-most wins, after losing for just the fifth time in 31 games when leading after three quarters. DeMar was able to attack Reggie [Jackson] a couple of times because we couldnt get our matchups because we didnt score the basketball, Lue added. Its just something we can learn from. DeRozan, the free agent who considered the Clippers in the offseason, was indomitable while making 15 of his 24 shots inside the arc. He may be the only one in the world who can make those shots, said Batum. DeRozan apologized to teammates for his lone miss out of 15 free throws that ended regulation, coach Billy Donovan said. As much as the Clippers (37-40) will look at how their plethora of wings were unable to stop DeRozan, they have other developments to study, such as the long-armed lineup combination of George, Batum and Robert Covington that closed each half as Lue took his longest look yet at a combination that gives a lot of length on the floor and defensive presence, he said. Perhaps the best sign was the invigoration of Morris, who had missed all 12 three-pointers hed taken in his last four games. After making just one of six shots amid Georges brilliant return Tuesday, Lue apologized to Morris after the 25-point comeback win for not helping him be in better positions with the ball largely in George and Jacksons hands. Morris finished with 20 points, Jackson was highly efficient with six three-pointers on nine shots and George scored 22 on 20 shots, including nine fourth-quarter points that finished with two free throws with 11 seconds left to put the Clippers up three. Unless or perhaps until Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard, who watched from the Chicago sideline in a White Sox hat, return this season, the Clippers offense and playoff potential hinges on the output of its trio of veterans, George, Morris and Jackson. Thursday offered fresh evidence each can have their moment in the same game and also proof that mistakes can still unravel all of it. Up next for Clippers: Friday at Milwaukee When: 5 p.m. On the air: TV: Bally Sports SoCal; Radio: 570, 1220 Update: Both the Bucks and Clippers will be playing on consecutive days, though the Clippers have the much shorter journey to Milwaukee because the Bucks played in Brooklyn on Thursday. Playing at home this season, the Bucks own the NBAs second-fastest pace while limiting opponents to the second-fewest points in the paint. Giannis Antetokounmpo entered Wednesday averaging more points (29.9) and fewer turnovers (3.2) than he did in either of his two most valuable player seasons. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. In the United States, more than 80 million people have tested positive for coronavirus as of April 1, according to Johns Hopkins University, as cases and hospitalizations continue to go down in the country. To date, more than 980,000 people living in the U.S. have died, including about 4,000 since last week. Worldwide, there have been more than 488 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, including about 8 million new cases since one week ago. Additionally, over 6.1 million have died from the virus globally. Roughly 217.5 million people in the U.S. are fully vaccinated as of April 1 65.5% of the population and 97 million of those people have gotten a booster shot, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Roughly 99.5% of the U.S. lives in a location with low or medium COVID-19 Community Level, the agency says as of March 24. Nearly 0.5% of Americans reside in an area with a high COVID-19 Community Level. For them, its recommended to wear a mask while indoors in public. The CDC reports the weekly average of COVID-19 cases has dropped nationwide as of March 23. Cases are 5.4% lower compared to the prior weeks average, according to the CDC. The omicron BA.2 subvariant dominated positive U.S. cases for the week ending March 26. Heres what happened between March 27 and April 1: White House launches one-stop shop for COVID information. What to know about website The White House on Wednesday, March 30, launched a one-stop shop website where people in the United States can keep up with COVID-19 developments and access resources for tests, vaccines, masks and treatment. Now, you can visit COVID.gov with a click of a button and get connected to information related to the virus in one place, the White House said in a fact sheet. The site includes a new Test-to-Treat locator, which helps people find testing centers and treatment. The White House called it easy-to-use. Continue reading below: White House launches one-stop shop for COVID information. What to know about website Story continues Second COVID booster now authorized for those over 50. Do experts think its needed? Those in the U.S. ages 50 and older can now get a second Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster shot four months after their first booster, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Tuesday, March 29. Certain immunocompromised individuals can also get the extra jab depending on their age, the FDA announced. Immunocompromised children ages 12 and older are eligible for a second booster dose of the Pfizer shot four months after their first booster, while those 18 and older can get a second Moderna booster. Adults who got vaccinated and received a booster shot with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least four months ago can also get a second booster with an mRNA vaccine. Keep on reading for what experts are saying: Second COVID booster now authorized for those over 50. Do experts think its needed? Disney tourists can once again meet favorite characters soon after two-year hiatus Tourists at Disney theme parks have waved to their favorite characters during the COVID-19 pandemic, but soon theyll be able to meet them up close again. Disney Parks announced character greetings at Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida will return as soon as April 18. Character meet-and-greets will also return on the Disney Cruise Line and at the Aulani Resort in Hawaii. The story continues below: Disney tourists can once again meet favorite characters soon after two-year hiatus Man filed dozens of phony applications for pandemic unemployment in 9 states, feds say A 30-year-old in Michigan has cut a deal with the government after federal prosecutors said he filed dozens of bogus bids for pandemic unemployment in more than half a dozen states. Devin Smith pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in Massachusetts District Court on Tuesday, March 29, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release. Smith is accused of submitting at least 30 bogus applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance using his own name and stolen identities, allowing him to pocket more than $150,000. The scheme lasted at least six months at the start of the pandemic, the government said. For more on the case, keep reading: Man filed dozens of phony applications for pandemic unemployment in 9 states, feds say Cannabis companies say their CBD products treat COVID, but FDA says they are wrong Several companies are falsely advertising their cannabis CBD products with claims they can cure, treat or prevent COVID-19, the Food and Drug Administration is warning. A total seven companies are accused of using research studies to claim or imply misleadingly that their CBD products can help when it comes to COVID-19, according to the FDA. The FDA has not approved or authorized any drug containing CBD for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. Continue reading below: Cannabis companies say their CBD products treat COVID, but FDA says they are wrong She sold fake COVID vaccine cards on Facebook two to undercover trooper, NY cops say A woman was busted for selling fake COVID-19 vaccine cards on Facebook after meeting with an undercover state trooper and selling him two, officials in upstate New York said. She was charged with a felony on March 11 under the states Truth in Vaccination law, which went into effect in December, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office. Kaiyah S. Heinrich, of Cheektowaga, appeared in court on the charge of one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument on March 28, the office said in a news release provided to McClatchy News. Shes accused of selling the pair of fake cards to the undercover investigator on March 10. For more, keep reading: She sold fake COVID vaccine cards on Facebook two to undercover trooper, NY cops say Pastor must give up Mercedes he bought with stolen COVID relief funds, feds in GA say A South Georgia pastor accused of lying to get thousands in federal COVID-19 relief funds must forfeit the luxury sedan on which he spent the stolen money, prosecutors say. Mack Devon Knight, 45, of Kingsland faces a maximum of 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud, the U.S Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Georgia announced March 25. The charges stem from a CARES Act fraud scheme that netted Knight nearly $150,000 most of which prosecutors said he used to buy himself a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, according to a news release. The pastor-turned-restaurateur and tax preparer also faces hefty financial penalties, restitution and up to three years of supervised release. Keep reading about the case here: Pastor must give up Mercedes he bought with stolen COVID relief funds, feds in GA say Reporters Maddie Capron, Hayley Fowler and Tanasia Kenney also contributed to this report. A man was shot and killed by a womans father after breaking into the dads home and threatening her, Minnesota police said. Officials told McClatchy News the man and woman had some kind of relationship. Saint Paul police received a report of a man shot while breaking into a home early on April 1, the department said in a news release. Officers were called by a 56-year-old resident who told them a man who had a relationship with his daughter kicked in their front door and threatened her. Police found the man, who was in his 30s, shot multiple times inside the home. He was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived, the release said. Officials confirmed to McClatchy News the father shot and killed the man after he reportedly threatened his daughter. The father was brought in for questioning and released, police said. No arrests were made. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, the release said. Potential charges will depend on the findings from the investigation. 74-year-old homeowner shoots 16-year-old in his Ohio house. He didnt belong here Gunmen posing as cops break down Texas mans door in robbery, video shows Apartment worker uses master key in attack on sleeping tenant, Washington police say A Crowley mom accused of faking her babys illness and causing him to be hospitalized for nearly 100 days pleaded guilty to injury to a child Thursday in a Tarrant County court. Kaleigh Flanagan, 27, accepted a plea deal Thursday in 213th District Court in which she signed away all parental rights to her three children, including the son she is accused of abusing through Munchausen syndrome by proxy a mental health disorder in which a caretaker fakes another persons illness. In addition to relinquishing her parental rights, Flanagan is required to inform the Texas Department of Family Protective Services if she becomes pregnant, according to court documents, and was sentenced to community supervision for 10 years. Flanagan lied to hospital staff at Cook Childrens Medical Center in Fort Worth about her sons health, according to an arrest warrant affidavit written by Tarrant County Sheriffs Office Detective Michael Weber. The mother of three insisted her son was throwing up and having seizures, but was caught on video faking these events, according to the affidavit. The baby had a nasal-gastric tube inserted into his esophagus because of Flanagans false reports, the affidavit says. She was charged with bodily injury to a child on March 8, 2021. Weber began investigating medical child abuse allegations against Flanagan on Feb. 2 last year. Doctors and staff started to doubt whether Flanagans child suffered seizures, as she claimed, or needed the nasal-gastric tube, according to the arrest warrant. A follow-up MRI and EEG of the child were normal, medical staff never saw the baby have a seizure and at least one nurse fed the baby without an issue. The baby was born on March 6, 2020, and, at a nearly a year old, had spent a total of 98 days at Cook Childrens Medical Center. In February 2021, medical staff moved Flanagan and her then-11-month-old into a hospital room that had a hidden camera. On Feb. 1, Flanagan told nurses her son had thrown up on her, but video revealed she had actually splashed herself with water, the affidavit says. A doctor reported her to DFPS, which began investigating. Story continues Over the next three days, Flanagan faked vomiting episodes four more times, the affidavit says. Each time, she splashed or dabbed herself with water and told staff her son threw up. Video footage never shows her son actually throwing up. During an interview with detective Weber, Flanagan first said she, her son and her 7-year-old twin daughters have a myriad of health issues, according to the affidavit. She said one of the twins had skin cancer removed from her leg and had her adenoids and tonsils removed. At first Flanagan denied faking her sons symptoms, the affidavit says, but when Weber told her about the video footage, she told him she had lied about her son vomiting. At one point, she told Weber, I feel like Ive completely failed my children, and I know I messed up and I want to make it right, the affidavit says. The child was taken off seizure medication on Feb. 5, removed from Flanagans care and placed with a foster parent. Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another In Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another, also known as Munchausen by proxy syndrome, a caretaker usually a mother fakes another persons illness. While the general public may think these cases as rare, data suggests they are more common than many realize, said Dr. Marc Feldman, an expert in factitious disorders and clinical professor of psychiatry and adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Alabama, in a previous interview. In Tarrant County, eight women including Flanagan have been charged since March 2019 in connection to suspected Munchausen by proxy cases. Munchausen by proxy syndrome can also be difficult for medical staff and authorities to catch if they are not trained to recognize the signs, Feldman said. Due to the lack of understanding surrounding these cases and a lack of criminal statutes prosecution of a perpetrator can be difficult. Court decisions in these cases can be unreasonably lax, Feldman said. Attorneys set to make closing arguments in the murder trial of four suspects accused of killing a Columbus rapper over 16 pounds of marijuana pushed the judge Friday to acquit their clients for lack of evidence, without sending the case to the jury. They based their arguments on the conflicting testimony of Eric Spencer Jr., the prosecutions star witness who testified against his former codefendants before the defense called him back to the stand to recant that testimony. Senior Judge David Emerson said he wants to review the evidence before ruling on the defense motions for whats called a directed verdict of acquittal, which means the evidence on its face is insufficient to sustain the accusations, so the jury neednt deliberate on those charges. Emerson has recessed court until 1:30 p.m. The testimony Spencer told the court Wednesday that he lied about everything he had said earlier about the men on trial for murder in the April 6, 2018 robbery and fatal shooting of Branden Denson, found dead outside a Buena Vista Road Pizza Hut. Police believe Denson was robbed of a suitcase of marijuana before he was shot three times in the back and left dead in the drivers seat of his Jeep Wrangler, where Pizza Hut workers found his body about 10:30 p.m. Once charged with murder like his cohorts, Spencer pleaded guilty to lesser charges and agreed to testify truthfully against the other suspects. He testified March 24 and 25, giving a detailed account of each suspects role in the heist. Eric Randall Spencer Jr. returned to the witness stand Wednesday morning. 03/30/2022 His testimony was crucial partly because police never recovered the marijuana or the .40-caliber Glock pistol used to shoot Denson. The only suspects fingerprint found on Densons Jeep was Spencers, near a door handle on the rear drivers side, investigators said. Denson was shot through that open door, leaving bullet holes in the back seat, but none penetrating the exterior of the car, police said. Detectives initially believed Spencer was the shooter, because the evidence put him in the position to shoot Denson. Story continues Detective Robert Nicholas said he changed his mind after re-evaluating the evidence, deciding that had Spencer shot Denson, the shell casings from the semi-automatic handgun would have ejected into the Jeeps interior. Instead the casings were found on the pavement outside Densons Jeep, near the rear of the vehicle, he said. The robbery and shooting were recorded on a security camera on a nearby grocery store, but it was too far away to show the robbers faces. Police said it still corroborated what Spencer told them had happened. The defense attorneys argued Friday that once Spencer recanted his earlier testimony, prosecutors were left with no evidence to prove their clients guilt. Cell phone records showed some of the suspects had been in contact with each other, and that the alleged ringleader had texted Denson, right before the shooting. But those records could not pinpoint the suspects locations, placing them only in a broad area served by certain cell towers. Judge Emerson questioned prosecutors on that point, asking, What is the independent evidence that corroborates Spencer? To rely solely on the cell phone records struck him as a leap of faith, he said. Here are the defendants on trial, their charges and attorneys: Dover Bartlett Coppins, 27, charged with murder, armed robbery, using a gun to commit a crime and being a convicted felon with a firearm. He is represented by Shevon Thomas. Tommie Jamal Mullins Jr., 28, charged with murder and armed robbery. He is represented by Stacey Jackson. Tyree Jaquan Smith, 24, charged with murder and armed robbery. He is represented by William Kendrick. Johnathon Lemorris Swift, 30, charged with murder and armed robbery. Hes represented by Michael Eddings. Four co-defendants and their defense attorneys prepare for jury selection to resume Monday in Superior Court in Columbus, Georgia. Jury selection began Monday in the trial of the men charged with murder in the April 6, 2018, death of Branden Denson at the 4236 Buena Vista Road Pizza Hut restaurant in Columbus. 03/21/2022 Spencer in his earlier testimony said Mullins arranged the rendezvous with Denson; Swift drove the rented Elantra they used; Smith took the marijuana from Densons Jeep; and Coppins fired the fatal shots as they drove away. Spencer said his role was checking Denson for weapons as Coppins held Denson at gunpoint. After the robbery, the suspects again met with Mullins, who divided the 16 pounds of marijuana among them, keep 10 to 12 pounds for himself, Spencer said in his testimony last week. After he recanted that testimony Wednesday for the defense, he was cross-examined by Acting District Attorney Sheneka Terry, who asked him specifically what he had lied about. Just what I said about them, he said of the other suspects. Terry again asked him to be specific. Everything that I said that they did, he answered. He denied that three of the four defendants were with him in his girlfriends rented Hyundai Elantra the night Denson died. He had said earlier that Mullins did not go to the Pizza Hut with them, but met them afterward at a house on Rolling Ridge Drive. Spencer testified he cooperated with police because the mother of his child had rented the car used in the robbery, and he feared police would charge her, too. He also said he was not pleased with his plea deal, in which he pleaded guilty to armed robbery and gun offenses for a sentence of 25 years in prison with 10 to serve. Without that deal, Spencer faced life without parole, if convicted, because of his criminal history. The defense attorneys in their opening arguments hammered the prosecutions reliance on Spencers testimony, arguing he lied to authorities so often that he was not a credible witness. Homicide detectives agreed that Spencer lied to them, early in their investigation, but when he detailed his account using a marker board during a police interview on July 2, 2018, and re-enacted it with substitute vehicles four days later, it matched the evidence. The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office says they are seeing more illegal items than ever going through the mail. A new partner program with the United States Postal Service is trying to combat that. Its actually such an issue that we could use ten detectives, Sheriff Rob Streck said. Streck told News Center 7s Mike Campbell that the post office approached him about working together on a growing problem: hundreds of packages locally, millions nationwide, going through the post office, carrying illegal items. >> Bluffton police officer killed on I-75 during high-speed pursuit; 3 suspects now in custody You can order anything you want online now and that includes the using the dark web to where illegal items can be purchased, Streck said. Postal inspectors told Streck that theyre seeing things like marijuana edibles, which are illegal in Ohio, but legal in other states. They also said they are seeing fentanyl, guns and drugs from places like Mexico and China. A Sheriffs deputy and K9 were assigned to be on-call with postal inspectors. The team, Streck explained, visits several local post offices a week for investigations. >> Local salon accepting donations for Ukrainian refugees Streck said they dont see as many hand-to-hand drug sales done in person. Society changes, such as online retailing, are trickling over into those choosing to break the law, too. Obviously, criminals do the same thing, as to how can they make their life easier and make more money, Streck said. The new partner program has already paid off by stopping dangerous packages before delivery. Whether it is pounds of fentanyl or other drugs and weapons that definitely do harm to the community, Streck said. Gov. Ron DeSantis was joined by law enforcement officers from at least three counties when he visited a St. Johns County restaurant Thursday to tout $1,000 bonuses the state is funding for first responders. Surrounded by deputies and lawmakers, Gov. Ron DeSantis visited a St. Johns County restaurant Thursday to promote the fact that Florida police and firefighters will receive $1,000 bonuses for the second year in a row. Theres no state thats done more for law enforcement than the state of Florida, DeSantis told a supportive crowd inside the Valley Smoke Restaurant along the Intracoastal Waterway in Ponte Vedra Beach. The bonuses, however, appear to be at least partially funded with federal aid. The state budget includes almost $3.5 billion from the federal government for coronavirus relief, and $30 million of that was earmarked by the Legislature for "first responders' recognition payments. Democratic National Committee spokesperson Adonna Biel later criticized DeSantis, saying the governor "is once taking credit for funds delivered by the [Biden administration's] American Rescue Plan." The bonuses will total more than $100 million, DeSantis said, but said the money is an important morale tool to show first responders with challenging jobs that theyre appreciated. DeSantis' budget: Helped by federal aid, Gov. Ron DeSantis spends big in $99.7 billion budget proposal Florida Pulse: DeSantis makes first responder pay a priority He contrasted that with efforts in parts of the country to reduce police funding and said the extra spending, included in the state budget, helps keep Florida safe. If you cut police budgets and you turn your back on law enforcement, you're giving the criminals an upper hand, DeSantis said. Were going to make sure we have very well-supported folks. As he spoke, the governor was flanked by about 20 law enforcement officers from at least three counties who stressed their appreciation for state support. Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach said Florida has never seen a better time to start a career in law enforcement and he praised DeSantis and state legislators who joined DeSantis for their efforts to fund public safety. Story continues I wouldnt want to work anywhere else, said Cpl. Staci Sastre from the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office. DeSantis said the bonus payments will be distributed later this year but didn't set a specific time. USA Today Network-Florida reporter John Kennedy contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touts $1,000 bonuses for first responders The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta near the town of Rio Vista. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) It's a major source of California's water supply and a vital habitat for fish, migratory birds and other species. But the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta watershed is also a fragile ecosystem in decline, with human demands for water taking a harsh toll on the environment. With a third year of severe drought straining water resources and pushing endangered salmon and other fish closer to extinction, California officials have announced a controversial $2.6-billion deal with the federal government and major water suppliers that they say will bolster the ecosystem. The new pact, called a memorandum of understanding, reflects a realization that with climate change, "the system is collapsing quicker than the laws and regulations that exist can manage or heal that system, said Jared Blumenfeld, Californias environmental protection secretary. The proposed agreement lays out plans over the next eight years whereby agencies that supply cities and farms would give up water or secure additional supplies to help threatened species, while state, federal and local agencies would fund projects to improve habitat in the watershed. State officials called the deal an important milestone in their efforts to balance the delta's ecological needs with the water needs of Californians, and a key step toward larger voluntary agreements that can help ensure substantial flows for the health of the estuary. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared the plan a historic rejection of "old binaries" in favor of new solutions, while Blumenfeld said it would "move us away from water wars of yesteryear." Those claims drew strong criticism, however. Immediately after the plan's announcement on Tuesday, environmental advocates and salmon conservationists condemned it as a set of backroom deals negotiated out of the public eye that wouldnt provide nearly enough water for threatened fish or the overall health of the watershed. Nothing has been achieved through backroom negotiations with water districts, said Jon Rosenfield, senior scientist with the group San Francisco Baykeeper. The states latest scheme promises only a tiny fraction of the relief our rivers, fisheries and delta communities need, according to a wealth of research and it leaves all the hard questions unanswered. Story continues The San Francisco Bay Delta is the largest estuary on the West Coast. Formed by the convergence of Californias two largest rivers, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta lies at the heart of the states water system. Two huge government-run pumping plants draw water from the deltas southern edge and send it flowing through the canals of the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project, supplying vast farmlands and cities to the south. The deltas ecosystem has been ailing for decades, and the export of large quantities of freshwater has been a major reason. Climate change has added to the stresses on the ecosystem by intensifying droughts. Fish have suffered. The delta smelt is now on the brink of extinction. And endangered winter-run Chinook salmon have struggled to reproduce in the Sacramento River when the water flowing from Shasta Dam has warmed up so much that many eggs fail to hatch. State officials said the agreement aims to meet water-quality objectives in the Delta through additional flows for the environment, projects that restore and improve thousands of acres of aquatic habitat, and funding to purchase water and carry out habitat projects. They said these projects would include creating more spawning habitat for salmon and smelt, restoring floodplains and side channels, and removing barriers that hinder fish, among other things. Wade Crowfoot, Californias natural resources secretary, said the steps toward voluntary agreements among water agencies hold promise to improve environmental conditions more quickly and holistically than regulatory requirements. But the plan still needs to be endorsed by the State Water Resources Control Board, which is required to update its water-quality plan for the delta. Heavy criticism of the announcement also suggests Newsom and his administration will face opposition as they continue pushing for voluntary water deals. The agreements signatories included more than a dozen water agencies, among them the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Westlands Water District, some of the nation's largest water suppliers. Water agencies have agreed to provide varying flows, depending on whether conditions are wet, above average, below average, dry or critically dry. Amounts of water contributed annually by the signatories could range between 150,000 acre-feet to 825,000 acre-feet. The largest amount of water, if spread out across the city of Los Angeles, would cover the area more than 2 feet deep. Keswick Dam blocks salmon from swimming upstream in the Sacramento River near Redding. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Baykeeper's Rosenfield pointed out that would be much less than the average of approximately 1.5 million to 1.6 million acre-feet that the state water board had contemplated in a 2018 document, and far less than what the board had indicated would be needed to protect imperiled fish in the delta watershed as well as the state's commercial and recreational fisheries. Rosenfield and other critics noted that the agreement uses a water baseline laid down in 2019 by the Trump administration, so much of the additional water made available under the proposal would simply restore the flows that had been called for under federal biological opinions a decade earlier. Rosenfield also criticized provisions of the deal that involve purchasing water for environmental purposes, essentially using taxpayer money to subsidize the water districts obligations. "We dont need to pay water districts for water that belongs to the people of California, Rosenfield said. However, state officials stressed that the agreement would send a significant amount of water flowing through the delta that otherwise wouldnt be helping the ecosystem. And they said the collaborative approach, worked out through years of meetings and negotiations, can avoid protracted fights. You can get a lot more done at a bigger scale when you're trying to do it collaboratively, because you step around what tends to be decades' worth of litigation, when people don't want to voluntarily talk about leaving water in the rivers, said Chuck Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Instead of fighting about what to do, we now have a commitment for one of the largest habitat restoration efforts conceivable, Bonham said. He said large-scale habitat restoration efforts in the watershed can make a big difference in recovering fish and other species that are at risk. The states traditional approach has been to adopt regulations and then deal with lawsuits, and the proposed agreement aims to circumvent that approach to reduce uncertainty, said Jeffrey Mount, a senior fellow with the Public Policy Institute of California. For the water user community, it meets one of their great needs, and that is regulatory certainty, Mount said. Its so that there is not an annual, difficult regulatory battle. Mount said he supports the approach generally and has been calling for something like this for years as a more effective strategy. But it would have been better if they could have actually brought in the environmental community and had them as part of these negotiations, Mount said. What will ultimately come out of the plan is uncertain, he said, because some agencies havent signed on to the terms and the deal will need to undergo a lengthy review. The plan laid out in the agreement calls for environmental monitoring, and if key indicators arent met through the voluntary agreement by the sixth year, Blumenfeld said, the state could change course and instead work toward those goals through regulation. State regulators could determine if the voluntary agreements should be continued, modified or ended. So there's a backstop, Blumenfeld said. There's a lot at stake to make it work. But if it doesn't, we get to implement the more traditional regulatory pathway. Water districts that do not agree to the voluntary approach will be required to comply with requirements set by the state water board. The agencies that havent signed on include those that draw water from the lower San Joaquin River and its tributaries, among them the Merced Irrigation District, Modesto Irrigation District, Friant Water Authority and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. State officials have told managers of these agencies that their proposals fall short of whats needed, and that the door is open for them to participate if they agree to enough additional water and support for habitat projects. Mount said the state may be taking a "divide and conquer strategy, but it most certainly wont end the conflicts. The water wars will continue because we're talking about tradeoffs in use in a zero-sum game, Mount said. The water agencies that have joined the deal have committed to restoring or creating 20,000 acres of floodplain habitat, and nearly 3,300 acres of additional habitat where fish can spawn. A breakdown of the implementation costs under the agreement lists $858 million for habitat restoration and construction in the watershed, plus additional amounts for scientific monitoring, water purchases and payments for some growers to leave farmlands dry and fallow. Managers of water districts that signed the agreement this week have committed to taking the terms to their boards for endorsement. Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District, said the agreement represents a milestone first step in a joint effort to develop a watershed-wide approach to address the challenges in the delta. We need to work collaboratively with all of our state, federal, environmental and water agency partners to ensure we have a comprehensive action plan that improves water reliability and delivers real results for the environment, Hagekhalil said in a statement. The Newsom administration is pushing for the voluntary deals while also pursuing a controversial plan for rerouting the states water system by building a huge water tunnel beneath the delta. Environmental advocates said theyre concerned about the estimated $2.6 billion that would be spent on implementation, with funds coming from water suppliers and the state and federal governments. They also said that there is no enforcement mechanism if the expected funding doesn't come through, and that the document outlining the deal counts water supplies that have yet to be secured. Of course, we support floodplain restoration, said Regina Chichizola, executive director of the group Save California Salmon. But she said research has shown that the health of the delta ecosystem demands much more water than this agreement would provide. This to me doesn't seem like it's dealing with drought or climate change or what the actual needs of [the] delta are. So I'm disappointed, Chichizola said. She said its also concerning that instead of having an open, democratic process guided by science, it's just the most elite water users that were in the room to negotiate. John McManus, president of the Golden State Salmon Assn., said that nobody from the salmon fishing industry was invited to participate in the talks. I think many in California will wonder why taxpayers have to pay to gain basic environmental protections for our fish and wildlife, McManus said. Don't we already have regulations that should ensure the protection of our fish and wildlife? This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Don't miss CoinDesk's Consensus 2022, the must-attend crypto & blockchain festival experience of the year in Austin, TX this June 9-12. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) says it's time for the U.S. to create its own central bank digital currency (CBDC). Warren spoke with NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press Reports," scheduled to air at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. NBCUniversal shared a partial transcript of the conversation with CoinDesk. "So a lot that banks do wrong, if you think, 'We could improve that in a digital world,' the answer is, 'Sure you could.' But in that case, let's do a central bank digital currency," Warren told Todd. "Yes, I think it's time for us to move in that direction." Responding to Todd's question on whether bitcoin (BTC) will face at minimum being regulated like a commodity, Warren responded, "I think it's going to end up getting regulated," using the subprime mortgage financial crisis that started in 2007 as an example of why it's needed. She didn't say what form such regulations might take. In March Warren announced a new bill to block cryptocurrency companies from conducting business with sanctioned companies. The Digital Assets Sanctions Compliance Enhancement Act, introduced with senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and others, would allow the U.S. president to add non-U.S.-based crypto companies to sanctions list if they support sanctions evasion. On whether the senator saw cryptocurrency as "this decade's real estate bubble," Warren replied, "The whole digital world has worked very much like a bubble works. What is it moved up on? It's moved up on the fact that people all tell each other that it's going to be great, just again like it was on that real estate market. How many times did people say, 'Real Estate always goes up. It never goes down?' They said it decades ago before the last real estate bubble. They said it in the 2000s, before the crash in 2008." Read more: Warren Targets 6 More Crypto Miners for Their Energy Use By Joseph Campbell LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - When bombs began to fall as Russian forces poured into Ukraine in late February, thousands of people fled for safety, leaving their homes and property behind. Those who could often took beloved pets with them. It wasn't so easy for horse owners, though, who faced the agonising decision to leave their animals behind. For Mykhailo Parkhomchuk, head of the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation, he couldn't just sit back and watch animals he had spent a lifetime caring for suffer. Parkhomchuk, who is based in Belgium, drove back to his homeland on day two of the war. By day four, he had organised a network of dozens of volunteers and founded a charity to save Ukraine's abandoned horses. "In some regions, it's very dangerous," said Parkhomchuk, explaining how volunteers first bring the horses to the relative safety of a base in the western Lviv region, before organising the paperwork for their onward journey to a new home in Europe. His Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation has already rescued more than 100 horses, some of them found wandering in the open, and some left in stables by their owners. Currently there are 40 of the rescued horses staying at a the group's makeshift stables. They receive daily requests from owners via social media to help rescue their abandoned horses. Not all horses have been so lucky. Parkhomchuk said their were reports of several stables being destroyed in the fighting. At least seven horses were burned in a stable that was hit on March 20 in Hostomel, northwest of Kyiv. "We don't make any difference, if it is an expensive horse, or cheap horse, or big or old, or young horse, we are trying to help all the horses and evacuate all the horses," said Taisia Stadnichenko, as she petted "Karpilon", who spent 21 days alone in a forest in the Kyiv region after being let out of his stable to escape bombing. Story continues "We think that every horse is the most important and precious for their owners." Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 on what he calls a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine. Ukraine and the West say Putin launched an unprovoked war of aggression. More than 4 million Ukrainians have fled abroad since the start of the invasion. (Reporting by Joseph Campbell; Editing by Alex Richardson) NEW YORK (AP) A controversial face recognition company that's built a massive photographic dossier of the world's people for use by police, national governments and most recently the Ukrainian military is now planning to offer its technology to banks and other private businesses. Clearview AI co-founder and CEO Hoan Ton-That disclosed the plans Friday to The Associated Press in order to clarify a recent federal court filing that suggested the company was up for sale. We dont have any plans to sell the company, he said. Instead, he said the New York startup is looking to launch a new business venture to compete with the likes of Amazon and Microsoft in verifying people's identity using facial recognition. The new consent-based product would use Clearview's algorithms to verify a person's face, but would not involve its ever-growing trove of some 20 billion images, which Ton-That said is reserved for law enforcement use. Such ID checks that can be used to validate bank transactions or for other commercial purposes are the least controversial use case of facial recognition, he said. That's in contrast to the business practice for which Clearview is best known: collecting a huge trove of images posted on Facebook, YouTube and just about anywhere else on the publicly-accessible internet. Regulators from Australia to Canada, France and Italy have taken measures to try to stop Clearview from pulling people's faces into its facial recognition engine without their consent. So have tech giants such as Google and Facebook. A group of U.S. lawmakers earlier this year warned that Clearview AIs technology could eliminate public anonymity in the United States." Despite opposition from lawmakers, regulators, privacy advocates and the websites it scrapes for data, Clearview has continued to rack up new contracts with police departments and other government agencies. In the meantime, its growing database has helped Clearview's artificial intelligence technology learn and grow more accurate. Story continues One of its biggest known federal contracts is with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement particularly its investigative arm, which has used the technology to track down both the victims and perpetrators of child sexual exploitation. Clearview in March also started offering its services for free to the Ukrainian military, in part to help identify dead Russian soldiers using Clearviews repository of about 2 billion images scraped from Russian social media website VKontakte. Theyve been able to identify dead bodies, even with facial damage, Ton-That said Friday. The official minutes from a March 17 hearing in a Chicago federal court said that Clearview AI was considering selling the app platform to other entities, citing one of the lawyers who's been defending the company in a case involving alleged violation of an Illinois digital privacy law. The minutes also said the sale of Clearviews app would be discussed further once the company discloses more details to the plaintiffs. Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act allows consumers to sue companies that dont get permission before harvesting data such as faces and fingerprints. Ton-That said the minutes incorrectly relayed what the company was trying to tell the judge about potentially expanding its business beyond law enforcement uses. We let the court know were exploring this idea, he said Friday, noting the company's previous assertions that it was only selling its services to law enforcement. Asked about future commercial applications during an interview with the AP in late February, Ton-That emphasized his company's ongoing focus on police work. Were really focused on law enforcement right now, he said, describing how the company's mission had evolved from commercial applications into helping to solve crime. We looked at all different kinds of use cases: building security, ID checks, even hotels, hospitality," he said. "But when we gave this to law enforcement, we saw such amazing success right away where they could ID so many victims of crime or perpetrators of it that it was a kind of a no-brainer at that point to really focus on that kind of use case. He added at the time that if the company shifted to other uses, it would let the public and courts know about it. He downplayed what he described as the lofty goals that Clearview pitched to prospective investors in a document the Washington Post reported on in February. The Post said the company's financial presentation from December proposed a variety of potential commercial uses of Clearview technology, including to monitor gig economy workers or provide companies with real-time alerts if certain people are detected, and boasted of a face-image database that's growing so large that almost everyone in the world will be identifiable. A lawyer representing activists suing Clearview on privacy grounds in California said Friday her clients are most concerned about the government's use of the technology to track protesters and immigrants, but any usage based on Clearview's unauthorized capture and sale of faceprints could violate privacy rights. The future potential uses for Clearview appear to be a moving target, said Sejal Zota, legal director of Just Futures Law. And the scale is terrifying. O'Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island. PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. When David Wright opened his mouth during a team hitting meeting on Thursday afternoon at Clover Park, the room fell silent. The captain commands that type of attention. The Mets former third baseman made his first trip cross country to Florida since the pandemic swept across the world in 2020 and voiced optimism about this season's lineup. "Theyre loaded with talent, for sure," Wright said. "I got a chance to be in one of the hitters meeting today with (hitting coach Eric Chavez), who Ive known for a while now. Just looking around that room, its like, All-star, all-star, all-star, soon-be all-star. Its pretty wild. They asked me to say something, and I was like, I wish I could be in this lineup." Wright drew a number of comparisons of this year's team to the 2006 Mets that reached the NLCS before falling in seven games to the eventual World Series champion Cardinals. That unit had three hitters Wright, Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran with more than 30 home runs and four Wright, Paul Lo Duca, Endy Chavez and Jose Reyes who batted .300 or better. Mets' David Wright walks through the dugout during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Washington. Wright has not played for the Mets since May 2016 because of neck, back and shoulder injuries. "I feel like thats what theyre trying to work towards here," Wright said. "Not necessarily sitting back and playing for a three-run homer, its going to come, but grinding out at-bats, getting on base, trying to steal some bases. "Its a more athletic lineup than weve had the last couple of years and theyre going to put some pressure on and score runs other than big home runs." Wright likened Francisco Lindor to Beltran, who hit .266 with 16 home runs and 78 RBIs in his first season after signing a $119 million contract with the Mets in 2005. Once he got comfortable, Beltran exploded for 41 home runs and 116 in 2006 and 33 home runs and 112 RBIs in 2007. Lindor is coming off a career low .230 batting average after signing a 10-year, $341 million contract last offseason. "Yeah, its a real thing when you have the expectations of being the savior of this organization and you get off to a slow start and you start pressing," Wright said. "I think that is a real thing. Im expecting a big bounce-back year, just like Carlos did. He has some of the most monstrous offensive seasons in Mets history. Story continues "I look for something similar for Lindor now that he knows the expectations. A lot of it is probably the expectations he puts on himself." Mets third baseman David Wright throws to first for the out against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 23, 2016, in Atlanta. It might be one of the few times Mets fans see Wright around the team this season. He had planned to attend the Tom Seaver statue's unveiling until the lockout pushed it back. And he laughed and said he doesn't consider himself "old" when the idea of Old Timers' Day was brought up. Finding the fifth Taijuan Walker continued ramping up to try and grab a spot in the back half of the Mets rotation on Thursday. After tossing two scoreless innings in his first spring start on March 26, Walker worked 3 innings, struck out two and surrendered three hits in his second outing. "The goal is to be about five (innings), 75 (pitches) for my first start of the regular season," Walker said. "I might be a little bit ahead of that now. But well see how I feel by the end." Walker, who has not given up a run so far this spring, is coming back from a minor procedure on his knee in the offseason. I couldnt work out my lower half for a month and half," Walker said. "Once I got in camp, I knew getting with our trainers and our strength coaches, I knew we had a good program last year, so it was just carrying that over to spring. They know what I need to get ready, so we were able to hammer that and weve just been crushing it." 'This has been my dream': Meet Andrew Tredinnick, our new Mets columnist Who's on first? Buck Showalter wants to make sure that the Mets are prepared for all situations. So Robinson Cano found himself manning the "other hot corner" at first base for the first time since 2018 during Thursday's game against the Nationals. He played there 14 times for the Mariners that season. "He looked comfortable over there, and he's done it before," Showalter said. "It's good to get that under his belt." The Mets manager has tinkered with other positions over the course of spring training as well, giving Eduardo Escobar reps at second base on Wednesday and shifting Mark Canha around in the outfield, as well. Starling Marte is expected to shift from his natural position at center field to right this season. Andrew Tredinnick is the Mets beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Mets analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app. Email: atredinnick@gannett.com Twitter: @andrew_tred This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets spring training: David Wright excited for 2022 A former Pennsylvania coal company vice president from Knoxville was arrested on seven charges of money laundering, wire fraud and foreign bribery on March 31. Charles Hunter Hobson, 46, was responsible for his company's business relationship with a state-owned coal power company in Egypt, Al Nasr Company for Coke and Chemical, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. If found guilty, Hobson may face up to 20 years in prison for each count of money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. He may also face up to five years for each count of bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. His charges include two counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is also charged with one count of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and conspiracy to violate the FCPA. In other news: See how the Knoxville riverfront is changing near downtown More: Furrow Automotive invests $17 million into a new West Knoxville campus During part of his time as vice president from 2016 to early 2020, Hobson and other employees of his company allegedly obtained coal contracts at about $143 million by bribing officials with Al Nasr, according to the news release. According to the news release, the process involved Hobson and employees at his company paying a sales intermediary who would pass the bribes to officials with Al Nasr. It is also alleged that Hobson may have conspired to take a cut of the money paid to the sales intermediary as a kickback. The "corrupt commission payments" were transferred from a bank account in the U.S. to the United Arab Emirates. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville former coal VP arrested on bribery and money laundering A former Columbus police narcotics detective admitted Friday to conspiring to trafficking cocaine and fentanyl and will surrender more than $500,000 that he made through his illegal dealings. John Kotchkoski, 33, of Marengo, Morrow County, entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Columbus to a single count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to a potential life sentence. Kotchkoski and another former Columbus police narcotics detective, Marco Merino, 44, were arrested in August after they had attempted to sell eight kilograms of fentanyl to an undercover FBI agent they thought was a confidential informant. Merino pleads guilty: Former Columbus police officer pleads guilty to trafficking more than 8 kilos of fentanyl Merino plead guilty in March to charges that he accepted bribes and conspiring to distribute fentanyl as part of a plea agreement. Kotchkoski entered a similar plea agreement on Friday. As part of that agreement, Kotchkoski will surrender a 2016 Cadillac Escalade, a 2021 Chevy Corvette, more than $500,000 in cash and 21 firearms, as well as various firearms accessories and ammunition. All of the property and money being seized were the proceeds of the drug transactions, according to court records. Court records say the $500,000 and property are a "conservative estimate" of Kotchkoski's illegal profits. Columbus cops behind bars:Two arrested for drug trafficking are among at least 12 Columbus cops to face criminal charges since 2019 How the sting went down: How an FBI sting led to arrests of two Columbus cops for drug trafficking: a timeline Kotchkoski admitted to providing 40 kilograms of cocaine to a confidential informant between June and September of 2021 and keeping the majority of the proceeds of those sales, according to court records. Kotchkoski also asked the same confidential informant to sell 10 kilograms of fentanyl, but the informant declined, court records said. That fentanyl was then given to Merino, who arranged with the undercover FBI agent he believed to be an informant to distribute those drugs. Story continues Attorney for Columbus cop speaks: 'He's innocent, he did nothing wrong' Kotchkoski and Merino, who graduated from the Columbus police academy together, also worked together to protect what they believed were transports of cocaine on multiple occasions, according to court records. Following Merino's arrest, he placed a controlled call to Kotchkoski, during which court records state Kotchkoski told Merino that Merino's wife and children would be killed if Merino spoke to law enforcement. Kotchkoski was fired from Columbus police following his arrest. Both Merino and Kotchkoski remain in custody and will be sentenced at a later date. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former Columbus cop to surrender $500K after admitting to dealing drugs Police arrested a man they believe severely beat and stabbed a man behind a loading dock in north Fort Collins. Security guards found the man, covered in blood from being beaten and stabbed, behind the loading dock in the 1600 block of North College Avenue about 4 a.m. March 6, according to a news release from Fort Collins police. Police and medical crews arrived on scene shortly after, and the man identified by police as someone experiencing homelessness was transported to the hospital where he is still recovering, according to the release. Through interviews with people in the surrounding area, police got a description of a man who had been arguing with the victim earlier that night. According to the release, investigators also found items they believe show the victim visited nearby businesses prior to being attacked. We asked a climatologist: What's behind Colorado's recent rash of wildfires, grassfires? Investigators also looked at security footage and followed up with others in the homeless community and with local homeless services providers. Investigators identified 21-year-old Andrew Fischer as a person of interest in the case in late March and, after completing an interview with him, arrested him on charges of attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault on March 26, according to court records. Fischer remains in the Larimer County Jail on $300,000 bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court April 5. Anyone with information about this incident can contact Fort Collins police Detective Justin Butler at 970-221-6340. Arrests: Fort Collins police arrest Aurora man in connection with multiday crime spree in 2020 All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime. Sady Swanson covers public safety, criminal justice, Larimer County government and more throughout Northern Colorado. You can send your story ideas to her at sswanson@coloradoan.com or on Twitter at @sadyswan. Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins police arrest suspect in beating, stabbing of homeless man They may be young, but a group of Georgia students are already making a huge impact in their community and helping other kids almost 6,000 miles away. First graders at Upson-Lee Primary School in Thomaston raised thousands for a charity that helps children in Ukraine. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Crista Stubbs started teaching her students about what is happening in Ukraine after overhearing conversations between her students. They were worrying about things they didnt necessarily need to worry about, Stubbs told Channel 2s Heather Catlin. Their lesson turned into action when the students decided to set out a donation jar in a school hallway to raise money for Ukrainian children. Their original goal was $2,000. The jar quickly filled up. We met that in 24 hours, Stubbs said. TRENDING STORIES: Every day, the students would count the money. After nine days, the total went up to $4,300. Stubbs posted Thursday night that the final total ended up being $4,500. The class donated all the money raised in Thomaston to the nonprofit International Justice Mission, which helps protect children. Stubbs told Catlin that the project reached far beyond their classroom to other classrooms and people in the community who have graciously. She said it was great lesson to her kids but also a way for to them to see we are all in this together. Probably the best lesson they learned is that they can be the helpers in the world and one act of kindness will spread like wildfire, Stubbs said. And Im proud they can count coins. BERLIN (AP) German prosecutors say they have charged a former German military reserve officer with spying for a Russian intelligence service for several years. Federal prosecutors said Friday that the indictment against the suspect, identified only as Ralph G. in line with German privacy rules, was filed March 16 at the state court in Duesseldorf. They said that, in addition to his position in the German military, the suspect was a member of several German business committees thanks to his civilian job. They didn't elaborate. The suspect allegedly was in contact with Russian intelligence via various people by October 2014 and passed on information connected to his military and business activities until March 2020. Prosecutors said that included information on the German Bundeswehr's reserves and on civilian-military cooperation, as well as insights on the effect of sanctions imposed against Russia in 2014 on Germany, the European Union, and on the now-suspended Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. The suspect also allegedly provided his handlers with private contact details for high-ranking military and business officials. He also provided an overview of the security and defense policy of the U.S. and its Western allies, according to prosecutors. In return for his efforts, he received invitations to Russian official events, they said. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany has indicted a former officer in its reserve force on charges of spying for Russia, the Federal Public Prosecutor (GBA) said on Friday, in a case that may worsen relations strained by tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As a deputy commander of a squad, Ralph G., whose family name cannot be fully disclosed under privacy laws, provided Russian agents with "numerous documents and information" about the German army from October 2014 until March 2020, German prosecutor Ines Peterson said in a statement. Strains between Russia and the NATO military alliance have risen to levels unseen since the Cold War after the West imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. The prosecutor did not say if or how the suspect had pleaded. Nor did the prosecutor provide information about his lawyers or trial, saying only that the indictment was filed on March 16 at the Higher Regional Court in the western city of Duesseldorf. The GBA also accuses the suspect, who was a member of a number of economic committees, of supplying Russian agents with information about the impact on German companies of EU sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. He also provided information about Nord Stream 2, the pipeline owned by Russian gas giant Gazprom and which Germany halted in February after Russia formally recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine shortly before it invaded its neighbour, the prosecutor said. Peterson declined to say if and when the suspect was stripped of his rank or whether he had been expelled from the military reserve. Several European Union countries including Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland this week expelled dozens of Russian diplomats, some for alleged spying. Russia vowed to retaliate. Peterson said Ralph G. had given Russian agents information about Germany's reserve force and civil defence. Through him, Russia's secret service also obtained personal and contact details of high-ranking officers in the military and prominent corporate managers, the prosecutor said. The suspect is also accused of helping his Russian handlers understand U.S. defence policies with its partners in the NATO military alliance, the prosecutor said. (Reporting by Joseph Nasr, Editing by William Maclean) The US House Oversight Committee has opened an investigation into shipping giant Amazon's practices during extreme weather events. The probe was launched largely as a response to the company's handling of employee safety during a swarm of tornadoes last year that left six workers dead. The committee sent a letter to Amazon Chief Executive Andy Jassy on Thursday asking Amazon to provide policies detailing emergency preparation and any relating to the tornadoes that destroyed an Amazon facility and killed workers in Edwardsville, Illinois, in December. "The Committee seeks to fully understand the events that led to the tragedy at Amazon's Edwardsville facility," the committee wrote. The letter was signed by Democratic Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Cori Bush. "We are concerned by recent reports that Amazon may be putting the health and safety of its workers at risk, including by requiring them to work in dangerous conditions during tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme weather," the lawmakers wrote. As one of our countrys largest and most profitable corporations, it is imperative that Amazon protect workers safety and refrain from practices that could put them in danger. Questions over Amazon's extreme weather preparedness and leave policies arose after the tornadoes hit the Edwardsville facility. NBC News reports that at least five workers reached out to journalists claiming their superiors has warned them they would be fired if they left their shifts early to find shelter. The family of one of the victims who died at the facility has launched a wrongful death lawsuit against Amazon since the incident. "We also seek information about Amazons workplace policies or practices that may have prevented the workers from seeking safe shelter, as well as Amazons actions in responding to other severe weather incidents and natural disasters," the letter said. Story continues Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement that "our focus continues to be on supporting our employees and partners, the families who lost loved ones, the surrounding community, and all those affected by the tornadoes. We will respond to this letter in due course." The lawmakers will also examine claims of disciplinary action taken by the company against workers or contractors at facilities where employees were required to remain on the job during the wildfires in California in 2018, extreme heat events in the Pacific Northwest, and flooding during Hurricanes Irma and Ida in 2017 and 2021, respectively. The blowback against Amazon by concerned workers came to a head on Friday, when workers at a Staten Island facility voted to form a union, the first ever to be established within the company. Employees voted 2,654 for the union and 2,131 against. The victory has been hailed by labour analysts as one of the most significant labour victories in decades. Pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A lawyer for Russian troops fired for refusing to go to Ukraine said 1,000 others had contacted him. "A lot of people don't want to go and fight," Mikhail Benyash told the Financial Times. Multiple reports have described low morale among Russia's troops. A lawyer representing a group of Russian national guardsmen refusing to join the invasion of Ukraine said hundreds of other soldiers and guardsmen had been in touch with him looking for help avoiding the war. Mikhail Benyash told the Financial Times that "a lot of people don't want to go and fight" and that about 1,000 people had been in touch with him since his case representing the guardsmen was made public. He said he represented 12 national guardsmen who were fired for refusing to go to Ukraine. They were members of Rosgvardia, which is a force separate from the military. They said this meant they shouldn't be sent to Ukraine, the FT reported. The men said they thought that they would be doing something illegal if they went abroad as part of an armed group, Reuters reported. They also said they did not have passports, Reuters reported. They filed a wrongful-dismissal suit against the government, Reuters and the FT reported. Benyash said just three of those 12 guardsmen proceeded with the lawsuit, Reuters and the FT reported. The other nine withdrew their claims because they were threatened, Benyash said, according to the FT. The reports came as Ukrainian and Western officials described flagging morale among Russian troops. On Thursday, the head of the UK's GCHQ intelligence service said Russian soldiers were "refusing to carry out orders, sabotaging their own equipment, and even accidentally shooting down their own aircraft." Read the original article on Business Insider Members of the U.S. Marine Corp Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines carry the body of Gunnery Sergeant James Speedy from the hearse into the Thorn-Black Funeral home in Cambridge on Friday. Hundreds turned out to pay their respects as a procession for Gunnery Sgt. James Speedy, one of four Marines killed in a training accident in Norway, made its way into Cambridge Friday afternoon. Speedy returned home with an escort from the Zanesville Municipal Airport by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Guernsey County Sherriff's Office (GSO), The Cambridge Police Department, The Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group, and his family. Residents waved flags and red, white and blue bows lined the sidewalks and hung from posts. In honor of Speedy, Gov. Mike DeWine ordered American and state flags on all public buildings and grounds throughout Guernsey County be flown at half-staff until sunset on April 9, the day he will be laid to rest. Melissa West waits for the procession for Sgt. Speedy to make its way to the Thorn-Black Funeral Home. Crowds lined Wheeling Avenue, waving flags and showing their respect for the fallen soldier. The Cambridge native was one of four Marines who died when their Osprey aircraft crashed March 18 during a NATO exercise. Officials in Norway said the MV-22B Osprey crashed in Graetaedalen in Beiarn, south of Bodoe. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but Norwegian police reported bad weather in the area. He was 30 years old. Michael St.Clair, an Army National Guard, distributed small flags to those who came out to welcome Speedy home. Bill and Shirley Bertram came from Harrison County to pay their respects. The casket bearing Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. James Speedy arrived at Zanesville Municipal Airport on Friday. Speedy was killed during a training exercise in Norway last month. "We just want to support the family and give our condolences," said Shirley. Austin Netting of Cambridge and Chris Kandibovich of Columbus decorated their truck with four large and several small flags. Kandibovich went to high school with Speedy and Netting attended school with his younger brother, Charles. "For a guy to sacrifice his life, it's the least I can do on this day to show him respect," Netting said. "I'm really here to support the troops and show my respect," Kandibovich added. Kandibovich described Speedy as an outgoing person in high school, who always brought a smile to everyone. The Cambridge Fire Department displayed a large flag from a ladder truck near the Thorn-Black Funeral Home, where services for Speedy are expected to take place next week. Story continues Speedy received several decorations for his service, including the Navy and Marine Achievement Medal with two gold stars, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, according to the Marine Corps. The four Marines killed in the crash were assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. The others were Capt. Matthew J. Tomkiewicz, 27, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Capt. Ross A. Reynolds, 27, of Leominster, Massachusetts, and Cpl. Jacob M. Moore, 24, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky. This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Cambridge residents honor fallen Marine Gunnery Sgt. James Speedy VIENNA (Reuters) - U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi will lead a mission to Chernobyl as soon as possible, he said on Friday, after Ukraine said Russian troops had left the radioactive waste facilities there though some remained nearby. "I will head an (IAEA) assistance and support mission to (Chernobyl) as soon as possible. It will be the first in a series of such nuclear safety and security missions to #Ukraine," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Grossi said on Twitter https://twitter.com/rafaelmgrossi/status/1509832578408329217?s=20&t=KyoWVyDhK18kJv-mwCYEkQ. He is due to hold a news conference at 1230 GMT. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) Apr. 1CHIPPEWA FALLS An Illinois man accused of sexually touching a girl in the town of Lafayette in 2012 has been found not guilty on all counts. William G. Carter, 54, of Smithfield, Ill., was charged in Chippewa County Court with two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child. However, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on both charges after deliberating about two hours Wednesday. According to the criminal complaint, the girl told a school counselor in 2016 that Carter lived with her and her mom in the town of Lafayette several years ago, and he sexually touched her over and under her clothing on two separate occasions. Her mother told police Carter lived with them between March and October 2012, when she was 10 years old. During closing arguments Wednesday, defense attorney Matthew Krische said the state has to provide evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that convinces the jury that an assault occurred. "This case is about an intentional touching, which didn't happen," Krische told the jury. Krische also said the girl's mother has encouraged her to lie about Carter's behavior in the past, and the girl has had two criminal offenses as a minor. "This does come down to credibility," Krische said. Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell told the jury that Carter had no reasonable purpose of touching the girl under her clothes. "It was for sexual arrousal or gratification," he said. "It wasn't for any medical reason." Both Carter and the accuser testified during the trial. Newell told the jury to look at what each of them would have to gain by telling the truth or lying, adding that the girl has no reason to lie. "You need to search for the truth," Newell said. "You look at what makes sense to you." Newell said it makes no sense for the girl to suddenly accuse Carter of sexual assault, four years after she last saw him, then another five years for it to go through the court system. JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob witnessed on Friday the signing of an agreement to improve protection for domestic migrant workers following a meeting between the leaders in Jakarta. The memorandum of understanding between the Southeast Asian neighbours follows concerns about migrant worker safety after several incidents involving the abuse of Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysian households. "This MoU will ensure that every process and protection mechanism...will be done comprehensively by all relevant parties, in accordance with the laws of the two countries," the Malaysian leader said after the agreement was signed at the state palace. The MoU aims to put in place a system designed to match Indonesian domestic workers with suitable employers, part of initiatives which also include applications designed to strengthen wage protection and complaint mechanisms. Malaysia's labour-starved palm oil industry has for months awaited the signing of a domestic worker agreement, which is expected to pave the way for the hiring of plantation workers. With hundreds of thousands of Indonesians employed in Malaysia, many in the palm oil and construction sectors, President Widodo said he hoped the scope of the agreement could soon be expanded. "Indonesian migrant workers have contributed a lot to economic development in Malaysia. It's only right they get rights and protection," he said. "I hope that similar partnerships can be extended to other sectors such as farming, manufacturing and services." The new measures also follow several deadly incidents at sea in recent months, where more than 18 people have died attempting to illegally cross into Malaysia on overloaded boats that have capsized. According to rights group Migrant CARE, between 100,000 and 200,000 Indonesians travel illegally to Malaysia each year for work, many of them recruited by trafficking gangs. (Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Additional Reporting by Mei Mei Chu in Kuala Lumpur; Writing by Kate Lamb; Editing by Ed Davies) Oxford Men during a training session on the River Thames (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire) Australian Jack Robertson is eager to make positive headlines for his country when he represents Oxford in Sundays Boat Race in London. The historic event will return to its usual River Thames home after the 2021 edition took place at Elys River Great Ouse without spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will be the 167th mens and 76th womens Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford this weekend with Robertson, who is studying a masters in sociology, proud to continue a long tradition of his countrymen by competing in the annual university race. Robertson is well aware of the history behind this event and insisted his boat will be ready for any challenge during the 4.2-mile course between Putney and Mortlake in a nod to when compatriot Trenton Oldfield staged a lone protest near Chiswick Pier that produced a 30-minute delay in 2012. We certainly do our research and we know every few years something extremely unusual happens like that, Robertson told the PA news agency. We have prepared for all these kinds of scenarios. We have watched pretty much every race back to the 70s so we are well versed in what can go wrong on boat race day from restarts, sinking, all these crazy things including a swimming protestor. Story continues All this kind of stuff, anything that is an external factor, will be worked with on the day because we look forward to any challenges that may be presented. Robertson is one of two rowers from his country involved in this years race with Annie Anezakis in the Oxford womens crew. He said: Everyone in the rowing community in Australia is aware of the Boat Race and every couple of years we have someone in it. Trenton Oldfield after he temporarily halted the 158th Boat Race (Anthony Devlin/PA) (PA Archive) Sam Hookway won it in 2019 with Cambridge and Aussies pretty regularly appear and it is something certainly the younger rowers in Australia aspire to go on and do one day. The challenge facing Robertson in what is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will be to help Oxford end a run of three consecutive defeats. A return to more familiar surroundings after Cambridges home advantage of Ely last April could help and the dark blues also weigh 35.6 kilograms more than their rivals. In the greater rowing community, not just Cambridge and Oxford, there is definitely a building sense of excitement that it is back at Tideway and back at this historic course, Robertson added. I think because there is so much history it might carry a bit more meaning than last years race too. In the greater rowing community, not just Cambridge and Oxford, there is definitely a building sense of excitement that it is back at Tideway and back at this historic course Oxford rower Jack Robertson For someone that is new this year and looking at the historical results, that is kind of the way it goes. You have these ebbs and flows of each club winning but the pendulum swings every few years. It is not unusual for a club to have three, four or five wins in a row but we know the pendulum will swing for us this year and we are here to change the trend that has happened for the last three races by doing everything we can. Before Sundays race Robertson has received advice from Olympic medallist Jake Wetzel, who helped Oxford win the 2006 Boat Race. Similarities between the pair are easy to draw after they both studied at The University of California in Berkeley during the infancy of their rowing careers. Robertson revealed: I actually met Jake a few years ago when I was a bit younger and he also went to where I went for my undergraduate course in the US at California, Berkeley so I have very much followed in his footsteps. Of course I hope to emulate his achievements and I have actually been talking to him over the last few days. He has had some good words of wisdom that have been really useful in terms of handling the pressure and rising to the occasion. A deputy accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a Georgia inmate is out of a job and facing criminal charges, officials said. Austin Cole Sluder, 27, landed behind bars after state officials reportedly investigated allegations of sexual assault against him. Now, Sluder is facing charges of violation of oath of office by a public officer and improper sexual contact, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Officials in a March 29 news release didnt list attorney information for him. The Douglas County Sheriffs Office said in a news release Sluder was hired in May and finished training in September. He then worked in the Atlanta-area departments jail division. After he was sworn in as a deputy, the sheriffs office said an inmate alleged that Sluder took nude pictures of her in July. The case was transferred to the Office of Professional Standards. The complaint was investigated and although the investigation concluded that Sluder took his cell phone into the cell block, OPS could not determine with certainty that Sluder used it to photograph the female inmate, officials said. Sluder was temporarily dismissed from the force in October before another inmate reported that Sluder forced her to perform oral sex on him while she was in custody. Those allegations were sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In an email to McClatchy News, the state agency said Sluder was fired from the sheriffs office. Sluder, a Douglasville resident, was also arrested and taken to the Douglas County jail. In Georgia, people can be accused of improper sexual contact if they have encounters with inmates, students or patients at their workplaces, according to a RAINN document updated in March 2020. As long as you follow the law and my policy I will back you 110%; however, if you step outside the law or the policy you are on your own, Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds said in his departments release. If you violate the law, you, like everyone else will have to suffer the consequences of your actions. Story continues The sheriffs office didnt immediately respond to McClatchy News request for additional information on April 1. As of March 29, state officials said the investigation was ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call them at 770-388-5019 or share anonymous tips at 800-597-8477, gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online or on the See Something, Send Something smartphone app. If you have experienced sexual assault and need someone to talk to, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673 or visit the hotline's online chatroom. Officer resigns from Georgia job after hes accused of having sex in uniform on TikTok Cheer coach accused of sexually abusing teens dating back to 2013, Florida police say By Yuka Obayashi and Noah Browning TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S.-allied countries on Friday agreed to their second coordinated oil release in a month to calm markets roiled by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the International Energy Agency said on Friday, without specifying volumes. The silence on the size of the agreed release left crude prices largely unmoved, with benchmark Brent trading near $104 a barrel, underscoring supply concerns as releases from finite supplies struggle to make up for a loss of 3 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil estimated by the IEA. The announcement showed IEA member states' "strong and unified commitment to stabilizing global energy markets," the Paris-based group of 31 industrialised nations but not Russia said in a statement following an emergency meeting. "Details of the new emergency stock release will be made public early next week," the IEA said, a day after the United States pledged its biggest oil release ever. IEA member countries did not agree on volumes or the commitments of each country. "In light of the current situation ... the participants in the IEA meeting agreed on the additional release itself, but they could not agree on the total volume and the allocation of each country," Hidechika Koizumi, director of the international affairs division at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry told reporters. IEA last presided over the largest coordinated oil release in its history on March 1 of nearly 62 million barrels, about half of which was contributed by the United States. European countries, heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas supplies as inflation hits multi-decade highs, committed to providing around a quarter of that release. To fill a shortfall caused by sanctions and buyer aversion to Russian oil, President Joe Biden on Thursday authorised a release from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve of 1 million barrels per day of crude for six months starting in May, the equivalent of a total of 180 million barrels. Story continues Soaring gasoline prices and inflation have drawn strong domestic political criticism of the White House ahead of mid-term elections in November. Biden said U.S. allies and partners could release an additional 30 million to 50 million barrels. A Reuters analysis of IEA data showed government-controlled oil stocks among members states was at its lowest since 2005 even before the March 1 release, while U.S. SPR levels have dropped to their lowest since 2002, government data showed. [L5N2VW20G] (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo and Noah Browning in London; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Grant McCool) Apr. 1Let's handle our business. First, let's follow the rules. Here's Paschall's prose on a UT newcomer making waves at spring practice. As for the Rushmores: Rushmore of TV teachers: Mr. Kotter, Coach Eric Taylor, Mrs. Krabappel and Walter White. Rushmore of most arrogant fan bases: Yankees fans, Alabama fans, Boston fans in general, Cowboys fans, and yes, I'm pretty surprised that the hoops legions from UK and Duke missed the top four. Rushmore of basketball movies: "Hoosiers," "Hoop Dreams," "Space Jam" (with MJ, not LeBron), and "White Men Can't Jump." (And while that Rushmore is pretty weak compared to the other genres of sports, the Rushmore of bad hoops movies "Air Bud," "Juwana Mann," "Eddie" and the one with Kevin Bacon recruiting an African center is down right horrid.) Rushmore of Vince Vaughn vehicles: "Wedding Crashers," "Old School," "Dodgeball," and "Swingers," as Vader noted, is Vaughn's impenetrable top four. And a pretty dagnabbin' strong Rushmore to be honest. And for those keeping up, here are the tie-breaker entries for the NCAA tournament contest around these parts: Chris B has 370, Doug D has 408 and Joey T took 415. Good luck guys. To the 'bag. From UTC Mocs Question a movie is being made about you. 1) Who would you want to play you? 2) Then being honest, who should play you to get the most accurate depiction? UTC Mocs I am troubled by how much thought I put into this one, to be honest. And yes, the immediate thought everyone had is that Brad Pitt should play me, but I'm sure his schedule is full. Ed Helms, Vader's nomination, is a thought. Others noted the large melon required and the certain 'smart' aspects that would be needed. To be honest, I thought about Philip Seymour Hoffman first the Lester Bangs PSH from "Almost Famous" more than say, the Scottie from "Boogie Nights" PSH but as good an actor as he was, he's dead, which certainly makes him unavailable. Story continues And there is the physical casting that must be addressed, because at 6-foot-4-inch, 230(plus) pounds, neither Cruise nor Stallone nor the vast majority of the 5-foot-7-inch minions circling LaLa Land will cut it. So my final couple of picks would be either Conan O'Brien (if he could put on a couple of hundred pounds) or maybe Daniel Stern. Thoughts? From DougDyer11 Question for you Jay How do you think Hendon Hooker feels about U. of Tenn High School junior commit Niko the $8 million dollar deal guy? Normal human reaction would be "what about me?" My guess is he probably is a little more than jealous, ticked-off, resentful. And this leads to a bigger question on the unintended consequences of the NIL. What if on the Heupel-Hype train, that all this enthusiasm is highly dependent on Hooker leading this team, that on say Aug. 31 Hooker just says "Hey, I would like $8 million. I know you have it. You just gave it to a guy who won't play a down for two years" and "If you don't, I'm going to hold out." It may not be Hooker specifically doing this but as a comedian once said "Somewhere, some guy." And in this scenario, Tenn would almost be forced to acquiesce and find the money, or else see the season implode. And some people will say, well if a college player "holds out" for money it would ruin his chances in the NFL, make him look like a prima donna, etc. However, we know that is SOP for NFL players. I really could see this type of situation playing out in Power 5 NIL world. I know Hooker is reportedly going to get around a $1 million NIL deal, but that aint $8 million. DD Such a fantastic question and like so many of the aspects and avenues of the NIL quagmire, it has been left completely unaddressed by the NCAA. That said, I am certain that the coaches within the programs have discussed this and addressed this multiple times. Heck, it was one of the earliest concerns for the big-time bosses like Lord Saban and Kirby. The dissension that a money divide could create is massive. As for holding out and affecting NFL views, didn't just a few years ago we all think players skipping bowl games to get ready for the draft would be viewed as "Me over Team" and hurt players in the eyes of the scouts? Now, that's standard operating procedure too. Two of the most interesting parts of this story and the reports of the $8 million for the five-star kid reportedly to be the UT kid who will forever be called Nico the way Tua is called Tua and Giannis is called Giannis for me are the limitations in terms of transferring in this deal and the potential future funding this deal could provide. If what The Athletic reported is true, whoever this five-star is gets cut off if a) he discusses the inner-workings of the deal which violates the confidentiality of the deal and b) if he enters the portal. That's heavy incentive to sign and to stay. As for future funding, the deal from the story gives the five-star player the $8 million in increments over the first three-plus years of his college football career. But if this five-star turns out to be Peyton Manning, how much could Peyton's reps and agents have made during his three years in Knoxville? Heck, he would have made probably $5 million in jersey sales alone. So if this kid is Nico and the deal was done through the UT group that vowed to raise $25 million a year to help recruit star-studded talent to Knoxville, that money generated goes back into the coffers and the cycle would only grow. The Hendon Hooker question is an interesting one and specific, and impossible to answer without his direct words. It also is one of the reasons that teams are so happy to get those universal deals that pay every scholarship football player the same sum. And didn't a Georgia QB last year split his with his linemen and teammates? That's a savvy move too. The hypothetical scenario that I'm waiting for and maybe the NIL will delay this one for a while because the stars are now getting some coin is what happens if the Duke or UNC roster decides not to take the floor during the Final Four because they want $200,000 apiece for the 20-plus million folks are turning in to watch Coach K's finale? From Pat Thoughts on Kaepernick as honorary captain for the Michigan spring game? Pat To be honest, none until you asked me about it. Whatever. And this has to be one of two things: Either this is huge Nike deal Michigan is one of the biggest Nike partners not named UNC or Oregon and the university and Coach Khaki are happy to oblige. Or one of the whitest coaches in the country his nickname is Coach Khaki, people is trying to improve his street cred on the recruiting trail. Either way, "Orange whip, orange whip, three orange whips." Simply put I don't quote "The Blues Brothers" enough, and I could see someone asking Jim Harbaugh what kind of music he likes and e says, "Both kinds country and western." From a few of you Jay, please tell me you're going to have a Masters contest? Gang Rest easy. Of course, we will have the "Masterfully Mastering the Masters, Masters degree not required" contest. If memory serves it's the oldest of all our contests. Good times. We'll start taking entries next week, but the rules are the same as always. Send me five golfers, top four count, and for the place each player finishes, you get that many points. Low score wins. A perfect entry would be 7 the winner which would 1 point, and three players tying for second, which would be 2 each and good luck with that. As for my Tiger hopes, well, here's hoping he's on a mission from God. Have a great weekend friends. The comedian said his sexuality has put a strain on his relationship with his mother Actor/comedian Jerrod Carmichael came out of the closet during a stand-up show in February that was taped as part of an upcoming HBO special. As reported by TheWrap, the performance went down at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City, where Carmichael confessed to the crowd that keeping his sexuality secret for so long had deeply affected his personal life. In his new HBO comedy special titled Rothaniel, Carmichael officially comes out as gay, unpacking a few memorable life moments that led up to his coming out specifically, when he caught his father cheating on his mother and his father confessed to being an adulterer. Jerrod Carmichael at the 5th annual Power of Comedy on Dec. 11, 2014, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Variety) Once that was done, I was left alone feeling like a liar, because I had a secret, Carmichael said. One that I had kept from my mother and my father, my family, my friends, and you, all of you. Professionally, personally. And the secret is that Im gay. Carmichael continued, I never thought Id come out. I didnt think Id ever, ever, ever come out. Probably at many points, I thought Id rather die than confront the truth of that, to actually say it to people. Because I know it changes peoples some people it changes their perception of me. I cant control that. From there, the North Carolina native said he was raised to be a man whatever that means, before joking, They dont expect gay babies. You dont see old ladies looking at a toddler, being like, Oh, look at his cheeks. I bet hes gonna be a top. Get that baby some PrEP now.' Carmichael said coming out strained his relationship with his mother, Cynthia. I remember on the call, last time I talked about being gay with my mom, she said, I cant go against Jesus, he said. And I get it. Shes doing the best she canI think shes trying to accept it. Part of me knows shes at home trying to pray the gay away. In his 2019 HBO special Home Videos, Carmichael recalled a conversation he had with his mother when he revealed, Ive hooked up with dudes before, and she replied, Well, OK, thats your option. I like men. Story continues In the teaser for his new special, Carmichaels voiceover says, Ive been trying to be very honest because my whole life was shrouded in secrets and figured the only route I havent tried was the truth. Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel premieres on HBO April 1 at 9 p.m. Carmichael will make his Saturday Night Live hosting debut on April 2 with musical guest Gunna. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Jerrod Carmichael comes out as gay in new stand-up special appeared first on TheGrio. The Daily Beast Chingis Kondarov/ReutersChechen troops in Ukraine loyal to Ramzan Kadyrov have claimed a reputation for being the most brutal in Putins war, but a new report says theyre actually suffering major losses and going to great lengths to cover them up.According to an investigation by Russias independent news outlet IStories, the official figure of 13 Chechen soldiers killed in Ukraine is a major undercount; a source in the Chechen Health Ministry tells the outlet the true death toll of the so-calle ST. JOHNS A jury acquitted a St. Johns counselor Thursday of all charges of sexual assault after a nearly two week-long trial. Kimberly Feldpausch, a long-time counselor at St. Johns Middle School, was charged in June 2020 with six counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Prosecutors said she sexually assaulted a student during the 2001-02 school year, but the jury determined prosecutors did not provide enough evidence to prove their case. Feldpausch and her family all burst into tears when the verdict was read on Thursday afternoon, said Mary Chartier, Feldpausch's attorney. "Were thrilled with the verdict," Chartier wrote in an email. "The jury was attentive throughout the trial, and the jurors took the oath they took extremely seriously. Jurors breathe life into the Constitution, and this jurys commitment to constitutional principles is to be applauded." Feldpausch retired from St. Johns Middle School two years ago, after she was charged, Chartier said. She is still processing what she's gone through in the past two years and "likely will for some time to come," Chartier wrote. Clinton County Prosecutor Tony Spagnuolo did not respond for comment Friday morning. The student, who is now in his 30s, told the jury Feldpausch raped him 50 to 100 times in her office. But another one of Feldpausch's attorneys, Takura Nyamfukudza, said during opening statements that no one ever heard anything, despite thin walls and close neighbors. Feldpausch has been adamant she did not have sex with the boy, Nyamfukudza said. While they did spend a lot of time together, Nyamfukudza said, Feldpausch was concerned about the boy's mental health. He was mentally ill and suicidal and was known to cut his wrists, bang his head against walls and lockers at school and lie about adults. Feldpausch kept in close contact with the boy's parents at the time, keeping them updated on the time he spent in her office and what classes he was missing, Nyamfukudza said. She repeatedly told the boy to trust his parents and other mental health professionals. Contact reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Jury finds St. Johns counselor not guilty in sexual assault of student A 54-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison for fatally shooting 38-year-old Charles Blakey while they were driving through the Ingleside neighborhood on Kansas Citys East Side last year. Curtis Harris, of Kansas City, was ordered by Judge Charles H. McKenzie to spend seven years in prison for the involuntary manslaughter. Harris was also given five years on a count of armed criminal action to be served concurrently with that sentence. He pleaded guilty to both felonies. According to court records, Blakey was found dead by homicide detectives in a crashed car in the 2800 block of Indiana Avenue on Jan. 26, 2021. He had been shot in the face. The next day, Harris walked into the East Patrol police station and asked to speak with detectives. During an interview with police, he admitted killing Blakey, but said he shot him in self-defense. Harris told detectives he and Blakey had purchased marijuana and then struggled over a gun in the car, according to a probable cause statement. During the scuffle, Harris told police that Blakey threatened to kill him. Harris said he fired about six gunshots at Blakey as Blakey was reaching for a rifle. Then the car crashed in the driveway of a house near 28th Street and Indiana Ave. Harris dumped the handgun in a trash can on Independence Avenue, he allegedly told police. Investigators later found boots with apparent blood on them and ammunition at Harris house, according to court records. In his sentencing, Harris received 426 days of credit for time already served in the Jackson County Detention Center. Kate Middleton remained a hands-on mom while on her eight-day royal tour of the Caribbean with husband Prince William. According to People, Kate had been battling jetlag and "was up at dawn sending messages back home organizing Prince George and Princess Charlotte's after-school activities." The United Kingdom is five hours ahead of the Caribbean; so while Kate was beginning her daily activities, her kids were wrapping up their school day. The royal children attend Thomas's Battersea, a private school in London. Princess Charlotte started in September 2019she's now in Year 2and Prince George is currently in Year 4. At school, they are not called "prince" and "princess," rather, they go by George Cambridge and Charlotte Cambridge. Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images While in the Bahamas, Kate spoke about bringing her kids back to visit, saying, "Our three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, all love being by the sea, so I hope they will be able to experience your clear waters and beautiful beaches before too long." The Cambridges have a sweet tradition before Kate and William set off on a trip. "They are always asking us where we are going," Prince William said. "And we show them where we are on the map." While at a reception at Cahal Pech in Belize, Prince William said he's been keeping their eldest, George, in the loop. "We let them know where we are and he finds us on the map and puts a pin in it and shares with the others," he said. While Prince George and Princess Charlotte have joined their parents on royal tours, Prince Louis has yet to travel with them in an official capacity. The littlest Cambridge is only three years old; he currently attends Willcocks Nursery School in Kensington, and will likely follow in his older siblings' path in attending Thomas's Battersea this fall. You Might Also Like A 30-mile police chase with a suspected kidnapper ended with the victim a 5-year-old drowning in a pond off Interstate 95 in Florida, according to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. The identity of the girl has not been released. Investigators say the incident started around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, when someone reported a kidnapping in progress on the north side of Jacksonville, according to Officer Christian Hancock of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. It involved a 5-year-old girl and a woman she knew, and the suspect was armed with a knife at the time of the kidnapping, he said. An officer actually came upon the vehicle at a traffic light, Hancock said. As the officer turned to approach the vehicle from behind, the suspect sped off. ... The pursuit lasted ... approximately 30 miles. ... It was a very long distance, but for obvious reasons, we had to stay behind this vehicle. Speeds reached 90 mph during the pursuit, he said. The crash occurred when the driver attempted to exit Interstate 95 on the south side of Jacksonville and ended up driving straight off of this ramp into a pond, Hancock said. The suspect was apprehended in the water. Unfortunately ... the child was not located at the time, Hancock said, noting the girl exited the vehicle during the crash. The child was unfortunately located at the bottom of the pond. Investigators have not released the identity of the suspect. One officer was hospitalized after the womans arrest, due to issues related from the going into the pond and attempting to pull the suspect out of the lake, Hancock said. No other vehicles were involved in related crashes during the lengthy pursuit, he said. Walker stolen from 7-year-old with disability. This is how Florida community reacted 4-month-old was used as shield by mother during SWAT standoff, Florida cops say Large alligator found in bedroom of newly built Florida home gets promptly evicted A wildfire broke out at King Ranch on Wednesday night and has overtaken 60,000 acres so far. As of Thursday morning, only 20% of the blaze has been contained and volunteer evacuations are underway. No damage to homes has been reported yet, but residents in the area have reported smoke in the air and burnt debris falling from the sky. Here's what we know about King Ranch. Contributed photoRichard Kings original ranch house was built between the Santa Gertrudis and San Fernando creeks in 1857. A raid on this house by Union cavalry brought the reality of war home to Henrietta King. The house, enlarged over the years, burned in 1911. What is the historical significance of King Ranch? Richard King arrived in Texas in 1847 to serve in the Mexican-American War. While transporting merchandise through Texas, King saw the Santa Gertrudis Creek and decided with Texas Ranger and his business partner Captain Gideon K. Lewis to start the ranch there. In 1853, he founded King Ranch with the purchase of the Rincon de Santa Gertrudis land grant. Lewis died in 1855 and Captain James Walworth came on as a silent partner, allowing King virtually full control over the ranch and its operations. King regularly traveled to Mexico to purchase Longhorn cattle and offer jobs on the ranch to Mexican people seeking jobs. Read more: Jay Kleberg of Texas' King Ranch family is running for land commissioner as a Democrat King Ranch produced a racehorse named Assault who won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and the Belmont in 1946, making it a Triple Crown winner. However, it is primarily a cattle ranch. The first drive of cattle to northern markets occurred in 1869. When King died in 1885, his wife Henrietta and her son-in-law Robert Justus Kleberg Jr. continued to manage the ranch. In 1940, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognized the Santa Gertrudis breed as the first beef breed produced in America and the first new breed in 100 years. In 1961, King Ranch was designated as a National Historic Landmark. Since then, King Ranch has grown to become the largest ranch in Texas. Robert Kleberg Sr. and Henrietta King watch the flow of fresh water from the first artesian well drilled on the King Ranch, on June 6, 1899. Acreage and surrounding area of King Ranch King Ranch spans 825,000 acres or 1,289 square miles, meaning its total area is larger than the state of Rhode Island. Presently, King Ranch is home to roughly 35,000 cows and 200 quarter horses. Story continues See photos: Fire spreads through Kingsville The ranch sits between Corpus Christi, Brownsville, and Kingsville. It exists on four separate divisions of land and extends into portions of six Texas counties, with most of the area landing in Kleberg and Kenedy counties. Aside from the Texas acreage, King Ranch also owns and operates farming land in Florida. Grace Griffin is a digital producer for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at ggriffin@gannett.com or on Twitter @GraceMGriffin. This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: What we know about King Ranch, Texas' largest ranch and site of fire (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Friday said it was ready to explain the situation in Ukraine to French actor Gerard Depardieu, who on Thursday criticised what he described as President Vladimir Putin's "crazy, unacceptable excesses" there. Depardieu, who took up Russian nationality in 2013 and has praised Putin in the past, told Agence France-Presse on Thursday: "the Russian people are not responsible for the crazy, unacceptable excesses of their leaders like Vladimir Putin." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Depardieu probably does not completely understand the situation. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Conor Humphries) A homeless person peers out of her tent on Aliso Street in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles has agreed to build potentially thousands of new beds and housing units under the terms of a legal settlement announced Friday, apparently bringing to an end a key portion of a contentious, long-running federal lawsuit over homeless housing and enforcement on skid row and across the city. The proposed agreement between the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights and the city would require opening enough beds over the next five years to accommodate 60% of the city's unsheltered population in each City Council district. City officials say that about 13,300 beds of various kinds are already being planned, including permanent supportive housing through Proposition HHH as well as beds that people can stay in temporarily. As a result, it remains unclear how many new units not already in the pipeline and counted by the city will be required to reach the 60% goal. But city officials estimate that all of this building, including what is already planned, will cost between $2.4 billion and $3 billion over the next several years. The exact number of beds required will depend on the results of January's point-in-time homeless count, which will be released later this spring. Based on the results of the last count in 2020, city officials estimate they would need to have at least 14,000 beds open. L.A. Alliance for Human Rights attorney Elizabeth Mitchell, left, and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, joined by City Council members, announce on Friday a settlement to provide more shelter for homeless people in the city . (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) By agreeing to build potentially thousands more beds for homeless Angelenos, city officials believe it will give them the ability to enforce anti-camping measures more broadly once offers of shelter have been made. The 2020 count found about 41,000 homeless people in the city. About 70% of those people were unsheltered, living outdoors or in cars. Notably, Los Angeles County, which is also a defendant in the case, is not part of the settlement announced Friday. City officials said the county should be responsible for housing and providing services for thousands of the sickest and most vulnerable people living on the street. By seeking to shift responsibility to the county for sheltering this population, as the settlement lays out, the city effectively reduced the number of homeless people it would be responsible for housing. Story continues Since the lawsuit was filed in March 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the case overseen by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter has sprawled in several directions owing partially to Carter's wandering interest and frustration with various facets of the region's homelessness response. The plaintiffs who are a group of mostly downtown residents, business groups and some formerly homeless people alleged that the city and county had failed in their duty to protect public health and safety and to provide shelter to people living on the streets. Resolving at least part of the case was hailed by city leaders. A homeless encampment can be seen against the backdrop of City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) "It's a big deal," Mayor Eric Garcetti told The Times. "Hopefully it inspires everybody to really reach beyond our grasp. It's the only way we'll solve this." The proposed agreement doesn't dictate which proportion of the new beds need to be permanent rather than interim housing units such as shelters or tiny homes, which have sprung up across the city in recent years. The settlement still needs to be approved by the City Council and Carter, which will occur over the next few weeks. These beds would be intended for people who are deemed "low acuity," meaning their physical and psychological challenges won't require a higher level of care, said City Council President Nury Martinez. Martinez said the responsibility for helping people who are overcoming a substance use disorder or have a serious mental illness and getting them support in sober living homes or other facilities should fall to the county. "The person who is mentally unable to take care of themselves how is the city supposed to step in to deal with that issue?" Martinez said. "We do not run hospital beds. We're not clinicians. We're not social workers. The type of housing that individual would need is the responsibility of the county." The goal for the new beds, she added, is to allow the city to shelter or house 60% of the homeless people in each council district. Martinez said this deal balances the need to bring people in off the streets with the frustrations of residents who complain about the difficulties of using the sidewalk and feeling unsafe. "The concept that we discussed with Judge Carter is that each council district would have to meet its 60% threshold for us to be able to move on enforcement," Martinez said. "That was always the caveat." In recent weeks, county lawyers, along with lawyers for other parties in the case, known as intervenors, expressed frustration with how the negotiations were going. The county asked that the case be assigned to another judge and for the talks between the parties and the judge that occurred outside of court to stop. Carter rejected their request for reassignment. Skip Miller, a partner with the Miller Barondess law firm and outside counsel for L.A. County in the case, said in a statement: "This lawsuit has no merit with regard to the county. It is between the plaintiffs and the city, and were glad they settled. We intend to litigate and win this case." The county is "doing everything possible to address homelessness without stigmatizing it as a crime," Miller added. "Any assertion that the county has failed on this obligation is utterly baseless." Elizabeth Mitchell, an attorney with Spertus Landes & Umhofer who represents the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, said the county needs to do more and come to the table. She said the deal with the city will help expand the options for people living on the streets and create accountability for local elected leaders. "The audacity of the county to say they're doing enough when the streets clearly show otherwise is offensive to me, to those living unhoused on the streets who are desperate for help and the thousands of workers who are trying to help them," Mitchell said. Homeless people and advocates have previously told The Times that there is not enough permanent housing of any kind and that the end result of this approach is to shift people from one place to another and elevate politics over need. Some have also decried the conditions in new interim housing that has been brought online in the form of leased hotel rooms, converted motels and newly built shelters saying that along with onerous rules and curfews, that strategy doesn't take into account the unique needs of people who have been traumatized from years of living on the street. Pete White, the founder and executive director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network, which is also a party in the lawsuit, noted that attorneys representing his organization "were excluded entirely from these negotiations," even though it represents homeless people on skid row. "What the city and plaintiffs have put out today looks exactly like the backroom deal we would expect: property owners and politicians attempting to use mathematical equations as legal and political cover to enforce the Citys anti-camping ban," White said in a statement. Councilman Mike Bonin said that while this proposed deal gives the city "an exit strategy from a long and complicated lawsuit," he was against it. He is worried that the deal will continue to balkanize the city's approach to homelessness and lead the city away from building more permanent housing. I have grave concerns that this settlement will propel the city even faster in the direction its been heading moving some people into shelters, where they will most likely be locked into homelessness for years instead of being housed, and then using law enforcement to push everyone else from block to block," Bonin said in a statement. The 92-page lawsuit cited state and federal law in 14 allegations, accusing the city and county of breaching their duty to abate a nuisance, reducing property value without compensation, wasting public funds and violating the state environmental act and state and federal acts protecting people with disabilities. U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter and Deon Joseph, an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, check an empty water dispenser during a tour of skid row in April 2020. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) In May 2020, Carter ordered the city and county to find shelter for the thousands of people living near freeway overpasses, underpasses and ramps. That decision was eventually vacated when the city and county agreed to construct new forms of shelter for 6,000 people within 18 months, and fund homeless services for the people who ended up staying in these locations after they were built. (The city reported constructing just over 6,000 new beds as of late August.) Then there was an effort to focus on skid row a neighborhood that Carter regularly visited and where he once held an outdoor hearing. This culminated in an April 2021 order that the city and county offer some form of shelter or housing to the entire homeless population of skid row by October of that year. The city, county and the Los Angeles Community Action Network objected and asked a higher court to weigh in. In September, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Carter's decision, saying he deployed novel legal theories that no one had argued, and ruled on claims that no one had alleged and on evidence that was not before him. Over the last year, the city and county had been negotiating together with the plaintiffs in hopes of reaching a deal that would satisfy all the parties involved. At a certain point, the city resolved to go at it alone and negotiate without their counterparts from the county. It coincided with an uptick in frustration from the city's elected officials who said the county was unwilling to offer up more resources to get a deal. In response, county officials pointed to ways it was going above and beyond in helping people in need. A man packs up his tent as the city clears Toriumi Plaza in Little Tokyo of a homeless encampment. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Councilman Kevin de Leon, who is running for mayor and represents skid row, said he likes the settlement because it clearly defines whom the city is responsible for getting indoors. People "who are struggling with substance abuse, or severe mental health conditions, those individuals will be the sole responsibility of the county," he said. "They should not be in the position to continuously shirk from their responsibility. No more passing the buck." Councilman Joe Buscaino, who is running for mayor, said he was pleased there was an agreement but cautioned that the deal would do little to accomplish what has been the centerpiece of his mayoral campaign: keeping sidewalks open and clearing large encampments. He said that without more forceful laws and more cooperation from the county, the needle won't move. "I still don't think we're going to see a drastic improvement on our streets," he said of the agreement. Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Police Department was prepared to arrest Will Smith at the Oscars after he slapped Chris Rock, Will Packer, a producer for the awards show, told ABC News' "Good Morning America." Rock was "dismissive" of the idea and decided not to press charges, Packer said. Packer said LAPD officers spoke to Rock in the producer's office after Smith slapped him over a joke that the comedian, who was presenting an award, made about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. "They were saying, you know, 'This is battery,' was the word they use in that moment," Packer said in a clip of a "Good Morning America" interview released Thursday night. "They said we will go get him; we are prepared. We're prepared to get him right now. You can press charges. We can arrest him. They were laying out the options, and as they were talking, Chris was being very dismissive of those options. He was like, 'No, I'm fine.' He was like, 'No, no, no.'" Actor Will Smith slaps comedian Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, March 27, 2022. / Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images Earlier this week, the LAPD confirmed Rock declined to press charges against Smith. Packer, who led the show's first all-Black production team, said he did not speak with Smith directly that night. In the days since Sunday's show, more information has come to light. On Wednesday, the Academy criticized Smith's actions and said it is reviewing the incident. It also said that Smith who went on to win Best Actor for his role in "King Richard" was asked to leave, but declined. "Mr. Smith's actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television," the Academy stated. "Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event." Both Rock and Smith have spoken about the incident. Smith apologized to the comedian on Tuesday, while Rock briefly addressed the incident in his first stand-up show since the slap on Wednesday night in Boston. Story continues "I'm still kind of processing what happened," according to audio posted by Variety. He also tamped down any audience expectations that he would talk at length about the slap, telling them: "If you came to hear that, I'm not ... I had like a whole show I wrote before this weekend," the Associated Press reported. Ukraine accuses Russia of using white phosphorus against civilians Grandson brings his grandparents' love song to life 1950 Census data released to public Mar. 31AUGUSTA, Maine Gov. Janet Mills swiftly signed a bill requiring the nonprofit Maine Veterans' Homes to seek funding and seek lawmakers' OK before closing facilities Thursday after its unanimous passage through the Legislature. The bill from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, progressed quickly through the State House after the state-chartered nonprofit in February announced plans to close its homes in Machias and Caribou this spring. It passed just two weeks before the Machias home is supposed to close as an emergency bill. Maine Veterans' Homes provides long-term and skilled nursing care to veterans and certain family members at six facilities. The organization has operated at a deficit for two years, with the two homes targeted in the bill losing $2 million annually for several years, according to the nonprofit. The bill would use general, special and federal funds to provide $3.5 million in supplemental payments to the homes through 2023. The receipt of those funds would be contingent upon providing services, but the bill does not require the home to stay open for a set amount of time. The Legislature's unanimous vote, along with Mills' promise to put funding for the homes in her supplemental budget package, all but assured the bill's future. But the fate of the homes is not assured, as leaders at the nonprofit have said the legislation will not address staffing challenges they have faced or changing demographics in the state and will essentially take away the governing board's authority. It is not clear how the passage will affect the plans to close the facilities. Maine Veterans' Homes did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the vote. Supporters said the bill was critical to keeping veterans housed near their families and in facilities that provide quality care. They also stressed how important it would be to continue working with the nonprofit to ensure its success. That includes creating a stakeholder group meant to study how to return the homes to economic vitality. Story continues "We know money cannot solve the problem alone," said Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop. Sen. Brad Farrin, R-Norridgewock, said support for the homes should not end with the passage of the bill. "Keep your eye on the prize that is our Maine veterans and what we want to give them going forward," he said. More articles from the BDN 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. With mental health issues on the rise nationwide, Missouri lawmakers are weighing bills that would provide pharmacists and teachers with more training to recognize the signs of suicide. A bill sponsored by Rep. Adam Schwadron, R-St. Charles, heard Monday in the House Health and Mental Health Policy Committee, would allow suicide awareness and prevention to be an option pharmacists can choose as part of their required continuing education. Sign up here for The 74s daily newsletter. Donate here to support The 74's independent journalism. Meanwhile, a bill passed out of the committee last week and sponsored by Rep. Ann Kelley, R-Lamar, would similarly allow suicide prevention training to count toward teachers professional development and also require that the new Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, 988, be printed on student ID cards issued to students in 7th to 12th grade. With my religion, if you save one life, its as if you save the world, said Schwadron, who is Jewish. So if this legislation will help save one life then it would be worth it. In 2020, suicide was the 12th leading cause of death for all ages and 2nd for 10 to 14-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bills come at a time when mental health issues have been on the rise during the pandemic, and Missouri childrens hospital leaders have warned of a pediatric behavioral health crisis. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in January 2021 an increase from the share of one in 10 adults who reported those symptoms from January to June 2019, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Those symptoms were especially acute in young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, with 56% reporting symptoms as of December 2020. The age group was also more likely to report substance use and having experienced suicidal thoughts. Story continues Neither bill mandates that the training be required, but allows it to count as an approved option in each field. Schwadrons bill would direct the Board of Pharmacy to recommend licensed pharmacists in retail locations obtain two hours of continuing education in suicide awareness that could count toward the 30 hours needed every two years to renew their license. Some lawmakers raised questions as to the impact a pharmacist could make in a brief interaction with a patient. Schwadron noted that pharmacists can check to see whether a persons medications may interact negatively with others, and stressed it would also help them know how to look for the right signs. Even with that limited interaction they might be able to see the signs as a result of this education, that would at least raise a flag, Schwadron said. So they could even ask a simple question of, Are you okay? Kelleys bill, which was heard in committee earlier this month and passed unanimously, would similarly allow the training, which could be completed through a review of materials on ones own time, to count as two hours of required professional development training. Earlier this month, lawmakers expressed support for the training to be mandatory and to have suicide prevention taught to students too. They see their friends dying and they want to do something, said Rep. Suzie Pollock, R-Lebanon. Kelley noted many schools already touch on those topics with their students. The bill would also require that starting in the 2023-24 school year, schools issuing student ID cards to 7th to 12th-graders must print on them the three-digit number, 988, that staring in mid-July will act as a new way to route callers to the national suicide hotline. This is the perfect time for the state to pass legislation that is complement and emphasizes Missouris new suicide hotline number 988, Kelley said, later adding: We definitely need lots more mental services for everybody. In his fiscal year 2023 proposed budget, Gov. Mike Parson recommended $28.5 million to help fund the transition to the 988 hotline. Missouri expects to receive more than 172,000 calls once the number is live more than four times the current call volume, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. We think the advent of the 988 line is a really important step toward making sure people have a system to fall into when theyre in crisis, said Jessica Petrie, a lobbyist who testified in favor of the bill on behalf of the Missouri chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and BJC HealthCare, and this is a really clever way to increase awareness of that, especially among our vulnerable students. Mental health issues among youth were already increasing prior to the pandemic, and may have been exacerbated by its onset. A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study published this month found between 2016 and 2020, the number of children between three and 17 years old diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29% and those diagnosed with depression grew by 27%. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced last week it was using federal relief funds to offer Mental Health First Aid training to schools at no cost to identify and respond to signs of mental health and substance use in adults and teens. Kelleys bill is named the Jason Flatt/Avery Reine Cantor Act, after two high school students who both died by suicide. Flatt was from Tennessee, while Cantor attended Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri. Rep. LaDonna Appelbaum, D-St. Louis, has worked with Kelley on the legislation since 2020, and said earlier this month Cantors mom had sent her a letter one of Cantors friends wrote after Cantors death, and I want to read it so bad, but I dont think Ill get through it, Appelbaum said as she urged lawmakers to support the measure. Various education groups, like the Missouri NEA and Gifted Association of Missouri, and the Missouri chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics also testified in support of the bill, which now awaits to be brought up for debate on the House floor. No one testified in opposition or support of Schwadrons bill, which has been filed since 2014, he said. Its named after Tricia Leann Tharp, who died by suicide at 31 years old. Her father, Patrick Tharp, was a pharmacist from Hannibal who founded the St. Charles nonprofit Pharmacists Preventing Suicides Inc., and devoted his work to preventing suicide until his death in 2017. Schwadron noted that his wife also works with the son of Patrick Tharp and brother to Tricia Leann Tharp, and said that, pharmacists could make a significant impact in saving lives. Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter. Related: Sign up for The 74s newsletter The man who shot and killed a 44-year-old man in March 2020 was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday. Seantel Watson, 34, was originally charged with murder for shooting and killing Larry Steven Rose Jr. but was convicted of a lesser charge. Watson turned himself in one week after the deadly shooting. The charge was amended down to manslaughter when Watson accepted a guilty plea deal on Feb. 14, nearly two years after the shooting. The shooting took place on Smith Street near Transylvania University on March 6, 2020. A call of shots fired came in shortly after 3 p.m. and Rose was pronounced dead just over 30 minutes later. State prosecutors recommended that Watson get a 10-year sentence for the manslaughter charge, according to court documents. Judge Thomas Travis agreed to that sentence but also gave Watson credit for the time he already served, which is just over two years. Watson is not eligible for probation. He declined to comment when given a chance to do so by Travis. KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia fully reopened its borders on Friday, dropping quarantine requirements for people vaccinated against COVID-19 after two years of strict travel restrictions. The Southeast Asian nation has maintained some of the tightest entry curbs in the region to try to contain coronavirus outbreaks, with most foreign nationals barred from entry and returning Malaysians required to undergo quarantine. A flight carrying 140 passengers from Indonesia to Kuala Lumpur was greeted with a water salute after touching down. "Because of the pandemic, it's been hard but finally I've managed to get on a plane after so long. And it's nice that we are being greeted so warmly here," said Ikrima Irza Fatika, 19, an Indonesian traveller visiting the capital. The reopening of borders marks the start of the country's transition to the endemic phase of COVID-19, the government has said, and comes as neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand also drop most travel restrictions. Malaysia is expecting to attract two million tourists this year following the lifting of curbs, tourism minister Nancy Shukri said, according to state news agency Bernama. (Reporting by Ebrahim Harris; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Nick Macfie) Mar. 31A male juvenile sustained injuries that weren't life-threatening when he was shot in the foot Wednesday night near Spokane's Garland District. At about 8:30 p.m., a woman called 911 and said her brother had been shot in the foot. Officers arrived to the 3200 block of North Lincoln Street, to find a male juvenile with a gunshot wound to his foot. The boy was taken to the hospital . Early information indicated at least one person fired multiple rounds from the street into the residence, then fled in a silver car, according to police. Multiple people were in the residence at the time of the shooting. Police had not located the shooter as of Thursday morning but did not believe it was a random incident. Reporter Emma Epperly contributed to this story. TOMS RIVER - A Manchester man who was picking up free furniture in the Whiting section of the township last April and was accused of backing into the man giving the items away, killing him, was sentenced Friday to six years in prison. Kevin Noonan, 63, pleaded guilty in February to knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and a related charge. Superior Court Judge Lisa A. Puglisi, sitting in Toms River, also revoked Noonan's driving privileges for three years in connection with the two charges and fined him $2,500. Manchester police went to Yorktowne Parkway in Whiting about 3:45 p.m. on April 13, 2021 ,after a report of a pedestrian being struck by a motor vehicle. Officers found Jack Gotfried, 69, lying in the road with severe injuries to his lower body, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a statement. Gotfried was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he died of his injuries. The Prosecutor's Office and Manchester police later found that Noonan went to Gotfried's home to pick up free furniture. While Gotfried was loading the furniture onto Noonan's vehicle, Noonan backed up in reverse at a high speed, pinning Gotfried between the vehicle and a truck parked in front of the home, Billhimer said. Noonan fled the scene of the accident, leaving Gotfried in the road, Billhimer said. Shortly after the accident, Noonan was seen walking on Western Avenue in Lacey and arrested by a detective with the Prosecutor's Office. He has been held at Ocean County Jail in Toms River since then, according to jail records. Ken Serrano covers crime, breaking news, investigations and local issues. Reach him at kserrano@gannettnj.com. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Manchester fatal accident: Man accused of backing into man sentenced Apr. 1NEWBURYPORT Mayor Sean Reardon asked the City Council on Monday to accept a $150,000 settlement from a Rockland-based road construction company that botched the 2019 painting of High Street. The proposal, which is now making its way through council subcommittees, could potentially end the city's lengthy legal battle against Hi-Way Safety Systems that included a lawsuit filed in Salem Superior Court. In summer 2019, Hi-Way Safety Systems left newly repaved High Street with curving, spotty and poorly spaced painted lines. In September, the contractor returned to remove the incorrectly painted lines, which required mechanically scraping off the pavement's new finish. But by doing so, it left a set of rough grooves that have since run along much of High Street. An engineering firm later determined that the grooves damaged the road's integrity. "After multiple rounds of discussions and negotiations, we arrived at an arrangement that I believe is fair and equitable," Reardon wrote in his letter to the council. "The city will receive $150,000, which we will plan to use for improvements on High Street." Following the substandard job done by Hi-Way Safety Systems, the city filed a claim with the company's insurance company, Travelers Indemnity Co., with former Mayor Donna Holaday saying in January 2020 that it would take up to $400,000 to repair the damage done by the contractor. The City Council agreed on Monday to send the proposal to council subcommittees, including the General Government Committee. The committees will then send their recommendations to the full council for a vote. Council President Heather Shand said the General Government Committee would meet April 11 at 6:30 p.m. before the next City Council meeting to discuss Reardon's proposal. Shand added that she expected at least part of the settlement money to go toward repainting High Street. She pointed to much-needed bicycle lanes as a top priority for her, saying bicyclists need the added protection lacking on portions of the road. Story continues Asked whether she felt the settlement was fair, Shand said it was probably the best the city could do. "We'll find out more when we speak to the mayor," Shand said. As for the $400,000 estimate to repair High Street, Shand said that figure was based on information the city had at the time and did not reflect the current cost, which is much less than first reported. Reardon did not respond to an email and a phone call in time for this report. Dave Rogers is a reporter with the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008. Dave Rogers is a reporter with the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008. The Tennessee charter commission voted unanimously to affirm MSCS decision to close Memphis Academy of Health Science The Memphis Academy of Health Sciences, one of the first charter schools in the city and the state of Tennessee, will officially close at the end of the school year. The newly formed Tennessee Public School Charter Commission voted unanimously at its Friday meeting to reject MAHS appeal, affirming the Memphis-Shelby County school boards decision to revoke its charter in January after years of financial malfeasance, leading to the indictment of three former school leaders charged with stealing nearly $400,000 from the school. 'Thats just the way it goes': MAHS's season and perhaps its program ends in state quarterfinals Chalkbeat: Memphis Academy of Health Sciences fights closure order The vote aligned with the recommendations of Tess Stovall, executive director of the commission, who wrote that Memphis-Shelby County Schools was within its rights to shut the charter down, given such egregious acts of financial mismanagement and violations of the charter agreement. Memphis Academy of Health Sciences comprises middle school (pictured) and high school campuses in North Memphis. Both campuses will close after this school year, displacing about 750 students. Stovall said the decision to close a school is not one that should be made lightly, but that a school that violates state law and betrays the public trust cannot remain open. An authorized charter school is entrusted with significant fiduciary responsibility, Stovall told commissioners on Friday. It has to protect those funds and has to ensure that those funds are used in the best interest of students and the community. The commissions Friday decision comes in spite of the many impassioned pleas from parents, students and school officials. The closure will displace the around 750 students MAHS serves across its middle and high school campuses in North Memphis. Although several commissioners expressed sympathy for the families and teachers impacted by MAHS closure, all of them support the closure. They pledged to work closely with district leaders to ensure the affected students find a high-quality school to attend. A Memphis-Shelby County Schools closure report found that most MAHS students will be sent to schools with a lower school performance rating, a scale that weighs academics, growth, college and career readiness, and school climate. Story continues It does sadden me that the actions of a few have impacted these children, said Commissioner Terrence Patterson, who also serves as president and CEO of the Memphis Education Fund. But we also have to hold the adults accountable and because of these egregious actions, and despite a well-intentioned new governing board, we cant take back these actions and the recommendation is in alignment with state record and law. In MAHS appeal to the Commission, officials recognized the gravity of unlawful use of public school funds meant to improve education for children, but argued that many organizations fall victim to crimes of this nature, especially when theyre committed by high-ranking employees who go to great lengths to conceal them. More: SCS board votes to close Memphis Academy of Health Sciences Middle and High Schools More: Memphis charter school officials stole $400,000 for Vegas trips, lobster and more, comptroller says A December report from the states Comptroller of Treasury Office found that Corey Johnson, MAHS former executive director, and fellow former administrators Robert Williams and Michael Jones allegedly used school money for trips to Las Vegas, a hot tub, seafood, NBA tickets, and auto repair, among other personal expenses, from 2015 to 2019. The MAHS governing board contends it only learned of the administrators questionable transactions when the comptroller launched its investigation in November 2019 and didnt realize the full extent of their crimes. And in the years since, the board has enacted several new procedures and policies to improve their financial oversight of the schools. Closing these schools now, in 2022, after the governing board made sweeping changes beginning in 2019, and which are operating without any issues, and performing much better than available neighborhood schools, only compounds the damage already done by these former employees, MAHS officials wrote in a statement presented to the commission Friday. Memphis-Shelby County Schools disagreed with that characterization, saying the MAHS governing boards inaction resulted in the misappropriation of funds totaling about $800,000. The district also noted the comptrollers several findings of internal controls and compliance deficiencies within MAHS. Those funds could have and should have been used for student benefit, Brittany Monda, assistant superintendent of charter schools, wrote in a statement. The board did not have meaningful oversight of the school and failed to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management. No plan of action could correct or address the mismanagement of funds that spanned over four years prior that allowed MAHS employees to operate to the detriment of MAHS. Stovall sided with the district and called into question the MAHS governing boards argument that it didnt understand the full extent of former administrators crimes. After independently reviewing MAHS audits from fiscal year 2015 through 2021, Stovall found that auditors began noting the comptrollers investigation starting in fiscal year 2019. That, she said, should have been a significant flag for the governing board that the Comptrollers work was more than just routine. While I believe that the new governing board is well-intentioned in its desire to provide a quality education to its students, I cannot find that the decision of the local board of education is contrary to (state law) based on a totality of evidence, she wrote. On Friday, Stovall joined commissioners in calling for Memphis-Shelby County Schools to ensure former MAHS students will be enrolled in high-quality schools. Those students are the most impacted in these decisions, she said. This story was originally published on Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools, on April 1, 2022. Samantha West is a reporter for Chalkbeat Tennessee, where she covers K-12 education in Memphis. Connect with Samantha at swest@chalkbeat.org. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Academy of Health Sciences schools to close despite appeal MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican and American officials met Thursday amid disagreements about an electrical power reform that seeks to limit foreign-built renewable energy plants and grant a majority market share to Mexicos state-owned power utility. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met with U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry, but the Mexican leader appeared unwilling to budge on the proposal, which is currently stuck in Mexicos Congress. I think it was a friendly, necessary and beneficial meeting, Lopez Obrador wrote in his social media accounts. While he didn't address the differences, Lopez Obrador appeared to offer foreign firms a chance to invest in a scheme to build natural gas liquification plants in southern Mexico, to export LNG, presumably to Europe or Asia. Mexico has to import gas it doesnt produce enough to meet its own needs, much less export so the scheme would involve pumping U.S. natural gas to southern Mexico ports, chilling and liquifying it and loading it aboard ships. There are a lot of possibilities for investment, Lopez Obrador said before the meeting with Kerry. We have excess gas due to purchases made through the gas pipelines that handle U.S. gas. We have land, we have seaports at Salina Cruz, Coatzacoalcos. Lopez Obrador has vowed to press ahead with the changes to the electrical power industry, despite U.S. concerns that they could close off markets, choke off competition and possibly violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact. On Thursday, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told U.S. senators that she was deeply concerned with the legislative and regulatory developments in the Mexican energy industry that we have seen in recent months. My team and I at USTR, along with much of the U.S. government, have expressed these concerns regularly and directly to our counterparts in the Mexican government. Tai said energy companies and environmentalists have been unified in expressing concerns with what is happening in Mexico, specifically with respect to the competitiveness of the North American energy market, as well as the competitiveness of Mexicos own energy industry. Story continues The Mexican changes would favor a domestic company the state-owned Federal Electricity Commission over foreign electricity producers, something prohibited under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact. I have informed Mexico and I assure you that we at USTR are looking at all available options under the USMCA to address these issues, Tai said, so that the USMCA can work for our stakeholders and protect our environment across all three countries." Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, said Mexico is considering laws to concentrate market power and regulatory authority in the hands of the state owned electric company. That result will mean a bigger focus on fossil fuels with limited opportunities for clean energy providers. So Mexicos new reforms are a one or two punch against environmental progress in America, Wyden said. Not only are they a setback in the fight against the climate crisis, but they are denying American companies companies in the Pacific Northwest, for example, a fair shake in the Mexican market. After meeting in February, Kerry expressed significant concerns over the bill, but Lopez Obrador said the proposed changes dont affect the treaty at all. U.S. firms have complained bitterly about the constitutional changes proposed in October. They are still held up in the Mexican Congress, where they need a two-thirds majority that Lopez Obrador hasnt yet been able to pull together. The changes would guarantee a majority market share for Mexicos state-owned power plants that often burn dirty fuel oil or coal, while limiting private wind, natural gas and solar plants to a minority market share. Many U.S. companies operating in Mexico either invested in cleaner power plants themselves or rely on cheaper energy produced by them. But Lopez Obradors affection for fossil fuels is also an underlying issue. He often waxes nostalgic about his youth in the oil-rich Gulf coast state of Tabasco and has boosted investment in oil refineries. Those refineries often produce dirty fuel oil as a byproduct, and it has to be burned at government power plants because few other buyers want it anymore. The bill submitted in October would cancel contracts under which 34 private plants sell power into the national grid. The plan would also declare illegal an additional 239 private plants that sell energy directly to corporate clients in Mexico. Almost all of those plants are run with renewable energy sources or natural gas. The measure also would cancel many long-term energy supply contracts and clean-energy preferential buying programs, often affecting foreign companies. It puts private natural gas plants almost last in line ahead of only government coal-fired plants for rights to sell electricity into the grid, despite the fact they produce power about 24% more cheaply. (Reuters) -Ukraine's military said on Friday that its anti-air defences had foiled an attempted Russian missile attack on critical infrastructure in the major Black Sea port of Odesa. Governor Maksym Marchenko earlier said three missiles had hit a residential area, adding there were casualties. "The enemy tried in an insidious way to hit critical infrastructure facilities, the destruction of which could be dangerous for the civilian population," the Ukrainian military's southern command said in a Facebook post. "Thanks to the timely and effective response of the air defence forces, the missiles did not hit the targets the enemy had been aiming at," it said. Reuters could not immediately verify the Ukrainian statement. Russia has denied targeting civilians in its war in Ukraine that began on Feb. 24 in what Moscow calls a "special operation" to demilitarize its southwestern neighbour. Western countries call it an unprovoked war of aggression. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets and David Ljunggren, writing by Max Hunder and David Ljunggren; editing by Grant McCool) Michelle Hord, a bereaved mom and author of "The Other Side of Yet," poses with her daughter, Gabrielle White, on White's seventh birthday in August 2016. Regina Fleming Photography In 2017, Michelle Hord's daughter was murdered by her husband. Hord's new memoir, "The Other Side of Yet," discusses her path toward healing. She also helped her child's classmates process the tragedy. In September 2017, three months after her 7-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, was murdered by her soon-to-be ex-husband, Michelle Hord hosted a memorial on a boat to celebrate the painfully short life of the little girl with music, joy, and tears. The occasion where a shell-shaped urn containing Gabrielle's ashes was set adrift in the ocean was attended by 25 of her classmates and their parents. "I gave each of the children a white rose to put in the water," Hord told Insider, noting that the kids then worked on an art project dedicated to their friend and danced on the deck to her favorite songs. The former TV producer for "Good Morning America" explained why she invited Gabrielle's peers to the rite of passage in her new book, "The Other Side of Yet: Finding Light in the Midst of Darkness." Gabrielle White was described by her mom as "my thriving, bright-eyed baby." Courtesy of Michelle Hord Hord wants to normalize grief "It's so important that we normalize grief for them," Hord wrote in her book, noting that bereaved children will feel "confusing emotions" no matter how much well-intentioned adults try to shield them. She added that talking to children gives them the tools they'll require later in life. "As a parent, you don't want to put your children through anything harsh, and you want to protect them. But I think we also underestimate their resilience and their ability to process complexity," she said. This table at the celebration of life for Gabrielle White was scattered with white roses for her friends to place in the ocean. Courtesy of Michelle Hord Rituals and tributes can be part of the grieving Hord believes that Gabrielle's friends were helped by their special afternoon on the boat. "While they were clear on this sad thing that was occurring, they were also able to have fun as well as other emotions," she said. "And that felt really healthy." Gabrielle's dad, Neil White, smothered her to death on June 6, 2017, after meeting with his estranged wife to finalize arrangements for their upcoming divorce. Story continues Police discovered her body in her bedroom after the child's nanny arrived at the home and saw paper towels with blood on them in the kitchen. She ran upstairs to check on Gabrielle and found White in the hallway. His wrists were bleeding because he'd tried to slash them. "Gabrielle's caregiver walked into this crime scene and called 911," Hord said. The mom rushed from her office to the family's townhouse in New Rochelle, New York. She was met by cops who'd surrounded the place with yellow tape. Gabrielle had her face painted with a rainbow at her mom's homecoming at Howard University in 2015. Courtesy of Michelle Hord Gabrielle's friends miss their caring classmate "My pastor was outside, and he told me that Gabrielle was gone," Hord said. "I was in shock." A detective said White admitted responsibility while his injuries were treated at a nearby hospital. He said White had told him that he didn't want the second-grader to "suffer" as "a product of the divorce." But White pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder at his trial in June 2019. The jury ruled against him. Hord read her victim-impact statement before her ex-husband was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. She called Gabrielle her "thriving, bright-eyed baby" and said, "I now fight sometimes to breathe." Hord larks around with Gabrielle, then about 6. Courtesy of Michelle Hord Hord says grief can make you stronger During her court appearance at White's sentencing, the 52-year-old said she was also speaking on behalf of Gabrielle's friends. She talked in court about the nightmares they'd had about her murder and how much they missed her kind ways. "This is a statement for the children who wrote to me to say that Gabrielle was their first or only friend," she said at the time. Hord went on to tell the court about her daughter's favorite toy, a doll called Barbara. The mom told Insider she puts it in her handbag every day and cuddles it at night. "Knowing this was the little doll she pressed against her face when she cried and held when she slept makes it more than a toy," she said. "Having Barbara with me feels like a closeness to Gabrielle." Gabrielle, pictured around the age of 6, cuddles her favorite and most precious toy, Barbara. Courtesy of Michelle Hord Meanwhile, even though Hord writes in "The Other Side of Yet," that living without Gabrielle is like "being hit by a Mack truck," the devout Christian selected a hopeful title for her book. It was inspired by a Bible verse about trusting in God, even in the depths of suffering and despair. "You don't leave the grief and loss behind, but you learn to carry it with you and get stronger as you go along," she said. The play space in New Rochelle established in Gabrielle's name. Regina Fleming Photography In February 2018, Hord founded Gabrielle's Wings, a nonprofit that gives children of color in vulnerable communities access to adventure playgrounds, books, computers, and other educational resources. The organization helps kids as far apart as New York, Belize, and South Africa. The nonprofit also funded a colorful play space in New Rochelle, New York, called Gabrielle's Playground. "I feel like I am carrying out Gabrielle's legacy of kindness and inclusion in this work," Hord said. "So I'm sure she's very proud." She said she senses her daughter's presence everywhere. "I can hear her sometimes, too," the media consultant added. Michelle Hord married her new husband, Axel Johnson, on a beach in the Bahamas in December. Regina Fleming Photography Hord and her new husband honored Gabrielle at their wedding In December, Hord married Axel Johnson, whom she'd met two years earlier, at the resort in the Bahamas where she once enjoyed vacations with Gabrielle. The bride and groom made sure to reserve a front-row seat in memory of Gabrielle. A second chair was set aside at the ceremony to pay tribute to Gabrielle's maternal grandmother, who died before she was born. Gabrielle's precious Barbara was a guest of honor and the doll perched on her chair. "Gabrielle was a part of every piece of the wedding," Hord said. Gabrielle's beloved doll, Barbara, was a guest of honor and perched on her chair. Regina Fleming Photography Read the original article on Insider Apr. 1WATERTOWN Cheryl A. Mayforth couldn't be happier that more than 400 job seekers attended a The WorkPlace's annual spring job fair at the Ramada on Thursday. "Oh, my," said Mrs. Mayforth, director of the Jefferson County Department of Employment and Training at The Workplace. "You never know what to expect." With more positions to fill than job seekers, 54 businesses and companies from Jefferson and Lewis counties were looking for employees during the four-hour job fair. And there were all kinds of jobs restaurant help, general labor manufacturing, truck drivers and counselors. Shellie L. Marks, human resources manager at QubicaAMF, had 10 general labor manufacturing jobs to fill and hoped she found a few new employees for the Lowville bowling pin manufacturer. "It was very busy, very busy early," she said. "Elbow to elbow." Mrs. Mayforth sat at the table outside the large banquet room to register job seekers and get them on their way to talk to employers. Some companies filled positions on the spot, she said. Companies also planned to call job seekers who filled out applications to fill positions later. Ryan J. Henry-Wilkinson, who handles human resources for CREDO Community Center in Watertown, said the organization is looking to fill about a dozen positions as it plans a $9.2 million expansion for its addiction treatment program in a West Main Street building. He talked to about 10 people who stopped by inquiring about the vacant positions. "We're trying to position ourselves as an employer of choice in the community," he said. John M. Keruskie, human resources business partner for Neenah Performance Materials, is seeking about four more saturants and coding workers for its paper mills in Brownville and Lowville. The maker of specialty and fine papers employs about 150 workers between the two locations, he said. "People are looking for work, right?" he said about finding the people the company needs. Story continues K.J. VanDyke, a front desk agent, said the Hilton Garden Inn in the City Center development complex on outer Arsenal Street is short-staffed for housekeepers and needs restaurant and laundry room workers, too. "There's been a lot of good candidates," she said. Brenda D. Craighead and her daughter, Melissa, stopped at just about every table that had company representatives. They were hopeful about getting back into the labor market, especially with so many employers attending the job fair. "It's inviting," she said. "It's more than I expected." Job seeker Kaleb T. Gossiaux is looking for an IT job after graduating from Jefferson Community College in December with a computer science degree. Unlike the overwhelming demand for workers in most fields, he hopes to land a position that has a lot of competition. "I want to stay here, but I might have to relocate," he said. Apr. 1HAVERHILL The Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce held its annual State Senate Breakfast Forum on March 25 at Salvatore's Restaurant at the Riverwalk in Lawrence. More than 100 people attended the event and heard from state Sens. Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen, Barry Finegold, D-Andover, and Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, who talked about their plans for this year as well as current legislation they are working on and how they are helping residents and businesses in the Merrimack Valley. They discussed workforce issues such as the importance of vocational training and education, transportation, the impact of inflation, and how they are supporting the business community. "The Chamber and our state senators are working together to address issues that are affecting people in the Merrimack Valley," said Chamber President and CEO Joseph Bevilacqua. FARMINGTON Spelling bees in English are challenging but one in the Navajo language enters another level with words that use accent marks, high tones, glottal stops and nasal tones. Knowledge of the Navajo language was on display by students from Farmington Municipal Schools' elementary, middle and high schools during the 2022 Dine Spelling Bee on March 31. There were 30 participants 12 of them elementary students, 13 of them middle school students and five of them high school students. During the event, the students used a small whiteboard to write words before spelling them out loud in front of a panel of four judges and an audience filled with family and friends. More: Navajo Nation Council thanks medical, frontline workers for pandemic response Heights Middle School student Nikolai John spells the word he received in the Navajo language during the 2022 Dine Spelling Bee on March 31 at Piedra Vista High School in Farmington. "They have to assure that theyre using capital letters, the accent marks and assuring that they spell it correctly," said Carmelita Lee, the district's instructional facilitator. The vocabulary list used in the competition comes from the Wall & Morgan Navajo-English Dictionary. The spelling bee started with the elementary school division and with the word, golchoon (comforter or quilt), given to Apache Elementary School student Zachary Curley, who spelled the word correctly. Animas Elementary School student Lillian Leiba writes out the word she received in the Navajo language during the elementary school division of the 2022 Dine Spelling Bee on March 31 at Piedra Vista High School in Farmington. The first round continued with words like sis (belt, sash), Hweeldi (Fort Sumner, New Mexico), sik'az (an object is cold) and kodi (over here). When Animas Elementary School student Lillian Leiba had to spell hashtl'ish (mud), she asked that the word be repeated twice before writing down it then saying, "h, a, s, h, t, slash l, glottal stop, i, s, h." She was right. More: LeVar Burton to host Scripps National Spelling Bee: 'I want to normalize the pursuit of knowledge' Leiba ended up in third place in the elementary school division. The winner of that division was Apache Elementary School student Kiara Benally, while Apache Elementary School student Emiliana Garbiso was second. Story continues In the middle school division, Tibbetts Middle School student Tremayne Yazzie was the winner, while Heights Middle School students Erica Reed was second and Nikolai John was third. In the high school division, Farmington High School student Jazmin Smiley finished first, Piedra Vista High School student Jalen Harvey was second and Farmington High School student Yazzmine Lee was third. Tremayne Yazzie, right, won first place in the middle school division at the 2022 Dine Spelling Bee on March 31 at Piedra Vista High School in Farmington. Erica Reed, center, won second and Nikolai John, left, took third. The road to the Dine Spelling Bee starts with the individual Navajo language classes, where teachers hold classroom spelling bees. Lee explained that the first, second and third place finishers and an alternate advance to the district competition, then it is opened to other Navajo language students who are interested. This year's contest marks its return after it was canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic. Ariana Young, who acted as master of ceremonies for the event, is a 2017 graduate of Farmington High School. More: Merriam-Webster selects 'vaccine' as the 2021 word of the year In remarks, she explained that she attended Navajo language classes from kindergarten through 12th grade. "Our Dine Bizaad is very, very important to us not just as individuals but as a nation," Young said. "I'm a full believer that it's just like breathing, you use your senses, you feel the words." Noel Lyn Smith covers the Navajo Nation for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4636 or by email at nsmith@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Navajo language spelling bee returns to Farmington, NM, schools MANAGUA (Reuters) - The director of Nicaragua's La Prensa newspaper was sentenced on Friday to nine years in prison for money laundering, according to his relatives, in the latest sentencing of a government opponent detained at the order of the administration. The judge who sentenced Juan Lorenzo Holmann Chamorro also ordered that the newspaper's facilities and printing presses remain closed, but did not determine for how long. Holmann Chamorro was arrested in August, when police raided and occupied the newspaper's premises. Since then, the paper has only been published online. Holmann Chamorro was found guilty of money laundering by a judge last month. The same week, judges found his cousins, former presidential candidate Cristiana Chamorro and Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, who are also on the board of the opposition newspaper, guilty of money laundering and misuse of funds, respectively. "I am innocent and strong. This is going to pass very soon," Chamorro said after hearing his sentence, according to La Prensa. His defense argued that there was no evidence of money laundering. "It's a political trial, and not a judicial case technically speaking," an attorney for Holmann Chamorro told Reuters. The office of Nicaragua's attorney general and the judicial authority did not immediately confirm the sentence or respond to a request for comment. Cristiana Chamorro was ahead of current President Daniel Ortega in the polls when she was arrested in June 2021. She and her brother, former lawmaker Pedro Joaquin Chamorro Barrios, had been outspoken critics of Ortega's administration until their arrests, which the United States and international human rights groups have denounced as politically motivated. They are among the at least 46 opponents of leftist Ortega, a former guerrilla commander, who were jailed during last year's elections. He was re-elected in an uncontested vote in November of 2021. (Reporting by Ismael Lopez; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Ana Isabel Martinez and Bill Berkrot) A North Carolina teen faces up to 100 years in prison for the alleged sexual exploitation of minors. The Lexington County Sheriffs Office arrested Deontey Raekwon Reese-Cherry, 19, of Archdale, N.C., on March 15. He is charged with three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and five counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. The latter five charges are felony offenses and carry up to 20 years in prison for each charge. The South Carolina Attorney Generals Office will prosecute the case, according to a Friday press release. Investigators state Reese-Cherry engaged in criminal sexual conduct with a minor and produced multiple files of child sexual abuse material, the release adds. An off-duty deputy was shot and killed on Thursday, March 31, as he was trying to break up a crime outside a grocery store, according to a Texas sheriffs office. Darren Almendarez was a 23-year veteran with the Harris County Sheriffs Office and was most recently with the auto theft division, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said during a news briefing streamed by KHOU early Friday. Almendarez was exiting a grocery store on Thursday night with his wife when he noticed a possible vehicle or catalytic converter theft in the parking lot, Gonzalez said. He intervened and was confronted by two or three suspects, the sheriff said. Gunfire was exchanged and Almendarez shot two suspects, but he was also struck. (Hes) really a hero because as all of this was unfolding, he had the mindset to make sure he was protecting his wife, Gonzalez said. He told his wife to run, to get away from danger as he put himself in harms way to protect the rest of the community and try and stop a crime. Almendarez was transported to a Houston hospital, where he died. He was 51. His wife was uninjured. Gonzalez said the deputy was at the grocery store to buy ingredients to cook a birthday meal for his sister. The two suspects who were shot drove themselves to a hospital and were listed in stable condition, according to the sheriff. Charges have not been filed as of early Friday. A third suspect remained at-large early Friday. Almendarez was a former fast-food worker who at one point was homeless before he became a deputy, Gonzalez said. He had that fire, that grit to do something, the sheriff said. He committed his life to public service and to be a law enforcement officer, to be a deputy, to be a Harris County Sheriffs Office deputy. Today we lost a great one. Deputy Constable Rex Evans said Almendarez exuded a special light which illuminated even (in) the darkest and most dangerous of places. Darren was, a good cop. A good friend. He was a family man, Evans said on Facebook. Id simply say, he was, a great guy. The kind of guy every other guy would hope they too, could one day be. Deputy who mentored young officers is gunned down during traffic stop, Texas cops say Sergeant killed when woman drives around his motorcycle and strikes him, Texas cops say An Orange County deputy was indicted by a grand jury on Thursday for a 2020 deputy-involved shooting. Deputy Bruce Stolk is accused of shooting Edenilson Urbina. Deputies said the shooting happened following a traffic stop for not wearing eye protection and an illegal tag on Dec. 20, 2020, near the intersection of Kingsgate and Oak Ridge Road. At the time of the shooting, Sheriff John Mina said some sort of confrontation happened after Urbina ran from the scene and Stolk shot Urbina because he feared for his life after he believed Urbina was reaching for a weapon. Deputies said Urbina was shot in the leg and the charges against him were dropped. READ: Man shot during confrontation with Orange County deputy after traffic stop, sheriff says The sheriffs office said Stolk has been relieved of all law enforcement duties and will work in an administrative capacity until this case is resolved. He has been with the Orange County Sheriffs Office since September 2017. I believe in our justice system and its important we let this case run its course, Mina said in a statement. Our deputies have one of the most difficult and complex jobs in the world. They must make split-second decisions and act in the moment to protect themselves and others. READ: Bodycam footage shows cheerleading coach accused of molesting girls getting emotional during arrest The state attorneys office said aggravated battery with a deadly weapon is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The state attorneys office said the case was referred to the grand jury through the offices officer-involved critical incident policy, which was just put in place last year. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said its investigation into the shooting is still active. Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. REFaced with skyrocketing rent increases that are pricing working-class families and younger workers out of their apartments, Orange County politicians will try to reign in the market next year through a ballot referendum in November. Commissioner Emily Bonilla and several state representatives will unveil their plan Friday morning at the county administration building. Their initiative will call for a maximum 5% increase cap for one year for landlords who own four or more units. Through 2021, the average monthly rent spiked 30% almost 10 times a typical yearly increase. Many renters now spend more than a third of their incomes on housing, putting a strain on other bills and making it almost impossible to save for a home. Read the commissioners report below: 2022 Report to Commissioners on Rent Stabilization Evidence-Based Policy by Adam Poulisse on Scribd READ: Heres what the plan for affordable housing near Universal includes I understand the residents of Orange County are facing tremendous financial hardships, Bonilla said in a statement. I am committed to doing everything I can to help bring you some kind of relief. Rent control has been tried and tested in other parts of the United States, like California, but not in Florida. State law prohibits rent control except in places where theres a housing emergency. Bonilla is building a case to declare such an emergency, publishing dozens of pages of reports and data explaining how the rising costs are driving workers away from the metro area. A full-time [retail] employee would have to work over 145 hours or 18 days to cover the average rent, consuming 84% of their wages, one report said. READ: Orlando introduces new affordable housing program Many tenants support the idea, saying housing costs are a major source of stress for their families. The prices are going further and further up, we are going to have to start moving out, Lori Ellis, a downtown resident, said. Story continues READ: Construction kicks off on new affordable housing project in Orange County Opponents call it a capitalism crusher that will keep the market artificially low and hurt landlords. They also point to other times rent control has been proposed and defeated in the Sunshine State. Commissioners have until the end of April to propose and pass referendums. Bonilla and supporters are calling on renters to come to the April 5 commission meeting to testify about their housing situations in an effort to drum up enough votes to get the initiative on the ballot. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said his government had on Friday handed an official note to the United States' mission in Islamabad to protest over what it called Washington's interference in the country's affairs. "We now have given a demarche to (the) American embassy," Khan told local television channel ARY in an interview, in reference to a diplomatic note over what he described as a foreign conspiracy to oust him from power. (Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Hugh Lawson) PETERSBURG Police say two men shot early Friday morning in the city are now expected to survive the incident. According to reports, the two men were shot at the intersection of East Washington Street and Crater Road, and were later found at a residence in the 2100 block of North Whitehill Drive. They were taken to a local hospital with one of them sustaining life-threatening injuries. In a text to The Progress-Index Friday, Deputy Police Chief Emanuel Chambliss said both men's injuries "have been deemed non-life threatening injuries at this time." They both remain hospitalized. Anyone who may have information about the shooting is asked to contact Petersburg-Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212 or use the P3Tips mobile app. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg shooting victims now expected to recover from injuries Petersburg City Hall PETERSBURG City Council is in the middle of approving a new budget that could include a lowered real estate tax rate for the first time in several years. The city also has a long list of capital improvement projects that are buoyed by American Rescue Plan Act funds. This proposed budget will be finalized before the end of April. The $104 million total operating budget comes in a little over $300,000 more than the previous fiscal year. The citys highest adopted budget over the past six years was $108 million in FY 2020 and its lowest was $91 million in FY 2017. More: Petersburg adopts 2021-2022 budget, employees get pay raises as city rebounds from COVID-19 Chief Financial Officer Stacey Jordan told city council at a workshop meeting that the budget had been prepared to build up departments and meet current and future needs, prioritizing police, fire, neighborhood services and economic development. The budget document itself says the goals of these departments are hoping to impact traffic enforcement, job creation, developing business wealth in the community, tourism, improved code and building inspections, permitting, street cleaning and maintenance, grounds facilities maintenance and field upgrades for parks and recreation. These are the areas that will produce the most immediate and long-term improvements, Jordan said. Those objectives largely align with the priorities of previous years. Correcting the citys overwhelming number of blighted structures, furthering economic development and increasing tourism have been priorities for the past several years. In this preliminary budget, about 23 cents of every tax dollar is spent on public safety, 20 cents on social services, 13 cents on the schools, 10 cents for general government, seven cents on constitutional officers, six cents on public works and the remaining 21 cents on things like the courts, community affairs, debt and non-departmental spending. The current budget was balanced using a lowered tax rate of $1.27. Petersburg has long had one of the highest tax rates in the state, most recently at $1.35 per $100 of assessed value. With property values increased 13% across the city this past year, Petersburg is considering a lower tax rate. Story continues Localities can only collect 1% more revenue in real estate taxes over the previous year, per state law. The city could still petition to collect more than 1% before the end of this budgeting process. Should the tax rate remain at $1.27, yearly savings on the average assessed home value of $102,000 would be about $82 per year. Houses assessed at $250,000 would be about $150 per year. The current draft budget shows positions for 40 fewer full-time employees than the previous year, for a total of 613 full-time employees. Part-time employees also drop from 76 to 68. Departments scheduled to have the largest number of losses are Streets (-14 employees), Utilities (-12 employees), and Neighborhood Services (-5 employees). The library is earmarked for the highest numerical gain with 10 part-time positions budgeted. Transit is noted to get eight more employees and the circuit court is gaining five employees. Some of the existing employees are being shifted around. The City Managers Office lost two employees plus some funding. Those positions and money are planned for redistribution into economic development, plus a new Communications and Tourism department. Annual city spending for schools Petersburg City Public Schools had asked the city to increase its schools spending to $11 million. For the past two budgeting cycles, the city has spent $10 million on education. Superintendent Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin said the money could be used to help with staff raises. The schools ran a survey and asked what could be done to help with staff retention. In asking our staff the question regarding retention, number one thing they said is the need is compensation, Pitre-Martin said. And compensation that is equal to what they are seeing in other schools nearby. The governors preliminary budget includes a 5% pay raise for teachers across the state. The schools are planning an additional 1% pay raise for teachers with less than 10 years of experience, and an additional 2% for teachers with more than 10 years of experience. PCPS has been told by city staff that the expected transfer amount is going to be $10 million. The Schools are budgeting for about $10 million more in spending for FY2023 (total expenditures $58 million). Its overall revenues have increased by over $33 million, in part due to pandemic-related Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds that are $22.5 million higher than they were in FY2022. PCPS has a hefty capital improvement plan over the next five years, which ideally includes a new school construction for at least $26 million, though construction costs have likely ballooned since that cost was first quoted. Capital improvement schedule Capital upgrades are a serious need in the city. Last year's budget was the first to include a plan for capital improvement projects. Petersburg has implemented a policy to dedicate $500,000 into its capital improvement budget every year. That cumulative amount will be $1 million for FY2023. Several major facilities and equipment projects have been funded for FY2023. Many of these are helped along by the first installment of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Major projects to be funded: $1.2 million rehabilitation of the former Social Services Building at 400 Farmer Street Funded through ARPA $1.4 million Rehabilitation funds towards the Southside Depot rehabilitation Funded through ARPA $200,000 City-wide Master Plan funded through ARPA $306,000 Parks rehabilitation through Parks and Recreation Funded through ARPA $450,000 - City Hall and City Hall Annex Renovations Funded through capital reserve $1 million Motorola radio systems upgrade used by first responders funded through capital reserve The city is also putting $750,000 away per year in order to pay a $3 million price tag to fix its court buildings which are in desperate need of repair. In total there are 42 projects planned for FY2023 totaling $18.8 million, all with dedicated funding sources. ARPA accounts for $6.9 million of that amount. The proposed budget and list of capital improvement items are still subject to change if city council opts for any adjustments. The FY2023 budget will go to a public hearing on April 19. The budget is scheduled to go to a vote that evening alongside the new tax rate. You can reach Sean Jones at sjones@progress-index.com. Follow him at @SeanJones_PI. Follow The Progress-Index on Twitter at @ProgressIndex. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg's proposed FY2023 budget includes lower real estate tax rate A Phoenix police vehicle on Dec. 7, 2021. A woman identified by Phoenix police as 40-year-old Maria Arballo was shot and killed early Thursday evening. Police received reports of a shooting near McDowell Road and Black Canyon Access at around 6 p.m., according to department spokesperson Sgt. Andy Williams. When officers arrived on scene, they found Arballo with a gunshot injury. She was taken to a hospital for treatment but later died as a result of her injuries, Williams said. Detectives are looking for evidence to piece together what led up to the shooting. The investigation was ongoing. Reach breaking news reporter Amaris Encinas at amaris.encinas@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @amarisencinas. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maria Arballo shot, killed near McDowell Road, Black Canyon Access Pittsburgh police are investigating a shooting in the Arlington neighborhood on Thursday afternoon. According to police, Zone 3 officers were dispatched to an apartment building on Cordell Place at around 4:15 p.m. Once on scene, officers located a man with a gunshot wound to his right leg. The victim told police he was exiting the apartment building when another man began shooting. Officers were able to control the bleeding until paramedics arrived on scene. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital, and is said to be in serious condition. Police say the investigation is ongoing. There is no word on a suspect yet. Stay with Channel 11 for updates on this developing story. TRENDING NOW: Popular Washington County tavern a total loss after fire rips through it 2 arrested, charged in shooting death of 18-year-old in Pittsburghs Bon Air Several South Allegheny Middle School students sickened from drug-laced edibles VIDEO: Disturbing dashcam video showing moments leading up to the murder of Uber driver released in court DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts (YouTube) An American couple birdwatching through Mexico captured the moment they say armed drug cartel members pulled them over on a remote dirt road. YouTubers Aaron Payzant and Logan Howard went viral after their reactions were shared in TikTok videos this week. The pair described the moment on their channel, Out Off the Trail, that was part of an extended road trip from their home in Indiana to the southeast of Mexico to photograph birds. Dash camera footage showed the couple lost and confused as to which direction to drive when a pickup truck sped up behind them as they drove through Tobasco, between the Gulf of Mexico and the Guatemala border. "Oh my God, they have guns, Jesus!" Mr Payzant, who is driving, says as Mr Howard starts urging him to "go, go, go". (YouTybe) "No, no, no", Mr Payzant replies as he pulls over and the group of at least five men approach with guns drawn. The pair plead "please, please, please no Espanol," as the unidentified men approach the side window and quickly identify the Americans as "gringos". "No problem, no problem, no problem, ok?" one of the men says, resting a reassuring hand on the Mr Payzants shoulder. Mr Payzant replies, "Please dont kill us". Mr Howard says hes going to pass out but is calmed down by one of the men, who introduced himself as Philip as they shook hands. Phillip seemed interested in helping the lost Americans find their way which they said was toward Cancun. They explained in a follow-up video that the men told them they werent allowed on that road, and pointed them back onto the highway. "We were looking for wildlife and we were just seeing what we could find in an area where there was a lot of wetlands and stuff like that," Mr Payzant said in the follow-up video. "They told me I needed to go straight, and turn right, and the very next road, they said if I keep going straight I wont survive. Theyll kill us. I dont think they were talking about them, but someone else further on. He said I need to get off this road, and dont get on them again." Story continues "Im not sure why they had a little bit of compassion, but I appreciate it," he added. They were let go, but due to the anxiety of the moment left the car in the deep south of Mexico as they made their way back to the US. They launched a GoFundMe to raise money for a return of their car to the US, which they were reunited with this year - two years after leaving it behind during the 2020 trip. Rockford police ROCKFORD Two men wanted in connection with two separate shooting investigations were found in Dallas, Texas, police announced Thursday. One of the shootings was a homicide that took place Sept. 26, 2020, when DaMavlee Macklin, 25, was in a vehicle and was shot multiple times near Auburn Street and Rockton Avenue. A warrant for first-degree murder was issued for Zion Jones, 23, of Rockford, in January 2021. Jones was found by the U.S. Marshals Northern Texas Fugitive Task Force on Feb. 26 in Dallas, Texas. On March 11, He was booked into the Winnebago County Jail where he is being held on $2 million bond. More: 2 killed in separate shootings in Rockford The other shooting occurred about 10:40 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the Marathon Gas Station at 3299 S. Alpine Road. The shooting victim's wound was not life-threatening. Delaneo Love, 35, of Rockford, was identified as a suspect and a warrant for attempted murder and other charges was issued. Fugitive task force found Love in Dallas, Texas, on Feb. 26, as well. He also was booked into the Winnebago County Jail where he is being held without bond. In addition to attempted murder, Love is charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, unlawful use of a weapon by a gang member and aggravated discharge of a weapon. It is unknown if Jones and Love knew each other and what their connection was to Dallas. Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Police: Two Rockford shooting suspects found in Dallas Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were prepared to arrest Will Smith after he slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage. Smith, 53, faces disciplinary action over the altercation with Rock, which was prompted by the comedians joke about the appearance of Smiths wife Jada Pinkett while he was onstage at the Oscars ceremony on Sunday (27 March). The actor shocked the live audience at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles when he strode on stage and hit Rock across the face with an open hand. Smith then returned to his seat, yelling at Rock to keep Pinkett Smiths name out of his f***ing mouth. Smith has since released an official statement apologising to the comedian. Now, Oscars producer Will Packer has revealed in a forthcoming interview on Good Morning America that the Los Angeles Police Department told Rock they were prepared to arrest Smith, adding that the slap amounted to battery. They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip from the interview which was released by ABC on Thursday (31 March). They said we will go get him. We are prepared. Were prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options, he continued, adding that Rock was very dismissive of the idea. He was like, No, no, no, Im fine, Packer said. And even to the point where I said, Rock, let them finish. The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, Would you like us to take any action? And he said No. Packer has previously described the moment when Smith struck Rock as very painful for him to watch, after one of his tweets was criticised online. Shortly after the Oscars ceremony was concluded, Packer tweeted: WelpI said it wouldnt be boring. Black people have a defiant spirit of laughter when it comes to dealing with pain because there has been so much of it. I dont feel the need to elucidate that for you, Packer tweeted, addressing his critics. But I also dont mind being transparent and [saying] that this was a very painful moment for me. On many levels. Story continues The LAPD after Sunday night's ceremony said that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to press charges against Smith. However, the department declined to comment on Thursday on Packer's interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning (1 April) in the US. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Wednesday (30 March) said it had initiated disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations of its code of conduct. Pending investigation, Smith could be suspended, expelled or otherwise sanctioned. Without giving specifics, the Academy also revealed that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony but refused to do so. The Academy said: We recognise we could have handled the situation differently. Will Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage at the 94th Academy Awards on 27 March after the comedian joked about the appearance of Smiths wife Jada Pinkett (AP) Following that announcement, the Academys impotent indecision was criticised online with one user tweeting: I am used to impotent indecision from the Academy leaders at this point. But the idea that they made the call decisively and then failed to execute it is almost the worst version of the story I can think of. Not only did Smith not leave the ceremony, he went on to be awarded with the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in King Richard just minutes after the incident. Find the full list of 2022 Oscar winners here. See the latest updates and reactions from the dramatic ceremony here, and read about the biggest talking points here. Additional reporting by Associated Press Amita Health, one of the largest hospital systems in Illinois, has officially broken into two parts, hospital officials said Friday. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Amita Health, one of the largest hospital systems in Illinois, has officially broken into two parts, hospital officials said Friday. Amita first announced in October that the organizations behind Amita AdventHealth and Ascension would unwind their partnership, dividing Amitas 19 hospitals into two separate systems. The split became official Friday, with 14 of the hospitals now operating under Ascension Illinois and the others part of AdventHealth. Advertisement Its a rare example of a system breaking into pieces at a time when many other hospital systems are trying to grow through mergers and acquisitions. Amita said in a news release in October that it was splitting up after leaders of Ascension and AdventHealth determined that going forward separately is in their collective best interest in order to more nimbly meet the changing needs and expectations of consumers in the rapidly evolving health care environment. Advertisement Spokespeople for Ascension and AdventHealth said the systems leaders were not available for interviews Friday. Ascension is a massive Catholic health system with 142 hospitals in 19 states and the District of Columbia. AdventHealth, affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has more than 50 hospital campuses and hundreds of care sites in nearly a dozen states. The 14 Ascension hospitals in Illinois will now operate under Ascension Illinois, and their names will change accordingly. For example, Amita Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center Elk Grove Village will now be known as Ascension Alexian Brothers, and Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center Chicago will now simply be called Ascension Resurrection. Other Ascension hospitals include: Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates; Ascension Alexian Brothers Rehabilitation Hospital in Elk Grove Village; Ascension Holy Family in Des Plaines; Ascension Mercy in Aurora; Ascension St. Alexius in Hoffman Estates; Ascension St. Francis in Evanston; Ascension St. Joseph - Chicago; Ascension St. Joseph - Elgin; Ascension St. Joseph - Joliet; Ascension St. Mary - Chicago; Ascension St. Mary - Kankakee; and Ascension Womens and Childrens in Hoffman Estates. The four AdventHealth hospitals will include those formerly called Amita Health Adventist Medical Center Bolingbrook, Amita Health Adventist Medical Center GlenOaks, Amita Health Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale and Amita Health Adventist Medical Center La Grange. Those hospitals are being renamed AdventHealth Bolingbrook, AdventHealth GlenOaks, AdventHealth Hinsdale and AdventHealth La Grange, respectively. Former Amita chief operating officer Thor Thordarson has been appointed president and CEO for the Great Lakes Region of AdventHealth, which includes the Illinois hospitals. Amita President and CEO Keith Parrott is now Ascension Illinois Ministry Market Executive. Amita was a joint operating company formed by Adventist Midwest Health and Ascensions Alexian Brothers Health System in 2015. In 2018, 10 Presence Health hospitals joined Ascension, becoming part of Amita. lschencker@chicagotribune.com Get Ready for a Border Surge the Likes of Which Our Country Has Never Seen Before, Warns FAIR PR Newswire WASHINGTON, April 1, 2022 WASHINGTON, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) in response to the Biden administration's announcement that Title 42 will officially end on May 23: The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is a national, nonprofit, public-interest, membership organization of concerned citizens who share a common belief that our nation's immigration policies must be reformed to serve the national interest. Visit FAIR's website at www.fairus.org . (PRNewsFoto/FAIR) "The Biden administration's decision to end Title 42 without an adequate back-up plan is yet another example of their contempt for public health, safety, and national sovereignty. This is an unprecedented invitation to chaos at the border. "Having abandoned or sabotaged nearly every form of deterrence against illegal immigration as part of their political goal of open borders, the Biden administration's continued use of Title 42 has served as the only tool preventing nearly every border crosser from being released into the United States. "Since the day President Biden was sworn in, open borders activists and policymakers within his administration have pressed for the elimination of Title 42. They viewed it not as an essential public health policy, but an obstacle to mass migration. They finally got their wish. "From a public health perspective, maintaining Title 42 is fully justified. Nearly a million Americans have died from COVID, and new outbreaks are raging around the world. By the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) own estimates, one million people would cross our borders within the first six weeks after Title 42 is canceled. Most of these people will be traveling in large groups and arriving from countries with low rates of vaccination. "The Biden administration has no strategy to deter or prevent the massive wave of illegal immigration that they know is coming once Title 42 is lifted. Thus far, their only efforts are geared toward managing the crisis they plan to unleash on the American public. Story continues "We all hope and pray that the day will come soon when Title 42 is no longer a necessary tool to protect public health. Likewise, the vast majority of Americans hope, pray and demand that the Biden administration honor its responsibility to secure our border and protect the public interest and safety by restoring the border and immigration enforcement policies they have systematically sabotaged." Contact: Preston Huennekens, 202-328-7004 or phuennekens@fairus.org. ABOUT FAIR Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/get-ready-for-a-border-surge-the-likes-of-which-our-country-has-never-seen-before-warns-fair-301516030.html SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) The new iteration marks the 11th installment in the long-running reality TV franchise The Real Housewives of Dubai is officially set to premiere in June and Bravo has announced a brand new, diverse cast for the latest and first international edition of The Real Housewives franchise. From Atlanta, Beverly Hills, and everywhere in between, Bravos popular Real Housewives franchise has taken viewers into various cities, introducing them to lavish women, fabulous parties, and all of the drama that comes with it. Real Housewives has expanded to new cities, including their latest hit, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Now the network has announced the release date and cast for their eleventh official installment: The Real Housewives of Dubai. As theGrio previously reported, Andy Cohen appeared on The Today Show to announce Real Housewives of Dubai last fall. He stated at the time, Everythings bigger in Dubai, and I couldnt be more excited to launch Bravos first international Housewives series in a city Ive been fascinated by for years, with an outstanding group of friends as our guides. By the looks of the teaser clip released by Bravo, this group is one of the most diverse we have seen in the franchise yet. Caroline Stanbury, who appeared in the now-canceled Bravo show Ladies of London is joined by new faces Nina Ali, Chanel Ayan, Caroline Brooks, Dr. Sara Al Madani, and Lesa Milan. Ayan, Dubais first Black supermodel is described as, a boss on and off the runway, in the press release. Milan, a successful fashion designer, is a former Miss Jamaica. And Brooks is a proud first-generation American and Afro-Latina with an appetite for business that is larger than life. Real Housewives of Dubai cast (Bravo) The Real Housewives of Dubai will premiere Wednesday, June 1 at 9:00 p.m. EST on Bravo. Check out the official series description below, per the press release: As the 11th city in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Dubai follows a powerful group of lavish women as they run business empires and expertly navigate a highly exclusive social scene within this ultra-luxe billionaires playground. Story continues Whether theyre dining on a mountainside overlooking a valley of 1,000 camels or hosting the wedding event of the year, these ambitious and glamorous women prove everything is more extravagant in the City of Gold. When new group dynamics threaten long-standing friendships, tensions inevitably reach a boiling point, so if you cant handle the heat get out of Dubai. TheGrio is now on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post The Real Housewives of Dubai announces cast, release date appeared first on TheGrio. Mar. 31Saying donated blood only lasts so long, the American Red Cross is holding several local blood drives in April, including many locally. As they always do, the Red Cross underscored the importance of donating blood. " It's important to remember donated blood has a limited shelf life, so supplies must be constantly replenished," the organization said in a press release announcing blood drives in the state. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. They can make an appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood. org or calling 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification that are required at check- in. To donate blood in Connecticut, donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. As a thank you, all who come to give blood to the local blood drives on April 1- 18 will receive an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. Many of the Red Cross' blood drives this month are in local towns, including: ? Storrs/Mansfield: Monday, April 4, 11 a. m. to 4: 45 p. m., UConn Wilbur Cross Reading Room, 233 Glenbrook Road; Tuesday, April 5, 11 a. m. to 4: 45 p. m., UConn Wilbur Cross Reading Room, 233 Glenbrook Road. Ashford: Tuesday, April 5, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, 565 Ashford Center Road; Chaplin: Friday, April 1: 10 a. m. to 3 p. m., Parish Hill High School, 304 Parish Hill Road. ? Willimantic; Monday, April 4, 1 to 6 p.m., Elks Club, 198 Pleasant St.; Tuesday, April 5, 11:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Eastern Connecticut State University, 83 Windham St.; Wednesday, April 6, 11: 15 a. m. to 5 p. m., Eastern Connecticut State University, 83 Windham St. Follow the Chronicle on Twitter @ thechroniclect. A maid cleans a window at a residence in Singapore. (PHOTO: Reuters/Nicky Loh) SINGAPORE Starting from 1 June, employers who terminate the employment of migrant domestic workers (MDW) within the first six months of hiring them will be entitled to at least a 50-per-cent refund of the service fees paid. The refund option will apply for up to three helpers that an employment agency places with that same employer. The employer can request for a replacement helper instead of a refund, if this is an option offered by the agency. INFOGRAPHIC: Ministry of Manpower The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a media release on Thursday (31 March) that this new measure seeks to encourage employment agencies to take "stronger ownership in achieving a good match between MDWs and employers". The service fee refund policy represents the shared responsibility of (employment agencies) and employers, and encourages both parties to spell out job requirements clearly so that candidates can be matched fittingly," said K Jayaprema, president of the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore). "AEA(S) is confident that it will reduce grievances and contractual conflicts between (agencies) and employers." Employment agencies will not be required to provide a refund if: There was no matching service provided by the agency, and it was engaged by the employer solely to perform administrative work required to hire the helper; The employer breaches any employment laws or commits any offence against the helper; The helper was hired as a caregiver, and the caregiving need no longer exists. Employers who are seeking a refund will need to inform their agencies before the helper's employment is terminated. This would allow the agencies to speak to both the helper and the employer so as to understand the reasons for termination. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Two leaders of an extremist religious sect have been sentenced to 12 years each in federal prison for kidnapping two Sullivan County children and smuggling them into Mexico. The children a 14-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy were found and returned to their mother in Woodridge, federal officials said. The girl, a niece of convicted kidnapper Nachman Helbrans, was brought to her "husband" living in Mexico in 2018, prosecutors said in a news release. The children and their mother escaped after several months. Federal prosecutors: Two Lev Tahor extremist leaders sentenced to prison Arrested: Leaders of extremist Jewish sect charged with kidnapping two kids in New York Helbrans, 40, and Mayer Rosner, 45, were each sentenced for child sexual exploitation offenses and kidnapping. They were convicted in November 2021 after being indicted in December 2019. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan described Helbrans and Rosner as "leaders of an extremist religious sect called Lev Tahor." Both men were convicted after a four-week trial of smuggling the children across the U.S. border into Mexico, where the girl's husband was allowed to continue his illegal sexual relationship with her, U.S. Attorney General Damian Williams said in a news release. No mother should ever have to wake up to find her children missing," Williams said Thursday. "And no child should ever be forced into a sexual relationship." Williams said the dual "sentencings send a clear message: those who kidnap and sexually exploit children will be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law." Helbrans became the leader of Lev Tahor around 2017 and Rosner became his top lieutenant, the federal prosecutor's office said. Lev Tahor has been found operating in several jurisdictions, including New York, Israel, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala. Helbrans and Rosner have ties to the Hasidic Jewish communities in Rockland and Sullivan counties. Spring Valley police and the Rockland Sheriff's Office assisted federal authorities with the investigation. Story continues Lev Tahor's founder Shlomo Helbrans drowned in July 2017 while performing a ritual immersion in a river in Mexico at the age of 54. An Israeli anti-Zionist and once a Satmar Hasidic Jewish follower, Shlomo Helbrans served several years in federal prison for the kidnapping of Brooklyn teenage Shai Fhima Reuven, then 13, in 1994. Fhima, whom Helbrans was preparing for his Bar Mitzvah, had been missing for 18 months before he reappeared in Rockland. A fierce Rockland County Family Court battle erupted when a rabbi living in the county wanted custody of Fhima from his mother. Some Satmar leaders over the years have renounced Helbrans and his group. The group's exploits have made newspapers in Israel. Nachman Helbrans, a United States citizen, arranged in 2017 for his then-12-year-old niece to be married to an 18-year-old man. Prosecutors said they were never legally married. Lev Tahor leadership, including Helbrans and Rosner, required young brides to have sex with their husbands, to tell people outside Lev Tahor that they were not married and to lie about their ages, prosecutors said in the news release. The girls were required to deliver their babies at home, not in hospitals. In order to kidnap the children, prosecutors said, Helbrans and Rosner used disguises, aliases, drop phones, fake travel documents and an encrypted application. At the time of the kidnapping, Lev Tahor leadership was seeking asylum for the entire Lev Tahor community in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Helbrans' niece and nephew escaped Lev Tahor's Guatemala compound with their mother in 2018 and settled in New York. In November 2018, a Brooklyn Family Court granted the mother sole custody of the children and prohibited the father, a leader within Lev Tahor, from communicating with them. After the two children were found in Mexico and returned to New York, Lev Tahor members in 2019 and 2021 again tried to kidnap the children but were unsuccessful, prosecutors said. Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com. Twitter: @lohudlegal. Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Religious extremists get 12 years in prison for kidnapping children Ella Goodie's car has been found but authorities are still searching for the ride share driver who has been missing since March 9. Goodie's car was found Friday morning by the St. Joseph Police Department in Missouri, according to the Louisiana State Police. Brandon Francisco, a person of interest in Goodie's disappearance, was arrested by U.S. Marshals on March 25 in St. Joseph, which is about 55 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, near the Kansas-Missouri state line. Francisco was wanted on an active warrant from Rapides Parish that is unrelated to Goodie's case. Past coverage: Person of interest in rideshare driver Ella Goodie's disappearance arrested on Rapides warrants A warrant was issued after Francisco failed to appear for a March 9 hearing. Prosecutors wanted the Mansura man's bond revoked in connection with a 2018 shooting case. That warrant was issued the same day Goodie was last seen. He also was charged by Missouri authorities with unlawful possession of a firearm, according to court records. He was denied bond on March 26 after a judge ruled he "is a danger to the community and no conditions of release will secure the community's safety," according to court records. He has filed a motion for a bond reduction and is expected to appear again before a Missouri judge next week. Goodie has not been seen or heard from by her family since March 9. Her sister-in-law posted in a now-deleted Facebook post that the 32-year-old was driving for a rideshare company and was headed to Texas to drop off a customer. The Scott Police Department is searching for 32-year-old Ella Goodie who has been missing since March 9, 2022. Scott Police Chief Chad Leger said Goodie's 2012 Audi Q5 with Texas license plate NRN6551 was seen on Interstate 10 driving toward Texas. About 12 hours later, traffic cameras saw her vehicle coming back into Louisiana. But the next day the vehicle was located back in Texas, North of Dallas, KLFY reported. Goodie is a 5-foot, 3-inch Black woman who weighs about 170 pounds. She was last seen wearing a denim jacket and blue pants. Story continues In other news: UL, seafood, culture and diversity highlighted as Acadiana recruits international businesses The Scott Police Department asked for help locating Francisco on March 16 and said he may have been the last person to have contact with Goodie. Leger said Francisco is not a suspect in the case because the department is not investigating a crime in connection with Goodie's case. The Scott Police Department announced on March 18 that the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service would help in the search for Goodie. Louisiana State Police issued a statewide news release asking for help locating Goodie on March 29. Anyone with information about Goodie's whereabouts should call the Scott Police Department at 337-233-3715 or a local law enforcement agency. Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Ride share driver's car found; police still search for Ella Goodie Starting next week, robots will be delivering food and coffee in Charlotte. They are all named Geoffrey and people will find them around the Plaza Midwood neighborhood, beginning Monday. There are many people, whether they are working in businesses or at home working, that dont have the time to come and buy coffee. This is an excellent opportunity to interact with the coffee shop and these robots, said Todd Huber with Undercurrent Coffee. The Canadian robotics company Tiny Mile created the robots. ALSO READ: Skyrocketing gas prices impact local rideshare, delivery drivers The robots, which are equipped with a 360-degree camera and safety sensors, are controlled by remote workers who are able to watch where the robots are going. Geoffrey is just like I said, hes your modern-day friendly postman in pink. Its just the next iteration of kind of that delivery guy, and theres a human face behind it, said Sharif Virani with Tiny Mile. The robots can operate in the rain and even in up to a little more than two inches of snow. We look forward to empowering the restaurants and retail businesses of Charlotte with our low-impact and affordable neighborhood delivery, said Omar Elawi with Tiny Mile. ALSO READ: Couple brings Lulus flair to new restaurant in Plaza Midwood Tiny Mile promises they are friendly robots. Those within a one-mile radius of Plaza Midwood who want food or coffee delivered by Geoffrey can plan an order through the Odeko app. The company plans to add more restaurants through the two-month trial period. In Charlotte, we are embracing new technologies and welcoming the future of innovation with open arms, said city council member Malcolm Graham, chair of the citys Economic Development Committee. The pilot project will put this concept to the test and determine if it should be expanded to other areas of the city. (WATCH BELOW: Your704 checks out Midwood Guitar Studio) Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images Germany has activated an emergency plan to cope with disruptions to its natural-gas supply. Europe's largest economy is heavily reliant on Russia for natural gas. Germans will have to ration natural gas if supplies fall short. Germany Europe's largest economy has activated an emergency plan to deal with disruptions to its natural-gas supply after Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded payment in rubles. Russian gas accounted for 55% of Germany's gas imports in 2021 and 40% of its gas imports in the first quarter of 2022, Reuters reported. Germany is in the "early warning phase" of its emergency plan, with Berlin calling all consumers from industry to households to conserve energy and reduce consumption. If the situation worsens, the country may start rationing gas in the last of the three-stage plan, as outlined by Germany's economy ministry. "There are no supply bottlenecks at present. Nevertheless, we need to step up our preventive measures in order to be ready to cope with any escalation by Russia," Robert Habeck, Germany's economy minister, said in a statement on Wednesday. On Monday, the Group of Seven rejected Putin's demands for gas supplies to be paid in rubles, citing a breach in existing agreements. But on Thursday, Putin signed a decree requiring countries importing Russian gas to pay in rubles from April 1 and threatened to cancel existing contracts of those that didn't comply, Reuters reported. Putin's decree came a day after he told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that the country could pay for gas in euros, Reuters reported, citing a German government spokesperson. The spokesperson added, "Scholz did not agree to this procedure in the conversation, but asked for written information to better understand the procedure," Reuters reported. Imposing gas rations would hit the German economy badly. Under the country's emergency plan, industry would be first in line for supply cuts. The move could devastate the economy and lead to job losses, business leaders and unions told the German media outlet DW. Story continues A union leader from BASF the world's largest chemical-maker told DW that all 40,000 employees in the key production site in the western city Ludwigshafen would have to be put on shorter working hours or be laid off. "The consequences would not only be reduced work hours and job losses, but also the rapid collapse of the industrial production chains in Europe with worldwide consequences," said Michael Vassiliadis, the president of Germany's IG BCE chemical workers union and a BASF supervisory board member, DW reported. Last week, Germany pledged to end the use of Russian gas in 2024, Reuters reported, citing Habeck. Read the original article on Business Insider Leo Rodriguez browses the shelves at Uncharted Books in Andersonville on March 31, 2022. The store continues to require masks. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Although Chicago dropped its mask mandate several weeks ago amid plummeting COVID case counts, face coverings are still required at Uncharted Books in the Andersonville neighborhood. The manager of the rare and used bookstore said theres still tremendous uncertainty about the long-term trajectory of the virus and whether more outbreaks are on the horizon, so wearing masks seemed like a minor sacrifice to protect the health of staff and customers. Advertisement The masks are ultimately a small thing to keep us safe and take those preventive measures until it seems more clear what the long-term COVID strategy looks like, said manager Francis Van Ganson. We just want everyone to feel comfortable. I see no reason to change policy when its still unclear where things are going. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday declared the COVID-19 subvariant BA.2 often dubbed stealth omicron the dominant strain in the United States. The subvariant has spurred surges internationally and reigniting worry that the United States might also face another wave of infections, roughly two years after the first COVID stay-at-home orders and lockdowns went into effect. Advertisement The BA.2 omicron subvariant now accounts for a little over half of all COVID infections in Chicago, said Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady during a Facebook Live talk on Thursday. That means that were watching especially closely now because historically when we have seen a variant or a subvariant move to predominance meaning that it is more than 50% that sometimes has signaled an additional surge, she said. While Chicago has experienced a slight uptick in infections this week 235 cases compared to 172 the previous week, and a positivity rate of 1.4% compared to 0.9% the week before Arwady said community transmission remains low. Im very happy as long as its under 2%; thats considered fully controlled, she said. She added that theres no immediate need to bring back mask mandates and other pandemic protocols, though that could change in the event of another surge. A sign posted on the door notes that masks are required at Uncharted Books in Andersonville, March 31, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) The city is following CDC metrics that determine risk based on levels of community transmission. Cook County now falls under the green category, which indicates low transmission and lower risk of infection. The ratings take into account a combination of three measurements: new COVID hospital admissions based on population, the percent of staffed inpatient beds used by COVID patients and total new cases based on population in the prior week. If the area were to reach the next-highest yellow level, Arwady said that might be time to revisit possible mask mandates. The omicron subvariant has fueled ongoing surges in parts of Asia, Europe and much of Australia. While a few counties in the U.S. are experiencing outbreaks, much of the nation remains unscathed so far. Advertisement But genetic surveillance indicates a growing prevalence of the subvariant in the U.S., which accounts for around 70% of cases in the some parts of the Northeast. President Joe Biden on Wednesday called on Congress to pass billions of dollars in additional funding to fight COVID-19, just before getting his second booster shot. The additional booster was cleared Tuesday by the Food and Drug Administration and CDC for those 50 and older, at least four months after their last vaccination. But now, just as weve reached the critical turning point in this fight, Congress has to provide the funding America needs to continue to fight COVID-19, he said. This isnt partisan. Its medicine. At a Thursday congressional subcommittee hearing titled The new normal: preparing and adapting for this next phase of COVID-19, one physician lamented that the nation has underinvested in health measures to combat the virus, which has killed more than 6 million internationally so far. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, vice provost of global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, said he has worked with about two dozen American health leaders over the past few months to craft a road map for the nations fight against COVID-19. These measures includes creating a viral dashboard to determine when we need to impose public health protocols and when they can be lifted safely. Metrics would include vaccination rates, prevalence of the virus, immunity in the community, wastewater testing, how close the surge is to peaking, how much the virus is burdening health care systems, and local death rates. Advertisement Truth be told, were not there yet, Emanuel said. We need a surveillance system that is bolstered up. He called for more funding to improve indoor air quality, particularly in schools and child care centers, as well as more money for vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. He also urged more resources to understand and treat long-haul COVID, cases where patients have symptoms that linger for months or even years after infection. This is how were going to prevent serious complications from the next surge or the next virus that comes along, he said. Leo Rodriguez puts on a mask as he arrives to shop at Uncharted Books in Andersonville on March 31, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Also at the hearing, DuPage County Health Department Executive Director Karen Ayala asked for more investment in electronic data sharing between health care systems and federal leadership, so public health systems can better collect, analyze and report back information to their communities. She added that the recent increase in at-home tests poses additional surveillance and monitoring problems, since these results often go unreported to public health agencies. A new challenge around data infrastructure is related to the rapid rise in at-home tests, in the absence of a robust reporting and surveillance system to capture these results and information about those testing positive, she said. Advertisement While Chicago and much of the nation saw a rapid rise in the original omicron variant earlier this year, the increase in the stealth omicron subvariant has been at a slower pace, said Hannah Barbian, a virologist at the Regional Innovative Public Health Laboratory at Rush University Medical Center. The lab opened about a year ago to track and trace COVID variants across the city, and now tests about 150 positive samples provided by local hospitals each week. Within a month or so of first detection, the omicron variant accounted for nearly 100% of cases, whereas the stealth omicron subvariant has been around for a few months and its just now reaching 50% prevalence, she said. So its not increasing in prevalence as quickly as (the original omicron variant), Barbian said. She added that the omicron subvariant is in many important ways genetically similar to the original omicron variant, in terms of severity of disease and the effectiveness of COVID vaccines. If you are vaccinated and boosted, you are still very well-prevented from having a severe infection, she said. Advertisement Arwady had also noted that people who were previously infected with the original omicron variant had good protection against the stealth omicron subvariant, according to numerous studies. Wearing masks, social distancing and vaccination are all preventive measures that can help in the event of future surges, Barbian said. Its always good to know that we already have the tools to deal with another wave, she said. Because I think we can expect that even if the other wave doesnt come now, another wave will likely come in the future. National surveys indicate many Americans have moved on from these pandemic protocols. About a quarter of Americans are extremely or very worried about themselves or a relative being infected with COVID-19 while 43% are not at all or not too worried, according to a late March poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Chicago. This was down from 36% who expressed worry in January amid a spike of cases spurred by the original omicron variant. The survey found 44% often or always wear a face mask around people outside their homes, a decrease from 65% in January. Just 47% reported regularly staying away from large groups compared to 65% in January. Advertisement However, another national poll indicated that the public is still divided on lifting many COVID restrictions, and many Americans would be willing to return to pandemic precautions if cases start to spike again. An Axios-Ipsos survey released March 14 showed that 21% of Americans believe the nation should get back to life as usual without restrictions, while 29% preferred to move in that direction with some precautions, 23% preferred mostly keeping requirements in place and 21% favored increasing mask and vaccine mandates. A little over half of respondents supported businesses requiring proof of vaccination while about 48% opposed these measures, according to the poll. The survey also found that 74% of Americans say theyre likely to wear a mask outside the home if COVID-19 surges in their community again. As for Uncharted Books, the business said it has received a lot of customer support for its no-nonsense approach to masking. These policies are strict, and we have no tolerance nor patience for violations, the bookstores website says. No complaining allowed. Customers are required to correctly wear masks. If youre being weird about it, well kick you out. Advertisement I honestly have been really relieved about how open people have been about continuing to wear masks, Van Ganson said. It feels better to err on the safe side and make sure all of our customers feel safe entering the store. The Associated Press contributed. eleventis@chicagotribune.com Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty As a mixed-race man living in Moscow, life for 30-year-old film producer and actor Jean-Michel Shcherbak was not always easy. But through all of the hardships he has faced in his life, there was one person he always thought he could lean on: his 63-year-old mother, Marina, a linguistic scientist and staunch Orthodox Christian. She raised him alone as a single mom, taught him to be smart, to work hard, and to avoid conflicts. She always reassured him that he would never have to worry about his futurebecause she would always be there for him. But his loving mother is also a passionate supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Back in 2018, she did not speak to her son for two weeks after he refused to vote for Putin in Russias presidential elections. Eventually, they reconciled. That is until Shcherbak took a stand against Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine. Shortly after the Russian army was deployed to Ukraine last month, Shcherbak wrote in a post on Instagram, that he felt scared, hurt and ashamed of the Russian offensive in an open letter to his many friends in Ukraine. His statement deeply damaged his relationship with his mother, who, after seeing the post, called him a traitor and cut all ties with him. Marina, Scherbak says, is convinced that her son is a supporter of what she refers to as the fascist powers in Ukraine. My mother wrote to me that there would be no traitors in her family, that she does not want to have anything to do with a russophobe like me and that our life paths now led in different directions, Shcherbak told The Daily Beast in a phone interview from Germany. He left Moscow in late February for a work trip, but has plans to eventually return to Russia. I have no doubts that my mother loves me and that she wants to save me, to protect me. But she is convinced that somebody has brainwashed me. Story continues Hundreds of people expressed their support for Shcherbak when he shared his mothers decision to denounce him as her son to his 25,000 Instagram followers. Many admitted they had experienced similar issues with their parents. My mother is just the same, actress Anastasia Lyovina wrote in a comment. That is what our parents are like. To them only America is bad and VVP [Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin] is a saint, another follower wrote. Our mothers have been zombified by propaganda, I am not discussing anything with my mother, read another comment. Russian Police officers run to detain a man holding a poster reads "No war" during a unsanctioned protest rally at Manezhnaya Square in front of the Kremlin, March 13,2022, in Moscow, Russia. Hundreds people were detained during an anti-war rally. Contributor/Getty Images There is a wide spectrum of political views in modern Russia, but according to a social study released by the independent Russian research organization Levada Center on Thursday, most Russians still disagree with the use of the word war to describe what is happening in Ukraine, choosing instead to believe that Putins so-called special operation is legitimate and justified. Putins Soldiers Caught on Tape Lamenting Losses and Blasting His Army of Stupid Morons The majority of respondents support the actions of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine, naming protection of the Russian-speaking population and border security among the motives for their support, read the report. Those who are against explain their attitude by the fact that violence and death of people are unacceptable. Even the most loving and tight knit Russian families are having painful fights over the war in Ukraine. Anna Zekria, a 42-year-old photo curator, told The Daily Beast she has always had healthy discussions with her 74-year-old father about political issues in Russia in the past. But this time around, things were drastically different. My father has always respected my political views, I am not even sure what happened. It was a sudden change, Zekriya told The Daily Beast on Thursday. My father is trying to convince me and my brother that geopolitics are more complicated than we know, that Putin had no choice but to invade Ukraine, that Nazis run Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian public officials appear to have made some progress in peace talks for the first time since the war began on Feb. 24. Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky declared this week that Russia would drastically reduce and de-escalate its combat operations in some regions of Ukraine. The war hawks of Russia have been raging over this most recent development. One of the Kremlins most prominent TV propagandists, Vladimir Solovyev, said that Medinskys words were insane and demoralizing. Putins faithful ally, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, called on Russian soldiers to finish what we started in Ukraine and enter the capital of Kyiv. The authorities have created a monster which is bigger than they expected and this monster hates the peace talks, so that the Kremlins bots have to calm this monster down, Zekria said. It is just scary to see how friends and family members demand to cleanse Ukraine, win the war, otherwise all our soldiers have died for nothing, they say. Destroyed Russian armored vehicles in the city of Bucha, west of Kyiv, on March 4, 2022. Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images Looking back at the events of the past month, Shcherbak said he felt empty about how his relationship with his mother fell apart. On Wednesday, he told The Daily Beast that he was struggling to understand Marina. How could a proud single mothersomeone who had brought him up to be brave, to have a critical mind, and to always avoid violencesomehow support the atrocities being committed in Ukraine? My mother is deeply convinced that the West is eager to see Russia fall apart, just like the USSRshe misses Soviet times very much, Shcherbak said. I am sorry I did not have a chance to travel more around the world with my mother, that I did not have a chance to show her France before she told me: You are not my son any longer. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Talks between Ukraine and Russia to stop fighting resumed as scheduled on Friday, as Ukrainian officials denied responsibility for a helicopter attack on a Russian oil depot. Russian officials accused Ukraine of the strike in the Belgorod region. If confirmed, it would mark the first Ukrainian airstrike on Russian soil. "Certainly, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's national security council, said the Russian claims do not "correspond with reality." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined to comment on whether he ordered the alleged attack during an interview on Fox News. Zelenskyy said he does not discuss any orders he issues as commander in chief. Russia continued withdrawing some of its troops from around Ukraine's capital Friday, though Ukrainian and Western officials have said Russian forces may be resupplying and shifting focus elsewhere. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that its attempt to evacuate residents in the besieged port city Mariupol failed but they would try again Saturday. "Today, our team tried to facilitate a safe passage out of Mariupol, the ICRC said in a Twitter statement Friday. "But had to return to Zaporizhzhia after conditions made it impossible to proceed. We will try again tomorrow. The city remained closed for entry and was very dangerous for people trying to leave, said Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to the mayor of Mariupol. He added that Russian forces had been blocking humanitarian supplies since Thursday, according to Reuters. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of people have made it out of Mariupol through humanitarian corridors, reducing the city's population from 430,000 to 100,000 by last week. USA TODAY ON TELEGRAM: Join our new Russia-Ukraine war channel to receive updates straight to your phone. Story continues THE NEWS COMES TO YOU: Get the latest updates on the situation in Ukraine. Sign up here Private vehicles carrying evacuees from Berdyansk and a few from Mariupol arrive at the registration center in Zaporizhzhia, where the International Committee of the Red Cross said it had a team of three cars and nine staff waiting to head out toward the besieged city of Mariupol from Zaporizhzhia, more than 200 kilometers away on April 1, 2022. Latest developments: Negotiations to stop the fighting between Russia and Ukraine resumed Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyys office said 86 Ukrainian service members were freed in the Zaporizhzhia region as part of a prisoner swap with Russia. The number of Russians released was not disclosed. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 153 children have been killed and 245 injured, according to a Telegram post from Ukraine attorney general's office on Friday. The most children have been injured in the Kyiv region. It will cost at least $10 billion to renew the Mariupol's' infrastructure due to damage caused by the war, the city council said in a Telegram post Friday. Mayor Vadim Boychenko said he would push for reparations from Russia to compensate for Mariupol and its citizens' suffering and damage. Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree Thursday demanding payment for natural gas in rubles but appeared to temper the order by allowing dollar and euro payments through a designated bank Pentagon announces $300 million more in military gear for Ukraine The U.S. Department of Defense announced Friday evening it will provide an additional $300 million in military equipment to Ukraine. "This decision underscores the United States' unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in support of its heroic efforts to repel Russia's war of choice," said John Kirby, Defense Department press secretary. Kirby said the equipment will include laser-guided rocket systems, unmanned aircraft, armored vehicles, weapons, ammunition, night vision gear and medical supplies. The equipment adds to the $1.6 billion in U.S. aid money to Ukraine since Russia's invasion began, he said. Ukrainian official says Mariupol still 'very dangerous' as citizens try to escape An attempt by humanitarian groups to remove civilians from the besieged port city of Mariupol failed Friday. A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross was planning to enter Mariupol to deliver emergency humanitarian aid and begin evacuating residents but had to return to Zaporizhzhia. The Mariupol city council said Friday that buses escorted by the Red Cross and State Emergency Service of Ukraine would take more than 2,000 citizens. The Russian military said it committed to a ceasefire between Mariupol and Zaporizhzhia. But Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to the mayor of Mariupol, said Friday the city remained closed for entry and was very dangerous for people trying to leave, according to Reuters. He added that Russian forces had been blocking humanitarian supplies since Thursday. "This effort has been and remains extremely complex," the ICRC wrote Friday on Twitter. Although the large effort on Friday failed, smaller groups have been able to leave the city via private transport, the New York Times reported, citing a statement from Iryna Vereshchuk, the deputy prime minister, on her Telegram page. Evacuees from Berdyansk and a few from Mariupol have been arriving at the registration center in Zaporizhzhia on private vehicles and buses carrying bags and pets, photos from the site show. Ella Lee and N'dea Yancey-Bragg WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND WHERE: Mapping and tracking Russia's invasion of Ukraine VISUALS: The devastation of Mariupol A woman carriers her terrier as she and others arrive at the registration center in Zaporizhzhia, where the International Committee of the Red Cross said it had a team of three cars and nine staff waiting to head out towards the besieged city of Mariupol. Ukraine disputes Kremlin claims about airstrike on Russian fuel depot Vyacheslav Gladkov, regional governor of Belgorod, wrote on Telegram on Friday that two Ukrainian helicopters conducted an airstrike late Thursday on the oil facility in Belgorod, about 21 miles from Russias border with Ukraine. Gladkov first wrote that two oil workers were injured but later said there were no victims. And Rosneft, the Russian oil firm that owns the fuel depot, said in a separate statement that no one was hurt in the fire, according to Reuters. Kyiv has denied any involvement in the attack. In this handout photo released by Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service on Friday, firefighters work at the site of a fire at an oil depot in Belgorod. "For some reason they say that we did it, but according to our information this does not correspond to reality," Ukraine's Security Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said on Ukrainian television. Tensions rise between Western nations and China Leaders in the European Union on Friday told Chinese President Xi Jinping that China would hurt its global reputation if it provides Russia with economic or military assistance. We called on China to end the war in Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel told reporters in Brussels after the meeting, according to the Washington Post. China cannot turn a blind eye to Russias violation of international law. While China says it is not taking sides in the conflict, it has declared a no limits partnership with Moscow, has refused to condemn the invasion, opposes sanctions on Russia and routinely amplifies Russian disinformation about the conflict, including not referring to it as an invasion or a war in keeping with Russian practice. American and European leaders aim to strike a difficult balance with China, both warning the nation over Ukraine and hoping to preserve a relationship. Meanwhile earlier on Friday, China accused the United States of instigating the war in Ukraine, saying NATO should have been disbanded following the break-up of the Soviet Union. As the culprit and leading instigator of the Ukraine crisis, the U.S. has led NATO to engage in five rounds of eastward expansion in the last two decades after 1999, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters at a daily briefing. Lijian added that the number of NATO members increased from 16 to 30, moving eastward and pushing Russia to the wall step by step. Ella Lee 16 US colleges to issue Ukrainian president honorary degrees A collection of 16 American colleges, one with Ukrainian roots, plan to issue honorary degrees to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Manor College, a private Catholic institution in Pennsylvania founded by Ukrainian nuns in 1947, said Zelenskyy exemplifies leadership through crisis and caring for his people worthy of the conferring of this degree," according to a news release. Manor College is pleased to announce we're conferring an honorary degree to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It's the first honorary degree we've ever conferred. https://t.co/85H79zDAoz Manor College (@ManorCollege) April 1, 2022 The other 15 colleges include Adrian College in Michigan, Bard College in New York, Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina and Shenandoah University in Virginia. The group is encouraging other universities to join them in elevating the profile of President Zelenskyys heroism and his courageous efforts to protect western civilization. Manor College said the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Philadelphia, Iryna Mazur, will accept the degree on Zelenskyys behalf. Alfred University president Mark Zupan asked the Ukrainian embassy if Zelenskyy would be able to receive the degree by video, according to the Democrat & Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. The embassy said no, given he is busy fighting a war. Chris Quintana Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia resume Friday Russia and Ukraine resumed negotiations online Friday. Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky published a picture of the talks underway, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office confirmed to The Associated Press that the negotiations had resumed. Meanwhile, Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, said the alleged attack on the Russian fuel depot "cannot be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for continuing the talks," Russian state media reported. The two countries held face-to-face talks Tuesday in Turkey as the United Nations pressed for a cease-fire in Russia's brutal invasion. The talks took place in the Turkish presidential office in Istanbul and lasted more than three hours, Russia's Tass agency reported. Tuesday negotiations failed to produce a breakthrough, leading President Joe Biden to pledge an additional $500 million in aid to Ukraine earlier this week. Celina Tebor How Ukrainian students in US are coping with war, thousands of miles away Marta Hulievska, a freshman student at Dartmouth College, has been organizing campus rallies to raise awareness about the war in Ukraine to keep her from reading the news and worrying about her family. Her mother, sisters and grandma were forced to flee to western Ukraine while her dad stayed behind in their hometown of Zaporizhzhia. "You kind of enter like this alternative world where you're not in America and you're not in Ukraine, you're like somewhere in between," she said, describing her experience as "second-hand PTSD." An estimated 1,700 college and university students from Ukraine are living in the United States. Unsure if they'll be able to return to Ukraine when their programs end, many are trying to find ways to stay in the country longer. "It is really hard to be going through a crisis in your country when you're not in your country," said Sarah Ilchman, co-president of the Institute of International Education. "Maybe there are people at home who were going to pay for their tuition and that's not there anymore." The IIE launched grants and scholarships to provide resources for students, Ilchman said. Campus offices are also facilitating emergency funding and offering mental health resources. Meanwhile, some institutions are helping students secure temporary protected status, which will shield them from deportation for the next 18 months. Read more here. N'dea Yancey-Bragg Russian troops depart Chernobyl after extended exposure Russian military troops departed the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear power plant early Friday, handing control back to Ukrainians. Moscow took control of Chernobyl over a month ago. According to Ukrainian officials, Russian troops destroyed a new laboratory at the plant working to improve management of radioactive waste that had highly active samples and samples of radionuclides" last week. Other reports indicated over 100 workers at the plant were stuck there for more than 12 days in early March after Russian forces seized it. Ukraines state power company, Energoatom, said the Russian pullout at Chernobyl was due to soldiers receiving significant doses of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. But there has been no independent confirmation of that. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were only military tactics. In a Friday press conference, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael M. Grossi, said he had spoken with Ukrainian and Russian nuclear officials but they did not discuss reports of Russia's troops experiencing radiation poisoning, according to the New York Times. Grossi added that radiation near the plant was "quite normal" but that there was a relatively higher level of localized radiation because of the movement of heavy vehicles. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine live updates: Red Cross Mariupol evacuations fail Kryviy Rih, Ukraine Russia accused Ukrainian forces of staging a daring air raid against an oil depot inside Russian territory Friday morning. The regional governor said two Ukrainian helicopters attacked the fuel facility in Belgorod, about 20 miles inside Russia, and video showed storage tanks in flames. A U.S. official confirmed to CBS News senior national security correspondent David Martin that Ukrainian helicopters did carry out the strike, and anther one a couple days earlier against an ammunition depot in the same area. The official told Martin there was concern in Washington about how Russia might react to the strikes. Ukrainian officials did not claim responsibility for the attack themselves, but as CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams reports, it was a significant move by Ukraine's forces. A video screengrab shows firefighters responding to a fire that broke out at a fuel depot in Belgorod, Russia, which the regional governor blamed on an attack by Ukrainian military helicopters on April 1, 2022. / Credit: Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations/Handout/Anadolu/Getty Russian forces have continued attacking Ukrainian cities. They were accused of blocking food and medical supplies from getting into the besieged southern port city of Mariupol on Thursday, and of blocking refugees from getting out despite Moscow agreeing to open a humanitarian corridor. Russia has pummeled Mariupol and other southern and eastern Ukrainian cities with artillery and airstrikes for more than a month, but attempts to push deeper into the country with ground forces hit a wall, and in some places, they've been pushed back. Just west of Zaporizhzhia, CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams met some of the Ukrainian forces who stood in their way. In the farming village of Mala Shesternia, as in most of Ukraine, the Russian soldiers were unwelcome invaders. The residents have fled, but Colonel Serhii Romashko told CBS News his men recaptured Mala Shesternia five days ago, killing some Russians and capturing others. Their clothes and shoes are still there, even their cooking pots. Romashko said the Russians were used as cannon fodder sent in with so little food that they looted from the locals. Story continues One of the most notable Russian movements this week was confirmed on Thursday by Ukraine's national nuclear plant operator, Energoatom, which said the last of the Russian forces that had occupied the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear plant had pulled out. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Russian troops who dug trenches in the still-contaminated forest around Chernobyl had been exposed to radiation, but there was no immediate confirmation of reports that many were sickened. The global nuclear watchdog agency, the IAEA, said Thursday that it was still assessing the situation at Chernobyl but it had "not been able to confirm reports of Russian forces receiving high doses of radiation" in the exclusion zone around the plant. The Russian troops from Chernobyl were reportedly headed toward Ukraine's border with Belarus. U.S. and British officials said this week that, while the Putin regime said it would "drastically reduce" military operations around Kyiv and the northeast city of Chernihiv to facilitate ongoing peace talks, Russia was really expected to regroup its battered forces in Belarus and other places under its control to stage a new offensive in eastern Ukraine's Donbas regions. As Williams reported, the Russians have war machines Ukraine can only dream of, but Ukraine's forces are destroying them, including two armored personnel carriers she saw on a single stretch of road near Mala Shesternia. Colonel Romashko told her three Russians miraculously escaped from one of the destroyed vehicles, and they're now being treated in a Ukrainian hospital. "We'll defeat them," he said. "I feel victorious." Ukraine's resistance has also driven back the Russians from the town of Irpin, just north of Ukraine's capital Kyiv. But the cost is clear to see, with a row of body bags lined up along a city street this week people slaughtered in what Vladimir Putin calls his "special military operation." In Mala Shesternia, the Russians also left behind deadly weapons, including a field carpeted with anti-tank mines. An undetonated rocket propelled grenade sat in the front yard of a home. Putin sent his soldiers in to capture a country that wants only to be free and his war is killing both Ukrainians and Russians. East Antarctica ice shelf collapses and scientists are worried Pizza restaurant owner accused of killing partner and hiding his body Humanitarian workers on the frontlines of the refugee crisis in eastern Europe Apr. 1CONCORD The Senate's top Republican said he is proposing a two-month suspension of the state's gasoline tax now that the latest growth in revenues indicates a record budget surplus. If approved, the gas tax suspension would begin May 1. Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, said the state treasury will reimburse the state's Highway Fund for the $26 million in gas tax revenue that won't be collected in May and June. "We look to be up above revenue forecast by $50 million alone for March. Thanks to the awful federal energy policy, our citizens are really hurting, and this is the best, most immediate way to give them relief," Bradley said during an interview. "There is clearly the surplus, and now is the time to do it." Bradley is offering his plan as an amendment to House-passed legislation that would cut the state's tax on business profits from 7.6% to 7.5% (HB 1221). The Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on that amendment next Wednesday. The move comes days after Gov. Chris Sununu pleaded with legislative leaders to act on a gas tax suspension as other states already were. Senate President Chuck Morse, R-Salem, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, had not endorsed a state gas tax suspension but was supporting this change, Bradley said. Morse said he'll speak in detail at next week's hearing. "Jeb has put this well-thought-out proposal together, and it's important we have a few days before the hearing to give folks notice if they want to come and weigh in," Morse said. "I'll be there." Previously, Morse was critical of U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, who proposed suspending the federal gasoline tax through the end of the year to give all drivers relief from soaring gas prices. Bradley contrasted this state tax suspension with the federal one Hassan backed. "When you have been in bed with the Green New Deal like she has, and you supported policies that raised our gas prices to the roof, then when you talk about a federal gas tax suspension, that's a gimmick," said Bradley, a former two-term congressman. Story continues Hassan has said her tax-cutting record includes doubling the research and development tax credit as governor and cutting taxes for small businesses hit hard during the pandemic in the Senate. "As governor and senator, I have successfully cut taxes many times, for small businesses, Gold Star families, parents, and New Hampshire start-ups," Hassan said in response to similar criticism from Gov. Chris Sununu. "As the governor knows, it is members of his own party including Chuck Morse who are blocking action to help bring down gas prices and provide Granite Staters with much-needed relief Hassan campaign spokesman Kevin Donohoe pounced on Morse's change of heart. "Senate President Chuck Morse finally caved, recognizing that Senator Hassan was right and that New Hampshire families need relief at the pump," Donohoe said. "It took weeks of pushing and pressure, but Senate President Chuck Morse has finally admitted what Senator Hassan has known for weeks: it's time to suspend the gas tax." Bradley's amendment makes clear that federal action to lower energy prices is most needed. "The general court recognizes that a temporary action like lowering gas taxes, while necessary, is no substitute for a long-term strategy of American energy production that will lower costs and enhance national security," the bill states. House budget writers previously offered, then dropped, two plans to give motorists some relief at the pump. One was a refund of the gas tax that residents could apply for and another was a $25 break on the annual motor vehicle registration fee. Officials with the state Division of Motor Vehicles told House leaders such a refund would have required it to hire nearly 100 temporary workers to process the checks. Bradley's plan would use surplus funds to give the Department of Safety $20 million and the Department of Transportation $6 million to cover its own losses in gasoline taxes during those two months. In a separate but related action, the Senate passed a bill (SB 401) to use surplus to increase spending on municipal bridge work by $36 million and municipal road repairs by $30 million. The amendment also doubles to $2 million a fund for matching grants to local and county law enforcement agencies that purchase body or dashboard cameras. Bradley said the Senate already approved in other legislation $24 million of "extraordinary needs" aid to targeted public schools, $13 million for wastewater projects and $5 million to increase nursing home rates. Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy said many of her colleagues in the minority party led the effort for these state aid programs. Sen. Jay Kahn, D-Keene, had pursued an increase for the body camera fund to $11.5 million. "While the appropriation put forward in SB 401 is still far short of the necessary amount needed for statewide implementation, it is a small step forward that I am happy to support," Kahn said. klandrigan@unionleader.com Screven Countian Julian Lewis was fatally shot on Aug. 7, 2020, by a state trooper. The family seeks federal intervention after a grand jury returned a "no bill" verdict for the charges of felony murder and aggravated assault against Jacob Thompson. A record-breaking settlement has been reached between the widow of Julian Lewis and the State of Georgia, after Lewis was shot and killed in 2020 by a Georgia State Patrol trooper. According to a release by Hall & Lampros law firm that represented Lewis' family, the $4.8 million tort settlement is the largest in Georgia's history based on state records dating back to 1990 and data provided by the Georgia Department of Administrative Services. Our hearts grieve for Betty Lewis, who lost her Golden Years with her husband because of unwarranted and unnecessary deadly force during what should have been a routine traffic stop, said Andrew Lampros, co-founder and partner at Hall & Lampros in Atlanta. The events of that August night should never have happened." In November, Lewis' family and his representation announced their intention to sue the state for $12 million for civil rights violations and Lewis' death. What happened to Lewis? Lewis, 60, was driving down Stoney Pond Road, a country dirt roadway in Screven County on Aug. 7, 2020, when Georgia State Patrol trooper Jacob Thompson began pursuing Lewis because of a non-functioning taillight on his vehicle. Thompson performed a PIT maneuver on Lewis forcing the vehicle into a ditch. Thompson then exited his cruiser and approached Lewiss car. Thompson said he feared for his life when Lewis revved his engine and wrenched the steering wheel. Thompson, who is white, shot Lewis, who is Black, killing him. Previous coverage: Was the officer charged? Lindsay Mae Milton, mother of Julian Lewis, receives a hug from attorney Mawuli Mel Davis on the morning of Sept. 16 at a press conference near the Stoney Pond Road site where Brook Bacon and others began a 63-mile walk to the Southern District U.S. Attorney's Office in Savannah. Thomson was dismissed from the Georgia State Patrol after being charged with felony murder and aggravated assault, but a Screven County Grand Jury chose not to indict him on June 28, 2021. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia announced in September that it was launching an investigation, in consultation with the FBI, into Lewis' death. The announcement came after a protest march by Lewiss family and activists demanding an investigation. Thursday, a spokesman for the office said it does not comment on an active investigation. Story continues A phone call made after 5 p.m. to the Office of the Attorney General of Georgia was not immediately returned for comment. More: Lewis family seeks justice, case presented to different grand jury This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Julian Lewis family reaches settlement in shooting by Georgia trooper Speech. Illustrated | iStock Free speech has been in the headlines, at least if you follow dispatches from the culture war. From conservatives denouncing cancel culture to progressives warning of educational censorship, nearly everyone is convinced their liberty to read, say, and publicize what they think is endangered. Some of these threats are very real, while others seem dubious. But it's worth stepping back from specific cases to consider how unusually strong American commitments to speech and expression still are by international standards. Many liberal democracies offer some constitutional protections, but the U.S. is an outlier in courts' application of those protections to include ostensible hate speech, unintentionally defamatory statements about public figures, and the expression of deeply offensive views such as Holocaust denial. Beyond the law, Americans also stand out for our overwhelming belief that controversial and provocative speech should be allowed. If Americans are worried about present conditions for free speech, it's partly because we're unusually certain free speech is important. Two events this week highlight the distinctiveness of American speech culture. One took place in Germany, where the federal Ministry of the Interior announced it is illegal to publicly support the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The prohibition isn't limited to posters, billboards, or other forms of public expression. It even extends to displays of the letter Z, which has become a symbol of support for Russia's war. Germany's restrictive approach which is consistent with its policy on Nazi symbols and paraphernalia may seem justified by its particular history. It's harder to explain the decision by prosecutors in Finland to charge a member of parliament and a bishop of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church with hate speech. Their offenses: The lawmaker wrote a pamphlet defending "biblical marriage" that was published by the bishop's church. Story continues To be fair, the charges were dropped on Wednesday, partly because the court ruled the intention was to express a religious belief rather than to "disparage homosexuals." But the fact that such charges could even be brought and that judges are entitled to impose criminal penalties based on their interpretation of a writer's motives should remind us how special and valuable our distinctive approach to speech really is. Educational and employment settings pose special challenges, yes. So do issues of obscenity, a category that courts have narrowed but not recognized as constitutionally-protected speech. But when it comes to core civic and religious activities, the First Amendment protects doctrinaires and dissenters, creators and cranks, fanatics and skeptics alike. Thank God for that. You may also like Ukraine's ambassador tells U.N. the 'demilitarization of Russia is well under way' Oscars co-host Amy Schumer says she's 'triggered and traumatized' by Will Smith's slap Why conservatives are so mad about Hunter Biden J.P. Wienerlort is a collaboration between three iconic Chicago food brands: J.P. Graziano, The Wieners Circle and Malort. (Chicago Tribune) In what might be the most Chicago announcement ever on an April 1 hint, hint three of the citys most iconic food and drink brands said Friday they would combine forces. J.P. Graziano, The Wieners Circle and Malort claim to be merging to form a single entity, J.P. Wienerlort. And boy, are we fools for the notion of an insult-slinging Italian deli-slash-hot dog stand with wince-inducing liqueur paired with every giardiniera-spiked hot dog. Advertisement Our companies dont seem like they have much in common, said Stephanie Warsen, director of marketing at CH Distillery and Jeppsons Malort. But when people think of Chicago, were authentic Chicago brands that people love. We have pride and loyalty to our city and the people who live here. Its true the three encompass some of the most raved-about institutions in the city. They rank among our top essential Chicago food and drink, and many consider them a rite of passage for newcomers and tourists. Advertisement J.P. Wienerlort is the April Fools' Day merger of J.P. Graziano, The Wieners Circle and Malort. (Madd Science Print Lab / HANDOUT) J.P. Graziano has developed something of a cult following among die-hard fans of its excellent Italian subs. The Wieners Circle is, as my fellow Tribune food critic Louisa Chu noted in her December review, Chicagos most notorious hot dog stand. And while the tongue lashing that is a shot of Malort is rarely craved by any Chicagoan, we nurture a begrudging fondness for it all the same. So, what culinary treasures would such a union yield? Italian subs filled with a wormwood-infused giardiniera? Cheese fries with a bitter aftertaste? Malort mayonnaise on your Mr. G? The possibilities are endless. [ Column: In Chicago, even Home Depot hot dogs are worth savoring ] Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Of the totally-not-a-prank merger, I am the one who is in awe, says Jim Graziano, the fourth-generation owner of J.P. Graziano in the West Loop, who has definitely never lied to me personally. Its really cool. Theyve rolled out a logo to celebrate this historic, if farcical, union, and a slogan to boot: The Realist Chicago, a spinoff of J.P. Grazianos Taste Real Chicago. You can even check it out on the website jpwienerlort.com. And while the merger may not be ironclad or real the three brands will unite for an event April 8 at The Wieners Circle (2622 N. Clark St. Taking place during the Chicago Cubs opening weekend, the night will feature a Malort bloody mary, rimmed with giardiniera seasoning, poppy seeds and mustard and topped with a mini version of those excellent char dogs. Also look out for J.P. Wienerlort shirts and beer koozies. Oh, and happy April Fools Day, to those celebrating. nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com Advertisement 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. Apartments at the 1900 block of West Sixth Avenue on Friday April 1, 2022 where police shot and killed a suspect after receiving a welfare check call. One person was shot and killed by police Thursday night after the person confronted responding officers with a knife, police announced during Friday morning's police briefing. Sioux Falls Police were called to the scene around 10:45 p.m. to make a welfare check on an individual at the 1900 block of West Sixth Street, Chief Jon Thum said. The subject was armed with a knife and "confronted" the officers on scene. De-escalation tactics were used including verbal warnings, non-lethal tools such as a taser and a 40 mm foam projectile fired from a non-lethal impact round launcher, Thum said. Those were unsuccessful, Thum said. Then a "physical altercation" happened and one officer fired their gun at the subject. The subject was taken to the hospital and later died from their wounds. Thum wouldn't give any information about the victim, including age or gender. Two officers sustained superficial cuts during the altercation and all are OK, Thum said. The police chief didn't specify if the cuts were the result of the knife mentioned earlier and said he couldn't go into detail about the injuries or weapon involved. Thum said the Sioux Falls Police Department were the only agency that responded to the call. In past incidents resulting in police shooting and killing a suspect, the incidents started off as stand-offs. Other agencies like the Minnehaha County Sheriffs Office and negotiators will show up on-scene, but that was not the case during Thursdays incident. As is policy, Thum said that the case would immediately be turned over to the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation. They'll do a "complete and comprehensive" investigation into if the shooting by the officer was justified. The officer have been placed on administrative leave per department policy, Thum said. In October, police shot and killed Elwood Dwyer after an hour-long standoff. DCI later found that shooting justified after completing their investigation. Story continues This story is developing. Check back later for more. More: Sioux Falls man arrested after 2 robberies, police say Follow Annie Todd on Twitter @AnnieTodd96. Reach out to her with tips, questions and other community news at atodd@argusleader.com or give her a call at 605-215-3757. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls Police officer shot and killed a person, chief Thum says A San Luis Obispo County man was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday on suspicion of rape and child molestation, according to a news release from the San Luis Obispo Sheriffs Office. Daniel Ramirez-Gutierrez, 36, was arrested after allegedly molesting his 11-year-old stepdaughter and raping the 11-year-olds mother, according to the release. On Monday, the child told deputies Ramirez-Gutierrez had been molesting her since she was five, and detectives began an investigation. The childs mother told deputies Tuesday that Ramirez-Gutierrez had been forcing her to have sexual intercourse and orally copulate him on a daily basis. She also said Ramirez-Gutierrez had packed up his belongings and left the home after becoming suspicious of the investigation into the allegations. Sheriffs detectives and agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security learned Ramirez-Gutierrez booked a one-way flight to South America on Wednesday, and arrested the suspect at LAX on a multiple-count felony arrest warrant. I am proud of the great work by our detectives which took a dangerous and predatory criminal off the streets, Sheriff Ian Parkinson said in the release. I am grateful for the close cooperation we had with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations to bring this case to a successful conclusion. Ramirez-Gutierrez was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of multiple charges, including lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 by force, continuous sexual abuse of a child, sexual intercourse or sodomy with a victim under 10-years-old, rape by force or fear and rape by threat of retaliation. Will Smith revealed what Denzel Washington said to him immediately after he hit Chris Rock at the Oscars. During the ceremony, which took place in Los Angeles on Saunday (27 March), Rock made a joke about Smiths wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, while he was presenting an award. Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, cant wait to see you, Rock said, seemingly referring to Pinkett Smiths shaved head. Last year, Pinkett Smith revealed that she had been diagnosed with alopecia. After the comedian made the quip, Smith walked onto the stage and hit Rock, before returning to his seat and shouting: Keep my wifes name out your f***ing mouth. Immediately after, fellow actors Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry could be seen speaking to Smith, appearing to console him. When Smith won Best Actor for King Richard approximately 15 minutes later, he referenced a piece of advice Washington had just given him during his tearful speech. Im being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people, Smith said. I know, to do what we do, weve gotta be able to take abuse. Youve gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, youve gotta be able to have people disrespecting you. Youve gotta smile and pretend that thats okay. He then revealed what Denzel said to me a few minutes ago, adding that Washington had told him: In your highest moments, be careful; thats when the devil comes for you. Smith has since issued an apology to the comedian. In a statement posted on Instagram, he said that he understands that jokes are part of his life as a public figure, and that violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. Denzel Washington consoled Will Smith after he hit Chris Rock on stage (AFP via Getty Images) On Wednesday (30 March), Rock said was still processing what happened during his first stand-up show since the incident. Sources close to the comedian have said he had no idea about Pinkett Smiths condition. Smith now faces possible suspension, expulsion or other sanctions from the Academy, which will be decided at its next board meeting on 18 April. Members include Whoopi Goldberg, Steven Spielberg and Laura Dern. Story continues The Academy has expelled five members in the past. Smiths actions have divided opinion in Hollywood and on social media, with a number of celebrities, critics and public figures including senators and British MPs offering their thoughts on the incident. Following the incident, a joke Rock made about Pinkett Smith at the 2016 Oscars resurfaced online. Also, in the week following the slap, footage showing both a dazed Rock and Pinkett Smith in the immediate aftermath surfaced online. Find the full list of 2022 Oscar winners here. See the latest updates and reactions from the dramatic ceremony here, and read about the biggest talking points here. South Korea is relaxing travel restrictions for fully vaccinated visitors starting on Friday, the Korea Tourism Organization announced. Travelers who are fully vaccinated and boosted will no longer be quarantined upon entry into South Korea, according to a Friday release from the organization. Overseas travelers will have to enter personal information and vaccine information into a Q-code website for verification. The exemption does not apply to visitors from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Myanmar, who must still quarantine for seven days. And all travelers arriving by plane must provide proof a negative COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure, the U.S. Embassy in South Korea said. The news marks a major relaxation for the country. In December, South Korea announced that all travelers, regardless of vaccinations status, would undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine upon entry. The Korea Tourism Organization said they were expecting a busy travel season. Airlines have already seen a surge in bookings for April, with many travelers keen to visit as soon as they can and while the cherry blossoms are in season, the organization said on March 23. The U.S. State Department has issued a level 4 do not travel advisory to South Korea because there is a high level of coronavirus transmission in the country. Last week, total infections in the country exceeded 10 million. South Korea reported its highest daily infection rates on March 16, when it recorded 621,205 cases. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. William Wild Bill Roberts goes over a document during his trial at the Lake County Courthouse in Tavares on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. [PAUL RYAN / CORRESPONDENT] TAVARES Witnesses Thursday in the sentencing phase of Wild Bill Roberts murder trial told horror stories about being attacked, including one woman who said he threatened to tear her genitalia off the frame while raping her. The woman, who is not being identified by the Daily Commercial, testified that she had lived with Roberts briefly but was attacked when she tried to leave. She said he ripped off her clothing and said: If youre not going to give it, Im going to take it. It was painful and humiliating, she said. She wiped tears from her eyes as she testified, especially when she said her 2-year-old son witnessed the attack. She was finally able to escape when a mutual friend pulled up in his vehicle and she left with the person. The woman reported the incident to authorities and was examined at Waterman Hospital. She suffered tearing and bruising, she said. However, she said, she became terrified he would come after her family, so she fled to West Virginia. Without her testimony, prosecutors had to be content with charging Roberts only with felony battery. The woman was just one witness who testified Thurdsay, as Roberts awaits his sentence life or death. Roberts was found guilty earlier this week of murdering his girlfriend, Elizabeth Hellstrom. The verdict: Judge finds 'Wild Bill' guilty of murdering his girlfriend, sentencing to start Thursday An unusual request: 'Wild Bill' Roberts asking for the death penalty he's not the first in Lake County More: 'Wild Bill' lawyer wants off the case; her client shuns efforts to keep him off death row 'There's a bullet with your name on it' Harvey Bolkam testified that he was attacked by Roberts in the Ocala National Forest in 2000. He said he was running deer with dogs when he came across three or four people drinking around a campfire, including young girls, who were about 14-years-old. He said he asked the group if he had seen his dogs, but soon found himself in an argument. When he tried to leave, he said Roberts and others chased him in a pickup truck, finally ramming him and getting hung up on his trailer hitch. Story continues The collision knocked him senseless for a moment. He said the next thing he knew, Roberts was in the truck with him and trying to gouge his eyes out with his fingers. They began struggling, and he pulled out a pocketknife and cut one of Roberts fingers. He got out of his truck, and I dont know if it was a stick or a pipe or ax handle, but he busted out my back window, he said. He said he ran and hid in the woods and watched as Roberts smashed his windshield, headlights, tore out the battery cables and spark plug wires from the distributor cap. He said Roberts took his keys. Deborah Vandiver testified that Roberts was a friend of her boyfriend in 2004 when he showed up at her house demanding that she get him on the phone. She refused, saying he was at work. Roberts then began waving a gun. He said hed hang me from a tree like other people in Lake County, or hed shoot me right then, said Vandiver, a Black woman. Instead of calling her boyfriend, she called 911. He left, but not before saying: Theres a bullet with your name on it. Dr. Wendy Lavezzi, the chief deputy medical examiner, also testified. Hellstroms numerous injuries all over her body suggests that she was alive and conscious while being beaten. Some injuries, especially separation of tissue on her abdomen, would have been excruciating, she testified. She conceded during cross-examination that it is possible a blow to her head might have immediately rendered her unconscious. The testimony goes to the heart of the states theory that the death was heinous, atrocious and cruel, a standard for the death penalty. Roberts insists that he and Hellstrom were beaten severely by a motorcycle gang, which would explain her injuries. He also had texted a friend to say that she had overdosed on pills and that he was looking for a place to bury her and commit suicide. His violent criminal past also makes him eligible for a death sentence. Roberts was sentenced to seven years in prison for aggravated assault with a weapon in a 2004 Volusia County case; 4 years in Orange County for armed burglary and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in 1985; and 2 years in Lake County in 2000 for burglary and assault in the forest case. 'That was stolen from her' The day also included heart-breaking victim impact statements. My mother is missed so much by myself and her grandchildren our lives are at a loss for words to even describe how much of a heartbreak her death has been for us all, said Ingrid Hellstrom, wiping her eyes with tissues. Ingrid Hellstrom, Elizabeth Hellstrom's daughter, testifies during the sentencing phase of "Wild Bill" Roberts' first-degree murder trial. He was found guilty of murdering Elizabeth, his girlfriend, in 2017. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. I will never again have or be able to hold and hug my mother ever again and tell he how much I love her and how badly I need her, she read from a prepared statement. My heart was ripped out the day I was told she died, friend Lisa Davis said. Ill never hear her voice, her laugh, or see her smile. Ill never be close to anyone like that again. She wanted to live and be with her daughters and grandchildren. That was stolen from her. A change of heart Roberts was simmering during the testimony, demanding that his attorney, Candace Hawthorne, ask specific questions, which she did. Finally, he told the judge that he wanted to testify. Im going to pull the sheet off the dog to let the fleas out, he said. However, over the lunch break, his attorneys talked him out of it, pointing out that prosecutors would have the chance to cross-examine him. Elizabeth Hellstrom, left, is shown in her last Facebook profile picture. Circuit Judge G. Richard Singeltary has ordered a presentence investigation in the bench trial. Roberts waived his right to a jury trial last week. Singeltary already decided his guilt; he will also decide his sentence. The judge must also write a sentencing memorandum when he reaches his sentencing decision. There will also be a mandatory hearing to give the defense a chance to present any evidence it chooses. Roberts may choose that moment to give his testimony. He has so far not testified during his trial. Roberts has refused to allow his attorneys to present mitigating evidence that might sway the judge not to impose the death penalty. This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Found guilty of murder, 'Wild Bill's' sentencing begins in Lake County In the 2019 horror movie Ready Or Not, Samara Weaving plays a bride who must survive attacks on her life on her wedding night. It was a performance that made audiences sit up and take notice of the Australian-born actress. Now shes co-starring in the new Ryan Murphy series Hollywood on Netflix, an alternate take on Tinsel Town history set in the years just after World War II. Advertisement I like that fact that Ryan Murphy calls this faction, Weaving said of the shows mix of fact and fiction. The premise is basically about the minorities of Hollywood getting a chance to shine. I play Claire Wood and I think shes loosely based on Veronica Lake, especially aesthetically. She is the studio heads daughter. She is ambitious to become an actress and become famous because she wants her parents approval, and by being in front of them on screen perhaps she will get the love she has always wanted. Ryan described her as a spider, always watching, always lurking in corners. Weavings career is gaining steam in a major way. The niece of Matrix" actor Hugo Weaving, her credits include the upcoming sequel to the Bill & Ted movies, Bill & Ted Face the Music. Advertisement When asked about a worst moment in her career as an actor, she replied: My life is riddled with embarrassing occasions. Ive always been a somewhat awkward, constantly anxious individual. And in this business of make believe I find myself in all sorts of strange scenarios. For the sake of this interview, I did a personal embarrassment inventory (laughs) and two events stuck out for me. Samara Weaving (left) and Laura Harrier in a scene from the Netflix series Hollywood. (Netflix/Saeed Adyani/Netflix) One involved her first kiss (both in real life and on screen) for an Australian TV drama called Out of the Blue. She was 14 and a self-described drama-nerdy person and because of her inexperience, the kiss consisted of smashing her face to his: There was a lot of teeth, a lot of saliva, a lot of not good things. The other story another delightful saga, as she wryly put it happened years later when Weaving was up for a starring role in a big movie. My worst moment This is a low point. I was in L.A. and I had an audition for 50 Shades of Grey to play Anastasia. I remember outside in the corridor there was this never-ending line of nervous women. It actually flowed out into the parking lot. So after that, I flew back home to Australia and I was staying with my parents at their holiday house. For the sake of this story (its helpful to know the vacation town where the house is) in winter has a population of about 12. I got a call from my manager saying they would like me to self-tape another audition for 50 Shades of Grey and of course I was delighted. I read the scene they wanted me to do and then I asked when they needed it by and they said, By the end of the day tomorrow. My excitement suddenly plummeted. The scene was between Ana and a character named Kate and they are gossiping very, very earnestly about very, very sexual things. And my current situation was not ideal I had no friends within a 2-hour radius and FaceTime wasnt a thing back then so I had two options of who my scene partner was going to be: My mother or my dad. (Laughs) So I thought mother would be less traumatizing. Alas, we roll the camera, and my mother starts reading her lines and she cant help but start laughing. And I, on other hand, am not finding this funny. This was a very serious opportunity that could start my career in America! Please keep it together! Ive gotten this callback, the stakes are very high! Advertisement Samara Weaving in "Ready or Not" as a woman who marries into a wealthy and eccentric family and spends her wedding night being hunted by her new in-laws. (Fox Searchlight) So we roll the camera again and this time shes taken a way different approach. Shes studying my face like one would a Wheres Waldo? book. She keeps interrupting and please let the record show that I love my mother to bits but she keeps cutting me off with director notes like, Why are you doing that with your eyebrows? Or, Should you be wearing that lipstick? Youre so beautiful without makeup on. Just all these nagging little motherly traits. I gave up. So I had to go to the last person any young woman wants to pretend to talk intimately about sex with: My father. I thought he would lean right into his English awkwardness and just have his head down and I could act against that. Oh, no my dad was thrilled and he really understood the pressure I was under and thought it would be a great idea if he just want full on and got into character as a 21-year-old woman. Samara Weaving attends the Louis Vuitton show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2019/2020 on March 05, 2019 in Paris, France. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty) So (laughs) were doing this scene and saying things like, What was it like? and Dont tell me you didnt kiss him? and my dad is sitting with his legs crossed, leaning in and putting on this very effeminate voice. And I just could not. I could not. And I said to him, I dont know how many years of therapy Im going to go through to remove this traumatic experience. Im very aware that youre trying to be helpful but this is a side of you I dont want to see. So please do me a favor and do not read it like that. Anyway, if youve seen the movie, you know that Im not in it. This sounds like an acting exercise thats a bridge too far. Yeah! You just want a stranger. Anyone. Anyone! Anyone but your parents. Advertisement I think the tape I sent in was the one I did with Dad because we had a good laugh and he was really fully in-character so I was able to pull it together and somehow manage to get my lines out, at least. But, I mean, kudos to my parents for trying their hardest. I dont know how many parents would want to talk about those things with their 20-year-old daughter. I dont think my mom understood what she was reading. Whereas my dad was just having a grand old time playing naughty ladies talking about naughty, naughty things. The takeaway (Laughs) Right, well: After that I realized that the best way to do a self-tape is to just record your own voice (reading the scene partners lines) on some sort of recording device and just play off the device rather than your parents if youre in a scene talking about sex. And I have done an audition like that. It took a long time because you have to get the timing perfect, but it can work. I was close for that one, but no, I didnt get that part. Samara Weaving: "In this business of make believe, I find myself in all sorts of strange scenarios." (Christopher Polk / Getty Images) nmetz@chicagotribune.com As prominent Democrats call on the president to extend the payment pause and cancel student loan debt, a group of lawmakers sent a separate request to two agencies for an update on how the federal government is working to make debt relief more accessible for bankrupt student debtors. Unlike other forms of debt, federal student loans are not easily erased when a debtor undergoes bankruptcy proceedings. Debtors need to prove that they would suffer from "undue hardship" due to the loans, a standard that's been very difficult to meet. A letter sent Thursday from Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Attorney General Merrick Garland argued that the situation is made more difficult by how the government contests these debtors in court. "The federal governments aggressive litigation challenges against students who pursue undue hardship claims further exacerbates this situation," the letter stated. Generally, in personal bankruptcy cases involving student debt, a judge applies the Brunner test a three-pronged test applied to student loan borrowers who file adversary proceedings to discharge educational debt to determine if specific student loans caused a borrower to suffer undue hardship. "All too often," the letter argued, "[The Department of Education] and [The Department of Justice] oppose undue hardship discharges in adversarial bankruptcy proceedings, requiring debtors to effectively demonstrate a certainty of hopelessness before they can obtain relief. Clearing this statutorily unnecessary high bar is challenging enough for individuals who are represented by experienced attorneys. It is virtually impossible for those without representation." Consumer advocates praised the move. Opposing bankrupt student borrowers is costly for the Department and only fuels their financial turmoil," Student Defense President Aaron Ament said in a statement. "Its the opposite of the role the Department should be playing. We appreciate the Senate support towards this critical issue and we again call on the Department of Education to quickly reform its bankruptcy policies to better support student borrowers. Story continues Sen. Dick Durbin presides during the third day of Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson March 23, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Debtors 'through the wringer' Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a leading proponent of student loan cancellation, previously told Yahoo Finance that the U.S. bankruptcy system is "fundamentally wrong" on student debt discharges. In the past, student debtors have managed to act as their own attorneys and negotiate write-downs of their loans, as Yahoo Finance has previously reported. One California woman with more than $350,000 in student debt saw 98% of her loans discharged in October 2021. Matthew Bruckner, a bankruptcy law professor at Howard University, stressed that the student debtors in similar situations rarely see that kind of success. The Department of Education should define undue hardship in a way that is much more debtor-friendly so that we don't ask people to put themselves through the wringer like this, and the department stops objecting to discharge of obviously un-repayable debt, Bruckner previously told Yahoo Finance . One bipartisan bill may be able to address it called the "FRESH START Through Bankruptcy Act of 2021," the legislation is aimed at better enabling borrowers to seek a student loan discharge in bankruptcy by allowing federal loans to become eligible for discharge in bankruptcy proceedings 10 years after the borrower's first loan payment comes due. (Borrowers with loans less than 10 years old would have to go through the current process.) Aarthi is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. She can be reached at aarthi@yahoofinance.com. Follow her on Twitter @aarthiswami. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn By Ann Wang YUNLIN, Taiwan (Reuters) - A group of Taiwanese puppeteers are looking to use non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, to help bring their traditional art form into the modern era and keep it relevant for a new audience. NFTs are crypto assets representing a digital item such as an image, video, or even land in virtual worlds, with prices of some rising so fast last year that speculators around the world sometimes "flipped" them within days for a profit. Pili International Multimedia, which makes Taiwan's longest-running television show featuring the puppets at its studio in central Taiwan's Yunlin County, says it wants to use NFTs as another source of revenue. "The sort of imagination everyone nowadays has for the online world is developing so fast that we are almost unable to grasp it," said Seika Huang, Pili's brand director. "Instead of sitting on the sidelines, the best approach is to go ahead and understand fully what's going on. This is the fastest way to catch up." Pili has thousands of glove puppet characters, a traditional part of Taiwanese street entertainment culture spinning colourful and highly stylised stories of heroic courage and romance, often with martial arts. The puppets are painstakingly created, and expertly manoeuvred during the filming of the shows, with costumes that are sewn on and strands of hair meticulously put in place. Pili said four of their puppet characters were made into digital versions and 30,000 sets have been sold as NFTs. The company declined to reveal the profit-sharing with the market platform, but said prices for each set started at $40, translating to generated revenue of at least $1.2 million, since their listing in early February. Marketing technology company VeVe, which is in charge of selling the NFTs, said the stories of the puppet heroes resonates with a younger crowd and could draw in foreign fans of super hero films, such as those based on characters from Marvel Comics. Story continues "Westerners actually really like our martial arts heroes and kung-fu," said VeVe's brand manager Raymond Chou. Huang, who said their initial listings had sold out seconds after launching on VeVe, is now working on transforming up to 50 other puppet characters into NFTs, potentially adding another million-dollar revenue stream for the studio. (Reporting by Ann Wang; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Karishma Singh) A juvenile gave a man money to buy him cigars from a store on New Year's Eve. Instead, Keith Joseph bought alcohol, St. Landry Parish Sheriff spokesperson Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux said in a release. The juvenile, whose age is unknown, asked for the alcohol and walked with Joseph to his home in the 300 block of East St. Michael Street in Washington. When they got to Joseph's house, someone at the home asked why the juvenile was there. The juvenile and member of the house got into an argument, Thibodeaux said. The juvenile left and told a parent what happened. In other news: Teens facing second-degree murder charge after fatal shooting at KC Hall in Opelousas Later that day, the juvenile returned to Joseph's house with 16-year-old Michael Zachary. Joseph asked the juvenile to come on the property so he could apologize, Thibodeaux said. Michael Zachary later told detectives Joseph grabbed the juvenile's arm, so Michael confronted Joseph. He said Joseph walked on the porch and reached for a shotgun, which was later identified as a BB gun, Thibodeaux said. The teen pulled out a .22-caliber revolver and shot the 28-year-old Joseph, who died from his injuries, Thibodeaux said. Michael Zachary was indicted on Monday by a St. Landry Parish grand jury on a second-degree murder charge. He is being tried as an adult. Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi. This article originally appeared on Opelousas Daily World: Teen indicted in fatal Washington shooting of Keith Joseph Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas) has officially resigned from Congress, months before the end of his term. His resignation, which was read on the House floor on Thursday afternoon, became effective right before midnight. Velas early departure from the House, before his term was set to expire, was expected. Several news outlets reported last month that the Texas Democrat was leaving to join the Washington, D.C.-headquartered law and lobbying firm Akin Gump. The move kicks off a special election, the date for which Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) will get to decide, The Texas Tribune reported. Whoever wins will only have the congressional seat for a few months before the November midterms determine who will represent the 34th Congressional District for the following two years. Texas House candidate Mayra Flores (R) is vying for the seat in the House special election, according to the Tribune. Meanwhile, Rep. Vincente Gonzalez (D-Texas), who will compete in the redrawn district in the upcoming November election, said he would not be leaving his current seat in the 15th Congressional District to compete in the special election, according to the news outlet. The development comes as Democrats brace for what is expected to be a challenging midterm as the party seeks to retain control of its delicate 50-50 margin in the Senate and its slim margin in the House. Vela is one of 31 House Democrats to announce they will not seek reelection this year. Though the presidents political party historically has suffered losses during midterms, this year could be particularly challenging for Democrats given President Bidens low approval ratings among voters. The Hill has reached out to Velas office for further comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In the damp, all-American burg of Big Cherry the setting for the new Tracy Letts play The Minutes the rambling and esoteric agenda of the town council is filled with the patter of parking and pepper jelly, softball fields and suppers at the Kiwanis. The council is one of part-timers and eccentrics a dentist, a businessperson or two, a couple of benignly wacky retirees. The gavel belongs to the white-haired wrangler, Mayor Superba, played with the utmost precision in director Anna D. Shapiros world premiere Steppenwolf Theatre production by William Petersen. Hes measured, procedural, casually dressed. He grew up believing in his little town. Just like songwriter Paul Simon. Nothing in this explosive 90-minute drama which might eventually remind you of William Goldmans The Lord of the Flies or Shirley Jacksons The Lottery, or maybe even the Duffer brothers Stranger Things is as it seems. Advertisement The appeal and the challenge of this frequently riveting, Steppenwolf ensemble-driven play, which is populated by 10 officials and one clerk and is set entirely in a city-council meeting room, is that you know this from the get-go. You know this because anyone who has been paying attention understands that the heartland has atrophied, knows that an intense political and cultural battle is being waged for its soul, has figured out that the level of understanding enjoyed by liberal urbanities of these increasingly foreign, isolated and defensive communities has been diminishing with every Breitbart refresh. Small-town America has circled its wagons for good reason, you could argue and all the elitist, dis-empowered cognoscenti can do is quake, turn its anger on itself and whine pointlessly about the inequity of the electoral college. Advertisement The Minutes (youll note that I am staying clear of precisely how nothing is as it seems and why some minutes appear to have gone missing, so as not to blow your real-time, heart-in-the-mouth experience) feels very much like an apocalyptic response to the arrival of the zero-sum game that is the America of President Donald J. Trump. But its also a continuation of a theme explicated extensively by Letts in his masterful, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama August: Osage County, the notion that Americans of European heritage are occupiers of land that is not, cannot ever be, should not ever be, their own. Sure, theres a tear-jerking small-town mythology everything from Winesburg, Ohio, to Thornton Wilder to Mayberry but these stories of comfort and mutual compassion are globbed onto much older and far more authentic narratives of barbaric violence and theft. In a repudiation of responsibility for the acts of previous generations, we white people have just buried them in the ground, as we do with a parent or, heaven help us, a child. Yet without the reconciliation of these competing stories, no authentic small-town ethos ever can emerge. And thus ever-nervous small-town America is condemned to be pulled by the hand by demagogues who appeal to its baser interests. Those, I think, are the main points that Letts is trying to make with The Minutes. The last two Letts plays Mary Page Marlowe and Linda Vista have been focused on gender and individuation, personal stories of both strife and self-actualization, you might call em. But The Minutes, which is expected to move to Broadway this spring, is Letts first clear return to August territory. August is a play that asks a family what kind of family it considers itself to be. The Minutes asks the same question of a town. And of a country. Id argue The Minutes needs more work. The primal conclusion that awaits depends for its impact on the utter, quotidian veracity of all that is gone before. Its complicated because Letts also wants to have fun. And so he does, telegraphing his intent with clever ticket names, and creating characters like Mr. Oldfield (Francis Guinan) who bathes his colleague Ms. Innes (Penny Slusher) in spittle as he hacks on about nothing in particular. Then theres the unctuous Mr. Breeding (Kevin Anderson); the modestly corrupt Mr. Assalone (Jeff Still); the dotty Ms. Matz (Sally Murphy) and the over-anxious Mr. Hanratty (Danny McCarthy). On occasion, Shapiro leans too readily into the satire without the necessary counterbalance of credibility. That needs recalibrating, without losing the laughter of complicity. More complex is the question of what Letts want to do with the lone African-American character, Mr. Blake (James Vincent Meredith). Race is very much an issue in this play, yet Mr. Blake is underwritten. Chronically so, in my view. Cliff Chamberlains Mr. Peel, the whistle-blower here, also needs to be sharpened in contrast, so that his tenacity feels more organic. But the mayor and the clerk (the latter is superbly played by a cold-eyed Brittany Burch) are where the tone rings with tension and truth. Petersen is the very model of procedural terror, especially when he encounters Ian Barfords determined Mr. Carp. The Minutes, staged on a setting from David Zinn that deftly captures the tension of patriotic grandiosity and provincial defensiveness found in city halls across the land, will not be a play you forget quickly. It is a typically robust response to the moment from Letts, offering not just a repudiation but an opportunity. Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. Advertisement cjones5@chicagotribune.com Review: The Minutes (3.5 stars) When: Through Jan. 7 Where: Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Running time: 90 minutes Tickets: $20-$105 at 312-335-1650 or www.steppenwolf.org Enjoy someone else's drama A great theater city deserves a great theater critic. Enter Chris Jones. Subscribe now and get 4 weeks of full access for only 99. [ RELATED: What's William Petersen doing now? Well, wait a minute ] [ Tracy Letts is back at Steppenwolf, but no Jeff Committee freeloaders, please ] [ In Tracy Letts' 'Linda Vista,' a middle-aged dude just can't get it together ] By Kylie Madry MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mattel Inc top-selling toys like Mega Bloks will now be made in Mexico, as the U.S. toymaker becomes the latest company to move its supply chain closer to home. Mattel announced in mid-March it had spent around a billion pesos, or $50 million, to expand a plant in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, which is now the company's largest plant, overtaking other hubs in China, Vietnam and Malaysia. The plant in Monterrey, close to the U.S. border, sprawls across 200,000 square meters (2.25 million square feet), employing close to 3,500 workers. "Being able to have product close to your consumer and not having to transport it from Asia, that's going to be more profitable and more competitive when you take costs into account," Mattel's Latin America managing director, Gabriel Galvan, told Reuters. The expansion was first pitched in 2020, Galvan said. Mattel closed two factories in Asia in 2019 and more recently shuttered a plant in Canada and another in Mexico ahead of expansion of the mega-factory. "This consolidation and plant expansion was in line with the company's transformation/turnaround strategy and a manufacturing footprint consolidation we called 'Capital Light,'" spokeswoman Catherine Frymark told Reuters in an email, saying that the strategy was four years in the making. Galvan said Mattel's move was just the latest instance of how worries about over-extended supply global chains are generating fresh interest in "nearshoring" from industries like textiles and even automaking - already a mainstay of Mexican manufacturing. Mexico's finance minister told local media recently that the demand for industry parks in northern Mexico was booming. Mattel plans to double its investment in the plant over the next five years, Nuevo Leon state said in a press release. "It's a big opportunity (for Mattel)," Galvan said, due to the plant's proximity to the company's Dallas-Fort Worth distribution center, its second-largest in the United States. "We can be there in 24 hours, so for us it's really convenient." (Reporting by Kylie Madry; Editing by Christian Plumb, Kenneth Maxwell and Leslie Adler) By Tarek Amara and Angus McDowall TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian anti-terrorism police summoned the country's main opposition figure for questioning on Friday, as a political crisis deepens in the wake of President Kais Saied's move to dissolve parliament and impose one-man rule. Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Islamist Ennahda party and speaker of the dissolved parliament, was summoned to appear later on Friday, his office said, after investigations were opened into other members of the chamber who had defied Saied. Saied demanded that investigations be carried out after members of parliament held an online session on Wednesday and voted to revoke all the emergency measures he has imposed - despite his decree last summer suspending the chamber. The president accused those who took part in the session, along with Ghannouchi whose office had announced the move, of conspiring against state security and he ordered the justice department to open legal proceedings against them. Last month Saied took control of the judiciary, replacing a top council whose job was to ensure judicial independence, with judges he selected himself. Saied's moves raise the prospect of a crackdown on the opposition as Tunisia's main players grow more active in opposing his attempts to remake the political system in what they call a coup. "It's a turning point in targeting his opponents," said deputy parliament speaker Samira Chouachi. Saied has defended his seizure of most powers last summer as necessary to save Tunisia from a corrupt, self-serving elite he paints as responsible for years of political paralysis and economic stagnation. He has also vowed to uphold the rights and freedoms won in a 2011 revolution that brought democracy, and so far there have been few arrests or attempts to silence critics. However, late on Thursday Saied said he would not call new parliamentary elections yet despite dissolving the chamber, and railed against those who took part in Wednesday's session. Story continues "There will be no dialogue with those who tried a coup and seek to divide Tunisians," he said, suggesting those who opposed his moves may not be allowed to run in future elections. OPPOSITION Ennahda and the Free Constitutional Party, which leads in opinion polls, have both said they will oppose Saied's plans for a referendum on a new constitution that he plans to introduce. The parties are sworn ideological enemies and although there is no sign that they could work together against Saied, their more active opposition to his moves suggests the crisis is intensifying. "Saied, who usurped power, should immediately end the exceptional measures," said the Free Constitutional Party's leader Abir Moussi. The strongest opposition to Saied since last summer has come from Ennahda, which has been a main player in successive governments since the revolution. Moussi and her Free Constitutional Party decry Ennahda's Islamist background and praise the autocratic regime of the late Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who was ousted in 2011. The United States, a major donor to Tunisia since the revolution, has voiced concern at Saied's dissolution of parliament and threats to investigate lawmakers, and urged "a swift return to constitutional government". Saied is seeking international funding to avert a crisis in public finances amid growing economic pain for Tunisians after years of political bickering. The UGTT labour union, the most powerful political body in the country with more than a million members, is meanwhile contemplating a general strike to demand a dialogue on both political and economic reforms. It had previously urged Saied to dissolve parliament but also to hold rapid elections afterwards. (Reporting by Tarek Amara and Angus McDowall; Editing by Hugh Lawson) TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian anti-terrorism police have summoned for questioning Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Islamist Ennahda party and speaker of the parliament which President Kais Saied dissolved this week, Ghannouchi said on Friday. The summons for Friday afternoon followed those of other parliament members who backed or participated in an online session this week to defy Saied's earlier announcement that he was suspending the chamber. (Reporting by Tarek Amara, writing by Angus McDowall; editing by Jason Neely) Abramovich was spotted at talks between Ukraine and Russia on March 29 in Istanbul. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the oligarch has played a mediating role from the outset, Reuters reported. Turkey has offered to mediate in talks between Kyiv and Moscow, as it has good relations with both. Turkish authorities say that sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is "sincerely" working to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported. Abramovich was spotted at talks between Ukraine and Russia on March 29 in Istanbul, but sat with observers rather than the negotiating teams, the agency reported. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Turkish broadcaster A Haber, which Reuters cited, that the oligarch has been playing a mediating role, "sincerely" working to end the conflict. Turkey has offered to mediate in talks between Kyiv and Moscow, as it has good relations with both, and due to its proximity to the Black Sea. It has shown support for Ukraine, but it doesn't support Western measures taken against Russia, and says that sanctioned Russian oligarchs remain welcome in the country. At an earlier round of peace talks on March 3, Abramovich was apparently the victim of a suspected poisoning alongside two other members of the negotiating team. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on Thursday on Abramovich's presence at the peace talks, telling reporters that his inclusion indicates that Russian President Vladimir Putin "believes, trusts him", according to NTV, which Reuters cited. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the agency that, while the former Chelsea Football Club owner is not officially a part of the negotiations, he is there to "enable certain contacts." "Of course, official talks are important, negotiations are important, but public opinion is sensitive, everyone wants to maintain their position, and there are channels that should be kept open between leaders and countries. Here, Abramovich plays a useful role," Cavusoglu also said. Story continues The Turkish foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Abramovich is sanctioned by the UK and the European Union and officials in the US have said he could be a target of sanctions in the future. Read the original article on Business Insider Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood admits he has seen a lot of horrible things in his 20 years as an emergency room nurse in Chicago trauma centers and five years he has served as county coroner. But he said he has never seen a worse case of child abuse and neglect than he saw Tuesday. Harwood was the coroner in the case of 8-year-old Navin Jones, who died Tuesday evening at OSF Healthcare St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Navin was in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, but his body was found at his parents home. Jones family had been in contact with DCFS before his death, according to DCFS spokesman William McCaffrey. Stephanie Jones, 35, and Brandon Walker, 40, Navins parents, face first-degree murder charges in connection with the boys death. I think there should be a hefty internal investigation by DCFS into this case, Harwood said. And if there were failures, those should be remedied. The Peoria Journal Star reported Peoria County States Attorney Dave Kenny said during the arraignment for Navins parents the boy weighed 30 pounds and was living in deplorable conditions. The child was last seen in late October or early November, when was in relatively good health, according to the newspaper report. Harwood declined to comment on Navins condition at the time of his death, citing the pending investigation, but did say the cause of his death was homicide and the manner was abuse and neglect. Eighty miles due north of Peoria in Nelson, another coroner was investigating the death of 3-year-old Tamsin Miracle Sauer. She died in a Sterling hospital in Whiteside County on Saturday. The manner and cause of her death is still under investigation. Tamsins family also had contact with DCFS, McCaffrey said. Pictured is the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services building in Springfield. Two more children have died after DCFS was contacted. Hiring efforts Also on Tuesday, DCFS Director Marc Smith filed the first annual report on the departments plan to address investigator caseloads as a requirement of a federal consent decree. That report, filed in a court document, showed there is a current statewide rolling vacancy percentage of 21 percent, and DCFS has a goal of reducing it to 6% or less. Story continues DCFS stated in the report they are aggressively hiring, having added 198 investigators to the payroll since March 2021, but due to the high number of employees leaving and retiring, the overall headcount went up by only a dozen investigators. The agency pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic and a labor crisis, coupled with rising child abuse investigations across the state, as obstacles to meeting that goal. Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert, whose office represents about 7,100 children in state care, said Thursday that if DCFS had been keeping up with hiring over the past few decades it would not be in such straits now. Its clear that when DCFSs investigators labor under untenable caseloads without the supports that they need, in violation of court orders, both children and the investigators alike are at risk of serious harm and even death, Golbert said in a phone call. I fear that until DCFS gets its investigator caseloads down to reasonable levels, as mandated under a federal court order that is now more than 30 years old, we will continue to see children harmed. Investigators death impedes hiring Golbert also mentioned the January death of DCFS investigator Deidre Silas as an impediment to hiring. If the investigators have caseloads that are too high, thats dangerous for kids and for workers, Golbert said. In the motion filed by DCFS on Tuesday, the 12-month average of investigations in March 2021 was 6,535. That rose to 7,726 in March 2022. An increase in reporting may be attributable to children having more contact with mandated reporters, such as teachers and doctors, as the pandemic eases. The increase may also be attributable to an increase in family stress, such as financial pressures. In addition to recruiting and retention efforts, DCFS is conducting weekend blitzes, moving staff from other locations to volunteer for weekend shifts to help with completing investigations. In DCFSs northern region, the agency conducted 13 blitzes where 148 staff worked a combined 2,500 weekend hours to help with investigations. Last year, the court granted a three-year extension to DCFS to meet caseworker hiring goals. The parties agreed to make changes in 1991, but 30 years later the agency is still struggling to be in full compliance with the decree. The deaths of Navin and Tamsin are the latest cases of children who have died after having contact with DCFS. Since January, Sophia Faye Davis, 1; Damari Perry, 6; and Zaraz Walker, 7 months, have died from child abuse. Contempt charges In addition, DCFS Director Smith has faced eight contempt of court citations from a Cook County Judge. The contempt citations are based on improper placements for children in state care. Last week, Smith was cited for contempt for the eighth time from Cook County Circuit Judge Patrick Murphy. The latest case involves a 14-year-old girl who entered DCFS care in September. She has been in 21 placements in her time with DCFS, according to a release by the Cook County Public Guardians Office. Those placements included time in a locked psychiatric ward, hospital emergency rooms, emergency foster homes and, most recently, in a temporary shelter. In December, DCFS recommended a residential placement for the girl. More on cases In two of the eight cases, the contempt order was purged when the kids were placed in their recommended setting. Those two cases involved: An 8-year-old girl placed in a locked psychiatric hospital unnecessarily for more than seven months. A 13-year-old boy kept in a temporary shelter in Mt. Vernon nearly five hours away from his family for nearly five months. Before the shelter, DCFS placed him in a utility room in an office. In the other five previous cases, the contempt order remains in place and the children remain in their present settings. Those cases involve: A 17-year-old boy who was placed in a locked psychiatric hospital for more than four months beyond medical necessity. A 16-year-old girl housed in 25 different places in two months, including hospitals, emergency shelters, a shelter in Indiana, and temporary foster homes. Before that, she was in a locked psychiatric hospital for nearly two months after it was recommended that she be moved. An 11-year-old girl medically approved for discharge from a locked psychiatric hospital for nearly a year waiting for a transfer to a residential placement. A 15-year-old girl placed in a locked psychiatric hospital since December 6, 2021 approximately three months waiting for transfer to a specialized foster home. A 16-year-old boy who spent more than 375 days in a temporary shelter that was unable to meet his highly specialized needs given his low intellectual function. We were lucky Each of the seven children in these cases is represented by the Cook County public guardians office. The orders for contempt were signed by Judge Murphy, who served for 25 years as the Cook County Public Guardian. Harwood, the coroner in Navins case, knows about DCFS. He and his husband became foster parents in 2017 and eventually adopted his son, Jacob, who was taken into state care after he was born prematurely to a mother who struggled with addiction. When Jacobs biological mother died from drug exposure months after his birth, Harwood was the responding coroner. Harwood said hes troubled by the death of the 8-year-old who died in his county Tuesday, while grateful for his own son, who was once a state ward. We were lucky. He is our miracle, Harwood said. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Pavel Kolyadin/BelPressa/Handout via Reuters Russia claims to have disabled Ukraines air capabilities, but on Friday the Kremlin said Ukraine had carried out a successful fiery attack on a fuel depot in the Russian city of Belgorod. A short time later, Russian media reported that an artillery shell had also landed nearby. If confirmed, it would be the first time Ukraine has launched a counter-attack into Russian territory. Video of the attack shows several missiles being fired before a massive explosion as one of the fuel depot silos explodes. Local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov blamed Ukraine for the attack via a Telegram message on Friday. There was a fire at the petrol depot because of an air strike carried out by two Ukrainian army helicopters, who entered Russian territory at a low altitude, he wrote. No one was killed, but he said two workers suffered burns and some parts of the city were evacuated over fears the fuel fire would spread. Reuters reports that the firm that owns the depot said no one was injured in what they referred to as a blaze rather than an attack. Western media on the ground have not been able to independently verify the claim, but Ukraine has not denied it. Bohdan Senyk, spokesman for Armed Forces of Ukraine, said there was no information about Russias claims. Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba added later, I can neither confirm nor reject the claim that Ukraine was involved in this simply because I do not possess all the military information. Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, also addressed Russias allegations, but refused to go further. I would like to emphasize that Ukraine is performing a defensive operation against Russian aggression on the territory of Ukraine, he said in a televised statement that was released Friday. That doesnt mean Ukraine has to be responsible for every miscalculation or event or catastrophe that occurred on the territory of the Russian Federation. This is not the first time we are witnessing such accusations. Therefore, I will neither confirm nor deny this information. Story continues The depot is just over 20 miles from the Russian border with Ukraine. An ammunition depot in the same city caught fire earlier in the week, but that was not blamed on Ukraine. Russia suggested that the attack could hinder peace talks. Of course, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of negotiations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to various media reports. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. China allegedly launched a major cyberattack on Ukraines military and nuclear facilities in the lead up to Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian intelligence reports obtained by British daily newspaper The Times. Ukraines security service said the Chinese government attempted to hack more than 600 websites belonging to the government and other key institutions, according to the report. The security agency alleged that the attacks began before the end of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games held in Beijing and escalated the day before Russian troops invaded Ukraine on Feb. 23. The agency added that China tried to hack several institutions, including Ukraines defense forces, the national bank, and the railway authority. The attacks were intended to steal data and find ways to disrupt or shut down the countrys defense and critical infrastructure, according to the report. Ukrainian officials have also accused the Russians of targeting several Ukrainian government websites, including the parliament and the foreign affairs and defense ministries, in the weeks and days leading up to the invasion. Although China hasnt publicly declared its support or opposition to the war in Ukraine, some experts say that doesnt mean it is not helping behind the scenes. However, the experts were quick to explain that the collaboration between the two countries is highly unlikely because the Chinese playbook in cyberspace tends to be different than Russias. Generally, when we talk about China in cyberspace, were talking about cyber espionage more than cyberattacks, said Josephine Wolff, an associate professor of cybersecurity policy at the Tufts University Fletcher School. Chinese actors tend to target their victims by means of cyber espionage to gather intelligence and steal intellectual property and trade secrets, rather than disrupt and harm the networks and operations of critical infrastructure, the experts said. The experts, who spoke to The Hill prior to the release of The Times article, said they hadnt seen any credible evidence that China is helping Russia launch cyberattacks against Ukraine. Story continues I find it unlikely that the Russians would enlist Chinas help with that, said Michael Daniel, president and CEO at Cyber Threat Alliance. Russia has so much [cyber] capability on its own its difficult for me to imagine that kind of collaboration, he said. The Chinese and Ukrainian embassies as well as the White House Office of the National Cyber Director did not respond to a request for comment on the matter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. BRUSSELS (AP) China on Friday renewed its criticism of Western sanctions against Russia, as top European Union officials sought assurances from Beijing that it would not help Moscow circumvent the economic measures imposed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also laid blame for the war in Ukraine at least partially on the United States for pushing to expand the NATO military alliance closer to Russia's borders. Twenty-one of the EU's 27 countries are also NATO member states. At a virtual summit, European Council President Charles Michel, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell sought signs from Chinese President and Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang that Beijing would help to end the war in Ukraine. Von der Leyen said leaders from both sides exchanged very clearly opposing views" on many topics but expressed hopes that China would use its influence as a major power and permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to convince Russia it should put an end to the war. She added that she expects China at least not to interfere with Western sanctions targeting Russia, even if Beijing does not endorse them. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian earlier warned at a daily briefing that his country disapproves of solving problems through sanctions, and we are even more opposed to unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law." Zhao said when it comes to Ukraine, Beijing would not be forced to choose a side or adopt a simplistic friend-or-foe approach. We should, in particular, resist the Cold War thinking and bloc confrontation. As the culprit and leading instigator of the Ukraine crisis, the U.S. has led NATO to engage in five rounds of eastward expansion in the last two decades after 1999," he said, adding that NATO membership almost doubled from 16 to 30 countries, and pushed "Russia to the wall step by step. Story continues China says it is not taking sides in the conflict but it has declared a no limits partnership with Russia and refuses to condemn the invasion. Beijing routinely amplifies Russian disinformation about the conflict, and does not refer to it as an invasion or a war in keeping with Russian practice. Michel and Von der Leyen did not say whether they received guarantees from Chinese officials that Beijing would not provide financial or military aid to Russia. Von der Leyen insisted that any support to Russia's ability to wage its war would lead to a major reputational damage for China" in Europe. The business sector is watching very closely the events and evaluating how countries are positioning themselves," she said. This is a question of trust, of reliability and of course of decisions on long-term investments." In a news release following a first summit session, Li was quoted as affirming the importance of China-EU ties, saying he hoped the two remain open to each other, steadily expand market access, protect fair competition and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. China hopes that the EU will also provide a sound business environment to Chinese businesses investing and developing in Europe, Li was quoted as saying. The meeting took place amid rising negative sentiment within the bloc fueled by Chinas aggressive foreign policies and trade practices. Underlying the EU's expectations for China is the possibility of penalties against Chinese companies that undermine measures taken against Russia. EU officials point out that 13.7% of Chinas total trade is done with the 27-nation bloc, and 12% with the United States, compared with just 2.4% with Russia. Other topics included Chinas travel ban on members of the European Parliament; Beijings economic boycott of EU member Lithuania over its Taiwan relations; the fate of a stalled investment agreement; and civil and political rights under Chinas authoritarian Communist Party regime. Beijing has dismissed European criticisms as biased and driven by an anti-China agenda being pursued by its chief global rival, the United States. Beijing also sanctioned some European Union lawmakers last year after the EU, Britain, Canada and the United States launched coordinated sanctions against officials in China over human rights abuses in the far western Xinjiang region. The European Parliament responded by saying it will not ratify a long-awaited business investment deal as long as the sanctions remain in place. A Chinese Foreign Ministry official said Saturday that China would continue to support talks on a cease fire, but noted that Chinas role should not be overestimated. China has little experience as a mediator and has not been asked to play such a role by the main participants. Director General of the Department of European Affairs Wang Lutong said the EU would have to first eliminate its sanctions on Chinese officials, but said a simultaneous lifting of the measures could also be explored. Wang also told reporters that if the U.S. were to offer Russia a pledge of no further NATO expansion and no deployment of strategic weapons in Ukraine, then maybe the issue will get sorted." Rights groups have also urged the EU to take a more assertive stand with China over repression in Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and elsewhere and the persecution of Chinese dissidents including Sakharov Prize winner Ilham Tohti and Chinese-Swedish publisher Gui Minhai. Highlighting some positive discussions that took place during their summit, von der Leyen said the EU and China can cooperate constructively in the fight against climate change and COVID-19. Xi was quoted as saying that the Ukraine crisis has come on top of a protracted COVID-19 pandemic and a faltering global recovery. Against such a backdrop, China and the EU, as two major forces, big markets and great civilizations, should increase communication on their relations and on major issues concerning global peace and development, and play a constructive role in adding stabilizing factors to a turbulent world, Xi said in a statement. ___ Moritsugu reported from Beijing. ___ Follow all AP stories about developments in Russia's war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. NEW YORK Amazon workers in Staten Island, New York, voted to unionize on Friday, marking the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the retail giants history and handing an unexpected win to a nascent group that fueled the union drive. Warehouse workers cast 2,654 votes or about 55% in favor of a union, giving the fledgling Amazon Labor Union enough support to pull off a victory. According to the National Labor Relations Board, which is overseeing the process, 2,131 workers or 45% rejected the union bid. Advertisement The 67 ballots that were challenged by either Amazon or the ALU were not enough to sway the outcome. Federal labor officials said the results of the count wont be verified until they process any objections due by April 8 that both parties may file. The victory was an uphill battle for the independent group, made up of former and current workers who lacked official backing from an established union and were out-gunned by the deep-pocketed retail giant. Despite obstacles, organizers believed their grassroots approach was more relatable to workers and could help them overcome where established unions have failed in the past. They were right. Advertisement Chris Smalls, a fired Amazon employee who has been leading the ALU in its fight on Staten Island, bounded out of the NLRB building in Brooklyn on Friday with other union organizers, pumping their fists and jumping, chanting ALU. They uncorked a bottle of Champagne, and Smalls hailed the victory as a call to arms for other Amazon workers across the sprawling company. I hope that everybodys paying attention now because a lot of people doubted us, he said. Smalls hopes the success in New York will embolden workers at other facilities to launch their own organizing campaigns. Even his group will soon shift their attention to a neighboring Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, where a separate union election is scheduled to be held in late April. Organizers believe Fridays win is going to make it easier for them to win there, too. Amazon Labor Union (ALU) members celebrates after an update during the voting results to unionize Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, N.Y., April 1, 2022, in Brooklyn. (EDUARDO MUNOZ/AP) Amazon posted a statement on its company website Friday saying that it was evaluating its options following the election. Were disappointed with the outcome of the election in Staten Island because we believe having a direct relationship with the company is best for our employees, the post said. Were evaluating our options, including filing objections based on the inappropriate and undue influence by the NLRB that we and others (including the National Retail Federation and U.S. Chamber of Commerce) witnessed in this election. The company did not elaborate but it signaled it might challenge the election based on a lawsuit filed in March by the NLRB, which sought to force Amazon to reinstate a fired employee who was involved in the union drive. Amazon has long argued that workers dont need a union because the company already provides good wages as well as benefits such as health care, 401(k) plans and a prepaid college tuition program to help grow workers careers. The successful union effort on Staten Island stood in contrast to the one launched in Bessemer, Alabama by the more established Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Workers at an Amazon warehouse there appeared to have rejected a union bid but outstanding challenged ballots could change the outcome. The votes were 993-to-875 against the union. A hearing to review 416 challenged ballots is expected to begin in the next few days. Advertisement The union campaigns come at a time of widespread labor unrest at many corporations. Workers at more than 140 Starbucks locations around the country, for instance, have requested union elections and several of them have already been successful. But Amazon has long been considered a top prize for the labor movement given the companys massive size and impact. We are clearly in a different moment after two years of the pandemic. Something has changed in the labor landscape, said John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University. It is a potential tipping point. We knew that unions were having a moment, but this is much bigger. There is no bigger prize than organizing Amazon. Logan said he didnt believe either union the national or the independent labor group would stand a chance with Amazon but hes even more shocked that a small union would be victorious given its limited resources. The group had also filed for a union election after getting support from about 30% of the facilitys workforce, a much lower percentage than what unions usually seek. Logan said the ALUs win defies traditional thinking that only national unions can take on big companies. But the group might still have a fight ahead of it, according to Erin Hatton, a sociology professor at the University of Buffalo in New York. Advertisement Getting Amazon to the bargaining table will be another feat all together, Hatton said. Oftentimes the union will fizzle out because the company doesnt come to the bargaining table in good faith as theyre obliged to do. Amazon has pushed back hard in the lead-up to both elections in Staten Island and Bessemer. The retail giant held mandatory meetings, where workers were told unions are a bad idea. The company also launched an anti-union website targeting workers and placed English and Spanish posters across the Staten Island facility urging them to reject the union. In Bessemer, Amazon has made some changes to but still kept a controversial U.S. Postal Service mailbox that was key in the NLRBs decision to invalidate last years vote. Both labor fights faced unique challenges. Alabama, for instance, is a right-to-work state that prohibits a company and a union from signing a contract that requires workers to pay dues to the union that represents them. The union landscape in Alabama is also starkly different from New York. Last year, union members accounted for 22.2% of wage and salary workers in New York, ranked only behind Hawaii, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thats more than double the national average of 10.3%. In Alabama, its 5.9%. The mostly Black workforce at the Amazon facility, which opened in 2020, mirrors the Bessemer population of more than 70% Black residents, according to the latest U.S. Census data. Pro-union workers say they want better working conditions, longer breaks and higher wages. Regular full-time employees at the Bessemer facility earn at least $15.80 an hour, higher than the estimated $14.55 per hour on average in the city. That figure is based on an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureaus annual median household income for Bessemer of $30,284, which could include more than one worker. Advertisement The ALU said they dont have a demographic breakdown of the warehouse workers on Staten Island and Amazon declined to provide the information to The Associated Press, citing the union vote. Internal records leaked to The New York Times from 2019 showed more than 60% of the hourly associates at the facility were Black or Latino, while most of managers were white or Asian. Amazon workers there are seeking longer breaks, paid time off for injured employees and an hourly wage of $30, up from a minimum of just over $18 per hour offered by the company. The estimated average wage for the borough is $41 per hour, according to a similar U.S. Census Bureau analysis of Staten Islands $85,381 median household income. Associated Press staff writers Mae Anderson and Bobby Caina Calvan in New York contributed to this report. A war of attrition between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the east of the country could drag on for months if not longer, a top US expert has warned. As reports suggest Russia is shifting some of its forces away from Kyiv and apparently abandoning for now its dream of capturing the capital, it appears Moscow will seek to regroup in the Donbas, an area of eastern Ukraine that has for eight years been the location of low-level conflict between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukraine army. It was a purported desire to protect Russian speakers in these areas, including Donetsk and Luhansk, that Vladimir Putin used as his justification for the so-called special military operation that has devastated Ukraine, forced millions to flee, and resulted in the deaths of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers. Nato has claimed that between 7,000 and 15,000 Russian troops have been killed. It is unclear how many Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have lost their lives. Michael Kofman, a longtime expert on the Russian military and Director of the Russia Studies Programme at the Center for Naval Analysis, a think tank based in Washington DC, said it had become clear for several weeks that Russian forces did not have the ability to take Kyiv. Their initial plan had been a lightning strike to take the capital and replace the government with individuals approved by Moscow, he said. When that failed, it appeared they were trying to squeeze Kyiv, even as Russian forces continued to advance on two other axis of attack. It does appear Russian troops are withdrawing from the northern parts of Ukraine. And it looks like a retreat by them, Mr Kofman told The Independent. And they most likely will redeploy their forces for concentration back in the Donbas. Story continues Mr Kofman said it was impossible to predict how long any fighting there would last. He said Ukraine had the upper hand in terms of morale, its supply of volunteer fighters and the support of Nato. Yet, Russia had the advantage when it came to its heavy weaponry. Its not clear that the Russian military is really set up and organised to fight a prolonged war, he said. Ukraines fighting a war of national mobilisation. Russia doesnt have substantial manpower, especially given the losses theyve taken. The Ukrainian military has vast reserves of manpower, but grossly insufficient amounts of military equipment. He said it could be argued that either side had the advantage if the fighting in the Donbas turned into an extended war of attrition. Generally, its fair to say that Ukraine is winning this war, certainly at the political level which is where it counts. Now that Russias focused on the Donbas, the question is whats going to happen in the next coming weeks, and whether or not they will be able to take the Donbas by a concentrated and reinforced campaign, he said. Marina Sidorenko, 83, and other local residents sit around a fire on territory of a church in Mariupol (REUTERS) After that, what Russian tactics will be is very unclear, he said. It is possible Russia could claim a victory in the Donbas, or it could continue to push elsewhere. He said the next few weeks would be crucial. Its very hard to predict anything other than that, he said. He said the fighting could go on for months. It could go on well beyond on months, he added. Previously Mr Kofman had warned that if the conflict continued, Russia was likely to use more brutal tactics, as it attacked civilian areas and targets. We have been seeing the Russian military revert to using artillery fire, multiple-launch rocket systems and a lot of indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, particularly where they get involved in urban warfare, he told PBS News. Urban warfare is very difficult. It consumes armies and forces. Russian military often relies on firepower, overwhelming firepower. Mr Kofmans assessment came as negotiations to stop the fighting in Ukraine continued on Friday, even as renewed attempt to rescue civilians from the shattered city of Mariupol was thrown into jeopardy. Meanwhile, Russia also accused the Ukrainians of a cross-border helicopter attack on a fuel depot. The governor of Russias Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said a fiery raid on Russian soil by two helicopter gunships left two people wounded, though state oil company Rosneft denied anyone was hurt. Certainly, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Additional reporting by Associated Press With the ballots counted in union elections at two Amazon warehouses, workers in New York have voted to unionize, marking the first time one of the company's facilities has done so. Meanwhile, the union seeking to represent workers at an Alabama facility are challenging hundreds of votes to contest a close defeat. The tally in Staten Island showed 2,654 votes in favor of unionizing and 2,131 against. Of the 4,852 ballots submitted, 67 were challenged, not enough to alter the outcome, according to numbers released by the National Labor Relations Board. In a statement, Amazon said it was evaluating its options, including the possibility of "filing objections based on the inappropriate and undue influence" by the National Labor Relations Board. "Were disappointed with the outcome of the election in Staten Island because we believe having a direct relationship with the company is best for our employees," the statement said. In Bessemer, Alabama, where 875 voted for the union and 993 against, out of 2,284 total ballots, the count is closer than in a previous election at the facility, which went heavily against the union but was thrown out last year when the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Amazon had illegally interfered. A spokesperson for the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, which is seeking to represent Amazon workers in Bessemer, said that more than 400 ballots would be contested, a process that could take weeks to determine the final result. Both the union and the employer can challenge ballots depending on multiple factors, such as whether the worker who voted held a supervisory role or how recently they worked a shift. ALU didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Amazon declined to comment. Getting a bit ahead of myself here, but the independent union in New York, Amazon Labor Union, surprised a *lot* of people in the labor establishment today who are now vying to get the grassroots group to affiliate with an official unionI've heard a few have already reached out. 09:03 PM - 31 Mar 2022 Both unions are outperforming expectations. Any time theres a strong showing like this, it shows a sort of against-the-odds success because the anti-union campaign is so strong and the legal context is so tipped against workers, said Rebecca Givan, a labor studies professor at Rutgers University. Story continues In Alabama, the union experienced a landslide loss in last years election, but the NLRB declared the outcome invalid, ruling that Amazons installation of a mailbox on site constituted an effort to surveil and intimidate workers casting their ballots. The union has said it expected a better outcome this time due to a more involved educational campaign and a high turnover of workers. This years vote is much closer, and the 416 challenged ballots could flip the outcome. The union is also charging Amazon with unfair labor practices, which could put the entire outcome of the election into question once again. Meanwhile, in Staten Island, ALU, an independent labor union, is defying predictions. The union had a rocky road to todays vote, which was initially approved in November, then withdrawn later that month, and then rescheduled in February. The group is led by Chris Smalls, a former Amazon employee and activist whose firing in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak in 2020 made national headlines when news leaked that an Amazon lawyer had called him not smart or articulate. Another election at a second Amazon warehouse in Staten Island is currently scheduled to begin in April. We want to thank Jeff Bezos for going to space because while he was up there we were organizing a union 04:55 PM - 01 Apr 2022 ALUs independent status made its early lead all the more surprising, Givan said. They dont have resources, she said of independent unions like ALU. Longer-standing unions have collected dues from members, every member is paying dues, and the union is able to use those resources. ALU was funded from GoFundMe donations and pro bono legal work and didnt have any staff or pool of resources available. She said the unions lead in Staten Island could be linked to the high percentage of workers already in unions in New York. In Alabama, a right-to-work state that is more hostile to unions, she said the unions improved performance over last year is also an upset. Even for these workers to come close is really indicative of the way theyve been treated by their employer and their appetite to have strong collective representation, she said. UPDATE Apr. 01, 2022, at 16:33 PM More on this Staunton-based conservation nonprofit Valley Conservation Council announced Adam Schellhammer as its new executive director on March 7, 2022. STAUNTON Valley Conservation Council has announced Adam Schellhammer as its new executive director, according to a press release. In the role he will lead the organizations efforts to protect the natural and cultural resources of the greater Shenandoah Valley region through land conservation, education and experiences to preserve the life-enriching benefits the land and water provide. Schellhammer brings with him the regional conservation leadership experience and vision needed to build on the strong successes VCC has had over its past 32-year history, the release said. He hopes to expand on its long-held conservation mission by representing the needs of the entire Valley and improving the lives of the people who live, work and play in it and the surrounding region. Adams enthusiasm and energy stood out to me right away, said Steuart Thomas, VCC board chairman. He understands how vital the farming community is to the Valley, and the importance of building strong relationships with farmers and landowners to achieving our mission. More: Staunton Crossing: Staunton residents find out where $18 million has gone VCC is in a position to reconnect the fabric of our community, said Adam Schellhammer. The landscape is what connects us all and we should manage it in a way that allows everyone to thrive. VCC has the unique opportunity to represent the needs of the whole Valley region, but also connect our local needs to the larger picture of building global climate resiliency. Prior to joining VCC, Schellhammer spent the last two years as the Wai Ora Partnerships Manager for the Auckland Councils Climate Resilience Delivery program in New Zealand where he partnered with local communities to create high-value, holistic conservation programs to increase economic, social, cultural and environmental outcomes. He has also served as district manager of the Monroe County Conservation District in Pennsylvania, working closely with the farming community and collaborating with local municipalities, and as natural resource manager for the Friends of Princeton Open Space a conservation and preservation advocacy non-profit in New Jersey, the release said. Story continues My experiences have taught me that you have to meet people where they are and get stakeholders involved at every level, Schellhammer said. Building a strong foundation of public support is the key to long-term success. I love working with residents, community groups, and legislators to effectively promote resource protection and set policy surrounding environmental concerns. More: Switch to electric vehicles in Virginia would dramatically decrease deaths Your support helps keep the lights on at The News Leader. Stay connected with our stories, enterprise reporting and more by clicking "Subscribe" at the top of the page. Schellhammer received his masters in natural resource management and a graduate certificate in global sustainability from Virginia Tech where he spent his time enjoying the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and building connections with the local community. A native of Appalachian Pennsylvania, he spent childhood summers fly fishing the headwaters of the Juniata and the South Fork of the Shenandoah River with his friends and family. He and his wife are looking forward to putting down roots and raising their young children in the Shenandoah Valley. This place is special to me. There is so much to love about the Valley. The people here share a sense of place and a love of the outdoors that creates a real sense of belonging. Valley Conservation Council is a non-profit accredited land trust that preserves and protects the lands and waters of the Shenandoah Valley. Last year, the organization permanently protected 3,255 acres of land and 10.8 miles of rivers and streams through conservation easements. For more information, visit valleyconservation.org. You can reach Monique Calello (she/her) at mcalello@newsleader.com. Follow her on Twitter @moniquecalello. Your support is vital to local journalism. Please subscribe. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Valley Conservation Council new director environmental conservation va There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly. Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Change Financial (ASX:CCA) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway. See our latest analysis for Change Financial When Might Change Financial Run Out Of Money? A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. As at December 2021, Change Financial had cash of US$1.6m and no debt. Importantly, its cash burn was US$2.3m over the trailing twelve months. That means it had a cash runway of around 8 months as of December 2021. To be frank, this kind of short runway puts us on edge, as it indicates the company must reduce its cash burn significantly, or else raise cash imminently. Importantly, if we extrapolate recent cash burn trends, the cash runway would be noticeably longer. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. How Well Is Change Financial Growing? We reckon the fact that Change Financial managed to shrink its cash burn by 38% over the last year is rather encouraging. But it was the operating revenue growth of 248% that really shone. We think it is growing rather well, upon reflection. Of course, we've only taken a quick look at the stock's growth metrics, here. You can take a look at how Change Financial is growing revenue over time by checking this visualization of past revenue growth. Can Change Financial Raise More Cash Easily? Story continues Even though it seems like Change Financial is developing its business nicely, we still like to consider how easily it could raise more money to accelerate growth. Companies can raise capital through either debt or equity. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate). Since it has a market capitalisation of US$26m, Change Financial's US$2.3m in cash burn equates to about 8.7% of its market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. So, Should We Worry About Change Financial's Cash Burn? On this analysis of Change Financial's cash burn, we think its revenue growth was reassuring, while its cash runway has us a bit worried. While we're the kind of investors who are always a bit concerned about the risks involved with cash burning companies, the metrics we have discussed in this article leave us relatively comfortable about Change Financial's situation. An in-depth examination of risks revealed 3 warning signs for Change Financial that readers should think about before committing capital to this stock. Of course Change Financial may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Apr. 1Wex Inc., a South Portland-based fuel payment processing service, announced Friday it was severing its business relationship with a subsidiary of Russian-based Lukoil. While hundreds of U.S. companies have cut business ties or pulled out of Russia to protest the invasion of Ukraine in February, Wex had continued its 22-year relationship with Lukoil North America, the Press Herald reported this week. Wex had been mostly silent on the matter, saying it could not discuss its business dealings with the Russian company. But on Friday Wex said it was discontinuing its relationship with Lukoil. "As the war has continued, with no foreseeable resolution in sight, we re-evaluated our relationship with LukOil, and have decided to discontinue this relationship," the company said in a statement posted on social media Friday. "We want to go beyond what is required of us to ensure that none of our operations contribute, in any way, to aiding or supporting (Vladimir) Putin's aggressive actions." A Wex spokesperson, Robert Gould, said Friday that the company would provide no further information and did not answer emailed questions about the decision. The statement also said that Wex had complied with all sanctions against Russia and "is not doing business in Russia, and does not have any employees or office locations in Russia." Lukoil North America is registered in Delaware and headquartered in Moorestown, New Jersey. According industry sources, it gets the oil for its filling stations from East Coast refineries that are not importing Russian oil, so doing business with it presumably doesn't formally violate U.S. sanctions. In a statement Lukoil North America said it "reinvests its profits into operating, maintaining, and investing in capital projects at its network of stations in the United States." Sanctions expert Steven Tian, director of research for the Yale School of Management's Chief Executive Leadership Institute, told the Press Herald this week that doing any business with a Russian company even without a physical presence in Russia would help keep the war going. Story continues "Any company that is continuing its business in Russia, or in this case with Russian entities, is directly aiding Putin in keeping power," Tian said via email. Tian, whose organization tracks firms positions on sanctions, said that more than 450 companies had left Russia since the invasion. But John Forrer, director of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility at the George Washington University School of Business, told the Press Herald this week that he thought Wex's situation occupied a gray area. Since U.S. financial industry sanctions likely make it impossible for Lukoil North America to transfer funds to its Russian parent company, any revenues generated as a result of a partnership with Wex presumably aren't helping Russia's war effort in any way, he said. Wex had been managing Lukoil's branded fuel card systems, for its gas stations on the East Coast. The relationship allowed Wex to earn between $3 and $20 per month per fuel card via service revenue, late fees and finance charges. There are 1,300 Lukoil gas stations on the East Coast, including nineteen in Maine. Since Russia's invasion, Pennsylvanians have boycotted Lukoil-branded filling stations and the City Council in Newark, New Jersey, voted unanimously to revoke their license to operate entirely. The #BoycottLukoil hashtag has surged on social media in those states. Since the war in Ukraine began, hundreds of U.S. and international companies have pulled out of Russia or severed business ties with Russian companies, including Exxon, BP, Shell, McDonalds, Nike, Adidas, Apple, Microsoft, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Nestle. At least 1,100 civilians are believed to have been killed in Ukraine so far and some 10 million Ukrainians have fled their homes. Another of Maine's best-known companies, Idexx Laboratories, is continuing to operate in Russia as the invasion of Ukraine enters its second month, the Press Herald reported this week. Idexx, a veterinary medicine company based in Westbrook, had 18 staffers in its Moscow office before the invasion, according to a job ad description that has since been removed from the company's website. The office provided in-person sales, technical support, customer service and installation services to Russian customers, most of them presumably veterinary clinics using Idexx's diagnostic equipment on dogs, cats and other pets. Before the invasion, the company also was hiring personnel to expand its water testing business in the country. Idexx declined to speak to the Press Herald about the company's decision to maintain operations in Russia and did not respond to questions about what services it supplies there, whether it still had any U.S. citizens posted there or how the company has ensured it is following U.S. sanctions requirements. But in a written statement the company said it was helping veterinarians provide essential care to pets. "This is even more important in a time of crisis," the statement said. "While we have limited operations in Russia, we are focusing on supporting existing veterinary customers so that they can offer vital healthcare services to pets while complying with all applicable sanctions." Staff Writer Colin Woodard contributed to this story. In 2015, naval observers noticed that Russia had purchased and refurbished a small fleet of dilapidated cargo ships barely suitable for scrap. Russia lacked modern supply vessels and needed the creaky ships to transport weapons and supplies to Russian troops fighting in Syria on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad. In 2018, Russias largest floating repair dock sank near Murmansk, in northern Russia, damaging Russias only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov. Officials blamed a power outage. In 2019, 14 Russian sailors died in a fire on a mysterious submarine operating off the coast of Norway. Five months after that, the cursed Kuznetsov, still in Murmansk, suffered a fire that killed at least one, injured many others and left the ship damaged. A superpowers navy is supposed to project force around the world and demonstrate fearsome combat capabilities. Russias navy, during the last few years, has been showcasing something else: cracks in Russias military that stem from an unproductive economy, widespread corruption and the obstinacy of autocracy under President Vladimir Putin. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Presidential Grants Foundation CEO Ilya Chukalin in Moscow, Russia March 29, 2022. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTER Those flaws are now on display for all the world to see in Ukraine, which Russia invaded on Feb. 24, clearly with the aim of rapidly deposing the elected government and installing a puppet regime. Much has gone wrong. Russian missiles and artillery fired from long distances have wrecked many undefended areas and killed hundreds of civilians, but Russias territorial gains have been minimal and its losses great. At least 10,000 Russian troops have died, approaching the death toll Russia suffered in Afghanistan during an entire decade in the 1980s. Ukraines military has destroyed hundreds of Russian tanks, trucks and other military vehicles, and dozens of aircraft and helicopters. The Russian effort to take Kyiv, Ukraines capital, completely foundered and those troops have largely withdrawn. [Follow Rick Newman on Twitter, sign up for his newsletter or send in your thoughts.] Story continues More stunning than numerical losses may be widespread evidence of incompetence and hollowness. Russian vehicles break down due to dry-rotted tires and poor maintenance. Units have abandoned dozens of multimillion-dollar tanks for lack of gas. Russia seems to lack modern logistical tools such as cranes, pallets and fork lifts, crucial for moving materiel quickly and safely under stress, including combat. Camouflage efforts are primitive. Russian troops communicate over open radios, susceptible to interception, and loot Ukrainian homes and stores for basics such as food. One unit of panicked Russian troops appears to have turned on its own leader, running him over with a tank. A top British intelligence official said Russias command and control is in chaos. The cancer of corruption and inefficiency What happened? Western analysts obviously failed to notice many fundamental problems with Russias military, with many estimating before the invasion that overwhelming firepower and a deep kit of military tools would help Russia steamroll Ukraine. They had reason to believe that, however. For the last decade, Russia has increased defense spending and embarked on an aggressive modernization program, funded by lucrative sales of oil, natural gas and other valuable minerals. The 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea region encountered little resistance and went smoothly, from a military perspective. Wrecks of a Russian Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) and military vehicles are seen on the front line near Kyiv as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, Ukraine March 29, 2022. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich One thing thats extremely difficult to diagnose from a distance, though, is the cancer of corruption and inefficiency. Russia has adopted some market reforms since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, but it has also become a kleptocracy with endemic graft and plodding state agencies that make Americas federal bureaucracy look like a whiz-bang startup. In Ukraine, those shortcomings may have metastasized into disaster. Corruption is part of the political and economic system in Russia, and what we are seeing in Ukraine is part of the explanation, Katarzyna Zysk, a professor at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies in Oslo, tells Yahoo Finance. The problem is theres no accountability. We assume this continues to be part of the problem in the Russian military. Russias annual defense budget is around $62 billionless than one-tenth what the United States spends. Even then, secret bidding for military contracts and an overcomplicated military bureaucracy leave ample room for graft. In a couple of rare admissions, Russian military leaders have estimated that 20% to 40% of Russias military budget is stolen. Former Russian foreign minister Andrei Kozyrev, who now lives in the United States, said on Twitter on March 6, the Kremlin spent the last 20 years trying to modernize its military. Much of that budget was stolen and spent on mega-yachts in Cyprus. Some analysts have been aware of the holes in Russias military, even if it wasnt yet evident on a battlefield. In a 2020 analysis for the University of Oxford, Zysk identified a slew of Russian military vulnerabilities: overlapping weapons programs that sap resources, logistical shortfalls, a weak drone program with limited attack capability, shipbuilding hindered by sanctions imposed after the 2014 invasion of Crimea, radar and satellite shortcomings, young people who want to leave the country en masse, poorly trained draftees, and more. Putin personally favors Russias submarine force, which might explain why the navy gets 26% of Russias military funding, with just 14% going to the ground forces that account for the majority of the Russian military. But the main problems behind Russias military woes, the Oxford paper concluded, are pervasive corruption, low labor productivity, brain drain, the inability to acquire a large blue-water navy and, limited innovation. A destroyed Russian armoured fighting vehicle is seen amid Russias attack on Ukraine continues, in the town of Trostianets, in Sumy region, Ukraine March 28, 2022. Picture taken March 28, 2022. REUTERS/Oleg Pereverzev Putin himself is responsible for those problems. As Russias leader or de facto leader for 22 years, he has fashioned the entire economy according to his liking, and probably purloined more of the nations wealth for himself than anyone else. Putin is the corrupter-in-chief, Barry Pavel, director of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council, tells Yahoo Finance. In autocratic systems like Russia, China or North Korea, its much easier to skim a lot of money off the top. The same thing is happening in the military. Each branch of the military gets a certain budget, and it seems to me there are chunks off the top that go for the aggrandizement of those leaders. Dude, I stole your army U.S. intelligence officials have deduced that Putins deputies are reluctant or afraid to tell him the truth about Russias shoddy military and its halting war in Ukraine. That might be because those are the same people who plundered the military budget in the first place, leaving poorly equipped troops to deal with the deadly consequences on foreign turf against a determined defender. Nobody wants to tell Putin, dude, I stole your army. America shouldnt gloat. The U.S. military is clearly more competent than Russias, with better accountability, superior integration and a highly professionalized officer and enlisted corps. But theres still plenty of waste, fraud and abuse in the U.S. military budget, plus the infamous military-industrial complex that sometimes prioritizes profits and campaign donations over national security. Americas two-decade mission in Afghanistan ended with an ignominious withdrawal last year, followed by the immediate collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government. A general view of destroyed Russian tanks and vehicles, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Dmytrivka village, west of Kyiv, Ukraine April 1, 2022. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Russia does have an effective submarine force, advanced missile technology and, of course, a vast nuclear arsenal. So it would be a mistake to assume Russias sloppy performance in Ukraine means it would roll over in a broader conflict with NATO or any other power. After 2014, when Russia took over Crimea, we exaggerated Russias capabilities, says Zysk. Now we are in danger of exaggerating in the other direction. If Russia were preparing for a war with NATO, theyd be preparing very differently. They would use different kinds of weapons, morale would be better, their psychology would be different. That's a test best avoided. Rick Newman is the author of four books, including "Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman. You can also send confidential tips. Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn Muslims prepare for Ramadan across the globe (AFP via Getty Images) The holy month of Ramadan is right around the corner, a month where Muslims find a sense of peace, spiritual healing and test their strength and devotion to God. Muslims gather in prayer, Quranic reading and mindfulness to make the most out of the fasting month. Ramadan is celebrated in many different ways around the globe to mark the special occasion, from Iftar gatherings (Iftar- the opening of ones fast), to household decorations and traditional foods, to mark its arrival. Why do Muslims celebrate Ramadan? Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and changes every year in accordance with the moon. Before the fasting month begins, Muslims around the world prepare and wait for the arrival of Ramadan to be announced by the Saudi moon sighting committee or their local mosque. Ramadan is an essential part of the Islamic faith and it is believed, that it is the month whereby the Holy Quran was first reveal to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). How do Muslims fast? The fasting process is between dawn to sunset and is a sign of loyalty to the Islamic faith, which means that Muslims must abstain from eating and drinking, and yes, not even water. Many Muslims fast as a reminder to remain patient, learn self-discipline and to build an understanding of those that are suffering around the world. Among many others, Ramadan is also one of the five pillars of Islam. The pillars are key practices that Muslims are obligated to fulfill throughout their lifetime. Who is exempt from fasting? Fasting is not permitted to those that are suffering from a mental or physical illness. Pregnant women who are breastfeeding and women who are menstruating, are also exempt. As well as travellers, and children who have not yet reached puberty. How should you wish someone a Happy Ramadan? A saying familiar to many Muslims around the globe is, Ramadan Mubarak which simply means Blessed Ramadan. Another commonly used term is, Ramadan Kareem, which translates to Generous Ramadan, both terms are from Arabic origins. Story continues These are some of the ways in which many Muslims welcome the fasting month between family, friends and neighbours, and is well used throughout the fasting month, when greeting people for the first time. Ramzan, which is a Parsi word and stems from Persian roots, is often used around the globe too, mainly around countries such as India and Pakistan. If you have Muslim colleagues, friends or neighbours, the simplest way to wish them a Happy Ramadan is by saying, Ramadan Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem . Happy fasting and Ramadan Mubarak to Muslims around the globe! A trio of March Madness fans from the Navajo reservation in Page, Ariz., steered their rental car into a downtown Minneapolis parking ramp early Thursday, bleary from an early flight but eager for some urban exploring and their first Women's NCAA Final Four. "We're all hoopers, that's why," said Celeste Claw, 27, explaining why she and sisters Myka Taliman, 21, and Miquedah Taliman, 18, drove four hours to Phoenix, spent the night in a hotel and caught an early flight to the Twin Cities. The three women were among the first fans roaming the downtown streets early Thursday in a biting wind near Target Center, the epicenter of Final Four action that organizers hope will infuse energy into a city emerging from two years of a pandemic and civic unrest after the police murder of George Floyd. Fan arrivals continued throughout the day in advance of today's two semifinal games at Target Center. The first game tips off at 6 p.m., when South Carolina plays Louisville, followed by Connecticut vs. Stanford at 8:30 p.m. The games will be broadcast on ESPN. All four teams this week checked into their downtown hotels, where fans are welcome to encourage players as they come and go for practices and games. Official activity options expand today when the free interactive Tourney Town opens at 9 a.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center, and Party on the Plaza starts at 3 p.m. in front of Target Center. Claw and the Taliman sisters on Thursday were eager to find breakfast, scoop up game tickets and take in the town. "We live on a reservation, so just being in the city and exploring a new area is exciting," Claw said. At 9 a.m., as South Carolina players and coach Dawn Staley headed out for the first-of-the-day practice, the Marquette Hotel lobby was quiet but for the Gamecocks. The same was true down the street as the Louisville Cardinals left the Royal Sonesta, and the Stanford hoopsters filed into the bus outside the Westin. Story continues It was noisier a couple blocks down S. 6th Street, where Connecticut fans queued up for check-in at the Embassy Suites. Team boosters had set up a table laden with shiny blue, white and silver pompoms, stickers and signs. Diane Mead of Orange, Conn., was in the hotel lobby with her friend Tracey Kelly of Stratford, Conn. Both Huskies fans are Final Four veterans who bought their tickets last fall, long before their team made the tournament. "We were going to come no matter what," Kelly said. "You're always going to see good games." The two were planning to venture to St. Paul later to see the Minnesota Wild. Also on their agenda: the Mall of America and a stop at the Mary Tyler Moore statue. "This will be my first hockey game," Mead said, "so [Kelly is] going to have to explain everything." Across the Embassy Suites lobby and wearing Gamecock gear, Wanda Vincent and Zoe Dommel, both of Columbia, S.C., were going to drop their bags and "maybe go find some good food." They planned to tour Prince's Paisley Park in Chanhassen, watch the Olympic women basketball players practice, shop at the Mall of America and maybe stop at George Floyd Square in south Minneapolis. "Every area had its issues," Vincent said. "This was the epicenter." Nearby, retirees and friends Bill Cotter and Bob Daniels of Middletown, Conn., were scanning the lobby. It was the first Women's Final Four for Daniels and the third for Cotter. "We have never been to Minnesota so we wanted to make sure we got here. Paige made us come," Cotter joked, referring to Hopkins native and Connecticut star guard Paige Bueckers. Between games, the men had dinner reservations at a steakhouse, hoped to find some Irish bars and visit the Mall of America. They had successfully navigated the skyways to get from their hotel to the Huskies' home base. "We wanted to see if we would make it," Cotter said. "It was a lot of zig-zagging." Everyone looked prepared for the fickle Minnesota March weather, wearing parkas and caps. Dommel and Vincent said they enjoyed seeing frozen lakes from the plane as they landed. But Claw, the Arizonan, was a little disappointed to miss one sight. "I was expecting snow," she said. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. A federal judge struck down portions of a Florida election law passed last year, saying in a ruling Thursday that the Republican-led government was using subtle tactics to suppress Black voters. The law tightened rules on mailed ballots, drop boxes and other popular election methods changes that made it more difficult for Black voters who, overall, have more socioeconomic disadvantages than white voters, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote in his ruling. Advertisement For the past 20 years, the majority in the Florida Legislature has attacked the voting rights of its Black constituents, Walker wrote. Given that history, he said, any future election law changes should be subject to approval under the federal Voting Rights Act. Floridas Republican-led legislature joined several others around the country in passing election reforms after Republican former President Donald Trump made unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Democrats have called such reforms a partisan attempt to keep some voters from the ballot box. Advertisement Much of the debate focused on vote-by-mail ballots and how they are collected and returned. Walker overturned a provision of the law limiting when people could use a drop box to submit their ballot, along with a section prohibiting anyone from engaging with people waiting to vote. Walker said the latter provision discourages groups who give food, water, and other forms of encouragement to voters waiting in long lines from continuing to do so. One way, then, to measure whether this provision will have a disparate impact on Black or Latino voters is to determine whether Black and Latino voters are disproportionately likely to wait in line to vote, he said, citing testimony that showed that to indeed be the case. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who made the election bill a priority, said the state will appeal Walkers decision and win. In front of certain district judges, we know we will lose no matter what because they are not going to follow the law, DeSantis said at a news conference in West Palm Beach. He did not say specifically why he believes the ruling is incorrect. Upon appeal, the case would go to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, which is seen as being very conservative. AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Chile asked judges at the World Court on Friday to award it "equitable and reasonable" use of the waters of the Silala river, which runs from Bolivia into Chile, in the latest dispute between the South American neighbours. Bolivia, which argues that Chile is making use of the waters of the Silala without fair compensation, is due to respond on Monday. The court, formally known as the International Court of Justice, is the United Nations' court for resolving disputes between states. Chile agent Ximena Fuentes asked judges to "affirm the basic principles of equitable and reasonable utilisation in these times of increasing fresh water scarcity". The court is holding two weeks of oral arguments in the case, which began in 2016 following moves by Bolivia's then-President Evo Morales to assert more ownership rights over the Silala. In 2018, the court ruled in Chile's favour in a case brought by Bolivia seeking that Chile enter into negotiations over granting land-locked Bolivia a corridor to the sea. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Jan Harvey) New York is on the cusp of passing a Clean Slate bill that could help millions of people with old criminal records automatically seal their files and move on with their lives. If passed, the law would be a major milestone for the Clean Slate movement in one of the countrys most populous states. The Clean Slate Act, which is included in governor Kathy Hochuls proposed budget, would automatically seal felony records after seven years and misdemeanors after three for people who have completed their sentences and post-release supervision or parole and avoided further incident. Exceptions to the law include those on permanent sex offender lists. Clean Slate, according to New York-based criminal justice advocate Ashish Prashar, who is formerly incarcerated himself, would allow people to finally overcome the wide ranging and enduring collateral damage a past conviction or arrest has on things like job applications and access to government benefits. A lot of people are perpetually punished by the criminal justice system, he told The Independent. The loss of potential earnings has a larger economic consequence for our society. This is a moral thing and a justice thing, but theres an economic argument there, he said. It hurts communities. It hurts businessesAre we really opening our economy, or proactively taking a knife to it? There are more than 2 million New Yorkers with some form of criminal record, about a tenth of the states total population. Past arrests and convictions are frequently used to deny people access to work, housing, and other services needed to avoid recidivism. Under the current records-clearing regime in New York, only a small fraction of the hundreds of thousands of people eligible to clean their records ever do so, given the expense, time-consuming, and demoralising nature of the process. There are still some matters to iron out a legislative version of the bill would see formerly incarcerated people be eligible years sooner than the governors version , and legislators missed their 1 April deadline to agree on a budget but a broad coalition of legislators, businesses, and justice advocates have rallied behind clean slate in New York. Theyre cautiously optimistic it could pass, after a previous attempt failed last year. Story continues For some, passing clean slate is a racial and economic justice issue, as roughly three quarters of those with past criminal records in New York are Black or Latinx. The Clean Slate bill not only addresses the issues of poverty, not only addresses the issues of fairness, not only addresses the issues of social justice, but it addresses the issue of morality and ethics. It is an ethical thing to do, Dr Divine Pryor, Co-Chair of New York State NAACP criminal justice committee, told WSKG . It is devastating for those convicted of crimes to know that employers, landlords and other members of the community have such easy access to their criminal records, New York State Bar Association President T Andrew Brown said in a statement. It is in no ones best interest to keep so many fellow New Yorkers from leading full, productive lives once they have paid their debts to society. The current system which has a disproportionate impact on people of colour must be reformed. Those with criminal records stand to make up to $500,000 less over a lifetime compared to those with no record, according to an analysis from the Brennan Center , which supports the Clean Slate bill. There is no such thing as a minor criminal record, it wrote in a recent report , highlight how old criminal records can function as a poverty trap that prevents people from achieving prosperity, sets up future generations for material deprivation, and undermines our communities well-being. Business and labour groups including JP Morgan Chase and the 1199 SIEU union have also thrown their support behind the bill. As one of the states largest private unionized employers, we think people deserve second chances. This issue affects millions of New Yorkers, including our customers, our employees and our business, David Lamendola, an executive at telecom company Verizon, wrote in a recent op-ed in the Buffalo News . This measure will not end poverty or systemic racism, but it will do more to help people get back on their feet than all of the criminal justice reforms of the last few years combined. The bill has some conservative critics, however, who view the Clean Slate bill as a threat to public safety, part of a larger backlash against liberal priorities like bail and pre-trial detention reforms which have become controversial amid a pandemic-era surge in violent crime. The New York Post editorial board called Clean slate a gift to New York criminals last week, arguing, Even employers in the fields of child care, elder care and finance would have no knowledge whatsoever of a prospective hires prior convictions. How could any lawmaker in good conscience support such a law? Licensing authorities and police would still be able to access the sealed records in some cases, like applications for gun permits or investigations in to new offences. Advocates argue that by imposing wait periods between release and record-clearing, which could still potentially last decades because of technicalities in the governors version of Clean Slate, those who pose a genuine threat to public safety would not have their records cleared. Others point to the research on the subject, showing the synergy between record-clearing, employment, and public safety. Studies show that those who obtain expungement are extremely unlikely to commit a crime again , and, relatedly, within the first year afterwards, see a 23 per cent increase in income and 11 per cent increase in employment. If Clean Slate passes, New York will join a diverse group of bipartisan states which have adopted similar bills, including Michigan, Utah, and Pennsylvania. Clean slate policies are some of the many proposals that will be discussed at the American Workforce and Justice Summit 2022 , a two-day gathering of more than 150 business leaders, policy experts and campaign organizations focused on how corporations can meaningfully engage in justice issues and create change in the workplace and beyond. AWJ 2022, a project of the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice, will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, on 4 and 5 May. The Independent will be reporting from AWJ 2022 as media partner. ORANGE A judge from Virginias 16th judicial circuit is calling for Orange County elected leaders to consider removal of the Confederate statue that has prominently stood since 1900 on Main Streets courthouse lawn in this small town. Orange Circuit Judge David B. Franzen called the statue an obstruction to the proper administration of justice in Orange County, according to a portion of an email from his government account sent March 25 to Orange County leaders. Recipients included the sheriff, commonwealths attorney and county administrator. The email was forwarded to various members of the public and press. It received almost immediate backlash from a group of local residents who showed up at the soldier statue the following Monday to protest. The judges statements and planned actions also initiated a call for judicial inquiry into Franzens actions by Republican State Senator Bryce Reeves, a congressional candidate from Spotsylvania. The debate over whether Confederate statues should stay or go supporters said the statues represent history and heritage, while detractors describe them as racist symbols meant to promote white supremacy has been heard around the country. In Virginia, localities including Richmond, Charlottesville and Nelson County have faced decisions about what to do with theirs, with varying outcomes. Announcement deferred, protest stirred Franzen, a former Charlottesville judge appointed last July to an eight-year term on the Orange circuit, had planned to make an announcement that Monday, term day, about the statue prior to convening the grand jury. He called it off over the weekend, however, after word got out and opposition mounted. In the email, Franzen said, the purpose of his planned declaration was to call upon the Board of Supervisors to exercise its legislative power to remove the Confederate statue from the courthouse lawn. He said it was not his intention to order any action, but rather to defer to the legislative power of the board, the judge wrote. State law gives local governing bodies the power to remove or relocate war memorials, a thorny issue nationwide especially since the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Protesters at the Confederate statue felt Franzen was improperly trying to take that power. About two dozen held signs calling for his removal: Remove Judge Franzen! The bench is not for politics! shouted one man during the one-hour protest. Hes acting like hes above the law, said protest attendee Kerry Sellers, of Orange. He doesnt have the authority to do what hes doing. Sellers felt the Confederate soldier statue should remain in front of the courthouse. Its a memorial to the soldiers who died, he said. Its not about the Confederacy or the Union. ... Its not a race thing its a loss of life thing. In the email, Franzen said his actions had been misunderstood. He cited credible threats of the possibility of violence as to why he was postponing his announcement. A town policeman across the street said he had heard of no such credible threat. It had been my hope the issue could be discussed and debated in the public forum of the Board of Supervisors and I was prepared to call upon the board to do so, Franzen said. It appears such an appeal would have been misunderstood and perhaps manipulated in a manner unintended by me. The judge said the postponement did not mean he was deferring the issue. Matters of this kind require urgent, open and honest discussion, Franzen said. Republican activist Paul Moog, of Orange, attended the protest, saying his family moved from the north and he doesnt have much connection to the Confederacy. It reminds us of the sacrifice to remove slavery ... most Confederate soldiers were just average soldiers and not slaveholders, he said. Moog accused Franzen of violating the judicial code of conduct and said he should not insert himself into controversial issues. Its a very foolish move on his part to get involved in this, Moog said. He felt the statue was very popular in Orange County and commented that politicians were afraid of weighing in on it. Moog called it bizarre Franzen would say the statue was causing an obstruction of justice. Board chairman: Very difficult issue, declines comment Orange County Board Chairman R. Mark Johnson, reached on his work phone, was very hesitant to weigh in, saying he was aware of Franzens emails about asking the board to address the Confederate statue. This has not been added to any board agenda and I am not aware of any plans to add it to the agenda, Johnson, of Barboursville, said, adding, Of course, cant tell what the future may hold. The county board chairman had no comment when asked about Judge Franzen initiating attention to the statue. I personally have had about seven or eight people contact me, some would like [it] to move, some dont want it moved, but havent had very many people contact me, about the Confederate memorial during the past two years, Johnson said. Asked his personal opinion of Confederate monuments in public spaces, the board chairman responded, I dont have anything to say about that. This is not on the boards agenda and I am not aware of any potential to put it on the agenda. That is the best answer I can give you on that. Asked if the statue was obstructing justice in Orange County as the judge asserted, Johnson said he couldnt speak to it. This is a very difficult issue, not something that I want to talk about on an ad hoc basis, the county board chairman said. At some point I may have something to say, the board may have something to say, but for right now, I dont. Orange County resident Griffin Floyd started a change.org petition two years ago to remove the Confederate statue that now has close to 25,000 signatures. Johnson said hes aware of the petition and also of another online petition that wants to keep the Confederate figure. I dont think online petitions are something board members need to be giving opinions on the relative merits of, he said. Orange County Administrator Ted Vorhees told CBS 19 out of Charlottesville this past August the local government had not been able to engage in conversations with the public about the monument because of COVID-19. He told the TV station he hopes the dialogue will take place in the community soon because many conversations have happened around the state and country. Board Chairman Johnson said he didnt think the pandemic insulated local elected officials from the public. Did COVID prevent constituents from talking to the board? No, he said. Sen. Reeves: Will file complaint Orange County resident D.J. Anglin III attended the protest to keep the statute. He said the law protects it and if the citizens of Orange County wanted to deal with the war memorial there is a process for that. Anglin said he felt it was unacceptable for a judge to approach elected board members to ask them to take it down. The behavior by this judge is despicable, an abuse of power, he said. Sen. Reeves, Orange Countys state senate representative in Richmond, stood with protesters in the town of Orange, posing for pictures, giving interviews and waving to passing cars honking their horns. Reeves said in a statement he intended to file a complaint with the Judicial Inquiry & Review Commission based on alleged violations of the Canons of Judicial Conduct. In this case, the mere fact Judge Franzen calls to make a Declaration from the bench and his actions have called into question his impartiality, tarnished public trust, and ruined his reputation that will affect his ability to deliver justice fairly, the state senator said in a follow-up email to the Culpeper Star-Exponent. The courtroom must remain blind to politics and hold to the rule of law. Judges should not be activists. According to Reeves, Franzen was advised by the Sheriff of Orange County and others not to proceed in his current path and to remain impartial and not put undue pressure on the board of supervisors regarding this issue. Judge Franzen should have to answer for his actions if he has any hope of restoring public trust. Living history: A symbol of inequality? Orange County Sheriff Mark Amos was present in the courtroom for term day, and the lack of judges announcement from the bench. Outside, Virginia State Police troopers manned the sidewalk around the courthouse. Confederate imagery was absent from signs used or clothes worn to Mondays protest almost as if on purpose. As the peaceful protest broke up, all that was left behind was a small battle flag planted in the dirt at the foot of the soldier statue. The multi-layered stone memorial practically towers over the towns main intersection at Madison Road and Main. It stands in front of the historic courthouse, circa 1858, where Franzen last year oversaw dedication of a portrait of a Tuskegee Airman from Orange, Capt. Andrew Maples Jr. It was the first portrait in the courtroom of an African American, displayed in a line of pictures including President James Madison. Todays court cases are conducted in a new circuit courtroom addition connected to the back of the old one with the public entrance along Madison Road, mostly out of site of the Confederate statue, but certainly visible. Engravings on the side of the base of the soldier state the monument was, Erected by their comrades and friends Oct. 18, 1900. The names of dozens of Confederate soldiers from Orange who died in the war are listed on both sides of the larger portion of the base. A historical society associate present at the protest could not say exactly how many deaths there were. The monument also is engraved with, They fought for the Right They died for their country Cherish their memory Imitate their example. Griffin Floyd, in his two-year-old online petition to remove the monument stated it is a symbol of racial inequality, injustice and oppression. Having phrases emulating the soldiers of the confederacy like they fought for the right [to keep black men and women enslaved] or imitate their example [of tyranny, injustice, and oppression] is perverse and contradicts our cherished American values like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Furthermore, it is perverse to have a monument to oppression outside of a courthouse, where justice is supposed to be served. The Japanese government has decided to change the Japanese spelling of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, adopting the spelling based on the Ukrainian pronunciation instead of the one based on the Russian language. Starting on Friday, all official documents will use the revised spelling in the Japanese katakana alphabet. Other Japanese names of Ukrainian cities with Russian-based spelling are also being changed to those based on the Ukrainian language. Calls were coming from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to do so, on the view that it is not appropriate to use the Russian-based spelling for the Ukrainian capital at a time when Russia is invading Ukraine. The foreign ministry consulted with the Ukrainian government on the issue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Twitter that he appreciates Japan's decision and hopes other countries will follow. Earlier in 2020, NHK World changed the Ukrainian capital's English spelling to "Kyiv," in response to a request from the Ukrainian government. The capital used to be spelled as "Kiev." Dr. Jason Plourde has been promoted to chief administrator at Green Hills Area Education Agency, the Board of Directors announced Friday. Plourde, who currently serves as executive director of Universal Services and Supports at the agency, was one of 26 applicants and three finalists for the position. The board is excited that Dr. Plourde will be continuing his work at Green Hills Area Education Agency, Board President John Gambs said in a press release from the agency. We believe the energy, passion, and educational experiences he brings to the position of chief administrator will benefit the many students and families we serve. In his current position, Plourde leads, supervises and supports all curriculum and instruction areas, including professional learning, school improvement, career and technical education and multiple core consulting services. In his new role on July 1, he will support the agencys 304 employees who provide services across 43 public school districts and six accredited nonpublic schools in southwest Iowa, serving 37,685 K-12 students, the press release stated. Green Hills AEA also provides services for children ages birth to three years old and their families. He will strive to ensure Green Hills AEA sustains and nurtures a positive staff culture with high-functioning teams who deliver unparalleled services, support and advocacy on behalf of each child and school system, the press release stated. Plourde has spent 28 years in public education in southwest Iowa. His leadership roles include serving as a former director of secondary schools and building administrator for elementary, middle and high school levels. He also served as a paraeducator and teacher in the Council Bluffs Community School District. Prior to working for Council Bluffs Schools, he was a special education teacher with Loess Hills AEA 13. He is an alumnus of the University of Nebraska of Omaha and Creighton University, earning a degree in K-8 education with an emphasis in special education and advanced degrees in preK-12 educational administration, leadership, and management. Over his career, he has been honored with multiple awards, including The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award Recipient for Iowa (2008) and the Promising Professional Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Nebraska at Omaha (2010). We look forward to working with Dr. Plourde and the entire Green Hills AEA staff as we continue to serve and support our area students and school districts, Gambs said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 37-year-old Milwaukee man has been jailed in Lincoln after he and another man overdosed at a child's birthday party near Northwest Seventh Street and Bridger Road on Saturday, requiring first responders to deploy Narcan and leaving one man hospitalized for three days. Kalvin Eichelberger is accused of supplying the cocaine the men overdosed on, which authorities suspect was laced with fentanyl, according to the affidavit for Eichelberger's arrest. Lincoln police and rescue crews were dispatched to the party at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, where first responders deployed the emergency narcotic overdose treatment and performed CPR on Eichelberger and a 29-year-old man. Police found a baggie with 0.6 grams of suspected cocaine in Eichelberger's pocket, along with a folded dollar bill with another gram of the drug, Investigator Forrest Dalton said in the affidavit. The other man, who was placed on a respirator during his three-day stay at a local hospital, told police that Eichelberger twice asked him if he wanted cocaine and he "felt pressured" to oblige, Dalton said. Both men fell unconscious shortly after snorting the substance, Dalton said. Eichelberger denied using drugs at the party and said the drugs found on him must have been planted by police. He was arrested and charged with delivery of a controlled substance. Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. VATICAN CITY Pope Francis on Friday made a historic apology to Indigenous peoples for the deplorable abuses they suffered in Canadas Catholic-run residential schools and said he hoped to visit Canada in late July to deliver the apology in person to survivors of the churchs misguided missionary zeal. Francis begged forgiveness during an audience with dozens of members of the Metis, Inuit and First Nations communities who came to Rome seeking a papal apology and a commitment from the Catholic Church to repair the damage. The first pope from the Americas said he hoped to visit Canada around the Feast of St. Anna, which falls on July 26. Advertisement More than 150,000 native children in Canada were forced to attend state-funded Christian schools from the 19th century until the 1970s in an effort to isolate them from the influence of their homes and culture. The aim was to Christianize and assimilate them into mainstream society, which previous Canadian governments considered superior. The Canadian government has admitted that physical and sexual abuse was rampant at the schools, with students beaten for speaking their native languages. That legacy of that abuse and isolation from family has been cited by Indigenous leaders as a root cause of the epidemic rates of alcohol and drug addiction now on Canadian reservations. Advertisement After hearing their stories all week, Francis told the Indigenous groups that the colonial project ripped children from their families, cutting off their roots, traditions and culture and provoking inter-generational trauma that is still being felt today. He said it was a counter-witness to the same Gospel that the residential school system purported to uphold. For the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask forgiveness of the Lord, Francis said. And I want to tell you from my heart, that I am greatly pained. And I unite myself with the Canadian bishops in apologizing. The trip to Rome by the Indigenous leaders, elders and survivors was years in the making but gained momentum last year after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves outside some of the residential schools in Canada. The three groups met separately with Francis over several hours this week, telling him their stories, culminating with Fridays audience. The president of the Metis National Council, Cassidy Caron, said the Metis elder sitting next her burst into tears upon hearing what she said was a long-overdue apology. The popes words today were historic, to be sure. They were necessary, and I appreciate them deeply, Caron told reporters in St. Peters Square. And I now look forward to the popes visit to Canada, where he can offer those sincere words of apology directly to our survivors and their families, whose acceptance and healing ultimately matters most. Members of the Assembly of First Nations perform in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 31, 2022. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) First Nations Chief Gerald Antoine echoed the sentiment, saying Francis recognized the cultural genocide that had been inflicted on Indigenous peoples. Today is a day that weve been waiting for. And certainly one that will be uplifted in our history, he said. Its a historical first step, however, only a first step. He and other delegates said there was far more for the church to do on the path of reconciliation, but that for now Indigenous leaders insisted on being involved in organizing the papal visit to make sure Francis stops in places that hold spiritual importance to their people. Advertisement Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, thanked Francis for addressing all the issues the Indigenous delegations had brought to him. And he did so in a way that really showed his empathy towards the Indigenous people of Canada, he said. Nearly three-quarters of Canadas 130 residential schools were run by Catholic missionary congregations. Last May, the Tkemlups te Secwepemc Nation announced the discovery of 215 gravesites near Kamloops, British Columbia, that were found using ground-penetrating radar. It was Canadas largest Indigenous residential school and the discovery of the graves was the first of numerous, similar grim sites across the country. Even before the grave sites were discovered, Canadas Truth and Reconciliation Commission specifically called for a papal apology to be delivered on Canadian soil for the churchs role in the abuses. In addition, as part of a settlement of a lawsuit involving the Canadian government, churches and the approximately 90,000 surviving students, Canada paid reparations that amounted to billions of dollars being transferred to Indigenous communities. The Catholic Church, for its part, has paid over $50 million and now intends to add $30 million more over the next five years. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, acknowledged Francis apology and said he looked forward to having him deliver it in person in Canada. Advertisement This apology would not have happened without the long advocacy of survivors who journeyed to tell their truths directly to the institution responsible and who recounted and relived their painful memories, he said. Todays apology is a step forward in acknowledging the truth of our past in order to right historical wrongs, but there is still work to be done. From left, Gerald Antoine, First Nations NWT Regional Chief, Natan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami delegation, and Cassidy Caron, President of the Metis community, walk in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, after their meeting with Pope Francis, April 1, 2022. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) Francis said he felt shame for the role that Catholic educators had played in the harm, in the abuse and disrespect for your identity, your culture and even your spiritual values, he said. It is evident that the contents of the faith cannot be transmitted in a way that is extraneous to the faith itself. It is chilling to think of determined efforts to instill a sense of inferiority, to rob people of their cultural identity, to sever their roots, and to consider all the personal and social effects that this continues to entail: unresolved traumas that have become inter-generational traumas, he said. After the papal apology, the audience continued with joyous performances of Indigenous prayers by drummers, dancers and fiddlers that Francis watched, applauded and gave a thumbs up to. The delegates then presented him with gifts, including snowshoes. Francis, for his part, returned a First Nations cradle that the delegation had left with him overnight as he pondered his apology. Francis apology went far beyond what Pope Benedict XVI had offered in 2009 when an Assembly of First Nations delegation visited. At the time, Benedict only expressed his sorrow at the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the church. But he did not apologize. The Argentine pope is no stranger to offering apologies for his own errors and for what he himself has termed the crimes of the institutional church. Most significantly, during a 2015 visit to Bolivia, he apologized for the sins, crimes and offenses committed by the church against Indigenous peoples during the colonial-era conquest of the Americas. Advertisement He made clear those same colonial crimes occurred far more recently in Canada at the Catholic-run residential schools. Your identity and culture has been wounded, many families separated, many children have become victims of this homogenization action, supported by the idea that progress occurs through ideological colonization, according to programs studied at the table rather than respecting the lives of peoples, he said. The polisario-forced and Algeria-backed recruitment of children in the camps of Tindouf fuels instability in North Africa and the Sahel, said, on Thursday in Dakhla, the minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita. Speaking at a conference organized by the International Research Center on the Prevention of Child Soldiers, Bourita stressed the correlation between the lack of proper management of the Tindouf camps and the recruitment of child soldiers. In this regard, the Moroccan minister noted that the host country must assume the full extent of its international responsibility, including the safety and protection of children living on its territory. The indoctrination and enlistment of children by the polisario armed militia is an inhuman crime, and a denial of the basic rights of the children recruited, as well as a flagrant violation of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council on this matter, he said. As to the proportion of children living in conflict zones who are at risk of recruitment and use by armed groups, Bourita said their number has tripled from less than 5% in 1990 (99 million children) to more than 14% in 2020 (337 million children). The problem of child soldiers is neither marginal nor circumstantial and contrary to popular belief, this phenomenon is not exclusive to Africa, he added, noting that children take part in 75% of conflicts in the world, more than 460 million children live in a conflict zone in 2022 and more than 15% of child soldiers are girls. In the last 25 years, 170,000 children have been released from armed groups. However, only a limited number of former child soldiers have been identified in a limited number of countries surveyed, he said. Dealing with Moroccos role in world peace, he said the Kingdom is actually a major player in peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and has been participates since 1960 in peacekeeping missions on all continents. Morocco is thus ranked among the top 11 contributors of peacekeepers in the world, with 1,702 peacekeepers deployed in Africa (within MINUSCA, MONUSCO and UNMISS). The role of Morocco is also perceptible with regard to its commitment to international legality, he continued, noting that the Kingdom ratified on May 22, 2002, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. The Moroccan government is committed to implementing the provisions of the Convention and those of the Optional Protocol and to ensure the harmonization of Moroccan legislation with their principles, he noted. In addition, there are mechanisms and instruments for the protection of children against all forms of abuse, exploitation, violence and organized crime, such as the National Observatory for the Rights of the Child, created in 1995. Also, Morocco adopted in 2020 the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. The involvement of Morocco is also motivated by the interweaving of multiple causes and numerous consequences of this phenomenon, Bourita said, citing in this regard the factors that deprive children of their most basic rights. In this case, these factors are represented in terrorism, radicalization, exploitation, smuggling and trafficking in human beings, sexual violence and food insecurity. Furthermore, Bourita stressed that the choice of Dakhla to host the International Research Center on the Prevention of Child Soldiers, is a recognition of the role of Morocco as a provider of peace, security and stability. Through this Center, Morocco wishes to contribute to the debate by formulating concrete proposals for the security-development continuum and coordination of efforts of the international community, according to a plural, global and local approach, an academic and political, theoretical and practical approach, combining fight and prevention, he said. Similarly, Bourita said that the objective of the Center is to provide accurate, qualitative and quantitative data to formulate an informed action through academic research. Morocco also calls for an end to impunity for those responsible for the recruitment and criminal use of children and other grave violations, by supporting systematic UN monitoring and reporting of child rights violations in conflicts, he added. Algeria has recalled its ambassador from Spain after Madrid voiced support for Moroccos territorial integrity and for the autonomy plan. Algiers has also said it will reassess all deals signed with Spain in a diplomatic escalation that shows the extent to which Algeria is involved as a real party to the Sahara conflict that it has perpetuated. But Algiers has little leverage over Europe. The gas card was evoked by regime proponents in Algiers. But Algeria has already undermined its position as a stable and reliable gas supplier by unilaterally halting a pipeline that carried 13 cbm of gas annually, in a move that was driven by a hostility and an intent to hurt Morocco. Spanish officials opposed the suspension of the gas pipeline while Algerian officials promised to raise the capacity of an 8 cbm pipeline that didnt cross Morocco. This promise however did not materialize as the Medgaz pipeline has already hit maximum capacity and was vulnerable to breakdowns as it was mostly offshore. Spain so far this year has imported 34% of its gas needs from the US followed by Algeria with some 23%, while imports from Nigeria are closely competing with Algeria at a rate of 21%. Algeria has only gas and other hydrocarbons to sell and imports most of its needs including much of its foodstuff, leaving the country vulnerable to price volatility in international markets. Algiers oil export capacity has declined to 400,000 barrels per a day from 1 million barrels a decade earlier partly due to a rise in domestic consumption and lack of investments. When the Spanish government took the decision to support Moroccos autonomy plan, it studied scenarios and took such as a decision bearing in mind that Algerias leverage was insignificant. Algerias quest to retaliate from Spain only vindicates Moroccos stands that the Sahara issue will only be resolved if Algeria is involved in line with its role as the real party in the conflict. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita had this Friday a phone talk with his Ukrainian peer Dmytro Kuleba, the second in a few days, after the one they had on March 22. The announcement was made in a tweet by the Moroccan Foreign Ministry. Dmytro Kuleba also spoke about this exchange with Bourita, on his Twitter account, praising the friendly relations binding his country to Morocco, and hoping to see these relations strengthened further in all spheres. Ukraine and Morocco enjoy friendly bilateral relations and we look forward to further strengthening them in all spheres, including in food security, boosting trade, and cooperation within international organizations, Kuleba wrote on his Twitter account, following the phone talk with Bourita. Analysts in Rabat commented that this phone talk is the proof, if need be, that the decision made Thursday, March 31, by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to recall the Ukrainian ambassador to Morocco, Oksana Vasylieva, was in no way aimed at Morocco. The Ukrainian President said he signed decrees to recall Ukrainian ambassadors to Georgia and Morocco, because of their inability to defend the interests of the country. In a video posted on Twitter, Volodymyr Zelensky announced the recall of the Ukrainian ambassador to Rabat, as well as the Ukrainian ambassador to Georgia, deeming that the two diplomats are not up to their task, and do not work enough for the interests of Ukraine in time of war. On Tuesday March 22, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs had phone talks with both his Ukrainian and Russian peers, Dmytro Kuleba and Sergei Lavrov. The talks focused, among other things, on the situation in Ukraine. As to Moroccos position vis-a-vis the Russian-Ukrainian war, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed in a press release issued on Feb.26 that the Kingdom of Morocco reiterates its support for the territorial integrity and national unity of all United Nations member states. The Kingdom of Morocco also recalls its attachment to the principle of non-use of force for the settlement of disputes between States and encourages all initiatives and actions favoring a peaceful settlement of conflicts. On March 2, following its non-participation at the UN in the vote on a resolution on the situation between Ukraine and Russia, Morocco indicated that it was following with concern the development of the situation and reaffirmed its strong attachment to respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and national unity of all Member States of the United Nations. The Union of the Comoros on Thursday reaffirmed its unwavering and unconditional support for the Moroccanness of the Sahara and the autonomy plan as the only solution to settle the regional dispute over the Sahara, welcoming Spains recent far-sighted stance on this issue. The Comorian Foreign Minister Dhoihir Dhoulkamal reaffirmed the unwavering and unconditional support of his country for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco, for the Moroccanness of the Sahara and the autonomy plan for the Moroccan Sahara as the only solution to this regional dispute, while reiterating his countrys full support for the role played by the United Nations as the exclusive and consensual framework for achieving a realistic, pragmatic and sustainable solution, says the joint communique issued at the end of the 1st session of the Morocco-Comoros joint commission, held in the Southern city of Dakhla. The Union of the Comoros, the first country to open a consulate in Laayoune, welcomed with great satisfaction the just and far-sighted stance adopted by the Kingdom of Spain, recognizing the autonomy plan as the most serious, realistic and credible solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, the communique said, adding that the Comorian government welcomed this decisive turning point in the international recognition of the territorial unity and integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco. The 1st session of the Morocco-Comoros Joint Commission, convened in Dakhla was marked by the signing of eleven cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding, covering several areas, including protection of investments; prevention of tax evasion and frau; tourism; Islamic affairs; the transfer of technologies; fisheries and aquaculture; employment and labour; energy, mining and geology; and education. By JOB VIGIL HERSHEY Elementary students celebrated the opening of the Hershey Panther Branch of Hershey State Bank on Wednesday afternoon. The program to teach students about the importance of saving money was initiated by Anna Stacy and Motika Elder of Hershey State Bank in collaboration with the Nebraska Council on Economic Education and Hershey Public Schools. Elementary Principal Jared Thomsen said the program is for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Saving money is important for several reasons, Thomsen said, whether that be saving money for college, most importantly, a car or keeping your money for future endeavors. The students will make deposits every Thursday from 7:50 to 8:15 a.m. under a school account, with information about each childs deposits maintained separately. The program will run every Thursday through the month of April, Thomsen said. Well shut it down for state testing in May and open it again next September. Students will not be allowed to withdraw from their accounts until they complete sixth grade or leave the school. At that time, a check will be issued to the student for the balance. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. North Plattes Hub Bar, open since World War II, has long been the last surviving business at the northwest corner of Seventh and Jeffers. Soon, the bars 1917 home also will be the corners only surviving building. The bar buildings crumbling immediate neighbors one on its north, the other on its west will both be gone by mid-April under an agreement between the city and Hub owner Bruce Weesner, who owns all three lots. Both sites will become parking lots for the venerable tavern, which opened in May 1939 as the Kronquest Bar. It acquired its better-known name when it was sold in May 1943. After a months preparation including asbestos removal, Hiatt Construction Inc. is knocking down the two-story brick structure that R.N. Lamb built in 1917 at 706 N. Jeffers St. An excavator Thursday devoured the north wall that bore the faded painted sign for the Leypoldt & Pennington hay and feed store, which operated there from 1918 to about 1920. Once done, Hiatts crew will demolish the white-and-brown-blotched 1925 building just west of the Hub on West Seventh Street. Its builder, Francis H. Woodgate, finished it eight years after he erected the bar building at the corner with then-partner J.F. Abernathy. The Hub building and its two doomed neighbors sit on the north end of North Plattes downtown Canteen District, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. But two city officials said both structures were too far gone to save. The Woodgate buildings roof and second floor have caved in, and the Lamb building wasnt in much better shape. When inspecting the latters west wall, we could tell there was a rotted roof on that, and that wall was deteriorating pretty fast, building official Dave Hahn said Thursday. The city filed a condemnation action against the 706 N. Jeffers building Sept. 28 in Lincoln County District Court, with Weesner and his wife, Camille, as defendants. City Attorney Terry Waite said a similar filing would have followed on the Woodgate building, which has an official address of 702 N. Jeffers even though it fronts Seventh. But the Weesners agreed to tear both down after the city moved Jan. 13 for default judgment on the Lamb building. We were literally approached on the eve of court, Waite said. We said well stand down if theyll do this on their own. Thats what theyre doing. ... Were happy to make progress and happy to have the cooperation of the building owner. Hahn said the couple received a demolition permit covering both structures March 1, the same day that District Judge Richard Birch scheduled a May 9 hearing in the case. The city will dismiss it if demolition work has been finished by then, said Waite, who expressed regret the Lamb building had to go. Its too bad. Its a landmark, he said. But its condition didnt leave us too much choice but to file. Hahn agreed. We dont take these lightly, because they are investments, he said. Though the city forced me to tear them down, Bruce Weesner said Thursday, his bar will benefit from the off-street parking that will succeed the Lamb and Woodgate buildings. They werent attracting business tenants in any case, said Weesner, who has owned and operated the Hub Bar since 1974. There was no parking to get a business in them, he said. About all they were good for was storage. All three buildings were viable business structures for decades, with the Hub Bar and its predecessor ideally placed across Seventh from local hot spots Jeffers Pavilion and Jeffers Park. Woodgate, an English immigrant, arrived in Lincoln County in 1890. He built grain elevators at Wellfleet and now-vanished Ingham before moving to North Platte in 1913. He and Abernathy announced plans for the Hubs concrete-block home in March 1917, a month before Lamb advertised for bids for his own brick-and-tile building to the north. Woodgates Platte Valley Monumental Works with Abernathy was short-lived, with Bethel Mission in its place by 1921. He built the future bars western neighbor four years later and briefly operated Platte Valley Memorial Works with C.A. Mason farther west at 113 W. Seventh St. Weesner said the Hub Bars history as an ongoing business can be traced to Midget Liquor Store, which opened in Woodgates original building in August 1935. In spring 1939, Rulo Kronquest turned it into a full-service bar with chromium-plated cocktail tables and chairs. With U.S. Highways 30 and 83 outside its front door and Jeffers Pavilion and its big-band shows across Seventh, the Kronquest Bar had one of the most desirable locations for an enterprise of this sort, the North Platte Daily Bulletin wrote for its May 13 opening. Almost exactly four years later, Carl Rippen bought the bar and dubbed it the Hub. It retained its prime location until Jeffers Parks grandstand burned down in 1955 and Jeffers Pavilion met a similar fate the next year. Nash-Finch Co., the bars northern neighbor in the Lamb building since the late 1920s, moved to East Front Street in the early 1950s. Lamb had briefly operated a hay and feed store in his new 1917 building before selling the business in September 1918 to Dorsey Leypoldt and H.L. Pennington. He later moved to California and died at age 74 in May 1939. Leypoldt and Pennington, who had started a mill in 1916 at East Front and Silber streets, sold the feed store to North Platte Feed Co. in 1920 and their mill to Nebraska Mill & Elevator Co. in February 1922. Woodgate died just short of his 90th birthday in April 1947, 16 years after Leypoldt met an early and tragic end. When his 22-year-old son Burdette was badly burned in a 1931 explosion, the then 55-year-old Leypoldt donated skin grafts to try to save him. Both father and son developed fatal infections, with Dorsey Leypoldt dying July 23 and Burdette a week later. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Beyond activists, public opinion on abortion restrictions is often complicated and nuanced. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images As we await the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, generally regarded as the most serious threat to reproductive rights in 30 years, one big question is how the public will react to an outcome that significantly changes the legal status of abortion. With the two major political parties almost completely polarized on this issue, the reaction could have an immediate effect on the November midterm elections. Many Democrats think a decision overturning or significantly eroding Roe v. Wade might mobilize otherwise unenthusiastic pro-choice voters to show up at the polls (particularly the younger voters who often skip non-presidential elections). But many Republicans believe their own anti-abortion base might become eager to implement such a decision at the state level, boosting their midterm turnout as well. A lot, of course, will depend on exactly what the Court majority does; a sweeping reversal of Roe would produce a different reaction than a more modest decision that makes it easier for states to enact abortion restrictions without completely eliminating a constitutional right to choose. But since the Mississippi law before the Supreme Court bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, the Wall Street Journal has done some fresh polling on that kind of across-the-board restriction. It found that by a 48-43 margin, voters support a 15-week ban with exceptions for the health of the mother. So what exactly does this tell us? Exceptions for the health of the mother are extremely controversial among anti-abortion activists. They argue that doctors will exploit such a loophole to write a permission slip for virtually anyone seeking an abortion on mental health grounds, if nothing else. The distinctions between exceptions for the health of the mother versus exceptions only to save the mothers life got a lot of attention during a 2008 presidential-candidate debate between Barack Obama and John McCain: McCain, in response to Obamas stated support for health exceptions [to a late-term abortion ban], said that such exceptions have been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything and made air quotes in reference to the health of the woman when describing Obamas extreme pro-abortion position. But health exceptions are very popular. According to Gallup, in 2011, 82 percent of poll respondents favored physical health exceptions to hypothetical abortion bans, and 61 percent favored specific mental health exceptions. Thats relevant since neither the Mississippi nor the Texas laws have health of the mother, or for that matter, rape and incest exceptions (those have strong popular support as well; an AP-NORC poll in June of 2021 found that 84 percent of adults, and even 74 percent of Republicans, favored rape-incest exceptions to any abortion ban). If the Supreme Court upholds the Mississippi law (much less the wildly more restrictive Texas law), you can assume opponents will emphasize the lack of exceptions while happy supporters will downplay them. Should the Court find a way to validate Mississippis law (or other 15-week bans) without going further, its unlikely that activists on either side of the abortion debate will draw much attention to the fact that 93 percent of abortions occur within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy by the CDCs estimate. For reproductive-rights activists, that statistic might induce a bit of complacency about the immediate impact of a change in constitutional law. For anti-abortion activists, it would dramatize how far they have to go to reach their goal of eliminating all abortions. Its commonly said that Americans are conflicted or even confused about their opinions on laws affecting legal abortion. One public-opinion expert, FiveThirtyEights Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux, recently concluded that many Americans just dont like talking or thinking about abortion They also dont know a lot about the procedure or restrictions around it. That may be the case for some people, but its also true, as Voxs Sarah Kliff noted a number of years ago, that many people have deeply nuanced views that [take] in all sorts of personal and circumstantial factors. Its not uncommon for people to oppose abortions on grounds of individual motivation (e.g., convenience or recklessness about sex that laws arent very good at addressing). At the same time, as public-opinion researcher Tresa Undem has reported, some abortion opponents want people seeking an abortion be treated with respect and given safe and affordable care: When it comes to real life views on the issue how people actually experience abortion the numbers get even more intriguing. Among people who said abortion should only be legal in rare cases, 71 percent said they would give support to a close friend or family member who had an abortion, 69 percent said they want the experience of having an abortion to be nonjudgmental, 66 percent said they want the experience to be supportive, 64 percent want the experience to be affordable, and 59 percent want the experience to be without added burdens. Yes, but could be a surprisingly common feeling about new abortion restrictions even among people who identify as pro-life. The bottom line is that it is extremely hard to predict how the public will react to the Dobbs decision. It will obviously depend on what exactly the Court does, along with what the majority signals could be coming in future decisions and the degree of alarm in the inevitable dissents. But what may matter even more is how non-activists process the new landscape of abortion law and practice. They could surprise us all. ASM International NV Almere, the Netherlands April 1, 2022 ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today announces that the information regarding the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for May 16, 2022 (AGM), is now available on the Company's website. This information includes the convocation, the agenda and annexes thereto. The U.S. market proxy materials for holders of New York Registry Shares are also posted on our website. ASM also announces that Mr. Martin van Pernis will be succeeded by Mrs. Pauline van der Meer Mohr as chairperson of the Supervisory Board following the AGM. The AGM will commence at 2:00 p.m. CET. The AGM will be a hybrid meeting that can be attended in person or virtually by shareholders. As in previous years, our shareholders are also offered the possibility to exercise their voting rights by proxy and to follow the meeting through our live webcast. In the event COVID-19 would require for health reasons that the meeting is to be held solely virtually and this would be accommodated by the Dutch legislation, then instructions will be made available on the website: www.asm.com. The agenda for the AGM includes, amongst others, the proposals to appoint Mr. Hichem MSaad as additional member of the Management Board, change the remuneration policy for the Management Board and Supervisory Board, re-appoint Mr. Marc de Jong as member of the Supervisory Board for another term of four years, approve the proposal to declare a regular dividend of 2.50 per common share, and approval of the annual accounts of 2021. In accordance with applicable legal requirements in the Netherlands the record date for the AGM is April 18, 2022. The total number of issued shares in ASM International N.V. as per today amounts to 49,297,394 common shares. Considering the number of shares held in treasury as per today, amounting to 717,340 shares, the number of voting shares amounts to 48,580,054. At the end of the AGM, Mr. van Pernis will retire from the Supervisory Board after 12 years, and the last year as chairperson. The Supervisory Board has appointed Mrs. Pauline van der Meer Mohr to become the chairperson of the Supervisory Board following the AGM. Story continues Mr. van Pernis commented: It was a real pleasure being part of the Supervisory Board over the last 12 years of which the last year as chairperson. The growth of the company during this time has been tremendous. I enjoyed being part of this and experiencing the progress on the technological front, and the enthusiasm and entrepreneurship of the Management Board and all employees. I wish the Management Board, Supervisory Board and all other colleagues all the best in the future. Last but not least I wish Pauline all the best as my successor as chairperson. Mrs. Pauline van der Meer Mohr commented: First of all I would like to thank Martin for all of his contributions over the past 12 years. He has made many contributions with his extensive knowledge and experience. Furthermore, I am really looking forward to succeeding him as chairperson of the Supervisory Board and to continue with the entire Supervisory Board to contribute to the execution of the Growth through Innovation strategy. I wish Martin a well-deserved retirement. About ASM International ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASM's website at www.asm.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, changes in import/export regulations, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances. CONTACT Investor and media contact: Victor Bareno T: +31 88 100 8500 E: investor.relations@asm.com Royals sunglasses Chris Jackson/Getty Kate Middleton wearing Finlay sunglasses on tour in the Bahamas - March 2022 Kate Middleton knows how to look cool in her shades. On her recent tour of the Caribbean with Prince William, Kate wore a total of 17 outfits over eight days, but just two pairs of sunglasses. One of which was a new style from the independent British eyewear brand Finlay, which is quickly becoming a royal favorite. "It was so lovely to see Kate wearing our Henrietta sunglasses she looked beautiful," co-founder of the brand, David Lochhead, tells PEOPLE, adding: "As a British brand, it's wonderful to see some of the most recognizable members of the royal family choose to wear our designs." Kate opted for the classic cat-eye shape in light tortoise for her penultimate outfit choice during the Caribbean tour. Handmade from luxury Italian Mazzucchelli acetate and fitted with Zeiss lenses for full UVA/UVA protection, the $225 style sold out in less than 24 hours after the royal wore them on the couple's last day in The Bahamas. Teamed with a pink midi-dress from vintage-inspired British brand Rixo, Kate accessorized her look with neutral espadrille wedges and gold earrings by local jeweler Nadia Campbell. Kate Middleton Samir Hussein - Pool/WireImage Kate Middleton "Henrietta is one of our more sophisticated shapes, it's a cat-eye silhouette and its squared, upswept corners make this a stylish and versatile statement sunglass that can easily be dressed up or dressed down. It's perfect for all occasions and suits a wide variety of face shapes," says the co-founder, who confirms the style will be restocked in June. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are seen at Daystar Evangelical Church on March 26, 2022 in Great Abaco, Bahamas. Samir Hussein/Pool/WireImage Prince William and Kate Middleton RELATED: Kate Middleton Gives Special Shout-Out to George, Charlotte and Louis During Speech in The Bahamas! Founded in 2012 by Lochhead and three of his friends, the brand is fast becoming a go-to label for the royals. Meghan Markle owns several pairs of their sunglasses, including the same Henrietta style as Kate (but in black), in addition to a pair of the brand's Percy sunglasses, which she wore to the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017. Story continues Henrietta sunglasses Finlay Finlay Henrietta sunglasses as worn by Kate Middleton Pippa Middleton and Zara Tindall are also fans, while Princess Eugenie's husband Jack Brooksbank wore a pair of their eyeglasses on his wedding day to see his bride more clearly as she walked down the aisle. Royals sunglasses Karwai Tang/Getty Meghan Markle wearing Henrietta sunglasses Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Designed in their Soho studio by co-founder and creative director Dane Butler, but handmade in the Italian Alps, the brand was conceived after they realized there was a gap in the eyewear market for sunglasses that allowed the wearer to show off their personality. Royals sunglasses Neil Mockford/GC Images Pippa Middleton wearing Finlay sunglasses "Every piece of clothing and every accessory we choose communicates something about us and we were confused and intrigued that so little effort would go into selecting the one accessory that sits on your face. So we started designing frames with added flair both in terms of shape and color," says Butler. In addition to their royal following, Finlay has also been worn by Gigi Hadid, Rihanna, Jessica Alba and Sienna Miller. HONOLULU The late Native Hawaiian hula teacher Edith Kanakaole is among five women who will be individually featured on U.S. quarters next year as part of a program that depicts notable women on the coins. This undated photo provided by Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation show the late Native Hawaiian hula teacher Edith Kanaka'ole. Kanaka"ole is among five women who will be individually featured on a U.S. quarter next year as part of a program that depicts notable women on the flip side of the coin. (AP) The U.S. Mint said Wednesday the other side of each quarter will show George Washington. Advertisement It described Kanakaole, who died in 1978, as a composer, chanter, dancer, teacher and entertainer. Her moolelo, or stories, served to rescue aspects of Hawaiian history, customs and traditions that were disappearing due to the cultural bigotry of the time, it said in a news release. Advertisement The Edith Kanakaole Foundation in Hilo, which was established in 1990 to perpetuate her and her husband Luka Kanakaoles teachings, said she has been recognized as the preeminent practitioner of modern Hawaiian culture and language. The U.S. Mint said the other four women to appear on the coin next year were: Bessie Coleman, the first African American and first Native American woman pilot; Eleanor Roosevelt, first lady and author; Jovita Idar, the Mexican American journalist and activist; and Maria Tallchief, who was Americas first prima ballerina. This year, the program is issuing coins featuring five other women, including poet Maya Angelou and astronaut Sally Ride. Britney Spears Attorney Explains Why He Took on the Out-of-the-Ordinary Case https://t.co/DJsEp85uTC The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 31, 2022 -For 13 years, nine months and 12 days, Britney Spears languished in a conservatorship as the whole world watched. Despite her legion of fans across the globe demanding for more than a decade that the court #FreeBritney , nothing changed until everything did.-After her June 23 2021 hearing before Judge Brenda Penny, Britney had pleaded to be allowed to pick her own attorney after being denied the right to. Within a few weeks Britney chose Greenberg Traurig partner Mathew Rosengart (a corporate litigator and former Department of Justice trial attorney) and less than 4 months later her conservatorship was terminated.Matthew's reasonings on why he chose to take on Britney's case:(My jaw dropped when I read this) -decided to take on Britney's case after hearing her emotional testimony:-Explains how he chose first to remove Jamie as conservator of the estate instead of immediately terminating the conservatorship entirely to which cause skepticism among many including CNN pundits to which he felt "surreal" hearing that on TV.-Says the best day in the case was on Sept 29, when he was able to call Britney and tell that she would be able to wake up the next morning for the first time in 13 years without having her father as conservator of the estate. Mentions that what she wanted and was elated.-Rosengard also mention not being on social media and his friends showing him all the memes and names like "Rosengod" and "Rosenzaddy" that were being assigned to him:He credit Britney with the impact of the termination:-The article also mentions that advocates are calling for major changes and overhaul for people who are conservatorship against their will and who do not have the same global reach and popularity as Britney. Members of Congress have invited Britney and Rosengart to testify about their experience. There is federal "Free Britney Act" pending in California while lawmakers have been passing laws to protect conservatees's rights.There's other things in the article but it ends with Matthew saying: Eye Protection: Going Beyond the Regulations Go beyond the rules and focus on how safety is viewed in your workplace. Imagine not seeing family or enjoying special moments with friends and loved ones. Thats the reality of many employees who lose their eyesight due to workplace injuries. According to OSHA, thousands of employees are blinded each year due to workplace eye injuries. If employees injure their face or eyes, theres a chance they can cause serious damage and suffer for the rest of their lives. One crucial step you can take to protect employees is communicating the importance of safety in a meaningful way. Go beyond the rules and focus on how safety is viewed in your workplace. Your Safety Culture Whats the safety culture like in your workplace? Employees may be more inclined to wear their eye protection depending on your safety culture. While it may be easier to be the safety police, employees may respond better to a safety culture that expresses appreciation for hard work and rewards safety. The goal is to get employees to wear their eye protection because they want to, not because they have to. When it comes to eye protection, employees may choose not to wear it because it doesnt fit well, or it could be that they forget to. In any case, you need to be proactive about tackling the issue without disciplining employees. For example, have employees sit down and write letters to their closest friends and family. Instruct them to write what theyd say to a family member if they were severely injured on the job. Of course, employees shouldnt provide the letter to their loved ones. Instead, have them express how they felt during the exercise. The end result: employees will hopefully feel more inclined to use their eye protection. Here are a few more tips to help you improve eye protection safety in your workplace: Reinforcement works. A supervisor who stops work to immediately correct hazardous conditions or practices (like not wearing eye protection) should help demonstrate the importance of safety to the workers. However, positive reinforcement by recognizing safe practices is equally important. This article originally appeared in the April 2022 issue of Occupational Health & Safety. Hazard Communication: Dont Miss the Forest for the Trees The Hazard Communication Standard is performanceoriented, meaning achieving the standard is the measure of compliance. OSHAs Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) demands attention to details, including making sure Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are available, providing training and addressing chemical container labeling. While attention to these details is vital, what I often see lacking is attention to the purpose of the Hazard Communication Standard itself. The intent of the OSHA standard is to ensure that the millions of employees who are exposed to hazardous chemicals in their jobs understand the hazards and how to protect themselves. Ultimately, meeting both the intent and compliance with the HCS means that employees must know the hazards and precautions. Hazard evaluation, SDS, labeling, written programs, information and training are all key elements intended to achieve this goal. The HCS is performance-oriented, meaning achieving the standard, including employee knowledge, is the measure of compliance. This is intended to give employers more flexibility in how they achieve compliance, but can also make it more challenging to manage, since having a written program, labeling, SDS and training does not guarantee compliance. If I am auditing or if OSHA is inspecting your facility for compliance, worker interviews will be an important part of the assessment. Do workers know what chemicals they are or may be exposed to? Do they understand the potential health risks? Do they know, and are they using, controls or personal protective equipment? Do they know what to do if there is a spill or they are accidentally overexposed? If your workers cant answer the questions, you are not in compliance, even if you have training and other documentation. I remember an OSHA inspection at a chemical plant where I worked in New Jersey. We had a dusty operation where workers were required to use coveralls and respirators. The inspector approached a worker to ask questions. Somehow, it seems, an inspector or auditor always finds the last person on the floor that you want them talking to. Our compliance was based in part on whether or not this specific worker understood what he was working with and the precautions. This article originally appeared in the April 2022 issue of Occupational Health & Safety. Germanys economy minister has triggered its early warning system for low levels of gas, and has appealed to companies and private consumers to conserve energy. Frances gas distributor is also expected to issue a decree in the next couple of days The drastic actions will be interpreted in the medium term as a cause for concern. OPEC+, on the other hand, appears content to stay the course, agreeing on Thursday to stick the agreed-upon production hikes for May. At the same time, Canada continues to raise the price of carbon, thereby raising the price of gas. Another signal of this desperation is Bidens plan to release a massive 180 million barrels of crude oil into the market from the SPR at a rate of more than a million barrels per day. This is a huge figure that will shrink the SPR to lows not seen since the 80s (~388 million barrels) when U.S. oil consumption was substantially lower than it is today. This decades-low emergency inventory would come at a time when U.S. production has stagnated with oil companies resisting calls to invest/pump more, and at a time when demand continues to rise. We are starting to see the makings of energy curtailments in Europe - an exceedingly unpopular step that governments would be unlikely to take if there were any other choice, highlighting the acute desperation that exists over oil and gas supplies. We are starting to see the makings of energy curtailments in Europe - an exceedingly unpopular step that governments would be unlikely to take if there were any other choice, highlighting the acute desperation that exists over oil and gas supplies. Another signal of this desperation is Bidens plan to release a massive 180 million barrels of crude oil into the market from the SPR at a rate of more than a million barrels per day. This is a huge figure that will shrink the SPR to lows not seen since the 80s (~388 million barrels) when U.S. oil consumption was substantially lower than it is today. This decades-low emergency inventory would come at a time when U.S. production has stagnated with oil companies resisting calls to invest/pump more, and at a time when demand continues to rise. The UK said on Friday that it would also release more oil from its reserves. The drastic actions will be interpreted in the medium term as a cause for concern. OPEC+, on the other hand, appears content to stay the course, agreeing on Thursday to stick the agreed-upon production hikes for May. At the same time, Canada continues to raise the price of carbon, thereby raising the price of gas. Germanys economy minister has triggered its early warning system for low levels of gas, and has appealed to companies and private consumers to conserve energy. Frances gas distributor is also expected to issue a decree in the next couple of days detailing a plan for possible gas rationing. The Netherlands economic ministry said it, too, would soon ask its citizens to use less gas. Europe and the United States have expended much time and effort trying to scrape together additional fuel supplies and trying to subsidize energy and gasoline for their people. Unfortunately, gas tax holidays, national caps on energy prices, and one-off payments to economically strained residents have only given way to steady demand. Now, Europe has come to the realization that there are no white knight oil and gas producers that have just been waiting in the wings to supply their needs. The age of austerity is here, and while it might start with oil and gas curtailments, it certainly wont end there. And the age will hang around with us for quite some time. The high cost of diesel is already starting to be passed on down the line to end-users of products that are transported. In the United States, the CPI for food, for example, has climbed 7.9% from February 2021 to February 2022 according to the USDA. The UK has seen grocery prices rise at the fastest rate in 8 years, at 4.3% last month. Germany, which has seen a 39.5% rise in energy prices from a year ago, has seen consumer prices increase by 7.6%. There are whispers of a looming recession. European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde has warned that Europe is now entering a difficult phase. Considering the chart below, it is hard to disagree. It was originally assumed that there would soon be some increase in production from some of the worlds largest oil producers. It was also assumed that, with the exception of the United States, Russias oil really wouldnt be removed from the market in the absence of actual sanctions. U.S. shale and OPEC, however, have failed to deliver on those production hopes. U.S. production is stagnant and OPEC+ is holding the line with its 400,000 bpd per month quota increases. Meanwhile, Cushing inventories are low, U.S. crude inventories have shed 80 million barrels since the start of last year, and distillate inventories are down to just 25.9 days of supply, a level not seen since 2008. It is fair to recognize that inventories have been low in the past and didn't cause as much panic in the market as we are seeing right now. Cushing inventories were close to this low at the beginning of 2019. For distillate inventories, while it has been a while since theyve been this low, it certainly has kissed the 26-28 days of supply levels a few times in recent years, as recently as 2019, in fact. But the reality is that the world is just now realizing that there doesnt appear to be any more spare capacity. Low inventories combined with a lack of additional capacity is a recipe for disaster. Whether this capacity doesnt actually exist in the physical sense or whether it exists but is deliberately withheld is irrelevant. The reality is this: oil prices are at the level the market has dictated, and only higher supply or lower demand will cure it. On the supply side, there are only a handful of major producers that have potential spare capacity. We expect to see Russias oil, thanks to self-sanctions, look for another outlet (Asia). But it would require some serious shipping gymnastics to get all that oil to market and will add months of lead time to the oil that used to find a home within a couple of weeks. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE is willing to increase production at a rate beyond what OPEC+ has agreed to - and with Russia in the group, the group isnt going to be agreeing to additional supplies. For the remainder of the agreement, it is nearly certain that we will see 400,000 bpd monthly increases in OPEC+ quotas. If history is any indication, actual production will be less than that quota. The United States will continue to invest and add rigs at a moderate pace in line with what companies have predetermined, no matter what todays price is. They have said as much. We may see small, private drillers in the U.S. increase production at a greater rate, but this will not be the millions of barrels per day that the market is hoping for. Even if investments were to ramp up substantially today, it would be at least six months before that oil makes its way to market. The only other hopefuls are Iran and Venezuela. Although there, too, it would take some time for either to increase production, and it certainly wouldnt be millions more barrels per day. This is the supply reality. Then there are the demand realities. Subsidies, tax holidays, and stimuli are temporary measures that do not change the fundamentals for the better. Instead, it will only encourage increased demand. Increased demand without additional supplies will, of course, sink inventories further. People who have been locked away during the Covid era are itching to resume life and travel, and they will. Until prices or lack of inventory sap demand. The oil industry has had its fair share of missteps over the last decade, but no misstep would be greater than underestimating the consequences of demand curtailments, whether through austerity measures such as rationing, because of higher prices, or even by running out. The flip side, of course, is that if the oil industry could ride to the rescue and act now to increase production, it is a near certainty that they will once again find themselves the dirty pariah that they were just two months ago as soon as the crisis is averted, potentially rendering their investments obsolete in short order. For the oil industry, it is a no-win scenario. Saudi Arabias state-owned oil giant, Saudi Aramco, is looking at several further opportunities to expand its downstream dealings with China, according to recent comments from the companys chief executive officer, Amin Nasser. During the conference call to report the companys latest results, he stated: Were currently working with a number of opportunities with Sinopec, and are also exploring a good number of opportunities with other players in Asia - all for mainly highly integrated complexes with more than 50 percent liquid to chemical that would represent a huge growth opportunities. Any deals with Sinopec would augment the existing joint Saudi Arabia-China refining and petrochemical complex to be built in northeast China. The original deal for Saudi Aramco and Chinas North Industries Group (Norinco) and Panjin Sincen Group to build the US$10 billion 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) integrated refining and petrochemical facility in Panjin city was signed in February 2019. Due to the ongoing negative financial effects on Saudi Arabia of its first disastrous Oil Price War from 2014 to 2016, as analysed in depth in in my new book on the global oil markets, the plans were shelved later that year. Talks to resuscitate the idea then began again at the beginning of 2020 until Saudi Arabia launched another calamitous oil price war in April of that year, which again caused massive economic damage to Saudi Arabia and served to compound the economic pain on Saudi Aramco - already struggling under the weight of a huge dividend debt burden. With the turnaround in oil pricing since the beginning of the third quarter of last year, talks to go ahead with the refinery again resumed, together with the plan for Saudi Aramco to supply it with up to 210,000 bpd of crude oil feedstock, and it is expected to be operational in 2024. Related: Comply Or Be Cut Off: Putin Is Serious About His Rubles Threat These new downstream projects with Sinopec follow this years earlier series of meetings in Beijing between senior officials from the Chinese government and foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). At these meetings, the principal topics of conversation were to finally seal a China-GCC Free Trade Agreement and deeper strategic cooperation in a region where U.S. dominance is showing signs of retreat, according to local news reports. However, although the specific meetings between Saudi and Chinese officials at this event may have served to expedite some specific projects, such as those currently being discussed with Sinopec, the seeds of extensive broad and deep co-operation between the two countries were truly sown when Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) was desperately looking for a way to save face by completing his much-vaunted IPO of Saudi Aramco amidst widespread shunning of the offering by the West. As analysed in depth in my 2019 book, China offered MbS a way out by simply buying the entire stake at that time 5 percent was the stated amount to be offered in a straight private placement. This would have two huge benefits for MbS, firstly, raising the money that Saudi Arabia needed immediately, and secondly, not requiring any public disclosure of the offer price per share. This latter factor would allow MbS to assure the senior Saudis, who by that time were sceptical of his abilities to lead the country when the time came, that he had managed to hit the US$2 trillion valuation for the whole of Aramco that he had publically set as a benchmark for IPO success. Although the offer was eventually declined, the fact that China had offered itself as a backstop bid for MbSs most important public project to that point was not forgotten, and nor were the corollary desires of China to forge closer links with Saudi Arabia going forward. Although there have been recent reports of Saudi Arabia considering accepting Chinese yuan instead of US dollars for Chinese, this is in fact nothing new and was examined in depth in my 2019 book and previous articles dating back to 2017. To recap from that book: China sought to tie in its assistance in taking the pressure off MbS [through a private placement to China for the complete stake in Saudi Aramco] with the notion of Saudi Arabia accepting the yuan (the trading unit of the renminbi currency) in payment for crude oil supplies. This was a key strategy in Chinas desire for its renminbi currency to more properly reflect the countrys increasing importance in the global financial architecture that was evidenced as early as the G20 summit in London in April 2010. At this summit, Zhou Xiaochuan, then-governor of the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC), flagged the notion that the Chinese wanted a new global reserve currency to replace the U.S. dollar at some point. Related: OPEC+ Agrees To Ease Cuts By 432,000 Bpd In May The long-planned sequencing for this to occur was: the renminbis inclusion in the IMFs Special Drawing Rights (SDR) reserve asset mix (which happened in October 2016); increasing its use as a trading currency (which naturally followed that); its use as the key currency of an international energy trading exchange (which occurred with the launch of the renminbi-denominated Shanghai International Energy Exchange in 2018); and increasing calls from big oil producers and other major trading nations to use the renminbi (which has occurred frequently since the renminbis inclusion in the SDR mix). By the time of Chinas suggestion to rescue the ailing Saudi Aramco IPO, the renminbi had already been included in the SDR mix but it had still not hit the mainstream in terms of breadth and depth if usage internationally. Therefore, Beijing succeeding in leveraging the Saudis into accepting yuan for oil would have been and remains - a huge step for the renminbis wider acceptance, especially as other producers in the Middle East might be expected to follow suit. Despite any objections to the idea that the U.S. might have harboured, the Kingdoms then-Vice Minister of Economy and Planning, Mohammed al-Tuwaijri, told a Saudi-Chinese conference in Jeddah at the end of August 2017 that: China is by far one of the top marketsWe will also access other technical markets in terms of unique funding opportunities, private placements, panda bonds and others. He added: We will be very willing to consider funding in renminbi and other Chinese products, and [the] Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and other divisions have shown interest for us to do that. These comments came at around the same time as the visit of high-ranking politicians and financiers from China to Saudi Arabia, which featured a meeting between King Salman and Chinese Vice Premier, Zhang Gaoli, in Jeddah. At these meetings, according to comments at the time from then-Saudi Energy Minister, Khalid al-Falih, it was also decided that Saudi Arabia and China would establish a US$20 billion investment fund on a 50:50 basis that would invest in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, mining, and materials, among other areas. The Jeddah meetings in August 2017 followed a landmark visit to China by Saudi Arabias King Salman in March of that year during which around US$65 billion of business deals were signed in sectors including oil refining, petrochemicals, light manufacturing, and electronics. The fact that the One Belt One Road-related investments made by China come with considerable caveats allowing Beijing to secure key strategic tracts of land or sea in lieu of debts owed or investments made - including Irans major airports and naval ports under the 25-year deal with China, Sri Lankas Hambantota Port, and Djiboutis Doraleh Port may be regarded by Saudi Arabia and several other Middle Eastern states as being little different to the conditions attached to U.S. investment since the end of the Second World War. For the U.S., though, news just before Christmas that Saudi Arabia is now actively manufacturing its own ballistic missiles with the help of China, may not be regarded as part of a reasonable rebalancing of power in the Middle East, especially in light of Washingtons current and ongoing efforts to address Irans nuclear ambitions. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: U.S. shale oil drillers are complaining of a shortage of steel tubing for wells, which is contributing to stagnation in production. In a Friday report, Bloomberg cited data from KeyBanc Capital Markets, which showed that the price for pipes used in the oil industryoil-country tubular goodshad shot up to $2,400 per ton in March. This was a 100-percent increase on the year the report noted and was driven by concern that the war in Ukraine would affect steel goods exports from both Ukraine and Russia. I cannot think of a time prior to this that Ive seen the market this tight, Susan Murphy, publisher of the OCTG Situation Report, which follows the steel sector, told Bloomberg. Everybody is really trying, at least in the tubular goods industry, to manage practically an unmanageable situation. Russia is the worlds fifth-largest steel producer and Ukraine is in the top 20. Together, the two supply a fifth of Europes steel, but as with oil, the steel market is global, and price increases have global effects. To date, the war has tightened the market with a 20-percent drop in Russian and Ukraine finished steel exports to Europe. For U.S. oil drillers, steel tubing prices and scarcity is one more thing to worry about on top of rising oilfield services costs, difficulty in workforce retention, which has necessitated wage boosts, and a shortage of other essential commodities such as frac sand. Steel, however, seems to be a particularly acute problem and one that didnt start a month ago with Russias invasion of Ukraine. The largest cost increase over the past 12 months for the oil and gas industry is from tubular steel, one energy industry executive told the Dallas Fed in its quarterly industry survey. Steel availability and pricing are also delaying quick activity ramp-up among several operators. This is impairing the ability to bring production online faster. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com Russia is continuing to send out confusing signals concerning the matter of unfriendly countries paying for gas in rubles. The deadline for paying in rubles is Friday, after which OPEC will no longer use IEA as a secondary source for production data. The news comes as the IEA has been sharply critical of OPECs unwillingness to boost production to higher levels to mitigate rising prices. OPEC will instead use data from Rystad and Wood MacKenzie. Indias ONGC Videsh has managed to sell at least one cargo of Russian Sokol to Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum after an earlier tender received zero interest for the crude. India continues to purchase deeply discounted Russian crude despite many other nations self-sanctioning. Another refinery fire has struck Suncors Strathcona refinery in Edmonton. Suncor had announced a couple of days earlier that the refinery was going into maintenance. ExxonMobils Montana refinery shut down some units on Saturday after a fire broke out. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The refinery can process a total of 60,000 bpd of crude sourced from Wyoming and Alberta, producing about 600 million gallons of gasoline and diesel annually, most of which makes its way to Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada. Rival refineries in the area include Phillips Billings refinery and Par Pacifics Wyoming refinery. Energy Markets on War Footing ExxonMobils Montana refinery shut down some units on Saturday after a fire broke out. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The refinery can process a total of 60,000 bpd of crude sourced from Wyoming and Alberta, producing about 600 million gallons of gasoline and diesel annually, most of which makes its way to Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada. Rival refineries in the area include Phillips Billings refinery and Par Pacifics Wyoming refinery. Another refinery fire has struck Suncors Strathcona refinery in Edmonton. Suncor had announced a couple of days earlier that the refinery was going into maintenance. Indias ONGC Videsh has managed to sell at least one cargo of Russian Sokol to Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum after an earlier tender received zero interest for the crude. India continues to purchase deeply discounted Russian crude despite many other nations self-sanctioning. OPEC will no longer use IEA as a secondary source for production data. The news comes as the IEA has been sharply critical of OPECs unwillingness to boost production to higher levels to mitigate rising prices. OPEC will instead use data from Rystad and Wood MacKenzie. Russia is continuing to send out confusing signals concerning the matter of unfriendly countries paying for gas in rubles. The deadline for paying in rubles is Friday, after which Russia has threatened to halt deliveries for non-ruble payments. But Russia had told Germany that it would not have to pay for gas in rubles, proposing a perplexing scheme where Germany would pay Gazprom Bank, then it would be transferred into rubles for Russia. The EU maintains that requiring payment in rubles is a breach of contract. Also today, Russia clarified that it would require payment in rubles, but since payments for deliveries after April 1 wont be processed for weeks, gas flows will not be halted as of today. New Fortress Energy hopes to build the first offshore U.S. LNG export facility, and have it up and running within the next 12 months. It would have a capacity of producing 2.8 MTPA. The U.S. has warned India that significantly increasing the amount of Russian oil it purchases could expose it to great risk as the U.S. gets ready to step up enforcement of sanctions. Since there are no sanctions prohibiting India from purchasing Russian crude, its possible that the U.S. will attempt to restrict countries from purchasing more Russian oil than their usual amounts. PDVSA said it was in talks with several firms about leasing additional oil tankers amid a possible increase in crude exports. Were not sure if this is a case of Maduro-madness or wishful thinking. The U.S. has previously stated that it is not in direct talks with Venezuela over the lifting of sanctions. The companies that PDVSA had discussions with are all reportedly willing to accept crude oil and refined products as a form of payment for the tankers. Venezuelas existing fleet of tankers is old and in disrepair, not to mention uninsurable and uncertifiable due to sanctions. One of the companies offered to obscure PDVSAs ownership of the new tanks by muddying the waters with a series of intermediaries to evade sanctions. CNOOC announced share buybacks and dividends after it saw record profits last year. Net income for last year came in at $11 billion on the back of higher gas output. CNOOC will propose at its shareholder meeting annual dividends of at least 40% of profits from 2022 to 2024, with an absolute dividend of at least HK$0.70 per share, and will institute share buybacks as well. CNOOC will increase its capex from $88 billion last year to $90-$100 billion this year. Saudi Arabias economic growth is expected to more than double this year on the oil rally, while unemployment dropped 11% in Q4 2021. Its economy is set to grow 7.7%, compared to 3.2% last year. Geopolitical Update Iraq and Turkey officials have alleged that a previous plan to have Iraqs Kurdistan region supply gas to Turkey and Europe with the help of Israel is what provoked Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps into striking Erbil with a dozen ballistic missiles on March 13. There are reports that more tankers carrying Russian oil are going dark, even though sanctions do not prohibit purchasing Russian crude oil. The theory is that while it is not illegal to purchase Russian crude, it is unfavorable. Discovery & Development Vintage Energy Ltd (ASX:VEN) has spudded the oil exploration well Cervantes-1 in the Perth Basin. Cervantes is located between Hovea and Jingemia onshore oilfields and the Cliff Head offshore oilfield. The well will test the potential of the Kingia Formation, the Dongara sandstone, and the High Cliff Sandstonethree Lower Permian zones. Chances of success are estimated at 28%. Houston-based Tellurian (NYSEAMERICAN: TELL) issued a limited notice to proceed to Bechtel Energy under its EPC contract to begin construction of Phase 1 of the 27.6 mtpa Driftwood LNG export facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana. First LNG is expected in 2026. The Land has been purchased and leased, permits obtained, and progressed detailed engineering to 30% complete. Sonatrach has made a new oil discovery in its Tarsem well with reserves estimated at 961 million barrels. The well confirmed the northward extension of the crude oilfield reserves of Okla Al-Nasser. The assessment of production is oil and associated gas flow rates of 5094 barrels of oil per day and 185,000 cubic meters of gas per day. Confirmed and probable crude oil reserves in the Touggourt region are now estimated at 961 million barrelsup from 546 million before the drilling. Mexico has reiterated its ruling that Pemex will be the operator of the offshore Zama field in what was a great disappointment for Houston-based Talos Energy (NYSE:TALO). Talos will keep its 17.35% stake in Zama. FID is expected next year. Talos has long argued that it is better suited to quickly reach first oil after it discovered Zama in 2017. Obradors strong nationalistic tendencies, however, have dashed Talos hopes. Critics of Obradors plans argue that the heavily indebted Pemex isnt suited to operate what would be its deepest project to datein 500 feet of water. Cuadrillas fracking wells near Blackpool have been given a stay of execution. They were set to be capped with concrete, but energy price pressure has won out, with the NSTA granting Cuadrilla until the end of June next year to evaluate and come up with options. If they have not put in place credible re-use plans by then, the wells will need to proceed with decommissioning. Shell has announced first oil from the Colibri field in Trinidad and Tobago, after teaching FID in March 2020. The backfill project is expected to add 30,000 boepd of near-term gas production, with peak production of 43,000 boepd. The project will be tied back to the Poinsettia platform. Legislation The California bill that would have suspended the 51 cents per gallon gas tax has been modified to omit the tax suspension, instead instituting a windfall tax on the profits of gas suppliers. The money would be used to issue rebates to California drivers. The bill made it through committee with the windfall provision included and gas tax suspension excluded. The bill will now move forward. Shell's (30%) and Siccar Points (70%) controversial Cambo oil and gas field has received an extension of its license for another two years. Shell still plans to exit the project, but Shell said the two-year extension will give it time to evaluate its options. The European Commission sent inspections to several German energy companies, possibly as part of its investigation into possible ant-competitive behavior by Gazprom. The Commission said the companies may have violated EU competition rules. Renewables Shell has filed an appeal against the landmark Dutch ruling that ordered it to slash its emissions more quickly than Shell originally suggested - net zero by 2050. - Despite the media hullabaloo, European customers continue receiving stable supplies, pushing spot TTF prices down by some 15/MWh on Friday (trading at the equivalent of $40/mmBtu). - Under the presidential decree, buyers must open accounts in Gazprombank and pay directly, instead of the previous practice of using European banks to wire the funds. - Russias President pledged to cut off its gas supplies to customers unwilling to pay for their deliveries in Russian roubles, alarming most of Europes business community. - Should the SPR release be done as an exchange, the deal might push oil prices even higher as refiners have to replace the barrels plus interest in the form of extra crude, effectively taking away barrels from the market, Bloomberg writes. - This is six times larger than the previous outright SPR sale and will reduce the remaining strategic inventories to a mere 388 million barrels by the end of the stock draw. - Most American SPR stocks are medium sour barrels held in salt caverns across Louisiana and Texas, so the release would be primarily interesting for sophisticated refiners. - US President Joe Biden announced the release of 180 million barrels of crude from the strategic petroleum reserve over the next six months, equivalent to 1 million b/d. 1. US Shocks Market with Largest Ever SPR Release - US President Joe Biden announced the release of 180 million barrels of crude from the strategic petroleum reserve over the next six months, equivalent to 1 million b/d. - Most American SPR stocks are medium sour barrels held in salt caverns across Louisiana and Texas, so the release would be primarily interesting for sophisticated refiners. - This is six times larger than the previous outright SPR sale and will reduce the remaining strategic inventories to a mere 388 million barrels by the end of the stock draw. - Should the SPR release be done as an exchange, the deal might push oil prices even higher as refiners have to replace the barrels plus interest in the form of extra crude, effectively taking away barrels from the market, Bloomberg writes. 2. Russian Gas Still Flowing to Europe Amid Currency Spat - Russias President pledged to cut off its gas supplies to customers unwilling to pay for their deliveries in Russian roubles, alarming most of Europes business community. - Under the presidential decree, buyers must open accounts in Gazprombank and pay directly, instead of the previous practice of using European banks to wire the funds. - Despite the media hullabaloo, European customers continue receiving stable supplies, pushing spot TTF prices down by some 15/MWh on Friday (trading at the equivalent of $40/mmBtu). - Analysts claim that the new Russian scheme is primarily a means of de-risking Gazprom and its bank subsidiary from further sanctions, rather than being driven by Moscows drive to punish European buyers. 3. Renewables Excel in the US Energy Mix - US electricity generation has been stagnant for a decade, trending at around 4300-4400 TWh, with most sources of electricity either plateauing or falling. - Renewables, on the other hand, have seen their share double over the past decade and are set to rise to 44% of total electricity generation by 2050. - Solar will be the main driver of growth, overtaking todays most preferred option - wind - at some point in the mid-2030s, despite most of the federal tax credits and subsidies expiring beyond 2026. - The only fossil fuel to see significant increases this century has been natural gas, brushing aside a 1978 prohibition on the construction of new gas-fired plants at the time of widespread coal plant building. 4. OPEC+ Rubberstamps Another Monthly Increase - OPEC+ nations agreed on another monthly increase for May 2022, looking to bring another 432,000 b/d into the markets amidst a stiffening geopolitical background. - At the same time, OPEC+ compliance with assumed production targets is bound to move above 1 million b/d in March as both Kazakhstan and Nigeria remained constrained by force majeure events. - Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which hold most of the spare production capacity within the oil group, have resisted calls to increase production quicker than the initial OPEC+ deal. - OPEC stopped using IEA data and replaced it with Wood Mackenzie and Rystad Energy, in a move triggered by the international organizations repeated criticism of OPEC+ policy. 5. Bigger Ships Lead to Better Profits - The shipping market has been increasingly tilting towards larger ships, even if the cargoes to be transported remain small. - The Cape T4 index, an aggregated cost assessment of key Capesize routes (vessels lifting 180,000 metric tons), has declined to almost half of Panamax and Supramax freight costs. - Larger vessels are spread out across the globe, whilst the availability of smaller vessels carrying oil products is limited, with most Supramaxes currently stationed in the Atlantic Basin. - Despite an overall declining trend in late 2021, shipping costs have doubled this year to date, primarily on the back of the Russia-Ukraine war and Chinas COVID lockdowns. 6. India Really Needs the Coal - Indian coal buyers had been waiting on the sidelines for coal prices to drop, but shrinking inventories ahead of peak summer season have now compelled them to start buying. - Thermal coal stocks at Indian power plants stood at 25.5 million tons at the end of March, 13% lower year-on-year, sufficient for a little more than nine days of production. - Although Indias national coal producer Coal India has ramped up production over the past fiscal year, up 5% year-on-year, the logistics of supply is still lagging behind production itself. - Thermal coal imports to India have reached 15.7 million tons last month, the highest level since October 2020, with almost half of the inflows coming from Indonesia. 7. Nickel Market Is Still Susceptible to Short Squeezes - Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, nickel markets have seen unprecedented volatility, having quadrupled to $100,000 per metric ton earlier this month only to settle around a still-elevated level of 33,000/mt. - With Russia accounting for roughly 15% of global nickel supply, market participants halted all non-essential cargo bookings from Russia and triggered a scramble for alternative supplies. - Following a short squeeze coming from a huge short position of Chinas Tsingshan Holding, trading was suspended from March 07-16 and was resumed with a pre-set daily limit. - S&P Global Platts expects that another short squeeze might be around the corner as many players, Tsingshan included, still wield short positions in the market. Europe continued to receive Russian natural gas via pipelines on Friday, even after Vladimir Putin threatened European countries that Moscow would cut off gas flows unless buyers complied with Russias gas-for-rubles-only demand. Gas flows via two of the three main pipelines from Russia to EuropeNord Stream 1 to Germany and one through Ukraine and Slovakiacontinued normally as of Friday, while the Yamal-Europe pipeline via Belarus to Poland and Germany was in a reverse flow from Germany to Poland. This has happened occasionally in recent weeks and months and is not reason alone to assume a major change in policy, according to Reuters. All in all, even after the March 31 deadline Russia has given to buyers to comply with the gas-for-rubles payment, flows to Europe have not stopped. Yet, concerns could intensify later this month because payments from customers for deliveries after April 1 should be made in the second half of April and in May. The Kremlin signaled on Friday that it would not cut off the supply immediately, Reuters reported. On Thursday, in the most serious threat to customers yet, Putin said that Moscow would halt active natural gas contracts if Russias customers failed to comply with the demand to pay in rubles for gas. Putin has set a March 31 deadline for the government, Gazprom, and the central bank of Russia to make the arrangements for payments in rubles for Russian gas from the so-called hostile countries. Under Putins orders, buyers should open accounts at Gazprombank to convert foreign currencies to rubles. Throughout this week, the Kremlin has issued unclearand at times, contradictorymessages, while European economies started to activate emergency plans in anticipation of a potential disruption to gas supply from Russia. Germany and Italymajor European economies and major importers of Russian gassaid earlier this week that they had received assurances from Russia that they could continue paying in euros for the gas coming from Russia. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: BELGRADE, Serbia Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who has fostered close ties with Russia and refused to impose sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, is expected to extend his almost 10-year grip on power in the Balkan country when it holds national elections on Sunday. Polls predict that Vucic, a populist who has boasted about his personal ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, will win another five-year term as president. His right-wing Serbian Progressive Party also is expected to continue to dominate the countrys parliament. Advertisement But polls indicated a close local government race in the capital, Belgrade. A loss for Vucics party there could undermine his increasingly autocratic rule. Most political parties taking part in the presidential, general and municipal elections lean right, reflecting the conservative stands prevalent among Serbias 6.5 million voters. But a new Green-left coalition campaigning on the need to tackle long-neglected environmental problems also is fielding candidates. Advertisement Opposition party officials say Russias war in Ukraine has only strengthened Vucics dominance of Serbian politics and the mainstream media. Soon after Russian tanks entered Ukraine, the presidents election slogan changed to Peace. Stability. Vucic. The war has diverted public attention from what is happening in Serbia and of course, with media support, enabled Vucic to blame the crisis for everything that is wrong in Serbia, Dragan Djilas, a leader of the biggest opposition coalition United Serbia, said in an interview. Articles are published here every day about how a kilogram of bread costs 9 euros in Italy and Germany, how they have no fuel, how they will have food stamps and how great we are, Djilas said. People are scared, and it always suits the authorities because people say, Lets not change anything now. People walk by the pre-election billboard showing current Serbian President and the Serbian Progressive Party leader Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, March 28, 2022. (Darko Vojinovic/AP) Serbia, a traditional Russian ally, has rejected calls from the European Union and the United States to join in sanctions against Moscow, citing national interests. The countrys representative to the United Nations did vote in favor of a resolution condemning Moscows attack on Ukraine as a violation of international law. Despite the Serbian government saying it is seeking EU membership, Vucic and his allies have refrained from condemning Russia over the invasion, a possible sign they want to avoid alienating pro-Russia voters ahead of Sundays election. Much of the pro-Russia sentiments among Serbs comes from their hatred of NATO; the Western military alliance bombed the country in 1999 to stop a bloody Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanians seeking independence for Kosovo, a Serbian province at the time. Former Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said that imposing sanctions on Russia would be tantamount to political suicide because Moscow has blocked U.N. membership for Kosovo which declared independence in 2008. If we are ready to give up Kosovo, then we can impose sanctions on Russia, Dacic said. But if we are not ready, then we cannot. Advertisement Thousands of people in Serbia have turned out for pro-Putin rallies during the five-week invasion, waving Russian flags and displaying the letter Z - a symbol seen on Russian military vehicles in Ukraine. The support for Moscow makes Serbia somewhat of an outlier in Europe. Opposition officials said that despite Vucics almost full control of the media and the pro-Russian narrative that has been created leading up to the elections, they expect a good result on Sunday. As far as we are concerned, the situation in Ukraine was very clear. It is about Russian aggression, and we immediately condemned it, Dobrica Veselinovic, who is running for mayor of Belgrade as the candidate of the environmentalist We Must coalition. Election polls predict Vucic will win the presidential election outright on Sunday. If he does not receive more that 50% of the vote, he would face an unpredictable runoff in two weeks, likely against opposition candidate Zdravko Ponos, a Western-educated former army general. The election for National Assembly lawmakers was not scheduled until 2024, but Vucic called an early vote after criticism from the EU that Serbias 2020 election had not been free and fair. The opposition boycotted that election. I dont see any difference between these elections and those two years ago, political analyst Slobodan Stupar said. A parliament will be formed in which Vucic will have fewer lawmakers than now. He will be able to tell Europe, Yes, we are a democratic country. See how many enemies I have in parliament. Advertisement Associated Press Writer Jovana Gec contributed. China's largest state-owned oil giants have recently announced major increases in their capital expenditure plans for this year, as the world's largest oil importer prioritizes energy security amid soaring energy commodity prices and geopolitical turmoil on the global markets. The three largest Chinese oil firmsPetroChina, Sinopec, and CNOOCexpect to raise their collective 2022 capital expenditures by 4.6 percent year over year, to at least $84 billion (530 billion Chinese yuan), according to data from the most recent company filings compiled by Bloomberg. Individually, the planned capex for PetroChina and Sinopec this year are second and third in the world in terms of U.S. dollars, behind only the capex plan for 2022 of Saudi Arabia's oil giant Aramco, the data showed. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) announced this weekend that its 2022 spending would be the highest in the corporation's history. Sinopec guided for a capital spending of $31 billion (198 billion yuan) this year. This would be an 18-percent increase compared to 2021 and higher than the previous record capex from 2013. PetroChina, for its part, plans a lower overall capex this year, but a boost to spending on exploration and production, to develop more resources domestically, including in shale oil and gas formations. Offshore oil and gas developer CNOOC also expects to raise its 2022 capital expenditure compared to the 2021 spending. Early this month, China said it would increase its crude oil, natural gas, and coal production, boost reserves of energy commodities, and keep stable imports to ensure its energy security amid skyrocketing commodities prices. China's planning body NDRC said that the country would raise coal production and reserves, develop "major petroleum reserve projects," and increase petroleum reserves, too, per Reuters. China is concerned about its energy security after the autumn 2021 power crisis and, most recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which pushed energy commodity prices sky-high. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Germany is considering the idea of nationalizing the German units of Russian oil and gas giants Rosneft and Gazprom over concerns the companies that are systemically important for the German energy market could run into financial troubles, German business daily Handelsblatt reported this week, quoting sources in the government. The German Ministry of Economy is now considering these drastic steps in light of the importance of the German subsidiaries of both companies to the German energy market. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also involved in the talks about the potential nationalization of the German units of Rosneft and Gazprom, Handelsblatt reported, citing several government sources. Germany fears a shortage of energy supply if those two companies run into difficulties or become technically insolvent as banks are shying away from funding firms connected to Russia. Gazprom Germania, based in Berlin, operates large gas storage facilities, while Rosneft Deutschland is a key player in the German markets of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene supply and distribution. Earlier this week, Germany was preparing for a potential disruption of natural gas supply from Russia and activated an emergency plan on Wednesday, ahead of the Thursday deadline that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered for gas-for-ruble payments. Germany triggered an emergency plan in case the supply from Russia is interrupted. The plan could see rationing of gas supply. Putin has set a March 31 deadline for the government, Gazprom, and the central bank of Russia to make the arrangements for payments in rubles from the so-called hostile countries. German utilities had already called last week on the federal government to create a system for early warning about a potential drop in gas supply, noting that there are serious indications that the gas supply situation is about to deteriorate. Europe and Germany continued to receive Russian natural gas via pipelines on Friday, even after Putin threatened European countries that Moscow would cut off gas flows unless buyers comply with Russias gas-for-rubles-only demand by thedeadline on Thursday, March 31. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Venezuela is reportedly looking for oil tankers in anticipation of sanction relief from Washington. Reuters cited three unnamed sources and a document as saying the state-owned oil company PDVSA was in talks to buy several oil tankers after Washington earlier this month sent a high-level delegation to Caracas to discuss potential sanction relief. According to the sources, officials from the maritime arm of PDVSA had met with several tanker owners who had expressed their readiness to receive Venezuelan oil or oil products as payment for their vessels. "PDVSA's tanker fleet is too short for any increases in oil production for domestic refining or exports," one of the Reuters sources said. After the U.S. visit to Caracas earlier this month, there were reports that the Washington officials had asked Venezuela to commit certain volumes of crude for U.S. refineries in exchange for sanction relief. The talks in Caracas themselves ended without an agreement of any sort. Venezuela produces heavy crude, which is a necessary part of the oil mix at U.S. refineries. With the ban on Russian oil and fuel imports, the U.S. has remained reliant on only Canadian heavy crude. Canada is only too happy to supply it, but perhaps it cannot do so fast enough. Related: Saudi Aramco Further Tightens Its Ties To China The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Venezuela in 2019 after national elections that cemented Nicolas Maduro as president. Sanctions followed, targeting specifically Venezuela's oil industry. However, Washington could not completely stop Venezuelan oil exports despite deepening sanctions, with China and Russia coming to the rescue. Venezuela continues to export most of its oil to China. For Caracas, bans and self-sanctioning on Russian oil could be the opportunity of a regime's lifetime. With few large producers of heavy crude, its oil could become a lot more essential than before, as demonstrated by the U.S. visit. However, the chances are that the White House will be cautious in the promises it makes, lest it draws criticism for going back on punitive measures aimed at teaching Caracas a lesson in democracy. Although it could be argued that the lesson has failed to produce any results, a 180-degree turn is likely to be met with opposition within the U.S. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Three weeks ago, a historic nickel short squeeze sent nickel prices soaring to an astonishing $100,000 per tonne--doubling the previous all-time high over the course of one morning--and plunged the London Metal Exchange into an existential crisis. The LME subsequently closed trading and took the dramatic step of retroactively scrapping $3.9bn worth of trades made prior to the suspension--outlining the nickel market had become disorderly with prices no longer reflecting the underlying physical market. Luckily, some semblance of normalcy has now returned to the nickel market. Nickel volumes surged on Tuesday as prices traded within the LMEs daily limits for the first time since reopening last week, an encouraging sign that the market is starting to stabilize, though the restart of nickel trading since Wednesday has been hit by a series of electronic glitches. A flurry of deals came pouring in as LME prices moved back into line with nickel contracts trading on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, which remained open during a weeklong suspension of trading in London in the wake of the fiasco. LME nickel was trading 6% lower at $29,510 per ton on Tuesday, rebounding from a loss of as much as 15%. SHFE prices rose 1.6% to 210,040 yuan a ton, which is equivalent to ~$29,200 a ton once currency conversions and VAT deductions are taken into account. Nickel trading reopened on March 16 but remained frozen as the exchanges daily limits prevented futures from falling to a level where buyers were willing to step in. Bullish investors looking to unwind their positions had been caught in a long queue of sellers over the past few days as prices lurched lower in daily limit-down moves. Not surprisingly, corporate greed and malfeasance have again been blamed for the latest trade saga. Source: Bloomberg Banks To Blame Nickel, which has a distinct silvery shine, is mostly alloyed with other metals to make goods that are used throughout the global economy. About 72% of the worlds nickel supply is used to make stainless steel, including rechargeables and those that go into electric vehicles. Russia is one of the worlds largest producers of nickel. When the country invaded Ukraine, fear of supply disruptions sent the price of nickel into a frenzy, so much so that on March 8, the London Metal Exchange decided to suspend nickel trading. Never mind the fact that Russian metals have not been sanctioned. Related: Are You Really Being Gouged At The Gas Pump? Some traders were willing to bet the farm that the wild nickel rally would come crumbling down like a house of cards and opened massive short positions--but got their timing wrong and were forced to cover. Just like the famous copper squeeze of more than a century ago, the nickel market snafu has been largely linked to enormous short positions held by a single man: Chinese metal trader Xiang Guangda, the founder of China-based Tsingshan Holding, the worlds biggest nickel producer. According to Bloomberg, Xiang Guangda, aka the Big Shot for his towering position in the metal industry, held an enormous short position of over 150,000 tons of nickel, more than 5x the 30,000 tons held directly by LME. The remainder was held via bilateral, over-the-counter deals with banks led by JPMorgan Chase & Co, and including BNP Paribas SA, Standard Chartered Plc and United Overseas Bank Ltd. Guangda had built up the biggest short position in the metal and is now facing a hit of nearly $8bn. And LME CEO Matthew Chamberlain is now blaming the banks for the historic meltdown. The embattled LME chief says the banking industry bears some responsibility for the conditions that led to a massive short squeeze and has revealed that the banks lobbied last year against efforts to increase transparency in the metals market. The OTC position has caused significant problems for the exchange. The LME made a proposal last year to allow the exchange greater visibility of positions held on the OTC market, but was rebuffed by a number of banks, Chamberlain has told the South China Morning Post. The proposal for greater transparency for over-the-counter positions last year came at the same time as the LME was facing an outcry from users over a proposal to close its open-outcry trading floor, the Ring, from which it later backed down. The LME, which since 2012 has been owned by Hong Kong Exchange & Clearing Ltd, is the ultimate decision-maker on changes to its rules and consults with market participants, including many big banks. The industrial metals industry relies on LME prices as benchmarks for physical transactions, while financial investors in products like commodity indexes use the exchanges prices to value their positions. Chamberlain has acknowledged that the exchange would have a huge amount of work to do to regain the trust of investors but says hes proud of how the LMEs management and staff have handled the situation. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Nebraska State Patrol troopers have confiscated a variety of illegal drugs and arrested three people after making traffic stops in east-central and central Nebraska. Late Tuesday morning, a trooper became suspicious of criminal activity after talking to the driver of a GMC Sierra at a rest area near Kearney. A patrol dog then smelled a controlled substance inside the vehicle. A search uncovered about 2 pounds of cocaine concealed inside the center console. The driver, a 31-year-old resident of Woodbridge, Virginia, was arrested and taken to the Buffalo County Jail. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $37,000. Tuesday afternoon, a trooper stopped a Nissan Quest that was speeding on I-80 near Waco, about 40 miles west of Lincoln. During the traffic stop, the trooper smelled marijuana inside the vehicle. A search of the minivan revealed 222 pounds of marijuana concealed in duffel bags in the cargo area. The driver, a 23-year-old man from Patterson, California, was arrested and taken to the York County Jail. The estimated value of the marijuana is $422,000. Late Thursday morning, a trooper spotted a speeding Chevrolet minivan on U.S. Highway 30 in Shelton, which is about 20 miles northeast of Kearney. During the traffic stop, a patrol dog smelled a controlled substance inside the vehicle. A search uncovered 61 pounds of marijuana, more than 750 THC vape cartridges, more than 100 syringes of suspected ketamine, 2 pounds of marijuana wax, 24 doses of LSD, more than 380 packages of THC edibles and smaller amounts of cocaine, ketamine, DMT, ecstasy, psilocybin mushrooms, amphetamine and multiple drug paraphernalia items. The driver, a 48-year-old resident of Salem, Oregon, was arrested and taken to the Buffalo County Jail. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Private firm Blue Star Security in Des Plaines is shown March 30. The security company confirmed it turned over payroll records to the FBI. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Federal authorities are investigating allegations of ghost-payrolling at the Cook County sheriffs office involving at least nine sheriffs employees, including one high-ranking official, sources have told the Tribune. The investigation began last year as an internal probe by Cook County Sheriff Tom Darts office. The sheriffs office said in an emailed statement late Thursday that it had sought the assistance of the FBI but did not elaborate. Advertisement The investigation is centered on whether the employees collected a county paycheck while at the same time were working side jobs or not working at all, sources said. Federal agents recently visited the sheriffs office to interview employees and review documents as part of the ongoing probe, according to another source. No criminal charges have been filed. Advertisement As part of the investigation, the FBI has sought payroll records from a private security firm in Des Plaines that, according to the companys website, has employed Cook County sheriffs office staffers. The company, Blue Star Security, confirmed to the Tribune this week that it turned over records the FBI requested. We are aware of an investigation going on and the FBI did reach out for payroll records which we turned over, Blue Star said in a Wednesday email. Other (than) that you should probably direct all questions to either the FBI or sheriffs department as we have no further knowledge of the scope of said investigation and were told that Blue Star Security is not at all the subject of such. Blue Star Security declined further questions on how many sheriffs office employees were also working at the firm, and reiterated the investigation is in no relation to any wrongdoing done by the company itself. The security companys website also appears to have removed the name and bio of at least one field supervisor from its website this week. That individual recently held a high-ranking leadership role at Cook County Jail. Matt Walberg, a spokesman for Dart, first said in a statement last week that the office launched an internal investigation in 2021 but did not answer any additional questions on the target or scope of the internal probe or whether any outside agency was also involved. An investigation was opened last year by the sheriffs office, Walberg said. The investigation is ongoing. We cannot comment further at this time. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who is seeking reelection this year, is shown in 2019. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Following further Tribune inquiry, the sheriffs department released a similar statement Wednesday,confirming only an internal investigation. Darts office also did not comment on whether any employee had been removed from active duty in connection to the probe. Advertisement An investigation was opened into personnel related matters last year by the sheriffs office. The investigation is ongoing. ... The sheriffs office always devotes the necessary resources to such investigations. We cannot comment further at this time, Walberg said in Wednesdays statement. Walbergs third statement to the Tribune late Thursday was the first that acknowledged the FBIs involvement, which he stressed the sheriffs office requested. The sheriffs office takes allegations of employee misconduct very seriously, Walberg said. A spokesperson for the FBI had no comment. This isnt the first time Cook County sheriffs office employees have drawn attention from investigators during Darts tenure. In 2018, a high-ranking aide in Darts office took nearly five years of personal leave to work on his private security business while also collecting nearly $90,000 in health benefits that he wasnt entitled to, a county public watchdog found. Dart is seeking reelection this year to what would be his fifth term as sheriff. He has four opponents in the June 28 Democratic primary: Carmen Navarro Gercone, Noland Rivera and Kirk Ortiz, all of Chicago, and LaTonya Ruffin of Country Club Hills. Advertisement ayin@chicagotribune.com jmeisner@chicagotribune.com mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com gpratt@chicagotribune.com Republican gubernatorial candidate Theresa Thibodeau named her running mate Thursday: Trent Loos, a sixth-generation farmer, agriculture advocate and right-wing radio host from central Nebraska. Thibodeau, a former state senator and day care owner from Omaha, made the announcement Thursday evening in Kearney. The two have recently been touring the state together for Thibodeaus campaign. The pair presents a striking contrast. Thibodeau said in a statement that shes heard from Nebraskans that a one-size-fits-all approach wont solve state issues. The things that work for Omaha do not work in Valentine or Sidney, she said. We must create solutions that benefit every Nebraska community. I am honored to have Trent Loos as my running mate. Trent and I agree that we must bridge the rural versus urban divide for Nebraska to move forward. Loos, who lives in Litchfield, has some government ties. Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed him to the Nebraska Capitol Commission, which oversees preservation of the State Capitol in Lincoln, and he also served on former President Donald Trumps ag advisory committee. Ive spent 22 years trying to bridge the gap between food producers and food consumers, he said in an interview. Speaking engagements on that topic have taken him all over the U.S. and overseas, he said. Loos has helped rally opposition to President Joe Bidens 30x30 initiative aimed at conserving 30% of the nations land and water by 2030 in Nebraska and elsewhere. Hes demonstrated a wariness of the federal government in other forums, as well. In 2016, Loos interviewed Ammon Bundy at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, where Bundy was leading an armed occupation. Loos said an invitation to moderate a town hall meeting is what brought him there, and that he didnt have a role in the occupation. In columns for the High Plains Journal, Loos has claimed that the environmental movement has roots in Nazism and that plans related to carbon emissions are actually aimed at depopulating the Earth. In an interview, he stood by both and said the latter was referencing efforts to sequester carbon. He also backed baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. On Jan. 6, 2021, Loos interviewed a person who was in Washington, D.C., by video. At the end of the interview, Loos described the setting as events and activities and we the people are speaking up for the future of liberty and freedom. About a week later, Loos tweeted that even a blind man saw the election fraud that will be exposed this week. Thibodeau joined the race late and has lagged behind GOP front-runners in fundraising and polling. Before launching her own bid, she was the running mate of fellow Republican Charles W. Herbster, a Falls City farmer and rancher who owns multiple businesses across five states. She has recently called that campaign chaotic and disorganized and said Herbster doesnt have a grasp on Nebraska policy. Loos said he was connected with Thibodeau through a mutual friend before she made her decision to run. I think its vitally important that we have the right governor follow (Ricketts) and continue to empower the people of this state instead of allowing any federal tyranny or any rights to be eroded, he said. Theresa was the one that does that. State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha is the only of the three Republican front-runners who has announced a running mate: former State Director of Economic Development Dave Rippe. Herbster has not announced a running mate and neither has Jim Pillen, a Columbus hog producer and University of Nebraska Regent. On the other side of the ticket, Democrat Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue recently announced Al Davis, a former senator and rancher from western Nebraska, as her pick. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Voters in Nebraskas 1st Congressional District have another election date to add to their 2022 calendars: June 28. Between the May 10 primary and Nov. 8 general, they will choose a representative to fulfill the rest of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberrys term. Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the date Friday, the day after Fortenberrys resignation from the House of Representatives went into effect. Fortenberry announced his resignation Saturday, two days after he was convicted of three felonies related to illegal campaign contributions. The election is scheduled for the same day as Fortenberrys sentencing in federal court. He could face up to five years in prison on each count but also could receive supervised release. Now, the executive committees of the Nebraska Republican and Democratic Parties are tasked with voting on nominees for the special election. The parties have until April 22 to submit candidate names and filing fees. Two state senators, Republican Mike Flood of Norfolk and Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, have been campaigning for the office for months. Flood launched his campaign in January and has the support of major figures in the GOP, including Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman. Flood said he has been notifying party leaders about his interest in the nomination. On Jan. 16, I ran for this job because I wanted to be the 1st Districts voice in Washington, Flood said. And, given the circumstances, itd be an honor to fill out the remainder of Congressman Fortenberrys term, and Im confident I can work both as a congressman and campaign. The GOP has heard from a few interested candidates, state party director Taylor Gage said. People can send letters of interest to the party, he said, and they will be shared with the roughly 30-person committee voting on the decision. J.L. Spray, national committeeman for the state GOP, said he expects the party to first look at people who have already thrown their name in the ring and are willing to campaign for the job. He doesnt anticipate it being a vanity appointment or a way to honor someone. GOP Chairman Dan Welch said he would expect Flood, as the likely party nominee for the general election, to be the favorite in the nomination process among most executive committee members. Spray said whoever gets the spot could gain an advantage of seniority, which can affect important parts of the job, such as committee positions. He called it a silver lining to the situation. The state Democratic Party is considering the impact a special election may have on general election turnout, party director Jane Kleeb said. A special election can have huge momentum going into the general, or it could confuse voters, she said. Some may think the special election is the election for the seat, and it could affect down-ballot races later, such as those for the Legislature, she said. Pansing Brooks told The World-Herald that she has been letting people know shes interested. She said she would be honored and it would offer the chance to reach out to more voters. I look forward to it, she said. No matter what, on this journey my goal is to get people to be kinder and to recognize that we are not each others enemies. So, if this gives me one more chance to be able to communicate with people and try to get people from throwing grenades at each other from their corners, then thats great. The two state senators are not the only candidates in the mix: Jazari Kual, a journalism student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln whos also running as a Democrat, said he wants the nomination and has made his intentions clear to a party official. John Glen Weaver, a recently retired Offutt Air Force Base lieutenant colonel, said hes interested in the nomination and wrote a letter to send to GOP leadership as soon as Fortenberrys resignation was official, out of respect for the congressman. People who want to appear on the ballot by petition can submit 2,000 valid signatures by April 22, but they wont appear with a party affiliation. In-person voting at county election offices will start May 31. June 10 is the deadline for mailing early ballots to voters who have requested them and the last day for voters to register online and to register to vote by mail. June 17 is the deadline for in-person registration. The special election will use the freshly redrawn boundaries of the 1st District, which legislators altered during redistricting last fall. The district now encompasses Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Platte, Colfax, Dodge, Butler, Seward, Lancaster and Cass Counties, along with parts of Sarpy County (including La Vista and the bulk of Papillion) and northeastern Polk County. Costs for the election will fall to counties, secretary of state spokesperson Cindi Allen said, and those costs will vary. For Lancaster County, Election Commissioner David Shively estimated costs will be about $300,000. That money comes from the countys general fund. The county will need to get through the May 10 primary and turn around quickly to make the special election happen. Shively said a quick turnaround isnt new territory the City of Lincolns primary and general elections are four weeks apart. But for those, there are months of planning time. The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of Fortenberrys term, which ends in early January. At that point, the winner of the November general election will be sworn in. It is too late to alter the ballots for the May 10 primary (Fortenberrys name will still appear on the ballot despite his resignation). Fortenberry, 61, is the highest-ranking elected official in Nebraska history to be convicted of a felony. A federal jury in Los Angeles found the nine-term congressman guilty of lying to federal authorities about an illegal $30,000 campaign donation from a Nigerian billionaire. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Both the Russian and US arsenals boast thousands of nuclear weapons, located in various places in their own countries and, for the US, in Europe too. Heartland looking for short film submissions NORMAL Heartland Community College is now accepting short film submissions that will be showcased as part of a college film festival on May 5. The festival presents student and alumni work to later be judged by a panel of Heartland professors, with prizes awarded. All current and former students are eligible. Films can be of any genre including live-action, animation, documentary and experimental. Films are recommended to be under five minutes. The submission deadline is April 22. Email Adam.Scott@heartland.edu with your submission or with questions. Poco a Poco Young Artist program seeking applicants STREATOR The Poco a Poco Young Artist program is now accepting artist applications through April 30. The program provides hands-on training for young musicians currently in grades 8-12. Each student receives private voice lessons and sings in the Festival and Community Choirs, however it is not necessary for a student's primary instrument to be voice. Core classes include piano and theory lessons, with electives ranging from African percussion, composition, conducting, Chinese meditation practices, movement and more. Students will receive over 35 hours of training from world-class faculty in private sessions and small group classes, while participating in master classes, round table discussions and concerts that are free and open to the public. Executive Director Kate Tombaugh creates personalized schedules and assigns a solo for each student, and the faculty to student ratio is one to three. Over the last five years, the program has trained 68 young artists from 27 different schools including homeschool. 56 percent of artists have chosen to return to Poco a Poco for a second year of training or more. This year's festival will be June 18-25 in Streator. Young artist training days will occur June 18 and June 20-25. Special events will include a faculty concert, the student showcase, community concert and a closing performance with the Chicago Stout Section Big Band in the Streator City Park. Tuition is $295. Financial assistance is available through local foundations and school booster programs, as well as private donors. Visit pocoapoco.org to fill out the application. Call 309-830-6103 or email pocoapocoarts@gmail.com for more information. Peoria Municipal Band seeking new members PEORIA The Peoria Municipal Band is seeking new instrumentalists and vocalists to perform during their 2022 summer season. Instrumentalists are being sought as full and part time members. Musicians must have graduated from high school and possess strong sight-reading skills. The auditions will consist principally of scales and sight-reading. Vocalists should be high school graduates and have experience in solo singing. Vocalists perform literature from the classical repertoire as well as that of the opera and musical theater. Auditions will consist of two solo songs and the National Anthem by memory. For those who are interested in receiving an application form should contact the conductor Dr. David Vroman at dvroman@bradley.edu. The Peoria Municipal Band is one of the leading community performing ensembles and performs for thousands of people each summer at their concerts in the Glen Oak Amphitheater. Abraham Lincoln President Library and Museum to host sensory-friendly event SPRINGFIELD The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will host a free "sensory friendly" event for people who can be overwhelmed by intense light, strong sounds and large crowds on Saturday, April 2 from 4-7 p.m. This event is part of the museum's "Abe for All" initiative to make the museum more welcoming for everyone. Anyone is welcome to attend, but the goal of the event is to gather feedback on how to improve guest experiences, such as people on the autism spectrum, who may prefer a sensory-friendly atmosphere. Guests will have the opportunity to fill out surveys after the event to offer thoughts on what worked and what didn't. During the event, audio will be lowered throughout the museum and lighting will be adjusted to reduce extremes and create a more fluid atmosphere. Touch tables and new activities will give guests more engagement opportunities. A pre-visit preparation packet is available by calling 217-558-8844 or emailing ALPLM.GuestEntry@illinois.gov. The packet includes a social story and exhibit descriptions with photos. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to host author for speaker event SPRINGFIELD The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will welcome "Muslims of Heartland" author Edward Curtis to speak at 7 p.m. on April 7 as part of the "For the People" series, which features bold thinkers with unique insights into the people of America. Curtis will discuss his book "How Syrian Immigrants Made Home in the American Midwest." Visit PresidentLincoln.Illinois.gov/events to reserve a free seat for the event. You may have read in the news lately about the Spirit of Peoria river boat. Owner Alex Grieves plans to sell the boat for $1 million to Yacht Starship Dining Cruises, based in Florida, which primarily does business in Tampa Bay and Clearwater according to its website. The City of Peoria had the opportunity to purchase the boat first, however, the City Council voted last week to decline that offer. So, it appears the old-fashioned river boat will be moving from Central Illinois. This is sad news to a lot of folks. My father Norm Rittenhouse, who passed away in 2014, would have been very sentimental about the loss. Dad and members of his firm SCR Engineering, Fairbury, built the propulsion system for the locally famous boat in 1987-88. As you can imagine, the crews who built and operated the boat were a close-knit group. I'll never forget, at the visitation for Dad, Captain Alice Grady paid her respects in full uniform. SCR Engineering, comprised of mostly Pontiac and Fairbury residents, built propulsion systems for 14 boats including the Spirit of Peoria, the Twilight and the Branson Belle. They felt a special connection to Spirit of Peoria, however, because it was close by. Dad and some of the team rode on its maiden voyage from Walker Boat Yard in Paducah, Kentucky, to Peoria in the spring of 1988. Mark Pritchard, Dad's close friend and business associate, remembers the long, 400-mile trip. We worked around the clock to reach Peoria on time. The inside of the boat was not completed yet and a lot of construction was still going on as we came up the river. Unlike other river boats which feature paddle wheels just for show, the Spirit of Peoria really is propelled by its enormous 21-ft. wide paddle wheel. I remember Dad being proud of the fact the boat is powered by twin Caterpillar 3412 diesel generator sets which in turn power two locomotive motors driving the paddle wheel. What better for a Peoria boat than Caterpillar engines? Docked at downtown Peorias Riverfront Park, the paddle wheeler has carried thousands of guests on excursions to destinations including Starved Rock State Park, Pere Marquette State Park and St. Louis Riverfront. Its old-fashioned gingerbread trim and red paddle wheel have been a sight to behold on the Mississippi River for 34 years. I can understand why Peoria leaders do not want to spend taxpayer dollars to be in the boat business. Dad, an entrepreneur and business owner for more than 50 years, also understood economic realities. But he had faith in Central Illinois and was always optimistic for the future. In 2013 he attended the Spirit of Peoria's 25th anniversary celebration and called me later that day. I remember when we came up the river to deliver the boat, he said. I had a cell phone that was about the size of a shoe box that worked only if we were near a tower. Today, with my iPhone, I had a video conference while onboard and the phone fit in my shirt pocket. Just think what the next 25 years will bring! Sadly, it seems the future may bring the end of an era for Peoria and its beloved paddle boat. It's a shame to lose a vessel with so many ties to Central Illinois, but life does move on. It reminds me of a note we received when Dad died. The captain and crew of the Twilight sent a beautiful evergreen arrangement in the shape of a ship's steering wheel. Attached was a card with these words, If my ship sails from sight, it does not mean my journey ends, it simply means the river bends. So long, Spirit of Peoria. Contact Susan Hazlett at susanrhazlett@yahoo.com or write to her in care of The Pantagraph, 205 N. Main St., Bloomington, IL 61702-2907. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 People embrace after being reunited as a police officer stands by following a shooting at Fashion Outlets of Chicago mall in Rosemont on March 25, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) A judge in Rolling Meadows denied bond Friday for an 18-year-old man charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a Skokie man and the wounding of a 15-year-old bystander March 25 at a fashion mall in Rosemont, police said. Cook County Judge Ellen Beth Mandeltort oversaw the hearing on Friday for Jose G. Matias, who was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, according to court records and Rosemont police. Advertisement Matias, of the 8300 block of West Berwyn Avenue in Chicagos OHare neighborhood, was the subject of a nationwide manhunt. He is due back in court April 15. The attack stemmed from a dispute between Matias and the 20-year-old man who was killed, Joel Valdes, of Skokie. The 15-year-old girl who was also shot has been released from a hospital, police said earlier. Advertisement The mall, Fashion Outlets of Chicago, was locked down and frantic shoppers described terrified moments. rsobol@chicagotribune NORMAL An Illinois State University student is one of 417 chosen for a 2022 Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Ian Freeman is a junior studying physics, computational physics and math. He is from Plainfield and plans to continue his studies through to receive a Ph.D. in astrophysics and then teach in a college, the university said. As a junior, he has already co-authored three published papers and presented at national conferences. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was created by Congress in 1989 in honor of Barry Goldwater, a longtime Arizona senator, conservative leader and 1964 Republican presidential candidate. The scholarships are given to students studying in the sciences, engineering or math and who plan to go on to earn advanced degrees. Students can receive up to $7,500 a year. At ISU, Freeman has been a teaching assistant, resident assistant and is in the Big Red Marching Machine. He is also involved with physics extracurricular groups and is completing a project through the Intensive Research Experience program with Matt Caplan, assistant professor of physics. This summer Freeman will be doing a research program in astrophysics at Northwestern University. Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON Five Republican candidates for the McLean County Board avoided removal from the primary ballot despite seven objections to their filing petitions. Candidates Annette Fellows, Catherine Metsker, Hannah Blumenshine, John McIntyre and Vicki Shultz did not number the pages in their petitions for ballot positioning, which is required under Illinois election law. The three-member McLean County Officers Electoral Board on Friday decided to overrule the resulting objections. Courts and other electoral boards in Illinois also have previously overruled such objections, ruling that the lack of pagination in some cases does not pose a real threat to election integrity, the board said. Courts have admonished electoral boards that we should only remove a candidate where such removal is rationally related to a legitimate governmental objective, keeping in mind the legislative intent in designing the election code to guarantee fair and honest elections, said McLean County Assistant States Attorney Mary Koll, a member of the electoral board. McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael and Circuit Clerk Don Everhart also overruled the objections. In other cases where commissions refused to remove a candidate from the ballot that had failed to number any of his three pages, it was noted that the failure to number three petition pages does not threaten the integrity of the electoral process, Michael said, citing an Illinois appellate court ruling from a similar case. There is little potential for confusion or fraud and the candidate has substantially complied with the requirements, Michael continued in her citation. Five constituents raised the objections Monday. Two of the residents filed objections against two of the same candidates, McIntyre and Blumenshine. The electoral board heard six of the seven cases Monday and heard Fellows case Friday. Fellows and the other candidates admitted to an oversight error to not number their petitions, and they said it was not intentional. Fellows also said Friday in her closing statement that McLean County Board members need 24 signatures to be placed on the ballot, comparing it to other offices that require a substantially larger number of signatures. For most of us, were talking anywhere from five to eight pages and so I dont feel like it would cause any voter confusion or potential of voter fraud, Fellows said. To remove my name from the ballot would be an injustice to the people in District 9 who put their name on that petition that said, I want her name on the petition, so I can vote for that candidate. Gregory Moredock, an attorney representing the five objectors, argued that the threat of election fraud or voter confusion is irrelevant to the lack of petition pagination. Failure to make any effort of numbering is not substantial compliance, Moredock said. We dont even get to the question of fraud, tampering or confusion. McLean County Republican Party Chairwoman Connie Beard said shes pleased by the process and the boards ruling, and she looks forward to the important work ahead. Hopefully everyone is satisfied that the voters will actually be honored in their choice and that there are no issues about fraud or any other possible concerns about the integrity of the ballot that we will see in the June primary, Beard said. Read the ruling: Blumenshine, Fellows and Metsker also accused the objectors as partisan-motivated, as they pointed to two Democratic county board candidates who also failed to number their petition pages. County clerk records show unnumbered petitions for Democratic McLean County Board candidates Marcia Beaman (District 1) and Julie Hahn (District 9). Objections were not filed against those candidates. Jill Blair, a Bloomington resident who objected to Fellows' petition, said the lack of following rules should disqualify a candidate for office. "Rules are rules. We have them in place for a reason," Blair said. "I don't think we can argue which rules are threats versus which rules we don't have to take seriously." McLean County Board candidates had to collect at least 24 signatures within 60 days from residents in their district who align with the same political party. The signatures must be compiled into paper documents along with other required information and turned into the clerks office to be placed on the ballot. All 20 McLean County Board seats are on the ballot this year. The board consists of 10 districts with two members representing each. The primary election is June 28 and the general election is Nov. 8. Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Theyve also inspired the El Paso mother of four to spring into action and help uplift hospitalized children for the last seven Easter holidays. The Pantagraph checked in with Oertle and her squad of four little helpers before she departed last week with 150 gift baskets bound for the children's hospital. Brahm, her 10-year-old son who has autism, kindly greeted The Pantagraphs reporter and photographer Thursday. His mother said the baskets were built around the things Brahm loves: Mardi Gras beads, Play-Doh, plush animal dolls, sticky-hands, and coloring books. Also nestled in each care package is a book titled How to Catch the Easter Bunny. Oertle explained that Brahm stayed at Lurie Children's Hospital for a few days in October 2012 for a tumor removal surgery. Although it was a bit of a bummer spending Halloween at the hospital, Oertle recalled how spectacular the staff was. They do amazing things every day, she said. So, she wanted give back and do something super-fun with Brahm and her three girls, Bre, 7, Braydee, 5, and Brize, 3. For (Lurie patients), its just a nice break and a nice way for that small group to celebrate the holiday when they cant be with their family, said Oertle. In the past, its taken the family, including husband Justin, three hours to prepare the baskets. However, Oertle said they did it in half the time this year, with help from friends Dave and Nikki Glacinski, plus Hayley Tibbs. They were also assisted by donations from 75 people, Oertle said, along with their own version of a polar plunge fundraiser held in February. Those wishing to donate to their cause can call Oertle at 309-531-1215 or email her at nkoertle@gmail.com. She plans to do it again next year. Last year, Oertle said they provided Amazon gift cards in the Easter baskets. One teenage girl who had just started chemo told her she used her gift cards to buy wigs. I cried all day about that, Oertle said. Brahm and Braydee, 5, both liked putting beads in baskets and playing with them. Grandma Tammy Kelly then asked: But who likes it the most? Brahm! exclaimed sisters Brize and Braydee. The latters favorite bead color is purple. Braydee said she liked packing the plushies, and likes her unicorn squishy the most. Brizes favorite plush is the bear. Bre said she really likes eating Kit Kats as an Easter treat. But what Bre really loves about Easter is: We get to spend time with our family. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPRINGFIELD Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood admits he has seen a lot of horrible things in his 20 years as an emergency room nurse in Chicago trauma centers and five years he has served as county coroner. But he said he has never seen a worse case of child abuse and neglect than he saw last week. Harwood was the coroner in the case of 8-year-old Navin Jones, who died Tuesday evening at OSF Healthcare St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Navin was in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, but his body was found at his parents home. Jones family had been in contact with DCFS before his death, according to DCFS spokesman William McCaffrey. Stephanie Jones, 35, and Brandon Walker, 40, Navins parents, face first-degree murder charges in connection with the boys death. I think there should be a hefty internal investigation by DCFS into this case, Harwood said. And if there were failures, those should be remedied. Peoria County States Attorney Dave Kenny said during the arraignment for Navins parents that the boy weighed 30 pounds and was living in deplorable conditions. The child was last seen in late October or early November, when was in relatively good health, according to The Peoria Journal Star. Harwood declined to comment on Navins condition at the time of his death, citing the pending investigation, but did say the cause of his death was homicide and the manner was abuse and neglect. Eighty miles north of Peoria in Nelson, another coroner was investigating the death of 3-year-old Tamsin Miracle Sauer. She died in a Sterling hospital in Whiteside County on Saturday. The manner and cause of her death is still under investigation. Tamsins family also had contact with DCFS, McCaffrey said. Hiring efforts Also on Tuesday, DCFS Director Marc Smith filed the first annual report on the departments plan to address investigator caseloads as a requirement of a federal consent decree. That report, filed in a court document, showed there is a current statewide rolling vacancy percentage of 21 percent, and DCFS has a goal of reducing it to 6 percent or less. DCFS stated in the report that the agency is aggressively hiring, having added 198 investigators to the payroll since March 2021, but due to the high number of employees leaving and retiring, the overall headcount went up by only a dozen investigators. The agency pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic and a labor crisis, coupled with rising child abuse investigations across the state, as obstacles to meeting that goal. Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert, whose office represents about 7,100 children in state care, said Thursday that if DCFS had been keeping up with hiring over the past few decades it would not be in such straits now. It's clear that when DCFS's investigators labor under untenable caseloads without the supports that they need, in violation of court orders, both children and the investigators alike are at risk of serious harm and even death, Golbert said in a phone call. I fear that until DCFS gets its investigator caseloads down to reasonable levels, as mandated under a federal court order that is now more than 30 years old, we will continue to see children harmed. Golbert also mentioned the January death of DCFS investigator Deidre Silas as an impediment to hiring. If the investigators have caseloads that are too high, thats dangerous for kids and for workers, Golbert said. In the motion filed by DCFS on Tuesday, the 12-month average of investigations in March 2021 was 6,535. That rose to 7,726 in March 2022. An increase in reporting may be attributable to children having more contact with mandated reporters, such as teachers and doctors, as the pandemic eases. The increase may also be attributable to an increase in family stress, such as financial pressures. In addition to recruiting and retention efforts, DCFS is conducting weekend blitzes, moving staff from other locations to volunteer for weekend shifts to help with completing investigations. In DCFSs northern region, the agency conducted 13 blitzes where 148 staff worked a combined 2,500 weekend hours to help with investigations. Last year, the court granted a three-year extension to DCFS to meet caseworker hiring goals. The parties agreed to make changes in 1991, but 30 years later the agency is still struggling to be in full compliance with the decree. The deaths of Navin and Tamsin are the latest cases of children who have died after having contact with DCFS. Since January, Sophia Faye Davis, 1; Damari Perry, 6; and Zaraz Walker, 7 months, have died from child abuse. Contempt charges In addition, DCFS Director Smith has faced eight contempt of court citations from a Cook County Judge. The contempt citations are based on improper placements for children in state care. Last week, Smith was cited for contempt for the eighth time from Cook County Circuit Judge Patrick Murphy. The latest case involves a 14-year-old girl who entered DCFS care in September. She has been in 21 placements in her time with DCFS, according to a release by the Cook County Public Guardians Office. Those placements included time in a locked psychiatric ward, hospital emergency rooms, emergency foster homes and, most recently, in a temporary shelter. In December, DCFS recommended a residential placement for the girl. In two of the eight cases, the contempt order was purged when the kids were placed in their recommended setting. Those two cases involved: An 8-year-old girl placed in a locked psychiatric hospital unnecessarily for more than seven months. A 13-year-old boy kept in a temporary shelter in Mt. Vernon nearly five hours away from his family for nearly five months. Before the shelter, DCFS placed him in a utility room in an office. In the other five previous cases, the contempt order remains in place and the children remain in their present settings. Those cases involve: A 17-year-old boy who was placed in a locked psychiatric hospital for more than four months beyond medical necessity. A 16-year-old girl housed in 25 different places in two months, including hospitals, emergency shelters, a shelter in Indiana, and temporary foster homes. Before that, she was in a locked psychiatric hospital for nearly two months after it was recommended that she be moved. An 11-year-old girl medically approved for discharge from a locked psychiatric hospital for nearly a year waiting for a transfer to a residential placement. A 15-year-old girl placed in a locked psychiatric hospital since December 6, 2021 approximately three months waiting for transfer to a specialized foster home. A 16-year-old boy who spent more than 375 days in a temporary shelter that was unable to meet his highly specialized needs given his low intellectual function. Each of the seven children in these cases is represented by the Cook County public guardians office. The orders for contempt were signed by Judge Murphy, who served for 25 years as the Cook County Public Guardian. Harwood, the coroner in Navins case, knows about DCFS. He and his husband became foster parents in 2017 and eventually adopted his son, Jacob, who was taken into state care after he was born prematurely to a mother who struggled with addiction. When Jacobs biological mother died from drug exposure months after his birth, Harwood was the responding coroner. Harwood said hes troubled by the death of the 8-year-old who died in his county Tuesday, while grateful for his own son, who was once a state ward. We were lucky. He is our miracle, Harwood said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD Nearly four months after a deadly tornado hit an Amazon facility in Edwardsville, Illinois lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill Thursday that would create a task force to study warehouse safety standards. State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, has been studying the issue since an EF-3 tornado struck the 1.1-million-square-foot warehouse on Gateway Commerce Drive around 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10. Winds up to 150 mph toppled concrete walls and caused the roof to collapse, killing six workers. In February, Stuart held a virtual hearing with metro-east lawmakers, storm shelter experts, union officials and warehouse company representatives. Safety experts called on Illinois to adopt and enforce the latest building codes for storm shelters. Amazon has said it built the warehouse to code and that workers followed safety procedures. The facility did not have "hardened spaces" built to withstand a tornado, according to Jim Bell, director of operations for the National Storm Shelter Association. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, opened an investigation following the tornado. The agency's website showed the Amazon case in Edwardsville was still "open" as of Thursday afternoon. The investigation will review whether Amazon had a "proper emergency action plan," U.S. Department of Labor spokesman Scott Allen said in an interview in December. House Bill 1563 passed with bipartisan support from 94 representatives. Nine Republicans voted against the bill, which goes to the Senate for consideration. The bill's co-sponsors included state Reps. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, and Amy Elik, R-Fosterburg. The Warehouse Safety Standards Task Force would be made up of two state representatives appointed by the speaker and two appointed by the minority leader. The Senate president would appoint two state senators, as would the minority leader. The governor would also appoint representatives for retailers, manufacturers, mayors, unions and warehouse workers. The task force would be created immediately, if the act becomes law. Members would be required to provide quarterly updates on their findings to the governor and General Assembly. A final report of their recommendations would be due no later than Jan. 1, 2025. The task force would dissolve a year later. Stuart said she was thankful to colleagues who "supported the formation of a Task Force to determine how we can protect the safety of workers in the warehouses that are located all across Illinois." "I look forward to hearing from experts in engineering, code enforcement, the building trades, and all the fields that will help us make informed decisions as we move forward," Stuart said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The International Energy Agency will hold an emergency meeting on Friday among consuming nations to discuss a new release of strategic reserves alongside a plan by the United States to pump massive supplies starting in May to cool soaring oil prices. Major consumers are seeking ways to ease the impact of global oil prices, which have soared more than 30% this year, on their economies after top producers group OPEC+ stuck to plans to add a modest 432,000 barrels per day of supply in May. Western sanctions on Russia after their invasion of Ukraine are expected to see a loss of about 3 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil in April, according to the IEA. Moscow calls its activity in Ukraine a "special operation" to disarm its western neighbour. To fill the shortfall, President Joe Biden on Thursday authorized the largest release ever from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves, a release of 1 million bpd of crude for six months starting in May. The U.S. announcement comes a day before IEA member countries are set to meet at 1200 GMT on Friday to discuss a further emergency oil release that would follow their March 1 agreement to release about 60 million barrels. Several members in the Asia Pacific have said they would support the IEA's initiatives. Japan will act appropriately on oil reserves release while closely watching global developments, the industry minister said on Friday. "It is not clear whether the release will be done by the U.S. alone or the United States will make a proposal at the IEA meeting," Japanese industry minister Koichi Hagiuda told a news conference. "In any case, we would like to act appropriately while keeping an eye on the international situation," he said. South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a statement last week that it plans to support additional international cooperation in oil and gas and has already committed to releasing 4.42 million barrels in the March 1 agreement. New Zealand has reserves available for release if called upon, a spokesperson for Energy Minister Megan Woods said in an email. New Zealand has already released 369,000 barrels of oil as part of the IEA collective release agreed on March 1, she added. Australia has committed to release the full 1.7 million barrels it holds in its emergency stockpile in the U.S. strategic reserves in the March agreement. India, an associate IEA member, is committed to supporting initiatives for reserve releases, for mitigating market volatility and calming the rise in crude oil prices, junior finance minister Pankaj Chaudhury told lawmakers this week. 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. Featured Video An Accra Circuit Court has convicted a 25-year-old man for robbing his victim of a motorbike valued at GH5,000.00. The convict, Selasi Agorsor, pleaded guilty on his own plea and is expected to be sentenced on April 6, 2022. The convict admitted conspiring with another (only named as Soldier), who is currently on the run, to rob Kwasi Awumissah of a black Royal 125 motorbike in his custody, which belonged to one Salisu Mohammed. Prosecutions facts The Prosecutor, Inspector Eric Pobee, told the court, presided over by Emmanuel Essandoh, that Awumissah, the complainant, was a motorbike operator while Agorsor was unemployed and claimed to reside around the Arts Centre in Accra. He said on March 24, 2022, at about 2240 hours, the complainant parked the motorbike with registration number M-21-GS-5215 at Okaishie where Agorsor and Soldier approached him to take them to the Independence Square in Accra. The prosecution said the complainant obliged and picked them up but on reaching the Ministries in Accra, around the Volta River Authority bus stop, Soldier shouted and instructed the complainant to stop, which he did. Inspector Pobee said Agorsor and Soldier suddenly pulled a pair of scissors and a knife respectively and ordered the complainant to surrender the ignition key of the motorbike but the complainant resisted, which led to a scuffle between him and Soldier. The prosecution said the Soldier attempted several times to stab the complainant in his stomach but the knife failed to penetrate the stomach wall. Inspector Pobee said Agorsor jumped onto the motorbike and headed towards the John Evans Atta Mills High Street in an attempt to escape from the scene. Mr Pobee said the complainant then managed to free himself from the hands of Soldier, picked a pavement block and hit Agorsor who fell with the motorbike in the middle of the street, leading to his arrest. Escape The prosecutor said Soldier managed to escape and the motorbike was recovered from the crime scene with the assistance of the Ministries Police night patrol team. The prosecution said the team also retrieved from Agorsor the pair of scissors which he used to threaten the complainant. The prosecution said investigations revealed that the two collaborated to perpetuate the robbery. He said Agorsor, however, failed to assist the police to arrest Soldier from his hideout and after investigations, he was charged and arraigned. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Since the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions in the country last year, domestic air travel has increased, recording the highest patronage in the last eight years, data from airport authorities have indicated. According to the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), domestic passenger flows (throughput) jumped from 423,718 in 2020 to 722,721 in 2021, the highest since 2013. This represents a 70.57 per cent surge in domestic passenger traffic over that of the previous year, indicating the full recovery of the aviation industry from the impact of the pandemic. There was a halt in domestic air operations in Ghana between March 30 and April 20, 2020 as part of measures by the government to curtail the spread of COVID-19. Experts have attributed the growth to strong consumer confidence in the aviation industry, which is hinged on safety, reliability and affordability. Decade performance Further analysis of the data released by the GACL shows fluctuations in the domestic air traffic. From 543,379 passengers in 2012, the number of domestic air travellers rose to 778,466 in 2013, before declining to 421,986 in 2016. The industry, which recorded 483,261 passengers in 2017, experienced a jump to 690,314 in 2019, after dropping again to 423,718 in 2020. The number increased to 722,721 last year, with indications to grow further in the coming years. The travellers were airlifted by Africa World Airlines (AWA) and Passion Air to and from Accra to the five regions with airports Northern (Tamale), Ashanti (Kumasi), Western (Takoradi), Volta (Ho) and Upper West (Wa). Kumasi processed 417,510 passengers, representing 57.8 per cent of the total throughput, while Tamale handled 207,216 passengers, representing 28.7 per cent of throughput, with Takoradi processing 92,949 passengers, representing 12.9 per cent. Wa managed 4,696 passengers (0.6 per cent), while Ho, which began operations in December 2021, handled 350 travellers. AWA carried 65 per cent of the throughput, while its competitor, Passion Air, handled the rest. Expert opinion An international aviation expert, Mr Sean Mendis, said Ghana was one of the two countries in the world (the other being Russia) with a million annual domestic passengers that had shown actual growth in domestic air travel in 2021, as against pre-COVID-19 benchmarks in 2019. That, he said, was an indication that policies adopted by stakeholders in the industry when domestic flights restarted in May 2020 had been successful. Interestingly enough, the domestic market in the country is actually suppressed somewhat because neither of the domestic operators has been able to expand fast enough to keep up with the growing demand. I estimate that there is approximately 30-40 per cent of demand that is being spilled at the current price points, and likely as much as 150-200 per cent unmet demand at a lower price point, he said. According to Mr Mendis, there was a huge potential for operators who would charge lower fares in the domestic market and provide the appropriate value proposition to more travellers. Responding to market The Head of Commercial at AWA, Adedayo Olawuyi, told the Daily Graphic in Accra that the upsurge in numbers was an indication that the market was responding to efforts put in place by stakeholders in the aviation industry. Since the pandemic broke out, we have stayed in the market continuously, building capacity on all major routes and we can see that the market has responded adequately. The advent of COVID-19 also allowed a lot of people to start looking inward and we saw more intra-country travels since 2020, which has reflected in increased domestic traffic, he said. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Activists Jae Rice and Ab Weeks with SOUL, Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation, during a Rally for Trans Lives at Daley Plaza on March 31, 2022. The rally was to honor Tatiana Whetstone, a transgender woman recently murdered in Chicago, and Elise Malary, a transgender woman who was recently found dead in Evanston. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Typically, the Transgender Day of Visibility is a time to celebrate, but speakers at a rally in the Loop on Thursday said that 2022 wasnt typical. The transgender community experienced the back-to-back deaths of two members earlier this month: Evanston LGBTQ activist Elise Malary, whose body was found in Lake Michigan on March 17, and Chicagoan Tatiana Tee Tee Whetstone, 33, who was found dead in a garbage bin March 18. Advertisement When two Black trans women are found dead in the Chicago area in a matter of a week, theres nothing to celebrate, said Jae Rice, director of communications for Brave Space Alliance, an LGBTQ center on the South Side. So this may be a celebration for some, but for Black trans people, for other trans people of color, this day is a day of reminders, Rice said. It is a day to remind Black trans people that we do not matter to this city. It is a day to remind Black trans people that the state does not care about us. It is a reminder to Black trans people that this country does not care about us. Advertisement Activist Jae Rice during a Rally for Trans Lives at Daley Plaza on March 31, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Speakers at the event outside the Daley Center, which drew about 70 people, said that local government has failed to provide safety and basic resources for transgender people. They pointed to a series of hand-painted, poster-size report cards that gave the city and county failing grades in areas such as investing money in the transgender community, making LGBTQ kids feel safe in school, and providing gender-affirming care in Cook County Jail. They spoke of victims such as Whetstone, whose death has been ruled a homicide. And they expressed sorrow and frustration about the violence and discrimination transgender people encounter. I ask you, how have you failed to protect the Black trans women around you? said Sharah Hutson, digital organizer for Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation. Has your silence around the violence that is happening to Black trans women lead to their erasure? Do you understand whats at risk when you dont protect Black trans women? Hutson said. People attend the rally for Trans Lives at Daley Plaza in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Speakers read aloud from the hand-painted report cards, with members of the audience yelling out grades for the city and county, about 30 Fs in all, and one incomplete. Today, I hope we can remember that trans people are beautiful, and holy and magical and worthy of celebration, but I also hope we can remember that trans people in Chicago right now are fighting for our lives, while our blue city and our lesbian mayor are failing us, said Ab Weeks, organizing director of Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation. Activist Malarys disappearance was widely publicized by family, friends and colleagues before her body was found. Advertisement Malary, 31, had been a board member at the nonprofit Chicago Therapy Collective. She had quit her job with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on March 9, police said. Hundreds attended a vigil for Malary earlier in March, and Raoul issued a statement saying his office was heartbroken. Activist Sharah Hutson, center, during a Rally for Trans Lives at Daley Plaza. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Elise was a valued member of our Civil Rights Bureau who, as a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ community, was passionate about her work. Her kindness and infectious smile will be missed by those who worked with her. The Attorney Generals office has lost a member of our family, the statement said. At Thursdays rally, Malarys friend, Alexis Martinez, said the community lost this beautiful jewel. We gather again to cry out for justice. We call for healing. And we feel the tears well up inside of us. And even as we go through the healing process its in the back of our minds: When is the next one going to fall? said Martinez. Martinez, 72, said shes beyond anger. Advertisement I want to rage, but I have to have hope, she said. I have a right to exist, and nobody can take that away from me. nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com The chief executive of a political consulting firm has responded to a report alleging Meta paid his company to "undermine" TikTok. Internal emails, apparently seen by the Washington Post, allegedly suggested Targeted Victory's campaign aimed to show TikTok "as a danger to American children". Zac Moffatt tweeted that the Post's report mischaracterized their work and "key points are simply false". The BBC approached Meta for comment. A spokesperson said: "We believe all platforms, including TikTok, should face a level of scrutiny consistent with their growing success." Paper push The "bare-knuckle" campaign allegedly included placing opinion pieces and letters to the editor in US regional news outlets "promoting dubious stories about alleged TikTok trends that actually originated on Facebook", the Post journalists wrote. None of the opinion pieces or letters to the editor revealed that a Meta-funded group had been pushing them, the paper added. In response to the article, Mr Moffat tweeted that: "The story infers that the words of the letters to the editor were not the authors' own, nor did they know of Meta's involvement. That is false. They will confirm that." In internal emails, the paper claimed, Targeted Victory urged its partners to get stories into local media that linked TikTok to dangerous trends. "Dream would be to get stories with headlines like 'From dances to danger: how TikTok has become the most harmful social media space for kids'," one Targeted Victory staff member allegedly wrote in an email apparently seen by the Post. Challenges The paper alleged that Targeted Victory encouraged operatives to amplify reports of dangerous trends linked to TikTok. This included a purported Devious Licks challenge, which encouraged damage to school property, and reports of a rumoured Slap a Teacher challenge, which an investigation by news site Insider suggested did not in fact exist. But journalistic investigations, the Post said, suggested that stories about both challenges began to spread on Facebook. Following publication, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers - a large US teaching union - accused Facebook of fanning the flames of Devious Licks and terrifying "teachers, students and parents across America as a result". Those fears were echoed by TikTok itself. In response to the article, the company told the BBC: "We are deeply concerned that the stoking of local media reports on alleged trends that have not been found on the platform could cause real-world harm." Responding to the article, technology journalist Casey Newton wrote in his newsletter Platformer that the effect went beyond inconvenience, but it risked inspiring people to carry out the purported challenges. "Even the fact that Meta might have helped to inspire such copycats ought to have been enough to kill this project when it was still being white-boarded," he wrote. Mr Moffatt tweeted that The Post itself had reported on the purported TikTok challenges. 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. Featured Video The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has said that there is no perfect votes and proceedings, an official report capturing Parliamentary debate, anywhere in the world. Errors, he said, are anticipated to occur hence, provisions have been made available to correct those mistakes. Mr Bagbin said this in the House on Thursday March 31 after the Minority had said errors were made on the votes of proceedings for Tuesdays sitting when the e-levy was approved by the House. The Speaker commended the Minority lawmakers for bringing this up for the necessary corrections to be made. There is not votes and proceedings anywhere that is perfect, Mr Bagbin said adding that the draft is brought to the house giving opportunity to members to right the wrongs that they have been captured on the votes and proceedings. So rightly, you have come and corrected, what you have done is right, we will go through properly and correct the errors, he said. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers have sued the Attorney General following the approval of the e-levy by Parliament on Tuesday March 29. The Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu described the approval as illegal and unconstitutional because in their view, the Majority did not have the right numbers to pass it. This is a charade, he said at a press conference in Parliament, adding that there is no E-levy. The majority of less than 137 conducting businesses only proceeded on illegal and unconstitutional business. Parliament did not have the numbers to take any decision that should binding Parliament and Ghanaians, he added. They therefore decided to sue over the development. Source: 3news.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia says President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo always has an excuse for his dreadful governance. According to him, his frequent blame on the Mahama-led administration is becoming annoying after his numerous promises to get things done. He [President Akufo-Addo] is always looking for a scapegoat, someone to blame for his failure, he said. He also said the President had no justification for blaming Ukraine and Russia for his woes especially when the crisis in the two countries came less than 40 days ago. Commenting on the Presidents State of Nation Address (SONA), General Mosquito as affectionately called in politics challenged the President to talk more about his achievements than the self-praise. He is taking credit where credit is not due, the basis of which he is taking the credit is not even true, he told host Kwesi Aboagye on NEAT FMs morning show, 'Ghana Montie'. He added, The President is still selling false hope to the people. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Deputy Education Minister, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour has issued a caution to the Minority in Parliament regarding the passage of the E-Levy Bill on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Parliament passed the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) awaiting Presidential assent to come into effect. The Bill was passed in the absence of the Minority as they staged a walkout when it was broached in the chamber. "The electronic bill duly read the third time and passed," the Speaker said after readings of the Bill were seconded by the Majority through a voice vote. However, the Minority claims the E-Levy Bill hasn't been passed, hence has dragged the Attorney General to the Supreme Court. Minority Leader of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, and his colleagues Mahama Ayariga and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa contend that Parliament did not have the required number of at least half of its members present when the controversial tax policy was approved. In their reliefs, they are praying the Apex Court for a. A declaration that on the authority of the Supreme Court case of Justice Abdulai v. Attorney-General, Writ No. J1/07/2022 dated 9th March 2022, the constitutional quorum number for decision-making and voting within the meaning of Article 104(1) of the 1992 Constitution is 138 Members of Parliament out of the 275 Members of Parliament and not 137 Members of Parliament. "b. A declaration that on a true and proper interpretation of articles 2(1)(b) and 104(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, there was no quorum to enable the 137 Members of Parliament of the Majority Caucus present in Parliament on 29th March 2022 to pass the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy). They also are pleading with the court for a declaration that "on a true and proper interpretation of Article 104(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the passing of the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) by the 137 Members of Parliament of the Majority Caucus present in Parliament on the 29th March 2022 without the requisite quorum number of 138 Members of Parliament present in Parliament is null and void and of no legal effect". The Minority further asks for an "order of the Honourable Court setting aside the passing of the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) by the 137 Members of Parliament of the Majority Caucus present in Parliament on the 29th March 2022 as a nullity". But Rev. Ntim Fordjour is asking the Minority to support the Bill as they know its enormous benefits to Ghanaians. Although respecting their right to file the suit, he, however, cautioned them against politicizing the E-Levy. Mr. Ntim Fordjour admonished the Minority to not ''destroy the beauty of this monumental decision which is going to be a legacy for posterity. Posterity will look at us very kindly that we have ably put in place these measures''. He made these comments while speaking on Peace FM's morning show ''Kokrokoo''. He also urged all Ghanaians to embrace the levy, noting that it is a major factor to the development of Ghana. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Bill has been passed by Parliament, it is clear Ghanaians have no option but to accept and pay the 1.5% charges on all electronic transactions. There are however mixed feelings about the E-levy as to some people, it is good news and to others, bad news. Nonetheless, the government strongly believes the levy will immensely inure to the benefit of Ghanaians, stressing it will largely be used for infrastructure development. Touching on the passage of the E-Levy, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, a Governance Lecturer at the Central University, has asked the Finance Minister to be true to his promise to Ghanaians. Dr. Otchere-Ankrah implored the Minister to be accountable to the citizenry on what and how the levy is being used for to their benefit. Speaking on Peace FM's morning programme 'Kokrokoo', the Governance Lecturer said; ''The Finance Minister has promised Ghanaians that when the E-Levy is collected, he and his government will be accountable to the people. We will hold him responsible to that statement." Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Member of Parliament for Effutu and Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has gone to the defence of the Clerk of Parliament, Cyril Kwabena Nsiah. The clerk had come under attack from the leadership of the Minority caucus after it emerged that official Parliamentary records on March 29 recorded that eight opposition MPs were absent. The issue has become contentious because the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) Bill was passed on the said day amid a boycott by the Minority, a walkout that has partly been interpreted in some quarters as being due to failure to marshal all Minority MPs. Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu and Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed-Muntaka Mubarak, raised objections over the development on March 31 during a sitting. Afenyo-Markin differs with their harsh critique of the Clerk and Clerk attendants, whose actions he stressed could have been a genuine mistake. He described some of the critiques as unfair and called for parts of the submissions by the Minority to be expunged from the Hansard. Mr. Speaker, what I disagree with, is the argument that the Clerk and the Clerk attendants are being partisan. That statement coming from a leader of this House is not acceptable. "The Clerk cannot be heard and respond on the floor, so I think that the issue should be addressed by all. This is not a matter we should split hairs on. I think that this issue should be addressed by all. "This is not a matter we should split hairs on. I think that this is a matter we must sit in conclave to resolve. This part of the submission that accuses the Clerk must be expunged from the records, he stressed. What Muntaka said: Muntaka according to a GNA report interpreted the actions of the Clerk as an unforgivable error and a deliberate mistake such as the omission of the walkout staged by the Minority in the official Parliament document. "Mr. Speaker, I can say on record that, except for Hon. James Quayson, MP for Assin North, every single member on our side was in the house. All the other members claimed to be absent were in this house, he said. Mr. Speaker, with the greatest of respect to our Clerks, people indeed react to their party affiliations, but what we expect from them are fairness and accurate reporting. This partisan behaviour, we will not tolerate. Their action was deliberate and intended for a purpose, and unfortunately, that purpose has been achieved," he added. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has opined that he understands why the Minority leadership harshly critiqued Clerks of Parliament, accusing them of being partisan. According to him, such heat ought to be applied in order to get people to act. Despite being unhappy with the clerks being tagged as partisan, he recounted that as Minority Leader he used to mount spirited arguments in the quest to apply heat for an action to be taken. He made the assertion when the Minority side raised issues against the clerks for marking some of its MPs absent despite being present and also for not recording that their side staged a walkout when the E-levy bill was passed on March 29. We have such cases [partisanship accusations] pending before the Parliamentary Service Board and Parliamentary Service Board is handling them and will take disciplinary actions against the members of staff. I have utmost responsibility for the control, management of all the Parliamentary staff. The clerk is only the head [of table]. So Honorable Members, please lets take some time and go through these things well. The heat sometimes is necessary because some Ghanaians are like the tortoise. If you dont put heat under the tortoise, it wont move and so sometimeswhen I was a Minority Leader, I used to put this heat under so I understand why my colleagues are doing the same. In fact, the Majority Leader [Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu] when he was also Minority Leader did the same so we understand that and so I want to end up (by) directing that as we go through the corrections of vote and proceedings, these matters be captured properly in the votes and proceedings of the House of today [ March 31, 2022] as rectifying the errors that were committed on the votes and proceedings on the 29th of March 2022, Bagbin said. Parliament on March 29 passed the E-levy bill despite the Minority staging a walkout. Votes and proceedings of Parliament on the day indicate that 8 NDC MPs were marked absent with one NPP MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo marked as absent. With the exception of Assin North MP, James Gyekye Quayson, who the Minority has admitted was absent, it maintains that the other 7 MPs were present. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has charged political parties to find ways to accommodate one another to champion the development of the nation. He said the country had undergone a long and tortuous journey to achieve consensus in a multi-party democracy, adding that the current stability enjoyed since the inception of the 4th Republic must be protected. Delivering the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) at Parliament on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, President Akufo-Addo denounced suggestions that coup detats were the answer to the nations problems. We came through a long and tortuous journey to arrive at todays consensus on a multi-party democracy, but the last twenty-nine (29) years of our 4th Republic have shown that this has been the most productive period since our independence, he said. There is work to be done on building our institutions, but our democracy is worth fighting for. It is up to us to find a way to accommodate each other and our differences to make things work for the benefit of the Ghanaian people, the President added. President Akufo-Addo expressed worry over the resurgence of coups in the West Africa sub-region, saying that the political instability in the region led the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to its current stance of zero tolerance for military coups. He said Ghana must use its position as Chairman of ECOWAS as well as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council to work towards achieving lasting stability in the region. We, in Ghana, know the cost of instability; it leads to the exodus of our artisans and professionals, and the emptying of teachers from our schools, he said, adding, We do not want to be an island of peace and stability in a region of turmoil. The West Africa sub-region has been hit by a spate of coups in the last two years, with the region recording three successful military takeovers over the period. Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali have all seen the government overthrown and replaced with a military junta. Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali have since been suspended from ECOWAS, with the West African bloc demanding a return to democratic rule in the shortest possible time. At the end of another summit in Accra on Friday, March 25, 2022, the 15-nation bloc demanded the finalisation of an acceptable transition timetable by Malis military Government no later than April 25, 2022. The bloc cautioned that it would slap punitive measures on the Government and the National Transition Council (CNT) if they failed to meet the demand. ECOWAS also asked Burkina Fasos military junta to free former president Roch Marc Christian Kabore from house arrest by Thursday, March 31, 2022, or risk more individual sanctions. The bloc also demanded Malis military junta, which seized power in 2020, to stage elections within 12-16 months. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Mayor of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly(KMA), Sam Pyne, has lambasted the Minority in Parliament for staging a walkout over voting on the E-Levy Bill on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The Minority abstained from the process, leaving the Majority to approve the Bill and subsequently the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assenting to it to become an Act. The Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Act makes it legally binding for every Ghanaian to be deducted a 1.5% levy on all electronic transactions. However, the Minority led by the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, have dragged the Attorney General to the Supreme Court to hinder the implementation of the E-Levy. They contend that Parliament did not have the required number of at least half of its members present when the controversial tax policy was approved. Addressing these issues on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Sam Pyne questioned the Minority's logic in walking out since they believe Parliament didn't have the right quorum to vote on the Bill. He wondered why the Minority didn't remain in the chamber to witness the failure of the Bill. ''They said they know a lot of NPP MPs who don't assent to the E-Levy. So, if you knew those MPs, why didn't you remain in the chamber to convince those MPs that you claim will vote against the E-Levy to do so?'' Sam Pyne also threw his full support behind the levy stressing it's a good way to include the informal sector in the payment of taxes to develop the country. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video " " There's some uncertainty about when and where this bizarre tradition began, but most people blame France. mediaphotos/Getty Images Holidays are celebrated for all sorts of reasons. Some honor heroes, others commemorate religious events, but April 1 stands out as the only holiday that celebrates foolishness. April Fools' Day, or All Fools Day, is an odd celebration with a strange history. What other holiday asks us to play tricks and dupe our unsuspecting friends and acquaintances? There's some uncertainty about when and where this bizarre tradition began, but the most accepted explanation traces April Fools' Day back to 16th-century France. Up until 1564, the accepted calendar was the Julian calendar, which observed the beginning of the New Year around April. According to "The Oxford Companion to the Year," King Charles IX then declared that France would begin using the Gregorian calendar, which shifted New Year's Day to Jan. 1. Advertisement Not everyone accepted this shifting of dates at the same time. Some believed that the dates should not be shifted, and it was these people who became the butt of some April jokes and were mocked as fools. People sent gifts and invited them to bogus parties. Citizens in the rural parts of France were also victims of these jokes. In those days, news traveled slowly, and they might not have known about the shifting of dates for months or years. These people also endured being made fun of for celebrating the new year on the wrong day. Today in France, people who are fooled on April 1 are called Poisson d'Avril, which literally means the "April Fish." One common joke is to hook a cardboard fish to the back of a person. What a fish has to do with April Fools' Day is not clear. Some believe that the fish is tied to Jesus Christ, who was often represented as a fish in early Christian times. Others say the fish is related to the zodiac sign of Pisces, which is represented by a fish, and falls near April. It's interesting to point out that Napoleon earned the Poisson d'Avril moniker when he married Marie-Louise of Austria on April 1, 1810. It's probably no coincidence that April Fools' Day is celebrated at the same time that two other similar holidays are celebrated. In ancient Rome, the festival of Hilaria was thrown to celebrate the resurrection of the god Attis. Hilaria is probably the base word for hilarity and hilarious, which mean great merriment. Today, Hilaria is also known as Roman Laughing Day. In India, the Holi festival celebrates the arrival of spring. As a part of that festival, people play jokes and smear colors on each other. There's no clear connection between the modern observance of April Fools' Day and these two ancient celebrations, which lends most historians to accept the French explanation for how April Fools' Day developed. Advertisement Originally Published: Apr 1, 2019 Chicago police pick up evidence as they investigate the shooting where eight people were shot, one fatally, in the 2500 block of West 79th Street in Chicago on March 26, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) A mass shooting on Chicagos South Side a year ago has led to a federal gun trafficking indictment alleging members of a Gangster Disciples faction conspired with three Army soldiers stationed nearly 400 miles away to bring illegal weapons into the city and fuel further gun violence. The indictment unsealed earlier this week in U.S. District Court in Nashville, Tennessee, names three soldiers based out of Fort Campbell, which sits along the Kentucky-Tennessee border, as well as nine reputed members of the Pocket Town faction of the Gangster Disciples. Advertisement U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks about firearms trafficking enforcement during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington on April 1, 2022. Twelve people, including three U.S. Army soldiers, are accused in a large-scale gun trafficking ring that prosecutors allege supplied more than 90 guns to gang members in Chicago. (Olivier Douliery/Getty-AFP) In announcing the charges Friday at a news conference in Washington, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said that many of the more than 90 guns allegedly trafficked in the scheme have been linked to Chicago-area shootings where multiple people have been wounded and several people have been killed. The Justice Department will spare no resources to hold accountable criminal gun traffickers, Garland said. There is no hiding place. It doesnt matter where you are or how far away you are, if you are illegally trafficking guns we will find you. Advertisement Joining Garland at the news conference was U.S. Attorney John Lausch of Chicago, Kristen de Tineo, who heads the Chicago field division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Eric Carter, first deputy superintendent for the Chicago Police Department. Lausch said that indictments like the one returned in Tennessee reflect how collaboration across law enforcement and jurisdictions can have a tremendous impact on gangs in Chicago. What they see is that they will be held accountable, Lausch said. All 12 defendants were charged in the 21-count indictment with conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit firearms offenses in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The most serious counts carry up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The investigation began in the wake of the March 2021 mass shooting outside a pop-up party in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood that left one man dead and at least seven people wounded, according to court records. Chicago police found more than 100 shell casings as well as multiple firearms at the scene. The ATFs national tracing center was able to trace five of those weapons to purchases made at gun stores in Kentucky and Tennessee by the three soldiers, Demarcus Adams, 21, Jarius Brunson, 22, and Brandon Miller, 22, according to the charges. All three were enlisted members of the U.S. Army stationed at the time at the sprawling Fort Campbell military installation. The alleged Chicago gang members accused of buying the weapons were identified as Blaise Smith, 29; Raheem Johnson, 24; Bryant Larkin, 33; Corey Curtis, 26; Elijah Tillman, 24; Lazarus Greenwood, 23; Dwight Lowry, 41; and Dreshion Parks, 25. Another alleged associate of the gang, Terrell Mitchell, 27, of Davenport, Iowa, was also charged. Two now-deceased members of the same gang, Khalief Whitfield and Dontae Thomas, were named as unindicted co-conspirators. Advertisement The indictment alleged Miller is associated with the gang members and recruited his two fellow soldiers into the conspiracy in December 2020. Over the next year and a half, Miller and his associates provided false information on firearms purchase application forms to buy guns from local dealers in the Clarksville, Tennessee, and Oak Grove, Kentucky areas, the indictment alleged. They later sent photos of the firearms with prices to the gang members in Chicago, who made payments for the guns via CashApp and electronic bank transfers before picking them up at various locations in and near the city, according to the charges. At one point, Miller also had 1,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition available for purchase, the charges alleged. The indictment described numerous text exchanges between the soldiers and the gang members, including several where the ongoing gun violence in Chicago was not only discussed, but lamented. In January 2021, Miller allegedly bragged about the amount of firearms his crew had been able to provide to the gang, which at the time he said numbered at least 40some, according to the indictment. Advertisement Thats whats up! Lowry allegedly responded. I hope they use em to protect themselves and each other and not just show off for videos. Im tired of all the death. Three months later, Miller sent Larkin a photo of firearm cases stacked up in his residence with the caption, aint even half, according to the indictment. Miller followed up the next day, sending Larkin another text saying he did not wanna hear about no mo funerals. The Pocket Town gang faction has repeatedly been linked to episodes of gun violence in the city, and in recent years has been embroiled in a high-profile feud with a faction of the Black P Stones called No Limit. That dispute boiled over in January 2020, when reputed No Limit associate Gregory Jackson III, better known as Lil Greg, was fatally shot at the Studio Nineteen barbershop in the South Loop, according to police. The victim, who was a close friend of Chicago rapper and reputed No Limit gang member G Herbo, was sitting in a barber chair waiting for a haircut when a 20- to 30-year-old man wearing all dark clothing including a hooded jacket and a face mask came in and asked employees for directions to the restroom before opening fire. No one has been charged in Jacksons slaying, which prompted police to issue warnings about possible retaliatory shootings. Several weeks later, however, Christopher Mosley was charged with weapons offenses after he was arrested driving a sport utility vehicle believed to have been used in the shooting. Advertisement Prosecutors said a semi-automatic Glock with a laser attachment was found in the knapsack Mosley was wearing, along with a drum magazine capable of holding many, many rounds. The serial number on that weapon, which was noted in police reports, matches a .40-caliber Glock allegedly purchased by Miller in Kentucky just weeks earlier. Mosley has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial, records show. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com UC Berkeley researchers carried out the first major survey of macrofungi on the Polynesian island of Mo'orea, yielding more than 500 different specimens. These fairy inkcap mushrooms were found growing on decomposing wood. Credit: Todd Osmundson The islands of the South Pacific are a hot spot for biodiversity, but their jagged peaks, hot and humid conditions, and remote locations have limited scientists' ability to document the many fantastic forms of life in the region. In a new study published this week in the Journal of Biogeography, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, provide the first detailed description of the stunning array of fungi that make their home on the Polynesian island of Mo'orea. The collection includes more than 200 species of macrofungithat is, fungi producing visible, fruiting bodiesmany of which may be new to science. "It's like a treasure trove," said study lead author Matteo Garbelotto, cooperative extension specialist and adjunct professor of environmental science, policy and management at UC Berkeley. "It's truly uncharted territory in evolutionary biology and biodiversity of the fungal kingdom, and this is one the first attempts to generate baseline information on fungal diversity, not just for Mo'orea, but for the entire and vast Insular Oceania region." As part of the Mo'orea Biocode Project, the study team spent months trekking across the island in search of new species of fungi, ultimately gathering a total of 553 fungal specimens and sequencing the DNA of 433 of them. Because only a handful of the sequenced specimens have exact genetic matches with other known species, the Mo'orea collections are likely to contain completely new species. By comparing the DNA sequences of these fungi to those of other species around the world, the team was also able to piece together where the fungal biodiversity on the remote island may have originated. The findings suggest that the majority of the species, or their ancestors, were carried by easterly winds from Australia or other South Pacific islands, though a small number may have been brought to Mo'orea by humans from far-flung locations like East Asia, Europe and South America. "We were really interested in the biodiversity of the island," said study first author Todd Osmundson, who completed the work as a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley. "Mo'orea is an island in the middle of the ocean, and it's a geologically young volcanic island. It's never touched another piece of land. How did fungi get there, and where did they come from?" UC Berkeley researchers carried out the first major survey of macrofungi on the Polynesian island of Mo'orea, yielding more than 500 different specimens. This Mycena sp. fungus was found growing on decaying wood. Credit: Todd Osmundson Understanding both the biodiversity of fungi on the island and how different species have traveled around the world to arrive at this remote location can help as scientists grapple with the ongoing impacts of global travel and trade on biodiversity. "The Mo'orea BioCode project was the first all-taxa-survey of a tropical island to include DNA vouchers and other associated information. It included all organisms from marine and terrestrial habitats and everything larger than bacteria," said George Roderick, William Muriece Hoskins Professor of environmental science, policy and management at UC Berkeley. "Since, the data has proven to be enormously valuable in monitoring the impacts of global change on Mo'orea but also on other tropical Pacific islands." 'Every day we had a different challenge' The Mo'orea Biocode Project was led by Neil Davies, executive director of UC Berkeley's Gump South Pacific Research Station, and ran from 2007 to 2010. One of the motivations for the project was to create a model ecosystem that could be used to answer fundamental questions about how ecosystems work. "Fungi are really important parts of ecosystems," said Osmundson, who is currently a professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. "They act as primary decomposers, and in some cases (as) pathogens that break down decaying organic matter and recycle the nutrients into forms that other organisms can use. They're also really important as symbionts. They live with other organisms and benefit that organism in exchange for other things. For instance, some fungi will attach to the roots of plants and exchange nutrients with them." To collect the specimens, the research team spent months on Mo'orea, beginning before dawn each day to gather samples of fungi from all corners of the ecosystem, including the soil, the roots and leaves of plants, and even the air. UC Berkeley researchers carried out the first major survey of macrofungi on the Polynesian island of Mo'orea, yielding more than 500 different specimens. This bird's nest fungus was found growing on decaying wood. Credit: Todd Osmundson As the heat and humidity rose throughout the day, the outdoor conditions would often become inhospitable to both the scientists and the delicate fruiting bodies of the fungi they had collected. By early afternoon, they would take their samples back to the lab and begin the process of documenting and culturing the specimens they had found, often staying up late into the night to complete their work. "The terrain on the island is incredibly steep, and when it rains it becomes incredibly muddy, and a lot of areas are not managed. So, every day we had a different challenge," Garbelotto said. "There are some slopes that you can only really explore on ropes. I remember being attached to a rope with my hands sticking out on the precipice, trying to collect a mushroom that was growing on a little outcrop where you couldn't possibly walk." Each of the specimens was photographed and dried for storage in the University Herbarium and compared to databases of known species. As part of the biocode project, the research team also obtained DNA sequences of a specific gene that can be used as a unique "barcode" to differentiate one species from another. "In many ways, Mo'orea is not a pristine island, and that actually makes it more interesting to me," Garbelotto said. "The island has completely pristine areas and also has areas that have been inhabited and deeply changed by humans, starting with the arrival of Polynesians 3,000 years ago and continuing until relatively recently with the arrival of the French, the English and the Americans. Compared to places that are completely pristine, Mo'orea is more interesting to me because it's more representative of what the world actually is." Additional co-authors of the paper are Sarah E. Bergemann of Middle Tennessee State University and Rikke Rasmussen, who worked on DNA sequencing as a volunteer at UC Berkeley. Explore further Fungi: The missing link in tree planting schemes More information: Todd W. Osmundson et al, Using point data to assess biogeographical signal, endemicity and factors associated with macrofungal diversity in the datapoor Pacific oceanic island bioregion, Journal of Biogeography (2022). Journal information: Journal of Biogeography Todd W. Osmundson et al, Using point data to assess biogeographical signal, endemicity and factors associated with macrofungal diversity in the datapoor Pacific oceanic island bioregion,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/jbi.14354 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain New research finds that longer and warmer autumns make it less likely that green-veined white butterflies will survive winter to emerge in spring. The findings are published in the British Ecological Society journal, Functional Ecology. A new study by researchers at Stockholm University, University of Oulu, and Greifswald University has investigated the potential impacts of climate change on butterflies. In laboratory experiments the researchers exposed the chrysalises of green-veined white butterflieswhich are common throughout the UK and Europeto simulated autumn conditions of varying temperature and length. The researchers found the chrysalises exposed to warmer and longer autumn conditions lost more weight and used more energy than those exposed to milder conditions. Although the butterflies didn't die immediately under the more elevated conditions, the researchers found that those that experienced them were less likely to survive to adulthood the following spring. Dr. Matthew Nielsen at the University of Oulu, who conducted the research at Stockholm University, said: "Climate change is making autumns warmer and last longer, and it was this specific combination of conditions that had the greatest impact on the butterflies in our study. We show that stressful conditions experienced at one time of year can have lasting negative consequences at other times of year, linking changes in one season to consequences in others." Animals that enter a dormant stage through the winter are especially vulnerable to warming temperatures because this raises their metabolic rate, causing them to run out of energy faster. "Even though dormant animals use less energy than active animals, they use more when it's warmer, and they can't eat to replace that lost energy." Explained Dr. Nielsen. "It is already established that warmer winters are actually worse for dormant animals than colder ones, and our findings show that warmer autumns are potentially even more dangerous." In Sweden, where the study was conducted, the spring generation of green-veined white butterfly is usually the smallest generation because of the stress of winter dormancy. The authors warn that the increased mortality they observed after warmer and longer autumn conditions could therefore have a severe impact on the abundance of this species at a critical time of year. In the study, the butterflies were exposed to temperatures as high as 25C for up to 16 weeks. Although these simulated autumn conditions seem extreme, the authors say these temperatures already occur in southern parts of the butterflies' range (as far south as Spain) and could occur further north under future climate change scenarios. The researchers also say the timespan of 16 weeks of dormancy before the onset of winter conditions is not unreasonable for this species of butterfly. Some individuals can enter dormancy as much as two months earlier than others that go on to produce an additional generation before winter. In the experiment, the researchers simulated various autumn conditions in a lab by placing groups of 8 to 11 chrysalises in chambers kept at 15, 20 or 25 C for 1 to 16 weeks. They then subjected all 459 chrysalises to the same winter conditions for 24 weeks. During the simulated autumn conditions, the researchers measured how much weight the chrysalises lost and how much energy they used. Finally, they followed the butterflies' survival until they died or emerged as healthy adults during a simulated spring. Because the study was conducted in the lab and specifically designed to determine the limits of green-veined butterflies' tolerance to warmer temperatures, there are some limitations to applying the findings to populations in the wild. For instance, the simulated conditions were constant rather than reflecting natural seasonal and daily variation. The researchers say that these variations could further intensify the metabolic costs of autumn conditions. The researchers are now looking to explore the impacts of a warming climate on butterflies in more detail and look at the effects of multiple seasons. Dr. Nielsen said: "In our study we only considered survival to adulthood, but there could be even more negative effects later in life, for example on the ability to find mates or the number of eggs laid. Studying how warming in autumn, winter, and spring interact will also be key to understanding the actual impacts of climate change on dormant animals." Explore further Butterflies and moths evolve in order to adapt to warmer urban areas More information: Longer and warmer prewinter periods reduce post-winter fitness in a diapausing insect, Functional Ecology (2022). Journal information: Functional Ecology Longer and warmer prewinter periods reduce post-winter fitness in a diapausing insect,(2022). Credit: Roshni Samuel / Parameswaran Ajith / ICTS. The existence of dark matter remains one of the greatest mysteries of the universe. While studies have indirectly hinted at its existence, its invisible nature makes this elusive substance very difficult to detect, thus its composition remains unknown. Dark matter could be made of fundamental and exotic particles that are yet to be discovered. Alternatively, it could consist of many massive and compact objects, such as primordial black holes (i.e., black holes formed in the early universe). Over the past decades, many teams of scientists worldwide have been searching for dark matter, using a multitude of techniques, telescopes, detectors and observational data. While most of these searches were unsuccessful, they helped to guide and narrow down subsequent searches. Researchers at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research's International Centre for Theoretical Studies in Bangalore, India, have recently set new constraints on the fraction of compact dark matter from gravitational wave microlensing. Their paper, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, introduces a new way of probing the nature of dark matter by looking for microlensing effects in gravitational waves. "According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, massive objects bend light as normal optical lenses do," Parameswaran Ajith, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org. "Massive objects, such as black holes that lie in between the astronomical source and the observer, can magnify the source. This phenomenon, called gravitational microlensing, has emerged to be a powerful tool for astronomers." Despite the extensive research efforts in the field, astronomers have so far been unable to observe the microlensing effects produced by black holes. This suggests that black holes that are much lighter than the sun, which would produce the microlensing of light, are rare. "Even if these black holes exist, they are likely to constitute only a very small fraction of the dark matter," Ajith said. "Theory predicts that gravitational waves will also be lensed in the same way. If primordial black holes that are much more massive than the sun are abundant in the universe, they will distort the gravitational waves." Upper limits on the fraction of dark matter in the form of compact objects obtained by this study. The mass of the black hole is shown on the horizontal axis. Three different exclusion regions correspond to three assumed models of the distribution of binary black holes in the universe. The dashed lines show some of the existing constraints from the microlensing of supernovae (SN) and from the stability of wide binaries (WB). Credit: The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2022). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ac4dfa In 2003, some theoretical physicists accurately calculated the nature of gravitational wave distortions. Almost two decades later, Sunghoon Jung and Chang Sub Shin, two scientists at Seoul National University and the IBS Center for Theoretical Physics of the Universe suggested that the non-observation of these distortions by the LIGO and Virgo collaborations could help to constrain the abundance of black holes that are significantly more massive than the sun. The recent paper by Ajith and his colleagues draws inspiration from these previous works. The team's work is based on the assumption that if a significant fraction of dark matter were actually comprised of compact objects, these objects would cause microlensing effects in the gravitational wave signals periodically detected by the LIGO and Virgo detectors. "Back in 2018, in collaboration with colleagues in the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration, we had searched for signatures of such distortions in the gravitational-wave signals observed by LIGO and Virgo and found none," Ajith said. "However, since LIGO and Virgo had observed only 10 gravitational-wave signals by then, our prior expectation for finding such distortions was low." Recently LIGO-Virgo Collaboration announced similar null results from its third observing run. "In addition, Ajith and his colleagues independently analyzed the gravitational waves that a group at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) in Princeton had uncovered within the LIGO-Virgo data. Overall, they thus analyzed more than 50 gravitational wave events. While the researchers were unable to observe microlensing distortions in any of the signals they analyzed, their analyses allowed them to set further constraints on compact dark matter. In other words, they constrained the fraction of dark matter that consists of massive black holes. "The constraints that we obtained so far are quite modest," Ajith said. "All we can say is that not more than 50% of the dark matter is in the form of massive black holes, which is not new information. However, in the next few years, LIGO and Virgo are expected to observe hundreds to thousands of gravitational-wave signals. These observations will allow us to improve these constraints significantly." In the future, Ajith and his colleagues plan to analyze all new gravitational wave events recorded by the LIGO-Virgo detectors. In addition, they hope that their recent work will encourage other teams to use the microlensing of gravitational waves to investigate the nature of dark matter. "As part of the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration, we are analyzing all the gravitational wave signals detected by LIGO and Virgo during their past three observing runs (a total of close to 100 events)," Ajith added. "This will improve the constraint a little bit. However, we are looking forward to analyzing data from the next observing run, where LIGO and Virgo are expected to observe hundreds of gravitational-wave signals!" Explore further Mysterious clouds could offer new clues on dark matter More information: S. Basak et al, Constraints on Compact Dark Matter from Gravitational Wave Microlensing, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2022). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters S. Basak et al, Constraints on Compact Dark Matter from Gravitational Wave Microlensing,(2022). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ac4dfa 2022 Science X Network Red deer and European fallow deer in Germany. Credit: Dirk Martins, Unsplash In North America, SARS-CoV-2 has spread from humans to white-tailed deer. The deer are now considered SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs and may even spill virus back to humans. A science team headed by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) and the Charite have now shown that in Germany and Austria this has not happened as all deer tested were negative for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The research is reported in the journal Microorganisms in a special issue on viruses of wild mammals. SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2) is a virus identified in 2020 as the causative agent of COVID-19 disease. White-tailed deer in North America have been shown to be infected with human derived SARS-CoV-2 variants at very high prevalence in many cases. There is preliminary evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can then spill back to humans from deer. This is a cause of concern as novel variants could evolve in their new deer host and eventually spill back to humans, with unforeseeable consequences. While white-tailed deer are a North American species, deer occur worldwide and in central Europe like North America, are heavily hunted and managed. A team of scientists from the German Leibniz-IZW, the Institute of Virology of the Charite, the Austrian Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology (FIWI) and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) examined sera from 433 roe, red and fallow deer, both pre-pandemic and pandemic collected for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using an assay that previously confirmed antibody titers in North American deer. None of the deer from Germany or Austria were positive. The team also compared the ACE2 gene, the cellular receptor of hosts for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, among the different deer species. With the exception of one change which might potentially make red deer somewhat more resistant to infection, no changes were found in the receptor in the European species that could account for the drastic difference in results between central European and North American deer exposure. A likely explanation for the differences in exposure are how deer are distributed and managed in North America and central Europe. In North America, deer are often peri-urban and urban with high potential levels of contact with humans and human waste. Deer are managed principally by the federal government. In Germany and Austria, deer are generally not peri-urban or present in urban settings and an allocation of hunting licenses for a specific area (the Revier) is predominant where deer in a specific area are locally managed. The Revier structure likely prevents human-deer contact and also hinders the spread of pathogens among deer populations. "Every effort should be made to maintain barriers to human-deer contact in central Europe to prevent the establishment of deer as a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir," says Prof Alex D Greenwood, Head of the Department of Wildlife Diseases at the Leibniz IZW. More information: Andres Moreira-Soto et al, Serological Evidence That SARS-CoV-2 Has Not Emerged in Deer in Germany or Austria during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Microorganisms (2022). Andres Moreira-Soto et al, Serological Evidence That SARS-CoV-2 Has Not Emerged in Deer in Germany or Austria during the COVID-19 Pandemic,(2022). DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040748 Todays crocodiles are quite similar to their prehistoric ancestors, if a bit on the smaller side. Credit: Shutterstock Giant crocodiles once roamed northeastern British Columbia. A recently published article in Historical Biology features the first detailed trace fossil evidence ever reported of giant crocodilians. The sites are from the Peace Region of northeastern British Columbia, north of Tumbler Ridge. The trace fossils include swim traces, made when the crocodiles were scraping the muddy bottoms of lakes and river channels with their claws. Some of these swim traces showed remarkable detail, including parallel striations that represent scale patterns on the crocodiles' feet. While the Tumbler Ridge area has become well known for its dinosaur tracks, there is something special about crocodiles. Unlike dinosaurs, they survived, and still have not changed substantially since the Mesozoic. In 2020, a crane company donated time and personnel to recover four large blocks containing some of the finest examples of these tracks and traces. They were transported to the Tumbler Ridge Museum, where they are securely stored and will be incorporated into future exhibits. Ancient giants The tracks and traces we examined are in the age range of 9597 million years from the Cretaceous Period. The tracks included ankylosaurs, ornithopods and turtles. The size of the crocodiles can be estimated from the distance between their claw impressions. We used this distance to estimate a total body length of about nine meters, and possibly as much as 12 meters. This was corroborated by our identification of a partial track, 75 centimeters long, which allowed for a similar length estimate of close to nine meters. An example of giant crocodile swim traces made by a crocodiles claws scraping the bottom of a river channel, showing scale striations. Credit: C. Helm, Author provided A crocodile of such prodigious size would have weighed around five tons, and would probably have been a top predator. By comparison, the record length of crocodiles living today is about six meters. Gigantism in crocodiles has been reported several times in the fossil record. In North America, the oldest body fossil evidence of giant crocodiles is of Deinosuchus at about 82 million years, estimated to have been between eight to 12 meters long. Deinosuchus has been recorded from the United States and Mexico, but never from Canada. The large swim traces from north of Tumbler Ridge may represent a precursor to Deinosuchus, that lived at least 13 million years before the previously reported first appearance of giant crocodiles in North America. Tracking environmental changes The environment consisted of a low-lying delta-plain with shallow lakes, river channels and vegetated wetlands, situated about 100 kilometers inland from the shoreline of the Western Interior Seaway that linked the Gulf of Mexico with the Arctic Ocean. 3D photogrammetry image showing a trackway made by a juvenile ankylosaur on the left, and on the right a hybrid between a crocodile track and swim trace; horizontal and vertical scales are in metres. Credit: C.Helm, Author provided It was possible to document multiple episodes of flooding and emergence, which determined whether and when animals walked or swam. This helped explain the variety of tracks and traces that were identified. These findings follow our discovery of 112 million-year-old swim traces, made by much smaller crocodilians (between one and two meters long) within the Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark. Our familiarity with the nature of the exceptionally well-preserved traces from near Tumbler Ridge led directly to the first identification of crocodile swim traces in Africa. The co-existence of traces made by walking ankylosaurs and swimming crocodiles on a single surface was intriguing and unprecedented in the fossil record. One of the ankylosaur trackways is the smallest thus far described from the region. It comprised tracks only 10 centimeters wide, presumably made by a juvenile. Explore further Ancient crocodiles walked on two legs like dinosaurs This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A collaboration between CU Boulder's Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis and Digital Slavery Research Lab aims to regenerate identities using statsitics. Conflicts among African nations during the collapse of the kingdom of Oyo in the early 19th century resulted in the enslavement of hundreds of thousands of people. Soldiers and traders removed men, women and children from their homes, transported them to coastal ports and loaded them onto slave shipstheir names, birth places and family ties erased. Historians have a pretty good record of where these individuals departed Africa, but due to a lack of primary sources, little is known about where they originated before boarding slave ships. CU Boulder researchers are hoping to change that with a first-of-its-kind mathematical model estimating conditional probabilities of African origins during the transatlantic slave trade. Using data from shipping records and documented instances of conflict, researchers created an interactive map that estimates where individuals may have been captured and enslaved given their port of departure. "Just because you fly out of Denver doesn't mean you live in Denver," said lead author Eric Vance, a statistician and professor of applied mathematics. "So if an enslaved person boarded a ship in Lagos, Nigeria, it doesn't mean that they're necessarily from Lagos." Vance is the director and founder of the Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA)a research hub focused on training statisticians and data scientists to become more effective interdisciplinary collaborators. Vance and his students partner with researchers in various academic fieldsfrom biosciences to environmental studiesto collect, analyze and visually communicate their data. "Every academic field that uses data could benefit by collaborating with a statistician," Vance said. "Our specialty is getting useful information out of data and transforming evidence into action." For this paper, published by the Royal Statistical Society, Vance partnered with Henry Lovejoy, a history professor who studies where and when conflict occurred in West Africa, and how it affected inland migration. "In history, we collect tons of qualitative data," Lovejoy said. "But now we're moving beyond qualitative analysis and actually beginning to apply quantitative techniques to the data." Calculating conflict Lovejoy runs CU Boulder's Digital Slavery Research Lab, which focuses on developing and archiving open-source data and multimedia related to slavery and human trafficking. Using the resources he's consolidated on his site, including the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Liberated Africans databases, he gained access to detailed shipping records showing when and where people boarded slave ships on the coast. Lovejoy then used primary and secondary sources to determine when and where instances of conflict took place and how it affected inland migration. "We've only really been able to know where the slave ships departed, but no one has connected it inland until now," Lovejoy said. Unfortuantely, sources that document conflict in the precolonial period in Africa are very scarce, and those that are available are typically from the perspective of European slave traders. Maps of Africa, in the Western sense, weren't even created until much later on in this period. So Lovejoy had to make assumptions with the data. "I can't emphasize enough the amount of uncertain data I'm using," Lovejoy said. "I'm trying to be as honest as possible while developing a solid methodology of data collection." In the next phase of the project, Lovejoy hopes to improve the map by incorporating oral histories and ethnolinguistic data. To do so, he needs help from African universities and researchers. Ethics in data Lovejoy's Digital Slavery Research Labframed around inclusive and reparative scholarshiprecognizes the ethical implications of mapping Africa in the past. Most historical materials during this period assign numbers to enslaved persons, and the primary sources available mostly reflect skewed, racially biased perspectives. "Maps have the potential to be very authoritative, and that's not what we're trying to do here," Lovejoy said. "We want to regenerate identities in a respectful and ethical frameworkto do that, we need African involvement." Lovejoy hopes to organize conferences in Africa and partner with local universities to bring graduate students to Colorado to provide a better understanding of the history and geography of the continent. "There's an inherent difference between a foreigner working on a geography versus someone localespecially in a context that's involving a very terrible history of humanity," he said. Through publishing his work, Lovejoy hopes its importance will gain recognition and will lead to more opportunities for funding and partnerships. Explore further Maps of fallen kingdom shed light on Atlantic slave trade More information: Ashton Wiens et al, A modelling strategy to estimate conditional probabilities of African origins: The collapse of the Oyo Empire and the transatlantic slave trade, 18171836, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A (Statistics in Society) (2022). Ashton Wiens et al, A modelling strategy to estimate conditional probabilities of African origins: The collapse of the Oyo Empire and the transatlantic slave trade, 18171836,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/rssa.12833 Color images from CFHT showing the field around K2-2016-BLG-0005 outside (left) and inside (right) of the caustic crossing. Celestial North points upwards and East to the left. The magenta cross-hair locates the microlensed source. Credit: D. Specht et al, Kepler K2 Campaign 9: II. First space-based discovery of an exoplanet using microlensing, https://arxiv.org/pdf/2203.16959.pdf A new study by an international team of astrophysicists, led by the Jodrell Bank Center for Astrophysics has presented the amazing new discovery of a near-identical twin of Jupiter orbiting a star at a colossal distance of 17,000 light years from Earth. The exoplanet, K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb, is almost identical to Jupiter in terms of its mass and distance from the sun, was discovered using data obtained in 2016 by NASA's Kepler space telescope. The exoplanetary system is twice as distant as any seen previously by Kepler, which found over 2,700 confirmed planets before ceasing operations in 2018. The system was found using gravitational microlensing, a prediction of Einstein's Theory of Relativity, and is the first planet to be discovered from space in this way. The study has been submitted to the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and has been made available as a preprint on ArXiv.org. Ph.D. student, David Specht from The University of Manchester is the lead author on the new research. To find an exoplanet using the microlensing effect the team searched through Kepler data collected between April and July 2016 when it regularly monitored millions of stars close to the center of the Galaxy. The aim was to look for evidence of an exoplanet and its host star temporarily bending and magnifying the light from a background star as it passes by the line of sight. "To see the effect at all requires almost perfect alignment between the foreground planetary system and a background star," said Dr. Eamonn Kerins, Principal Investigator for the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) grant that funded the work. Dr. Kerins adds: "The chance that a background star is affected this way by a planet is tens to hundreds of millions to one against. But there are hundreds of millions of stars towards the center of our Galaxy. So Kepler just sat and watched them for three months." Following the development of specialized analysis methods, candidate signals were finally uncovered last year using a new search algorithm presented in a study led by Dr. Iain McDonald, at the time an STFC-funded postdoctoral researcher, working with Dr. Kerins. Among five new candidate microlensing signals uncovered in that analysis one showed clear indications of an anomaly consistent with the presence of an orbiting exoplanet. Five international ground-based surveys also looked at the same area of sky at the same time as Kepler. At a distance of around 135 million km from Earth, Kepler saw the anomaly slightly earlier, and for longer, than the teams observing from Earth. The new study exhaustively models the combined dataset showing, conclusively, that the signal is caused by a distant exoplanet. "The difference in vantage point between Kepler and observers here on Earth allowed us to triangulate where along our sight line the planetary system is located," says Dr. Kerins. "Kepler was also able to observe uninterrupted by weather or daylight, allowing us to determine precisely the mass of the exoplanet and its orbital distance from its host star. It is basically Jupiter's identical twin in terms of its mass and its position from its Sun, which is about 60% of the mass of our own Sun." Later this decade NASA will launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space telescope. Roman will find potentially thousands of distant planets using the microlensing method. The European Space Agency's Euclid mission, due to launch next year, could also undertake a microlensing exoplanet search as an additional science activity. Dr. Kerins is Deputy Lead for the ESA Euclid Exoplanet Science Working Group. "Kepler was never designed to find planets using microlensing so, in many ways, it's amazing that it has done so. Roman and Euclid, on the other hand, will be optimized for this kind of work. They will be able to complete the planet census started by Kepler." he said. "We'll learn how typical the architecture of our own solar system is. The data will also allow us to test our ideas of how planets form. This is the start of a new exciting chapter in our search for other worlds." Explore further Kepler telescope glimpses population of free-floating planets More information: D. Specht et al, Kepler K2 Campaign 9: II. First space-based discovery of an exoplanet using microlensing. arXiv:2203.16959v1 [astro-ph.EP], Journal information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society D. Specht et al, Kepler K2 Campaign 9: II. First space-based discovery of an exoplanet using microlensing. arXiv:2203.16959v1 [astro-ph.EP], arxiv.org/abs/2203.16959 Provided by Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics Researchers from Columbia University and Universite de Lome installed five sensors across the city of Lome to monitor air pollution levels. Credit: ACS Earth and Space Chemistry (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00391 For the first time, researchers have monitored air pollution in Lome, the capital city of Togo in West Africa, over multiple years. The initial results, published on March 10 in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry , reveal that the city frequently experiences unsafe levels of air pollution. The study was led by researchers from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the Universite de Lome. Globally, air pollution is the fourth leading risk factor for premature death. It is estimated to have contributed to 6.67 million deaths in 2019, including 1.1 million in Africa. The new study focused on PM 2.5 , a form of air pollution made up of microscopic particles that can be inhaled. Inside the body, these particleswhich come from vehicles, coal-burning power plants, waste incineration and other human and natural sourcescontribute to asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, and more. Yet PM 2.5 levels, and their accompanying impacts on human health, remain largely unmonitored and understudied in many areas of the world. Efforts have largely focused on the United States and Europe. To bridge this gap, Columbia Climate School researchers launched the Clean Air Toolbox for Cities project to identify and address the causes of urban air pollution in India, sub-Saharan Africa, and Indonesia. The study in Togo is part of this effort. Air pollution data is sparse in many countries because a single monitor can cost several hundred thousand dollars, and several monitors are needed to track levels across a city. Clean Air Toolbox researchers overcome this challenge by using low-cost PM 2.5 sensors that only cost about $250 each. Study coauthor Daniel Westervelt of Columbia University installed five of these sensors across Lome in 2019, and the sensors have been maintained by local colleagues since then. While the low-cost sensors gather high-quality data, "they are not perfect," said lead author Garima Raheja, a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University. "Sometimes they lose Wi-Fi connection and we lose data until someone can go in and fix the sensor. But thanks to the relentless efforts of our collaborators and their students in Lome, we've been able to maintain a great record of air quality and collaborate on analyzing the data that comes from it." Several years' worth of data showed that Lome's annual PM 2.5 averages were four or five times greater than the World Health Organization's latest guidelines, which state that yearly average concentrations of PM 2.5 should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter. Some of the air pollution in Lome came from human activities. The sources included vehicle exhaust from nearby highways, dust from unpaved roads, waste burning, and cooking emissions. There was also a strong natural source of PM 2.5 pollution. The Harmattana dry, dusty wind that blows from the Sahara during December through Februaryincreased the PM 2.5 concentration by up to 58%. However, daily and weekly trends in PM 2.5 pollution were largely controlled by human-caused emissions. "These first measurements highlight the need for air quality improvement in a rapidly growing urban metropolis," the authors write in the paper. Currently, Lome's 1.4 million residents are exposed to these unsafe levels of air pollution, and the city is expected to grow in the coming years. "While it is difficult to control the Harmattan, we can still reduce anthropogenic contributions to air pollution," said Raheja. "I hope this work will contribute to creating strong mitigation policies that protect the residents of Lome." Although Togo does not currently have its own air quality monitoring standards, in 2020 it adopted a plan to reduce air pollution and fight climate change. This research helps to establish baseline air pollution levels so that future reductions can be quantified. "It's hard to fix a problem when you don't know what you're starting with," Raheja pointed out. The researchers plan to continue measuring Lome's PM 2.5 levels, and hope to expand their network of sensors to better understand the distribution of air pollution in the growing city. "Understanding the air quality is the first step," said Raheja. "Making air quality better can take a lot of work and a lot of years, but in the meantime, early warning systems that use air quality forecasting could help alert residents of especially bad air pollution days." Explore further These countries have the most polluted air in the world, new report says More information: Garima Raheja et al, A Network of Field-Calibrated Low-Cost Sensor Measurements of PM2.5 in Lome, Togo, Over One to Two Years, ACS Earth and Space Chemistry (2022). Garima Raheja et al, A Network of Field-Calibrated Low-Cost Sensor Measurements of PM2.5 in Lome, Togo, Over One to Two Years,(2022). DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00391 This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu. Satellite observations on factors such as ice flow velocity or surface temperature help scientists predict which blue-ice areas contain meteorites. Credit: Veronica Tollenaar A Belgian-Dutch team of scientists has created the first-ever "treasure map" that shows where in Antarctica meteorites are likely to be found. Meteorites are chunks of stone-like material that can be found on the surface of the Earth after falling from space. Unlike the earth's rocks, meteorites have been spared from our planet's weathering and volcanism and are therefore regarded as invaluable archives of the earliest stages of our solar system. Whereas rocks fail to tell us anything about the first half-a-billion years of our planet's 4.55-billion-years existence, most meteorites from the asteroid belt allow us to stretch back to 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of recorded meteorites in Antarctica come from the asteroid belt, with about 1% hailing from the Moon and Mars. Meteorites in Antartica Meteorites fall regularly on the surface of the Earth: in France around 50 meteorites weighing more than 10g rain down every year. However, pinning them down is like searching a needle in a haystack, and scientists from meteorite-recovery campaigns often return empty-handed. In contrast, it is surprisingly easy to track down meteorites in the remote South Pole. This is because of a principle known as the concentrating mechanism, whereby specific ice-flow and meteorological patterns lead meteorites to pool in rather small areas known as meteorite stranding zones. When meteorites fall on the Antarctic, they typically lodge themselves within the ice sheet and drift toward the oceans. This has led some to describe ice as a "natural conveyor belt" for meteorites. At times, mountainsoccasionally hidden under the ice sheetmay come in their way and redirect them toward the surface of the ice sheet. Meteorites are always found on the surface of areas where the wind has dusted off the snow, leaving a blue-tinted ice exposed. Such zones are known as blue-ice areas. Although meteorites are always recorded in such areas, not all contain them. Once a meteorite-rich, blue-ice area has been identified, it is relatively simple to spot the darkly colored stones against the ice's light hues. The success of meteorite searches in Antarctica is unparalleled: over 60% of the Earth's recovered meteorites are located in the Antarctic ice sheet. And the potential remains largely untapped: to date, only a part of all Antarctic blue-ice areas has been checked for meteorites, with varying degrees of success. Determining where to search To establish where to search meteorites, we firstly need to understand what differentiates a meteorite-rich blue-ice area from one without meteorites. To this end, there is a lot of data available: the location and year of discovery of meteorites are stored in a special meteoritical bulletin database. Scientists can also access field reports detailing some of the successful and unsuccessful meteorite missions that have been conducted since the discovery of the concentrating mechanism in 1969. Until now, deciding where to search was a task conducted by a small number of experts. This means there is a huge human factor involved in meteorite recovery missionsand it is not possible to evaluate the potential of every single area in a continent that is about 25 times the size of France. To help plan what are often expensive and logistically complicated missions, our team developed a map that shows potential meteorite stranding zones. A host of data is fed into the meteorite predicting algorithm. Credit: Veronica Tollenaar/ULB From the real world to the observed world To make a meteorite "treasure map," we had to translate the real world into observable numbers. To this end, we applied a grid of cells measuring 450 by 450 meters over blue-ice areas and their close surroundings. In cases where meteorites have been found within a grid cell, the grid cell is labeled as "positive." The remaining grid cells are left unlabeled. Every cell contains information drawn from satellite and radar observations, including surface temperature, ice-flow velocity, surface-cover types or slope. Such data enables us to predict where we may find meteorites. Machine learning for continent-wide predictions Machine learning and statistical models allow us to combine these various observations and account for eventual uncertainties related to the data. The performance of the predicting algorithm is optimized through several iterations. Each time the predictions of the algorithm are checked against several areas that are known to bear meteorites or not. The algorithm's work can be divided into several stages. Firstly, the algorithm learns what constitutes a typical positive or unlabeled grid cell. Having learned the data related to different grid cells, the algorithm can calculate the probability that an unlabeled grid cell contains meteorites or not. Grid cells that potentially contain meteorites are then clustered into meteorite stranding zones, with areas ranging from a few to hundreds of square kilometers. Our research shows the accuracy of these predicted meteorite stranding zones is estimated to be over 80%. Analysis of predicted areas confirms that the machine learning algorithm succeeds in capturing the interplay between different phenomena. While opportunities to find meteorites abound throughout the continent, some areas close to existing research stations remain unexplored, making a reconnaissance visit very attractive. The "treasure map" heralds a new era for meteorite searches in Antarctica. By sharing our research with colleagues across the globe, we are approaching the collection of meteorites as a collaborative community-wide effort. In response, scientists from countries as varied as Korea, India, Chile or the United States have shown interest in exploring indicated areas. Explore further Using machine learning to find space rocks in Antarctica This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Small but mighty: The steady-state laser module constructed in Jena combines a tiny scale with great robustness. Credit: Fraunhofer IOF Was there life on Mars? This is the question that the European Space Agency (ESA) is setting out to answer with its ExoMars mission. The mission, in which Russia is a participant, is scheduled to launch this fall, although recent political developments have raised questions as to whether this will be possible. Part of the mission is an exciting analytical system that was designed to operate in space and was created as part of the research work conducted at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF. The Jena-based researchers developed the miniaturized laser module for the ExoMars Rover's mobile laboratory. The institute will present this Raman spectrometer, which is fitted with a diode-pumped solid-state laser and is the size of a 50-cent coin, at the Laser World of Photonics in Munich from April 26 to 29. The "Rosalind Franklin" rover will analyze the mineralogical compounds on the surface of Mars, around 56 million kilometers away from the Earth, in order to search for traces of extraterrestrial life on the planet. To achieve this, the vehicle has an on-board drill and an array of scientific instruments. One of these instruments is a device called a Raman spectrometer. It can be used to analyze the diffusion of light from molecules, for example in the atmosphere, or from solids such as rock samples. The centerpiece of the spectrometer's heavily miniaturized and space-worthy laser source is a diode-pumped solid-state laser with frequency doubling, constructed at Fraunhofer IOF in Jena. The Raman spectrometer works as follows: Laser light is emitted, which interacts with the material to be analyzed. This causes what is known as the "Raman effect." Energy from the light passes to the material and back. This changes the light energy, altering its wavelength. The light is then diffused back to the spectrometer, where the changes in the wavelength are analyzed. The differences between the new frequency and the original frequency of the light emitted can be used to draw conclusions about the composition of the material. Raman spectrometer the size of a 50-cent piece. Credit: Fraunhofer IOF Tiny components but incredibly robust The green laser constructed in Jena works at a wavelength of 532 nanometers and more than 100 megawatts. "In total, our researchers have invested seven years of development time in order to adapt the module to the specific challenges of operating in space," explains Dr. Erik Beckert, project manager of the ExoMars laser at Fraunhofer IOF. One of the common challenges for projects operating in space is the need for the components to be particularly small and light. For example, the laser, including its housing, only adds 50 grams of weight to the rover, the same as half a bar of chocolate. But, despite being miniaturized, it has to deliver the same level of performance and robustness. The sensitive optical components also have to be constructed to withstand temperature fluctuations between -130 and +24 degrees and significant exposure to radiation in space, plus the heavy vibrations when the rover launches and lands. Conventional methods for assembling optical components are not suitable for such extreme conditions. "This is why we have connected all of the components of the sensitive laser resonator and the secondary optics together using a laser-based soldering technique," explains Beckert. "This ensures particularly strong stability in the face of thermal and mechanical effects and intense exposure to radiation." Working with the Spanish laser manufacturer Monocrom, the Jena-based institute has created a total of five structurally identical lasers over the years for use in the Raman spectrometer. Now the researchers hope their technique can soon launch into space with the Mars mission. Former Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta, center, arrives to the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago with attorneys, Robert Stanley, left, and Thomas Breen for Presta's sentencing in his bribery case stemming from the red-light camera investigation on April 25, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Former Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta was sentenced Monday to a year in federal prison after he was caught on undercover FBI video taking what he thought was a $5,000 bribe from a red-light camera company executive. Presta, 72, resigned in November after pleading guilty to charges of bribery, official misconduct and filing false tax returns. Advertisement In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin noted that Presta had done many good things for his community in his time as mayor, but thats what elected officials are supposed to do. The judge also said Prestas corruption did real damage to Crestwood, a working-class town that doesnt have all the advantages of wealthier communities on the North Shore. Advertisement The image of Crestwood is diminished when the mayor takes a bribe to jack up red-light camera tickets on anyone driving through town, Durkin said. I dont know how many of those tickets were unjustified. But it damages people to have to pay tickets that otherwise might not have been written. A Democrat first elected mayor in 2013, Presta admitted in a plea agreement with prosecutors that he accepted the envelope with $5,000 cash in March 2019 from Omar Maani, an executive at clout-heavy red-light camera company SafeSpeed LLC. Maani, who no longer works for the firm, was actually cooperating with the FBI and the entire exchange was caught on an undercover camera. Omar Maani, former co-owner of SafeSpeed LLC. (Provided to the Tribune) Presta, who at the time was running for Cook County commissioner, took the money in exchange for helping SafeSpeed get more red-light cameras in the village and boost revenues from existing cameras by approving more violations, according to his plea agreement. Before he was sentenced, Presta sniffed back tears as he apologized to his wife and the people of the town. Im so sorry for bringing this scandal to the village of Crestwood, he said, seated at the defense table reading from a sheet of paper. I never thought that Id be a criminal defendant. The FBI sting that ensnared Presta in 2017 was part of a wide-ranging political corruption investigation that has toppled a number of politicians and operatives in Chicagos west and southwest suburbs. His sentencing came a week after Tony Ragucci, a former cop and longtime mayor of Oakbrook Terrace, was charged with taking cash to allow SafeSpeed cameras into his town. Ragucci is cooperating, and sources have told the Tribune that new charges against others in the investigation are were expected soon. At Prestas sentencing hearing Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Durkin asked for two years in prison, saying the mayors actions have added another black eye to the Chicago area, where political corruption is endemic Advertisement Presta also doubled down on his wrongdoing after he was confronted by FBI agents with video of him taking the money from Maani. Instead of coming clean, Presta lied and said there was nothing in the envelope. He didnt acknowledge his errors, Durkin, who is not related to the judge, wrote in a recent sentencing memo. He lied to save himself. In asking for probation, Prestas attorney, Thomas Breen, said that Presta was a wonderful human being whod admitted his mistakes but otherwise was pure as driven snow. He should be an example for political figures, Breen said, noting Presta has lived an otherwise law-abiding life, including more than 30 years as an elected official in Crestwood, first as a trustee and later as mayor. Breen wrote in a recent court filing that a custodial sentence was unnecessary for Presta, who suffers from various health ailments and has already lost his career and embarrassed himself. Louis is ashamed because his actions in this case are an aberration to his esteemed life, Breen wrote. He cannot forgive himself, and knows that he caused the town he loves, Crestwood, to be bruised again by scandal. Advertisement Prosecutors, however, noted that Prestas actions were not a momentary lapse in judgment, and that the ease with which he accepted this bribe is both troubling and telling. In fact, months before he even took the bribe, Presta solicited campaign donations from Maani during his unsuccessful run for county commissioner. The two agreed to disguise payment from Maani by having him pay cash to cover an invoice from an advertising firm, according to his plea agreement. When later discussing the plan on the phone, Presta said, I thought that maybe you were worried about giving me money. I thought maybe you could pay part of a bill there, according to the plea. The next day, Maani met with Presta and agreed to give him $4,100 in cash to cover the invoice. Both men understood the payment was in exchange for Prestas help in making sure SafeSpeeds red-light camera revenue would continue to creep up higher, the plea stated. During one recorded phone call with Maani before taking the bribe, Presta touted a recent increase in violations, saying, Were starting to get the numbers again. You got a new sheriff in town, according to the plea. On March 7, 2018, Presta met with Maani, who gave the mayor the envelope containing $5,000 in cash and asked for his help obtaining a second red-light camera location in Crestwood. Presta accepted the envelope and said he would do my best for you, according to the plea. Advertisement After the bribe was paid, Maani asked Presta to keep quiet about the money. Oh no. Im glad nobody else is here. I cant even put it in the bank, Presta replied, according to the plea. Among the politicians ensnared in the same probe was former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, who pleaded guilty and was cooperating with authorities when he died from COVID-19 complications in 2020. Also charged were longtime Democratic operative Patrick Doherty and former Illinois state representative and Worth Township Supervisor John OSullivan. Doherty has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. OSullivan has pleaded guilty but has yet to be sentenced. Maani, meanwhile, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors after he wore a wire for federal investigators. Neither SafeSpeed nor any of its current owners has been charged with wrongdoing. CEO Nikki Zollar has said Maani was acting without the companys knowledge. Advertisement In a statement emailed after Prestas sentencing hearing Monday, SafeSpeed said the company remains both shocked and saddened that one of its former colleagues was engaged in criminal conduct and recruited outside individuals to help further his self-serving activities. SafeSpeed remains committed to continuing to assist Illinois municipalities in improving traffic safety, the email read. SafeSpeed fully supports the federal governments investigation into public corruption and will continue to aid their efforts in any way it can. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Illustration of the planet Venus and the phosphine molecule, made up of one phosphorus and three hydrogen atoms. Phosphine is considered a bioindicator, that is, a possible indicator of biological activity. Credit: Danielle Futselaar Even in our cosmic backyard, the solar system, many questions remain open. On Venus there are formations similar to volcanoes, but it is not known if they are active. The surface of Mars suggests that there was once a vast ocean, but how it disappeared remains unclear. On the other hand, recent detections of chemical compounds that may indicate the presence of biological activity on Mars and Venus, so-called biosignatures, keep the search for life outside Earth alive. The answers may lie in the analysis of the light that reaches us from these planets, through the "fingerprints" that the molecules leave in the spectrum of that light. In the study now published in Atmosphere, researchers from the Instituto de Astrofisica e Ciencias do Espaco (Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Portugal) compared simulations obtained with the Planetary Spectrum Generator (PSG), a planetary spectrum simulator, with observations of infrared light from the planets Venus, Mars and Jupiter. Using PSG, developed by NASA, the team was able to explain the results of some observations and conclude that this simulator is an effective tool for studying the abundances of chemical compounds present in small amounts in planetary atmospheres. One of the chemical compounds analyzed, methane, may originate from both biological activity and geological processes. That's why its elusive presence on Mars, with detection by the Mars Express spacecraft and the absence of detection by the ExoMars TGO spacecraft, remains a mystery. "By varying the parameters of our simulations, we were able to explain this detection and non-detection of methane on Mars and understand the conditions and locations in which they can occur. This is an important step towards clarifying the association of methane on Mars with the possible existence of life," explains Pedro Machado (IA & Ciencias ULisboa), co-author of this study. Geological evidence on Mars that suggests the presence of liquid water in the past. Credit: NASA Another unknown on the red planet, also of great interest to the scientific field of the search for life outside Earth, astrobiology, is the fate of most of its water. Evidence suggests that this once flowed in abundance on the planet, and that much of the northern hemisphere was once a vast ocean. Today, Mars is an icy desert. "Knowing the ratio between two variants of hydrogen, the deuterium isotope and simple hydrogen, helps us understand the temporal evolution of water on Mars. Deuterium is a heavy hydrogen atom, its nucleus contains one more neutron, so water, H 2 O, made up of a deuterium atom and a hydrogen atom, HDO, is heavier and will escape into space with more difficulty. Comparison of this ratio at a global and local level on Mars, possible with this study, gives us valuable information about the fate of Martian water," explains Joao Dias (IA & Ciencias ULisboa), lead author of this study. Also included in this study, phosphine can be spontaneously produced in high pressure and temperature environments in the presence of phosphorus and hydrogen, the two chemical elements that constitute it. "This is what happens on Jupiter, with phosphine being one of those responsible for the colorful bands in the atmosphere of this gas giant," explains Pedro Machado, "but on a rocky planet, like Earth, where these extreme conditions do not exist, its presence is associated with biological activity." Crater in the Sirenum Fossae region on Mars, showing evidence of past water runoff. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona So, when in 2020 a study identified phosphine in the clouds of Venus, the scientific community turned its attention to this planet. "Further studies carried out under other conditions showed that phosphine may not be present after all or be present in much smaller amounts than initially identified, something that we were also able to reproduce," adds Pedro Machado. Still on Venus, "sulfur dioxide is very important for us to know if there is volcanic activity. By precisely determining the abundance of this compound at different altitudes, as we have shown to be possible with PSG, we will be able to conclude about its origin," adds Joao Dias. "This work is of great importance for space missions that are now being developed, such as EnVision, Ariel, and Mars Express, from the European Space Agency (ESA), in which IA is involved, by telling us the expected values for these chemical components and allowing the instruments that are being designed for these missions to be optimized to detect within the range of expected values," says Pedro Machado, who is a co-investigator of these missions. Illustration of Mars 4.5 million years ago showing a vast ocean in the northern hemisphere. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Rex "In particular, missions like Ariel, which will study the atmospheres of planets orbiting stars other than the Sun, exoplanets, benefit greatly from this type of solar system studies, which can serve as a model for what we hope to be able to observe outside the solar system," adds Joao Dias. "This demonstration of the effectiveness of PSG is very important for the scientific community, and the IA is at the forefront of these studies by including in its Planetary Systems team specialists both in the study of the atmospheres of planets in the solar system and in the detection and characterization of exoplanets," says Pedro Machado. Explore further Exploring the secret of Venus that may be hidden in the heat of the night More information: Joao A. Dias et al, From Atmospheric Evolution to the Search of Species of Astrobiological Interest in the Solar SystemCase Studies Using the Planetary Spectrum Generator, Atmosphere (2022). Joao A. Dias et al, From Atmospheric Evolution to the Search of Species of Astrobiological Interest in the Solar SystemCase Studies Using the Planetary Spectrum Generator,(2022). DOI: 10.3390/atmos13030461 Provided by University of Lisbon TAS and light-induced electron paramagnetic resonance studies of the catalyst. a, Time-resolved transient absorption spectra of the CuFeS 2 catalyst showing the optical density difference (OD) as a function of wavelength at various time delays. b, Transient dynamics of the CuFeS 2 PIA at 590 nm and photobleaching (PB) at 910 nm. c, Schematic representation of energy level diagrams of CuFeS 2 and hydrazine. LUMO, lowest occupied molecular orbital. d, The photoexcited intermediate specie of the catalyst with hydrazine, in accordance with hydrazines oxidation by transferring electrons from its HOMO to the energy-matching photogenerated holes in the valence band of CuFeS 2 (c). e, The emergence of the three-electron reduction intermediate of nitrobenzene upon light irradiation. Credit: Nature Nanotechnology (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41565-022-01087-3 A team of researchers affiliated with entities in the Czech Republic, Greece and Germany has developed a way to reduce nitroarenes to amines that does not produce toxic reagents and does not involve extreme conditions. They've published their results in Nature Nanotechnology. Reducing nitroarenes to amines is a common procedure in commercial applicationsit is part of the process involved in creating such products as polymers, plastics and paint. The current reduction method requires processing at temperatures as high as 100 degrees Celsius, the use of noble metal catalysts, and hydrogen gas under high pressure. Such conditions have led scientists to look for other ways to get the job done. One promising approach involves the use of plasmonic interactions. In this new effort, the researchers expand on this research. The reduction process they developed starts with chalcopyrite nanocrystals with plasmon resonance similar to gold nanoparticles. The nanocrystals are not only less expensive, the researchers note, but they also have improved catalytic properties. The result is an increase in electron-hole pairs. In their process, the reactants are absorbed by the nanocrystals. Next, the researchers added the crystals to a hydrazine and nitrobenzene solution and then bombarded the results with blue light for two hours. The hydrazine reduced the nitrobenzene to aniline with a 100% yield. The researchers also note that the process was carried out at room temperature, though the reaction did increase the temperature of the solution from 25 degrees to 58 degrees Celsius, which sped up the reaction. It also does not produce toxic reagents. And finally, it involves the use of copper iron sulfide, which is easily obtainable. The researchers note that their process delivered turnover frequencies that were unattainable in other reactions and that it has an order of magnitude reduced cost-normalized rate for selectively reducing nitroarenes. Explore further Nanocrystals made from amalgam of two metals More information: Aby Cheruvathoor Poulose et al, Fast and selective reduction of nitroarenes under visible light with an earth-abundant plasmonic photocatalyst, Nature Nanotechnology (2022). Journal information: Nature Nanotechnology Aby Cheruvathoor Poulose et al, Fast and selective reduction of nitroarenes under visible light with an earth-abundant plasmonic photocatalyst,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41565-022-01087-3 2022 Science X Network UM researcher Will Rice led a study that found the National Park System online campground reservation system favors higher-income white campers. Credit: Andy Kemmis, University of Montana University of Montana Assistant Professor Will Rice is a self-avowed "campground nerd." Spring signals the start of high season for campers and Ricehe is of the tenting ilk, more than the motorhomelooks forward to getting out into the great outdoors. But camping is more than Rice's avocation it's also his vocation, and as a researcher in outdoor recreation and wildland management, he studies the science and art of camping, including how campers actually pick their campsites and the seismic changes taking place in U.S. national parks due to COVID-19. That research, conducted with colleagues around the country and at the W. A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, has found a park system strained by the exploding popularity of outdoor recreation and struggling to find ways to balance park protection with equitable access to all. As Rice puts his work: "We are studying people trying to have fun to make sure they, and everyone else, can keep having fun or start having fun, without destroying the things that allow them to have fun. That sounds simple, but it turns out this is an incredibly complex puzzleand one that is incredibly important to Montana and our nation's economy." In March, Rice, along with UM Associate Professor Jennifer Thomsen and graduate students Jaclyn Rushing and Peter Whitney, released their latest study, which digs deeper into the issue of online camping reservations systems and their impact on the demographics of national park campers. "There is a massive push right now to go to online reservation systems," said Rice, noting that two areas of Glacier National Park are now online for the first time. "It's just more efficient for the park agency." Efficient, perhaps, but not without unintended consequences, his team's research found. Using federal camping data and mobile device location technologywith funding secured from UM's Center for Population Health ResearchRice was able to more closely correlate the ethnicity and income of campers with their ability to access campground sites. The research looked at five national park campgrounds across the country that offered campsites both through the park system's reservation platform, Recreation.gov, and on a first-come, first-served basis. The analysis found that on average campers accessing sites that require reservations came from areas with significantly higher portions of white residency and higher-incomes than those accessing sites not requiring reservations. The reasons for these outcomes are many, Rice said, and are based on everything from technology to workforce dynamics. "To use these systems you need high-speed internet, which can be a problem for some campersparticularly in remote places like we have in Montana," he explained. "You also need flexibility to plan your trip for six months from now. People with lower-income jobs often don't have the ability to set vacations that far in advance." Success in securing the site also requires a level of institutional knowledge on how the system works, which can lead to fewer novice campers landing coveted sites, he said. Within the past few years, these disparities were further exasperated by the rise of startups that can, at a cost, alert customers the moment a campsite becomes available. Rice said these findings add much-needed research to a growing conversation around inequitable accessibility to National Park Service campgroundsa phenomena as old as the park system itself. "There has always been an aspect of exclusivity to the national parks," Rice said, noting campgrounds were conceptualized by the leisure class to emulate the suburbs. "And to a large degree they remain exclusionary." Still, he adds, as overall numbers of campers grow, so too has the representation of campers of various ethnic groups. Participation in outdoor activities, while not representative of the overall population percentages, has grown among Blacks and Hispanics in the past few years in particular. Rice calls the demographic change a "camping bright spot." So how does the National Park Service preserve what makes parks "natural" while keeping them accessible to all? "We can't use tools employed in the private sector. We simply can't raise prices as they do in the hospitality industry," Rice said. "It's a super-wicked problem." One possibility, now used in some Yosemite campgrounds, is a lottery system for long-term reservations and on a daily basis. "We're hoping for funding at UM to look deeper into lottery system to see if it works," Rice said. As a tent guy, Rice said he prefers dispersed camping but realizes that "sometimes you want a toilet" and is hoping solutions for everyone who shares his love of camping can be found in the near future. He grins when asked if, what with his inside track on the industry, he has a secret list of easily accessible camp spots. He does and shares one. "I like Death Valley National Park," he said of one of the hottest places on Earth. "But not a ton of people want to go there." Explore further Research reveals why people pick certain campsites More information: Exclusionary Effects of Campsite Allocation through Reservations in U.S. National Parks: Evidence from Mobile Device Location Data, Journal of Park and Recreation Administration (2022). Exclusionary Effects of Campsite Allocation through Reservations in U.S. National Parks: Evidence from Mobile Device Location Data,(2022). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359329284_Exclusionary_Effects_of_Campsite_Allocation_through_Reservations_in_US_National_Parks_Evidence_from_Mobile_Device_Location_Data A lifesize cast of T. rex in the atrium of UC Berkeley's Valley Life Sciences Building shows how peculiarly short the dinosaur's forearms were, given that the creature was the most ferocious predator of its day. Credit: Peg Skorpinski Over the two decades paleontologist Kevin Padian taught a freshman seminar called The Age of Dinosaurs, one question asked frequently by undergraduates stuck with him: Why are the arms of Tyrannosaurus rex so ridiculously short? He would usually list a range of paleontologists' proposed hypothesesfor mating, for holding or stabbing prey, for tipping over a Triceratopsbut his students, usually staring a lifesize replica in the face, remained dubious. Padian's usual answer was, "No one knows." But he also suspected that scholars who had proposed a solution to the conundrum came at it from the wrong perspective. Rather than asking what the T. rex's short arms evolved to do, Padian said, the question should be what benefit those arms were for the whole animal. In a paper appearing in the current issue of the journal Acta Palaeontologia Polonica, Padian floats a new hypothesis: The T. rex's arms shrank in length to prevent accidental or intentional amputation when a pack of T. rexes descended on a carcass with their massive heads and bone-crushing teeth. A 45-foot-long T. rex, for example, might have had a 5-foot-long skull, but arms only 3 feet longthe equivalent of a 6-foot human with 5-inch arms. "What if several adult tyrannosaurs converged on a carcass? You have a bunch of massive skulls, with incredibly powerful jaws and teeth, ripping and chomping down flesh and bone right next to you. What if your friend there thinks you're getting a little too close? They might warn you away by severing your arm," said Padian, distinguished emeritus professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and a curator at the UC Museum of Paleontology (UCMP). "So, it could be a benefit to reduce the forelimbs, since you're not using them in predation anyway." Severe bite wounds can cause infection, hemorrhaging, shock and eventual death, he said. Padian noted that the predecessors of tyrannosaurids had longer arms, so there must have been a reason that they became reduced in both size and joint mobility. This would have affected not only T. rex, which lived in North America at the end of the Cretaceous period, he said, but the African and South American abelisaurids from the mid-Cretaceous and the carcharodontosaurids, which ranged across Europe and Asia in the Early and Mid-Cretaceous periods and were even bigger than T. rex. "All of the ideas that have been put forward about this are either untested or impossible because they can't work," Padian said. "And none of the hypotheses explain why the arms would get smallerthe best they could do is explain why they would maintain the small size. And in every case, all of the proposed functions would have been much more effective if the arms had not been reduced." He admitted that any hypothesis, including his, will be hard to substantiate 66 million years after the last T. rex became extinct. Arms and the T. rex When the great dinosaur hunter Barnum Brown discovered the first T. rex fossils in 1900, he thought the arms were too small to be part of the skeleton. His colleague, Henry Fairfield Osborn, who described and named T. rex, hypothesized that the short arms might have been "pectoral claspers"limbs that hold the female in place during copulation. This is analogous to some sharks and rays' pelvic claspers, which are modified fins. But Osborn provided no evidence, and Padian noted that the T. rex's arms are too short to go around another T. rex and certainly too weak to exert any control over a mate. Over more than a century, other proposed explanations for the short arms included waving for mate attraction or social signaling, serving as an anchor to allow T. rex to get up from the ground, holding down prey, stabbing enemies, and even pushing over a sleeping Triceratops at night. Think cow-tipping, Padian said. And some paleontologists propose that the arms had no function at all, so we shouldn't be concerned with them. Padian approached the question from a different perspective, asking what benefit shorter arms might have for the animal's survival. The answer came to him after other paleontologists unearthed evidence that some tyrannosaurids hunted in packs, not singly, as depicted in many paintings and dioramas. "Several important quarry sites unearthed in the past 20 years preserve adult and juvenile tyrannosaurs together," he said. "We can't really assume that they lived together or even died together. We only know that they were buried together. But when you find several sites with the same animals, that's a stronger signal. And the possibility, which other researchers have already raised, is that they were hunting in groups." Perhaps, he thought, the arms shrank to get out of the way during pack feeding. T. rex youngsters, in particular, would have been wise to wait until the larger adults were finished. In his new paper, Padian examines speculations by other paleontologists, none of which appear to have been fully tested. The first thing he determined, by measuring the lifesize T. rex cast that dominates the atrium outside the doors of the UCMP, is that none of the hypotheses would actually work. "The arms are simply too short," he said. "They can't touch each other, they can't reach the mouth, and their mobility is so limited that they can't stretch very far, either forward or upward. The enormous head and neck are way out in front of them and pretty much form the kind of death machine you saw in 'Jurassic Park.'" Twenty years ago, two paleontologists analyzed the arms and hypothesized that T. rex could have bench pressed about 400 pounds with its arms. "But the thing is, it can't get close enough to anything to pick it up," Padian said. Beware of Komodo dragons Padian's hypothesis has analogies in some fearsome animals today. The giant Komodo Dragon lizard (Varanus komodoensis) of Indonesia hunts in groups, and when it kills prey, the larger dragons converge on the carcass and leave the remains for the smaller ones. Maulings can occur, as they do among crocodiles during feeding. The same could be true of T. rex and other tyrannosaurids, which first appeared in the Late Jurassic and reached their peak in the Late Cretaceous before becoming extinct. Firmly establishing the hypothesis may never be possible, Padian said, but a correlation could be found if museum specimens around the world were checked for bite marks. That would be quite a feat of fossil crowdsourcing, he admitted. "Bite wounds on the skull and other parts of the skeleton are well known in tyrannosaurs and other carnivorous dinosaurs," he said. "If fewer bite marks were found on the reduced limbs, it could be a sign that reduction worked." But Padian has no illusion that his idea will be the end of the story. "What I first wanted to do was to establish that the prevailing functional ideas simply don't work," he said. "That gets us back to square one. Then, we can take an integrative approach, thinking about social organization, feeding behavior and ecological factors apart from purely mechanical considerations." One problem in establishing the hypothesis is that there were several groups of large carnivorous dinosaurs that independently reduced their forelimbs, although in different ways. "The sizes and proportions of the limb bones in these groups are different, but so are other aspects of their skeletons," Padian said. "We shouldn't expect them to be reduced in the same way. This is also true for the reduced wings of our large, living, flightless ratite birds, like the ostrich, the emu and the rhea. They evidently took different evolutionary paths for their own reasons." Padian sees a common thread in the history of explanations of short arms and other characteristics of T. rex. "To me, this study of what the arms did is interesting because of how we tell stories in science and what qualifies as an explanation," he said. "We tell a lot of stories like this about possible functions of T. rex because it's an interesting problem. But are we really looking at the problem the right way?" Padian's paper is part of a Festschift honoring mammalian paleontologist Richard Cifelli, long-time head of the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Presidential Professor of Biology at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. More information: Kevin Padian, Why tyrannosaur forelimbs were so short: an integrative hypothesis, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica (2022). Journal information: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica Kevin Padian, Why tyrannosaur forelimbs were so short: an integrative hypothesis,(2022). DOI: 10.4202/app.00921.2021 Nicole Yunger Halpern with an illustration of a steampunk quantum engine that shes working on with Massachusetts-based artist Bruce Rosenbaum. Credit: Caitlin McDermott-Murphy What do quantum computers have to do with smog-filled London streets, flying submarines, waistcoats, petticoats, Sherlock Holmesian mysteries, and brass goggles? A whole lot, according to Nicole Yunger Halpern. Last week, the theoretical physicist joined Jacob Barandes, co-director of graduate studies for physics, to discuss her new book, "Quantum Steampunk: The Physics of Yesterday's Tomorrow." In it, Yunger Halpern dissects a new branch of sciencequantum thermodynamics, or quantum steampunk as she calls itby fusing steampunk fiction with nonfiction and Victorian-era thermodynamics (the heat and energy that gets steam engines pumping) with quantum physics. Yunger Halpern presents a whimsical lens through which readers can watch a "scientific revolution that's happening in real time," Barandes said, exploring mysteries even Holmes couldn't hope to solve, such as why time flows in only one direction. "This fusion of old and new creates a wonderful sense of nostalgia and adventure, romance and exploration," Yunger Halpern said during a virtual Harvard Science Book Talk presented by the University's Division of Science, Cabot Science Library, and Harvard Book Store. In steampunk, she continued, "fans dress up in costumes full of top hats and goggles and gears and gather at conventions. What they dream, I have the immense privilege of having the opportunity to live." Yunger Halpern, a fellow of the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science and an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Maryland, uses steampunk, which marries Victorian style and futuristic technology, to introduce readers to the complex and fantastical world of quantum thermodynamics. The new field merges quantum physics, information science, and energy science to study new ways to power cars, charge batteries, encrypt information, and cool quantum computers. "How can we extend the Victorian theory of thermodynamics from large everyday-type systems, such as steam engines, to small quantum and information-processing systems?" Yunger Halpern asked, and then answered: "We reach back to the past and head to the future." To guide their conversation, Barandes focused on Yunger Halpern's ability to explain dense quantum concepts with whimsy. While "Quantum Steampunk" is mostly nonfiction, Yunger Halpern introduces each chapter with a steampunk-style fictional tale, featuring characters with names like Audrey and Baxter. These aren't just Victorian-era scientific renegades flying around in dirigibles and tinkering with time machines; they're the steampunk versions of Alice and Bobaliases scientists commonly give to quantum particles to make their behaviors easier to describe. To introduce her field's many abstract definitions, Yunger Halpern created a menagerie of metaphors. For example, she compares weak quantum measurementsused to examine a quantum system without disturbing itto a hummingbird "that alights very softly on your shoulder," Yunger Halpern said. Credit: Harvard University For the integral concept of entropy, Yunger Halpern relied on yet another birdEdgar Allan Poe's raven, to be exact. Entropy is, very simply, a measure of uncertainty. In the very small realm of quantum physics, scientists must disentangle more entropies, or uncertainties, to exert control over quantum particles. In larger systems with more particles, like steam engines, fewer and fewer entropies matter. "It reminded me of a portion of "The Raven,'" Yunger Halpern said, before leaping into a recitation of several stanzas of Poe's famous poem. "All his dreams, nightmares, fears, and horrors collapsed onto this one raven," she said. "That is perhaps an out-there way of saying that all of these quantum entropies collapse onto just one in conventional thermodynamics." Before asking his next question, Barandes leapt in to pick up where Yunger Halpern left off, reciting another stanza of "The Raven" with almost quantum speed. ("My wife is rolling her eyes," he said when, at the discussion's conclusion, Yunger Halpern proposed they partner up on a longer recitation for Poetry Month.) Barandes also asked Yunger Halpern to speculate about the future of quantum computers and when they might go global. Such machines can do more for less, Yunger Halpern said, meaning they can compute far more complex problems, faster, and with fewer resources than classic computers. Earlier in her talk, Yunger Halpern showed a photo of a modern-day quantum computer which, like a good steampunk machine, looked like a meticulous web of delicate metals. But that contraption, she explained, was just the computer's refrigerator; the quantum computer was a tiny, vulnerable chip positioned in the center, like the crown jewels in the Tower of London. While still a few decades away, Yunger Halpern said quantum computers could decode traffic flows or near-impenetrable encryption. But, she said, "not all problems are well-suited for quantum computers. For instance, I don't recommend doing your taxes on one." And while she doesn't foresee one of these analytical behemoths in every home office, she acknowledged that today's physicists have made discoveries that the founders of quantum theory thought impossible. "I really hope," Yunger Halpern said, "that quantum computers enhance our lives in ways we can't imagine today." Or, to borrow from Poe's Victorian verse she'd recited minutes before: "I stood there dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." Explore further Research group proves quantum complexity grows linearly for an exponentially long time This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. Credit: Shutterstock/Vadim Sadovski Volcanic activity beneath the surface of Mars could be responsible for triggering repetitive Marsquakes, which are similar to earthquakes, in a specific region of the Red Planet, researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) suggest. New research published in Nature Communications shows scientists from ANU and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing have discovered 47 previously undetected Marsquakes beneath the Martian crust in an area called Cerberus Fossaea seismically active region on Mars that is less than 20 million years old. The authors of the study speculate that magma activity in the Martian mantle, which is the inner layer of Mars sandwiched between the crust and the core, is the cause of these newly detected Marsquakes. The findings suggest magma in the Martian mantle is still active and is responsible for the volcanic Marsquakes, contrary to past beliefs held by scientists that these events are caused by Martian tectonic forces. According to geophysicist and co-author Professor Hrvoje Tkalcic, from the ANU Research School of Earth Sciences, the repetitive nature of these quakes and the fact they were all detected in the same area of the planet suggests Mars is more seismically active than scientists previously thought. "We found that these Marsquakes repeatedly occurred at all times of the Martian day, whereas Marsquakes detected and reported by NASA in the past appeared to have occurred only during the dead of night when the planet is quieter," Professor Tkalcic said. "Therefore, we can assume that the movement of molten rock in the Martian mantle is the trigger for these 47 newly detected Marsquakes beneath the Cerberus Fossae region." Professor Tkalcic said the continuous seismicity suggests the Cerberus Fossae region on Mars is "seismically highly active." "Knowing that the Martian mantle is still active is crucial to our understanding of how Mars evolved as a planet," he said. "It can help us answer fundamental questions about the solar system and the state of Mars' core, mantle and the evolution of its currently-lacking magnetic field." The researchers used data collected from a seismometer attached to NASA's InSight lander, which has been collecting data about Marsquakes, Martian weather and the planet's interior since landing on Mars in 2018. Using a unique algorithm, the researchers were able to apply their techniques to the NASA data to detect the 47 previously undiscovered Marsquakes. The study authors say while the quakes would have caused some shaking on Mars, the seismic events were relatively small in magnitude and would barely be felt if they had occurred on Earth. The quakes were detected over a period of about 350 solsa term used to refer to one solar day on Marswhich is equivalent to about 359 days on Earth. According to Professor Tkalcic, the Marsquake findings could help scientists figure out why the Red Planet no longer has a magnetic field. "The Marsquakes indirectly help us understand whether convection is occurring inside of the planet's interior, and if this convection is happening, which it looks like it is based off our findings, then there must be another mechanism at play that is preventing a magnetic field from developing on Mars," he said. "All life on Earth is possible because of the Earth's magnetic field and its ability to shield us from cosmic radiation, so without a magnetic field life as we know it simply wouldn't be possible. "Therefore, understanding Mars' magnetic field, how it evolved, and at which stage of the planet's history it stopped is obviously important for future missions and is critical if scientists one day hope to establish human life on Mars." Explore further NASA's InSight detects two sizable quakes on Mars More information: Weijia Sun et al, Repetitive marsquakes in Martian upper mantle, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Weijia Sun et al, Repetitive marsquakes in Martian upper mantle,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29329-x The state is set to get to work on protecting its waters from aquatic invasive species. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the state Canal Corporation announced on March 24 a comprehensive effort to take action against the potential spread of the round goby to the Lake Champlain Basin. This announcement comes after the discovery of round goby in the Hudson River near Troy in July 2021. The round goby is a small fish that preys on the eggs and the young of fish native to the area they find themselves in. The fish is native to southeastern Europe. The DEC lists the fish as a prohibited invasive species in the New York Code of Rules and Regulations. Stu Gruskin, chief conservation and external affairs officer with the Nature Conservancy in New York, has described the round goby as a prolific breeder that takes over the native habitat of a body of water. In a news release, he thanked the DEC and Canal Corporation, under the leadership of Gov. Kathy Hochul, for recognizing the need to respond. The measures announced today will help determine the necessary protective action to prevent the round goby from reaching the lake and causing irreversible harm to the local economy, recreation and native wildlife and fisheries, Gruskin said. The DEC and Canal Corporation announced that they are taking action in coordination with Canada, Vermont and other stakeholders. Immediate and ongoing field research on the Champlain Canal will occur in coordination with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, as well as at other locations in the Hudson River watershed. The effort, which will launch this month, will help determine the extent of round goby spread in the canal system. It will also provide the necessary data to guide response efforts, according to a news release from the DEC. Actions will also include implementing immediate risk reduction strategies, assessing mid-term protection strategies, launching a coordinated public education campaign, developing rapid response plans and evaluating the economic and ecological impacts of round goby. The DEC and Canal Corporation will develop a rapid response plan to identify appropriate steps to take if round goby is discovered to enter the Champlain Canal. The plan will take effect prior to the opening of the canal system, which is scheduled to happen on May 20. Brian Stratton, the director of the Canal Corporation, said that the goal is to ensure that the canal system helps put any necessary steps into action. He urged those who use the canal to pay attention to the results of the actions being taken. We ask users and stakeholders for their patience and encourage them to learn how they can assist in mitigating the spread of aquatic invasives species to ensure the canals resiliency for generations to come, he said. Initially, the Nature Conservancy and others had proposed the closure of a lock along the Champlain Canal until a permanent solution could be realized. That is not included in the current plans. Shaun Gillilland, Wilsboro town supervisor and chairman of the Essex County Board of Supervisors, said he was pleased with the DEC and Canal Corporation moving forward and acknowledging the issue. He said it is an urgent issue, and noted that the plan is a compromise. I hope it comes to the same outcome, Gillilland said. Its probably a less than ideal course of action, but they do recognize the problem. He acknowledged that there is competing interests. He said that there are people who want boat passage throughout the canal. Gruskin said that it is great that the problem posed by round goby is being acknowledged. But he noted that the plan is untested as far as he can tell. He said that the DEC and Canal Corporation have an obligation to any information and data collected in real time. Its pretty much universally acknowledged that maintaining a barrier is the most effective step in this kind of circumstance, Gruskin said. Well just watch very carefully what theyre doing. Jay Mullen is a reporter for The Post-Star covering the city of Glens Falls, Warren County and crime and courts. You can reach him at 518-742-3224 or jmullen@poststar.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan departs from his lawyers' office, March 9, 2022, after making his first virtual court appearance for his indictment. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) An attorney for former House Speaker Michael Madigan said Friday his team will need to review millions and millions of documents over the next several months before deciding on any pretrial motions to be filed in the bombshell racketeering case. The comment came during a brief status hearing before U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey, the first since Madigan and his longtime confidant, Michael McClain, were charged in an indictment with a yearslong corruption scheme that allegedly leveraged Madigans elected office and political power for personal gain. Advertisement Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu told the judge his office had already turned over a quite voluminous batch of discovery materials to the defense, and that another large production would be made by the end of the month. Madigans lead attorney, Sheldon Zenner, said the amount of material would likely keep his team busy for months and that extra time to decide on a motions schedule would be warranted. Advertisement Blakey agreed, setting the next status hearing for Aug. 2. Madigans appearance was waived for that hearing, as it was for Fridays proceedings. Madigan, 79, and McClain, 74, were charged last month in a 22-count indictment alleging they conspired to participate an array of bribery and extortion schemes from 2011 to 2019, including a plot to steer payments from Commonwealth Edison to member of Madigans vast political operation in exchange for the speakers help with legislation in Springfield. Mike McClain in the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield in 2010. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) The indictment also accused Madigan of illegally soliciting business for his private property tax law firm during discussions to turn a state-owned parcel of land in Chinatown into a commercial development. Though the land deal never was consummated, its been a source of continued interest for federal investigators, who in 2020 subpoenaed Madigans office for records and communications hed had with key players. Both Madigan and McClain have pleaded not guilty. Their attorneys have accused prosecutors of trying to criminalize legal political actions such as job recommendations in a quest to bring down the once-powerful speaker. McClain, a former state legislator and lobbyist, is also facing separate charges stemming from the alleged ComEd scheme. That case is set for trial in September. Michael Madigan, ComEd and corruption: Timeline of how the investigation unfolded The long-awaited charges punctuated a stunning downfall for Madigan, the longest serving leader of any legislative chamber in the nation who held an ironclad grip on the state legislature as well as the Democratic Party and its political spoils. He was dethroned as speaker in early 2021 as the investigation swirled around him, and soon after resigned the House seat hed held since 1971. Advertisement During Fridays hearing, Blakey asked prosecutors whether they intended to seek a superseding indictment in the case, which would add more charges and possibly more defendants. Bhachu said he wouldnt be able to speak to that as of Friday. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com rlong@chicagotribune.com After three hours of deliberations Thursday following a six-day trial, a jury found 36-year-old Jamel Carlton, of Saugerties, guilty of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, burglary, aggravated assault and criminal restraint. He is expected to be sentenced in June, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said in a news release. Due to his criminal history, Carlton faces a possible life sentence. He will remain in the Atlantic County jail until his sentencing, the Prosecutors Office said. Atlantic City housekeepers implore lawmakers to pass panic button bill ATLANTIC CITY Every day, resort housekeepers deal with guests who answer their doors naked We are grateful to the jury for seeing this case for what it was, the senseless and brutal sexual assault of a Ballys housekeeper who was just doing her job, Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Flammer said. The victim through the support of her loving family displayed an enormous amount of strength in coming to court to tell the jury what that man did to her. Carlton was arrested Feb. 10, 2018, the day the assault happened. Police said the victim was pushed into a hotel room, where she was sexually and physically assaulted. Carlton, earlier that day, also was charged with assaulting his girlfriend in the hotels parking garage before being released on a summons in that case. Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261, econklin@pressofac.com, Twitter @ACPressConklin Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VENTNOR Susan Berman, owner of Ventnor-based travel agency Berman Travel LLC, will now serve on the Antigua-Barbuda Tourism Authoritys Advisory Board as a U.S. representative, the agency said Friday. Berman has been in business since 2002, having started her agency in Philadelphia. It has won numerous awards, including recognition as a Karisma Resorts G.I. Diamond Agency. Susans extensive knowledge and experience in the travel industry, along with her operating a very successful travel agency for the past 20 years, has made her very well respected in the travel and tourism industry, and we are so fortunate she has accepted this appointment, Dean Fenton, USA Marketing director for the Antigua-Barbuda Tourism Authority, said in a statement Thursday. Susan is a true specialist and a force to be reckoned with, and her expertise will be invaluable as a board member. Susan has visited the Caribbean many times, the organization said in a news release, and can offer detailed travel advice to tourists going to Antigua. I am really honored and excited to be appointed to the eight-member Antigua & Barbuda Travel Agent Advisory Board and look forward to an active role in helping to advance tourism growth to this beautiful Caribbean paradise, Berman said in a statement Friday. Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. TRENTON Most of the members of both the Assembly and Senate health committees are now co-sponsors of legislation to eliminate the casino smoking loophole. A2151 and S264 eliminate the smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. Assemblyman Daniel Benson, D-Mercer, Middlesex, a health committee member, and Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, D-Bergen, Passaic, are signing onto the bill, according to a Thursday news release from Americans for Nonsmokers Rights. The nonprofit is working with other groups to pass the law and eliminate indoor smoking in casinos. We have a responsibility to protect workers from dangerous secondhand smoke everywhere, not just in some workplaces, Benson said. No worker should have to breathe secondhand smoke while on the job, period, Swain said. Bill to eliminate casino smoking continues to gain sponsors Half of the members of the Assembly Health Committee are now co-sponsors of legislation to b A total of 39 legislators are co-sponsoring the legislation. Of 40 New Jersey senators, 15 are co-sponsors of S264. Of 80 New Jersey members of the Assembly, 24 are co-sponsors of A2151. Legislation to protect casino workers from secondhand smoke has never had this much support in Trenton, said Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers Rights. Our growing, bipartisan coalition knows that it is unacceptable to continue the outdated business practice of knowingly subjecting workers to dangerous secondhand smoke. A report commissioned by the Casino Association of New Jersey recently, conducted by gaming research firm Spectrum Gaming Group, found eliminating smoking could cost up to 2,500 casino jobs and nearly 11% of casinos revenue. Smokers account for 21% of Atlantic City gamblers, and tend to lose more money and spend more on nongambling items, according to the report. Joe Lupo, president of the casino association and of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, has said the resort faces some very dire issues, including lower levels of visitors in 2021 than 2019. He has said now is not the time to enact a smoking ban, and that doing so could cause a devastating effect to the community and state. 609-841-2895,mpost@pressofac.com REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Kevin Kotecki, whose career has included stints as president and CEO of ConAgra Refrigerated Foods, Pabst Brewing Company, Brachs Confections Inc., as well as CEO of Wholesome Tea Company, has been appointed the new CEO of Group O in Milan. In a news release issued Thursday by Group O, the company described Kotecki as a visionary leader with a unique combination of skills and accomplishments from both large corporations and entrepreneurial businesses who is expected to continue the growth of Group O built by Gregg Ontiveros, the son of the companys founder Bob Ontiveros, who died in February. Gregg Ontiveros work and interest in emerging technologies has taken Group O from a $49 million company in 1999 to a $900 million multi-faceted enterprise today. As principal owner, Ontiveros will continue to focus his time and talents to building new and existing client relationships. By leading world-class brands like Pabst Brewing Company, Procter and Gamble, Mark Anthony Brands, Brachs, and Coors Brewing Company, Kevin not only brings extensive experience in strategic planning, sales, marketing and operations, but a fresh perspective to a B2B business model, Ontiveros said. Group O is ready to take the business to the next level and is excited to welcome Kevin to our Group O family. Kotecki is a graduate of Rock Island High School and received his bachelor's degree in business administration from University of Iowa and his MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. I have witnessed the companys tremendous growth over the years, driven by exemplary leadership, clever innovation and world class collaboration and teamwork, Kotecki said. I greatly admire the amazing culture that Gregg and Bob Ontiveros have created and nurtured, and am excited to become part of it. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Chicago Tribune and Injustice Watch teamed up to report on the challenges facing Illinois aging undocumented population in a four-part series of stories focused on access to health care and housing. Aging in the shadows: A crisis of older undocumented workers awaits Illinois Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 14 Gregorio Pillado, 79, stands with his medications after arriving home from his job in Chicago on Feb. 25, 2022. At left is his wife, Martina Alonso, 69. Pillado requires medications for heart and blood ailments. Because the two are undocumented immigrants, they are not eligible for social services to alleviate the strain on their living situation. Pillado and Alonso are among of the increasing number of aging undocumented workers in Illinois. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Most undocumented immigrants arrived in the country decades ago and have lived here without a viable pathway to citizenship. Mexican immigrants will make up two-thirds of the undocumented older adult populations in Illinois, followed by immigrants from Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeastern Asia, and Central America. Advertisement Now, this generation of immigrants faces the prospect of having lived and died in the shadows. Undocumented immigrants are blocked from accessing social programs that many seniors rely on, such as food stamps, public housing, Medicare and Social Security Insurance programs that they pay billions of dollars into every year. Their families and communities weave a patchwork of formal and informal resources to make up the difference. >>> Read more here Advertisement >>> Para leer en espanol, haga clic aqui Illinois new health care program for undocumented seniors leaves some of the most vulnerable behind Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 14 Ananias Ocampo, 78, an undocumented street vendor who worked for years pushing an ice cream cart in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, uses a walker for mobility along 18th Street on Dec. 2, 2021. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) More than 9,000 seniors enrolled in the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program in its first year three times as many as advocates had estimated would benefit from the program when they lobbied for the bill in Springfield in spring 2020. But the carve-outs for extended care and at-home health care still leave a critical gap in coverage, health experts say. The numbers (of enrollees) show the need of this population often living under the shadow. It also shows the potential crisis that this can cause if this issue is not addressed by our leaders in the state, but also federally, Erendira Rendon, an organizer with Healthy Illinois, said. >>> Read more here >>> Para leer en espanol, haga clic aqui Chicagos undocumented seniors face slim and dangerous housing options Cipriano, 70, moves through the home he shares with his wife, Lilia, in Chicago on March 24, 2022. They are both undocumented and were forced out of the basement apartment they had lived in for 14 years at the same time that Cipriano's health deteriorated and his leg was amputated. Note: Injustice Watch and the Chicago Tribune agreed to use only their first names because they fear retaliation from immigration authorities. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) With rising costs of living and without a social safety net, undocumented seniors often depend on their families to have a roof over their head. And those without families to take care of them are at high risk of ending up on the street. Burdening their children and families with having care for them in their later years can elicit feelings of shame and guilt in undocumented seniors, said Cecilia Ayon, a public policy analyst at the University of California, Riverside, who recently interviewed dozens of undocumented older adults as part of her research. When it comes to retirement, you have to think about the intersection of how long can they work for and how much of a burden they want to be on their children. Because thats actually how they talked about it they dont want to be a burden on their children, she said. Advertisement >>> Read more here >>> Para leer en espanol, haga clic aqui With Congress gridlocked, advocates say its up to state and local lawmakers to protect the undocumented elderly Janeth Vasquez, left, hugs her mother, Veronica Ortega outside their home in suburban Maywood on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Thanks to Janeth Vazquez, a DACA recipient, her parents were able to buy their own home in Maywood. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Illinois is home to nearly 200,000 undocumented immigrants age 35 to 54, according to census data analyzed by the Migration Policy Institute. That means every year over the next few decades, thousands more undocumented seniors will be working to the bone without being able to retire; in desperate need of immediate and long-term health care; and frantically searching for safe affordable housing. Advocates say Illinois lawmakers should build state-funded welfare programs for undocumented seniors that mirror those already in place for citizens, like food stamps and unemployment insurance. Illinois has taken a similar approach with a new health care program for low-income immigrant adults who dont qualify for traditional Medicaid. >>> Read more here >>> Para leer en espanol, haga clic aqui An Iowa judge has awarded unemployment benefits to an insurance salesman fired from his job after making a political speech that sparked accusations of racism. Nicholas Hansel was working as a salesman for the Arthur J. Gallagher Service Company, a multinational insurance agency with 40,000 employees, when he ran for a seat on the North Scott Community School Board last September. According to state records, the sole reason for Hansels dismissal was a brief public speech he gave in support of his candidacy. The speech, delivered on Sept. 20 near a school building, was delivered on Hansels own time. Although he made no mention of his employment with Gallagher, Hansels job required him to market and sell insurance products within the district and to the school district itself. During the speech, Hansel called for an educational environment free of overt political influence and indoctrination, and he referenced what a judge later described as common Republican talking points on hot-button educational and cultural issues. At one point, Hansel stated that his child was being educated in school on microaggressions, a term that is commonly used to describe subtle or unintentional prejudices demonstrated toward racial or ethnic minorities or groups of various sexual orientation. In a remark that later sparked allegations of racism, Hansel said during his speech: Whatever you want to support, support it. But when you walk into North Scott, I want it to be white. I dont, uh, maybe whites not the best word. I dont want it to be political. If youre left, if youre right, it doesnt matter. I want you to be about academics. During the speech, Hansel also spoke of his children facing difficulties due to their support of former president Donald Trump. Im running because I dont want your children to labeled a Hitler supporter and mine were because they supported Trump, he said. Hansel also made reference to a school board meeting where reverse prejudice was discussed, adding, Leave the LGBT flag and the Trump flag at home. Leave these political agendas and assumptions at home. Immediately after the speech, Hansel was asked to clarify the white comment, and said he used the word to describe political neutrality. I apologize for using the color, he said, adding that the response to his use of the word white spoke to the environment that were in. Are we hyper-sensitive to color? Are we hyper-sensitive to gender? My goodness, thats kind of what weve got to stop. Hansels speech was subsequently uploaded to various social media sites, including Twitter, and became the focus of local television news stories, prompting Hansel to tell WQAD, Im not racist. The speech also generated thousands of comments on social media, and at least a few people contacted Hansels employer to complain. According to state records, Gallaghers branch manager, Chris Behnke, contacted Hansel and told him he was being fired. Hansel reportedly asked whether Behnke was joking, and then asked Behnke whether he had actually heard the speech. Behnke allegedly said that was not important, and reiterated that he had to let Hansel go. Hansel applied for unemployment benefits, which the company challenged. Initially, Iowa Workforce Development denied Hansels claim. He appealed that ruling, and the matter went before Administrative Law Judge James Timberland at a hearing in January. At the hearing, a Gallagher executive conceded Hansels speech was an exercise of free speech, but asserted the speech was also divisive, violated unspecified company policies regarding diversity and inclusion, and violated unspecified policies in the companys code of business conduct. At the hearing, however, company officials were unable to cite any specific policy that was violated. Timberland recently issued a ruling in Hansels favor. He noted that while Hansels comments were the sort that an audience of one political outlook would embrace and another would abhor, the evidence showed he was fired for no reason that would disqualify him from being eligible for unemployment benefits. Hansels speech on schools, Timberland ruled, was constitutionally protected free speech, had no reasonable nexus with the employment, did not constitute misconduct in connection with the employment, and cannot serve as a basis for disqualifying the claimant for unemployment insurance benefits. Hansel lost the election last fall, finishing fifth among six candidates vying for three seats on the school board. Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter. Love 7 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 2 Scott County authorities allege a Chicago man attempted to sexually abuse a person in Bettendorf. Vincent L. Alexander, 51, is charged with assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, according to Scott County court records. Authorities allege the incident happened Aug. 22, 2019, in a home in the 900 block of Hillside Drive. A warrant for Alexanders arrest was issued in July of 2020, according to court records. It was served against him Thursday in the Scott County Jail. He was booked into the jail late Thursday morning after he was arrested by the Davenport Police Department, according to the jail website. He was still in custody early Friday afternoon. Alexanders bond has been set at $2,000 cash. His next court date has been set for April 8. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DES MOINES Public and private education policy, changes to unemployment benefits and crafting the states $8.2 billion budget remain on state lawmakers to-do list as they approach the unofficial target date for adjournment. And there appears to be some significant ground to cover before the Republican-led Iowa House and Iowa Senate reach an agreement on those big remaining issues. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, of Ankeny, and House Speaker Pat Grassley, of New Hartford, on Thursday fielded questions about some of the top issues left to tackle. Whitver said he feels the Senate has passed the bills that accomplish priorities set out for the session by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Senate Republicans, and said it is incumbent upon the House to now follow suit. A lot of those (bills) are in the House at this point. So its just a matter of, are they going to do the governors priorities or not? Whitver said in an interview. The governor rolled out an extremely bold, ambitious, conservative agenda that Republicans should be able to get done. The 100th day of the session, when legislators daily allowance for housing and food expenses expires, is April 19. But legislators can work beyond that date if needed. There are key areas of disagreement between the House and Senate on multiple pieces of significant legislation, perhaps none more so than on K-12 education policy. This week, both chambers passed education bills. But the House narrowly addressed transparency in and parent involvement with school materials and curriculum. The Senate passed a bill that not only addressed those topics, but also proposed a new program where taxpayer funding for public K-12 schools could be used to fund private school tuition assistance of $5,520 apiece for moderate and low-income families. The Senate bill is close to what Reynolds proposed at the outset of the session. The House bill does not contain the private school tuition assistance because, just like in a similar attempt made in 2021, there are not enough House Republicans who support the idea. And Democrats have been unified in opposition. They cut the governor's priority bill in half, Whitver said of House Republicans. So theyve passed half of it, and were kind of waiting on the other half. Grassley signaled Thursday that the sticking point among House Republicans remains concerns from those who represent areas with rural school districts. Many leaders in smaller, more rural districts have expressed concern that the proposal could cause significant issues if it leads to students leaving their schools. Theres some (House Republicans) that just I dont think are going to support it. But theres others that continue to say, We want to work through this process, Grassley told reporters. Were going to continue to see where those similarities are using the governors bill, and where we can get the caucus to, and what level of support that we can find, and obviously ultimately find 51 votes to take a step forward on school choice. The private school tuition assistance program could prove particularly disruptive if Senate and House Republicans fail to reach an agreement. When asked if failure to pass the proposal could delay the sessions end, Whitver said, Its the governors top priority, or one of the top two or three priorities she laid out. So generally in a session, you dont go home unless you address those priorities. Statehouse Republicans are more closely aligned on a proposal to reduce the duration of state unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 16, but holding up agreement is Senate Republicans desire to incorporate a one-week delay before benefits begin. House Republicans have not agreed to that provision. And again, Democrats are united in opposition to the changes. Again, this is the governors priority that we sent to the House exactly as she asked for, and they watered it down, Whitver said. So its a matter of trying to figure out what we can get passed over there in the House. Grassley said the one-week waiting period is a difficult issue on which to compromise. That doesnt have a lot of wiggle room. It either is or it isnt (in the bill), he said. Were continuing to have the conversation with the governors office. Reynolds earlier this week said she continues to hold frequent meetings with legislative leaders with the goal of completing their work and ending the session. We try to communicate all the time. Were all having conversation. Its just part of the process, Reynolds told reporters Wednesday. Were going to sit down and go through (budget bills) as well as the other bills to figure out where we can align and come to some consensus to end the session. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 It was the slap felt round the world. Will Smith, one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, walked onstage and slapped comedian Chris Rock during the 94th Academy Awards. In front of a live, mostly white audience. During a live telecast watched by millions across the globe. It was so outrageous that many people initially thought it was a joke, part of the script. But then Smith returned to his seat and yelled to Rock, Keep my wifes name out of your f------ mouth. Those of us who saw it live were shocked. Toxic masculinity can indeed abruptly show up in shocking, at times violent ways. As a scholar of mens studies, I teach that toxic masculinity is demonstrations of boyhood and manhood that are harmful to oneself and others. In many ways it is a cocktail of the worst behaviors and attitudes a dude can have. It causes him to act without self-control and to perform macho stereotypes. In many instances, it is fueled by presumptions about how men are supposed to act. It is this last feature that was on full display at the Oscars. Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smiths wife, starring in a sequel to the movie G.I. Jane. It was a joke about her appearance. There is a chance that most people interpreted the comment as just that, but I understood it differently. Over this last year, I have watched social media videos of Jada Pinkett Smith talking about struggling with and ultimately coming to terms with her hair loss. Her husband first laughed at the comedians joke. Jada Pinkett Smith, on the other hand, was visibly annoyed. It could be that in a split second, her husband recognized that she felt publicly humiliated by a joke about something that has been so personally painful to her. Here enters the toxic masculinity. Will Smith storms onstage and slaps the man who insulted his wife. I have a spouse whom I deeply love. Honestly, if someone did to him what Rock did to Smiths wife, especially about something I knew was an emotional pain point for him, I would have felt compelled to slap that person, too. I would not have actually done it, though. Undeniably, a better path would have been for Smith to walk onstage, say to Rock, You just hurt my wife, and ask him to please apologize. The ideal first step would have been for Smith to ask his wife what she wanted which maybe he did. Toxic masculinity compels a guy to go immediately into bar fight mode when someone says or does something disrespectful to someone he loves. But what if slapping or fighting someone isnt what the disrespected person wants or needs? Or even if it is, and the person says so, why not take a moment to pursue a range of alternatives to violence? Movies, television shows, video games, other forms of media and messages we have received all our lives have conditioned us men to act in ways that can be violent or otherwise toxic in moments like these. In his acceptance speech for actor in a leading role just a few minutes later, Smith said that he is feeling called to be a protector at this time in his life. I suppose that the act of violence was his way of protecting his wife. The real men are protectors expectation is firmly entrenched in toxic masculinity. Again, as a married man, I get it. I just know that protection doesnt have to be violent. Then there is the aftermath with Rock. Its where toxic masculinity is addressed through restorative justice, another concept that social scientists like me often teach and write about. The most important act of restorative justice in this violent confrontation between two Black men is to ask Rock what would make this situation right for him, then having Smith authentically issue an apology and do all he can to meet Rocks expectations for harm repair. On Monday afternoon, Smith did apologize to Rock on Instagram. Recovering from a lifetime of toxic masculinity requires us men to step back and be incredibly mindful of the myriad ways we have been socialized to handle anger in our interactions with other men, women and genderqueer persons. Thinking honestly about what it is we have been told real men do, and often then doing the opposite. Will Smith is 53 years old, which confirms that toxic masculinity is not about immaturity. It is not a thing that men naturally grow out of. Some of us embody aspects of it our entire lives. Understanding what it is and how it shows up in our attitudes and behaviors might just save us from inflicting harm on ourselves and others. It could have saved Smith from tarnishing one of the most rewarding nights of his career, as he won an Oscar for the first time. Now an unfortunate and avoidable cloud will forever shadow that moment. Shaun Harper is a professor at the University of Southern California and executive director of the USC Race and Equity Center. He is the editor of "College Men and Masculinities." 2022 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 1 Funny 4 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A housing bill signed by Gov. Kristi Noem could provide a significant funding solution for the city of Walls Echo Valley housing project. While the project has been engineered and designed, moving forward with infrastructure is on hold while the city explores funding options, with an estimated budget of $2.4 million for Phase 1 infrastructure. House Bill 1033 could be the answer. The bill, signed on March 25 by Noem, will provide loans and grants to assist with housing infrastructure, which can include water distribution systems, sanitary and storm sewers, streets, and gutters. It authorizes the transfer of $150 million from the states general fund to the South Dakota Housing Opportunity fund. The states Housing Development Authority will administer $100 million in loans and $50 million in grants. The bill will also appropriate an additional $50 million in grants from the American Rescue Plan Act to the Authority for a total of $200 million. According to the bill, loans and grants made available must be designated as 30% for use in municipalities having a population of 50,000 or more and 70% for use in all other areas of the state. The amount may not be greater than one-third of the projects total cost. With the development of an industrial park underway in Wall, housing has become an increasingly timely topic. Expected growth and new businesses from the park have highlighted the need for additional housing, which the Echo Valley Housing Development will help address. The project consists of 24 lots, with over half being labeled as workforce housing. The current census placed Wall at about 700, a number the city expects to increase as a result not only of the industrial park, but also increased school enrollment and overflow from Rapid City and Ellsworth Air Force Base. We could really use the assistance, said Rick Hustead, Wall City Council President and acting mayor. It is exciting. We have a big housing project, Echo Valley, and any funding assistance would be greatly appreciated. Hustead said there are not many lots available in Wall and the city is interested in taking advantage of the bill. Mary Williams, president of the Wall Economic Development Corporation, is excited about the opportunity the bill presents for the city. Housing is a real concern, Williams said. [It] has to come as soon as economically feasible. We have a great plan, and this will help pay for it. Williams emphasized the bills value to small towns, recognizing the unique challenge they face in costs associated with bringing in construction companies. This will make it more affordable for working couples who want to build a home, she said. The bill will go into effect at the end of June, meaning the project will likely go to bid mid-summer, according to City Finance Officer Carolynn Anderson. This will extend the estimated timeline of the project through fall of 2023. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The 45-year-old man accused of first-degree murder told police he did not know Dallas Quick Bear and was not involved in his murder Feb. 20. According to a probable cause affidavit, around 10 a.m. Feb. 20, police received a call stating Timothy Huante was speaking with his girlfriend and told her he remembered having a gun in his possession at one point in the night. That day he told police he didn't know Dallas Quick Bear, the 30-year-old who died after being shot in the head at Teddy's Bar and Nightclub, nor was he directly involved with the murder. Three days later he was interviewed again and admitted to shaking Quick Bear's hand, removing a snub-nose revolver from his waistband, and shooting him in the head. Huante pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge Friday afternoon in front of Judge Matt Brown. Huante could face life in prison without parole and/or a $50,000 penalty. Brown said the State's Attorney's office has not declared if it's seeking the death penalty. Huante appeared in court virtually from the Pennington County Jail. He sat at a table with legal counsel. He was not in chains. The probable cause affidavit states throughout the police department's investigation, a black snub-nose revolver was found stashed on the lift gate of a delivery truck that was parked on the 400 block of Seventh Street at a loading dock. Video footage showed Huante alone near the loading dock and stashing the firearm on the truck. Additional footage from inside and outside Teddy's showed Huante in the bar wearing a white sweatshirt and hat. It also showed him in the immediate area where the shooting occurred. The sweatshirt and hat were later recovered in the snow near the Holiday gas station that Huante said he walked to and called his girlfriend from. Brown set a non-evidentiary motion hearing for 10 a.m. May 25. Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Administrators from Rapid City Area Schools joined officials from local and state government Thursday to break ground on the new South Middle School building. Plans call for the new South Middle School to be 135,000 square feet with a capacity of 800 students. The new building will be located north of the existing school on the same site and will connect to the existing community center. Construction will commence while the current school is still in use. Once the new building is complete, students and staff will move to the facility and the old building will be demolished. The new building will also have the ability to expand student capacity in the future by adding a third level to the classroom wings. Construction on the facility will begin soon, and is expected to be finished by August 2024. Rebuilding South Middle School was a part of a $189 million school bond proposal to deal with many facility issues in the district that failed in 2020. Although 56% of voters supported the bond issue, it failed to garner the required 60% threshold. Because of the ongoing issues at the building, the Board of Education unanimously approved Feb. 15 to move forward with the financing to build the replacement school. To build the replacement building, the school district is planning on using nearly $47.8 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding, up to $5 million from the district's capital outlay fund, and $15 million in financing from an outside firm. At Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony, RCAS Superintendent Dr. Lori Simon said the failure of the 2020 bond issue, coupled with the emergency status of the old building's crumbling infrastructure, caused her staff to look for alternatives. That's when she learned the ESSER funds could be used to construct the replacement school. "When I saw that construction projects were listed as an allowable expense, and as I thought about it, I knew that using these funds for the most significant and long-term impact would be to build a school that was on that school bond list," Simon said. "After receiving the green light from both the federal level and from the Department of Education, we began immediately planning for building this new school. So it truly is exciting to be at this point today and to get this project rolling so that hopefully we're open for the fall 2024 school year." Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden attended Thursday's ceremony and said he was proud of the work put in to get the new South Middle School built. "A project of this magnitude shows a great deal of sacrifice, work, effort and dedication from the community," Rhoden said. "Sixty-eight-and-a-half million dollars is a lot of money, and that's a huge investment and it's a worthy investment for the education of our students." RCAS Facilities Director Kumar Veluswamy said the new building will use the latest in construction techniques and materials to create a facility that will last for decades. "We want to build a facility that is not only beautiful in the neighborhoods, and it's also a best-functioning and maintenance-friendly building," he said. RCAS Board of Education President Kate Thomas said the new building has "been a long-time coming" and thanked district employees for coming together to plan a state-of-the-art building. "I appreciate all of you, and for this community for the support from all of South Dakota, it seems. That's an amazing thing to have," Thomas said. Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. David Krupa, then 19, when he was running for 13th Ward alderman, appears at his attorney's office in Skokie on Dec. 6, 2018. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Despite allegations of using dirty tricks, 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn beat the college kid again this time in federal court. U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger this week dismissed a lawsuit brought by David Krupa, who as a 19-year-old DePaul University student ran an upstart campaign for alderman in 2019 but lost. Krupa in the lawsuit accused Quinn and then-Speaker Michael Madigan of violating his civil rights following the aldermans overly aggressive efforts to keep Krupa off the ballot and defeat him. Advertisement The lawsuit is separate from the federal criminal case filed in March in which Madigan is charged with racketeering and bribery tied to utility giant Commonwealth Edison, a case in which the dethroned Illinois House speaker has pleaded not guilty. Krupas attorney, Tony Peraica, acknowledged in an interview that the lawsuit was an uphill battle and said he did not plan to appeal. A spokeswoman for both Quinn and Madigan said neither had a comment on the ruling. Advertisement In 2019, Quinn defeated Krupa with more than 86% of the vote, but it was the way he allegedly conducted the campaign that became the focus of the suit. Ald. Marty Quinn, 13th, attends the council meeting as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel chairs his first full meeting of the City Council on May 18, 2011. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) Krupa alleged Quinn and Madigan, also the 13th Ward Democratic Organizations committeeman since 1969, conspired to sabotage the college students campaign with a series of edgy tactics, including sending political heavies to harass Krupa while the college student went door to door campaigning. Quinn and Madigan repeatedly denied Krupas allegations, stating in one court filing that Krupas suit was generally false, often defamatory, and periodically delusional. But the political tactic from Quinns team that drew the most attention was the all-out push to get voters to revoke their signatures on Krupas nominating petitions. Krupa called it a sheer fraud. Krupa turned in 1,703 voter signatures on his nominating petitions to get on the ballot, more than three times the 473 signatures required. But the pro-Quinn crew collected statements from 2,796 voters who said they wanted their signatures removed from Krupas petitions. In his ruling on Thursday, Seeger said those working for Quinn overshot the target and noted that only 187 of the 2,796 people who signed the sworn statements were included in Krupas original paperwork. While sympathetic to Krupas plight, Seeger said in his ruling that Quinn and Madigan didnt violate Krupas First and Fourteenth Amendment rights because he still got on the ballot and it didnt cost him any extra money or time. Still, Seeger wrote critically about the pro-Quinn effort. Advertisement Someway somehow, 2,609 people signed something saying that they wanted to revoke signatures on documents that they had never signed, Seeger wrote. On a human level, one can imagine that the political lackeys felt pretty pleased with themselves when they turned in 2,796 signatures from voters that purported to revoke support for Krupa. One can only imagine how they felt when they realized that their attempts to railroad Krupa had gotten them nowhere, the judge continued. It must have been deflating to see 2,609 phony revocations go down the drain. The unusually high number of revocation requests from voters drew scrutiny from a Cook County grand jury, which subpoenaed city election records, but no charges have ever been brought. Then-House Speaker Michael Madigan is seen before the start of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's budget address at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield on Feb. 19, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Its the second time in recent months that Madigan has prevailed in the civil courts over campaign issues. In November, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a long-shot appeal in a federal court case brought by Jason Gonzales, who accused Madigan of putting up sham candidates to help him win the 2016 Democratic primary for the Southwest Side Illinois House seat hed held for decades. Despite Madigan being implicated in ComEds agreement in July 2020 and stepping down as state Democratic chair in February last year, donations continued to flow into the 13th Ward Democratic Organization political fund. A total of $539,869 was given to the ward fund during calendar year 2021, largely from labor unions the most recent contribution was $5,000 from the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers in February of this year. The ward political fund contained $2,526,935 at the start of 2022. Advertisement Chicago Tribunes Rick Pearson contributed. rlong@chicagotribune.com jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. Respect. Etched on the sweatshirt that Anthony Chissell wears to ward off the spring morning cold is that single word that plays an important role in his life. You want to prove to yourself that youre more than what most people have told you, Chissell said. The 25-year-old has known what it feels like to live life without purpose or respect. And thats something hes striving to put behind him. On this day, as snow spits alongside the banks of the West Fork of the Bitterroot River, the young man who grew up in California and South Carolina is working to change his life for the better as part of a group of Trapper Creek Job Corps students learning the skills theyll need on the fire line this summer. Students started arriving at the Trapper Creek Job Corps a couple of months ago following a hiatus in the program created by the pandemic. This past week, a group of about 10 were working through the annual guard school training at the center that offers courses on fire behavior, weather, fire mop-up, and other information needed to obtain the red card required of every wildland firefighter. Chissell is a natural resources Job Corps graduate from a center in Kentucky who was selected for Trapper Creeks advanced firefighting training. I like being in the woods, Chissell said. I like learning about plants and the ground. Ive been wanting to learn about fire for a while. This is definitely a new learning curve for me, but its intriguing. I like hard work and pushing myself to do better." Clint Mendenhall serves as Trapper Creeks assistant hand crew foreman for the centers advanced fire program. Hes spent the past five years seeing young men like Chissell change the course of their lives. We get all walks of life here, Mendenhall said. A lot of our students come from adverse backgrounds, with not ideal conditions. They come here to essentially change their lives and learn something they couldnt in the environment where they were before. Learning the skills needed to serve on the front lines of fighting wildfires is something that interests many of them. Fire is a challenge, Mendenhall said. A lot of them like facing down challenges. And they want to make money. But overall, in my opinion, there are just good people in fire. They want to help the forest. They like being outdoors. Devlin Sherman of Stevensville has been a student in the electrical program at Trapper Creek Job Corps Center since Feb. 8. A friend of his had gone through the fire program at Anaconda Job Corps Center. While his lifes goal is eventually to create his own electrician company, Sherman was intrigued by the idea that he could work as firefighter seasonally at least for a while. Firefighting is cool, Sherman said. I think wildland firefighting is even betterI want to have that experience and learn what its all about before I decide what Im going to do as a long-term thing. In the short time the 22-year-old Sherman has been at Trapper Creek, hes already feeling the rewards. I was struggling to go from my labor job into an apprenticeship program because I had confidence issues, Sherman said. This is helping me to build confidence and leadership skills I was definitely not the most social person when I came here but here you learn to advocate for yourself. I talk to more people and that teaches me skills to navigate life. Mendenhall has seen that change that happens at Trapper Creek. Its kind of that mentality that we train like we play, he said. So we expect nothing but the best and work to instill that in our students. The students take that and they put it into their own lives and it shows. A lot of them get good jobs coming out of here As long as the students want to change their lives, this is a place where that can happen. I always tell people when they ask me what its like working for Job Corps that its easily the hardest job that Ive ever done but its also easily the most rewarding, he said. Chissell said it all starts with the respect the staff shows students, who in return give it right back. My life has definitely changed, Chissell said. Instead of being a person who is getting into trouble, Im seeing that I can do this. I can stay out of trouble. You have the ability here to prove to yourself and everyone else that you are moving up in the world. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Literary heavyweights and Virginia natives Adriana Trigiani and David Baldacci will be part of the Ashland Theatre Foundations first book festival, called Read Broadly, happening May 6-7 at the historic Ashland Theatre. Theyll be joined by another author Zetta Elliott, a 2021 Randolph Caldecott Medal honoree whose book, A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart, was publicly singled out as garbage by Hanover County Supervisor Michael Herzberg in February following a complaint he received from the parent of a Cold Harbor Elementary School student. In the book, a young Black boy deals with the news of the death of a Black woman at the hands of police. On Friday, May 6, Elliott will read with Richmond Public School students during the school day. That night at the Ashland Theatre, she will participate in a question-and-answer session to be moderated by Michael Paul Williams, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. On Saturday, New York Times best-sellers Trigiani and Baldacci will take to the theaters stage to discuss Trigianis new book, The Good Left Undone, which comes out April 26. Trigiani, from Big Stone Gap, is co-founder of the Origin Project, an in-school writing program that serves more than 1,500 students in Appalachia. Richmond native Baldacci and his wife also work with family and adult literacy through their Wish You Well Foundation. The two-day festival is in partnership with two Richmond-area bookstores, Fountain Bookstore and The Book Bar. Clark Mercer, president of the Ashland Theatre Foundation, said Friday that this festival furthers the spirit of the theater and its mission to engage the community through speakers, panels, talks and events that entertain, educate, inspire and are welcoming to all. In regard to Elliott, Mercer said he reached out to her following the February incident, for which he was disappointed and a bit embarrassed. Upon hearing from a parent, Herzberg, of the Cold Harbor District, took to social media about two specific pages in Elliotts book. One page included illustrative images of a crowd of people and a Black Lives Matter sign, and five faceless police officers, one holding a baton, in front of them. The accompanying page reads: There is anger inside of me/ a fury deep down inside of me/ that is sharp enough to slice through air/ flesh/ bone & concrete, along with an illustration of an angry boy. Herzberg said Elliotts book encouraged violence toward police officers and was not appropriate for elementary students, and called it garbage on his Facebook page. Herzberg said back then that he wanted Hanovers School Board to change its policy regarding book removal so that the School Board could get involved more quickly in removing books deemed inappropriate. Currently, theres a multilevel process for parents that starts with the school principal and moves through school division administrators before reaching the School Board. Mercer said he recalled he was somewhat surprised back then that the subject of Herzbergs ire was Elliotts book, and not other books that were getting national attention in school divisions elsewhere as being offensive. We encourage folks to read books, not ban them, Mercer said. The festival is an opportunity for the Ashland Theatre community to throw our arms around Zetta and provide her the opportunity to talk with both students and the community. By phone from her Chicago home on Friday, Elliott said that as a Black woman, educator, writer and scholar, shes keenly aware that for many Black students she encounters when she visits schools, Im the first Black woman author theyve seen. I never met an author when I was a child, she said, and she now feels a sense of responsibility to dedicate her author life to showing students that being a writer is possible, that writers are members of a community just like them. She said she was honored to be asked to be part of the festival, and shes looking forward to visiting students in Richmond and reading to them. She also plans to stop by The Book Bar, a woman-owned bookstore and wine bar that opened earlier this year and highlights Black, Indigenous and people of color authors. She said she heard about Herzbergs issue with her book. While another of her books was included within a broad list of banned resources in a York, Pa., school division earlier this year, she said shes never known anyone else to specifically challenge or try to ban anything shes written. This is for children, she said about her books, and children are being harmed when books are challenged or banned from libraries. On Friday, Ashland District Supervisor Faye Prichard said, it makes all the sense ... in the world that Ashland, affectionately known locally to residents as the Center of the Universe, would be a place for a festival that not only celebrates books and art and culture, but celebrates the idea of critical thinking and coming together to get the answers to the hard questions. As a mother of grown children and as a grandmother, I do believe it is my responsibility ... to read hard things and talk about them with our children, she said. Even if I was disturbed by a book, I would want to read it and understand where it was coming from. Festival tickets are $10 for students, $20 for Friday night general admission and $32.50 for Saturday night general admission. Friday tickets include one of two Elliott books, either A Place Inside of Me or her newest book, Moonwalking. Saturday nights ticket includes a copy of Trigianis The Good Left Undone. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ashlandtheatre.org. A Richmond Circuit Court judge recently ruled that the city was protected from a lawsuit seeking $5 million in damages for a former police officer who temporarily took over as chief of the Richmond Police Department at the height of civil unrest in the summer of 2020. William Jody Blackwell filed a complaint in July 2021 suing the city for wrongful termination and breach of contract. Blackwell was named interim police chief on June 16, 2020, and held the role for just 11 days, during which time he refused an order of Mayor [Levar] Stoney that Blackwell have his officers stand guard over the emergency removal of Richmonds city-owned Confederate monuments, according to the lawsuit, which alleges that is why he was then fired from the department in February 2021. Judge William R. Marchant ruled last week that the city is protected by sovereign immunity, a legal concept upheld in Virginia courts by finding that municipalities are immune from civil lawsuits based on wrongdoing committed by an employee during the performance of their duties. A municipality is immune from liability for intentional torts committed by an employee during the performance of a governmental function, Marchant wrote in his March 24 ruling citing the legal precedent. But he went on to say that alleged wrongdoing would only survive a plea of sovereign immunity if the suit was against individuals, not the city. Marchant gave Blackwell and his attorney, Scott Crowley, until mid-April to file an amended complaint. Crowley declined to comment Friday. In mid-June 2020, Blackwell replaced former Police Chief William Smith, whom Stoney had asked to resign the same day he elevated Blackwell to the post after what appeared to be escalating clashes between protesters and police officers in the days prior to the announcement. Blackwell served as Smiths chief of staff at the rank of major. When Stoney asked Blackwell to lead the department, Blackwell expressed concerns about the security of the position and his pension. A letter was signed that same day, June 16, 2020, by the citys then-acting chief administrative officer guaranteeing Blackwell a salary of $155,000 as interim chief and confirming that if he were removed as interim chief, hed return to his former position as major. The suit claimed the latter stipulation was breached when he was fired by Gerald Smith on Feb. 2, 2021, 18 months shy of fully vesting his pension. The suit also alleged that on June 24, 2020, Stoney requested that RPD officers stand watch while private contractors removed various monuments. Blackwell told Mayor Stoney that he refused to allow RPD officers to stand watch as such action would violate Virginia law and could expose his officers to criminal liability. The law Blackwell cited made it illegal to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials for any war or conflict. That law has since been amended by the General Assembly, but it didnt take effect until July 1 and required several steps that authorities had to take before removing any war monument. Two days later, Stoney again met with Blackwell and told him that it would be best if he stepped down, the lawsuit read. Stoney then announced that Gerald Smith would take over effective July 1, 2020. The first of the citys Confederate statues to be removed, Stonewall Jackson atop a horse, came down that day. Afterward, Blackwell returned to a position as a major. It was Gerald Smith, not Stoney, who fired Blackwell more than seven months later. Responding to a parent who pressed Chesterfield County leaders to focus more on schools and noted that the county spends less per student than all of its neighbors and the states large school districts, Chesterfield Board of Supervisors Vice Chairwoman Leslie Haley dismissed the numbers as false. Haley doubled down in an email the next day saying: I stated it last night and I will go on the record objecting to the comments in particular that stated: Chesterfield County students receive the lowest level of investment compared to kids in other similar school districts in Virginia, according to an email obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. In response to reporter questions asking what was wrong with the data which is compiled each year by the state education department Haley responded by noting that the county is studying raises for teachers before deferring to a deputy county administrator. While some Chesterfield officials say the Virginia Department of Educations figures dont paint a fair picture, some county residents say it shows a county skimping on money for children. Chesterfield County Public Schools spend an average of $10,061 per student, according to 2019-20 data from the Virginia Department of Education, the most recent year it has published. That figure places the county in the bottom 15 school systems statewide and is the lowest in the Richmond area. Hanover and Henrico counties spend $10,829 and $10,330, respectively, while the City of Richmond spends $15,667 per student 12th most in the state, according to the 2019-20 state data. All but Richmond spend below the statewide median of $11,421. This annual dollar amount spent on education is a mix of local, state, federal and tax dollars. Were at a point now that I thought we would finally start addressing some of the needs to finally not be one of the last for per pupil in the state, said Kyle Viele, chairman of the School Boards Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, who acknowledged the countys per-pupil number has remained stable even with population increases. So the county would tell you that all thats good that were being fiscally responsible and by fiscally responsible they mean youre cramming kids together you have kindergartners eating lunch in the morning and not getting out until four in the afternoon. So yes, from an efficiency perspective, it looks like were efficient. But thats not the best thing for our kids. Its not the best way to teach kids. Matt Harris, a deputy county administrator for Chesterfield, said VDOEs calculation doesnt account for money the school division spends on paying down debt related to new school construction, which may result in an extra $1,000 or more per pupil that goes untracked by the state. Bottom line, VDOE stats are a single piece of information that can be used to have a conversation about education, but it is far, far, far from a complete picture, Harris said in an email. While those figures would also not be included in the VDOE numbers for other school systems, Harris said Chesterfields debt is much higher than in other divisions. But adding $1,000 to Chesterfields per-pupil spending and nothing to other districts to account for their debt would still leave the division in the bottom 10 among Virginia school divisions with at least 10,000 students. According to the data which state law requires school divisions to publish each year the localities that spend the most per public school student when grouped by enrollment size are Arlington County ($18,699), Charlottesville ($16,974), Mecklenburg County ($14,942), Falls Church ($18,984) and Surry County ($20,175, the most of any jurisdiction in Virginia). School divisions in the four major Richmond area jurisdictions are all in the top 20% by enrollment size. Chesterfields per-student spending is the lowest among that group. Richmond, Hanover and Henrico all rank significantly higher than Chesterfield on the states Local Composite Index, a metric that determines a school divisions ability to pay education costs fundamental to the commonwealths Standards of Quality. Because Chesterfields population and enrollment are larger than those of the rest of the Richmond area, the formula deems the county less able to pay even though just 8% of Chesterfield children live in poverty compared to 33% of Richmond children according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Based on 2019-20 budgets, Chesterfields local funding for schools makes up a smaller share of the school division budget than in other Richmond-area localities. ****** A school divisions per-pupil spending dollar amount doesnt mean its the same for every individual school, and spending at individual schools varies widely even within individual districts. Chesterfield spends the most on each student at Carver College and Career Academy ($17,203) and the least at Winterpock Elementary ($8,395). Jim Wyckoff, a professor of education and public policy at the University of Virginia, said there is evidence that shows increasing per-pupil spending leads to improvement in student outcomes. For example, a 2018 National Bureau of Economic Research overview on education spending found that increasing funding within individual districts led to higher test scores, higher graduation rates and, in some cases, higher wages for adults. But the way that money is allocated can affect the impact increased spending can have. If you are raising per-pupil expenditures, Wyckoff said, you need to be investing that money in uses that are likely to improve outcomes for kids. The top 10 districts in per-pupil spending in the state range across geographic areas, household income levels and enrollment sizes, while the bottom of the list is made up largely of smaller school divisions clustered in the southern and southwestern regions of the commonwealth. While Chesterfield had more than 60,000 students enrolled in schools in the 2019-20 academic year, the combined enrollment of the 12 school divisions in the commonwealth that spent less on a per-student basis than Chesterfield was 54,810, according to VDOE data. Ben Pearson-Nelson, president of the Chesterfield County Council of PTAs, said during a recent public hearing that he was disheartened to see Chesterfield once again come in last place for spending among similarly sized school districts. Paying as little as we can for our kids does not relieve a burden on the community. Instead, it shifts the burden onto parents, it shifts the burden on the teachers, it shifts the burden onto our kids and it shifts the burden onto organizations like the PTA, Pearson-Nelson said. Jessica Nocera Follow Jessica Nocera 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 The hand-cut silhouettes, intricate and layered with hidden but meaningful details, illustrate a history of systemic racism at St. Pauls Episcopal Church, once known as the Cathedral of the Confederacy. Inspired by the Stations of the Cross commemorating the last day of Jesus life, the Stations of St. Pauls are a moving depiction of enslavement, exclusion, unequal access to transportation and education, and the churchs evolution into an opponent of oppression. Station 2, St. Pauls is Consecrated, shows parishioners in antebellum attire outside a Greek Revival church facade with a majestic steeple. A stylized row of vines an Adinkra symbol rooted in Ghana separates the idyllic church scene from the upraised, shackled Black hands beneath. That Adinkra symbol represents faith and trust in God, said artist Janelle Washington, the Richmond native commissioned by the church to create the 14 stations. These people at the bottom, whose hands were used as labor to build this church, were loved and cared for by the same Creator. The silhouettes which were hung in the sanctuary on Ash Wednesday and will remain through the Lenten season are the culmination of the St. Pauls History and Reconciliation Initiative, launched months after a white supremacist murdered nine African American churchgoers at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., on June 17, 2015. Parishioner Christopher Alan Graham tackled St. Pauls history of complicity in his book, Blind Spots: Race and Identity in a Southern Church. The initiative moved beyond research to memorials, with the removal of Confederate iconography at a sanctuary where Jefferson Davis worshipped, and the consideration of new memorials, including graffiti from 2020s social justice protests that remains on the church steps. The art project was designed as a liturgical expression of the discernment that preceded it, with the aim of sparking reflection, prayer, repair and reconciliation. Washington spotted the churchs request for proposals on the BLM RVA ART website. She applied and was given a month to submit a proposal for what would become the aforementioned Station 2. After being awarded the commission, Washington took seven months to complete the 2-by-4-foot pieces, fashioned not from paper but Tyvek, a more durable material used in home construction. We were all knocked out, said art historian Elizabeth OLeary, a member of St. Pauls who called Washingtons work divinely inspired. Theyre amazing graphic designs, powerful unto themselves, she said. But until you experience them on the wall, then you realize the beauty and the power of the silhouettes, because they create their own shadows against the white backdrop. Washington, who lives in Alexandria, grew up in the Sherwood Park neighborhood on Richmonds North Side. A graduate of John Marshall High and Virginia Commonwealth University, she pursued a career in fashion design, landing in Milwaukee and a job with Kohls corporate office. One day, her creative director gave team members an exercise to test their artistic prowess. Washington, enamored of the Japanese paper folding art of origami, produced a paper-cut Valentine piece for her husband. Everybody kind of oohed and aahed, she said. Thus began her journey as a self-taught papercut artist, ultimately landing her silhouette of Breonna Taylor in O, The Oprah magazine and leading her to this Episcopal church across from the Virginia State Capitol. OLeary recently led a group walking the stations in tearful prayer. Among her group was Carmen Foster, whose family has deep roots in Richmond. One of the banners covers up a plaque that was dedicated to the family that enslaved my great-grandfather, Jack Foster, Foster recalled later. That prompted a myriad of sensations for me. I felt my ancestors, Black and white, surrounding me. Reading Grahams book produced similar sensations in Washington. All of that was kind of hard to swallow and understand, being a Christian, how people can change the Bible into what fits them. Her stations include an abundance of provocative images: captive Africans laid as cargo on a slave ship or floating dead next to its hull; flames, nooses and dark hooded figures; Black and white kids reading atop a facade of Moton High School, site of the student protest that became part of Brown v. Board of Education. The last station shows St. Pauls and Emanuel AME Church, side by side, above nine sunflowers, representing the victims of the church shooting, but also evoking the sunflower imagery on George Floyd murals. Topping this silhouette is the Adinkra symbol Sankofa, on learning from the past and moving forward. It really was kind of a leap of faith to say I could do this ... being a part of this churchs endeavor to incorporate everyone into their history and, I guess, to spread Gods love in a way, said Washington, who will speak at the church on Wednesday. I appreciate them being open and honest about their past and how theyre moving into their future. A soldier from Charlottesville died Wednesday morning in a helicopter crash at Fort Stewart in Georgia. The U.S. Army identified the victim as Capt. James Bellew, 26, according to Stars and Stripes. Bellew, a medical officer, was part of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade in the 3rd Infantry Division. Bellew was found dead at the crash site, according to the 3rd Infantry Division. The collision between two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters occurred at around 2 a.m. Wednesday. The Army is continuing to investigate the incident. Bellew, a Charlottesville native, started working in the Army in 2017. As a medical service officer, hes provided medical evacuation support for Fort Stewart, which include airlifting critically ill COVID-19 patients to higher levels of care across the country, brigade commander Col. Eric Vanek said in the release, according to Stars and Stripes. The loss of James is an immeasurable tragedy to his family, friends, crew and fellow soldiers, Vanek said in the release. James was a part of one of the noblest professions imaginable; he dedicated his life to serving our country and did so in a role where he was constantly helping, and saving the lives of others. Many a comic romp has launched with the notion (if not the actual words), Hey, lets put on a show! The Bard himself used this dramatic convention, and so have modern day playwrights including Ken Ludwig, whose Moon Over Buffalo, a play-within-a-play farce, is on stage for one more weekend at Attic Productions. The year is 1953, and the golden age of television is putting unwelcome pressure on mom-and-pop outfits like the fictional Erlanger Theater in Buffalo, New York a modest troupe treading the boards way off Broadway. But proprietors George and Charlotte Hay (Chip Addison and Christine Kimel) havent given up on getting that big break. All the action takes place on the day they get a call that Frank Capra might attend that evenings show, with an eye toward casting George and Charlotte to replace the stars in his current movie project. As the story opens, George and a handful of actors are rehearsing a scene from Cyrano de Bergerac. Soon enough, the curtain opens on the theaters rumpled green room and we begin to meet more of the characters. Keeping the coffee pot perking is Ethel (Lillian Alexander), who is Charlottes mother, and grandmother to Rosalind (Keli Hobson), who has decided shes done with theater life. In tow is her new fiance, Howard (Jesse Womack), who is very nervous about meeting his future in-laws. Meanwhile, Rosalinds former fiance, Paul (Paul Mullins), is still there, toiling away behind the scenes. Theres actually a second play within this play: Noel Cowards Private Lives, which the troupe is producing in repertory with Cyrano. Fans of that production (including your humble correspondent) will no doubt feel the similarities between George and Charlotte and Cowards Elyot and Amanda both couples whose volatile energy threatens to blow up their relationship, except that it also makes them strangely perfect for each other. All of the actors do a splendid job with their roles. Kimel shines as a woman on the edge (in a role that Carol Burnett played on Broadway), and Addison does a star turn particularly his boozy sequence in Act II as a man whose life is unraveling by the minute. Womack gives Howard a mild-mannered nerdiness, yet still helps to drive some of the shows nuttier situations. Hobson makes for a sophisticated young woman on the move, but dont let the business suit fool you toward the end she has an outstanding scene trying to hold together the opening sequence for the doomed performance of Private Lives. Mullins has to stage-manage much of George and Charlottes drama, but adds some nice intensity of his own. And as if a farce needed comic relief, Alexander as Grandma Ethel brings it again and again in delightfully curmudgeonly fashion. Two additional characters add their complications to the mix. David Boyer plays Richard, the family attorney, who has more than court briefs on his mind. Boyer is the most straight-laced of the cast, and his dignified persona offers a suitable foil for the insanity around him. And then theres Eileen (Dixie Hartvigsen). No plot spoilers here, but a good dose of hilarity can be found in her vocal mashup of Betty Boop and Linda Blair (of Exorcist fame). Like most venues, Attic Productions had to take an extended break due to COVID. Now that the players are back in action, Fincastles community theater is becoming a great place to find solid productions of fine traditional shows that stand the test of time. One advisory: Some patrons may find the otherwise comfortable auditorium a bit chilly, so plan accordingly. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Mountain Valley Pipeline slipped deeper into doubt Friday, when an appellate court declined to reconsider its decision striking down a vital permit for the deeply divisive project. In a brief order, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it will not revisit the ruling of a three-judge panel, which in February invalidated the federal Fish and Wildlife Services opinion that the natural gas pipeline would not jeopardize endangered species. The move came one week after a similar decision by the Fourth Circuit regarding the panels rejection of a second permit from the U.S. Forest Service that allowed the pipeline to pass through the Jefferson National Forest. Mountain Valley now has little hope of regaining the approvals without going through a renewed permitting process that would again delay a $6.2 billion infrastructure project that is already more than three years behind schedule. Twice now, MVP has been left high and dry in their attempts to reverse court decisions and complete their dangerous and unnecessary project, said Caroline Hansley of the Sierra Club, one of about a dozen environmental groups that has fought the pipeline in court. Opponents have argued for years that building a massive pipeline through the mountains of Southwest Virginia will cause environmental damage and contribute to climate change. While acknowledging a greater degree of uncertainty caused by the Fourth Circuit, Mountain Valley says its plans are still alive. We continue to evaluate the best path forward for completing the MVP project and expect to provide updated project guidance once the full evaluation is complete, Natalie Cox, a spokeswoman for the joint venture, wrote in an email Friday. Legal experts have said the companys chances were not good in seeking a so-called en-banc hearing, in which the full 15-member appellate court would rehear the two unanimous decisions by its three-judge panel. Only four such requests were granted last year by the court, which hears appeals from federal administrative agencies and nine district courts in Virginia and four other states, according to Carl Tobias, who teaches at the University of Richmonds law school. Filed on March 11, Mountain Valleys request was circulated among the courts judges. No judges requested a poll under applicable law, the three-sentence order stated. The court denies the petition for rehearing en banc. In sending the permits back to the agencies for further review, the panel which consisted of Chief Judge Roger Gregory and Judges Stephanie Thacker and James Wynn ruled that government officials cut corners and ignored evidence in approving the largest natural gas pipeline ever proposed in Virginia. The Fish and Wildlife Service gave scant attention to factors, including climate change, that would impact two endangered fish, the Roanoke logperch and the candy darter, that are nearing the brink of extinction, the panel ruled. As for the permit for the pipeline to pass through 3.5 miles of public woodlands in Giles and Montgomery counties, the Forest Service failed to consider water quality data from monitoring stations a short distance away in assessing the erosion risks posed by construction, a second decision from the same three judges said. Muddy runoff has been a key problem for Mountain Valley. Inspections by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality have found nearly 400 violations of erosion and sediment control regulations since work began in early 2018. The pipeline cuts through the New River and Roanoke valleys, passing north of Blacksburg and southwest of Roanoke, on its 303-mile path from northern West Virginia to connect with an existing pipeline close to the North Carolina line. Mountain Valley says the need for natural gas, which was documented by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2017, is even greater today with the war in Ukraine restricting global supplies. Assuming the pipeline is completed, the company plans to build an extension that would transport gas from its terminus in Chatham into North Carolina. Last year, the State Air Pollution Control Board denied a permit for a compressor station that would be built in Pittsylvania County for the extension, which is called MVP Southgate. Mountain Valley had appealed the air boards decision to the Fourth Circuit, but asked earlier this week that the case be dropped. Southgate spokesman Shawn Day cited a law headed for passage in Virginia that removes the air boards authority and gives permitting power to the staff of DEQ, which had recommended approval for the compressor station. In an email Tuesday, Day wrote: Mountain Valley remains committed to the MVP Southgate project and continues to evaluate its options to help meet strong residential and business demand for affordable, reliable natural gas. A Covington man has entered a guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter charge in a case involving a fatal shooting last year in Craig County Jeremiah Christian Bradshaw, 30, was originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of Christopher Bud Broughman, 28, of Covington. That charge was changed to involuntary manslaughter. According to court documents, Broughman went to Bradshaws home late Aug. 5 or early Aug. 6 armed with an axe handle, which he used to break through the back door. Bradshaw and Broughmans estranged wife were inside. Broughman pushed her to the ground and approached Bradshaw, who shot Broughman multiple times. Court documents also indicate that Bradshaw and Broughmans wife left Bradshaws house after the incident. Broughman died at the scene, and Bradshaw was arrested later on Aug. 6. Craig County Commonwealths Attorney Matthew Dunne said Monday that there was no doubt that Broughman had broken into the house. But he also said it was evident that Broughman had methamphetamine in his system at the time of the break-in. He said that evidence could be considered at Bradshaws sentencing hearing. Judge Joel Branscom said the reported 8- or 9-hour delay between when Broughman was shot and when the incident was reported changes the case from a self-defense case to something else a manslaughter case. Bradshaws guilty plea on the involuntary manslaughter charge could incarcerate him for up to 10 years, Branscom said. Bradshaws sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 25 in Craig County Circuit Court. Its been three weeks since Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Tammy Wendt was ordered to fire her first cousin a directive she has so far defied, despite a ruling that she flagrantly flouted county rules against nepotism. Wendts cousin Todd Thielmann, who joined her office in December 2020 as her top staffer, said in a Thursday phone interview that he was still in the job. The comments came one day after he emailed the Tribune defending his hiring. Advertisement Im an open book, Thielmann wrote. I will continue to manage Commissioner Wendts staff and do my job until she fires me. It was Thielmanns first statement to the Tribune since the March 10 ruling by the Cook County Board of Ethics, which fined Wendt $2,000 for violating a county ban on nepotism and ordered her to fire Thielmann. Advertisement Wendt has not responded to multiple requests for comment since the ethics board ruling. The deadline for Wendt to appeal the ethics board decision is April 11. As of Thursday, she had not responded to the ethics board about its finding or paid her fine, said Jennifer King, deputy director at the countys Department of Human Rights and Ethics. Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Tammy Wendt is also a lawyer who was on Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke's defense team. Here she addresses the court at his murder trial in 2018. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Wendt, a Democrat from Palos Heights who ousted a Republican incumbent in 2020, filed last month to run for reelection to the property tax appeals board and is expected to face Chicago Ald. George Cardenas, 12th, in the June 28 primary. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. But Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, who filed the original complaint about Wendt, said a new change to the ethics ordinance gives the ethics board more authority. Should Wendt refuse to heed the ethics boards ruling, the board can seek a court order to have Thielmann fired, Suffredin said. The ethics board also has more say in approving settlements and imposing fines, under the December changes to the ordinance. Though there have been spats between the ethics board and elected officials before former Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios lost a challenge to the ethics boards ability to sanction him a couple years ago Suffredin said Wendts lack of cooperation is illogical. I dont get it, Suffredin, a Democrat from Evanston, said. It makes no sense to me from a governmental point of view, from a political point of view, from a personal point of view. But obviously, its the battle she wants to fight. Advertisement Alisa Kaplan, executive director of Reform for Illinois, noted, it should not be this hard to get officials to comply with ethics rules. It can be harder to hold elected officials accountable because theres an assumption that the people are the boss, and if they have a problem with what their official is doing they should throw them out of office, Kaplan wrote in a statement. But modern ethics and anti-corruption rules acknowledge thats not always enough. Officials take on a host of ethical obligations when they take office and agree to accept the consequences for violating them. In his email to the Tribune, Thielmann attributed the outrage over his hiring to critics being concerned that I cant be bought and I dont owe anybody anything. He pointed a finger at the hypocrisy of the two other Board of Review commissioners, Larry Rogers Jr. and Michael Cabonargi, because the latter has also hired Rogers cousin. Cabonargi said Thursday that his hiring of Rogers cousin does not violate anti-nepotism rules because the cousins employment was with Cabonargis office, not Rogers. The commissioner called Wendts hiring of Thielmann a stunning abuse of power and disrespect to the taxpayers of Cook County to continue to defy the ethics rules, even after being fined. I guess Donald Trump handed Tammy Wendt the playbook on how to degrade public office. Advertisement Thielmann said that, when he took the job, he did not know all county employees and officials are bound by the Cook County ethics ordinance, which prohibits hiring first cousins. He said he was only informed of the Board of Review ethics policy, which at the time did not list first cousins under its nepotism ban. As a new employee, how was I to know there was some other, overarching ethics policy that would apply? Thielmann wrote. I was recruited and hired under a different set of rules. I left a lucrative job in the private sector to come to the public sector in an attempt to help the county taxpayers. In his March 10 ruling, ethics board chair Thomas Szromba wrote that Wendt violated a county ban on hiring relatives and failed to uphold her fiduciary duty to the county because she was still employing her cousin despite being given several notices about the nepotism ban. Wendt has not only violated her fiduciary duty owed to the county, but she has done so in a manner that flagrantly disregards the tenets of government accountability to the public and transparency, Szromba wrote. The ethics board finds this particularly troubling as it is clear that Wendt has long been aware of the violation and has taken no steps to rectify it. In addition to the ethics board, the Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General also investigated Thielmanns hiring. The county watchdog found that Wendt violated the ethics ordinance and should remove her cousin from his post, according to a January report. The inspector generals office did not publicly name Wendt, but the ethics board ruling confirmed she was the subject of the watchdogs inquiry. Advertisement According to public records, Thielmann was hired in December 2020, immediately after his cousin took office, with a $135,000 salary and received a raise to $150,000 the next month. But Thielmann said in the email he received that raise because my number to take the job was always 150k and that the his smaller starting salary was the result of a clerical mistake. He also said he only took the job after several denials. Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Tammy Wendt, shown in 2018, was a member of Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke's defense team during his murder trial. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) In a previous statement to the Tribune, Wendt also an attorney who was on the defense team of Jason Van Dyke, the former Chicago officer convicted of murder in the shooting of Laquan McDonald has been unapologetic about her hiring decision. This (is) an attempt to silence me. ... I did not hire who was sent to me nor do I owe any political favors, Wendt said in July 2021. Thielmann said Thursday he didnt have knowledge about Wendts next steps, though he himself plans to seek legal action if he ends up fired. Its ridiculous to begin with, he said about the ban on hiring first cousins. Advertisement ayin@chicagotribune.com A Fredericksburg Circuit Court judge ruled earlier this week that a civil lawsuit filed against Del. Tara Durant, a Republican from Stafford County, can proceed and that she must file an answer. A request for dismissal by Durants attorney Milton Johns was denied Monday. The lawsuit was filed by Taylor Johns, a civil rights activist from Fredericksburg, who accused Durant of malicious prosecution after a June 2020 incident that gained nationwide attention. Taylor Johns, who doesnt have a lawyer, is seeking $40,000 in damages for what she describes as tortious injury by an act of omission. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for April 11 at 9 a.m. Durant didnt return telephone calls or emails seeking comment. Durant accused Taylor Johns of stopping her vehicle to impede traffic during a June 13, 2020, protest over the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis and Louisville, respectively. As a result of Durants complaint, Taylor Johns was charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor that was dismissed in Fredericksburg General District Court on Oct. 30, 2020. Taylor Johns lawsuit accuses Durant of seeking out the protesters and initiating a disturbance. Durants 911 call accusing a protester of jumping on her car made headlines after the dispatcher informed her that the protests were sanctioned by the city, police officers could only monitor the protesters and that Durant should address concerns to City Hall. The recording of the call was featured by FOX News political commentator Tucker Carlson. Nine months after the incident, Durant announced her run for the 28th District House of Delegates seat. She defeated Democrat incumbent Josh Cole by about 700 votes last November. Durant announced earlier this week that she plans to run for the seat in the new Senate District 27 that includes Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County and Stafford. Johns lawsuit was filed Dec. 27. It states that on the date in question at 4 p.m. local protest leader Eddie Banks arranged a gathering at the intersection of Hanover and Caroline streets. The lawsuit notes that the intersection isnt controlled by any traffic signals but has a sign reminding vehicles to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Taylor Johns said that many of the demonstrators were minors and college students. They circulated clockwise inside the intersections crosswalks for five minutes at a time before exiting the crosswalks for another five minutes as they decried police brutality, racism and encouraged criminal justice reform. A Fredericksburg police officer was parallel-parked on Caroline Street one block south of the intersection, observing the crowd of about 30, according to the lawsuit. The complaint states there was an immediate law enforcement presence at all times material, and that other pedestrians not involved in the protests shared the crosswalks with no obstruction. The citys residents and police force were familiar and comfortable with the protestors, the protestors message and the protestors lawful and peaceful crosswalk routine, the lawsuit states. Taylor Johns alleges that when the protests in the city first started May 31, 2020, Durant began monitoring demonstrators social media profiles and keeping track of their movements. Taylor Johns states that Durant was aware the demonstration was scheduled to take place and that she drove from Stafford to Fredericksburg to stage the encounter in opposition to the movement. The lawsuit alleges that Durant waited for demonstrators to begin walking in the crosswalk before driving east on Hanover Street in the direction of the intersection. Durant is accused of revving her engine while in neutral and coasting down Hanover Street toward the protesters at the bottom of a hill. Johns states that pedestrians and demonstrators froze within the sidewalks, fixed in terror on Durants SUV as it sailed steeply downhill toward them. Pedestrians and protestors braced psychologically, emotionally and physically for the unknown and unimaginable, the lawsuit states. Taylor Johns goes on to allege that Durant coasted past a stop sign and over the white stop line and slammed on breaks, inches short of striking pedestrians and demonstrators. She accuses Durant of nearly hitting a 13-year-old boy whose parents were dining outside at a nearby restaurant. The lawsuit states that the boy instinctively and briefly splayed his torso on the hood of Durants car as it was inches away from him. According to the lawsuit, the boy was unharmed and ran back to his parents. The protestors otherwise stood their ground within the crosswalk without ever making contact with Tara Durants vehicle, according to the complaint. [Durant] began brake-pumping her car further into the crosswalk, abruptly inching towards the pedestrians and protestors, one diabolic brake-release at a time. In the complaint, Taylor Johns said that Durants attempts at intimidation failed, so she instead called 911 to allege that shes a victim. This isnt Taylor Johns first lawsuit involving the protest movement of 2020. She and eight other protesters received an undisclosed settlement for the handling of mass demonstrations in Fredericksburg May 31 through June 1 of that year. The lawsuit was filed against the Stafford County Sheriffs Office and multiple Fredericksburg officials for the use of teargas against protestors as well as other crowd control measures. The Police Executive Research Forum released a report criticizing the Fredericksburg Police Department for its conduct during the protests. The FPD later accepted 64 of the PERF reports 66 recommendations to improve its response to mass demonstrations. Taft Coghill Jr: 540/374-5526 tcoghill@freelancestar.com Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1@Gmail.com. Also, visit dennisbeaver.com. In the past, fourth-grade students at Santa Marias Pacific Christian school would culminate months of hard work by taking a field trip to Sutters Fort in midtown Sacramento. Once COVID-19 shut the fort down temporarily, teachers and parents rallied to host the annual event on the schools campus. Its really because of our parent volunteers that weve been able to make the adjustment, said Rick White, principal. They are the heartbeat of our community and events like these. Joshua Nelson City Government Reporter Joshua Nelson is the City Government Reporter for the Santa Maria Times. Follow Joshua Nelson 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 " " Various clocks on the floor in a conference room show different times. Is it time for the U.S. to get on permanent DST? Sina Schuldt/picture alliance via Getty Images There's a common consensus that changing the clocks back and forth twice a year is annoying. And the U.S. government decided to do something about it. On March 15, the Senate unanimously passed a bill to make daylight saving time (DST) permanent across the country. (The bill still needs to pass in the House of Representatives and be signed by President Joe Biden.) While this eliminates the irritating aspect of changing clocks back and forth, many scientists, public health experts and members of the public are wondering whether this is a good thing. DST has been studied extensively so we'll take a look at the pros and cons of moving to it permanently. Advertisement What Is Daylight Saving Time? Daylight saving time is the practice of advancing the clock one hour ahead of standard time (ST) so that people get to experience more daylight in the summer months. In the U.S., DST is observed between the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November. The policy seems simple, just to adjust a clock, but it's more complicated when we think about how it affects our bodies. Humans have three different clocks that our lives and bodies must adhere to, says Dr. Elizabeth Klerman, professor of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "One is local clock time [social clock], what's on your watch, on your computer," she explains. "The second is sun time, when the sun goes up, and when the sun goes down. The third time is biological time. It's what time of day your body clock thinks it is." Our bodies naturally follow sun time, not social time, and therefore when we switch between DST and ST, we feel groggy, tired and woefully unprepared to go to work or school after the springtime change. DST is like waking up one time zone to the east; we feel jetlagged. "Daylight saving time shifts the social clock, but not the sun clock or the body clock," Klerman says. Our bodies want to get up with the sun, not with our alarm clocks. Advertisement Benefits of Permanent DST The U.S. Department of Transportation cites three reasons for DST: Energy savings Prevention of traffic injuries and death Crime reduction All three claims have been studied, with mixed results. In 2008, the Department of Energy (DOE) found that the extra four weeks of DST (which were added in 2007) had saved just 0.5 percent in total electricity per day. This might not seem like much, but the DOE noted that this came out to savings of "1.3 billion kilowatt-hours or the amount of electricity used by more than 100,000 households for an entire year." In 2018, The New York Times reported on a 2017 study that analyzed 44 papers on the subject of DST and energy savings and found the savings even less about 0.34 percent of electricity use. Electricity use might be less in places with milder climates but that was offset by increases in electricity use in places close the equator, the researchers said. Also, people are increasingly using energy-efficient LED lightbulbs and more energy-efficient appliances, which lower energy costs as well. As far as traffic goes, some studies cited fewer fatal car crashes during DST because of the extra daylight during the evening rush hour. A 2007 study found an 8 to 11 percent drop in pedestrian-related crashes and 6 to 10 percent drop in car crashes in the weeks following DST. Regarding crime, one study showed that robberies reduced during DST by 7 percent and dropped a huge 27 percent during "the evening hour that gained some extra sunlight," the authors wrote. Businesses that operate outdoors may also benefit from permanent DST. Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of lawncare service Lawn Love, points out that having outdoor workers start their days when temperatures are cooler is better. "After our clocks are adjusted an hour forward in the spring, what now is 8 a.m. used to be 7 a.m., meaning that workers experience the [cooler] temperatures of the early morning a little further into the day than they used to," he explains. The tourism and travel industry could gain from permanent DST, too. Nick Mueller, director of operations for travel website HawaiianIslands.com, says that DST increases tourism revenue. "Getting that extra hour of sunlight actually boosts the amount of people who choose to travel for outdoor excursions, activities or for visiting theme parks," Mueller says. "When people go on vacation, they typically want to get the most out of their days, and DST helps with that." " " Sky Sangari Phunman changes the time on the clocks at her home in Kill, Ireland, ahead of clocks going back one hour. The wall of her home is covered in clocks from around the world that have been collected in memory of her grandfather who was a horologist (someone who studies clocks and timekeeping). Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images Advertisement Drawbacks of Daylight Saving Time Since the Senate passed the bill making DST permanent, several groups have come out against it, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the National Safety Council and the National Parent Teacher Association. They said that permanent standard time is actually better for the body. Klerman would agree. In 2019, she co-authored a paper published in Frontiers in Physiology that laid out evidence of how DST harms our health and addresses some DST fallacies. "The misconception people have is that there's more light. There's no more light; it's just shifted," Klerman explains. "If you're an evening person and there's more light at night, it will shift your body clock later. So, it's going to make life worse for later people because they still have to wake up earlier for clock time. All those later people who like it are actually getting less sleep." The impacts aren't just happening in the week following the springtime change either, Klerman says. "It's about what's happening over the entire season," she says. "There's misalignment between the inner body clock and clock time because it's one time zone different. There's also insufficient sleep. Both of those have shown to have adverse effects on performance, cardiovascular disease, errors and accidents." A 2014 report on cardiovascular events stated that the Monday following the shift to DST is associated with a 24 percent increase in heart attacks. The rate of suicides in men with bipolar disorders increased in the weeks following DST, according to a study spanning 30 years of Australian data. There are also more workplace injuries (and of a more severe nature) on the Mondays following the DST shift. In the seven days following time changes, safety-related incidents increased by 4.2 percent in the spring and 8.8 percent in the fall. And a study showed the risk of fatal car crashes increases by 6 percent in the days following DST, though overall accidents during DST tend to decrease. Most of the crash increase was in the morning, which let the study authors to attribute it to sleep deprivation and circadian misalignment, along with the fact that it was darker in the morning. Advertisement It's Been Tried Before The U.S. first used permanent DST for seven months during World War I. It was adopted again during World War II to conserve fuel and was officially known as "war time." When polled, only 17 percent of Americans wanted to stick with war time once the war was over, so it was stopped in 1945. The U.S. also switched to permanent DST during the energy crisis between 1974 and 1975. This time it was abandoned because some children were hit by vehicles during the dark morning hours while waiting for the school bus. (In some states, the sun didn't rise until 9 a.m. during DST.) After nine months of permanent DST, the government ended it. Where Americans stand on the issue depends on which survey you look at. According to a 2021 Associated Press poll, only 25 percent of Americans liked to switch back and forth between DST and ST. Forty-three percent wanted permanent standard time, and just 32 percent wanted to see permanent DST. However, in a 2021 CBS News poll, the leading preference (41 percent) was to switch between DST and ST; permanent ST (28 percent) was the next-most popular option, followed by permanent DST (23 percent). Advertisement Do the Pros of DST Outweigh the Cons? While switching to permanent DST may be less annoying than switching back and forth and boost revenue in some businesses, many experts feel it's not worth the health risks. "Switching to permanent Standard Time would better align our bodies to daily sunrise and sunset which influences the natural sleep/wake cycles, also called circadian rhythm," said Dr. Rick Bogan, board chair of the National Sleep Foundation, in a 2021 statement. He pointed to a poll showing that 70 percent of Americans don't think their sleep, routines or moods are affected by time changes, though they are. "We're seeing gaps between what the public thinks and both published research and real-world observations of the clock change's effects on health." Even though Yamaguchi prefers not to move to ST permanently, he knows that the benefits of DST last only a few weeks for his business and doesn't rebuke the negative impacts it can have on health. "Even though I am a business owner and am always in favor of what will benefit my employees and company the most, I do believe that public health concerns should be prioritized and considered ahead of business benefits," he says. Now That's Interesting Some 600 million years ago, days were 22 hours long. Days have gotten longer by 2 milliseconds every century since that's why our days are currently 24 hours long. " " Over half of the human genome contains repetitive DNA sequences whose functions are still not fully understood. Adam Gault/Getty Images When the Human Genome Project announced that they had completed the first human genome in 2003, it was a momentous accomplishment for the first time, the DNA blueprint of human life was unlocked. But it came with a catch they weren't actually able to put together all the genetic information in the genome. There were gaps: unfilled, often repetitive regions that were too confusing to piece together. With advancements in technology that could handle these repetitive sequences, scientists finally filled those gaps in May 2021, and the first end-to-end human genome was officially published March 31, 2022. I am a genome biologist who studies repetitive DNA sequences and how they shape genomes throughout evolutionary history. I was part of the team that helped characterize the repeat sequences missing from the genome. And now, with a truly complete human genome, these uncovered repetitive regions are finally being explored in full for the first time. Advertisement The Missing Puzzle Pieces German botanist Hans Winkler coined the word "genome" in 1920, combining the word "gene" with the suffix "-ome," meaning "complete set," to describe the full DNA sequence contained within each cell. Researchers still use this word a century later to refer to the genetic material that makes up an organism. One way to describe what a genome looks like is to compare it to a reference book. In this analogy, a genome is an anthology containing the DNA instructions for life. It's composed of a vast array of nucleotides (letters) that are packaged into chromosomes (chapters). Each chromosome contains genes (paragraphs) that are regions of DNA which code for the specific proteins that allow an organism to function. While every living organism has a genome, the size of that genome varies from species to species. An elephant uses the same form of genetic information as the grass it eats and the bacteria in its gut. But no two genomes look exactly alike. Some are short, like the genome of the insect-dwelling bacteria Nasuia deltocephalinicola with just 137 genes across 112,000 nucleotides. Some, like the 149 billion nucleotides of the flowering plant Paris japonica, are so long that it's difficult to get a sense of how many genes are contained within. But genes as they've traditionally been understood as stretches of DNA that code for proteins are just a small part of an organism's genome. In fact, they make up less than 2 percent of human DNA. The human genome contains roughly 3 billion nucleotides and just under 20,000 protein-coding genes an estimated 1 percent of the genome's total length. The remaining 99 percent is non-coding DNA sequences that don't produce proteins. Some are regulatory components that work as a switchboard to control how other genes work. Others are pseudogenes, or genomic relics that have lost their ability to function. And over half of the human genome is repetitive, with multiple copies of near-identical sequences. Advertisement What Is Repetitive DNA? The simplest form of repetitive DNA are blocks of DNA repeated over and over in tandem called satellites. While how much satellite DNA a given genome has varies from person to person, they often cluster toward the ends of chromosomes in regions called telomeres. These regions protect chromosomes from degrading during DNA replication. They're also found in the centromeres of chromosomes, a region that helps keep genetic information intact when cells divide. Researchers still lack a clear understanding of all the functions of satellite DNA. But because satellite DNA forms unique patterns in each person, forensic biologists and genealogists use this genomic "fingerprint" to match crime scene samples and track ancestry. Over 50 genetic disorders are linked to variations in satellite DNA, including Huntington's disease. " " Satellite DNA tends to cluster toward the ends of chromosomes in their telomeres. Here, 46 human chromosomes are colored blue, with white telomeres. NIH Image Gallery /Flickr (CC BY-NC) Another abundant type of repetitive DNA are transposable elements, or sequences that can move around the genome. Some scientists have described them as selfish DNA because they can insert themselves anywhere in the genome, regardless of the consequences. As the human genome evolved, many transposable sequences collected mutations repressing their ability to move to avoid harmful interruptions. But some can likely still move about. For example, transposable element insertions are linked to a number of cases of hemophilia A, a genetic bleeding disorder. But transposable elements aren't just disruptive. They can have regulatory functions that help control the expression of other DNA sequences. When they're concentrated in centromeres, they may also help maintain the integrity of the genes fundamental to cell survival. They can also contribute to evolution. Researchers recently found that the insertion of a transposable element into a gene important to development might be why some primates, including humans, no longer have tails. Chromosome rearrangements due to transposable elements are even linked to the genesis of new species like the gibbons of southeast Asia and the wallabies of Australia. Advertisement Completing the Genomic Puzzle Until recently, many of these complex regions could be compared to the far side of the moon: known to exist, but unseen. When the Human Genome Project first launched in 1990, technological limitations made it impossible to fully uncover repetitive regions in the genome. Available sequencing technology could only read about 500 nucleotides at a time, and these short fragments had to overlap one another in order to recreate the full sequence. Researchers used these overlapping segments to identify the next nucleotides in the sequence, incrementally extending the genome assembly one fragment at a time. These repetitive gap regions were like putting together a 1,000-piece puzzle of an overcast sky: When every piece looks the same, how do you know where one cloud starts and another ends? With near-identical overlapping stretches in many spots, fully sequencing the genome by piecemeal became unfeasible. Millions of nucleotides remained hidden in the first iteration of the human genome. Since then, sequence patches have gradually filled in gaps of the human genome bit by bit. And in 2021, the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Consortium, an international consortium of scientists working to complete a human genome assembly from end to end, announced that all remaining gaps were finally filled. This was made possible by improved sequencing technology capable of reading longer sequences thousands of nucleotides in length. With more information to situate repetitive sequences within a larger picture, it became easier to identify their proper place in the genome. Like simplifying a 1,000-piece puzzle to a 100-piece puzzle, long-read sequences made it possible to assemble large repetitive regions for the first time. With the increasing power of long-read DNA sequencing technology, geneticists are positioned to explore a new era of genomics, untangling complex repetitive sequences across populations and species for the first time. And a complete, gap-free human genome provides an invaluable resource for researchers to investigate repetitive regions that shape genetic structure and variation, species evolution and human health. But one complete genome doesn't capture it all. Efforts continue to create diverse genomic references that fully represent the human population and life on Earth. With more complete, "telomere-to-telomere" genome references, scientists' understanding of the repetitive dark matter of DNA will become more clear. Gabrielle Hartley is a Ph.D. candidate in molecular and cell biology at the University of Connecticut. She receives funding from the National Science Foundation. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here. A bill that would guarantee pandemic-related paid leave for fully vaccinated teachers is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzkers desk after passing in the Senate Thursday. The legislation is an updated version of a previous bill that would have guaranteed paid administrative and sick leave to all teachers, regardless of vaccination status. Advertisement That bill passed the Democratic-controlled General Assembly with strong bipartisan support in October, but it languished on Pritzkers desk for months before the governor ultimately vetoed the bill in January, arguing only teachers who are fully vaccinated should receive the benefits. Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks to media at the Thompson Center, on Aug. 26, 2021. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) If signed into law, the updated legislation would also return to vaccinated public school employees any sick leave days used earlier this school year. The paid leave for the pandemic would be retroactive and extend to employees needing to care for family members or loved ones stricken with the coronavirus. Advertisement The bill embodies Pritzkers veto message and also ensures paycheck protection and retroactive pay for teachers, said Senate President Don Harmon, the sponsor of the bill. The Oak Park Democrat clarified on the Senate floor that employees with medical or religious exemptions for the vaccine would still qualify for the expanded COVID-19 benefits. The Senate voted 32-18 Thursday to approve the bill, with Democratic Sens. Suzy Glowiak Hilton of Western Springs, Patrick Joyce of Reddick, and Michael Hastings of Frankfort joining 15 Republicans in opposition. The requirement that teachers be fully vaccinated to qualify for the paid leave was the primary reason Republicans gave for opposing the bill. It seemed like this was a requirement by the governors office, and it seemed to put some people in an unfair position, said Sen. Jil Tracy, a Quincy Republican Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie said he supported the original bill and would have preferred the General Assembly override Pritzkers veto. Determining whether someone should receive certain benefits based on a personal decision of whether to get vaccinated should not involve the General Assembly, said McConchie, of Hawthorn Woods. The bill passed the House March 1, also largely along party lines. In drafting the measure, lawmakers negotiated with unions representing teachers as well as representing other public school employees, Harmon said. The pandemic has been emotionally and economically daunting for us all, especially educators, school staff and families, Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery said. This legislation provides important relief and ensures that education personnel can take time off if they or their families become ill with COVID. Chicago Tribunes Karen Ann Cullotta contributed. Advertisement cspaulding@chicagotribune.com Seemingly encouraging, but quite complicated, analysis of racial disparities in federal drug sentencing | Main | US Sentencing Commission may still lack a quorum, but now it has a podcast! April 4, 2021 How about some clemency grants from Prez Biden to go with Second Chance Month, 2021 proclamation? Last week, the White House released "A Proclamation on Second Chance Month, 2021." Here is the full substantive text: Americas criminal justice system must offer meaningful opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation. After incarcerated individuals serve their time, they should have the opportunity to fully reintegrate into society. It benefits not just those individuals but all of society, and it is the best strategy to reduce recidivism. During Second Chance Month, we lift up all those who, having made mistakes, are committed to rejoining society and making meaningful contributions. My Administration is committed to a holistic approach to building safe and healthy communities. This includes preventing crime and providing opportunities for all Americans. It also requires rethinking the existing criminal justice system whom we send to prison and for how long; how people are treated while incarcerated; how prepared they are to reenter society once they have served their time; and the racial inequities that lead to the disproportionate number of incarcerated Black and Brown people. We must commit to second chances from the earliest stages of our criminal justice system. Supporting second chances means, for example, diverting individuals who have used illegal drugs to drug court programs and treatment instead of prison. It requires eliminating exceedingly long sentences and mandatory minimums that keep people incarcerated longer than they should be. It means providing quality job training and educational opportunities during incarceration to prepare individuals for the 21st century economy. And it means reinvesting the savings from reduced incarceration into reentry programs and social services that prevent recidivism and leave us all better off. More than 600,000 individuals return to their communities from State and Federal prisons every year. Transitioning back into society can be overwhelming for those who are formerly incarcerated as well as their families and communities. Too many individuals face unfair legal and practical barriers to reentry. The reentry process is complicated in the best of times, and is even more so with the additional difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. We must remove these barriers. Every person leaving incarceration should have housing, the opportunity at a decent job, and health care. A persons conviction history should not unfairly exclude them from employment, occupational licenses, access to credit, public benefits, or the right to vote. Certain criminal records should be expunged and sealed so people can overcome their past. By focusing on prevention, reentry, and social support, rather than incarceration, we can ensure that America is a land of second chances and opportunity for all people. NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2021 as Second Chance Month. I call upon all government officials, educators, volunteers, and all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. I like all the sentiments in this proclamation, and I sincerely hope "all government officials" engaged in "appropriate activities" to observe Second Chance Month. But as the title of this post is meant to highlight, Prez Biden has one particually appropriate way to " lift up" and "commit to second chances" through the granting of clemency. He can today and tomorrow and every day, simply with his clemency pen, begin the process of "eliminating exceedingly long sentences" and ensure we are "focusing on prevention, reentry, and social support, rather than incarceration." Morevoer, because there are currently no federal record relief laws, the only way for federal criminal records to functionally "be expunged and sealed so people can overcome their past" would be through pardon grants. Especially during a holiday season, I do not think it too much to expect and hope that the President will seek to practice what he preaches. Or, in this case, practice what he proclaims by getting moving on clemency. A few of many prior related posts: April 4, 2021 at 11:11 AM | Permalink Comments President Biden has the authority to give a second chance to thousands. That is his challenge. Observing Second Chance Month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities is painfully cruel without granting clemency's to thousands of nonviolent marijuana and other drug offenders serving life and other egregious sentences. These egregious sentences are frequently given to those who exercise their 6th amendment right to trial. President Biden could grant thousands of clemency petitions without endangering the public safety. Posted by: beth curtis | Apr 5, 2021 2:35:22 PM Post a comment New short FAMM memo makes the case for the EQUAL Act | Main | "Releasing Older Prisoners Convicted of Violent Crimes: The Unger Story" March 31, 2022 BJS releases new report on "Correctional Populations in the United States, 2020 Statistical Tables" I just noticed that last week the Bureau of Justice Statistics released a new accounting of correctional populations in this document titled ""Correctional Populations in the United States, 2020 Statistical Tables." The first page of the 14-page document provides this overview and "highlights": At yearend 2020, an estimated 5,500,600 persons were under the supervision of adult correctional systems in the United States, 11% fewer than at the same time the previous year. This was the first time since 1996 that the total correctional population dropped to less than 5.6 million. About 1 in 47 adult U.S. residents (2.1%) were under some form of correctional supervision at the end of 2020, a decrease from 1 in 40 (2.5%) at the end of 2019. This report summarizes data on populations supervised by probation or parole agencies and those incarcerated in state or federal prisons or in the custody of local jails. About 7 in 10 persons under correctional supervision were supervised in the community (3,890,400) at yearend 2020, while about 3 in 10 (1,691,600) were incarcerated in a state or federal prison or local jail. The decline in the correctional population during 2020 was due to decreases in both the community supervision population (down 276,700 or 6.6%) and the incarcerated population (down 294,400 or 18.9%). From 2010 to 2020, the correctional population decreased 22.4% (down 1,588,400 persons). From 2010 to 2020, the decrease in the probation population accounted for 63.1% of the total decline in the correctional population. Among persons under community supervision at yearend 2020, the majority were on probation (3,053,700), while a smaller portion were on parole (862,100). During the past decade, the parole population was the only segment of the correctional population to increase, growing from 11.9% of those under correctional supervision in 2010 to 15.7% in 2020. At yearend 2020, about 2,140 per 100,000 adult U.S. residents were under correctional supervision. The incarceration rate dropped each year during the last decade, from 960 per 100,000 adult U.S. residents at yearend 2010 to 660 per 100,000 at yearend 2020. March 31, 2022 at 05:32 PM | Permalink Comments Population of USA = 332,000,000. Number behind bars = 1,691,600. Percentage of population behind bars = one half of one percent. Based on having ONE HALF OF ONE PERCENT of the population behind bars, and 99.5% not, the pro-criminal lobby constantly, and without a hint of embarrassment, trashes the United States as "incarceration nation." That same lobby, with equal concern for the truth, also constantly blares that the USA imprisons a higher percentage of its people than any other country, even as it knows full well that the published incarceration figures for China, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Russia, and numerous others cannot possibly be trusted and in all likelihood are false. Then they tell us how religiously faithful they are to "the data." Posted by: Bill Otis | Mar 31, 2022 8:16:42 PM It is a good to note, Bill, that our imprisoned population is down from its peak about a decade ago and that it has never been more than 1% of the total adult population. But we still imprison roughly 4X per capita the number that the US imprisoned for most of the 20th Century (until the mass increase beginning at start of the Nixon era) AND we also imprison roughly 4X most western nations. I think it fair, based on those realities, to still call the US incarceration nation. Even if you want to question the data from shady regimes and say our imprisonment rates are, in fact, somewhat more comparable to the likes of China, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Russia, that is still not very nice company. Those countries do not claim to prioritze fredom and liberty like we claim to. And data that we do have suggests we are truly a world leader here, and surely incarcerate more per capital than at least 95% of the nations in the world: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/incarceration-rates-by-country Since our country charted a constitution committed to the "Blessing of Liberty" and since Prez Lincoln rightly said our nation was "conceived in liberty," I think a true commitment to the Founders and Framers would lead one to be ever eager to see the US do comparatively a lot better. But maybe Americans cannot and should not really aspire to be as free a nation like Japan, which has an incarceration rate that is 1/10 what the US has. Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 31, 2022 8:43:00 PM Doug -- Do we call our country "Methodist nation"? If so, I never heard of it, and it would be nuts, notwithstanding that we have seven to eight times the number of Methodists here than we do incarcerated people, and we have more Methodists than any other country. (In case you're wondering, we have between 12,000,000 and 15,000,000 Methodists). Nor am I entirely comfortable with your comparing the US only to caucasian (you say "western") countries. Why so limited? Are non-caucasian countries somehow inferior? Why is that? "Even if you want to question the data from shady regimes and say our imprisonment rates are, in fact, somewhat more comparable to the likes of China, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Russia, that is still not very nice company." Where did I say our imprisonment rates are "comparable" to those in the specified countries? As I attempted to make crystal clear, I have no idea (and I suspect you don't either) what the actual incarceration rate is in any of them, so I wouldn't know what the comparison would be. But one way or the other, my point remains unrefuted: The sentencing reform side cannot possibly say that the US has the highest incarceration rate in the world, because they don't know what the incarceration rate is in any number of other countries, including some big ones. They're just blowing smoke in order to smear the United States. That is, as you would say, "not very nice." It's also dishonest. In fact, America is (still for the moment) a free country. Yes, some criminals (a small minority of them) are in prison, but they are there mainly because of their own risible choices, not ours. If they would make better choices -- like not stealing stuff and dealing honestly with other people -- the prison population would plummet. Do you disagree? Posted by: Bill Otis | Apr 2, 2022 3:39:29 PM Bill, crime rates have plummeted over the last quarter century --- FBI index crimes in 2019 were roughly half of what they were in 1991. But the US incarcerated population doubled over that time from roughly 1 million to 2 million. So, sadly, I am not confident that in the US a lot less crime will mean a lot less imprisonment. I am confident that it is not dishonest to claim that the US now has an incarceration rate that is 4 times higher than it had for most of the 20th century AND still has the highest KNOWN incarceration rate in the world. We do not look so good if we think caging people is bad when we compare the US to countries throughout the ENTIRE world, as I did with my prior link and will do so again: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/incarceration-rates-by-country You are welcome to say you are proud of our historically and globally high incarceration rates, but you are the one being dishonest if seeking to obfuscate the reality that the US now has historically and globally high incarceration rates. Posted by: Doug B. | Apr 2, 2022 7:14:55 PM Post a comment BJS releases new report on "Correctional Populations in the United States, 2020 Statistical Tables" | Main | A second chance for Prez Biden to follow his proclamation about Second Chance Month with some clemency grants April 1, 2022 "Releasing Older Prisoners Convicted of Violent Crimes: The Unger Story" The title of this post is the title of this new article now available via SSRN and authored by Michael Millemann, Jennifer Chapman and Samuel Feder. Here is its abstract: This article is a retrospective analysis of the significant Maryland decision, Unger v. State, which resulted in one of the most interesting and important unplanned criminal justice experiments in Maryland and national history. On May 24, 2012, Marylands highest court released a decision that shocked the Maryland legal world and gave older life-sentenced Maryland prisoners their first real hope of release in decades. In Unger v. State, the Maryland Court of Appeals made retroactive a 1980 decision that had invalidated a historic instruction that Maryland judges had given juries in criminal cases for over 150 years. In that instruction, judges told the lay jurors that they, not the judge, were the ultimate judges of the law, and what the judge said was advisory only. A fair reading of the Unger decision was that all prisoners convicted before 1981 were entitled to new trials. Subsequent decisions confirmed this reading. Over six years, 200 of these older prisoners impacted by the Unger decision were released on probation. This article examines the jury-determines-the-law instruction, the Unger decision, and the implementation of Unger, largely through the releases of older prisoners convicted of violent crimes. In this article, we identify what we believe is important about the Unger story, not just in Maryland but also nationally, including the impact of race in criminal justice, the ability to release older prisoners with appropriate support, and how the lessons learned from the Unger decision can provide a model for reentry programs. April 1, 2022 at 09:32 AM | Permalink Comments Post a comment 7.07 13.9% 245.68 482.9 4226.4 Spriver Tech Limited10 -SW526 7.8498 4226.4 57 NFT40% 7 Crew-34177 59 10 3 2023 Art Basel M+ SIOUX CITY -- From the moment the Navy announced that one of its newest ships would be named after Sioux City, local civic leaders swelled with pride, vowing to support the ship and its crew. Barely three years after joining the Navy's fleet, the USS Sioux City will need every bit of that support to remain in service. A U.S. Navy budget proposal unveiled Monday recommends the decommissioning of the USS Sioux City and 23 other ships. Just like that, the ship could be mothballed when memories of the joyous 2018 commissioning ceremony still remain strong in the minds of many. Though the ship's future is now uncertain, the community will continue to stand behind the ship's crew members and their mission, said Chris McGowan, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president. "We will continue to do our very best to support the courageous men and women who serve on the USS Sioux City and remain focused on expanding and enhancing the incredibly strong relationship we have built with these sailors," said McGowan, who co-chaired the ship's commissioning committee with retired Rear Adm. Frank Thorp. The Navy's decommissioning recommendation must be approved by Congress, and lawmakers could block the plan. Thorp, a 28-year Navy veteran, said Thursday that process ensures the USS Sioux City will not disappear overnight. "The budget still needs to be approved by Congress, so this has a long time to play out. And then if USS Sioux City and the other Freedom class LCS are approved for decommissioning, it will take some time to make that happen. That is important because the crew needs that connection with her namesake city now more than ever," Thorp said. The proposal is part of a five-year budget plan that calls for decommissioning 24 ships, including eight other Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ships, or LCS, similar to the USS Sioux City, for a total savings of $3.6 billion, Navy officials said at a press briefing Monday. Navy officials said other ships can perform the USS Sioux City's anti-submarine warfare mission, and mechanical problems with the water jet propulsion systems have plagued the LCS Freedom class vessels. "... it's a hard thing to make a decision to decommission ships, but what we are looking at is what offers the best capability against the threats that we are facing," Meredith A. Berger, acting Under Secretary Of The Navy, told reporters. "And so as we think about how to build a force that we can sustain within the budget that we have, that's how we've made some of these, again, tough decisions. And as we look across LCS, this is a place where we have identified that there are real costs, especially at the -- for the Freedom class to be able to make some of the repairs that are needed on those as we measure that against what is the best contribution to the capabilities that we need." When commissioned, Navy leaders said the USS Sioux City's expected lifetime would be 30 years, probably more. Mayor Bob Scott said the Navy's decision would be a waste of taxpayer money if the $362 million ship were decommissioned after serving just a fraction of that time. "It's amazing they can spend that amount of money and then decommission it. It's unbelievable," Scott said. "We have a relationship with a lot of people who have served on that ship, and it's hard to believe that ship is unsalvageable. "I would hope we at least try to voice our objection to this." It was just 10 years ago that the Navy announced to an enthusiastic crowd at City Hall that the 11th ship of the LCS class would be named after Sioux City. That enthusiasm never waned. Large numbers of Siouxlanders traveled in January 2016 to the ship's christening at a Wisconsin shipyard. Hundreds more traveled to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, to witness the ship's commissioning on Nov. 18, 2018. Before and since the ship's commissioning, ship commanders and crew members have received warm welcomes when visiting Sioux City, and more than $250,000 was raised to create a legacy education fund to help USS Sioux City crew members and their families pay for educational expenses. Thorp repeatedly said during his many visits to Sioux City before the commissioning that he'd never seen a city embrace a namesake ship as Sioux City had done. "The support for the ship and crew is unparalleled," Thorp said. "The other thing I would say is that the sailors who have served on USS Sioux City will forever stand proud, arguably prouder than most if not all of the other ships on the waterfront, because of the great support of the people of Siouxland." Since its commissioning, the USS Sioux City and its 75-member crew have been based in Mayport, Florida, and deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South's mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. In recent months, the USS Sioux City and its crew, working with the U.S. Coast Guard, stopped two vessels in the Caribbean Sea, seizing approximately 1,080 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $44 million. News of those missions has been a point of pride, McGowan said. "We are very proud to serve as the namesake city for LCS 11 and we will remain so for as long as the USS Sioux City continues to serve our nation in the defense of freedom," he said. "Obviously, these decisions will be made at the highest levels of our federal government, and their sole criteria ought to be what is in the best interest of our national defense and protecting the security of the American people." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. On March 24, the Washington Post published Bi-khim Hsiao's Op-ed Ukraine has inspired Taiwan. We must stand against authoritarianism.' using the Ukraine issue to distort the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. Minister Counselor Zhu Haiquan, Chief of the Political Section of the Chinese Embassy in the US, wrote a letter to the Editorial Board of the Washington Post to give a solemn response to the Op-ed. Part of the letter was published on April 1, and the full text is as follows: The Taiwan question and the Ukraine crisis are totally different in nature. Ukraine is sovereign state, and the Ukraine crisis is a conflict between sovereign countries, while Taiwan is part of China's territory, and the Taiwan question is a Chinese internal affair. Taiwan has been and will always be an inalienable part of China's territory. It is not an independent sovereign state. The 1943 Cairo Declaration states that Taiwan shall be restored to China. The 1945 Potsdam Proclamation reaffirms that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. Since the Peoples Republic of China was founded and became the sole legal Government representing the whole of China, Taiwan has indisputably become part of China. The UNGA Resolution 2758 has further confirmed Taiwan's status. These are ironclad facts. In the video call with President Xi Jinping on March 18, President Joe Biden reiterated that the United States adheres to the One-China policy and does not support "Taiwan independence". The claim that Chinese mainland "threatens" Taiwan cannot hold water at all. People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese bonded by blood ties. Millions of Taiwanese live and work in the Chinese mainland. Why would family members threaten each other? As Taiwan's largest export market and source of its biggest trade surplus, the mainland can only bring tangible benefits and well-being to Taiwan compatriots. How can there be any threat? The Taiwan question is not about "democracy versus authoritarianism", but about secession versus anti-secession. Using "democracy" and "authoritarianism" to draw a line between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is to provoke confrontation and seek an excuse for "Taiwan independence separatist forces. This is the only and real threat to the people of Taiwan. The future of Taiwan lies in peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the reunification of China. Chinese people on both sides of the Strait should work together to pursue national reunification. President Bidens speech from Warsaw Saturday night, reminded me of two previous presidents who delivered speeches confronting the autocracy that was then the Soviet Union and is now Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, a man Biden has rightly called a war criminal. On June 26, 1963, Kennedy spoke before the Berlin Wall which the Soviets had erected to stem the flow of Berliners out of the communist paradise to the West. In his remarks, Kennedy said, Freedom is indivisible and when one man is enslaved, all are not free and lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today, to the hopes of tomorrow to the advance of freedom everywhere Kennedys remarks came to be known as the I am a Berliner address. Biden echoed Kennedys optimism when he quoted a phrase Pope John Paul II often used: Do not be afraid. In 1987, Ronald Reagan visited Berlin and delivered his Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall speech. Like Biden, Reagan contrasted systems of government that preserve freedom with those ruled by autocrats who quash freedom. Reagan said, Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor. We believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. In his speech Biden went further than Kennedy and Reagan, calling Vladimir Putin a butcher. Speaking directly to the Russian people (if they can hear me) he tacitly called upon them to remove Putin from office, saying This man cannot remain in power. A White House statement walked back his clear reference to regime change, but what he said remains in the official transcript. Biden later denied he was calling for Putin's ouster, but the damage was done. Biden also said the war will be a long one. Did he mean the Putin war against Ukraine, or something bigger, like the decades-long Cold War? He did not specify and that is part of the problem. Whats the endgame and what is Americas strategy for reaching it? Biden still wont supply Ukraine with old Soviet MiG airplanes to close the skies, fearing that could trigger the use of nuclear weapons by Putin. Biden again spoke of the need to end the Wests reliance on fossil fuels and create more renewable energy. That is an objective that cannot be achieved anytime soon, like the war between autocracies and democracy, which the president said will not be won in days or months (or decades?). Autocracies preceded the worldwide need for petroleum and will likely continue should renewable energy eventually replace it. Conservatives should praise Biden for what may be the best and most energized speech of his presidency while still asking why he and NATO wont provide more of what Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he needs to defeat the invasion. The situation with Ukraine is different from what Kennedy and Reagan faced. Then, there was only a wall erected on the order of an occupying force that was not bombing East Germany, though guards shot anyone trying to escape. Those presidents used powerful words and Reagans Strategic Defense Initiative to wear down the Soviet Union and cause its collapse. Today, Ukraine faces predatory forces that have been ordered by another Russian dictator to do whatever is necessary to achieve his goals, including the killing of civilian men, women and babies. The BBC reports an estimated 200,000 Russians have left their country since the start of the war, a significant brain drain. Those who have stayed should heed President Bidens call to remove Putin from power by whatever means necessary. I think Kennedy and Reagan might have approved of such a goal. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Third Foreign Ministers Meeting Among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan was held in Tunxi, Anhui Province in China on 31 March 2022. Foreign ministers or high-level representatives of China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were present. All parties at the meeting note that with the end of long years of war in Afghanistan, the country is now struggling with serious economic and livelihood difficulties as well as challenges across sectors. All parties pledge to support Afghanistans economic reconstruction in areas such as humanitarian assistance, connectivity, economy and trade, agriculture, energy and capacity building. Humanitarian assistance All parties decide to provide further humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, and call on the international community to give more support to Afghanistan, to help it restore cash liquidity and avoid humanitarian disaster. 1. China will speed up delivering its commitment of providing Afghanistan with emergency humanitarian assistance such as food, winter supplies, COVID-19 vaccines and medical equipment, and is ready to provide additional humanitarian assistance through bilateral and multilateral channels. 2. China will continue to provide Afghanistan with vaccines, medical equipment, medicine and other anti-epidemic supplies, carry out cooperation in Traditional Chinese Medicine, support the operation of Afghanistans medical and health systems, and help Afghanistan fight COVID-19. 3. Iran has sent more than 30 humanitarian aid shipments including food, medicine and health items to help the people in different cities of Afghanistan, and is consulting and coordinating with the Afghan side to send new supportive shipments. 4. Iran will continue to provide emergency fuel and food and other necessary daily life items to the people of Afghanistan. 5. Pakistan announced in-kind humanitarian assistance package of Rs. 5 billion (around $ 30 million). Pakistan has provided more than 13,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan under Pak-Afghan Cooperation Forum and provided three consignments of wheat to Afghanistan. Pakistan has also been channelizing humanitarian assistance from various philanthropic organizations of Pakistan. 6. Pakistan is also acting as a channel to facilitate the flow of international humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, including providing transit facility for Indian wheat to Afghanistan on an exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes and facilitating the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) air-bridge between Islamabad and Kabul. 7. Pakistan hosted 17th Extraordinary Session of OIC-CFM in Islamabad on 19 December 2021 where, inter alia, the following was decided: a. Establishment of a Humanitarian Trust Fund for Afghanistan (formalized during the 48th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Islamabad) b. Appointment of Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet as Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the OIC for Afghanistan c. OIC General Secretariat, together with Islamic Development Bank and the Humanitarian Trust Fund, to devise a roadmap in concert with UN system organizations for unlocking financial and banking channels d. OIC General Secretariat, in concert with World Health Organization and other relevant stakeholders, shall secure vaccines and medical supplies for Covid-19 e. Launching an Afghanistan Food Security Programme, under the aegis of Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) 8. Pakistan continues to provide free Covid-19 vaccination for all Afghans entering Pakistan, works with the Bill Gates Foundation for the eradication of Polio in Afghanistan, and is allowing Afghan patients and their attendants entry into Pakistan to enable their treatment in hospitals across Pakistan. 9. Russia stands ready to continue its humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. 10. Tajikistan will continue to provide its logistics means, in particular through the six bridges across Tajik-Afghan border, to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. Tajikistan will maintain the functioning of border crossing point Panji Poyon for transporting food and other vital products to the people of Afghanistan. 11. Tajikistan will also continue to offer medical services to the citizens of Afghanistan residing in Tajik-Afghan border areas. 12. Turkmenistan will continue to provide humanitarian support to Afghanistan on a systematic basis, which is expressed in the construction of medical and educational institutions on the territory of the neighboring country, preferential supplies of electricity, training of Afghan students in educational institutions of Turkmenistan, regularly sending of humanitarian convoys to Afghanistan, and other types of help and assistance. 13. Turkmenistan will continue to send humanitarian cargoes to Afghanistan with food, textile and household products, medicines and medical supplies, as well as oil products. 14. Turkmenistan from its own resources will supply medicines to the medical center built by Turkmenistan in the province of Faryab and the maternity hospital in the Turgundi city of the province of Herat. 15. Uzbekistan expressed readiness to use the capabilities of the international transport and logistics hub in the city of Termez for the delivery of humanitarian cargo to Afghanistan. IIConnectivity All parties recognize the importance of connectivity to the sustainable development of Afghanistan as a land-locked country, and stand ready to leverage their respective strengths to support Afghanistan in, based on the existing transportation networks with neighboring countries, exploring step by step new convenient channels to strengthen hard connectivity of infrastructure and soft connectivity of rules and standards with neighboring countries. All parties are ready to strengthen cooperation in the implementation of transport agreements developed within the framework of the UNs Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP). 16. China supports the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor to Afghanistan, and is ready to promote synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategies of Afghanistan, and support the smooth operation of the China-Afghanistan freight train services, to help Afghanistan better integrate into the regional economic integration process. 17. Iran has paved the way for Afghanistan to connect to the world markets by the Khaf-Herat railway and plans to complete the railway and extend it to Central Asian countries via Mazar-e-Sharif to help Afghanistan get rid of land-lock limitations. 18. Iran is developing the port of Chabahar and will continue to develop the infrastructure of Chabahar port and its land and sea transit routes along with road projects such as the Mahiroud-Farah road undertaken by Iran in order to help strengthen the situation and transit position of Afghanistan. 19. Pakistan with its renewed focus on geo-economics feels that the dividends of regional connectivity cannot be realized without enduring peace in Afghanistan and will continue to support efforts contributing to regional connectivity. 20. Pakistan believes that Afghanistan can be connected with the CPEC project for enhanced connectivity, which will benefit the entire region, especially Central Asia, for trade and commerce. 21. Agreement between Uzbekistan and Pakistan for Transit Trade (AUPTT) has been made operational and test run of four consignments under this arrangement has already materialized from Karachi to Tashkent through Afghanistan. Movement of trucks under TIR has been successfully operationalized between Pakistan and Uzbekistan via Afghanistan. 22. Pakistan is undertaking a number of connectivity projects with Afghanistan such as completion of Torkham-Jalalabad Road project and revival of road bus service between Pakistan and Afghanistan. 23. Russia supports development of transport connectivity between Central Asian countries and Afghanistan, Pakistan and other regional states and purposes in this regard to use capacities of Russian-Afghan joint transport companies ASTRAS and AFSOTR. 24. Tajikistan will further develop and construct the rail road and cargo center in the Free Economic Zone Panj on the border area with Afghanistan with the view to increase transit trade. 25. Turkmenistan will contribute to the development of the transport, transit and communication system of Afghanistan, the intensification of the transit of cargo and passenger flows, by maintaining the operation of the railways along the route Atamyrat-Imamnazar-Akina-Andkhoy, which is designed to connect the countries of the region with further access to the railway network of China. Turkmenistan is also interested in the further implementation of the transport project - the construction of the Turgundi-Herat railway with a length of 173 kilometers. 26. Turkmenistan intends to continue to promote the project of the transport corridor Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan, as well as the implementation of the project of fiber optic line construction along the above route. 27. Turkmenistan will continue to promote the implementation of the Lapis Lazuli transit and transport corridor, established in the framework of the Agreement signed between Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The successful implementation of this project will be a significant contribution to the development of interregional trade and economic relations, including the socio-economic condition of Afghanistan. 28. Turkmenistan will continue to maintain the uninterrupted operation of the Imamnazar-Akina and Serhetabat-Turgundi fiber optic lines, which are aimed at ensuring international transit flows, and will increase the speed of data transfer, as well as will guarantee a reliable communication link between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. 29. Uzbekistan is ready to strengthen regional interconnectedness through the implementation of construction projects such as the TermezMazar-i-SharifKabulPeshawar railway line. 30. Uzbekistan will continue to actively participate in the restoration of infrastructure facilities, in particular, the international airport in Mazar-i-Sharif. 31. Uzbekistan is ready to take an active part in the construction of large infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, such as the construction of roads, roadside infrastructure, bridges and tunnels. Economy and trade All parties expressed willingness to assist Afghanistan on its efforts toward self-generated development, and encourage Afghanistan to formulate future economic development plans based on its own national conditions and enhance internal driving force for development. All parties agree to explore the establishment of an economic cooperation belt around Afghanistan to improve Afghanistans external development environment. All parties call on Afghanistan to create a favorable business environment for foreign enterprises. All parties encourage the use of local currencies in bilateral trade and investment to lower transaction costs and facilitate trade and investment. All parties are ready to strengthen communication with Afghanistan on trade policies, explore the signing of trade facilitation agreements, formulate transitional preferential trade arrangements, reduce taxes and fees on trade with Afghanistan, streamline customs clearance procedures such as commodity declaration and quality inspection, and improve Afghanistans level of trade facilitation. 32. China pledges to continue to provide development assistance to Afghanistan for small and medium livelihood projects to benefit Afghan people. 33. China supports its enterprises in investing and starting businesses in Afghanistan when the security situation permits, and in resuming projects such as the Aynak Copper Mine and the Amu Darya Oilfield in due course. China supports its enterprises to help Afghanistan improve its mobile network, and explore and develop mineral resources. 34. Iran is pursuing the expansion of bilateral trade and economic exchanges with Afghanistan by different tools including development of joint border markets and continues to remove trade obstacles through different ways including reduction of existing tariffs based on agreements with Afghan side. 35. Iran declares its readiness to assist in the exploration and extraction of mines, including the reserves in joint borders areas, and to provide technical assistance as well as joint investment to Afghanistan in this field. 36. Pakistan has taken initiative to facilitate transit trade through operationalizing five border crossing points with Afghanistan. To ease issues in trade with Afghanistan, Pakistan revised customs processes and implemented other facilitative measures, including put in place a facilitative visa regime for Afghan people. 37. Pakistan has allowed export of several items to Afghanistan in Pakistani Rupees via land routes to facilitate Afghanistans economy. A regime of Temporary Admission Documents (TAD) for commercial vehicles of Afghanistan and Pakistan has been agreed to facilitate movement of goods. 38. Pakistan has reduced / waived off customs duty on Afghanistans perishable items such as fruits and vegetables being exported to Pakistan, and offered Afghanistan the opportunity to establish cold storage facilities close to border crossing points to assist trade in fruits and vegetables. 39. Russia expresses its support to national and joint Russian-Afghan businesses to start economic and trade activities in Afghanistan. Russia supports its companies to develop Afghanistans oil and gas fields and realize mined products on mutual agreed conditions. 40. Turkmenistan will develop trade and economic ties with Afghanistan, and continue to implement new joint projects in such important areas as energy, transport and communications, involving Afghan companies to these projects. In particular, Turkmenistan will promote the implementation of the construction of the transnational gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI), which is an important aspect of trade and economic cooperation, and which will ensure the development and restoration of the social and economic infrastructure of Afghanistan. 41. Uzbekistan takes an active part in the development of cross-border trade. For these purposes, the construction of the Termez International Trade Center is being carried out in the border zone with Afghanistan. 42. Uzbekistan is interested in increasing mutual trade with Afghanistan. To this end, the issue of establishing a preferential regime in mutual trade is being worked out with the Afghan side. . Agriculture All parties note that agriculture is Afghanistans pillar industry, encourage Afghanistan to vigorously develop agriculture and raise food self-sufficiency, and stand ready to provide necessary support for Afghanistans agricultural development. 43. China supports Afghanistan in cultivating cotton, pepper, sunflower seeds and other agricultural products and exporting them to China, and will continue to facilitate the export of Afghan specialty agricultural products including pine nut, saffron, almond and pomegranate to China. 44. China stands ready to, as needed by Afghanistan, provide seeds, fertilizers and agricultural materials and machinery to Afghanistan, and support the development of high-value-added agricultural industries such as greenhouse planting to help Afghan farmers raise income. 45. China supports Afghanistan in strengthening agricultural infrastructure. 46. Iran declares its readiness to present to Afghanistan side a list of its agricultural and livestock needs to be produced in Afghanistan in order to be exported to Iran. 47. Pakistan is desirous of deepening agriculture cooperation with Afghanistan and continues to engage with Afghan side to explore ways and means for agriculture. 48. Pakistan can provide all possible technical assistance and capacity building opportunities to Afghanistan in the field of agriculture and livestock. 49. Pakistan and Afghanistan can enhance cooperation in agri-research, imports / exports of agricultural products, market access and potential areas of trade in livestock, red meat and fisheries. 50. Russia will develop cooperation with Afghanistan in the areas of mutual interest, in particular to promote the comprehensive agricultural development of Afghanistan, ensure food security, facilitate export of Russian agricultural products, and facilitate mutual access to agricultural products. Russia supports its enterprises to export livestock and agricultural products to Afghanistan on Afghanistans market demands. 51. Uzbekistan will continue to supply Afghanistan with food products, flour and grain, as well as essential goods. V. Energy All parties recognize that accelerating energy infrastructure development is crucial to Afghanistans economic development and improvement of living standards, and stand ready to make joint efforts to improve Afghanistans energy infrastructure. 52. China is ready to continue discussions with Afghanistan on solar power station and other projects based on Afghanistans needs and security condition, etc. 53. Iran declares its readiness to increase the current level of electricity export to Afghanistan, welcomes constructing power plants inside the country and also exporting technical and engineering services for all shapes of energy including renewable ones. 54. Pakistan supports energy infrastructure projects for the integration of regional countries in terms of economic development, infrastructure and improvement in livelihoods. 55. Pakistan is working on mega projects such as CASA-1000 and TAPI to augment energy cooperation with Central Asia through Afghanistan. 56. Russia stands ready to consider conduction of analysis with other interested parties of Afghanistans crucial infrastructure (power, water supply, road system etc.) with a view to develop a coordinated reconstruction plan. 57. Tajikistan stands ready to ensure its continuous supply of electricity to Afghanistan on discounted rate as part of assistance for Afghanistan economic reconstruction, in particular to the Northern provinces and to the capital Kabul. 58. Tajikistan supports other multinational energy projects and emphasized the importance of completion of the CASA-1000 project which will serve as the vivid example of greater interregional cooperation and connectivity between Central and South Asia. 59. Turkmenistan intends to continue providing reliable energy supply to the northern provinces of Afghanistan, in particular, along the route of the Kerki-Shibergan power lines. 60. Furthermore, Turkmenistan will promote the realization of the project of construction of the Turkemenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line, laid in parallel with the TAPI gas pipeline, together with the Afghan and Pakistani sides. The project will serve as an important part of the energy infrastructure of Afghanistan, helping it on its path to economic recovery. 61. Uzbekistan is ready to accelerate the implementation of the SurkhanPuli-Khumri power transmission line construction project. 62. Uzbekistan will continue the uninterrupted supply of electricity to Afghanistan, and also expresses its readiness to increase the volume of electricity supplied. 63. The Uzbek side expresses its readiness to participate in joint exploration of minerals and in projects for their development and production. VI. Capacity building All parties recognize that sufficient professional and technical talents is an important underpinning for Afghanistans future development, stand ready to provide support to this end, and call on outstanding Afghan talents to contribute to the countrys development and rejuvenation. 64. China pledges to further strengthen human resource development cooperation with Afghanistan for the cultivation of talents in key areas such as governance, health, poverty reduction and alleviation, disaster prevention and mitigation and trade and investment. 65. China is ready to work with other neighbors of Afghanistan to provide joint training programs for Afghanistan. 66. Iran has announced its readiness to provide Afghanistan people with bilateral or multilateral training courses in various fields such as health and treatment, empowerment of women and girls, technical training and other needed area inside Afghanistan or any other country. 67. Pakistan has offered technical and capacity building training in various sectors such as health, economy, banking, aviation and information technology to Afghanistan. Pakistan has been considering positively scholarships for Afghan students. 68. Russia pledges to further provide scholarships to Afghan civilian students. 69. Tajikistan will continue to create favorable conditions to those Afghan students studying in its higher education institutions, as well as allocate annual scholarships to the citizens of Afghanistan. 70. Turkmenistan will continue to provide quotas for the education of Afghan students in educational institutions of Turkmenistan, training specialists in the fields of transport, energy and healthcare. 71. Uzbekistan expressed its readiness to organize courses for the training of specialists in the field of agriculture and irrigation on the basis of the Educational Center in Termez. 72. Uzbekistan will continue to train professional personnel, improve the skills of specialists and expand the list of professions on the basis of the Educational Center in the city of Termez to train Afghan youth. All parties call on the international community as well as relevant regional and international financial institutions to provide financing support for Afghanistans reconstruction and development. Shawn Mendes believes meditation has "truly" changed his life because it has helped him combat anxiety. Sydney Sweeney's grandparents joked that she has the "best t*** in Hollywood" after they attended the premiere of 'Euphoria' and watched her racy scenes in the hit high school drama. STORM LAKE, Iowa -- A 32-year newspaper war in this Buena Vista County seat has finally ended. The Storm Lake Times Company on Friday announced it had purchased the Pilot-Tribune from Hallmark II Publishing of Charles City. The sale also includes the Pilot-Tribune's Advertising Guide and Cherokee Chronicle Times and Area Advertiser. Hallmark II purchased the Pilot-Tribune and Chronicle Times from Rust Communications of Cape Girardeau, Mo., and then immediately sold the papers to Storm Lake Times owners John and Art Cullen, according to a story posted Friday on the Times' website. Hallmark II, owned by Gene Hall, a Spencer native whose family formerly owned the Northwest Iowa Shopper, and his son Christopher, publisher of the Charles City Press, also purchased the Spencer Daily Reporter, the Dickinson County News and the Le Mars Sentinel, with their associated shopping guides, from Rust. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Storm Lake Times was the subject of a recent award-winning documentary, called Storm Lake, which chronicled the day-to-day life of the family owned, twice-weekly publication's struggles to stay afloat. The documentary came after Art Cullen won a 2017 Pulitzer Prize for a series of editorials challenging corporate agricultural interests. In a column Friday, titled "We might not be here today if it weren't for an immigrant from China," Cullen said the documentary caught the attention of billionaire John Tu, co-owner of Kingston Technology in Fountain Valley, Calif. "He liked what he heard about The Times. He worried that the pandemic might drive us out of business we were terribly anxious about it, too," Cullen wrote in the column. "Tu emailed to say that he wanted to make sure we stayed open. He made a generous donation to the Western Iowa Journalism Foundation, which in turn appropriated the money to help keep us rolling." The Western Iowa Journalism Foundation accepts donations to support family-owned, independent rural newspapers. The Times and Pilot-Tribune will be merged into a single, twice-a-week publication called The Storm Lake Times Pilot. Art Cullen will be editor and publisher, and his brother, John, will be the president. The newspaper will be published on Wednesdays and Fridays, delivered by mail. The Cherokee newspaper will run as it does now, except it will be published on Wednesdays and Fridays, the same as The Times Pilot, according to the story. The Times said all staff members were offered jobs at the "same or better pay." The Cullens will transition their printing from White Wolf Web in Sheldon to the Halls press in Spencer. For the Cullens, the sale marked the end of a 32-year contest with the Pilot, Storm Lakes oldest continuous business. John Cullen was working in public relations at Buena Vista University when he tried to buy the Pilot-Tribune from then-owner Edwards Publishing, which rebuffed him. That motivated him to start The Times in June 1990. His brother, Art, moved home to Storm Lake that September to assist. "The launch of the weekly started a mini-newspaper war that escalated into both The Times and the Pilot-Tribune going to daily publication Storm Lake was the smallest town in America with competing daily newspapers and then reverting to twice-weekly. The competition was fierce," according to the Times story. The Pilot-Tribunes circulation, which was more than 5,000 copies, tumbled to under 1,000 by the end of 2021, according to the story. "The Times, likewise, hemorrhaged money during the pandemic although it was able to hold its circulation near 3,000 copies," the story said. Rust Communications bought the Pilot-Tribune from the Davis family in 2003. Were grateful to Gene and Christopher Hall, longtime friends, for the opportunity to purchase the Pilot-Tribune and Ad Guide, John Cullen said in the Times story. This concentration of resources will allow us to put out an even stronger newspaper that helps build The City Beautiful. Its been a long time coming. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Despite Donald Trumps genius for evading responsibility, this was the week that we learned that federal criminal investigators might finally actually be focusing on his inner circle and even approaching the vicinity of investigating the former president himself. The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the Justice Department is looking beyond those who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, violence on Capitol Hill, or who directly supported the insurrectionists, and into the funding of the Trump-headlined rally that took place before the assault on the Capitol. That was followed quickly by the news that a grand jury has issued subpoenas seeking information about the false electoral slates that were part of the Trump campaign scheme to overturn the 2020 election. Advertisement According to these reports, the Justice Department has now ventured into the circles around the former president. Theres no doubt, though, who the intended beneficiary of the Jan. 6 events or the false electoral slates wasor where the evidence, if properly followed as Attorney General Merrick Garland has promised to do, ultimately points. We have no confirmation that the man in the center is a subject or target of the federal investigationbut these and other recent developments suggest that is likely coming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Another important indicator of the rising prospects of a Trump probe is the finding of a California federal court this week that the former president likely committed federal crimes in the run-up to and on Jan. 6. Then there is the evidence of an extraordinary seven-hour gap in White House call records that raises the question of whether Trump sought to cover his tracks on his conversations that day. Ultimately, the violence on Jan. 6 was the inevitable culmination of the larger conspiracy to overturn the election that District Judge David O. Carter addressed. Advertisement Advertisement Together, these strands weave into the shape of a possible case against the former president. We know that the plan to appoint alternate electors for Trump in the swing states was circulating in the Trump campaign in November 2020. That idea came amid the first part of the effort to keep Trump in power. Think of it as plan A: overturn the election in the states. It included the 60-plus cases Trump allies brought in courts to try to negate Joe Bidens victory. As that plan began to fail, John Eastman, Peter Navarro, Steve Bannon, and other Trump advisers came on board with plan B: seeking to get Republicans in Congress, and particularly Vice President Mike Pence, to object to or delay certification of Bidens victory. Even as that plotting proceeded, however, Trump strategists apparently foresaw that the Pence plan, like the court cases, was legally fraught and also might fail. Advertisement Advertisement That brings us to plan C: the use of force on Jan. 6 to intimidate Congress. As the New York Times reported on Tuesday, investigators are now focused on the then-presidents Dec. 19, 2020, tweet inviting his followers to D.C. for a rally that will be wild. Advertisement Advertisement Extremist domestic terrorist groups such as the Proud Boys, the Times reported, viewed the tweet as a call to action. Another extremist group, the Oath Keepers, began buying arms and making plans for an assault. (Disclosure: One of us is part of civil litigation against those groups.) Investigating all phases of the scheme to keep Trump in power is certainly complex, which is perhaps why progress has appeared slow for those looking for accountability for the former president. As the House select committee has shown, the investigation involves hundreds of witnesses, thousands of documents, and innumerable leads to track and pin down. The DOJ investigations revealed this week, and the conspiracy Carter discussed, are sweeping. Advertisement Advertisement Still, time is of the essence, and if the DOJ is going to make progress, it needs to do so soon. That is why it has been so frustrating to see reports that in January 2021, before Biden was in office and Garland was confirmed as the new attorney general, the Trump administrationappointed U.S attorney for the District of Columbia chose to focus his investigation entirely on Jan. 6 itself and not look at the rally funders for fear of getting too close to First Amendment activity. That appears profoundly misguided: When a matter as serious as an insurrection is involved, responsible authorities cannot be gun-shy about taking the first steps to finding out whether there is any there there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For all the good news that the inquiry has proceeded to funders of the Jan. 6 rally and to events before Jan. 6 itself, we do not yet have confirmation of lines of inquiry we would expect. We have not, for example, seen confirmation that the DOJ is probing all aspects of the plot to overturn the election by manipulating the Electoral Count Act and pressuring Pence to break the law. Nor have we learned that the DOJ has interviewed or subpoenaed any of the false electors who signed bogus electoral slates fraudulently saying that they were the duly elected and official electors. That may be happening or may yet lie ahead. In either case, we expect to eventually learn of the DOJs decision one way or the other. Finally, an investigation of the scope were envisioning needs massive funding and personnel to pursue a former president, and the DOJ appears to be seeking those resources. It is encouraging that this is happening alongside the parallel and complementary work of the House select committee and of others, such as Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis. Critically, though, the signs of progress that are now emerging indicate that the attorney general was good on his word when he stated that he would follow the evidence wherever it leads. Earlier this week, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that allows parents to sue school districts if teachers violate what appear to be tactically vague limitations on discussing sexual orientation or gender identity. After internal pressure that included an employee walkout at the companys Burbank, California, office, the Disney Corporationwhose Walt Disney World is a major employer and tourist draw in Floridaissued a statement that said the bill should never have passed and should never have been signed into law. Disney further said that our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts. Advertisement In response, DeSantis said that he believes the company no longer deserves special privileges under Florida law. He was referring in part to a suggestion, made by Republican state Rep. Spencer Roach, that legislators should discuss a repeal of the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act, which allows Disney to act as its own government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What? To act as its own government? Yes. In the words of the Reedy Creek Improvement District itself: In the mid-1960s, the Walt Disney World Company proposed building a recreation-oriented development on 25,000 acres of property in Central Florida. The property sat in a remote area of Orange and Osceola County, so secluded that the nearest power and water lines were 10-15 miles away. Neither Orange nor Osceola County had the services or the resources needed to bring the project to life. In 1967 the Florida State legislature, working with Walt Disney World Company, created a special taxing districtcalled the Reedy Creek Improvement Districtthat would act with the same authority and responsibility as a county government. Advertisement Advertisement As explained by the site Florida Politics, the RCIDs governing body, the board of supervisors, is chosen by the RCIDs landowners. There are some landowners besides Disney in the district, but none whose holdings are within an order of magnitude of the Mouses, which means Disney, in effect, selects the board members. (Because of a requirement in the law, it then grants them nominal ownership over five acres of land, which they have to give back when they leave the board. The Orlando Sentinel has described the land as inaccessible and undevelopable.) The board can, among other things, write building codes, sell tax-free bonds, produce electricity, condemn property and kill mosquitoes. How serious of a threat is DeSantis making? Well, Floridas Legislature is finished with its annual business and wont meet again until next yearunless DeSantis calls a special session. But one also imagines that even if building-code approval and other responsibilities reverted to other local authorities in central Florida, those authorities might defer to the interests of the global megacorporation that is responsible for 99.9 percent of their areas economic activity. Legislators are also not, for now, challenging Disneys even more super-secret authority to indefinitely detain any individual deemed to be in violation of Mouse Prerogative 7.0 Delta. Ha! Im kidding about that statute, which is definitely not part of the so-called Florida Codex written in strange symbols, appended to the state charter, and kept in a vault under Lake Buena Vista. This paragraph is satire! Have a nice weekend! How close can a district court judge come to disobeying the Supreme Court without technically defying it? Judge Reed OConnor wants to find out. Last week, in a 63 order, the Supreme Court halted his unprecedented injunction attempting to order the deployment of 35 Navy SEALs and other special warfare troops who refused to get the COVID vaccine on religious grounds. In a concurrence, Justice Brett Kavanaugh explained that courts may not exercise their power in a manner that military commanders believe would impair the military of the United States as it defends the American people. Advertisement But OConnor, a George W. Bush appointee, didnt seem to get the message. Just three days later, he issued a far more sweeping order granting 4,095 service members a religious exemption from the COVID vaccine. The Navy already denied these exemptions, but OConnor overrode its judgment, holding that there is no compelling interest to justify the mandate. His decision is all but certain to be upheld at the lawless and radical 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The real question is whether the Supreme Court will reward yet another brazen attempted heist of President Joe Bidens constitutional authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. From the start of this case, OConnor has expressed undisguised disdain for the Navys vaccine mandate and the officers in charge of enforcing it. In his first injunction, he slammed the mandate for its alleged irrationality and rejected high-ranking officers testimony that it will improve military readiness by diminishing the impact of COVID on the force. In his original order, OConnor did not merely bar all adverse action against unvaccinated service members; he also sought to make the Navy deploy unvaccinated troops on specific missions and bar the reassignment of unvaccinated troops to positions in which they were less likely to catch or transmit COVID. In case there was any confusion about the scope of that previous injunction, OConnor threatened to hold the government in contempt after several plaintiffs complained that they had not been promoted quickly enough. Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department made a tactical decision to appeal only this most extreme aspect of OConnors ruling on deployment and assignment. Its gamble paid off at the Supreme Court, which sided with the DOJ last Friday (over the dissents of Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch). Although the court did not explain its order, Kavanaugh wrote separately to lay out his position. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President of the United States, not any federal judge, is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, he wrote. Advertisement Kavanaugh specifically took issue with OConnors application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA. Under this law, a substantial burden on religious exercise must be the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental interest. The Navy, Kavanaugh concluded, has an extraordinarily compelling interest in control over decisions about military readiness, and no less restrictive means would satisfy that interest in this context. In other words, OConnor underestimated the governments interests in vaccination and overestimated its obligation to tailor the mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, OConnor responded: No, I didnt. Three days after SCOTUSs order, he transformed the original lawsuit into a class action, increasing the number of plaintiffs 117-fold. This time, he held that the Navy does not have a compelling interest in requiring vaccination against COVID, contrary to what the Supreme Courts decision last week implied. OConnor noted that most of the force is already vaccinated, and that troops with medical exemptions are allowed to remain in active duty. It was illogical, he wrote, to deny religious exemptions while granting medical ones, so the mandate violates RFRA. He issued a new, classwide injunction shielding 4,095 service members from the vaccine. Then, begrudgingly, he noted that his order could not yet apply to deployment and assignment under the Supreme Courts recent decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What, then, does this new injunction do? For now, it bars the Navy from separating service members who refuse the shot for religious reasons. Separation is an administrative process that culminates in discharge. There are several ways to challenge a separation and discharge, and the Supreme Court has long held that service members must exhaust these administrative remedies before seeking federal court intervention. Here, however, OConnor granted the plaintiffs an exemption from this rule, reasoning that his own understanding of the situation outweighed the militarys expertise. (Generals dont make good judgesespecially when it comes to nuanced constitutional issues, he wrote.) To call this decision anomalous would be a vast understatement. To have a prior restraint on administrative action is quite remarkable, military justice expert Eugene R. Fidell told me. People are trying to get federal judges to grant injunctions to prevent their discharge all the time, and typically they dont get anywhere. Theyre told, Come back when the dust has settled and well put you back together again if youre right. Advertisement Advertisement What happens now? The Justice Department, having scored a win on its first trip to SCOTUS, will return to the high courtfollowing a pit stop in the 5th Circuit, where it will almost certainly lose. DOJ attorneys will urge the justices to end OConnors attempted hostile takeover of the commander in chiefs authority. The big question is whether Kavanaugh, along with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, will stick to his guns. If Kavanaugh really meant what he said last time around, it should be an easy case. From the start, the Navy has asserted that unvaccinated service members pose a severe threat to military readiness, heightening their risks of severe illness, death, and transmission of the virus. Every additional unvaccinated troop increases the odds of an outbreak that will undermine or terminate an operation. OConnor has now saddled the Navy with more than 4,000 unvaccinated service members who cannot be deployed on missions or assigned to important roles. They are a drag on the armed forces, hindering the national defense due to their refusal to comply with a lawful order. Just one week ago, Kavanaugh declared that control over decisions about military readiness lies with the military, not the courts. OConnor defied him less than 72 hours later. If a majority of the Supreme Court really believes that judges have no right to act as admirals, it will need to send a much stronger signal that OConnors power grab flouts all known law. Keeping yourself and others safe during a pandemic can be rather expensive, from purchasing masks to covering hospital expenses. Its about to get pricier: Soon, Americans might be individually paying out of pocket to access critical medical tools that the government had covered or subsidized. Federal funding for measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic is currently stalling in Congress, meaning that some Americans are going to have to go it alone to an even greater extent. The COVID-19 Uninsured Program stopped accepting reimbursement claims for testing and treatment on March 22, citing the current funding stalemate in Congress. Theyll also stop accepting claims to reimburse vaccine administration on April 5 if Congress cant come to an agreement. (And if youve already submitted a claim and gotten a confirmation, that doesnt guarantee youll actually be reimbursed.) Currently, the government cannot pay for monoclonal antibody treatments either and says that they do not have money to cover second booster shots for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre uninsured, then the costs of testing and treatment can be quite high. Heres what uninsured Americans can expect to pay without support. PCR testing: Quest Diagnostics told ABC News that a nonsubsidized PCR test could cost $125 for an uninsured American. That adds up quickly: If you get tested once a week, whether because of work policy or a series of exposures, thats about $500 per month. The $125 figure is actually on the lower end of what a PCR test can cost out of pocket. As Consumer Reports reported back in January, PCR testing can be kind of a wild west. Depending on what service you use, the average cost per test is about $130 with insurance and more than $185 without. The highest price Consumer Reports mentions is upward of a thousand dollars. If youre uninsured, youre going to want to do your homework and call the company ahead of time to make sure youre not surprised by how much you pay. If they refuse to tell you, get tested somewhere else. Advertisement Advertisement Home rapid testing: The cost of home testing also varies by which test you decide to get. The Abbott BinaxNOW test can cost $20 to $24 for a pack of two tests. The Quidel QuickVue test costs $24 for a pack of two as well. Finally, the iHealth test costs $18 for a pack of two. Now would be a good time to order a free pack of four home tests from the federal government (each household can place two orders). Advertisement Vaccines: The government still has a supply of vaccines, which are provided for freebut the vaccines themselves arent the only cost associated with getting the shot. Currently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reimbursing providers about $40 for each shot of the vaccine they administer to cover the labor involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And whats the cost for the vaccine if Americans are left to pay for doses of the vaccine themselvessay, if theres another variant or if additional booster doses are recommended? Jessica Justman, an associate professor of medicine in epidemiology at Columbia University, told me that while its hard to imagine federal support completely evaporating in the near future, the cost to consumers could be around what the companies are charging wealthier countries per dose. (A BMJ report says that the United States is paying about $15 per dose for Moderna, $19.50 per dose for Pfizer. Fierce Pharma reports that Johnson & Johnson is pricing their vaccine at $10 per dose.) However, theres no guarantee that this will hold true if consumers are to be expected to pay for their own vaccines. Advertisement Advertisement Like so many aspects of medical care, its difficult to just ask a provider or manufacturer for a sticker pricethough I tried. Pfizer told me that this is a question for the government. Neither Moderna nor Janssen (the vaccine development arm of Johnson & Johnson) responded to my requests before the publication of this article. The Food and Drug Administration told me to ask the Department of Health and Human Services, which also did not respond to my requests. CVS said that We are fully confident the administration and Congress will find a solution to help ensure people without insurance continue to have access to COVID-19 testing, vaccines and treatment. Walgreens told me something similar. Advertisement Advertisement Treatments: Monoclonal antibody treatments can be pretty expensive, but up until now, the U.S. government has been paying for them. Its unclear how much bebtelovimab, a monoclonal antibody made by Eli Lilly, costs per infusion, but its predecessor (which has since been discontinued due to lack of effectiveness against omicron) cost $1,250 per dose. (Eli Lilly did not respond to my request for a number on how much bebtelovimab costs before this articles publication.) Sotrovimab, a GlaxoSmithKline monoclonal antibody, costs $2,100. Antiviral treatments aside from antibody treatments are currently provided free of charge, but that status is also at risk due to the congressional stalemate. The government paid about $530 per treatment course of Paxlovid, Pfizers COVID pill. Molnupiravir, Mercks less popular COVID pill, cost the U.S. government about $700 per treatment course. State of Mind is a partnership of Slate and Arizona State University that offers a practical look at our mental health systemand how to make it better. Earlier this year, an operator at Trans Lifeline picked up the phone. On the line was a caller who needed support following a traumatic experience they had had after calling another hotline for LGBTQ youth. The caller shared with the operator that at some point during their other call, they got disconnected due to cell reception issues. Soon after, police officers with a K-9 unit arrived at their location. This understandably deeply unsettled the caller. Whats more, the caller did not know how to prove that they did not need what is euphemistically called active rescue, or police intervention. Operators at Trans Lifeline (where one of us, Yana, is the director of advocacy) say that they often get calls like this one, where callers reach out to deal with the aftermath of nonconsensual intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people call for crisis care on behalf of themselves or loved ones on the assumption that they present an alternative to policing and forced psychiatric holds. Indeed, in calling a crisis line, each caller has made a determination that they are not calling 911. Yet most crisis and text lines can lead to unknowing, unwanted, and violent interventions by police, and the phenomenon is exacerbated by technology. Every crisis call has two components: what a caller thinks is happening in their conversation with their counselor, and what is happening on the other end. The caller might be trying to access up-to-date resources (housing, health care) or find a nonjudgmental person to talk to. They may be in crisis and need help with safety planning. Either way, they tend to think of it as a one-to-one conversation between them and the person who picks up the phone. Advertisement Advertisement But when you call or chat with many hotlines, algorithms may be listening in. Theyre working in the background to triage and sort which callers are most likely to be at risk, pushing them to the top of a call or text queue, performing sentiment analysis, and searching for a set of trigger words. Advertisement After the algorithm may have flagged a caller as particularly high-risk, the human counselor, in conjunction with their supervisor, uses often faulty assessment metrics to determine if the caller is an imminent risk. Meanwhile, many of these hotlines that call themselves confidential will also geolocate callers (via landline, cell company, IP address, or GPS chip in your mobile phone)which you might not know unless youve read the terms of service in full before dialing the number. If the operator, influenced by the assessments, thinks that the person is in danger, they may initiate whats known as nonconsensual intervention, sharing the persons location with police and other emergency responders. On many lines, when operators loop 911 in, they are instructed to stay on the line with callers and not let them know that police or other first responders are on their way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or NSPL, reports that it uses active rescue in 2 percent of its callsbut the actual number has been shown to be significantly higher. Dozens of interactions between the police and those in the midst of mental health crisis turn fatal annually. Yet manyincluding the federally funded NSPL; its nonprofit manager, Vibrant Emotional Health; and the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which its contracted byargue that this mode of intervention is worth it: If police intervention saves just one caller, it is justified, no matter the cost to that individual or others. Advertisement Advertisement We disagree. The recent Trans Lifeline callers story is no statistical aberration; patient advocacy groups have shown, time and time again, that callers who have police dispatched to their location often are saddled with unaffordable hospital bills, lose jobs, incur criminal records. Rather than having helpful interactions, many experience traumas that lead to increased suicide rates after psychiatric facility discharge and elevated risk for suicide in the year following psychiatric hospitalization. As studies show, even many years after forced hospitalization, the suicide rate remains approximately 30 times higher than typical global ratesand those who might be forced into hospitalization are likely to be at their most vulnerable. As suicide rates continue to increase, its important for hotline administrators to understand that these interventions do not prevent suicidality in the long term. In fact, they do the opposite. Advertisement Advertisement This summer, 988 will roll out as our national suicide and mental health support number. 988 calls will route to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and all its 170 local affiliatesall of which mandate the use of geolocation surveillance and sending law enforcement nonconsensually for imminent risk. The imminent risk policy involves (1) taking all actions necessary to prevent a caller from dying by suicide; (2) active collaboration with the caller to secure his or her own safety; and (3) collaboration with community crisis and emergency services to ensure the safe, continuous care of callers at imminent risk. This means that if a caller is understood to be at imminent risk of a suicide attempt, and an operator finds the caller unable to contract safety, police intervention will be initiated without the callers knowledge. Yet imminent risk is decided by faulty assessment metrics and, as we saw with the Trans Lifeline callers story, can stem from a simple disconnectwhether accidental or purposeful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The turn away from confidentiality toward surveillance and datafication has been met with widespread criticism on other fronts. Just recently, Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit SMS-based suicide prevention program, received an outpouring of outrage after users found it was profiting off the data generated by those in crisis; the Federal Communications Commission went so far as to demand Crisis Text Line cease the practice. It did so almost immediately (and now the FCC has called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate), but Crisis Text Line remains, as so many other hotlines do, in partnership with the police. Even after the protests to defund police departments and to remove police from mental health care in summer 2020, even after the World Health Organization and U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an end to forced treatment, crisis lines and police departments continue to cooperate. Advertisement Fears of surveillance and rejection of hotlines due to police response are, in fact, valid. We know that police violence, criminalization, and forced treatment are racialized. If historically suicidality has been understood as a white, adult, male mental state, in our contemporary moment, this is no longer the case. The fastest-growing demographic of suicidality is now Black youth ages 10 to 19, with attempts up 73 percent since 1991, while attempts among white youth declined in the same period. Meanwhile, interaction with the police while in crisis increases suicidality at the individual level and decreases trust in hotlines at the community level. Where will Black callersand othersturn next time? Advertisement Advertisement By only contracting with providers that use nonconsensual intervention, 988 guts the confidentiality that has long been a core feature of the hotline, while increasing surveillance on the most targeted and vulnerable in our communities. Not every hotline currently puts its callers at greater risk. Trans Lifeline, BlackLine, Samaritans, DASHR, MH First Oakland, and many others continue the legacy of early crisis care work, as do others not gathered under the NSPL network. They find that, for their callers to trust them and therefore receive the help they needand only that helpthe threat of nonconsensual intervention must be off the table or at least much further down the list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trans Lifeline has served on NSPLs Lived Experience Committee and has consistently drawn attention to the unintended harms of nonconsensual police intervention. Yet the NSPL maintains that Aside from concerns related to the potential effect of involuntary hospitalizations on suicidal callers, some crisis center staff members report reluctance to call 911 for fear of local law enforcement officials resorting to inappropriate force, arrest or causing other undesirable outcomes for the caller in need of care. While such incidences are tragic when they do occur, and may occur more frequently in jurisdictions where specialized police services for mentally ill persons are unavailable, fears of how the police may respond should not be a determinant in decision-making related to active rescue. Advertisement Advertisement Fears of surveillance and rejection of hotlines due to police response are, in fact, valid. Even if a current suicide attempt is prevented by nonconsensual police intervention, such interactions often cause more short- and long-term trauma, disproportionately to people of color, trans people, minors, undocumented people, and people living with mental health disabilities. This problem, of course, is not contained to the hotline form; many mental health services are implicated. In September 2021, Cedric Lofton, a Black 17-year-old boy in the Kansas foster care system, was one of hundreds of thousands who, last year alone, in the middle of mental anguish, were engaged by the police. His foster father did what many do when those in their care need help: He called 911, believing that Lofton would be taken to Wichitas mental health center, ComCare. Instead, police arrived and took him to the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center. There, Lofton was handcuffed and restrained in a prone position, leading to cardiopulmonary arrest. His autopsy listed his cause of death as homicide. Advertisement It doesnt have to be this way. When hotlines first emerged in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, they were intentionally designed as an alternative to policing and medicalizationa new way to offer care in and by community. And they were effective at lowering suicide rates without surveillance or resorting to sending the police to callers. Bernard Mayes, a closeted queer priest, set up the first U.S. hotline in San Franciscos Tenderloin District to care for the suicidal who, crucially, wanted help, and for the queer community. Mayes decided to make his hotline volunteer-leda first in the United Statesto remove the bias inherent in psychiatry (homosexuality was still pathologized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and policing. The service was predicated on offering an anonymous ear and the shield of total confidentiality. It was immediately successful. While the service had its detractors (some questioned the use of the telephone, others the use of volunteers), its greatest opponents soon adopted this method for crisis care, which then became standard. The suicide rate in the United States has, in the 60 years since, declined overall. Its impossible to say how much exactly hotlines were responsible for this drop, but we believe that, coupled with shifting societal factors, they played a major role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, well-intentioned hotlines and mental health centers are serving marginalized callers in their time of greatest need and should not further exacerbate their callers crises via surveillance and recourse to nonconsensual intervention. With the 988 rollout scheduled to take place over the coming months, it is urgent that Congress and the FCC protect callers from the blanket surveillance that enables these harms. Otherwise, 988 might as well be 911. If you need to talk, or if you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. If you are concerned about calling a crisis line that uses police intervention, consider reaching out to Trans Lifeline, BlackLine, Samaritans, DASHR (in Denver), or MH First Oakland if they are appropriate for you. Teens hacking into large corporations are once again in the news. This time, a group of teens in the UK have taken responsibility for a series of major hacks of big tech companies like Microsoft, Nvidia, and Okta over the last month. On Wednesday, the group, known as Lapsus$, claimed that it had absconded with 70GB of data from a health app that was partnering with Apple. Two suspected members of the group, ages 16 and 17, are appearing before the Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in the UK on Friday on charges of a variety of cybercrimes connected to their alleged activities with the hacking group. UK authorities have reported arresting seven people in total, all of whom are between the ages of 16 and 21. Cybersecurity researchers believe that a 16-year-old living in his mothers house near Oxford, England, is the mastermind of the group, though its unclear if he was one of the people arrested last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems like we hear some version of this story every few years or so. In 2020, a 17-year-old engineered a hack of dozens of prominent Twitter accounts belonging to the likes of Barack Obama and Elon Musk. And before that, a 16-year-old was accused of hacking the email accounts of high-level officials like then-CIA Director John Brennan. Can teen hackers be stopped? I spoke to Marcus Hutchins, a cybersecurity researcher who was celebrated for ending the particularly destructive WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017. Shortly afterward, however, he was arrested by the FBI for hacking hed performed years ago as a teen. The judge ultimately decided that he had turned the corner and gave him a sentence of time served plus a year of supervised release. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement What was your reaction to Lapsus$s various exploits? Do you empathize with them in any way, or could you have seen yourself doing any of this stuff as a teen? I definitely understand how people of that age can fall into this kind of stuff. I wasnt really surprised by anything they were doing, but its typical for teens to just get in with the wrong people and end up doing all kinds of crazy stuff. Advertisement What do you think attracts certain teen coders to hacking? What is the allure of it when youre that age? I think its the power, or the ability to just do things that other people cant. Why do you think teen hacking is a recurring issue? Advertisement Theres not really much structure if you are interested in computers below a certain age. Most of school computing is very, very basic stuff, so you cant really find any way to hone real skills until you get to college age. That kind of gets people going and looking for their own ways to get better and learn. One of the ways that is quite attractive is hacking forums, because thats where all the super technical coders and hackers hang out. So they usually end up finding their way onto some hacking forums. Advertisement Advertisement Do you think there are ways to guide teen coders toward more productive projects? I dont know because theres not really much of an outlet for it yet. Obviously, they cant really legally work, so its a case of there just really isnt much you can do at that age. Theres coding programs and that kind of stuff, but its all very theoretical and not as fun. I know I got very bored in IT classes. Even in the high-end IT classes, I found myself very, very bored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do you view the moral culpability of these hackers given that theyre minors? Do you worry that the punishments could be too severe given their ages? The UK is known for going particularly light on underage hackers, whereas the U.S. can be a lot more ruthless. The prefrontal cortex doesnt fully develop until early twenties. Theyre really not so good with seeing consequences. Or not necessarily for seeing them, but caring. In a lot of cases, they do know what theyre doing is wrong and they do know that theres consequences. They just, at that age, dont particularly care. Theres a lot of stories of teen hackers eventually giving up crime and using their skills more productively for cybersecurity. What do you think of that trajectory? Is it a net good for society? Advertisement No. Its not a good way to get started. Obviously, theres a lot of better ways which dont involve doing crime in the first place. It does seem to be a somewhat common trajectory, but I think we need to focus on finding a better common trajectory. Do you think teen hacking is going to be an issue for big companies for the foreseeable future? Advertisement Advertisement Its very hard to put an end to teen mischief without putting them in jail, and no one wants to see teens in jail, especially not myself. Its very hard to think of any way thats enough deterrence to stop them from doing it without just being completely overboard. I personally cant think of any punishment that would have stopped me at that age that wasnt way over the top. Its a very hard problem to solve. So what would you say to a teen programmer who wants a better outlet for honing skills? Some sort of mentorship program where they can get a tangible benefit from applying their skills. I think that would probably be the solution. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. President Xi Jinping met via video link with President Charles Michel of the European Council and President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission in Beijing on the evening of 1 April. President Xi recalled that he made a suggestion eight years ago for China and Europe to foster a China-EU partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization. Chinas vision remains unchanged. If anything, it has become more relevant under the current circumstances. China and the EU share extensive common interests and a solid foundation for cooperation. Noting the consistency and continuity of Chinas EU policy, President Xi called on the EU to form its own perception of China, adopt an independent China policy, and work with China to promote the steady and sustained growth of China-EU relations and to add stabilizing factors to a turbulent world. President Xi stressed that China and the EU should act as two major forces upholding world peace, and offset uncertainties in the international landscape with the stability of China-EU relations. The two sides need to take the lead in defending the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and jointly reject the resurrection of rival-bloc mentality and oppose attempts at a new Cold War, with a view to maintaining world peace and stability. President Xi pointed out that China and the EU should act as two big markets promoting shared development, and deepen economic globalization through open cooperation. China will stay committed to deepening reform and further opening up. China welcomes European business investment and expects the EU to provide a fair, transparent and nondiscriminatory environment for Chinese business investment and development in Europe. The two sides need to seek greater synergy between their development strategies and explore more complementarity between Chinas new development philosophy and paradigm and the EUs trade policy for open strategic autonomy. President Xi underscored that China and the EU should act as two great civilizations promoting human progress, and meet global challenges through solidarity and collaboration. The two sides need to follow true multilateralism, advocate a vision of global governance featuring the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, continue to spearhead international cooperation on climate change and biodiversity, and work together to defeat COVID-19. China welcomes the EUs support for and participation in the Global Development Initiative. President Michel and President von der Leyen said that China is an important force in the world. The EU attaches great importance to Chinas international standing and role, and to developing relations with China. China and the EU enjoy a longstanding relationship of mutual benefit. Both sides are committed to defending peace and multilateralism. Under the current international situation, it is vital for the EU and China to increase dialogue and cooperation. The EU side reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China principle and expressed its desire for candid exchanges with China to sustain the good momentum of EU-China relations. It also expressed readiness to keep deepening cooperation with China in such fields as economy, trade, investment, energy and green development, to jointly confront global challenges like COVID-19, climate change, and protection of biodiversity and promote world peace, economic growth and common prosperity. The EU will provide support and cooperation for the success of the second part of COP15 in China. The two sides exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. The EU leaders shared their views and propositions on the Ukraine crisis. President Xi emphasized that China finds it deeply regrettable that the situation in Ukraine has come to where it is today. Chinas position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear-cut. China always stands on the side of peace and draws its conclusion independently based on the merits of each matter. China calls for upholding international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations, acts in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and advocates the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. President Xi shared his views on how to settle the Ukraine crisis under the current circumstances: First, promoting peace talks. China supports the EUs efforts toward a political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and has been encouraging peace talks in its own way. Peace talks are the only viable way to prevent an escalation of tensions. The international community should keep creating favorable conditions and environment for the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and make room for political settlement, rather than add fuel to the fire and heighten tensions. Second, preventing a humanitarian crisis on a bigger scale. China has put forward a six-point initiative on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, provided multiple batches of emergency humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and sent supplies to European countries receiving large numbers of refugees. China will stay in touch with the EU to prevent a bigger humanitarian crisis. Third, fostering lasting peace in Europe and the Eurasian continent. The root cause of the Ukraine crisis is the regional security tensions in Europe that have built up over the years. A fundamental solution is to accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all relevant parties. In this day and age, global and regional security frameworks should no longer be built with a Cold War mentality. China supports Europe, especially the EU, in playing a primary role, and supports Europe, Russia, the US and NATO in holding dialogue to face up to the tensions that have built up over the years and find solutions, so as to build a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework in Europe. Fourth, preventing the regional conflict from magnifying. The Ukraine crisis must be handled properly. One should not take the wrong medicine, or focus on just one aspect of the issue without regard to the rest, or hold the entire world hostage, still less make ordinary people around the world suffer as a result. The more critical the situation, the greater the need to stay levelheaded. The current global economic configuration is the result of longstanding efforts by all countries. It is an integral whole. Parties should cherish this outcome, and must not let the global economic system be disrupted at will, still less allow attempts to politicize or weaponize the world economy as a tool to serve ones own agenda, as such attempts will trigger serious crises in global finance, trade, energy, technology, food, industrial and supply chains, among others. Many are worried that the current situation may wipe out the fruits of international economic cooperation gained through decades of efforts. Should the situation continue to worsen, it may take years, if not decades, to get things back on track. China and the EU need to commit themselves to keeping the situation under control, preventing spillover of the crisis, and, most importantly, keeping the system, rules and foundation of the world economy stable, in order to bolster public confidence. The two sides may carry out coordination and cooperation in this regard. Leaders of both sides agreed that this has been a candid and in-depth discussion in which the two sides increased mutual understanding and reached common understandings in many areas. They agreed to step up communication and exchanges and keep up coordination and cooperation. Yang Jiechi and He Lifeng were present at the meeting. This article is part of a series from Future Tense and New Americas Future of Land and Housing Program on managed retreat and other adaptations to climate change. Nearly 100 million Americans live on the coasts, and they are continuing to move there at high rates. In fact, the coastal population has grown by more than 15 percent since 2000faster than the rest of the countryand the population of coastline counties in the Gulf of Mexico region increased by nearly one-quarter between 2000 and 2016. Coastal areas have a population density that is more than five times greater than the U.S. average. Advertisement These coastal hubs are under increasing threat from sea level rise, vicious hurricanes, and other events driven by climate change. The research organization First Street Foundation found in 2020 that 15 million homes across the United States are at substantial risk of flooding, and things are only going to get worse. Scientists project that in a few decades, almost half of Galveston, Texas; more than half of Hoboken, New Jersey; and almost two-thirds of Miami Beach, Florida, will become uninhabitable due to sea level rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faced with these grim facts, coastal cities, counties, and the federal government are beginning to grapple with how to relocate vulnerable coastal residents. Right now, the most common way to do this is through a process called managed retreat: After a storm damages a home, the government offers a property owner money to move away instead of rebuilding. Typically, the amount of money matches the value of the home, sometimes with a small additional incentive amount. Advertisement Advertisement Over the past 40 years, the government has relocated nearly 45,000 people in this manner. But as the seas threaten to swallow up entire cities, this incremental approach is becoming increasingly unrealisticfinancially, logistically, and politically. Its also increasingly inequitable. First, consider the costs. According to Zillow the typical U.S. home costs $308,000, and coastal homes are significantly more expensive on average than inland properties. Relocating just 10 percent of the homeowners that First Street Foundation identified as most vulnerable would cost the government nearly $500 billion, to say nothing of exponentially more expensive propositions like relocating airports, hospitals, ports and other infrastructure. Then, consider the logistics. Managed retreat buyouts are voluntary, with each individual homeowner applying for, negotiating, and accepting a relocation. That means buyouts are an administrative nightmare for both municipalities and homeowners. As a result, a 2019 study found that wealthier and less vulnerable counties in New England were more likely to apply for buyout funds than more vulnerable Gulf Coast counties in Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Advertisement Advertisement And finally, consider the politics. Property taxes are the backbone of a municipal budget, and no city wants to lose its taxpayer baseespecially if it must continue providing the same municipal services and maintaining roads, bridges, schools and hospitals for the few residents who stay put. Fundamentally, theres no world in which asking people to move away from coastal homes they may have spent a lifetime saving up for is good politics. Advertisement Advertisement So, if buyouts just dont work at scale, what is the alternative? Florida has been experimenting with one approach that can address the long-term problems while allowing people to stay put: conferring life rights, coupled with other tools such as tax incentives, for vulnerable properties. For instance, homes might become state property, but residents would be allowed to remain in their homes during their lifetime. Similarly, Norfolk, Virginias 2018 zoning ordinance provides for a life estate optionallowing some residents to remain in their homes throughout their lives, with their property interest terminating when they dieto help enhance flood resilience and direct new, more intense development to higher ground. Advertisement Advertisement While this may be a promising long-term alternative, it doesnt work if a community needs immediate relocation due to worsening storms or flooding. Alternatively, municipalities could experiment with offering other forms of limited property ownership to residents in certain areas. Once an area becomes too unsafe to live in, such as when the average high tide line in a coastal community has risen past a certain level, the homes in that area would stop being owned by the residents, and the homes would become government property. Advertisement Advertisement Another option would be to put these vulnerable properties into land trusts (organizations that acquire and steward land) and subject them to a rolling easement. This rolling easement could restrict harmful shore protection measures such as seawalls (which often erode beaches and destroy coastal habitats), remove pre-existing structures along the coast, and provide notice to coastal residents that their property rights are not infinite. Such a strategy would enable residents to stay until it becomes too risky. North Carolina already prohibits permanent shoreline protection structures, which often end up harming beaches and coastlines. Advertisement Governments could also implement rebuilding restrictions to require residents to move inland if their homes are destroyed by a storm or flood, and prevent these residents from rebuilding in the same place. Maines Sand Dune Rules and South Carolinas Beachfront Management Act both include restrictions on rebuilding a storm-damaged property, such as when a structure is damaged by more than 50 percent of its appraised value. The drawback of this approach is that its only activated after damage and destruction occur. Furthermore, in some areas, it may be difficult to find new property where affected residents can rebuild. Advertisement Financial incentives could also encourage more people to move away from vulnerable areas. New York offers such an inducement to homeowners in areas at regular risk of flooding: If the homeowner agrees to relocate within the same county, they could receive the fair market value of their home, plus an additional incentive of 5 percent of the home value. Advertisement Advertisement But at the end of the day, these are incremental efforts to address a systemic problem. Perhaps whats most critically needed is a transformational effort that includes bold investment in vibrant, attractive, and affordable residential and commercial development, built on higher ground nearby that vulnerable coastal residents can readily and enthusiastically relocate to. We know that climate change is already causing widespread disruption, and that sea levels are rising faster than ever, yet so far our response to the climate crisis has been reactive and incremental. With time running out to avoid a harrowing future, we need to act now to implement the necessary far-reaching measures that match the extent of the crisis we face. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Floridas Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph A. Lapado, made waves when he announced in early March that Florida would be the first state to officially recommend against the COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and directly contradict CDC recommendations. The recommendation is based in part on data from New York, reported in an online preprint in late February. The paper described a large drop in Pfizer vaccine effectiveness (VE) for 5-17 year olds after 6 weeks. The findings made headlines, fueling alarm about supposedly rapidly-waning immunity among children. The results were ripe for cherry-picked proof that theres not much reason to vaccinate kidsif the vaccine protects for only a few weeks, why bother? Advertisement Researchers have shared their work at a rapid pace throughout the pandemic, often by posting results online, where they are covered by journalists before peer reviewers have a chance to weigh in. Even in this environment, we find it astonishing just how quickly a study influenced policyespecially given the key inconsistencies we were able to identify in the work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, lets look at what the authors of the preprint did to examine how quickly vaccine-induced protection decreased in children. Using immunization records and lab testing data, they identified children in New York aged 5 to 17 years old who became fully vaccinated (that is, they were at least 14 days out from a second Pfizer dose) between December 13, 2021 and January 2, 2022. They created six groups of children based on two factors: the calendar week in which they were first fully vaccinated (week of December 13th, 20th, or 27th) and age group (5-11 or 12-17 years of age). The age groupings are based on the Pfizer vaccine dosage, since a higher dosage is approved for 12-17 year olds than for 5-11 year olds. Advertisement Advertisement In order to tell how well the vaccine was holding up, the researchers looked at the rates of COVID-19 each group of kids experienced throughout the month of January. The goal was to see how much lower rates were in children fully vaccinated two weeks ago, three weeks ago, and so on, compared to unvaccinated children. If the vaccine wanes, the difference in the rate of COVID cases among the vaccinated and unvaccinated children gets smaller with each successive week since vaccination. Advertisement The authors report that vaccine effectiveness for 5-11 year olds dropped from 65 percent at less than 2 weeks after full immunization to -41 percent at 6 weeks after immunization. Yes, thats a negative number for vaccine effectiveness, and its biologically implausible. As vaccine epidemiologists, that result was the first flag telling us to take a closer look. The authors include a footnote that negative [vaccine effectiveness] values observed in later timepoints likely reflect estimator instability and/or residual confounding but these issues would affect all values, not just the negative values. In plainer terms: the authors are saying hey, we know there could be a problem here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drop in VE for 12-17 year olds is not as dramatic, but still weird: 76 percent to 46 percent over this same time period. Based on these decreases, the authors concluded that vaccine-induced immunity waned for both dosages of the Pfizer vaccine but waned faster for 5-11 year olds, triggering lots of discussion about whether Pfizer had picked the right dose for young kids. Such a fast and dramatic drop over a six-week period is biologically suspect and motivated us to dig deeper into the numbers. Using data in the appendix of the paper, we plotted vaccine waning in 5-11 year olds, keeping the groups of childrenwho became fully vaccinated at different timesseparate. If waning is a purely biological phenomenon, the three groups of children should have a similar level of vaccine protection at three, four and five weeks after becoming fully vaccinatedthat is, the lines on the graph would overlap. Yet we see that the line for the earliest vaccinated group of 5-11 year olds those first fully vaccinated the week of December 13th isnt anywhere close to the lines for the other groups. This suggests some fundamental (and unaccounted for) differences between this group and others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Something else is likely going on with the New York data to cause this strange result. Maybe the children in the first group to be vaccinatedthe ones for whom the vaccine seemed to wane the fastestare at highest risk for catching the virus, and therefore would be expected to have a higher rate of breakthrough infections and lower VE. Or maybe, children in that group are the ones most likely to be tested and have their cases recorded in the data. If we see such big differences between kids vaccinated only a few weeks apart, imagine how different these kids are from the unvaccinated. Unvaccinated childrenagainst which the vaccinated children were comparedmay be the least likely to be tested. They could also be more likely to have been infected in previous waves. Advertisement Unfortunately, our hypotheses cannot be explored further with the data available. Unlike some other studies on vaccine effectiveness in children, the New York database does not include a lot of detail on the children studied, like testing behaviors or whether they have comorbidities. That lack of detail leaves greater potential for bias as researchers cannot adjust for the many complex reasons why some children are more likely to be vaccinated, more likely to get infected, and more likely to be tested. Other studies published after this preprint have helped to fill in our understanding, and findings dont always agree. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published in early March found that protection against disease was pretty similar between 5-11 and 12-17 year olds, unlike the findings in the New York preprint. A study published this week in New England Journal of Medicine looked at pediatric hospitalizations, finding 68 percent protection in 5-11 year olds. (The New York study reported waning protection against hospitalization, but due to small numbers, the estimates were overwhelmed by uncertainty.) Protection against hospitalization is typically much longer lasting than protection against infection. As frustrating as it can be, it takes time for the full picture to develop. While vaccine protection against infection has been lower against omicron, and does wane over time, the fast and dramatic drop seen in New York is likely a data artifact and not a reliable reflection of reality. We recommend proceeding cautiously with this preprint instead of jumping into major policy shifts. Unfortunately, its already been snapped up and misused by policymakers looking for an excuse to undercut COVID-19 vaccines. The written word and tradition in China Chinese character 'nian' (meaning remembrance or to miss someone): Editor's note: The keyword for traditional Chinese Qingming Festival, or Tomb-sweeping Day, is the Chinese character "nian," which means remembrance or to miss someone, as people consider the festival a day of commemoration. Qingming means "pure brightness" because the festival usually falls on April 4 to 6, when the sun shines more brightly and more rainfall is forecast. In addition, there are several activities that families and individuals can be expected to carry out during this springtime, such as: 1. Sweeping tombs Sweeping tombs to pay respect to departed ancestors is a crucial tradition of Qingming Festival. People pay tribute to ancestors mainly to remember and show deep reverence and filial piety toward their ancestors. In addition, ancient Chinese people believe that the tombs of ancestors are greatly related to the fortunes of future generations. Therefore, in the eyes of Chinese people, sweeping tombs to worship ancestors is a custom that cannot be overlooked. Faced with closure during the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai, art museums and other cultural institutions have been generating colorful digital content to engage audiences. "We are well aware of the importance of having an online presence. Our goal is not just to provide digital access to our exhibitions, but, more importantly, nurture new audiences and new artists in this contemporary age," says Chen Xiang, director of the China Art Museum Shanghai. The museum has launched multiple platforms to host online tours, exhibitions and education programs. One of the digital exhibitions features some of the best-known artworks depicting Chinese striving for happiness through the past decades. The exhibition comprises more than 100 pieces of ink paintings, oil paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs and comic strips, arranged in six chapters. The Light, a Chinese ink painting by Zhang Peichu, shot to fame when it was created in 1972. The large work, which measures 178.5 centimeters in height and 113 cm in width, depicts two men repairing a beacon light during a storm. Another famous painting featured at the show is The Pioneer, which was created by Chen Yifei and Wei Jingshan in 1972 and depicts workers laying rails during the construction of a new line. The artists visited the Meishan Iron Mine in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, before creating the huge painting that measures 4.4 meters by 1.96 meters. The Shanghai art museum is also hosting a preview of artworks for an upcoming exhibition scheduled to take place later this year. The museum plans to invite artists, curators and others to host livestreaming tours of the show. Some of the most popular exhibitions last year, such as a show of Marc Chagall's work at the Jiushi Art Museum, and artist Xu Bing's solo exhibition at the Museum of Art Pudong, are all available for public viewing online. Internet users can also listen to video clips of Xu telling stories about his most iconic works. In 2020, Xujiahui Library, which is located in the historical Bibliotheca, built in 1847, presented the first large-scale exhibition of 104 items reflecting the cultural exchanges between China and the West through centuries. Now, Shanghai Library is reintroducing the exhibition as part of its online programs, with librarians providing guidance to audiences. Among exhibits, a work of Michel Boym (1612-59) is displayed. The Polish missionary's Flora Sinensis is believed to be the first European publication about traditional Chinese medicine. The book describes the flora and fauna in China, underlining the medicinal properties of some plants. Another exhibit relates to John Calvin Ferguson (1866-1945), whose lifelong passion was the research and collection of ancient Chinese art. The American scholar spent 57 years in China and played an active role in the country's cultural and educational fields. He was among the founding fathers of the University of Nanking and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The exhibition features his Survey of Chinese Art, which was published by Shanghai Commercial Press in 1939. The book covers a wide range of art, from bronze and jade to calligraphy and painting, and contains a large number of pictures of cultural relics. Mike Hackley maintains a full-time job so when hes off work, he can get outdoors to hunt and fish. I only ever work so I can hunt, he said during a recent visit to the Star-Exponent. A venerable local legend when it comes to being an outdoorsman, the 58-year-old Winston native loves to share his passion with local youth. For many years, and counting, Hackley has mentored first-timers on their inaugural spring hunts for wild turkeys. Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend is Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3, and you can be sure he will be out there in the woods leading a new generation of nature-lovers. Its country living here that a lot dont take time to think about, but these days learning outdoor skills is probably the smart thing to doyou never know these days when they may come in handy, Hackley said. Even if you lose your joba deer, turkey or fish will supplement your food bill. He worked at the local brake manufacturer Continental Teves for 17 yearsuntil recently. The German company announced in 2020 it would shutter its Culpeper plant in 2024, eliminating more than 200 jobs. Hackley saw co-workers laid off. People were begging for a deer. Plus we hunters donate to Hunters for the Hungry, which helps feed a lot of homeless people, he said. Hearing his employer was moving operations to China, Hackley said, he went to work as a jail deputy with the Culpeper County Sheriffs Office. He graduated from the police academy last year as a 57-year-old, noting his active lifestyle well-prepared him for the physical challenge. Others at the academy much younger than him did not fare as well. I love Culpeper and I believe in service, Hackley said. When he is off, Hackley wants to be outside, and he is looking forward to hunting gobblers this weekend. Turkeys are like magical birds, Hackley said. People go zonkers for themthey cant even pull the trigger sometimes. He added, I always take some kid turkey hunting for the first time." Hackley will again this year for Youth Weekend, for ages 15 and younger. Last year, 24-year-old Peyton Foreman tagged along on his first hunt with the family friend. He grew up in Washington, D.C. but has family in Culpeper County, where he now lives. The personal trainer at Planet Fitness, was so moved by the experience with Hackley it inspired him to write a descriptive story about that first hunt, as featured in todays newspaper. After it happened, I had to convey this to people, have to tell this story to anybodyit was just so special, said Foreman, of Rapidan, in a phone call. His family has known Hackleys family for most of his life. A lot of things made it special for meone of the things was just being out there in nature during the spring time, seeing everything alivethe bugs, the birds, the plants, just seeing life and being part of something bigger than myself, Foreman said. The main thing is Mike, his skill and ability to deal with nature. Hackley hunted his first wild turkey as a 9-year-old growing up in Culpeper, one of 13 children. I used to hear them in the woods, he said. So he got an old 12-gauge shotgun and went looking for the birds. I learned myself by trial and error, Hackley said. As an adult, he started sharing what he had learned, including at turkey-hunting seminars for Cedar Mountain Youth. Theres always a story to share with hunting, he said, and camaraderie. But theres just something about being in the elements. Youre out by yourself, youre detached for that one moment from all the hubbub, no news, no people, Hackley said. Just out there in nature and its peaceful even if you dont get anything A bad day of hunting is better than the best day of work. Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend is statewide April 2 and 3, according to Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Services. Bag limit is one turkey per youth or apprentice hunter. Resident and nonresident youth hunters 15 years of age and younger or holders of a valid apprentice hunting license may hunt when accompanied and directly supervised by an adult over the age of 18 who has a valid Virginia hunting license. Hunting hours are from half-hour before sunrise to sunset. Regular Spring Turkey Season in Virginia runs half-hour before sunrise to noon April 9-24. From April 25 through May 14, turkey hunting is allowed a half-hour before sunrise, to sunset. Arrow-guns are allowed, according to wildlife services, along with modern firearms, archery tackle, muzzle-loading firearms, decoys and blinds. It is unlawful to use electronic calls or dogs, except that dogs may be used to track wounded or dead turkeys. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Five of the nations and the regions leading historical groups weighed in this week on the fracas at James Madisons Montpelier over how the presidential site shares its governance with descendants of the Madison familys enslaved people. The public commitments museums make to their communities are not to be taken lightly, AAM said in a statement Wednesday. Swaying from those commitments only undermines trust between our countrys museums and the public, causing irreparable harm to the descendant and underserved communities they aim to serve. The alliance, the leading organization in the history-museum world, urged the foundation to find a solution that honors the commitments they have made and respects the partnership and legacy of the Montpelier Descendants Committee. The AASLH said the foundation board of directors reversal of its earlier stance can be seen as taking a big step backward in the fight for inclusion, instead of pushing our field forward in a way that makes a difference at the core of this historic property. In a statement Tuesday, the association noted that the board announced it will begin deciding for itself who represents the descendant community instead of accepting the committees recommendations for new board members as it agreed to last year. This is a sharp and unfortunate turn from the foundations highly publicized decision in June 2021 to restructure itself by approving bylaws to establish equality with the Montpelier Descendants Committee in the governance of James Madisons Montpelier, AASLH said. Indeed, at the time, the foundation emphasized how the unprecedented decision was the result of a yearlong process by the Board with tremendous leadership from, and collaboration with, MDC and represents an important step toward equity and reckoning with histories of racism. The actions put forth by the organization in 2021 placed Montpelier at the forefront of the movement to recognize the descendants of the enslaved at historic sites by offering a real voice in the governance of the organization, the association said. It was welcomed and shared with AASLH members as a national model hopefully to be replicated in other historic sites. AASLH reaction to the foundations 2021 decision and its flip-flop this month was shared by other groups of history professionals. As allies and Japanese American survivors and descendants of the World War II United States concentration camps, we felt deep pain and anguish after reading about the recent Montpelier Foundation Boards vote altering the original co-stewardship agreement concerning equitable representation on the Montpelier Board, the Wakasa Memorial Committee said. Wakasa said the Descendants Committees leadership, and its creation of The Rubric guidelines for historic-site governance, has been an inspiration in helping to guide our own preservation and interpretation efforts and challenging White-centered narratives. In considering the recent unconscionable action of the Montpelier Board, rejecting the equity and social justice work of the past years, we want to support the Descendant community and help amplify your voices, the Memorial Committees leaders wrote. AASLH noted that the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which leases James Madisons Montpelier to the foundation, recently highlighted the boards June 2021 commitmentnow rescindedwhich specifically acknowledged the right of the descendant community to define itself, rather than be defined by the foundation. The foundation now says it is broadening the pool of candidates from the descendants community, not just limiting ourselves to those who are favored by the committee and its chair. But the effect will be the opposite, the AASLH said. Whereas before the MDC was choosing new members of the board to move that body toward 50-50 parity, it now will only be making recommendations that the board might or might not consider. The foundations maneuver alienates the MDC, the major representative of descendants, erodes trust between historical institutions and their descendant communities at Montpelier and elsewhere, and discounts the expertise of staff members who have worked for years building relationships with the descendants. AASLH urged the foundation to honor its June 2021 commitment to treat the Montpelier Descendants Committee as its full partner in restructuring its board. As disappointing as it is to see the foundation completely reverse direction on working with the Montpelier Descendants Committee, they can still do the right thing, AASLH President and CEO John R. Dichtl told the Culpeper Star-Exponent on Thursday. The foundation can still choose to move forward together. In a statement Thursday, titled Another Promise Broken, the American Anthropological Association said Montpelier had been recognized by its peers as a pioneer in descendant engagement. But now, nine months after the foundation pledged to share governance, only three MDC-nominated board members have been appointed to its 16-member board, the AAA said. The board also declined to review an MDC-submitted list of 40 highly qualified board prospects, including persons of national prominence in the fields of philanthropy, history, government and businesses, the association said. The reversal has caused an uproar, as well it should, the AAA said. Nearly 5,000 members of the visiting public and donors have signed a petition opposing the boards action, it noted. The National Trust warned of irreparable harm to Montpeliers legacy, and a majority of the estates full-time staff members issued a statement rebuking their employer for breaking its commitment to the MDC, the association said. The decision is more than disrespectful, the AAA said. It dismisses the right of the descendants to define themselves and how their enslaved ancestors experiences are represented, rather than being defined by the foundation. The descendants participation is an acknowledgment of the importance that documentation, interpretation, and preservation of this heritage resource benefit from the central involvement of the people still living with the legacies of a painful past. Their voices, their perspectives, and their demands should be given shared weight. After hundreds of years of empty and unfulfilled agreements and assurances, the descendant communities are experiencing yet another broken promise, the association concluded. The Montpelier Foundation should honor its previous agreement to share power equally with the Montpelier Descendants Committee. COVA, which is dedicated to the preservation and study of Virginias archaeological resources, commended Montpeliers team of educators, curators, historians, archaeologists, descendants and museum professionals who built its pioneering reputation and advocated for systemic change in the foundation. COVA stands in full support of the Montpelier Descendant Committee who have honorably represented their ancestors, fought for equal representation, and sacrificed much despite personal and historical traumas to help The Montpelier Foundation thoughtfully and honestly engage with its past and inspire national efforts to maintain its representation on Montpeliers Board of Directors, the council said. One week ago, The Montpelier Foundation board stripped 50-50 power sharing from the Montpelier Descendants Committee representing African Americans who trace their roots to the plantations community. The controversy has outraged Montpelier curators, historians and archaeologists. They say the Descendants Committee is their crucial partner in interpreting the complicated past of the Father of the Constitution, his family and the 300-some enslaved people who toiled on the Madison familys plantation over 140 years. The National Trust for Historic Preservation warned foundation board chair Eugene Hickok that the boards action would undermine decades of important work to repair the relationship between the broader African American community and Montpelier. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Architects of a North Stafford virtual reality lab say the new learning environment theyve created is the first of its kind in the nation, and will soon enhance the educational experience for Germanna Community College nursing students. Weve been inside industrial-era education moving people through classes of 20 to 30 individuals at a time, JJ Ruscella said. Were going to move into individualized or personalized learning, where data is aggregated on the individual and then delivered to that individual for them to digest and direct their paths forward. Ruscella, president of AccessVR, partnered with Vernon Green, president of Stafford-based GCubed, an information technology and cybersecurity government contracting agency, to create a fully immersive experience at GCubeds headquarters. Although Germanna students are expected to begin using the technology this fall, Green said the VR training can easily be adapted for any learning scenario in any career field, such as bias training for law enforcement officers. By identifying biases, by putting them in these VR experiences where they demonstrate, they execute and you can point out the biases, Green said. This is not for punishment, its for education and training. Green said the same reality will be experienced by Germanna nursing students, placing them in virtual emergency rooms with all of the sights, sounds and people they could expect to find in an actual hospital. All of these things in virtual reality appear more real to the student, which (brings) emotional interaction, which contributes to learning, Green said. Ruscella said the initial training for Germanna nursing students will focus on the Objective Structured Clinical Examination, a standardized health sciences exam that evaluates a students clinical skills performance and competence in tasks like medical examinations. We figure if we master the OSCE in the nursing program, then we can move out to anything else they might need, Ruscella said. In previous work, AccessVR played a key role in designing virtual cities under former Gov. Ralph Northams Smart Community Initiative. The firm now manages immersive learning contracts with both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers and is now making the same VR technologies developed for those agencies available in the public domain. We launched AccessVR to really assist Virginia and beyond to extend the opportunities of immersive technology to the common individual, Ruscella said. We can distribute and democratize this opportunity. Ruscella said nursing students were selected as a first step in sharing the advanced technology. Because nurses are the most sophisticated and the most comfortable with using simulations, Ruscella said. Shashuna Gray, vice president of academic affairs and workforce development for Germanna Community College, said about 240 associate degree-level nursing students graduate annually from Germanna. She said the Stafford VR lab will augment existing curriculum and hopes the technology will also accelerate the expansion of the schools nursing program due to the high demand for nurses locally and across the country. Gray said thousands of nurses left their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic and many nurses working at hospitals have moved to private practice for better hours and pay. Gray also said Spotsylvanias new $300 million Veterans Administration hospital expected to open in about two years will require a large nursing staff. We dont want people to go outside the region to find the talent that they need, Gray said. Gray said Staffords VR lab gives future nurses a full perspective within a clinical setting from many different viewpoints where students can see their own mistakes or evaluate moments where they hesitated instead of taking corrective action. And through self-reflection and visualization, theyll be able to see areas that need improvement and work towards them, Gray said. Ruscella said by slipping on a VR helmet, students instantly experience a 360-degree surgical experience they will never get in a classroom. He said students are guided by an instructor during the training while negotiating with difficult role-playing patients or speaking directly to families about the welfare of their loved one. The lessons are recorded for students or faculty to play back and analyze. Think of every class youve ever had, Ruscella said. You dont have any access to any of that information. If it was gathered inside of a system, it could tell you about you and how it could anticipate where you might go next. During Mondays demonstration, participants donned VR helmets and walked through a virtual environment where at one point they are asked by a guide to cross a narrow wooden bridge high above a rocky, mountainous stream. There was a sensation of changing an elevation, said Cody Blankenship, vice president of performance improvement for Mary Washington Healthcare. My brain was feeling that there was an elevation change which I knew couldnt be the case. Nick Sabo, executive director of the Winchester Regional Airport, said he had no idea what to expect before he walked the simulation, but said the experience invoked the same emotions he would have experienced crossing a real rickety wooden bridge over water. It was the same feelings and emotions about having to be careful, how do I approach that bridge, kind of walking with some care to not walk off the side of it, Sabo said. I was surprised that I actually felt that emotion despite being in a room where I was perfectly safe. Ruscella said the reason for that emotional interaction is the uncanny valley, which he says is the relationship between the human-like appearance of a simulated person and the emotional response it brings to an individual. For the purposes of training students, Ruscella chose cartoonish characters because he believes they draw a greater empathic connection from the student. People tend to feel uneasy or icky when they come in contact with (characters) who appear human, Ruscella said. That uneasy feeling causes an emotional distancing, so people will actually have a greater empathic relationship with an avatar than they will with something that looks almost real. Green said the basis of the labs creation came during the coronavirus pandemic when the majority of businesses, schools and even those wanting to keep in touch with loved ones far away was pushed into the virtual world. With this technology, soldiers deployed to war can sit down for dinner with their families and everyone appears to be in the same space at the same time, Green said. In addition to managing the lab and providing the necessary hardware and equipment to make it all come together, GCubed is also managing the human resources aspect of the project, as well as its training and workforce development components. Green said his companys own foundation is also pitching in by funding interns, role players, programmers and other members of the technical team responsible for building the virtual simulations. The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation is also involved in the learning lab endeavor. Green, a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 3, said the lab will also serve as a training center for future content creators and other production assistants, and will also benefit veterans who plan to leave the military within the next six months under the SkillBridge Program, which provides veterans opportunities to gain training and job experience. Collectively, we feel like were providing something that is going to be great for our community, making this little region in Virginia the center of the VR explosion, Green said. We believe this is going to be a new economy and will create countless new opportunities within the virtual space. James Scott Baron: 540/374-5438 jbaron@freelancestar.com The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) in conjunction with the United States Department of Agricultures (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing a fourth confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The fourth farm, a small backyard mixed flock, is in Holt County. According to NDA State Veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley, the farm has been quarantined and the birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved manner. Additionally, NDA will be establishing a 6.2-mile surveillance zone, as is USDA policy, around the affected premises. A surveillance zone means poultry producers should be on heightened alert and practice biosecurity measures to protect their flock. These producers should also know the signs and symptoms of HPAI and notify NDA immediately of sick or dying poultry. HPAI is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. Wild birds can carry the virus without becoming sick, while domesticated birds can become very sick. Symptoms of HPAI in poultry include: a decrease in water consumption; lack of energy and appetite; decreased egg production or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing; incoordination; and diarrhea. HPAI can also cause sudden death in birds even if they arent showing any other symptoms. HPAI can survive for weeks in contaminated environments. Poultry owners should report unusual poultry bird deaths or sick birds to NDA at 402-471-2351, or through USDA at 866-536-7593. Enhanced biosecurity helps prevent the introduction and spread of viruses and diseases including HPAI. NDA and USDA have resources available to help poultry owners step up their biosecurity efforts. Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases like HPAI. Be on the lookout for unusual signs of behavior, severe illness and/or sudden deaths. Restrict access to your property and poultry. Keep it clean. Wear clean clothes, scrub boots/shoes with disinfectant and wash hands thoroughly before and after contact with your flock. If you, your employees or family have been on other farms, or other places where there is livestock and/or poultry, clean and disinfect your vehicle tires and equipment before returning home. Dont share equipment, tools, or other supplies with other livestock or poultry owners. In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, making sure wild birds cannot access domestic poultrys feed and water sources. Report sick birds immediately to: NDA at 402-471-2351; the USDA at 866-536-7593; or your veterinarian. Early detection is important to prevent the spread of disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk to people getting HPAI infections from birds is low. No human cases of avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States. All poultry entering Nebraska must be accompanied by a VS form 9-3 or Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI, or health certificate). If you are considering moving an animal into Nebraska from an affected state, please call 402-471-2351 to learn more. Nebraska poultry owners wanting to ship poultry out of state should consult the state veterinarians of the destination states for import requirements. The NDA announced an order cancelling all poultry events across Nebraska on Wednesday, March 30, due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The order prohibits birds of any type at events including but not limited to fairs, expositions, swap meets, exotic sales and live bird auctions. The order is effective immediately and will be in effect until May 1, at which time the order will be reevaluated. The decision to cancel poultry events was not taken lightly but is a necessary step to assure we are doing everything possible to protect our poultry producers, both small and large, said NDA Director Steve Wellman. Poultry producers should continue to take biosecurity measures on their farms to help prevent the spread of the disease into their flock. At present time, NDA will continue to allow the selling of chicks, ducklings and goslings at farm stores as such birds are hatched in National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) flocks. NDA is encouraging bird owners to prevent contact between their birds and wildlife and to practice strict biosecurity measures. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flock, they should report it to NDA immediately at (402) 471-2351. More information for producers can be found at https://nda.nebraska.gov/animal/avian/index.html or http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov. With migration underway and spring on our doorstep, now is a great time to get outside, bring some binoculars and walk a trail to see wildlife. Nebraska has many opportunities thanks to our diverse habitats everything from prairie to ponderosa pine, wetlands and more than 23,000 miles of rivers and streams. Nebraskas state parks are an ideal place to see the wildlife they hold, with a vast number of trails located in natural settings. Here are some of the best parks for wildlife watching this spring: Ponca State Park: One of Nebraskas most visited state parks, Ponca State Park is popular for its forested hills, scenic vistas and great wildlife watching. Observers have tallied a bird list of nearly 300 species for the park and surrounding area, and during peak migration in late April and early May, the park is a hotspot for both amateur and experienced birders. Turkeys also are a common sight at the park, and if youre lucky, you may spot white-tailed deer along the parks 22 miles of trails. Rock Creek Station State Historical Park: History buffs will love exploring this former Pony Express station where James Butler Wild Bill Hickok began his bloody gunfighting career. But its also a great place for birdwatching: More than 6 miles of trails offer outstanding birding opportunities. The prairies host a variety of grassland species, such as grasshopper sparrows, dickcissels and lark sparrows, with barred owls in the woods and bells vireo in the shrubs. Watch for Louisiana waterthrush and northern rough-winged swallows along the creek. Branched Oak State Recreation Area: This park features the largest lake in eastern Nebraska and has long been a popular spot for fishing, boating and camping. It also offers 7 miles of hiking trails, with a multi-use trail along the south side of the lake that provides great wildlife viewing. The lake attracts many birds during early spring, such as gulls, waterfowl and loons. Many species of ducks, as well as double-crested cormorants and American white pelicans, are common during migration. Upland game birds and deer also can be spotted at the park. Pawnee Prairie Wildlife Management Area: Only 2 miles from the Kansas border, this wildlife management area features native prairie, woodlands, ponds and creeks, which support northern mockingbirds, Carolina wrens, upland sandpipers and loggerhead shrikes. A flock of about 20 greater-prairie chickens gather on a lek near the center of the prairie, about three-quarters of a mile from the perimeter parking lots. No permanent blinds are available, but temporary blinds are allowed; bring one to view the birds in early mornings or late evenings from mid-March to mid-April. Fort Kearny State Recreation Area: Looking for a place to view sandhill cranes? Fort Kearny is a great spot. From the hike/bike trail 1 mile east of the fort, visitors can see cranes arriving and leaving the river in early morning and late evening, from late February through early April. The trail is well-maintained and handicap accessible. Throughout the year, you can see many bird species from this spot, including bald eagles, geese and ducks in the winter. Stop by the visitor center at the historical park just 1.5 miles west to learn about sandhill crane migration during the peak season. Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area: Located on the east side of Kingsley Dam and massive Lake McConaughy, Lake Ogallala is a well-known fishing destination and very attractive to a variety of birds. Visitors can view migrant ducks, ospreys, Caspian terns, cliff swallows, gulls, American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants and other summering species, as well as Canada geese and numerous bald eagles in winter. Camping spots are available along the western and north shorelines of the lake, where the deciduous wooded habitats shelter a rich array of nesting passerines. Niobrara State Park: Situated at the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers on Nebraskas northeastern border, Niobrara State Park offers visitors an array of outdoor experiences, including wildlife viewing. Both white-tailed deer and wild turkeys roam freely throughout the park, and beaver, muskrat and mink prowl the riverbanks. The park also is home to a wide range of birds, including whip-poor-wills, woodpeckers, warblers, shorebirds, and bald eagles and ospreys in season. Fort Robinson State Park: This stunning park comprises more than 22,000 acres of exquisite Pine Ridge scenery and supports a variety of species, including bighorn sheep, bison, pronghorn and elk. Laced with 130 miles of hiking trails, this park also offers birding opportunities, including chances of seeing species found in the western United States. Search rocky escarpments for nesting rock wrens, golden eagles and prairie falcons. Other species found in the park area include Bullocks orioles, lazuli buntings, dark-eyed juncos and spotted towhees. Wildcat Hills: Situated high on a rocky escarpment in the Wildcat Hills, this park offers an escape to the regions signature rugged topography. An array of wildlife roams here, including wild turkeys, deer, bobcat and coyote. The rugged terrain and ponderosa pines also provide habitat for western bird species. Stop by the visitor centers bird feeders to see red crossbill, red-breasted and pygmy nuthatches, Cassins Finch and lesser goldfinch. Elsewhere in the park, spotted towhees, blue-gray gnatcatchers and common poorwills can be spotted; several raptors, such as golden eagles and prairie falcons, are good possibilities as well. Traverse the parks 3 miles of trails and keep your eyes out. As youre observing wildlife, remember to keep your distance so animals remain comfortable. Choose a good vantage spot, sit for a while, and take in the sights and sounds that these beautiful places have to offer. Learn more about these parks or start planning a trip at OutdoorNebraska.org. The exhibition Terracotta Warriors and Ancient China - Heritage from the Qin and Han Dynasty opened on Friday at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art in Japan, marking the first overseas Terracotta Warriors exhibition since the outbreak of COVID-19. As a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, it was hosted by the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Administration and Kyoto Shimbun, and jointly organized by the Shaanxi History Museum, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum and various cultural institutions in Japan. The exhibition displays 121 sets of cultural relics from cultural institutions and museums in Shaanxi and Hunan provinces. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses, stone artifacts, bronzewares and other exhibits on display span from the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC) to the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220). The exhibition will run for one year. After its end on May 22 in Kyoto, the exhibition will travel to Shizuoka, Nagoya and Tokyo in subsequent months. A Taylorsville woman who earlier this year pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15 million has signaled she is willing to begin making restitution payments ahead of her sentencing. This week, Judge Kenneth Bell signed off on an agreement between Donna Steele and federal prosecutors for early prepayment. Steele plans to liquidate some of her assets to make the payments. The federal government would hold any payments before they are disbursed to the defrauded party. The defrauded party in this case is TIGRA USA, a German-based company with a location in Hickory where Steele worked for more than 20 years and served at one time as CEO. She admitted diverting more than $15 million of company money, funds that were used for lavish purchases and to support her clothing company Opulence by Steele. TIGRA is seeking restitution in excess of $16 million. A judge will decide the total restitution. Steele faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. It is not clear how much Steele has paid or intends to pay early or what assets she will sell to make those payments. Neither Steeles attorney nor a federal prosecutor involved in the case had returned a call asking for more details on the prepayment as of noon on Thursday. In January, Steele sold the Taylorsville property she used for a wedding venue known as The Nest for $1.5 million. Kevin Griffin is the city of Hickory reporter at the Hickory Daily Record. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As someone my age would do, I took to Instagram to ask the residents of Statesville (at least the ones that follow me) about their opinions on Congo has threatened to review what it calls unfair and possibly corrupt contracts, particularly in the mining sector. And now Congo is doing it. On February 28 Congolese court took control of Congos Tenke Fungurume mine away from China Molybdenum corporation. According to court allegations, China Molybdenum has failed to pay millions of dollars in royalty payments on copper and cobalt ore. The court appointed a temporary administrator from Gecamines, Congos state-run mining authority. Chinese contracts usually contain very demanding confidentiality clauses. However, Gecamines already owns 20 percent of the mine, and the corrupt former president Joseph Kabila is no longer in charge. Tshisekedi has secured domestic support. Congolese opposition leader Adolphe Muzito says he backs current president Tshisekedis efforts to investigate the minerals for infrastructure deal, which is a far bigger deal than the Tenke Fungurume royalty case. Muzito was in Kabilas government when the deal was arranged (2008). After the court ruling Muzito said that the Sino Congolaise des Mines (Sicomines) agreement was lopsided and Congo has failed to benefit from it. (Austin Bay) March 29, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) a peacekeeper helicopter crashed leaving eight foreign peacekeepers, six from Pakistan, dead. The helicopter was provided by Pakistan, which is one of the largest sources of personnel for UN peacekeeping operations. In the last sixty years over 200,000 Pakistani troops have served as peacekeepers with 257 of them killed on duty. The M23 rebel group was accused of shooting down the helicopter but denied they had anything to do with it. A more thorough examination of the crash site should reveal the cause of the crash. Elsewhere in North Kivu Ugandan troops killed 14 M23 members while losing one soldier. Ugandan and Congolese troops have been operating in the area for months seeking to eliminate the M23 presence. March 28, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) M23 rebels group attacked an army base. M23 is the acronym for March 23rd Movement. At one time the rebel group also called itself the Congolese Revolutionary Army (CRA). March 27, 2022: The EAC (East African Community) confirmed that Congo will be admitted to the organization, probably by the end of this month. Congo would be the EACs seventh member in addition to Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The EAC members cooperate to deal with matters of mutual interest. March 25, 2022: In the Central African Republic (near the borders with Chad and Cameroon) 3R (Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation) rebels attacked an army base and killed five soldiers. ` March 24, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) a Uganda-Congo joint military operation continues. The joint operation seeks to protect civilians from attacks by ADF Islamist terrorists who are seeking out Catholic and Protestant Christians and killing them. Meanwhile, CODECO (Cooperative for the Development of Congo) militants in nearby Ituri province killed 11 civilians and one soldier. March 23, 2022: Malawi has agreed to a Chinese BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) memorandum of understanding (MOU). China is currently working on a $68 million water project (Lilongwe Water Program). BRI is a global Chinese effort to build, and often operate new ports, railroads and pipelines that will benefit the local, and Chinese economies. March 21, 2022: In eastern Congo (Ituri province) a French medical aid organization that violent attacks have forced it to cease its aid operations in several villages in northeastern Ituri. March 20, 2022: In eastern Congo (Ituri province) CODECO rebels killed 14 civilians, seven of them children. CODECO commits a substantial number of the attacks and atrocities in Ituri, as well as across the border in Uganda. The violence in eastern Congo is mainly in Ituri and neighboring North Kivu province. CODECO is predominantly a Lendu tribal organization, as are many of militias in eastern Congo. ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) is also from Uganda and has more Moslem radicals than rebels. ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) considers the ADF to be ISCAP (ISILs Central African Province). ADF pledged allegiance to ISIL in 2019 and later described itself as ISCAP. The name changes nothing because ADF continues its terrorist operations, primarily in eastern Congo. March 17, 2022: The U.S. imposed sanctions on individuals and companies involved in the illicit smuggling of Congolese gold. A specific target is the African Gold Refinery located in Uganda. March 15, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu and Ituri provinces) ADF Islamic terrorists murdered at least 62 people in a series of attacks that began March 10. The attacks occurred while joint Uganda-Congo military forces fought other ADF elements in the area. March 14, 2022: In Ugandan, the army insisted that rumors the president Museveni's son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, had resigned from the military were false. Kainerugaba holds the rank of lieutenant general and commands Ugandas land forces. Soldiers cannot participate in Ugandan politics. Many Ugandans believe Kainerugaba would like to run for president in 2026. The ICC (International Criminal Court) announced that former CAR (Central African Republic) militia leader Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka was turned over to the ICC for prosecution. His surrender took place in Chad. He faced charges for crimes against humanity and war crimes. At one time he was the CARs national coordinator of anti-balaka militias. The ICC issued a warrant for his arrest in 2018. March 11, 2022: Rwanda confirmed that it intends to keep its peacekeeping contingent in Mozambique as long as necessary. Since July 2021 the contingent has provided security in northern Mozambique (Cabo Delgado province) where Ansar al-Sunna, an Islamic terrorist, continues to threaten the lucrative natural has facilities in the province. March 10, 2022: Rwanda confirmed it has fully opened the Gatuna border crossing with Uganda. Gatuna is one of the most highly trafficked border crossings in East Africa as it connects Kenyas Mombasa port to various cities in the region. On an average day from 80 to 90 tractor-trailers move through Gatuna (over 2,500 a month). Political disagreements between Rwanda and Uganda had shut the crossing for the better part of three years. March 9, 2022: In eastern Congo (Ituri province) CODECO rebels killed 18 civilians who sought refuge in a church. March 8, 2022: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered all Ukrainian peacekeeping forces to return home to fight the Russians. Ukraine has around 300 soldiers, police officers and senior staff serving on six UN peacekeeping operations. The largest (264 personnel) Ukrainian contingent serves with the UN peacekeeper force in Congo. All but 14 of these Ukrainian troops are with a Ukrainian aviation unit that operates and maintains eight helicopters. They will be missed because African peacekeeping operations are much more effective when they have helicopters available. March 5, 2022: In CAR (the capital Bangui) a hundred protestors held a demonstration to support Russias invasion of Ukraine. No kidding. They waved Russian and CAR flags. Russia provides the CAR with weapons and Wagner Group military contractors. The Wagner Group, which reports directly to Russian president Vladimir Putin, is active in several African countries. February 28, 2022: In Congo a court ruling has taken away control of Congos Tenke Fungurume mine from China Molybdenum. China Molybdenum is accused of failing to pay millions of dollars in royalty payments. China bought the huge mine in 2016. The court appointed a temporary administrator from Gecamines, Congos state-run mining authority. February 19, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province), South Africa deployed its 21 SA Infantry (SAI) Battalion to serve with the UN peacekeepers. South African troops are highly regarded as peacekeepers because they are better trained and led than most other African troops. These are some trending topics for today, March 31. Morbius Struggling with a rare blood disorder, Dr. M copters into Costa Rica to subject himself to a caveful of vampire bats. His research suggests a blend of human and bat DNA will cure him, and hell be able to save his similarly afflicted childhood friend nicknamed Milo (played by Matt Smith of Doctor Who) as he promised him years earlier. Morbius, a Sony Pictures release slated for theaters Friday, is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, some frightening images, and brief strong language. Running time: 104 minutes. Apparently not worth the watch? Caitlyn Jenner Caitlyn Jenner has joined Fox News as a contributor. The 72-year-old reality star - who was born as Bruce Jenner and became known for winning Olympic gold in Decathlon during the 1976 games in Montreal before transitioning into a woman whilst starring on 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' - is "humbled" to become part of the news network and to be able to "speak directly" to Americans. In a tweet, she said: "I am humbled by this unique opportunity to speak directly to @FoxNews millions of viewers about a range of issues that are important to the American people." Learn more about it here: Severe storms in the south, massive fires in Tennessee A line of severe storms packing isolated tornadoes and high winds ripped across the Deep South overnight killing at least two in the Florida Panhandle, toppling trees and power lines and leaving homes and businesses damaged as the vast weather front raced across several states. In Florida, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said Thursday morning that two were killed and two injured when a tornado touched down in the western Florida Panhandle. Firefighters, meanwhile, have been trying to get handle on a wildfire spreading near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, amid mandatory evacuations as winds whipped up ahead of the approaching storm front. Read all about today's wild weather here: Bobby Wagner Linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to a five-year deal Thursday to join his hometown Los Angeles Rams. The Super Bowl champions outmaneuvered several suitors for Wagner, one of the NFL's top inside linebackers after his decade with the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN reported Wagner's deal contains $50 million guaranteed and could be worth up to $65 million. The Seahawks released the six-time All-Pro anchor of their defense on March 9. Read about it here: *** Check out more trending topics here: Trans Day of Visibility Biden to mark Transgender Day of Visibility with new measures in support of transgender Americans The Biden administration is marking the International Transgender Day of Visibility on Thursday with a series of measures in support of transgender Americans as they face efforts to curb their rights across the country. Chernobyl Bruce Willis Razzies rescind Worst Performance award for Bruce Willis The Razzies canceled a 2021 special category for Worst Performance by Bruce Willis despite initially defending a decision to move forward with it. *** Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Longview man was sentenced to almost five years in prison earlier this month after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography in January. David Antheny Lovejoy, 42, was sentenced to 57 months in prison and 36 months of community custody March 16 in Cowlitz County Superior Court. Lovejoy admitted in January to possessing three different depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in 2021. He originally was arrested in the fall for suspicion of possessing six different depictions. Court records show Lovejoy is required to pay $3,000 in fines for possessing the depictions, and will lose all electronic devices seized during the investigation. Once Lovejoy is released, court records show he must attend sex offender, mental health and chemical dependency treatment; not possess or access sexually explicit materials; and not use dating sites or social media. Lovejoy was arrested Nov. 2 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent detectives after receiving two different suspected child pornography tips in May and September. Federal law requires Electronic Service Providers like Google and Snapchat to notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children when images of child pornography are accessed. A pre-sentencing investigation report states Lovejoy did not remember uploading pictures of child pornography to the internet, but admitted to storing images on his phone. He admitted to having problems with alcohol, as well as depression, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and said he wanted to participate in sex offender and mental health treatment in prison. Lovejoy previously was convicted of one felony second-degree assault in 2015 in Cowlitz County and three misdemeanors. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Brent Hennrich is seeking to mend what he thinks needs fixing, one Band-Aid at a time. His campaign sign is decorated with the illustration of a medical adhesive strip, reflecting his intention to heal Washingtons 3rd Congressional District and its constituents. Hennrich, 42, said helping people in Southwest Washington live their lives to the fullest rather than merely surviving is at the core of his campaign focus. Health is a common theme in Hennrichs messaging, similar to how it is in his life his mother worked for the Multnomah County Health Department. Everything is health and health care, he said, and having the ability to live in good health shouldnt be something a person needs to dispute still, there are political forces that make this unattainable for some. Hennrich, a stay-at-home father of three, is aiming to unseat incumbent Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, who is running for a seventh term. Despite not having political experience, hes making headway as Democrat in the race with $45,366.16 in financial contributions as of December, according to the Federal Election Commission. Brent Hennrich, Democrat Age: 42. Residence: Vancouver. Education: Louisiana State University (partial). Occupation: Stay-at-home dad, previously a project manager for an audiovisual company. Experience: None. Online: www.brenthennrich.com. Climate change, improving overall health Addressing the worlds climate crisis on a local level would help tackle Hennrichs multifaceted goal. Specifically, he aims to bolster the states energy sector, churning out more jobs and clean energy in the process. By decreasing the use of fossil fuels and investing in renewable sources, Southwest Washington can become energy independent, he said. In a similar vein, Hennrich runs on empowering Americas lower and middle classes through raising the minimum wage, as well as investing more in trade and technical job education. He said the jobs technical training produces would contribute to a prosperous clean energy industry. He said the formation of labor unions should be supported, as this enables people to work toward upward economic mobility. The best indication of economic prosperity, according to Hennrich, is the creation of local jobs and healthy consumer spending. Affordable housing, accessible education, and universal health care plays an integral role in this, harkening back to his overarching goal of helping people live comfortably and happily without just getting by. Interstate 5, addressing border security The Interstate 5 Bridge is a critical hub for interstate commerce, Hennrich said, and it requires collaboration between Washington and Oregon lawmakers. He believes the bridge should be fully funded at the federal level, though he acknowledged it will likely require state funding in the form of tolling. If this is the case, he said, he will advocate for reducing the fee it would impose on Southwest Washington residents who commute to Oregon for work. There is another conversation surrounding the I-5 Bridge as it relates to southern border security and how it perpetuates criminal activity, which Hennrich said is unfounded and harmful when talking about immigration. Conservative challengers for the 3rd District point at a crisis along the border as it relates to fentanyl being funneled through the West Coast highway system. Hennrich, however, said the country should focus on providing sanctuary and aid for those who flee their homeland and, conversely, examine what causes them to do so. Maintaining accessibility Hennrich takes pride in his campaigns approach to maintaining transparency with constituents in the district. His dissatisfaction with incumbent Herrera Beutlers communication with her constituents is one of the foundational reasons he decided to run. Accessibility is a cornerstone of my campaign. It is interacting with the constituents and being available to them, Hennrich said. For too long, this districts congress member has isolated herself. You cant represent somebody you dont talk to. Washingtons 3rd District is a swing district that isnt considered safe for either Democrats or Republicans. Although voters in the region voted to keep Republican Herrera Beutler in the seat since 2011, Hennrich is confident he can change its trajectory. We have a very good chance to flip the 3rd, he said. Editors note: This story is part of a series of candidate profiles for Washingtons 3rd Congressional District. Each candidate who has consented to be interviewed will be profiled, with stories running in alphabetical order. Find all the profiles at columbian.com/election. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Although the COVID-19 variant driving increases in other countries is spreading in Washington, it has not caused an uptick in cases or hospitalizations statewide or in Cowlitz County, according to health officials. Its true now that BA.2 has become the dominant strain for COVID-19 positive cases in the state of Washington, said Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah at a press briefing Wednesday. While overall the cases and hospitalizations continue to decrease, the proportionally of BA.2 (among) the cases has increased. Washington recorded about 40 new cases per 100,000 people from March 15 to March 21, down from 145 per 100,000 the month before. Cowlitz County recorded 26.2 new cases per 100,000 people from March 15 to March 21, the lowest rate since fall 2020. The county recorded 4.5 new hospitalizations per 100,000 the same week, up slightly from earlier this month but well below levels recorded earlier this year. The omicron subvariant BA.2 made up about 51.2% of sequenced cases from tests collected March 13 to March 19, up from 34.2% the previous week, according to the state Department of Healths most recent variant report. Nationwide, BA.2 accounted for about 55% of cases as of Saturday, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention model that estimates more recent proportions of circulating variants. While other countries have seen a rise in cases driven by the highly transmissible variant, cases in Washington and Cowlitz County have not risen. What that means for case rates overall is hard to say, said Dr. Steve Krager, county deputy health officer. Every country is different, has different vaccination rates, and probably even more important with omicron the population that has been infected and has immunity from that, maybe thats higher in the United States. Krager said he is concerned Cowlitz County could be more susceptible to a surge because of its lower vaccination rates and because it was not hit as hard by omicron. We dont know for sure, he said. A bump in cases, or another spike, is a possibility and something we should be planning for, but I dont think its a certainty. The county or state could see a slow rise in cases instead of a quick spike, Krager said. Regardless, preparing for a wave makes sense, he said. Krager encouraged people to get vaccinated, get a booster dose and a second booster if eligible, especially if they are at higher risk from COVID-19. Earlier this week, federal and state health officials approved a second booster for people 50 years old and older or moderately or severely immunocompromised four months after their first booster. People who received both a Johnson & Johnson vaccine and booster can get a second booster of either the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccine. Immunity from the original round of vaccines, some received a year ago, and from infection wanes over time, Krager said. A booster dose increases protection from severe illness, especially among those older or at high risk, he said. State health officials also encouraged masking when appropriate in indoor, crowded settings, when sick or when around someone at high risk from COVID-19. County and state health officials encouraged people to get tested as soon as they notice symptoms to help prevent spread but also to get medication if needed. The Food and Drug Administration has authorized pills to treat mild-to-moderate disease in people at high risk of severe illness. The treatments are available by prescription at several Cowlitz County pharmacies, according to a federal COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator. Pfizers Paxlovid and Mercks molnupiravir should be started as soon as possible after diagnosis and within five days of when symptoms begin, according to the FDA. Monoclonal antibody treatments have a slightly longer window but are less effective the longer the wait, Krager said. The preventative monoclonal antibody treatment Evusheld also is available at local pharmacies for eligible people 12 years old and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised or allergic to the COVID-19 vaccines. We know transmission continues, Krager said. Were celebrating having low case rates, hospital rates, death rates. Those of us in public health are happy about that ... its very refreshing, but were obviously watching closely. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. China's factory activities slowed down in March as the country faced downward pressures including a resurgence in COVID-19 infections domestically and mounting geopolitical uncertainties. The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector has eased to 49.5 in March from 50.2 in February, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Thursday. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below reflects contraction. Clusters of epidemic outbreaks across the nation, along with rising global geopolitical uncertainties, have affected the production and operation of enterprises, noted NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe. Fueled by the growing prices of bulk commodities in the international market, the sub-index measuring purchase prices of major raw materials rose 6.1 percentage points from February to 66.1, and that for prices at the factory gate came in at 56.7, up 2.6 percentage points from last month. Production and market demand in the manufacturing sector weakened last month, as the sub-index for production retreated 0.9 percentage points to 49.5, while that for new orders dropped 1.9 percentage points to 48.8. Enterprises in some areas temporarily cut production or stopped production due to the pandemic, and the production and operation of upstream and downstream enterprises have been also affected, Zhao said. Some enterprises have borne the brunt of geopolitical uncertainties as their overseas orders were axed or canceled, he added. Bucking the overall downward trend, the high-tech sector continued expansion, with its PMI in positive territory at 50.4, demonstrating its high resilience. Data also showed that large enterprises sustained steady operation this month, with the PMI standing at 51.3. The PMI for medium-sized firms entered the contraction zone at 48.5, while that for small enterprises stood at 46.6. Business activities in the non-manufacturing sector were also affected by COVID-19 resurgences, said Zhao, noting that the PMI for business activities in the services sector stood at 46.7, down 3.8 percentage points from that in February. Enterprises in sectors such as railway transport, aviation, accommodation, and catering are facing increasing pressure, while sectors like telecommunications, satellite transmission, as well as currency and financial services, continue to be in the expansion territory. The overall business expectation of the construction sector has strengthened, with the sub-index for business activities in the sector standing at 58.1 in March, increasing by 0.5 percentage points from the previous month. With the economy facing headwinds at home and abroad, the country has pledged to roll out more policies, including allocating 3.65 trillion yuan (about 575 billion U.S. dollars) of special-purpose bonds for local governments, to boost demands and anchor market expectations. China's State Council executive meeting held on Tuesday reiterated the stance that "policies for keeping the economy stable should be introduced whenever possible, and no policy that adversely affects market expectations will be introduced," while vowing more steps to shore up the economic growth. Xiaomi 12 Pro is launching in India as Xiaomis high-end Android flagship. Here are all the details. The Xiaomi 12 Pro is finally coming to India! After releasing a bunch of affordable Redmi branded devices in the past, Xiaomi India is now preparing its flagship series for the Indian market. The Xiaomi 12 series was launched in China late last year, and in Europe last month. While the series consists of three models globally, it seems India is only getting the Xiaomi 12 Pro at the moment. Xiaomi Indias Manu Kumar Jain took to Twitter to announce the Xiaomi 12 Pro for India. There is no launch date given yet but Xiaomi says it will be going soon. Life is a show, let's make it worth the wait. #12 5 is coming soon to India! Because the show is incomplete without " , says Xiaomi in its post. Life is a show, let's make it worth the wait.#12 5 is coming soon to India! Because the show is incomplete without " ". pic.twitter.com/OEmOCb1tcy Xiaomi India (@XiaomiIndia) March 31, 2022 Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G to be Xiaomis top-notch flagship The Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G is the most loaded phone in Xiaomis lineup at the moment. This is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 flagship that comes with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. A 4600mAh battery powers it and it brings along a 120W wired fast charging as well as 50W wireless charging. The phone also supports 10W reverse wireless charging. Similar to the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, the Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G gets a 6.73-inch Quad HD+ AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz refresh rate and 480Hz touch sampling rate. The display also supports up to 1500nits peak brightness, as well as HDR10+ and Dolby Vision formats. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Lastly, the cameras on the rear are what makes the Xiaomi 12 Pro special. The phone comes with a 50MP Sony IMX707 OIS assisted main camera, another 50MP ultrawide camera with 115-degrees field-of-view, and another 50MP portrait camera. For selfies, the phone uses a 32MP camera sitting in a punch-hole cutout. What remains to be seen is whether Xiaomi brings the other two models to India. The vanilla Xiaomi 12 is a smaller version of the Xiaomi 12 Pro, offering a watered-down camera hardware. Then theres the Xiaomi 12X that achieves an even more accessible price but relies on the very old Snapdragon 870 platform, which is essentially based on the Snapdragon 865, which originally powered the Xiaomi Mi 10. United Nations diplomats who are meeting this week to set ground rules and guidelines for how states interact in cyber space had choice words for Russia, the country that willed the working group into existence. United Nations diplomats who are meeting this week to set ground rules and guidelines for how states interact in cyber space had choice words for Russia, the country that willed the working group into existence. Russia has made a mockery of its pretension to lead on cyberissues at the United Nations, Michele Markoff, U.S. lead on cyber matters at the meeting. She said Russia had attacked Ukrainian banks, government websites and private sector entities as part of its invasion in a way designed to affect the civilian population. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: Canadas representative, Dan McBryde, said it was surreal that Russia was undermining the very guidelines on state use of cyber tools that Moscow had helped birth, while the U.K.s Kathryn Jones listed previous cyberattacks by Russia on Ukraine. The meeting was for a UN entity known as the open-ended working group for security and the use of information and communications technologies. Its task has always always been a challenge: corralling the worlds countries to ward off the accelerating threat of global cyber war. But this week its happening in the midst of Russias bloody invasion of Ukraine, when both sides are lobbing digital attacks at one another, and the U.S. is warning about retaliatory hacks from Russia. To complicate matters further, Russia led the creation of the working group and pushed the UN to create standards in cyber space. All of these accusations are completely unfounded, said Vladimir Shin, Russias representative at the meeting, alleging the U.S. and cyber mercenaries were instead launching cyberattacks against Russia. He claimed he spoke for the silent majority in opposing what he said was a group of Western states trying to block the format and work of the meeting. This weeks meeting marks the latest in the often tortured evolution of global cyber diplomacy, underscoring long-dueling efforts from the U.S. and Russia for competing visions of cyber space amid the growing threat of digital warfare. A senior State Department official argued Russia wanted more rules in cyber space to embed authoritarian principles. The official told Bloomberg U.S. instructions were to thwart Russian objectives at the group this week, and to fight Russias vision of cyber space tooth and nail throughout the five-year forum. The U.S. on Monday successfully pushed for the rest of the weeks meetings to take place solely on an informal basis, a move that will dilute the work of the group and was opposed by Russia and some others. Despite the animus at the start of the meeting, some stakeholders remain hopeful that the group could make some progress. Among them is the CyberPeace Institute, a Geneva-based body focused on reducing harmful cyberattacks, which is pressing for the working group to take action to limit healthcare hacks and spyware. A UN diplomat said diplomatic processes were especially needed in moments of high tension. You need that red telephone to be working precisely when thing are hot, not when things are good, said the diplomat. Russia pushed for rules in cyber space at a smaller UN forum known as a group of governmental experts starting in 2004. The U.S. gave this effort short shrift until a 2007 cyberattack against a series of Estonian organizations including the parliament, banks and broadcasters which Estonian authorities blamed on Moscow served as a wake-up call to the risks of state-sponsored hacking, according to the senior U.S. state department official. The U.S. then started participating in 2009 with an approach that was at kind of 90 degrees from Russias, the official added. The U.S. argued existing international law should govern state use of cyber tools. The UN General Assembly endorsed 11 voluntary peacetime norms -- voluntary measures -- for responsible state behavior in cyber space in 2015. Three of these ruled out malicious state activities online, such as attacks on critical infrastructure such as healthcare systems. Other norms encouraged international cooperation in cyber space and for countries to report vulnerabilities. When talks later snagged, Russia in 2019 initiated a parallel UN forum -- the open-ended working group -- with broader membership. That forum won out; the group of governmental experts -- the forum created in 2004 -- no longer meets. Prior to the Ukraine war, there was signs of progress. The working group reached a surprise consensus last year and accepted the 11 norms of state behavior in cyber space originally agreed to in 2015. It watered down references to human rights, but gave activists hope that future discussions might see states start to embrace the guidelines. But lately, progress has slowed. Amid growing diplomatic polarization over Russia, the groups work has bogged down in procedural disagreements about the inclusion of civil society and private sector groups and other bureaucratic discussions. Jurg Lauber, the Swiss ambassador who was chairman of the first open-ended working group from 2019 to 2021, noted a negative trend in malicious activity since, saying the number and severity of violations of said framework by states and others seem to go up rather than down. He told Bloomberg that the failure by states to address issues like attribution and accountability in cyberattacks may end up weakening the normative framework, as norms that are repeatedly violated with impunity carry little respect. A European diplomat said any new laws would more strictly bind law-abiding states, but that Russia was already breaking existing guidelines. The diplomat added that judging by Russias current behavior it was unlikely to adhere to them. In what may have been an omen for what was to come, the groups chairman Burhan Gafoor, Singapores ambassador to the UN, was interrupted near the start of the meeting by the digital voice assistant Siri, saying, Im sorry. I didnt get that. I seem to have no control over my Apple watch, he said. But Gafoor was managing his expectations for the week. He told participants that he sees this weeks meeting in itself as a confidence-building measure. A potentially hazardous building-sized asteroid named 2007 FF1 is making its closest approach to Earth, NASA confirmed. It's the first day of a new month in the year 2022 and the fascinating show by asteroids continues unabated! And yes, there is an asteroid today heading for a close approach with Earth. NASA confirmed a new potentially hazardous asteroid making its closest approach to Earth today on April 1, that is today any time soon. According to the NASAs Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the near-Earth object named 2007 FF1 is said to be around 120 metres to 260 metres wide, which is as big as a multi-storey building. This asteroid today, will fly by Earth from a distance of just 4,610,000 miles. The asteroid has been classified as potentially hazardous by NASA. Besides this, it is an Apollo-class asteroid, that are the near-Earth objects whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. Actually, NASA's Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies keeps track of asteroids that have the potential to collide with Earth. That would be a catastrophe and could destroy humanity forever. NASA tracks almost 1,000 asteroids that have passed close to Earth since 1968. And when an asteroid with a diameter of more than 150 meters approaches Earth, NASA classifies it as a potentially hazardous asteroid and monitors it closely. Hence, NASA classified Asteroid 2007 FF1 as potentially hazardous. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: More about the upcoming Asteroid The upcoming building-sized asteroid 2007 FF1 had also made its closest approach back in 2020, the NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said. According to NASA, anything passing near Earth's orbit is called a Near-Earth Object (NEO). Also, it needs to be located at a distance less than 1.3 times the distance from Earth. It has been monitoring tens of thousands of NEOs to know whether they can be hazardous for Earth or not. According to NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object studies, this asteroid was first discovered in March 2007. It was found to be moving through space at just a speed of 39,348 kilometers per hour. After today's closest approach to Earth, its next nearest approach is expected in August 2035. Apple Inc. is exploring new sources of the memory chips that go into iPhones, including its first Chinese producer of the critical component. Apple Inc. is exploring new sources of the memory chips that go into iPhones, including its first Chinese producer of the critical component, after a disruption at a key Japanese partner exposed the risks to its global supply. Its considering expanding a roster of suppliers that already includes Micron Technology Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. after Kioxia Holdings Corp. lost a batch of output to contamination in February, people familiar with the matter said. While Samsung and SK Hynix Inc. -- the worlds largest makers of flash memory -- are likely to pick up the slack, Apple remains keen to diversify its network and offset the risk of further disruption from the pandemic and shipping snarls, they said. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: The iPhone maker is now testing sample NAND flash memory chips made by Hubei-based Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private deliberations. Apples been discussing the tie-up with Yangtze, owned by Beijing-backed chipmaking champion Tsinghua Unigroup Co., for months though no final decisions have been made. A contract for Yangtze and its well-connected parent would be a milestone for Chinas ambitions to build a world-class domestic chip industry that can compete with the U.S. For semiconductor players aspiring to build a business on a national scale, memory is typically a gateway because production capabilities count more than the intricate designs needed for advanced processors and other logic chips -- though it requires enormous investment to sustain. Tying up with Yangtze could open Apple to criticism back home given ties between Washington and Beijing are fraying over Chinas ambiguous stance on the Ukraine war as well as American efforts to contain its technological ascent. U.S. lawmakers have long railed against the way Beijing champions and subsidizes local industry. Created through a merger with a government-run chip factory in 2016, Yangtze Memory is regarded as Chinas best shot at designing and developing homegrown 3D NAND flash memory, widely used for storing data in smartphones, laptops, servers and future gadgets such as electric vehicles. Beijing regards the crucial component as one of the bottlenecks that could endanger its economy, because of a heavy reliance on imports. The testing and discussions are no guarantee Yangtze chips will ultimately ship. Its unclear if the Chinese firm can convince Apple of its dependability, the people said. Yangtze Memory technology is at least one generation behind and could at best be a backup choice to Apples main suppliers like Koreas Hynix and Samsung, they said. Even if Apple qualifies Yangtzes components, it will need to gauge its reliability in terms of yields and quality. It took years for Beijing-based BOE Technology Group Co., another prominent Chinese Apple supplier, to reach high-volume production of iPhone displays. Yet because memory chips are largely commoditized, Apple could conceivably decide to use Yangtzes product in lower-end devices such as the iPhone SE, the people said. Representatives for Yangtze Memory and Apple declined to comment. The World Is Short of Computer Chips. Heres Why: QuickTake Component shortages and Covid-triggered logistics issues have plagued the worlds biggest consumer electronics brands for the past two years, prompting a rethink of supply chains that once relied on just-in-time inventory and global networks. In February, Kioxia halted production at two plants in Japan due to material contamination, highlighting the risks of over-reliance on a particular supplier. That could help push flash memory chip prices up 5% to 10% in the June quarter, industry tracker Trendforce estimated. Apples iPhones are put together primarily in China by Foxconn Technology Group and Pegatron Corp., which take components like memory chips from scores of different providers before assembling them into the final device. Yangtze Memory could offer an attractive source of cheaper chips close to their plants. Yangtze memory will supply about 5% of memory for iPhone SE, and 3% to 5% of memory for the upcoming iPhone 14. Apple is using its product because it offers competitive pricing, projected Jeff Pu, an analyst with Haitong International Securities, working off theoretical estimates. A partner like Yangtze could help it score points with the government in the worlds largest smartphone market. Apple has struck a delicate balance in China, a market that underpins much of its $2.9 trillion value as both the foremost producer and one of the biggest consumers of iPhones. Apples manufacturing partners employ millions and it readily complies with Beijings edicts on censorship and data localization -- an approach thats helped it rank among the most profitable American players in China, a country thats shut out rivals from Alphabet Inc.s Google to Facebook Inc. Yangtze Memorys product relies on a self-developed technology known as Xtacking, which integrates memory cell wafers with supportive circuits for higher performance in some cases compared with traditional technologies, one of the people said. While its parent Tsinghua Unigroup -- affiliated with the alma mater of Chinese President Xi Jinping -- is undergoing a government-led restructuring because of a series of bond defaults, the memory chipmaker is operating normally and unaffected by its parents financial woes, the person said. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain It is particularly important to conduct over-the-air (OTA) testing of multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) devices. MIMO-OTA techniques overcome the limitations of the traditionally conducted tests and are widely used for performance evaluation of the whole MIMO device. There are three main categories of MIMO-OTA testing methods, namely the reverberation chamber-based method, the radiated two-stage method, and the multi-probe anechoic chamber (MPAC) based method. The MPAC-based method can accurately reproduce arbitrary wireless propagation channels and is the only feasible solution for testing adaptive beamforming. Thus, it becomes the most promising OTA testing methodology for 5G devices. A paper published in Science China Information Sciences mainly summarizes the 2D MIMO-OTA testing algorithms for UE and 3D MIMO-OTA testing algorithms for base stations (BS) in the MPAC test setup, and compares the related algorithms. Additionally, the authors discuss some key requirements for designing OTA testing systems and some novel testing methods for 5G wireless devices. The main idea of the channel emulation is to ensure that the signal transmitted from the probe antennas is correctly controlled so that the emulated channel experienced by the DUT approximates to the target channel. There are two common signal emulation methods, namely the pre-fading signal synthesis (PFS) method, and the plane wave synthesis (PWS) method. The main idea of the PFS method is to assign appropriate power weights to the probes to reproduce the spatial characteristics of the target channel at the receiving end. The main idea of the PWS method is to assign appropriate complex-valued weights to the probes to reproduce the electromagnetic field of the target channel at the receiving end. In addition to the channel emulation algorithms, the design requirements of the MPAC testing system, including the number of OTA probes, the size of the test area, and the physical size of the test setup, are also very important aspects to be considered. In addition to the PFS and PWS methods, another method called EIV is also discussed, which assigns complex-valued weights to the probes to reproduce the target received voltage for 2D UE OTA testing. The advantage of the PFS technique is that only power calibration is required, but cannot obtain enough emulation accuracy when the angular spread of the clusters is small. The PWS technique can accurately synthesize arbitrary plane waves, but requires both amplitude calibration and phase calibration. When the radius of the OTA probe ring is large enough, the EIV technique can achieve the same emulation accuracy as the PWS technique. But the EIV technique is not suitable for the case when the radius of the OTA probe ring is small. The 2D UE MIMO OTA channel emulation accuracy can be characterized by the spatial correlation error, the field synthesis error, the channel capacity error, and the throughput error. The latter can reflect the real end-to-end performance of the device under test. In addition, the authors also summarize the design requirements of the 2D UE testing system, including how many probes should be used, how to decide the size of the testing area, and how to choose the physical size of the test setup. An original 3D sectored MPAC test setup has been introduced for 3D BS OTA testing. The two channel emulation algorithms, i.e., PFS and PWS, are compared for this application as well. The cost function of the PFS technique can be either the spatial correlation error or the PAS error. The PFS technique with the PAS error as the optimization objective has higher emulation accuracy than the PFS technique with the spatial correlation as the optimization objective. In addition, since the PWS technique requires enough probes to emulate accurate 3D channels, the phase calibration of the BS OTA testing is very difficult. By comparison, the PFS technique turns out to be more suitable for 3D BS MIMO OTA testing. The authors also summarize the design requirements of the 3D BS test system, including flexible probe selection algorithms (multi-shot algorithm, ABC algorithm, PSO algorithm) and how to choose the physical size of the test setup. Some new 5G wireless testing methods, including 5G massive virtual testing and new methods based on reflective properties of concave surfaces, are also discussed. Explore further Acquisition of channel state information for mmWave MIMO: Traditional and machine learning approaches More information: Huiling Pei et al, Key issues and algorithms of multiple-input-multiple-output over-the-air testing in the multi-probe anechoic chamber setup, Science China Information Sciences (2022). Huiling Pei et al, Key issues and algorithms of multiple-input-multiple-output over-the-air testing in the multi-probe anechoic chamber setup,(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s11432-021-3285-y None of these marine energy devices are commercially availableyet. With help from an updated data collection and processing tool, Americans could soon get clean energy from waves, tides, and river and ocean currents. Credit: U.S. Department of Energy Is marine energy finally here? This question, in various forms, pops up in news articles every year if not every month. In 2021, Wired magazine claimed "the United States is finally trying to unlock the power of wave energy." In 2022, the the Wall Street Journal asked, "Can the ocean help save the planet?" The simple answer is yes, the oceanspecifically clean energy generated from waves, tides, and ocean and river currentscan help save the planet. The energy available from this renewable energy resource, called marine energy, is equivalent to about 80% of the United States' annual electricity needs. Although some of that power cannot be practically harnessed, to build a 100% clean energy future, the world needs all the renewable energy it can get. Now, marine energy developers can start building this future faster (and cheaper) with the Marine and Hydrokinetic Toolkit (MHKiT), a massive, searchable, open-source knowledge hub that provides developers with the code needed to analyze how well their technology might perform in various ocean and river sites. Recently updated, the toolkit now includes data on tidal and river energy resources, factors (like turbulence and sediment) that affect how technology functions underwater, analysis of extreme waves, and more. "I'm really eager to help solve climate change in any way I can," said Rebecca Fao, a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) who helped develop MHKiT. "Clean energy, including marine energy, has a key role to play in that, so I'm keen to see it take off. It may seem like a small piece of the puzzle, but without good quality data, the industry cannot move forward." Ocean energy can help save the planet. But how this budding industry achieves commercial use is a far more complicated question. To provide a data road map, NREL researchers partnered with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories to develop the first version of MHKiT, which ingests, processes, visualizes, and manages data on everything from a device's power production and ability to withstand various mechanical loads to how much energy flows through ocean and river sites across the United States. Before MHKiT, developers had to design their own code to analyze how well their technology performed during a wave tank or open ocean test. But code developmentand validationcan be time consuming and expensive. MHKiT's shared software and data are not only free but standardized and quality controlled, too. "Standardization is really key," Fao said, "so everybody is drawing the same conclusions about the performance of their devices or designs." Developers need to both collect and process high-quality data to prepare their technology to survive a specific river site and learn what goes right (and wrong) out at sea. MHKiT can help with all of that. Created in 2019 with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office, the software is available in both Python and MATLAB. Now, the MHKiT team is releasing more robust versions for each platform. On its Python platform, MHKiT now houses data for tidal and river resources, including how much energy is available at which sites, how fast and turbulent the waters are at those sites, and what underwater obstacleslike sand and stonesmight interfere with a device's performance. (For the marine energy diehards, this means data from Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers and Delft3D.) Plus, wave energy developers can now analyze extreme waves their machines might face at their chosen deployment site. Unprepared devices might not survive those waves; with MHKiT, developers can increase the likelihood they will endure. On the MATLAB platform, the MHKiT team pulls in lots of datalike wave heights, current speeds, and water temperaturesgathered by a troupe of buoys managed by the Coastal Data Information Program. To better predict the weather and climates that marine energy technology might face offshore, the MHKiT team added historical wave data, too. When complete, this so-called hindcast dataset will cover the entire United States. Just four years old, MHKiT is already a popular tool, downloaded over 4,000 times (although some of those downloads are repeat customers coming back for more). Next, the toolkit's development team plans to integrate even more data and functionality to account for hybrid energy systemslike those that pair floating wind turbines or solar panels with marine energy devicesand for smaller, niche technologies used to power the blue economy. These include unmanned sea drones for ocean exploration or wave-powered desalination devices to produce clean drinking water in remote locations or to support disaster relief efforts. The more robust MHKiT gets, the faster the marine energy industry can reach commericalization and change those speculative headlines into definitive statements, like "Marine Energy Is Finally Here." You are here: Business Southwest China's Guizhou Province is expected to invest 17 billion yuan (about 2.67 billion U.S. dollars) this year in its big data sector as it solidifies its position as the country's big data hub, local authorities said Thursday. The province invested around 15.76 billion yuan in its big data sector in 2021, up 7.22 percent year on year, according to the Big Data Development Administration of Guizhou Province. The province will implement more than 100 key projects, including work related to data centers, and build 25,000 5G base stations this year, according to the administration. As China's first national big data comprehensive pilot zone, Guizhou has attracted heavyweight enterprises and world-famous research institutes seeking to establish big data centers and regional headquarters. KYIV, Ukraine Russian troops handed control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant back to the Ukrainians and left the heavily contaminated site early Friday, more than a month after taking it over, Ukrainian authorities said, as fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other fronts. Ukraines state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received significant doses of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. But there was no independent confirmation of that. The withdrawal took place amid growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover while regrouping, resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were just a military tactic and that the forces are building up for new powerful attacks in the southeast. We know their intentions, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us. There will be battles ahead, he added. Meanwhile, a convoy of buses headed to Mariupol in another bid to evacuate people from the besieged port city after the Russian military agreed to a limited cease-fire in the area. But Russian forces blocked 45 of the buses, and only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars, according to the Ukrainian government. Twelve Ukrainian trucks were able to deliver humanitarian supplies to Mariupol, but they were all seized by Russian troops, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said late Thursday. A new round of talks was scheduled for Friday, five weeks into the war that has left thousands dead and driven 4 million Ukrainians from the country. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed by Ukraine that the Russian forces at the site of the worlds worst nuclear disaster had transferred control of it in writing to the Ukrainians. The last Russian troops left the Chernobyl plant early Friday, the Ukrainian government agency responsible for the exclusion zone said. Energoatom gave no details on the condition of the soldiers it said were exposed to radiation and did not say how many were affected. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin, and the IAEA said it had not been able to confirm the reports of Russian troops receiving high doses. It said it was seeking more information. Russian forces seized the Chernobyl site in the opening stages of the Feb. 24 invasion, raising fears that they would cause damage or disruption that could spread radiation. The workforce at the site oversees the safe storage of spent fuel rods and the concrete-entombed ruins of the reactor that exploded in 1986. Edwin Lyman, a nuclear expert with the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said it seems unlikely a large number of troops would develop severe radiation illness, but it was impossible to know for sure without more details. He said contaminated material was probably buried or covered with new topsoil during the cleanup of Chernobyl, and some soldiers may have been exposed to a hot spot of radiation while digging. Others may have assumed they were at risk too, he said. Early this week, the Russians said they would significantly scale back military operations in areas around Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv to increase trust between the two sides and help negotiations along. But in the Kyiv suburbs, regional governor Oleksandr Palviuk said on social media Thursday that Russian forces shelled Irpin and Makariv and that there were battles around Hostomel. Pavliuk said there were Ukrainian counterattacks and some Russian withdrawals around the suburb of Brovary to the east. Chernihiv came under attack as well. At least one person was killed and four were wounded in the Russian shelling of a humanitarian convoy of buses sent to Chernihiv to evacuate residents cut off from food, water and other supplies, said Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Lyudmyla Denisova. Ukraine also reported Russian artillery barrages in and around the northeastern city of Kharkiv. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said intelligence indicates Russia is not scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead trying to regroup, resupply its forces and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas. Russia has repeatedly lied about its intentions, Stoltenberg said. At the same time, he said, pressure is being kept up on Kyiv and other cities, and we can expect additional offensive actions bringing even more suffering. The Donbas is the predominantly Russian-speaking industrial region where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014. In the past few days, the Kremlin, in a seeming shift in its war aims, said that its main goal now is gaining control of the Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including Mariupol. The top rebel leader in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, issued an order to set up a rival city government for Mariupol, according to Russian state news agencies, in a sign of Russian intent to hold and administer the city. The Red Cross, meanwhile, said its teams were headed for Mariupol with medical supplies and other relief and hoped to take civilians out of the beleaguered city, the site of some of the worst suffering of the war. Tens of thousands have managed to get out of Mariupol in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing its population from a prewar 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 as of last week, but other efforts to relieve the city have been thwarted by continued Russian attacks. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 45 buses would be sent to collect civilians from the encircled and bombarded city, where food, water, medicine and fuel were running low. Its desperately important that this operation takes place, the Red Cross said in a statement. The lives of tens of thousands of people in Mariupol depend on it. With talks set to resume between Ukraine and Russia via video, there seemed little faith that the sides would resolve the conflict any time soon. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that conditions werent yet ripe for a cease-fire and that he wasnt ready for a meeting with Zelenskyy until negotiators do more work, Italian Premier Mario Draghi said after a telephone conversation with the Russian leader. In other developments, Ukraines emergency services said the death toll had risen to 20 in a Russian missile strike Tuesday on a government administration building in the southern city of Mykolaiv. As Western officials search for clues about what Russias next move might be, a top British intelligence official said demoralized Russian soldiers in Ukraine are refusing to carry out orders and sabotaging their equipment and had accidentally shot down their own aircraft. In a speech in Australia, Jeremy Fleming, head of the GCHQ electronic spy agency, said Putin had apparently massively misjudged the invasion. The Pentagon reported Thursday that an initial half-dozen shipments of weapons and other security assistance from the U.S. have reached Ukraine as part of an $800 million aid package President Joe Biden approved this month. The shipments included Javelin anti-tank weapons, Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, body armor, medical supplies and other materials, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Putin is being misinformed by his advisers about how badly the war is going because they are afraid to tell him the truth. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the U.S. is wrong and that neither the State Department nor the Pentagon possesses the real information about what is happening in the Kremlin. One of two men charged in the death of a Roanoke man in 2019 waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Franklin County General District Court on March 24. Mario Rayshawn Day, 27, of Roanoke was arrested in Marietta, Georgia, last spring 18 months after Travis Wayne Pannell, 30, was reported missing in Roanoke in October 2019. He and Patrick Antoine Davis, 34, of Danville were charged with second-degree murder in the death of Pannell, whose body was found over the side of an embankment in the Hardy area three weeks after he went missing. The murder charge against Davis was certified to Franklin County Circuit Court after a preliminary hearing in October 2021. Days preliminary hearing was scheduled for Thursday. Day waived his right to have that preliminary hearing, Franklin County Commonwealth Attorney A.J. Dudley said Thursday, and the original second-degree murder charge against him was amended to conspiring to commit first-degree murder. That charge has been certified to a Franklin County Circuit Court grand jury. Days next court appearance has not been set. But the jury trial for his co-defendant, Davis, is scheduled for October. Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Moneta hosted a Potato Drop on March 19 that distributed more than 44,000 pounds of potatoes to area food banks. Provided by the Society of St. Andrew, a Big Island non-profit that gleans potatoes and other produce for distribution to food banks, 50 pound bags were redistributed in 5 pound bags to local food banks including Roanoke Rescue Mission, Ram House, Lake Christian Ministries, Heavenly Manna (in Rocky Mount), Stepping Stone, the Agape Center and several others. The North Korean state-backed hacking crew, otherwise known as the Lazarus Group, has been attributed to yet another financially motivated campaign that leverages a trojanized decentralized finance (DeFi) wallet app to distribute a fully-featured backdoor onto compromised Windows systems. The app, which is equipped with functionalities to save and manage a cryptocurrency wallet, is also designed to trigger the launch of the implant that can take control of the infected host. Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky said it first encountered the rogue application in mid-December 2021. The infection scheme initiated by the app also results in the deployment of the installer for a legitimate application, which gets overwritten with a trojanized version in an effort to cover its tracks. That said, the initial access avenue is unclear, although it's suspected to be a case of social engineering. The spawned malware, which masquerades as Google's Chrome web browser, subsequently launches a wallet app built for the DeFiChain, while also establishing connections to a remote attacker-controlled domain and awaiting further instructions from the server. Based on the response received from the command-and-control (C2) server, the trojan proceeds to execute a wide range of commands, granting it the ability to collect system information, enumerate and terminate processes, delete files, launch new processes, and save arbitrary files on the machine. The C2 infrastructure used in this campaign exclusively consisted of previously compromised web servers located in South Korea, prompting the cybersecurity company to work with the country's computer emergency response team (KrCERT) to dismantle the servers. The findings come more than two months after Kaspersky disclosed details of a similar "SnatchCrypto" campaign mounted by the Lazarus sub-group tracked as BlueNoroff to drain digital funds from victims' MetaMask wallets. "For the Lazarus threat actor, financial gain is one of the prime motivations, with a particular emphasis on the cryptocurrency business. As the price of cryptocurrency surges, and the popularity of non-fungible token (NFT) and decentralized finance (DeFi) businesses continues to swell, the Lazarus group's targeting of the financial industry keeps evolving," Kaspersky GReAT researchers pointed out. 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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Concerned about soil conditions surrounding underground fuel storage tanks at a former Shell station, Lamar County Commissioners Court on Monday again stalled on a contract to purchase about 7 acres at 2805 N. Main St. but were in agreement for the need of a roughly $4.5 million facility for a backup emergency operations center/ classroom, office space and storage facility. You voted: In an attempt to lower gasoline prices, the White House announced the largest oil liquidation ever from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. President Biden intends to drive gasoline and diesel prices lower following months of rising prices with his million barrels per day release. The higher prices are due to Russias war on Ukraine and the sudden threat to oil supplies. The release, expected to last six months, could total 180 million barrels, most of which will be refined into unleaded gas for use in automobiles. The International Energy Agency has pledged to join the U.S. in selling from oil reserves. Daily global crude oil consumption is roughly 100 million barrels, so the stockpile release can only provide a small portion of our energy needs. The administration continues to take other measures to stimulate energy production and, in the case of liquefied natural gas, export more to Europe since theyre suffering from a dramatic shortage. Their hope for gas supplies through the Nord Stream Pipeline has vanished with the war. President Biden is facing record domestic rises in fuel costs, emergency needs, and obligations to help solve shortages facing our European allies, and the longer-term commitment to reduce fossil fuel emissions causing climate change. Solar, wind, and nuclear power providers are urging conversion of production from those sectors, while our agricultural community is calling for greater use of ethanol (made from corn) and other biofuels. As of midday Friday, May crude was trading at $99.50, down about $13.00 per barrel on the week, while May unleaded gasoline went for $3.14 per gallon, a decrease of roughly 28 cents. Natural gas for May delivery brought $5.75 per million BTUs. Crop report sends corn popping, Beans dropping Thursdays USDA crop report indicated a considerable increase in planted soybean acres, but acres dedicated to corn were way below estimates. U.S. farmers are adjusting to higher fertilizer costs by switching from planting corn to planting beans. Corn requires expensive fertilizer made from natural gas, while beans naturally produce nitrogen-fixing rhizomes and require far fewer input costs. By weeks end, corn for December delivery was at $6.87, up 25 cents on the week, whereas May beans were down over a dollar per bushel at $15.82. Wheat, paying more attention to supply and demand factors due to Ukraine, was less volatile this week. May wheat sold at $9.83 per bushel, down $1.15 this week. Opinions are solely the writers. Walt Breitinger is a commodity futures broker in Valparaiso, Indiana. He can be reached at 800-411-3888 or www.indianafutures.com. This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell any market. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Southern Illinois Earth Science Club is holding its 57th Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show on April 9 and 10 at The Pavilion in Marion. Organizers say the show, on hiatus for two years because of COVID-19, features a wide range of exhibits and vendors for all ages and with all ranges of interests in geology, gems and fossils. Show chairman Mike Chontofalsky said the show includes something for everyone. People are always surprised the first time that they come and the expect only to spend an hour or two, he said. They may end up spending much longer than that and sometimes theyll come back the next day. Chontofalsky said exhibits will include fossils from the Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History including a replica cast of a T-Rex skull. Additionally, the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum of Marion, Kentucky will have a large display of fluorite. Youll find just about anything that has to do with rocks: mineralogy, fossils, Native American artifacts and jewelry, he explained. Carterville High School senior Parker Tolnai and his family are planning on visiting the show; its something they do each year. Parkers father Rob Tolnai said his son has an extensive collection of rocks and minerals, and hes always looking to discover something new. Hes eager to find unique ones to add to his collection and he likes to talk experts, the elder Tolnai said. Its something he looks forward to. Organizers said silent auctions and door prizes will be offered as well as an opportunity for children to win their very own piece. Every kid under 12 gets a spin and they all will get their own rock, Chontofalsky added. We try to make it fun, entertaining and educational for everyone. The show runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, April 9 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 10. Admission for adults is $2 with children under age 18 admitted for free. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 You are here: China China's Shenzhou-13 astronauts are preparing for their return to Earth following the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft's recent separation from the country's space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The Shenzhou-13 crew members -- Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu -- are all in good condition, said the agency, adding that they plan to return to Earth in mid-April. On Oct. 16, 2021, the Shenzhou-13 mission sent the three taikonauts to the Tiangong space station for a six-month stay -- the longest-ever duration in the country's manned space program. They have completed multiple tasks over the past few months, including two extravehicular activities, two live science lectures, and a number of sci-tech experiments and application projects. Chinese astronauts also used manual teleoperation equipment for the first time, operating the cargo craft and the space station for rendezvous and docking. The core module of China's space station is currently operating steadily. The Eco-Art Conference and Symposium at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on April 8 will promote the interdisciplinary partnership between art and science and how it contributes to mending issues in our environments. The event will focus on environmental concerns, sustainability and climate change. This professional development conference and symposium is open to the public and targeted to professional and aspiring art and science educators. In addition, a public exhibition of participants artwork will be on display in the Vergette Gallery in the Allyn Building from April 3 through April 8. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Jody Paulson, the program coordinator for art education, says she hopes the conference will answer three questions centered on the areas of focus. How do the arts deal with these issues? How does science approach these concerns? How do we work together to make a difference? she said. The conference and symposium will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Student Center. Registration is available online now. Tickets range from $100 for professional educators, $80 for Illinois Art Educators Association (IAEA) members and $25 for students. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. All participants who attend the conference and symposium are asked to submit artwork for the exhibition. There will be a reception and awards announcement directly after the conference. Paulson said she hopes educators will bring what they learned back to their classrooms. I want them to have the confidence to have these conversations with their students, she said. Learn about greening your curriculum. Before asking students to save the Earth, help them love the Earth. Keynote Hilary Inwood, an outstanding postsecondary educator in environmental education in the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication and an artist at the University of Toronto, will speak on April 7 at 7 p.m. in the Morris Library Guyon Auditorium as part of the Visiting Artist Program (VAP). During her VAP lecture, she will be giving a presentation focused on her work as an artist and educator, and she will talk about her previous works and how she became an educator. Her free, public lecture will also serve as an informal welcome for conference attendees. At the conference, she will deliver the keynote address, Re-Imagining Art Education as Creative Activism, and emphasize how creative activism will help solve environmental issues. Inwood will also lead a workshop, Eco-Art Education to Eco-Activism. Workshops will be led by K-12 educators, experts, and graduate and undergraduate SIU students. A panel discussion will close out the conference, answering questions from participants and expanding on the relationship between art and science and its correlation with climate, the environment and sustainability. Learn more SIU College of Arts and Media, School of Art and Design, SIU College of Liberal Arts, Southern Illinois Art Educators Association, Illinois Science Teaching Association and the Green Fund: Sustainably Office are all sponsors of this years conference. For more information regarding the Eco-Art Conference and Symposium, visit the website at https://conferenceservices.siu.edu/conferences/eco-art.php or contact Jody Paulson at jodypaulson@siu.edu. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The oldest building on the Southern Illinois University campus looks like a castle. So does the longest-standing building at Eastern Illinois University. Likewise at Illinois State University and at Northern Illinois University. And while another castle-like building isnt the oldest at the University of Illinois, it is close. The similarities among the structures at these five state universities go beyond appearances. Three of the five those at the University of Illinois, NIU and SIU all share the same name: Altgeld Hall in honor of John Peter Altgeld, the states 20th governor. Legend has it that Altgelds fondness for Tudor-Gothic architecture and a belief that state-constructed buildings should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing led to the creation of Altgelds castles, erected at the state schools during his tenure as governor in the 1890s. I think it was just an aesthetic the governor really liked, explained Illinois State University Archivist April K. Anderson-Zorn. In order to get these buildings built, they had to have that aesthetic, so thats the reason they look the way they do. With campus castles all across the state, it is easy to get a case of State U Deja-Vu. Cordy Love, an employment recruiter with Carbondale-based health care provider SIH, discovered this first-hand. When Love, who had done graduate work at SIU, accepted a position at Eastern Illinois University, something looked familiar. Soon he realized that both campuses had castles. He said he remembered being struck by the iconic nature of the buildings and learned not only the history behind SIUs Altgeld Hall and Easterns Old Main, but also the existence of other similar buildings at other schools. Love said he also noted a popular piece of castle folklore. I heard the story about how Governor Altgeld had them built so you could put them all together and everything would just line up, he recalled. Jon Davey, professor of architecture at SIU, said it is an academic legend that all of the hallways and corridors would align. Still, Illinois States Anderson-Zorn said it is still a popular myth. People ask us all of the time, do the buildings at all of the campuses really connect together to make one super building? No, they dont, she said. Its not like 'Transformers' where you get Optimus Prime when you connect them together. Ive never seen any definitive proof that it is the case. She did say, however, the existence of sister buildings is unique. Im originally from Florida and we dont have anything like this, she said. This is unique. Even though all of the buildings share similar histories and status on their campuses, each is unique. Southern Illinois University Constructed in 1896 at a cost of $40,000, Altgeld Hall is the oldest building on the Carbondale campus. Originally, home of the schools library, gymnasium and laboratories, the building has been home of the School of Music since 1958 and underwent extensive remodeling two decades ago. A portrait of Governor Altgeld hangs in a first-floor corridor. "Not only is the building beautiful, but the increased functionality of all of the spaces make it a pleasure to work in, then-director of the School of Music Robert L. Weiss said of Altgeld Hall upon completion of the renovations. Eastern Illinois University Officially known as the Livingston C. Lord Administration Building, everyone around the Charleston campus knows the castle-inspired building at EIU simply as Old Main, and with good reason. Not only is it the oldest building at the university it also houses campus leadership. Governor Altgeld himself laid the cornerstone for the building in 1896 and Old Main is so iconic, it even is depicted on EIUs logo. "Old Main holds a special place for everyone connected to EIU," said university spokesman Josh Reinhart. "Generations of EIU students, alumni and employees regularly reference their shared nostalgia in seeing the iconic and historic castle peeking at them from just above the horizon. It really ties everyone in our diverse EIU Family together. Illinois State University Like in Carbondale 210 miles south, the castle-inspired building in Normal also originally housed the campus library and gymnasium when it opened in 1896, but now occupied by the ISU School of Music. Named Cook Hall after John W. Cook, the university president at the time the building was approved. We love our castle, Anderson-Zorn said. Even though it definitely does not look like the rest of the buildings on our quad, it absolutely fits in and has this very distinctive look. Theres no question that the building belongs on our campus. I know many students have memories and a sense of nostalgia that they care with them long past graduation. Northern Illinois University Also carrying the Altgeld Hall name and also featured on the universitys logo, Northern Illinois Universitys castle originally housed the entire De Kalb institution. Over the years since its 1899 completion, it has held a number of academic units, but now is home for campus administrative offices. The building underwent an extensive, five-year renovation beginning in 1999. Its always been referred to as the Castle on the Hill and it is, in many respects, the heart of the campus, explained Ferald Bryan, an associate professor of rhetoric and public communication and an Altgeld biographer. University of Illinois A fifth castle-inspired building and third Altgeld Hall was completed in 1897 on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. Like many of its contemporaries, it first served as the university library before becoming the College of Law until 1956 when the universitys mathematics department took up residence in the historic building. Ours is not as much castle-like as some of the others; its more Romanesque in style, said University of Illinois campus historic preservation officer and architect Dennis Craig. Mathematics Professor Sheldon Katz, whose office is on the third floor of Altgeld Hall, called the building an iconic gateway to campus, sitting right behind the Alma Mater statue. Its a beautiful building; one that every graduate has in their picture taken at Alma Mater. In each, Altgeld is in the background, Katz said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 The newly formed Bamberg County School District Board will meet Monday. The nine members of the new, consolidated board were appointed by members of the Bamberg County Legislative Delegation, Rep. Justin Bamberg and Sen. Brad Hutto, and sworn into office in February. A bill formally dissolving the former Bamberg County School District 1 and 2 boards is making its way through the state Senate as work continues to consolidate the districts. The two districts have been sharing key personnel, with consolidation planned for 2022-23. Meanwhile, decisions made relative to budgets and policies for school year 2021-22 and prior years were made by the previous Bamberg 1 and Bamberg 2 boards, BCSD Superintendent Dottie Brown said. Decisions about budgets and policies for the consolidated district for school year 2022-23 and beyond still have to be made, and those decisions will be made by the new, consolidated Bamberg County School Board, Brown said. All decisions at this point that have to be made for the new fiscal year and the new school year (have been made). Our budgets are done for the year, our staffs in place for this year, our policies are all in place," Brown said. The new school board includes four members from the BSD1 board and three from the BSD2 board. Monthly meetings of the former boards have been canceled because of the lack of a quorum that resulted. A person cannot serve on both boards. From the Bamberg 1 (Bamberg-Ehrhardt) board are: Janeth Walker, John Hiers, Naomi Eckels and Gwendolyn D. Bamberg From the Bamberg 2 (Denmark-Olar) board are: Beverly Bonaparte, Tonie Holman and Blossom Thompson Harriet H. Coker and Cynthia F. Hurst are the other new board members. Bamberg County Rep. Justin Bamberg has said that in the absence of quorums for both previous boards, meaning they cannot meet, school governance in the county is now in the hands of the new county board. The board meets at 6 p.m. Monday, April 4, at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Residents of Orangeburg's Northwood Estates have long been concerned about the aging sewer system in the neighborhood. The help they were seeking finally came during a recent Orangeburg City Council meeting, when members agreed to take over the private system. We are so happy to try to bring some resolution to Northwood Estates, Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said during council's March 15 meeting. Council unanimously passed a resolution allowing the city's Department of Public Utilities to take ownership of the sewer system. That gives it the greenlight to conduct the necessary repairs to upgrade the aging system. The Northwood Estates System has been privately owned since the creation of the neighborhood. The system was owned and operated by Midlands Utilities, which became Synergy Utilities. Synergy was responsible for collection and keeping the lines maintained. DPU was paid to transport and treat the wastewater from the system. The systems high sewage treatment costs have been blamed on groundwater infiltration, which led to customers having to pay for the treatment of the extra water that entered the sewer system. Synergy defended its maintenance of the system. Now Synergy Utilities is being purchased by South Carolina Water Utilities Inc. and the new owner has agreed to give the system up. The DPU had long recognized the challenges being faced by the residents of the area, DPU spokesman Randy Etters said. However, as it was a private system, we were unable to provide them with any relief from the higher-than-average monthly sewer bills. The DPU has been an ardent supporter of the residents of Northwood Estates as they have sought to lessen their bills, Etters continued. We have offered the system owners use of our equipment, account data, hosted meetings and used significant DPU resources in pursuit of a resolution. We are thrilled that they will become members of our wastewater system as they will enjoy a locally managed system with rapid response times and costs that are among the lowest in the state, Etters said. DPU already provides the neighborhood with electricity, gas and water services. The opportunity to take over the sewer system was brought about through the efforts of the Orangeburg County legislative delegation, including former Sen. John Matthews, the S.C. Office of Regulatory Staff and the S.C. Public Service Commission, Etters said. DPU Manager Warren Harley noted the efforts of Orangeburg City Council and Orangeburg County Council. I know the residents of Northwood Estates will be excited to get DPU as their full-time sewer provider, Harley said. Matthews said, It has been a long journey. He said the legislative delegation met with DPU, the mayor and City Council and was able to provide some assistance on the state level to help move the process forward. This brings that to closure, Matthews said. A lot of people will be happy. DPU has been providing water and treating sewer for years. It is a logical sequence in resolving the issue. As part of the transition, DPU will not be required to purchase the existing infrastructure and the system will become part of DPU's overall collection system, Etters said. All costs will be layered in under the existing rate structure, Etters said. Our monthly service charge that is applied to every service on our system will be used to operate and maintain that system as well. Etters said the utility does not see any reason for existing rate payers to experience a rate increase as DPU will now own the system. We expect the sewer rates in the neighborhood to be reduced substantially, Etters said. I am confident that the removal of the groundwater from their billing will have a dramatic positive effect on their monthly bills. Harley said a date has not been settled on yet as to when the transition will occur. That is one of the final details of this process that we are working through, Harley said. We will have community meetings with the folks from Northwood Estates so they know the process of everything they need to do in order to accept service through DPU. Council's decision allows DPU to move forward with executing all the necessary documents. Legal representation will be had throughout the process, Harley said. Northwood Estates Homeowners Association President Barbara Williams said the news has been a long time coming. We can't figure out why it took so long, but we are glad it is happening right now, she said. There are currently 103 occupied homes in the subdivision. Homeowners are pleased DPU is taking over the Northwood Estates sewer system, and there are hopes that the change will mean good things for homeowners, she said. The big things are lower bills for us, a healthier water system and better service, Williams said. We are counting on DPU to put that in place for us. Williams said homeowners have been paying high prices for sewer over the last decade. We are also hoping now they will go over the system that each household will now pay the amount of wastewater they are using and not have everyone pay the same amount, Williams said. Our bills mirrored. For example, if our cost was $80, my neighbors was $80. Williams hopes that when DPU takes the over system, they will make the repairs to make it more effective. She said the neighborhood has often suffered from line breaks and water leaking into the sewer system. Several years ago, Orangeburg County paid to have the system evaluated. At that time, the estimate to repair the system was approximately $1.9 million. We expect that figure to be higher today, Etters said. The county will help the utility pay for system stabilization, he said. About $400,000 in American Recovery Plan Act money will go toward improving the system. Another study of system will be conducted. That is an area where the citizens have been done wrong, where they are paying an exorbitant amount of charges, Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said. Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright said hes elated the city is taking over the system. That has been a long, drawn-out process and a lot of back and forth trying to get help with the sewer system. It has been going on for a long time, Wright said Wright said the resolution is the result of everyone working together. My hats off to City Council, Wright said. We appreciate the teamwork to take this over. The system needs infiltration mitigation, as a large percentage of the system discharge is ground water. This would include the reworking of all existing taps, manhole repairs, pump station upgrades, Etters said. We may end up finding it to be more feasible to install new collection infrastructure in certain areas of the neighborhood. Etters said DPU will begin engaging engineers to craft a rehabilitation plan once all legal particulars have been completed. I would not foresee any major work being done this year, Etters said. However, the residents will still benefit because they no longer will be paying for the ground water. That will be absorbed by the DPU. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Wyomings senators want to expedite the formation of a national uranium reserve. Last years federal spending bill allocated $75 million to the Department of Energy to establish the reserve, which would contain only U.S. uranium and cause a spike in demand that industry hopes will spur production at some of the countrys idle mines. I think the uranium reserve would be the kind of signal that would cause some of our member companies we may be included in that to pull the trigger and move forward, said Scott Melbye, executive vice president of Uranium Energy Corp. The Texas-based company purchased a number of Wyoming assets formerly owned by Russian state-owned Uranium One, including three permitted sites in the Powder River Basin, late last year. The National Opportunity to Restore Uranium Supply Services In America, or NO RUSSIA, Act is sponsored by Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, R-WY, Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. Introduced Thursday, it would require the energy department to immediately begin executing development of the reserve, giving the agency $15 billion over a decade to do so, and would direct the agency to promptly stand up a domestic uranium supply chain. Having access to American produced uranium is critical to both our energy and national security, Barrasso said in a statement. We cannot be reliant on our adversaries for fuel we have here at home. My legislation ... will increase demand for Wyoming uranium and ensure America will always have the fuel it needs to power our nuclear reactors. Wyoming is the nations leading uranium producer. After initially receiving funding for the reserve, the Department of Energy issued a request for information that closed in October. The agency is now working on a request for proposals to start acquiring that uranium, a senior agency official previously told the Star-Tribune. But some advocates for the reserve dont think its moving quickly enough. Passage of the bill will put pressure on DOE to act, Sarah Durdaller, deputy communications director for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said in an email to the Star-Tribune. Its advocates also argue that if the reserve had already been established, the U.S. couldve used it to buffer nuclear power producers current shift away from Russian uranium. Not everyone is convinced. Uranium isnt used directly in nuclear power plants, said Shannon Anderson, staff attorney for the Powder River Basin Resource Council, a landowners group. It has to be enriched, and theres a whole fuel cycle piece of it. Its not like coal, where you can just kind of take it to a power plant and use it. Nor is she sold on the part of the NO RUSSIA Act instructing the department to establish a domestic uranium supply chain that will ensure the availability of domestically produced, converted, and enriched uranium to support the continued operation of nuclear reactors in the United States, without harming the economics of the countrys nuclear fleet. Its a tall order: State-owned companies in Russia and allied countries have kept uranium prices artificially low in recent years. Existing U.S. nuclear power plants have often struggled to compete economically, even when buying that imported fuel, with the cheaper electricity produced by natural gas and renewables. Without subsidies, weaning the U.S. power sector off Russian uranium likely means restoring market prices at which U.S. uranium producers are competitive and raising costs for already struggling nuclear power plants. Still, both Anderson and Melbye anticipate that the push to bolster the U.S. uranium supply chain will mark a lasting shift in the countrys energy policy, which persists even after tensions with Russia subside. But while Anderson agrees theres now significant need for nuclear fuel not sourced from Russia or its allies, shes worried about the socioeconomic and environmental implications of rushing to increase U.S. production. Many of the countrys uranium reserves are located on Tribal lands. And the mining operations have a long history of environmental issues, including groundwater contamination, she said. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. You are here: World Flash Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted on Thursday he had discussed steps toward peace in Ukraine with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the conversation, Zelensky noted the high level of organization of negotiations of Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul. Besides, the Ukrainian leader said he appreciates the readiness of Turkey to become a guarantor of Ukraine's security. Ukraine and Russia concluded their fresh round of face-to-face peace talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Tuesday. At the negotiations, Kiev proposed to sign a new international treaty on security guarantees, which enshrines obligations for the guarantor countries to provide Ukraine with military assistance in the event of an attack. A police standoff earlier this month in Evansville that left one man dead began with a warrant for narcotics and narcotics distribution, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation confirmed Thursday. Blaine Clutter was found dead in the rental home near Evansville Elementary on March 19, after a nearly 18-hour negotiation with officers. Whether he died by his own hand or by shots fired from police remains under investigation. Matt Waldock, a DCI commander based in Casper, said in an email that the agency had been serving both a search warrant and an arrest warrant on Clutter, 29, at the time, all surrounding narcotics and narcotics distribution. Previously, law enforcement had declined to say what the warrant being served was regarding. Court documents show Clutters probation had been revoked in Campbell County in August. He had violated the conditions of probation hed received in 2020, after being convicted of marijuana and methamphetamine possession the year before. Documents filed in Campbell County show the violation was related to allegations of theft reported in March 2021, where Clutter was accused of stealing more than $1,700 worth of Milwaukee tools and other equipment from a Gillette shop. The standoff began around 5:45 p.m. on March 18, and ended around 11 a.m. the following day. Casper police said in a statement that four of their officers on the scene fired their weapons after Clutter shot at them. The officers have been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, per department policy. That investigation, according to Casper police, is being conducted by DCI. Jail records show that Clutters mother and girlfriend were arrested on their own warrants following the standoff. His mother, Mikki Clutter, had a warrant out for probation revocation from Campbell County, according to court records. According to Clutters father, officers used smoke bombs, tear gas and water from a fire engine to try to draw an armed, barricaded Clutter out of the home. He also told the Star-Tribune hed been told a backhoe and ram were used on the homes windows and doors. After the standoff, the house appeared severely gouged with items falling out of the holes. An investigation into the incident by the Natrona County Sheriffs Office is still ongoing. Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Rep. Landon Brown had two press releases on his computer: one that announced he was bowing out of the Wyoming Legislature and one that said he was running for reelection. He sent the latter one Friday, but only after weeks of mulling over the pros and cons of what being a state lawmaker in Wyoming entails these days. Increasing incivility in the statehouse gave Brown second thoughts about running again. In Browns view, that incivility steadily increased after former President Donald Trump took office, but really accelerated with the onset of COVID-19. Brown, a moderate Cheyenne Republican, has become a target of the far right inside and outside of the Legislature, in part for being outspoken and a Trump critic. Brown said he received a violent death threat, a Facebook message from an anonymous account suggesting he kill himself and between 10 and 20 vile, hateful emails during the recently completed four-week budget session. Thats a nasty email roughly every two days. It gets to the point where the whole family is affected by it, Brown said. After Frank Eathorne, chairman of the Wyoming GOP, said in January 2021 that western states were paying attention to secession efforts in Texas, Brown vigorously condemned the comment. His condemnation spurred a man to repeatedly call the Cheyenne representative late into the night for two nights in a row. On the second night, the man seemed heavily intoxicated. Brown did not pick up that final call, but the man left a voicemail. He said he was going to come over to my house and said he was going to rip my face off and feed it to my dogs, Brown said. The Brown family called the Cheyenne Police Department. His wife Rachel Smith, a precinct committeewoman and nurse, said they didnt sleep that night. After such an incident, many politicians might consider vacating their seat, a move Brown himself appeared wedded to on the final day of the 2022 budget session. As the last day came to a close, state lawmakers had still not agreed on a reapportioned map following the 2020 census, despite the fact that it was the bodys constitutional duty to approve one by midnight. To be honest with you guys, this might be the last thing that I say on these microphones, Brown said. Had we been dealing with more of this, had we dealt with this bill first ... we wouldve had more time to work on this issue ... but instead we were busy debating guns, we were busy debating abortion, we were busy debating non-issues in this state instead of our constitutional obligations. Brown is one of the most outspoken members of the Wyoming House partly because of Rep. Liz Cheney, who has become the top target of many conservatives due to her repeated condemnations of Trumps role in the Jan. 6 attack and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Shes influenced me to stand on my morals and my values and take the shots as they come and let it almost fuel you even further, Brown said. After what appeared to be a final speech on the House floor, Brown changed his mind. I think the good outweighs the bad. There is work to still be done, Brown said. I feel like I have opportunities to make a difference in the state of Wyoming, and I do care about the state. Brown is specifically dedicated to his work on the Joint Education Committee and feels like theres unfinished business to take care of. But the online threats have taken a toll. The lawmaker presents himself as having a thick skin against all of it, Smith said, but its been tough for him and for the couples marriage. He comes at 9 or 10 at night and he just has this heavy weight on his shoulders, Smith said. He doesnt feel like participating in these family things. That is strenuous on a marriage. Ultimately, Smith is backing her husbands decision to run for reelection. The couple was sitting in a Florida airport on the way back from their spring break vacation Thursday. Brown had officially made up his mind moments before he leaned over and told Smith he was going to run. You know, I kind of thought you were, she said. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mothers will get extra special treatment on Sundaylavish lunches, concerts and gifts of perfumes and roses. Meanwhile, mere days before the celebration, Port of Spain businesspeoplevendors and huckstersare reporting slow sales. They are cautiously optimistic that it will pick up today. 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. Brian Jagessar, the child who drowned in a swimming pool last Saturday, would be laid to res Flash Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the latest development in the Ukraine crisis over the phone on Thursday, the Turkish presidential office said. Erdogan stated that the recent peace talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul gave a meaningful impetus to the process to end the crisis and establish peace, the presidential office said in a statement. Erdogan reiterated his proposal to bring together the presidents of Ukraine and Russia for a summit in Turkey. Zelensky thanked Erdogan for hosting the talks in Istanbul, according to the statement. Russia and Ukraine concluded a fresh round of face-to-face peace talks in Istanbul on Tuesday, creating a possibility of formulating a security treaty. Following the meeting, Ukrainian negotiators named several countries which could act as guarantors, protecting Ukraine on the international arena, and Russian delegates pledged to scale down Russia's military operations in Ukraine to create the necessary ground for dialogue. Turkey has been increased its diplomatic efforts for lasting peace in the region, and Erdogan has been pushing for a summit between his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts while conducting "phone traffic" with Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky. When Dr Eric Williams decided to lay down his bucket here in the islands after his release from the Caribbean Commission and his debates with Dom Basil Matthews in the Public Library, he held lectures in Woodford Square, which he called The University of Woodford Square. We who were alive then felt happy. He attracted people of like mind for the betterment of the islands, so he formed the PNMthe Peoples National Movement. LOS ANGELES (AP) Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage. "They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to "Good Morning America." "They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We're prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options." But Packer said Rock was "very dismissive" of the idea. "He was like, 'No, no, no, I'm fine," Packer said. "And even to the point where I said, 'Rock, let them finish.' The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, 'Would you like us to take any action?' And he said no." The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night's ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer's interview. In the longer version on "Good Morning America," Parker said he initially believed the slap was an orchestrated bit. "I thought it was part of something that Chris and Will were doing on their own. I thought it was a bit. I wasn't concerned at all." Packer said he went up to Rock after the incident. "I said, 'Did he really hit you?'" the producer asked Rock. "And he looked at me and he goes, 'Yeah, I just took a punch from Muhammad Ali,' as only Chris can. He was immediately in joke mode, but you could tell that he was very much still in shock." The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group's standards of conduct. Smith could be suspended, expelled or otherwise sanctioned. The academy said in a statement that "Mr. Smith's actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television." Without giving specifics, the academy said Smith was asked to leave the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, but refused to do so. Smith strode from his front row seat on to the stage and slapped Rock after a joke Rock made about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, when he was on stage to present the Oscar for best documentary. On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying "I was out of line and I was wrong." The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18. Rock publicly addressed the incident for the first time, but only briefly, at the beginning of a standup show Wednesday night in Boston, where he was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation. He said "I'm still kind of processing what happened." Photos: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock on Oscars stage, plus more scenes from the Academy Awards Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry is set to resign from his post after a 28-year tenure. The Pima County Board of Supervisors will vote on the acceptance of the resignation of Chuck Huckelberry, county administrator, effective immediately, according to the addendum for its April 5 meeting. Huckelberry suffered a brain bleed, a punctured lung and broken ribs when he was struck by a car while riding his bike downtown on Oct. 23. According to the addendum, the board will vote on appointing Jan Lesher as county administrator. Lesher has served as deputy county administrator since 2017 and has taken over Huckelberrys role since Dec. 7. Ted Schmidt, an attorney representing Huckelberry and his wife Maureen, released a statement on their behalf on Friday. By the grace of God, love and support of family and friends and Chucks strength of character and determination he has made remarkable progress in his rehabilitation. There is nothing Chuck wishes more than that he be able to return to his desk at the county and resume his position as county administrator, the statement said. However, Chuck and the family fully appreciate that with months of additional therapy ahead, he is unable to do the position justice at this time and out of respect for what is in the best interest of the county, which he has served so effectively and faithfully for over 40 years, it is time for him to officially resign his post. This will allow the county to continue moving forward no longer clouded by concern for his health and potential return. Finally, Chuck says, Pima County has a bright future with many opportunities and, after I have recovered, I will be available to assist the county in achieving those opportunities. Huckelberry has been the county administrator for 28 years, a role in which he managed a $2.1 billion budget, which includes federal COVID-19 relief funds as well as local taxpayer money, and a staff of more than 7,300 employees. His base salary is $292,000 a year. Huckelberrys legacy involves key county projects such as The Chuck Huckelberry Loop and the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. From north to south, east to west, he knew every bit of the 10,000-square-mile county we live in, said Ray Carroll, who worked with Huckelberry as supervisor for District 4 from 1997 to 2017. He also had an institutional memory that was incredible to be a part of and to listen to him recollect a budget figure or a roadside issue anywhere in the county at any time. He was a walking encyclopedic benefit to the county from that perspective, and Im sure hell continue to keep a keen interest in the county government. Supervisor Rex Scott, who also serves as the boards representative to the County Supervisors Association of Arizona, said Huckelberry has been extraordinarily gracious throughout Scotts first term in his position. The level of respect for Chuck throughout this state, not just among the supervisors, but among the staff in the other 14 counties is extraordinary, Scott said. Hes well known in state government as well. I honestly think that he has been one of the most impactful people in the in the history of Southern Arizona. Scott said he supports Lesher taking over as the countys top administrator. One of the best indicators of how strong a leader is is the quality of the team that they assemble around them. Chuck has put together an exceptional team of talented and dedicated professionals, he said. Jan is the leader of that team, and I am more than comfortable moving to appoint her as the administrator on Tuesday. ... I see no reason for us to conduct any kind of search for anybody else at this time. Supervisor Steve Christy, however, said some sort of search for Huckelberrys replacement is necessary. I would like to see an application and search process for Mr. Huckelberrys full-time replacement starting at the county employee level that would open up that position and accept applications from county employees who would be interested in the job, he said. Christy specified Lesher could be the replacement, but said She she should go through the application and interview process just like any other applicant. Photos: Pima County Adminstrator Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry, Tucson Chuck Huckelberry, Tucson Chuck Huckelberry, Tucson Chuck Huckelberry, Tucson Chuck Huckelberry, Tucson Chuck Huckelberry, Tucson Chuck Huckelberry, Tucson Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Chuck Huckelberry Contact reporter Nicole Ludden at nludden@tucson.com Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Tucson Electric Power home customers could see their monthly bills rise by as much as $13, under the companys proposed plan to recover about $108 million for higher wholesale power and fuel costs. In a filing with the Arizona Corporation Commission, TEP proposed the increase to a surcharge used to offset higher than expected costs for power the utility buys on the wholesale market and for natural gas used to fuel its own power plants. The Corporation Commission will decide the eventual change to TEPs so-called Purchased Power and Fuel Adjustment Cause, or PPFAC, which is adjusted up or down annually to reflect actual costs and the latest forecast of future costs. The PPFAC rate, which is applied to each customers bill based on usage per kilowatt hour, results in a surcharge when a utilitys costs are higher than collections, or a credit when costs are lower than expected. TEP agreed to defer recovery of its excess costs in 2020 and 2021 to help customers survive the economic havoc caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, TEP accumulated $18 million in excess costs for purchased power and fuel it would have normally collected in 2021, the utility said in a filing with the Corporation Commission. The other $90 million in cost recovery TEP is seeking stems from spiraling natural-gas and wholesale power costs since 2019, including an average 88% increase in gas costs in 2021 and a 149% spike in wholesale power costs at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station transmission hub last summer. Tight power supplies in the Southwest and uncertainty over the ability to buy power from California and the cost trend prompted TEP to lock in summer power-purchase contracts, the utility said. Unplanned power-plant outages also contributed to higher purchased-power costs, TEP said. Weather events such as the record-setting heat wave last June and winter storm Uri in Texas during February 2021 led to record-high natural gas and power prices, adding unforeseeable costs, the utility said. Surcharge impact on TEP customers The utility has proposed three options to recover the under-collection of the PPFAC surcharge, including one option to recoup the entire $108 million in 12 months that would increase the average residential customers monthly bill by $12.68, based on average household usage of 797 kilowatt hours. A second option would recover $72 million of the surcharge shortfall over 18 months, deferring $36 million in collections to 2023 and increasing the average home customer bill by $9.27 per month. A third option would collect an additional $54 million over 24 months and defer $54 million in recovery to 2023, resulting in an average $7.56 monthly bill increase. Last week, the Corporation Commission Utilities Division staff recommended that the five-member panel approve TEPs second collection option, which would defer some costs and result in a $9.27 monthly surcharge increase for the average home customer. The Corporation Commission is scheduled to consider the TEP surcharge at its next open meeting on April 12. Higher power bills could lie ahead TEP is willing to accept the longer 18- or 24-month cost recovery period as we recognize that our customers continue to face financial challenges and a longer recovery period would reduce bill impacts, TEP spokesman Joe Barrios said. However, it is crucial that we recover these fuel and purchased power costs in a timely manner, Barrios said. Shifting costs further into the future would only lead to higher costs and higher bill impacts later for customers. The costs caused by unplanned power-plant outages were related to various causes, Barrios said, including the collapse of a cooling tower at the San Juan Generating Station in June and a fire at TEPs H. Wilson Sundt Generating Station in Tucson in September. Barrios noted that adjustor mechanisms like the PPFAC are used in all 50 states, and also convey reductions in fuel and wholesale power costs. TEP customers have received bill credits in recent years through this mechanism, he said. TEPs proposal has met some resistance, though few comments have been filed in the matter so far. The Arizona Residential Utility Consumer Office in comments filed March 8 called TEPs proposal remarkable, noting that at $108 million the request is slightly less than double the amount of $57.9 million authorized by the Corporation Commission in TEPs most recent rate case, decided in December 2020. RUCO, a state agency that represents consumers in rate cases at the ACC, said the power-supply adjustment mechanism was intended to levelize rates by accounting for specific operating expenses in between general rate cases, but TEPs big request shows it isnt working. The amount of increase is indicative of a larger problem, RUCO Chief Counsel Daniel Pozefksy wrote. Adjustor mechanisms, such as TEPs PPFAC, come at a cost to ratepayers. Among other things, these expenses are not considered in the context of a rate case which provides additional ratepayer safeguards and a higher level of scrutiny. RUCO said TEP has done nothing wrong, but its request is indicative of a larger problem, citing numerous large under-collected balances associated with adjuster mechanisms that have sparked debate before the commission in other cases. Cap on increase proposed for TEP RUCO said TEPs proposed options to defer recovery of some of its under-collections to soften the impact on ratepayers is welcome, but the agency recommended that the Corporation Commission reevaluate all such adjuster mechanisms. Mining giant Freeport McMoRan, TEPs biggest industrial customer, filed comments proposing that TEPs PPFAC be capped at $0.004, or four-tenths of a penny, per kilowatt hour, citing a limit the Corporation Commission imposed on Arizona Public Service Co. for a similar power-supply adjustment. TEPs proposal to recover its PPFAC deficit over 12 months would result in a surcharge increase of more than 1.5 cents per kWh. In a filing in response to Freeport, TEP said the proposed cap would violate the companys approved plan of administration for the PPFAC and lead to regulatory uncertainty that could indirectly raise costs by hurting TEPs credit rating. Phoenix-based APS, the biggest state-regulated utility, also has increased its similar surcharge to cover excess purchased power and fuel costs, called the Power Supply Adjustment. APS attributed its surcharge increase in 2021 to higher natural-gas prices and increased customer usage and strained regional power supplies during the record heat of summer 2020. The Corporation Commission ordered an independent audit of APS Power Supply Adjustment last year but an audit contract has yet to be awarded. Meanwhile, APS has sued the Corporation Commission over its decision last November to cut the utilitys annual revenue by $119 million. Contact senior reporter David Wichner at dwichner@tucson.com or 520-573-4181. On Twitter: @dwichner. On Facebook: Facebook.com/DailyStarBiz Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The mausoleum crypt holding Padre Eusebio Francisco Kinos remains in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, was opened Wednesday so that a Tucson organization promoting Kinos canonization could obtain a relic. The opening of the crypt by the Mexicos National Institute of Anthropology was requested by Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson on behalf of the Kino Heritage Society. The society educates the public and promotes the cause for Kinos sainthood. The organization is affiliated with the diocese. Jose Luis Perea Gonzalez, an anthropologist who is the director of Mexicos National Institute of Anthropology and History Center in Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora, authorized the opening and closing of the crypt. The procedure was done in private by the institutes conservator, Rodolfo Castillo Lopez, an anthropologist who wore latex gloves, a face mask, knee pads and used a brush to restore the area he touched in the tomb. Kinos visible skeletal remains, which are under plexiglass, are in the mausoleum crypt at La Plaza Monumental, about 50 yards from Maria Magdalena Church. The crypt was opened for the Kino Heritage Society to obtain what is called a third-class relic from Kino who is a candidate for sainthood. A third-class relic is an object that has touched a body part of a saint or would-be saint, or a possession that a saint or would-be saint owned, according to Vatican rules. In this case, the third-class relic was reels of black ribbon, representing the Jesuit cassock, that were placed in the crypt by Lopez, touching the skull of Kino, said the Rev. Gregory Adolf, who was among the delegation from the Tucson diocese to attend the event in Magdalena de Kino, about a 2-hour drive south from Tucson. The Rev. Gregory Adolf The Rev. Gregory Adolf witnessed the unsealing of the crypt with the remains of Father Eusebio Kino. Before the event, Lopez checked the interior of the crypt and found it to be in good shape with no signs of deterioration, said Adolf. Lopez handed the reels of ribbon to Adolf after the reels touched Kinos skull. Lopez then closed and locked the crypt where access to Kinos remains has been rare during the last 50 years, and is only authorized by the institute, Adolf said. Adolf is a board member of the Kino Heritage Society and member of the board of directors of the Southwest Mission Research Center, which promotes borderland history and also sponsors tours in Arizona and Sonora of Kino missions. This was deeply moving because I have seen the remains many, many times through the plexiglass, but to have the tomb open and looking in on the ground level straight at Father Kinos bones was very touching, said Adolf. I was very impressed by the wonderful cooperation by the local authorities and the National Institute of Anthropology and History to make this possible, he said, explaining that pilgrims arriving at the tomb were held back by a gate while the process to obtain the third-relic was taking place. The crowd stood in silence. It was a beautiful sunny day and about 40 people waited to catch an unexpected glimpse into history, said Adolf. The ribbon will be cut into tiny pieces that will go on 20,000 prayer cards that will be distributed to diocesan parishes to promote Kinos cause for sainthood. The prayer cards are being donated to the society by Frank Barco, owner of the Copper Queen Publishing Co., Inc. in Bisbee, said Rosie Garcia, president and founder of the Kino Heritage Society. One reel of ribbon will be given to Kinos descendants in Segno, Italy. Gathering a third-class relic from Kinos crypt is most appropriate now that the good padre has been declared venerable, said Rev. Christopher Corbally, a Jesuit Vatican astronomer and heritage society board member, in regards to Kinos candidacy for sainthood. Relics of saints help us recall that these holy people were as real as ourselves, they walked our walk, and so can be an inspiration to our own journey, said Corbally. Rev. Christopher Corbally The Rev. Christopher Corbally, a Jesuit Vatican astronomer. Relics, such as this one of Kino, help us to remember to call on those in heaven for help. They are our friends and family, and they care for us, Corbally said. Yes, we can always go straight to God with our needs but, as in our present life, it feels good to have the support of friends when we have a special request to make of someone with authority. Praying for something really special to God like this, with the support of such as Padre Kino on the way to be declared saint, has the two effects: it opens us to Gods answer; and it confirms that the padre is indeed close to God in heaven, said Corbally. In July 2020, Pope Francis approved that Kino be declared a venerable person, which is two steps away from sainthood. At that time, Bishop Weisenburger said the popes formal approval recognized Kinos life of heroic virtue. Padre Kino is especially recognized as an extraordinary example of evangelization, science and respect for the dignity of the poor, wrote Weisenburger in an email to parishioners of the diocese. The process to canonize Kino began in the 1960s and it started in Hermosillo. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website, after a candidate becomes venerable, the next step is blessed and then canonized as a saint. To be beatified and recognized as a blessed, one miracle acquired through the candidates intercession is required in addition to recognition of heroic virtue or martyrdom. Canonization requires a second miracle after beatification, though a pope may waive these requirements, according to the site. The society would not disclose what it paid the institute for the costs to obtain the relic. The money came from a trust fund established by the late Jesuit Rev. Charles W. Polzer, a Kino historian and anthropologist, to support events promoting and celebrating the canonization process of Kino. Kino, who left a legacy as a Jesuit missionary, explorer, cartographer, rancher and farmer, was born Eusebio Chini on Aug. 10, 1645, in Segno, Italy, and died March 15, 1711, at age 65 in Magdalena. He founded 21 missions in the Pimeria Alta what is now Northern Sonora and Southern Arizona. Among the missions are Tumacacori mission that was established by Kino in 1691 but later built under Franciscan missionaries. In 1700, Kino laid the foundation for a mission at the village of Bac, on the Santa Cruz River near Tucson. Mission San Xavier del Bac also known as the White Dove of the Desert was completed in 1797 also by Franciscan missionaries. According to writings by Polzer, Padre Kinos bones were found May 19, 1966, by a binational team of experts, including archaeologists and historians involved in methodical excavations. The work was commissioned by the Mexican federal government. The remains were discovered where they had been buried some 255 years earlier. They were found under the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier that Kino had built in what is now the Plaza de Magdalena. In the remains, was a cassock button and a small crucifix, according to writings by the late Bernard L. Bunny Fontana, also an anthropologist and historian. That Kinos remains were discovered in 1966 has to be regarded as miraculous. The same might be said for the continuation of so much that he set in motion in Northern Sonora/Southern Arizona more than three centuries ago, wrote Fontana about the discovery and Kinos accomplishments. Photos: Father Kino (Eusebio Francisco Kino) Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Eusebio Francisco Kino, Father Kino Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at cduarte@tucson.com or on Twitter: @cduartestar Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. NEWS PROVIDED BY Catholic League April 1, 2022 NEW YORK, April 1, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on support for LGBT curricula in the schools: LGBT activists have quite a tag-team going between pollsters and the media. First, the pollsters present a dishonest survey of public support for LGBT curricula in the schools, and then their allies in the media give Americans the impression that most favor such instruction. Two such polls recently teed it up for the media to distort the truth even further. Both are being used to discredit the Parental Rights in Education bill signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis: it disallows classroom instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity for grades kindergarten through the third grade, and it insists on parental rights. "A Majority of Parents Are Okay with Teaching on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation in Schools, a New Poll Finds." That was the headline of a Yahoo news story about a National Parents Union poll. The headline is deceptive. So is the news story. The headline reads, "Majorities of Parents Support Classroom Instruction about Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation." When asked whether classroom instruction about these matters should be allowed in middle school and high school, 31% said it should be allowed but not encouraged, 25% said it should not be allowed, 7% were unsure. When asked if such instruction should be encouraged, just 37% agreed, meaning that the majority were opposed to encouraging such classroom instruction. But one would never know this from reading the story. Keep in mind that the DeSantis bill addresses kindergarten-3rd grade. When respondents were asked about such classroom instruction in elementary school (the question never mentioned the early grades), only 30% said it should be encouraged. Similar numbers were posted about having students read books about LGBT people. The results of a Morning Consult poll, taken for an LGBT organization, The Trevor Project, merited a positive story in The Hill, an influential Washington media source. It said the survey showed that a majority of Americans "do not support banning books on LGBTQ+ topics from school libraries or discussions about LGBTQ+ issues from classrooms." It should be noted that the DeSantis bill says nothing about classroom discussionsit only addresses classroom instruction. No young student in Florida will be punished for discussing anything. Also, the DeSantis bill deals exclusively with kindergarten-3rd grade. This poll asks respondents how they feel about LGBT instruction and library books "at school" and "in school libraries." It is not specific to the early grades. One of the "Key Findings" cited in the survey is the following: "Most adults, including parents, feel that ages 5 through 11 are the most appropriate ages for students to be learning about LGBTQ topics at school (my italic)." That is a gross distortion of the truth. In fact, 57% of adults, and 58% of parents, said that the most appropriate age would be 12-18. The authors of the poll came to its conclusion because 38% said the most appropriate age was 5-11. Just because that was the highest number given the age levels that respondents were asked to choose from (0-4, 5-11, 12-14, 15-17, 18), that doesn't mean that most adults and parents agreed that 5-11 was the most appropriate age. A plurality is not a majority. A majority, 55%, said parents should have "the ultimate say" about whether their transgender child receives gender-affirming medical care. This was not deemed a "Key Finding" and was therefore ignored in the news story. The average American has no idea what kinds of things are being taught in LGBT curricula and what kinds of books are being made available to students. For example, I recently wrote about the way the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is promoting the LGBT agenda. The following is what NAIS members are being taught is appropriate for classroom instruction. "Starting in Pre-K we talk about their bodies, the parts that they were born with, about penises and vaginas and whether they make somebody a boy or a girl. But also their feelings, what do they feel like inside, do they feel like a boy or a girl?" After encouraging kids to question their sex, teachers are told to help troubled students who are contemplating a sex transition to do so. Books are made accessible in the library that show boys performing oral sex on each other. The average American knows nothing about this and would no doubt be appalled that it is going on right now in some schools. To top things off, parents are being shut outit is being done behind their backs. This is what DeSantis is fighting. All of this is being done to create a false momentum in favor of the LGBT agendathe goal is to make those who are opposed to this madness feel like they are the outlier. We need more governors like DeSantis to stand up to the sexual engineers. We also need more honest surveys and news stories about them. Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday chaired the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan in Tunxi, east China's Anhui province. Wang first read out a written message from Chinese President Xi Jinping and spoke on behalf of the Chinese side. Wang said that with Afghanistan standing at the crossroads of history, relevant countries launched the coordination and cooperation mechanism among neighbors of Afghanistan and built a political consensus of cooperating to respond to the changes in the Afghan situation. These moves fully embodied the spirit of good-neighborly friendship and mutual assistance. He urged upholding the concept of a community with a shared future, further leveraging the unique role of the coordination and cooperation mechanism among neighbors of Afghanistan, promoting the early realization of stable development in Afghanistan, and working together to achieve lasting regional security and prosperity. Wang proposed support for Afghanistan to embark on a road of self-reliance and self-improvement, a road of prosperity and progress, and a road of peaceful development. Foreign ministers of countries attending the meeting thanked Chinese President Xi for his important speech, which injected strong impetus into the coordination and cooperation mechanism among neighbors of Afghanistan. They appreciated China's role in bringing together neighboring countries and supporting Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction. They agreed to step up coordination and cooperation to help Afghanistan realize peace, stability, and economic reconstruction, and support and guide the Afghan interim government to faithfully fulfill its commitments and respond positively to the expectations of the international community, especially its neighbors. They also stressed that the United States and NATO should take the primary responsibility for Afghanistan's reconstruction and development, and return the assets of the Afghan people as soon as possible. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a video speech, in which he spoke highly of the generous support of China and other neighboring countries to the Afghan people. He pointed out that the solidarity of the Afghan neighbors demonstrates the spirit of a global community, and suggested strengthening humanitarian assistance, economic revitalization, and constructive engagement and cooperation. The meeting issued a joint statement of the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and the Tunxi Initiative of neighboring countries of Afghanistan on supporting Afghanistan's economic reconstruction and practical cooperation. The meeting decided to launch a mechanism for regular meetings of special envoys of neighboring countries of Afghanistan on the Afghan issue. It established three working groups on political diplomacy, economy and humanitarian affairs, and security and stability. Uzbekistan will host the fourth foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan. Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and Tajik Minister of Justice Muzaffar Ashouriyon attended the meeting. PHOENIX Two separate lawsuits are asking federal judges to void a new Arizona law that requires proof of citizenship to vote for president. The law violates both a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling and a 2018 consent decree that the state agreed to that protects the rights of certain individuals to use a federal voter registration form to sign up, said Daniel Arellano, one of the attorneys Mi Familia Vota, a national nonprofit group that promotes voter participation. They are legally entitled, at the very least, to cast ballots for all federal elections, Arellano said. But the problems with HB 2492 go beyond who can vote in which elections, he said. Arellano pointed out that the legislation says anyone using that federal form, required by the National Voter Registration Act, cannot cast an early ballot even for offices for which they are entitled to vote. And that runs afoul of constitutional equal protection arguments. Arellano is telling the judge that there is no legitimate interest in changing the law. He argues that the measure was enacted based on unproven claims by GOP lawmakers that people not in this country legally are affecting election results. He cited comments by Rep. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, the sponsor of the measure, that the bill is needed because Arizona cannot allow potentially tens of thousands of noncitizens to vote in our elections. This unsupported fear-mongering is plainly insufficient to justify the proof of citizenship restrictions widespread burdens, Arellano wrote. In a separate lawsuit, attorney James Barton outlined his own arguments. No other states in the nation have abridged the fundamental right to vote for eligible voters in such a manner, wrote Barton. He represents Living United for Change in Arizona, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Arizona Students Association, and ADRC Action which is the sponsor of a ballot measure to reverse restrictions on voting already enacted by the Republican-controlled legislature and signed by Gov. Doug Ducey. At the heart of the fight are two potentially conflicting laws. The first is the 2004 voter-approved requirement for proof of citizenship to register to vote. That became a requirement on state voter-registration forms. Against that is the National Voter Registration Act which allows people to register to vote using a federal form. And that form requires registrants to only avow, under penalty of perjury, that they are citizens. State officials refused to accept federal forms without citizenship proof. That led to a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The justices concluded that Arizona is free to require citizenship proof on its own forms. But they also said the state cannot refuse to accept the federal form, though it can restrict those who use those forms and do not also provide proof of citizenship to voting only on federal races. That ruling went pretty much unchallenged until the 2020 election when Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in Arizona by 10,457 votes. That led to claims, all unproven, that the results were influenced by the approximately 12,000 people who used that federal form. Hoffman acknowledged that the Supreme Court ruling is binding. But he reads it to require only that those who use the federal form be allowed to vote for members of Congress. And the question of using the federal form to vote for president remains legally undecided, Hoffman told Capitol Media Services. That wasnt the opinion of legislative attorneys, a point underlined by Arellano. But he said lawmakers chose to ignore that advice, citing statements by House Speaker Pro tem Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, that one purpose behind HB 2492 is to provoke a new lawsuit to challenge the National Voter Registration Act. We fight for local control of our elections, Grantham said. Yet when theres an overreach by the federal government were willing to accept it because theyre allowed to preempt us because this court says this, he said. calling a new legal challenge a fight worth having. Arellano, however, said that doesnt make HB 2492 legal. Disagreement with and open defiance of federal law does not provide adequate justification for the proof of citizenship restrictions significant burden on Arizonans voting rights, he said. The legal issues go beyond just those who are using the federal form. Arellano pointed out that Arizona did not require proof of citizenship to get a drivers license until 1996. And he noted that the Motor Vehicle Division told Capitol Media Services that there are at least 192,000 Arizonans who have one of these pre-1996 licenses who have not re-registered or provided proof of citizenship yet have, until now, been entitled to vote in all elections but could now find themselves having to produce such proof. Both Ducey and Hoffman contend, however, that nothing in HB 2492 disturbs the ability of those individuals to continue vote in all elections. There are other issues. Since 1991 all Arizonans have been able to cast early ballots without having to provide a specific reason. The practice has become popular, to the point where early ballots made up close to 90% of all votes cast in the 2020 general election. HB 2492 takes that right away from anyone who votes only in federal elections. To now substantially strip these registered voters of their ability to vote by mail without any notice substantially burdens their fundamental right to vote, Arellano wrote. In fact, he said, there is no opportunity for someone who has registered with the federal form to provide citizenship proof to keep using an early ballot. This lack of process will result in registered voters being left in the dark about whether and how they can vote, Arellano said. And he told the judge this should not be seen in isolation. HB 2492 is merely the latest in a string of baseless allegations of fraud that have led to a host of pernicious efforts in Arizona to target early voting by mail, Arellano said. And theres something else. He said HB 2492 requires county recorders to forward to the state attorney general the names of people who are suspected of trying to register without being citizens. But Arellano said that referral for prosecution can be based solely on the inability of the recorder to locate these names in certain specific databases. Such inability could result from something as simple as a typographical error, he said. And fear of wrongful investigation may chill otherwise eligible voters from seeking to register to voter or exercising the franchise. No date has been set to hear either case which are likely to be consolidated. For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: Sen. John McCain described Russia as a gas station masquerading as a country. While its land mass is over 35 times that of Spain, its gross national product is only slightly larger, with 60% of its GDP coming from the sale of natural gas and oil. Nonetheless, because of its vast reserves of fossil fuels, it wields outsized power, particularly in Europe, which depends on Russian energy to power its economy. NATO countries were cautious about angering Russia when it annexed Crimea and declared it a part of Russia. Emboldened by a weak response from both the United States and its European allies to his seizure of Crimea, Vladimir Putin has now invaded Ukraine and wishes to turn it into a puppet state. He appears to have miscalculated the ease with which he could do this, as the Ukrainians are fighting bravely to keep their independence, and NATO countries have levied strong economic punishment and are supplying Ukraine with military weapons. Despite this, the flow of petro dollars into the pocket of a brutal tyrant continues. Two narratives about how to limit the flow of those dollars have emerged in the United States. One narrative demands that the U.S. bypass environmental regulations and open public lands to drilling to increase production of fossil fuels; the other sees the answer as transitioning from fossil fuels to cleaner energy and renewables. In the short term, it does make sense for the United States to support European needs for energy by replacing Russian oil and gas with fossil fuels from the United States. Stronger environmental regulations here will mean less environmental damage. It is also wise to work with both Saudi Arabia and Venezuela to pump more oil and send it to Europe. Actions to limit Putins funds are critical. But increasing oil production is more akin to pulling a brain out of the head than it is to pulling a rabbit out of a hat. The United States is a net exporter of energy, according to the U.S Energy Information Administration, yet we experience global price shocks because energy is a global commodity, and privately owned oil companies sell at the international price. Producing more than is needed domestically does not necessarily result in lower prices. Weve seen volatile energy prices for over 50 years. We can and must turn our backs on a brutal dictator whose attacks are supported by the sale of climate changing fossil fuels. A transition to clean energy has begun. Already the cost of solar and wind energy is lower than the cost of fossil fuel energy. Building more facilities to produce more carbon pollution is no answer. The world simply cant continue down an expensive and dangerous climate path. The only solution that can truly protect us from petro dictators and climate disaster is reducing dependence on fossil fuel. For Europe, that means taking immediate steps to reduce the need for Russian gas. A 10-point plan to accomplish this has been put forth by the International Energy Agency (IEA). That plan relies on increasing energy efficiency, electrification, conservation, increased production from nuclear plants and accelerated development of wind and solar. When implemented, it will reduce the imports of Russian gas by up to half, denying Putin the funds he needs to terrify and kill his neighbors. For the United States, an even better plan exists. A plan to move to cleaner energy is already in Congress (HR 2307). We can have healthier air, drive innovation, create new jobs and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and do so while protecting 85% of all Americans from economic hardship, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania. All that is needed is the political will on the part of the world to leave fossil fuels to the previous century and enter a new and better world. Mike Carran is a co-leader of the Tucson chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby, a non-partisan volunteer climate advocacy group. He lives in Oro Valley. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Tulsa World Chief Photographer Tom Gilbert talks about the photos of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve he took for this months Tulsa World Magazines cover story of the 14 most beautiful places in Oklahoma. He also tells Editor Jason Collington about some of the photos in his career that have stuck with him and about his What The Ale blog where he writes about local beers. The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma broke ceremonial ground on a sixth expansion that will allow the nonprofit to serve almost three times as many meals. Build Hope is the $28 million capital expansion project that is four years in the making for the Tulsa-based nonprofit. Board members, donors, local dignitaries and supporters gathered Friday at the food banks headquarters at 1304 N. Kenosha Ave. to celebrate. Updates to the culinary center, including commercial-grade kitchen equipment, will allow the agency to increase its service to 40,000 meals per week, up from 11,000. Fridays ceremony began with acknowledgement of the land north of the Greenwood District that will be built upon as home of the Osage, Cherokee and Muscogee nations. Speaker Felicia Antonio with the food bank also acknowledged African Americans affected by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. We wish to honor the lives, culture, wisdom and sacrifice that grew from this land as we continue our work of supporting our neighbors facing food insecurity, Antonio said. Mayor G.T. Bynum said he was grateful for the acknowledgement of the land and said it does a great purpose of reminding us of the history of place. The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma serves as the convener for those who want to help those who need it, Bynum said. Thats how you end up distributing over 32 million pounds of food in a year through over 200 partners regionally. The food bank works with 400 partner agencies to fight food insecurity in 24 counties across eastern Oklahoma. The expansion project will expand the warehouse 30% and increase capacity in the culinary center and volunteer center, as well as increase partner agency access. Im excited about being able to double the capacity to serve people in our projected service area, said Calvin Moore, president and CEO of the food bank. Its celebratory for so many reasons, but particularly because were able to come together and really rejoice in our ability to serve our community. The first employee of the food bank and its first executive director, Bill Major now the Zarrow Family Foundations executive director spoke about the agencys history. With our priorities being hunger, homelessness and mental health, a strong food bank network and the utilization of all federal food assistance programs are essential ingredients to combating food insecurity, Major said. There is a bright future for the food bank as it expands for the sixth time. The food bank began in 1981 as a Neighbor for Neighbor program. It moved into a facility at 1150 N. Iroquois Ave. in 1986. A renovation in 1990 expanded the facility to 25,000 square feet. In 2005, the nonprofit moved all its operations to one facility on Kenosha. The Zarrow Family Foundations have been contributing to the food bank since the 1980s; other Build Hope donors include the Mabee Foundation, the A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Foundation, the Sanford and Irene Bernstein Foundation, the Helmerich Family Trust, the George Kaiser Family Foundation and Morningcrest Healthcare Foundation. We realize that not all gifts are equal, but all sacrifices are, Moore said. Featured video: Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Interstate 44 near the Broken Arrow Expressway (Oklahoma 51) will be narrowed to two lanes and to one lane on some nights in both directions for a bridge project starting Monday. The construction will last through the summer, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation said. The lane closures will be on both eastbound and westbound I-44 between the BA and the 41st Street and Sheridan Road area. Two lanes of traffic in each direction on I-44 will be maintained during daytime hours; however, some overnight closures may reduce the interstate to one lane in each direction, ODOT said. On average, between 71,700 and 100,500 vehicles travel each day on I-44 in the affected area, according to 2018 ODOT traffic counts, the most recent available. The project is part of ODOTs five-year asset preservation plan to help extend the life of the I-44 bridges over Sheridan Road and the Union Pacific Railroad, with improvements to the bridge joints, structural members and a retaining wall, ODOT said. The Oklahoma Transportation Commission awarded the $2.6 million contract for the project to Built Right Construction LLC of Savanna in December 2021. Specific lane and ramp closures will be announced in ODOTs daily Tulsa traffic advisory, available online at odot.org. Drivers can sign up to receive the daily Tulsa traffic advisory by email by visiting the website and scrolling down to Stay Connected. Featured 2020 video: Largest highway construction award for Tulsa highway project will widen I-44, rebuild U.S. 75 bridges Tax cuts may be in the air, but they they are not in favor with the Oklahoma Legislatures top budget writers. Speaking Friday to a Tulsa Regional Chamber breakfast, both House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chairman Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, said they do not favor further tax reductions at this time, but they acknowledged a certain amount of pressure to do just that. Last year we cut the corporate (income) tax from 6 (percent) to 4 (percent), said Thompson. We cut (individual) income tax a quarter point. The corporate tax was about a $237 million cut to the overall budget. The quarter-point was a $102 million cut. Both of those are yet to be realized. So this ought to be the year we just hold even, that we hang on to what we have and we write a budget. Then if the economy continues as it has, this may be a conversation that works more in the future than it does now. Thompson pointed out that he opposed last years tax cuts and was overruled and outvoted. Wallace expressed similar sentiments but said if revenue is to be reduced, he favors temporary measures. Probably the most talked about (revenue measure) would be the sales tax cut on groceries, said Wallace. I will tell you that personally Im not for that for two reasons: Its going to be bad politics when the constituent goes to buy groceries and finds theyre still paying (local) sales taxes. And I have questions about whether, if we do away with the sales tax on groceries, well be compliant with the streamlined sales tax. The Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement is a compact among 24 states, including Oklahoma, to simplify as much as possible state and local sales tax laws in order to facilitate collection of taxes from online sales. Wallace said advisors believe that a proposal by House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, to suspend the state sales tax on groceries for two years would keep the state in compliance with the agreement and would also make reinstating the tax easier if necessary. The various sales tax proposals apply only to the 4.5% state sales tax and would not affect local taxes. Wallace said he is also more amenable to expanding the sales tax credit, which can be claimed on income tax returns, and McCalls proposal to issue one-time rebates of $125 per single filer and $250 per joint filing. Thats much better than just cutting taxes, Wallace said. Thompson agreed and said he is concerned that some small grocers without computerized checkout systems would have trouble separating taxable from nontaxable items. Both chairmen seemed to think taxes are not the highest priority for constituents. They said they hear far more about the explosive growth of marijuana growing and in some cases already the aftermath than anything else. Thompson said some illegal operators are already walking away from their grows, which is creating another set of problems but is a sign that the state is beginning to get a handle on the new industry. The message is out, said Wallace. People are packing up in the middle of the night and just leaving. However, in my House district, where there was one of the big busts, there are 80 acres that are going to take three or four years to roll through the system. Its got eyesores and perhaps even things that (the Department of Environmental Quality) needs to be looking at in terms of pollutants into the soil and water. Wallace said his personal priority is ending the waiting list for services to disabled Oklahomans. That list, which at times has been described as 13 to 14 years long, is being whittled away, and Wallace said that for $70 million or even less, it could be reduced to zero. Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, who has carried much of the related legislation in recent years, said he hopes to have very good news on that front by the end of the current legislative session. More broadly, Wallace said he would like to replicate the recent success of Pryors Mid-America Industrial Park at other locations across the state. Thompson said his personal priority is better pay for state troopers and other employees. More than that, he said, This year ought to be about policy, asking how we can change lives. Whatever we have, making sure that whatever we do actually changes lives. Featured video: Tulsa World Newsroom: Oklahomas 14 most beautiful places to visit Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 27-year-old Henryetta man was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of killing his father with a samurai sword in 2019. A federal jury in a two-day trial found Diamond Levi Britt guilty of first-degree murder in Indian Country, the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma said Thursday.Britt told his family on at least two occasions that he planned to kill his father, according to federal prosecutors, who said police found Britt walking along a roadway carrying a sword after the slaying. When taken into custody, Britt reportedly made numerous statements indicating that he had wanted to kill his father. Federal prosecutors said they presented evidence that Britt attacked his father with premeditation. The injuries included a partially severed arm, multiple head wounds and a transected quadriceps tendon. Gary Britt died nine days after the attack. U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III sentenced Diamond Britt to life in prison. Federal prosecutors handled the case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee Nation. A life sentence is fit punishment, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson said in a news release. The defendant viciously murdered his father with a samurai sword. His acts were almost unthinkable. He said his heart goes out to the family of Gary Britt. Prosecuting violent crime in Indian Country like this continues to be of paramount importance to the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Wilson said. The case involved an investigation by the Okmulgee County Sheriffs Office, the Henryetta Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday met with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov on the sidelines of the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province. Wang said that, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uzbekistan 30 years ago, the two countries have trusted and supported each other, and cooperation in various fields has been continuously deepened, reaching an unprecedented high level. He said China will continue to support Uzbekistan in exploring a development path suited to its own national conditions and stands ready to work with Uzbekistan to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state to promote the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to strengthen the docking of the Belt and Road Initiative with the plan to build a new Uzbekistan, enlarge cooperation on trade and investment and new energy, and foster a diversified and multi-dimensional cooperation framework, Wang said. For his part, Umurzakov said Uzbekistan firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is committed to deepening friendly bilateral relations. Uzbekistan appreciates China's development achievements and expects to draw on China's experience in governance, especially its experience in poverty reduction, Umurzakov said, adding that Uzbekistan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields. The two sides agreed to strengthen connectivity cooperation; explore the potential for cooperation on agriculture; advance cultural and people-to-people exchanges as well as cooperation at local levels; and deepen cooperation on health care and pandemic response. They agreed to strengthen communication and coordination in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Wang said that China fully supports Uzbekistan in hosting the SCO summit in the city of Samarkand and is willing to jointly oppose external interference and fight against the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism. The two sides also exchanged views on the Afghan issue. A Vinita man pleaded entered a plea Friday in federal court on allegations he sexually abused five children age 7 to 16 over the course of 16 years. Roy Edward Williams, 63, pleaded guilty in the federal Northern District of Oklahoma to five counts of coercion and enticement of a minor in Indian Country and to possession of child pornography. During the period of the alleged abuse, Williams was a member and preacher at Bunker Hill Baptist Church in Vinita from around November 2002 to December 2018, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was originally charged in Craig County District Court before those charges were dropped on jurisdictional grounds; Williams is a Cherokee citizen, and the crimes are alleged to have occurred within the Cherokee reservation. Williams also is accused of taking sexually explicit photographs of several victims, attempting to bribe several victims immediately following the abuse and threatening several victims in an effort to stop them from reporting the abuse. Roy Williams preyed upon five children over the course of 16 years. He violated their innocence, sense of safety, and trust, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson said in a news release. In several of these incidents, some adults failed to report the abuse. When children disclose theyve been victims of sexual abuse, adults need to listen and act on their behalf. Children should not have to hide the abuse theyve endured nor feel ashamed for the appalling actions of a predator. Oklahomas state parks are badly managed and have spent too much in recent years on amenities the public does not want, says a report presented to a legislative panel on Thursday. Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation Director Jerry Winchester rejected many of the reports conclusions, saying the state had no choice but to spend tens of millions of dollars renovating park lodges and other accommodations. We couldnt not fix them, Winchester told the committee, a position he repeated several times during the two-hour, 15-minute meeting. The report by the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, which is controlled by House and Senate leadership, criticized the Department of Tourism and Recreation and its Parks Division for not having a detailed inventory of assets, questioned some expenditures, and said the divisions recent spending does not line up with the things park users say are most important to them. Lawmakers were critical of what seemed to be the lack of a detailed business plan, especially for individual parks. Specific questions raised Thursday largely stemmed from recent reports that the state has paid far more than originally estimated to renovate and operate restaurants at five state parks and the departments request for roughly $200 million over 10 years to rebuild park facilities after decades of neglect. The broader management issues, though, have been around practically since the first state parks opened in the 1930s. In between stretches of ignoring them, legislators have advocated closing state parks, selling them, fancying them up and stripping them down. Lodges have been a particular issue. Rarely do they make money, but abandoning them altogether as Oklahoma has done on Lake Eufaula and Lake Texoma raises a whole different set of issues, not to mention the hackles of local residents and their lawmakers. Under Gov. Kevin Stitt and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, the current administration has taken direct control of state parks and sought to revitalize them as means of encouraging tourism. Stitt tapped Winchester, a career oil and gas executive, in 2019 after the Legislature agreed to give the Governors Office appointment authority over the position. The departments head previously answered to a commission. Some legislators seem to regret that decision. Although a deal with Swadleys Restaurants to essentially rebuild and operate park restaurants was Thursdays primary target, legislative dissatisfaction began manifesting itself last year when rural lawmakers began protesting what amounted to user fees at state parks. Several bills to tighten the reins on the Parks Division were introduced this session. Then came the revelation that Swadleys, a popular barbecue chain located mainly in the Oklahoma City area, had been paid $17 million, instead of the originally contracted $4 million, in its first year of operating the restaurants. Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond, seemed particularly disturbed, describing the arrangement as a sweetheart deal. Winchester said most of the increase was because Swadleys acted as the contractor on the projects, which turned out to be much more expensive than expected. The restaurant at Beavers Bend State Park, he said, had to be taken down to the floor and one wall, and at Robbers Cave, it was discovered that fire damage had been roofed over. Winchester said the state park restaurants have habitually lost money, no matter who operated them, and theyre actually losing less now than before. Our goal was that if we had to have a restaurant to have a functioning lodge, and if that meant we were going to lose money, we would lose it on good food instead of bad food, and we would have place where people could say they had good time, said Winchester. Quartz Mountain State Park Lodge, given back to the Parks Division after a decade under the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, was uninhabitable, Winchester said, and wound up costing $10 million to reopen instead of $3 million. Somewhat cryptically, Winchester said twice that he was told that the first $3 million in proceeds from a 2019 bond issue had to be spent on Quartz Mountain and that the work had to be done quickly. We didnt believe not rebuilding was an option, Winchester said. And in fact when the bond money came out, we were told the first thing to be fixed was Quartz Mountain, and it was. He didnt say from whom the order originated. Ultimately, Winchester said, the goal is to break even or perhaps make a little money on lodges and restaurants. But that raised an old question: Why have them at all? State park questionnaires and a formal survey conducted in 2017 found that people who use the parks dont care much about those two amenities. Their priorities are RV hookups, hiking and cabins. Winchester said the division spent 38% of its budget on cabins and public restrooms last year, compared with 27% for lodges and restaurants, and he expects the difference to widen as big-ticket capital improvements are completed. He said the hope is also that upgrading the lodges will bring back convention and catering business and broaden the parks user base. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Visit any polling place on a major election day in Oklahoma, and youll likely find a few lines, busy poll workers and voters poring over their ballots. They walk away with an I Voted sticker and hopes that their candidates will win, or perhaps wondering if they made the right choice. Most of us can do this inside an hour. Suburban polling places typically run smoothly. Rural areas, too. In more densely populated urban precincts, the lines might be longer. But for the most part, the process is efficient and smooth. But these observations assume normal conditions where people can come and go without so much as a thought of their own safety. That wasnt the case in 2020. Primary elections here and across the country were held during various surges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Older voters, or those with chronic health issues, had worries about standing in lines, and inside buildings, with scores of strangers. Poll workers, often retirees, had even greater worries, as they were stuck inside for hours as hundreds of voters passed through. They were vulnerable. And lest we forget, vaccines werent available then. It played out badly in Wisconsin, where in-person elections in early 2020 created fears of superspreader events happening at polling sites across the state. This worried Wisconsin officials, as well as their counterparts nationwide. Everyone knew the 2020 general election would have high turnout, and scientists were already predicting a massive fall and winter surge of new COVID-19 infections and deaths. How were they going to handle this? And if there were solutions to make voting safer, how would election boards pay for it? Some states found money to solve the problem. Others did not. And in some cases, there were political considerations against making voting easier in urban areas. Higher turnout in cities, particularly those with diverse populations, could work against certain candidates. Concerns rose that some people would be denied their vote. Losing that right because the conditions for casting a ballot were too difficult (not enough polling places) or unsafe (no pandemic mitigation) defied the spirit of the Constitution. That motivated Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife to create the Center for Technology and Civic Life, which awarded grants to make voting safer and more accessible. It was a good public relations move for Zuckerberg Facebook has taken a beating over its complicity in the spread of political and medical misinformation on its platforms. But election officials saw the value of the grants more than they feared being stained by Facebooks tarnished reputation. The 2020 election came and went. Lawsuits were filed contesting the election and some of the methods several states used in tallying votes. One complaint: Private groups like Zuckerbergs helped Democratic-leaning areas in battleground states. Oklahoma was not a battleground state, nor is it likely to be one anytime soon. Few states are as safely Republican as Oklahoma. But U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, representing Oklahomas 4th congressional district, doesnt like what he saw and wants to make sure it doesnt happen again. Hes proposing the Protect American Election Administration Act, which would ban private entities from awarding grants to election boards. When Americans go to the ballot box to cast their votes, they should have full confidence in the election systems that exist and serve them within our great republic, Cole said in a news release. After a tumultuous 2020 election cycle, it is clear that this confidence has taken a hit. Complaints of ballot harvesting, ballot curing and insecure voting methods were mentioned in citing a need to prohibit private election grants. But there are some problems with these assertions. For starters, it wasnt just Democratic areas that benefited. More than 40 Oklahoma election boards all run by Republicans received these funds. Nearly 2,500 election offices nationwide applied for them, and none were turned down. Some were in urban areas, but more than half went to election offices that served fewer than 25,000 voters. Secondly, theres the demonized language of the vote-counting process. Ballot harvesting has been cast as a bad thing, but in reality, it is merely the collection of legally distributed, marked and sealed ballots. Theres nothing nefarious about that; thats what happens every time an absentee ballot is mailed, marked and dropped off at an election board office. Remote collection sites used in 2020 were a spin on that process but not appreciably different from whats been done for decades. Ballot curing isnt new, either. Election officials routinely examine ballots that are marked in ways that a ballot reader machine cant decipher, trying to determine a voters intent. It happens in every election; its due diligence. I get that many voters are concerned about election security. We all should be. So far, all verifiable proof shows that the 2020 election was secure and that instances of voter fraud were exceedingly rare and wouldnt have changed any states outcome. But if were dead set on improving the voting process, scare words and partisan spin wont get us there. Identifying real problems and addressing them with real solutions will. So Id offer these suggestions: First, create incentives to make sure election systems are hardened against hacking. We know voting systems were probed by hackers and will continue to be. Be proactive and make them harder targets. Congress can step up here. Second, Congress should be ready to tackle the next major disruption that threatens the voting process. You say you dont want Zuckerberg throwing his millions at local election boards? Then help election officials by supplying the funding yourselves. Election officials shouldnt have been forced to turn to corporate benefactors to make their elections safe for voters. The fact that they did isnt Zuckerbergs fault or that of election boards. State legislatures and Congress dropped the ball and in some cases may have done so intentionally to drive down voter turnout in selected areas. And, yes, thats as cynical and un-American as it sounds. Be the opposite of that. Lastly, do everything possible to guarantee the right to vote. Our country will not work if entire swaths of the electorate are disenfranchised. Its hard enough for individual voters to be heard. Were drowned out by TV talking heads, K Street lobbyists, and powerful individuals and organizations with narrow political aims. Give regular people a fighting chance, not stumbling blocks on the way to the ballot box. Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A cut in environmental protection tax rates on fuel, which came into effect across Vietnam on Friday thanks to a National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee resolution, has lowered gas prices in the country. Accordingly, the environmental protection tax on petrol (except for ethanol), diesel oil, mazut, lubricating oil, and grease was halved from Friday through December 31. That tax on kerosene was cut by 70 percent during the same period. As a result, the tax currently stands at VND2,000 per liter for petrol (except for ethanol), VND300 for kerosene, and VND1,000 for diesel oil, mazut, lubricant, and grease. (US$1 = VND22,841) Following the NAs decision, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced on Friday new fuel prices in line with the environment tax reduction. The price of a liter of the E5RON92 gasoline dropped VND1,021 to VND27,309 while that of RON95-III shrank by VND1,039 to VND28,153. Meanwhile, the price of a liter of diesel oil, kerosene, and mazut followed the global uptrend despite the tax cut. Diesel oil rose in price from VND23,638 per liter to VND25,080, while kerosene increased from VND22,248 per liter to VND23,764 per liter. Mazut rose up VND506 per liter to VND20,929. Oil and gas prices in Vietnam climbed to an all-time high on March 11 after the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade adjusted the rates upward for the seventh consecutive period. The prices dropped slightly following a scheduled adjustment on March 21. Lowering the environmental protection tax on gasoline, oil, and grease is considered a suitable and necessary solution, according to industry experts. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Constitutional Court in Seoul upheld a ban on tattooing on Thursday, confirming South Korea as the only developed country that permits no one but medical professionals to perform the procedure. Tattoo artists derided the decision, calling it backward and lacking cultural understanding. Despite the decades-old ban, South Korea has nearly 50,000 tattoo artists, who risk police raids and prosecution for practising their trade. Violating the ban is punishable by fines of up to 50 million won ($41,300) and prison terms - usually two years, though the law provides for as much as life. Tattooist associations have initiated a series of court actions since 2017 challenging the law, saying it breaches their freedom of expression and right to engage in an occupation. In a 5-4 vote, the Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that the law was constitutional. It dismissed the suits, saying tattooing brings potential side effects and safety issues. "The limited medical knowledge and skills involved in tattooing cannot ensure the levels of treatment that medical professionals can provide, treatment that may be needed before or after the procedure," the verdict said. A union of 650 tattoo artists issued a statement condemning the decision, calling it "retrograde" and "not worth a penny." "The court is still walking on four feet when all citizens walk upright," said Kim Do-yoon, the union's chief, a renowned tattooist better known as Doy. Kim said the court had failed to advance since a 1992 Supreme Court decision that copied a Japanese verdict stipulating that tattooing was medical activity, even though Japanese courts have since overturned that ruling. Kim Sho-yun, vice president of the Korea Tattoo Federation, also criticised the latest ruling, saying the current law is "nonsense" especially given the country's growing tattoo market and rising global status. "Why do they insist tattooing is a medical procedure even though doctors can't and don't do that?" she tearfully told a news conference in front of the courthouse, vowing to continue the fight. The popularity of "K-tattoos" has been surging at home and abroad in recent years thanks to their fine-line designs, delicate details and use of bold colours. While tattoos are usually covered up on television, many Korean celebrities, including members of K-pop bands, have flaunted them on social media. Polls show most South Koreans support legalisation of tattooing, but medical associations oppose it, saying its use of needles is an invasive procedure that could damage the body. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol expressed support before this month's election for legalising so-called cosmetic tattoos, which are semi-permanent and popular for enhancing eyebrows, eyelines and hairlines. ($1 = 1,212 won) Vietnam will for the first time send a sapper unit to Abyei, a town between Sudan and South Sudan in Africa, to join the United Nations (UN) Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) next month, the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Ministry of National Defense reported. Nearly 2,000 metric tons of cargo and equipment of Sapper Unit No. 1 will be shipped from the Hai Phong Port to the UNISFA several days to come, said Colonel Mac Duc Trong, the commander of the Vietnamese force at the UNISFA and the head of the unit. On March 30, the UN officially sent a ship to Hai Phong to receive such equipment, which will be carried to the Sudan port and then transported by road to Khartoum and Kaduqli of Sudan and to UNISFA. A task group of the unit will be sent to the port and Abyei at the end of April to handle the shipment. Sapper Unit No. 1, consisting of 184 members, will be sent on a flight conducted by the UN from Hanoi to Sudan, where UN helicopters will carry the force to Abyei, according to the Vietnam News Agency. It is expected the unit will reach the UNISFA on May 10, before the rainy season begins in Abyei. The deployment of the unit will mark the first sapper force of Vietnam to join the UNs peacekeeping operations at the UNISFA. According to its original plan, the sapper unit had to be present at the UNISFA in March but due to some problems related to vessels and international maritime, their departure has been delayed. The unit and a field hospital joining UN peacekeeping operations made their debut at a ceremony held by the defense ministry in Hanoi on November 17, 2021. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in the northern Vietnamese province of Thai Binh arrested a 51-year-old man living in Thai Binh City on Thursday night in order to investigate allegations that he had sexually abused his 10-year-old niece. The criminal detention, the detention order, and the urgent arrest warrant were issued by the Peoples Procuracy of Thai Binh City for Nguyen Thanh Son, a 51-year-old resident of the citys Vu Chinh Commune, so that police could investigate allegations that he had sexually abused a person under 16 years old. The case was reported to local authorities and police by the mother of T., a 10-year-old girl living in the same commune, at around 10:00 pm on March 29. Son, who is T.s uncle, offered to give T. and a number of her peers, who were playing at her house without adult supervision, a ride to a nearby farm to pick plastic bottles for scrap sale on the afternoon of March 19, according to the mothers account. On March 27, T. had pain in her private areas. Her mother asked her what was wrong and T. told her about the sexual abuse during the trip to the farm with Son. Thai Binh City police summoned Son for a working session following the report. The Peoples Committee of Thai Binh City then ordered the Peoples Committee of Vu Chinh Commune and relevant departments to coordinate with the Thai Binh City police to urgently investigate and take measures to ensure the safety of the child. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Legendary Australian entertainer and puppeteer Ernie Carroll, best known as the man behind Hey Hey Its Saturdays Ossie Ostrich, has died, aged 92. In a Facebook post Daryl Somers said, God bless Ernie (Ossie Ostrich). It is with overwhelming sadness I announce the passing of my beloved friend and mentor Ernie Carroll. Ernie passed away peacefully early this morning in the presence of his family. He was 92 and died of natural causes in his unit at a Mornington retirement village. Ernie was a pioneer of television starting back in the 50s, coming from a radio background to GTV9 when television was in its infancy. It was a voyage of discovery as no-one really knew how television worked. It called upon the many talents of all involved. In Ernies case he was a cartoonist, camera operator, sponsor liaison officer, producer, writer, on camera character playing Professor Ratbaggy and, as himself, illustrating and narrating the adventures of Joybelle in the kids shows he also produced out of GTV9 in the 60s. He wrote comedy for the King of variety television, Graham Kennedy, on In Melbourne Tonight. Of course he was best known for his creation of Oswald Q Ostrich (Ossie), my lovable and nonsensically funny sidekick on Hey Hey Its Saturday for 25 of its 30 year run. A tribute was paid to Ernie on our recent 50th anniversary special. I am so grateful for Ernies early guidance of my career. He auditioned me for the hosting role on Cartoon Corner back in early 1971. He was a man of few words with a quiet countenance but when he did speak he imparted great wisdom. I loved him very much and along with my wife Julie send our deepest sympathies to his daughter Lynne, son Bruce, his grandchildren and his partner of almost 50 years, Miffy Marsh. The family have requested privacy at this time. Rest in peace Ern, Forever in my heart, Daryl Michael Healy, Nine Director of Television said, We at Nine are deeply saddened by the passing of Ernie Carroll today. Ernie was a pioneer of Australian television. As a member of the Nine family for several decades he bought immense laughter and joy to generations of Australians. Ernie will be most fondly remembered for his creation of Ossie Ostrich, a character he portrayed on Hey Hey Its Saturday, alongside Daryl Somers, for 25 years. We express our deepest condolences to Ernies extended family including Daryl and the Hey Hey family. This post updates. Australian Story on Monday screens part 2 of Trials & Tribulations, around WAs Scott Austic who served over 12 years for a murder he was later cleared over. Introduced by filmmaker Michael Muntz. Please note: this film contains images of an Indigenous person who has died. West Australian man Scott Austic served more than twelve and a half years in prison for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend before a second jury found him not guilty in just over two hours. When the jury returned their verdict it was hard to explain into words, says Austic. I could feel tears running down my face, just waiting for that, those two words of not guilty. It was the end of a protracted nightmare which began when police knocked on his door early one morning after Austics girlfriend Stacey Thorne had been found dead on a neighbours front lawn. For investigating detectives, there were signs of a seemingly clear motive: Ms Thorne was pregnant with Austics child and he didnt want her to have the baby. But Scott Austics mother Robyn wasnt prepared to let it go and after his conviction she convinced Perth criminal lawyer and forensic scientist Dr Clint Hampson to take a look at the case. What he discovered was astonishing: clear signs of tampering with the key evidence that helped send her son to jail. I was extremely shocked, says Dr Hampson. And that immediately put me on alert as to what else might have been going on in this particular case. Neither of the families derailed by Staceys death have had any closure. In desperation the Thorne family have hired a private investigator to sift for new leads. We just cant understand how it got to this stage, says Staceys sister Brenda. Theres people out there know what happened. We just want them to come forward. Meanwhile, Scott Austic is still waiting for an apology and compensation from the West Australian government. Producer: Janine Cohen 8pm Monday on ABC. Throughout April documentary streaming platform iwonder is honouring Earth Day, which falls on April 22, and earthday.orgs mission to mobilise the world to take action against climate change. Two new series and a multi award-winning documentary film make their way to iwonder this month: Green Warriors and Green Cops follow the exploits of activists putting their lives at risks to uncover and prevent environmental abuses by some of the worlds most sinister groups. While Trashed sees acclaimed actor Jeremy Irons embark on a journey to combat unchecked consumerism. This Aprils iwonder What Top Five then takes a close look at animals and natural resources under threat, why we seem to be unable to prevent endangered species being pushed to the brink of extinction, and why the world needs to change course before its too late. Green Warriors April 19th A six-part series of scientific investigations into environmental scandals facing the planet, investigative journalist Martin Boudot tracks down the big environmental scandals around the world: contaminated rivers, air pollution, toxic waste, illegal exploitation of resources, poaching of endangered species, and more. Armed with his drone, Martin gets around obstacles and outsmarts bans to reveal what some people are trying to hide: a factory that discharges its polluted water into a river, a toxic mining waste site located next to a residential area, and even poisoned villages next to soybean plantations. In the episode Indonesia, The Worlds Most Polluted River, a reporter teams up with international scientists to investigate the causes and consequences of the pollution endangering the lives of 14 million Indonesians who rely on the Citarum river. Green Cops April 21st All around the world, specialised units of commandos and rangers are fighting the enemies of the environment. Their mission is to break up gangs, often genuine mafias with henchmen, who shamelessly and illegally exploit the planets resources. This action-packed six-part series follows team members in their daily lives and out in the field, tackling toxic waste trafficking by Italys mafia, deforestation in Columbia, toxic-spilling gold extraction in French Guyana, rhino poaching in South Africa, illegal fishing in Indonesia, and animal trafficking in Cameroon. Trashed April 19th Trashed is an environmental documentary film, written and directed by British film-maker Candida Brady. It follows actor Jeremy Irons as he investigates the global scale and impact of humanitys modern wasteful consumerism and pollution. The film is a call for urgent action to resolve the issue of existing deposits and drastically reduce our consumption towards sustainable levels and zero waste, while also demonstrating how this is already being achieved successfully in many communities around the world. Nominated for the Camera dOr at the Cannes Film Festival, this probing documentary is a multi-award winner, including the Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Maui Film Festival, the Special Documentary Award at the Paris Environmental Film Festival, and Grand Prix Winner at the Kiev International Documentary Film Festival. iwonder When April 22nd April 22nd marks Earth Day, and its mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, EARTHDAY.ORG is the worlds largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for the planet. The Earth Day 2022 Theme is Invest in Our Planet, with earthday.org suggesting 52 ways everyone can take a small action to make a big difference this April 22nd. Find out more at earthday.org Public Safety Innovator Continues to Drive Sales through Creative Marketing Events MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 30, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Knightscope, Inc. [Nasdaq: KSCP], a developer of advanced physical security technologies focused on enhancing U.S. security operations, today announced its spring schedule for the Robot Roadshow, an engaging experiential event used to grab attention fast, forge direct connections with potential clients, and strike up conversations in a compelling fashion. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220330005349/en/ Knightscope Announces Robot Roadshow Spring Schedule (Photo: Business Wire) The Robot Roadshow has made 35 landings in 10 states to date and will begin its spring lineup 12 April 2022 in the Midwest. The Roadshow is slated to travel through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and then to our nations capital in time to celebrate National Police Week. Knightscopes crime-fighting robots tour the U.S. in a space-age, NASA-like "pod" allowing attendees to experience all the technology that is enabling these Autonomous Security Robots (ASRs) to help make sites safer today from Hawaii to Rhode Island. A short video of a past event hosted by the Los Angeles Police Department may be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/645787920. Each Roadshow landing is virtually attended by a Knightscope expert, and visitors will be able to interact directly with each of our Autonomous Security Robots and see the Knightscope Security Operations Center (KSOC) user interface in action. Clients, investors and the media are all welcome to attend to learn more about Knightscope. There is no charge to participate in, or visit, the Roadshow and available slots fill up fast, so appointments are recommended. Robot Roadshow landings are typically held from 10:00am 2:00pm local time, but times may vary depending on host accommodations. Check available dates, times and locations for upcoming Roadshow landings and book your Pod visit here. Story continues The Robot Roadshow will continue touring the country and is planning to hit as many major cities as possible in 2022. If you would like Knightscope to consider your site for a landing, please visit www.knightscope.com/roadshow, scroll down to "Host the Robot Roadshow" and fill out the Host Form. About Knightscope Knightscope is an advanced security technology company based in Silicon Valley that builds fully autonomous security robots that deter, detect and report. Knightscopes long-term ambition is to make the United States of America the safest country in the world. Learn more about us at www.knightscope.com. Follow Knightscope on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" about Knightscopes future expectations, plans, outlook, projections and prospects. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "should," "may," "intends," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," "expects," "plans," "proposes" and similar expressions. Although Knightscope believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading "Risk Factors" in the offering circular filed with the SEC on January 26, 2022. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are contained, and Knightscope does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220330005349/en/ Contacts Donna Loughlin Michaels, LMGPR, (408) 393-5575 Police filed an additional charge of attempted murder against the Waco man they said exchanged gunfire Tuesday night with officers serving warrants for his arrest. Arraignment and jail records also show him held on a warrant from Fort Worth charging criminally negligent homicide. Tuesday night, officers with U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force went to a home in the 3700 block of Hay Avenue to serve felony family violence warrants on Kevin Dwayne Kirven, 37, of Waco, whom they said shot a firearm at them. Officers called for backup and Kirven barricaded himself in the house. Following a 90 minute negotiation with a Waco police negotiator, the defendant surrendered, police reported. On Wednesday morning, Kirven faced an arraignment hearing for two felony family violence warrants, two misdemeanor family violence warrants and one misdemeanor criminal mischief warrant. Thursday morning, he faced another arraignment hearing on a first-degree felony attempted murder charge for the shots officers said he fired Tuesday night. In addition, at the Thursday hearing, he faced the charge of first-degree felony criminally negligent homicide. Fort Worth police have previously charged Kirven along with Mia Rhodes, 29, of Fort Worth, in the March 4 death of Jordan Antony Harris, 24, of Fort Worth. In the police report for that homicide, a Fort Worth detective wrote that Harris died at Rhodes residence around noon March 4. Authorities in Fort Worth arrested Rhodes on March 7 and booked her into the Tarrant County Jail. A Tarrant County inmate search Thursday did not show her in custody there. McLennan County Jail records show Kirven held on $2 million bond for the Waco attempted murder charge and an additional $1 million bond for the Fort Worth negligent homicide charge. As more information on Kirvens warrant from Fort Worth becomes available the Tribune-Herald will report it. An arrest affidavit for Kirvens charge of attempted murder in Waco reveals additional details about events surrounding the exchange of gunfire. Before any shots were fired, officers heard a voice from inside the house yell that the defendant had hostages, the Waco affidavit states. It does not say whether officers found hostages in the house after Kirven was arrested. Shrapnel from rounds officers say Kirven fired injured one of the officers serving his warrants Tuesday night, the affidavit states. Some of the rounds officers say Kirven fired Tuesday night went through the walls of the house, according to the affidavit. The affidavit also states that after he surrendered to authorities, he waived his rights and agreed to be interviewed by investigators. Investigators wrote in the affidavit that Kirven said he observed the officers approach the house, that he knew he was wanted, that he fired numerous rounds in the direction of the officers, and that if he had a clear line of fire, he would have tried to kill the officers serving his warrants. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As our European allies scramble to disentangle themselves from dependence on Russian energy and as American consumers struggle with soaring prices at the gas pump there are ever-louder calls for a renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) future. These technologies, as the thinking goes, will finally offer the United States a clean break from petro-dictators that has eluded us since the oil crisis of the 1970s. But a pivot away from oil hardly means an easy or clean break from resource geopolitics. In fact, a potentially accelerated energy transition means Americas energy security is now on a collision course with our mineral insecurity. Wind and solar power, plus EVs and the lithium-ion batteries that power them, are remarkably mineral-intensive. As the International Energy Agency reported last year, the energy transition is likely to increase critical mineral demand six-fold by 2040. For some minerals such as the lithium, nickel and cobalt used for EV batteries demand could jump 30-fold or more. But who controls the production and processing of these minerals? Its a question just as messy and important as who holds sway over global oil and gas production. Unfortunately, China is the dominant player in the critical minerals space. China controls 70 percent of the worlds lithium supplies and 85 percent of rare earth metals. Beijings dominance of these supply chains has enabled it to corner the market on advanced energy manufacturing with China producing the vast majority of the worlds solar modules and lithium-ion batteries. China has turned mineral supply chains into an enormous source of geopolitical leverage not unlike how Russia has used its energy trade with Europe. And where China has built its strength with mineral supply chains, the U.S. is painfully weak. Americas mineral import-reliance has doubled in just two decades. Were now import-reliant on 47 mineralsand 100 percent reliant on imports for 17 of them. Recognizing the urgency of the moment and the scale of the minerals challenge, a bipartisan group of Senators recently urged President Biden to use the Defense Production Act to address the nations mineral insecurity. It appears thats exactly what the administration is now considering. If the president is serious about reshoring American manufacturing and providing the supply chains his climate ambitions need while shoring up U.S. energy security the Defense Production Act is exactly the tool he needs to employ. Relying only on the market to dig us out of our mineral import reliance or to combat Chinas industrial policy simply isnt going to work. We need to massively scale up Americas mineral production and processing, and we need to do it right now. Mining is a capital- and time-intensive industry, made all the more time-intensive by self-imposed regulatory barriers. Employing the Defense Production Act can help cut red tape, de-risk investment in mining, and spur production at the speed and scale we need. Russias invasion of Ukraine and the supply chain disruptions of the pandemic are forcing a rethink of resource and energy security, and the vulnerabilities inherent in overstretched global supply chains. Its a reevaluation long overdue. As the world leans into the energy transition, rebuilding Americas industrial base from the mine up is an urgent task that simply cant wait. John Adams, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general, is president of Guardian Six Consulting and a former deputy U.S. military representative to NATOs Military Committee. These are some trending topics for today, March 31. Morbius Struggling with a rare blood disorder, Dr. M copters into Costa Rica to subject himself to a caveful of vampire bats. His research suggests a blend of human and bat DNA will cure him, and hell be able to save his similarly afflicted childhood friend nicknamed Milo (played by Matt Smith of Doctor Who) as he promised him years earlier. Morbius, a Sony Pictures release slated for theaters Friday, is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, some frightening images, and brief strong language. Running time: 104 minutes. Apparently not worth the watch? Caitlyn Jenner Caitlyn Jenner has joined Fox News as a contributor. The 72-year-old reality star - who was born as Bruce Jenner and became known for winning Olympic gold in Decathlon during the 1976 games in Montreal before transitioning into a woman whilst starring on 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' - is "humbled" to become part of the news network and to be able to "speak directly" to Americans. In a tweet, she said: "I am humbled by this unique opportunity to speak directly to @FoxNews millions of viewers about a range of issues that are important to the American people." Learn more about it here: Severe storms in the south, massive fires in Tennessee A line of severe storms packing isolated tornadoes and high winds ripped across the Deep South overnight killing at least two in the Florida Panhandle, toppling trees and power lines and leaving homes and businesses damaged as the vast weather front raced across several states. In Florida, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said Thursday morning that two were killed and two injured when a tornado touched down in the western Florida Panhandle. Firefighters, meanwhile, have been trying to get handle on a wildfire spreading near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, amid mandatory evacuations as winds whipped up ahead of the approaching storm front. Read all about today's wild weather here: Bobby Wagner Linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to a five-year deal Thursday to join his hometown Los Angeles Rams. The Super Bowl champions outmaneuvered several suitors for Wagner, one of the NFL's top inside linebackers after his decade with the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN reported Wagner's deal contains $50 million guaranteed and could be worth up to $65 million. The Seahawks released the six-time All-Pro anchor of their defense on March 9. Read about it here: *** Check out more trending topics here: Trans Day of Visibility Biden to mark Transgender Day of Visibility with new measures in support of transgender Americans The Biden administration is marking the International Transgender Day of Visibility on Thursday with a series of measures in support of transgender Americans as they face efforts to curb their rights across the country. Chernobyl Bruce Willis Razzies rescind Worst Performance award for Bruce Willis The Razzies canceled a 2021 special category for Worst Performance by Bruce Willis despite initially defending a decision to move forward with it. *** Syrian troops have arrived in Russia for military training ahead of their deployment to the Ukrainian border. Around 300 Syrian troops are engaged, picked from a division that has cooperated closely with Russian authorities throughout the Syrian conflict to help Russia. As a kind of compensation for Moscow's support in destroying rebels during the nation's 11-year civil war, hundreds of Syrian soldiers are traveling to join Russian forces in Ukraine, according to two people who are watching the flow of mercenaries into the country. Syrian soldiers have arrived in Russia for military training ahead of deployment to Ukraine, according to a Western diplomat and a Syrian government supporter in Damascus. At least 300 Syrian soldiers are involved, drawn from a division that has worked closely with Russian authorities throughout the crisis in Syria to support President al-Assad. And there might be many more on the way: The Syrian security services have been vetting hundreds of prospective individuals who have been compiled into lists by recruiters around the country and then given on to the Russians for consideration. In recent years, Syria has developed into a major exporter of mercenaries, a sad aftereffect of years of conflict that provided many men with fighting experience and severely harmed the country's economy, causing many people to struggle to find jobs. As a result, they have been called upon to fight in battles in Libya, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, and, most recently, Ukraine. "Most of the time, money is the driving force," said Bassam Alahmad, the executive director of Syrians for Truth and Justice. This advocacy organization has conducted an extensive study into the Syrian mercenary trade. Some Syrians are devoted to Russia because it backs President Bashar al-Assad. In contrast, others fight because they simply need the money and believe recruiters' assurances that they would be assigned to noncombat positions such as guarding bases or oil infrastructure. On Wednesday, John Kirby, a spokesman for the Pentagon, said the United States believed that approximately 1,000 mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian military contractor, were concentrating their efforts in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Several foreign countries, including Iran, Turkey, Russia, and the United States, were drawn into Syria's long-running civil war. These powers all collaborated with Syrian armed organizations on the ground to further their objectives. Some of such alliances are currently used to support mercenary trafficking. Mr. Alahmad claimed that Russia and Turkey dispatched approximately 10,000 Syrian fighters to bolster their preferred sides in the conflict in Libya and that Turkey dispatched approximately 2,000 Syrian fighters to Azerbaijan during the conflict in the disputed territory Nagorno-Karabakh last year. According to Russian media, a limited number of Syrians have been sent to Venezuela, where Russia has business interests in the oil sector. Although the use of mercenaries is not considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions, there is a separate United Nations law that makes it a crime against humanity. Although Ukraine is a signatory to the pact, the Russian Federation is not one. Given the scope of the conflict in Ukraine, the high number of Russian deaths and injuries, and Russia's strong relations with the Syrian military, the war in Ukraine has the potential to draw in vast numbers of Syrians. However, owing to the secret nature of their operations, most information concerning the deployments and actions of Syrian mercenaries remains a mystery. Western authorities, analysts monitoring the problem, recruiters, and returning fighters described a chaotic system in which individuals with few alternatives compete for limited chances to risk their lives for incomparably more payments than those they might earn at home. According to Mr. Alahmad and a recruiter in southern Syria who is enrolling men, the conflict in Ukraine has stoked enthusiasm, and recruiters have begun registration drives around the country to acquire the names of individuals who want to join the army. To protect their identity, the recruiter and others quoted in this story did not want to be identified for fear of consequences from the Syrian government. Recruiters often demand cash in exchange for registration, and frauds are common. He said that he had signed up many groups to go to Libya. He had lately received information that the Russians wanted as many as 16,000 Syrians to participate in the Ukrainian conflict. Applicants must be between the ages of 20 and 45 and weigh between 110 and 200 pounds, according to him, who also said that individuals with military experience would be given preference and that all recruits would be subjected to a background check by Syrian security agencies. For each approved application, he and his partner charge them roughly $7 in fees, and they make $25 for each one who does not. Because of a lack of alternative employment opportunities in Syria and a currency collapse that has made necessities such as bread and cooking gas prohibitively costly, interest in working in Ukraine has increased, with the possibility of earning $1,000-$2,000 per month. While some other recruiters emphasize the advantages while downplaying the perils, he claims he is forthright about the dangers. A total of around 300 Syrian troops have already arrived in Russia. They are members of the Syrian Army's 25th Division, also known as the Tiger Forces, considered elite and collaborate closely with Russian leaders. According to a Syrian government supporter, the Russians have given them $1,200 a month for six months, with $3,000 extra if they return to Syria at the end. According to him, if their loved ones are killed in action, their families will get $2,800 in addition to $600 per month for one year. He also said that such troops earn around $100 per month in Syria, whereas soldiers from more minor elite groups earn less than $50 per month. According to the head of a militia composed of fighters from Syria and adjacent countries who received Russian assistance during the Syrian conflict, the militia has deployed another deployment of 85 soldiers to the Russian capital of Moscow. He said that they comprised Lebanese, Iraqis, and Syrians and that more were on their way to join them. According to the commander, "the Russians helped us when we needed it, and now it's time for us to pay back a portion of what they gave us." As soon as he arrived in Libya, where he was assigned to the security of oil and other installations, his three-month contract was extended to six months, and his monthly income was reduced from $1,000 to $800, he said. The government was meant to provide him with food, water, and shelter, but he claimed to have slept in a tent with other guys, eaten only rice and bread and had to purchase drinking water. He was relieved to have made it home and plans to use his profits to pay off his debts and build a tobacco business, he said in an interview. However, he claimed that his social activities had left a mark on his reputation, which may harm his chances of finding a wife. To everybody who would listen, he warns them not to go to Ukraine. Why is Russia hiring Syrian Mercenaries to Fight in Ukraine?\ WATERLOO Mayors of several cities made their cases this week to the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors in hopes of securing federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for expensive local projects. On Tuesday morning, the mayors of Cedar Falls, Dunkerton, La Porte City, Gilbertville, Elk Run Heights and Evansdale, and the mayor pro tempore of Raymond described major infrastructure improvements needed in their cities. Each city has received ARPA funds of its own, but the amounts are not nearly enough to cover the essential projects. Black Hawk County received $25.5 million. Its not glamorous, its not exciting, but were trying to use the funds as reasonably, as prudently as possible, Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green said. Green said Cedar Falls received $6.5 million in ARPA funding that will be used on two major projects. Main Street reconstruction downtown will include roundabouts at Seerley Boulevard, and 12th and 18th streets. According to Green, $1.9 million will go toward the downtown project, relieving the tax burden and letting that money go toward other road repairs. The second major project will be updating the citys wastewater treatment plant to reduce nutrient pollution under orders of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The remaining $4.6 million of the citys ARPA funds will go to this project, expected to cost $127 million over five years. Mayor Michael Schares of Dunkerton says his town has been approved for $120,000 in federal funds, and has received half of it. That $60,000 will go toward the new water filtration plant the city is building, estimated to cost $1.5 million. The other $60,000 will be used to rebuild Dunkerton Road, which will probably cost around $1 million. Thats about the extent of our ARPA funds, Schares said. Like I said, its not much, but weve got big-money projects that we need to do to. La Porte City received a little over $300,000 in federal money. Mayor Jasmine Gaston said the first half will fund sewage treatment plant reconstruction, a project that hasnt been done since 1988. The cost is estimated at $9.8 million, but will almost definitely rise with construction costs. Raymond is in a similar boat. It started to raise funds for its plant several years ago, but costs have risen to $10 million. The city received $118,000 in ARPA funds. Evansdale is also looking at $9 million for its wastewater treatment plant, while work on a local lift station and other projects will cost more than the $710,773 in federal funds the city received. Elk Run Heights is making road repairs, and Gilbertville is seeking help to build a new 82x160-square-foot public safety building estimated to cost $1.3 million, well over the $120,000 it received. Speaking after the presentations, Supervisor Dan Trelka expressed his support for the projects. I view this a reinvestment in our local communities as a whole, Trelka said. Im certainly willing to help out any one of these cities, consider their requests, and then identify how much we should provide them in assistance. However, Linda Laylin expressed concern about moving too quickly, stating the county board should first focus on directing federal aid to county needs. Selfish or not, I guess Im looking at our needs first but still keeping these projects in mind, and if there are ways we can help, Laylin said. She acknowledged all are worthwhile. But I wouldnt be comfortable at this point making any motion on what we would have available for these communities until we have more of our decisions made. Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart was also present, but did not make any requests, having come to present his eight-point plan for the citys future. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WATERLOO -- UnityPoint HealthBlack Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center, in partnership with the Allen Foundation, will host a Mental Health Awareness Breakfast May 13. The event is from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Bien VenU Event Center in Cedar Falls. Proceeds will benefit mental health services in the Cedar Valley at a time when the center has seen significant increases in depression, grief, loss and other mental health conditions. Keynote speaker is Susan Rolinger, the sister of Matthew Rolinger, who battled an addiction to methamphetamine before losing his life last year. Tickets are $50 each or $350 for a table of eight. Corporate sponsorships are also available. Contact the Allen Foundation at (319) 274-6710 for more information, or visit unitypoint.org/breakfast to purchase tickets online and learn more about the event. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CEDAR FALLS A morning fire damaged a Cedar Falls home Friday. Details werent immediately available, but no injuries were reported, according to public safety officials. The fire appears to have started outside near a corner of the home at 727 Bluff St. around 9 a.m. and climbed up the siding and into the roof soffits. No one was home, but a passerby spotted the smoke and called 911. Crews with Cedar Falls Fire Rescue rescued a dog that was trapped in the home and extinguish the flames. The cause of the fire hasnt been determined. The home sustained significant smoke, fire and water damage, and the American Red Cross was called to assist the family of six with emergency shelter. Firefighters used a compressed foam mixed with water, which is a tool they have had for years and deploy on certain types of fire. The biodegradable foam, a version of the fire suppression system that Cedar Falls police have been carrying in the trunks of their squad cars, allows firefighters to put out flames using less water, which limits water damage. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Here's a look at today's COVID news for March 31. Bipartisan $10 billion Covid-19 aid package deal struck 'in principle' Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney said Thursday that Republicans have struck an "agreement in principle" with Democrats on a $10 billion package to help US efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, a breakthrough that could pave the way for new funds to help the United States' response efforts amid growing fears that critical resources are being depleted. Romney, the lead GOP negotiator, told reporters the plan is "entirely balanced by offsets." He said the bill text still needs to be drafted and there needs to be a cost estimate from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office before the Senate can vote on the matter. Read more here: Will the pandemic's end actually be bad for some? When the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes, it could create major disruptions for a cumbersome U.S. health care system made more generous, flexible and up-to-date technologically through a raft of temporary emergency measures. Winding down those policies could begin as early as the summer. That could force an estimated 15 million Medicaid recipients to find new sources of coverage, require congressional action to preserve broad telehealth access for Medicare enrollees, and scramble special COVID-19 rules and payment policies for hospitals, doctors and insurers. There are also questions about how emergency use approvals for COVID-19 treatments will be handled. Read more here: The results of rent relief in 2021 The federal government's emergency rental assistance program helped prevent more than one million evictions last year. An estimated 1.36 million renters avoided an eviction filing in 2021 as a result of the government's unprecedented $46.5 billion rent relief program and other protections, according to a recent analysis by Princeton University's Eviction Lab published earlier this month. Read more here: Mental health of US teens declined during pandemic Mental health concerns among high school students in the United States were exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to survey results published Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been significant increases in high school students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, considering suicide or attempting suicide over the past decade -- and findings from the new CDC survey suggest youth mental health was even worse during the pandemic. Read more here: *** Check out more COVID news here: DES MOINES Rep. Cecil Dolecheck, R-Mount Ayr, and Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, were presented the 2022 Hoover Uncommon Public Service Award on Wednesday. The award, named for Iowa native President Herbert Hoover, is presented annually to Iowa legislators who exemplify Hoovers humanitarian efforts and who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to demonstrate uncommon service and commitment to the people of Iowa. Dolecheck is retiring after the 2022 legislative session. Dolecheck, 70, a retired farmer, has served in the House since 1997. Over the years, he has chaired the Education Committee as well as Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Hes also served on the Human Resources, Labor and Environmental Protection committees. Petersen, 51, who works in marketing communications, served six terms in the House before being elected to the Senate three times. The first woman elected Senate Democratic leader, she led her caucus from 2017 to 2020. She has served on the Appropriations, Commerce, Government Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means committees as well as Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee. SOLAR TAX CREDIT: The Iowa House unanimously approved legislation to fulfill an obligation to the thousands of Iowans who made solar energy installations on their homes but have not received the state solar tax credit because the demand exceeded the available funding. House File 2556, approved Wednesday on a 94-0 vote, will not extend the credit, but will pay those tax credit applications filed for installations before Dec. 31, 2021, Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, R-Northwood, said. Over 10 years, more than 4,600 Iowa homeowners received nearly $15 million in tax credits for solar energy installations. However, the residential credit, was capped at $5 million a year. So about 1,500 homeowners who filed for $4.5 million in tax credits in 2020 were placed on a waitlist, according to the Department of Revenue. The numbers are expected to be similar for 2021. Residential solar is good for the homeowner. Its good for the industry. It diversifies our electrical grid, and its something we, as a body, ought to continue to support, Rep. Eric Gjerde, D-Cedar Rapids, said. Generally, environmental and justice advocates supported the bill while utilities, bankers and the Iowa Utilities Board were registered as undecided. OPIOID FUND: House File 2573 would create the Opioid Settlement Fund for all money paid to the state as a result of a national settlement of litigation concerning claims related to the manufacturing, marketing, selling, distribution, dispensing or promoting of opioids. Rep. Joel Fry, R-Osceola, said Iowa is expected to receive $87 million from one settlement, and there may be more from future settlements. Those funds may be appropriated by the Legislature for abating the opioid crisis. Funds may be used to buy and maintain opioid antagonist medication used by first responders, such as Naloxone. Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, argued against the bill, saying the attorney general should oversee how those funds are spent. Fry pointed to the precedent of the tobacco settlement as an example of the Legislature using settlement funds to support programs in the Department of Human Services and other state agencies. Others noted that, according to the Iowa Constitution, the authority to appropriate funds lies only with the Legislature, not the attorney general. Fry also said the Attorney Generals Office did not provide input into the legislative process as the bill was developed. It was approved 84-10. INVASIVE EXAMS: Senate File 2080 would prohibit schools from conducting an invasive physical examination of a student or a health screening not required by the state without written consent of the students parent or guardian. The bill, which was unanimously approved by the Senate, would not prohibit a school from conducting health screenings in emergent care situations a sudden or unforeseen occurrence or onset of a medical or behavioral condition that could result in serious injury or harm to a student or others or when cooperating in a child abuse assessment. It passed 94-0. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Russian_Village A survivor of six heart attacks and a brain tumor, a grumpy bear of a man, whom has declared Russia as his new and wonderful home. His wife is a true Russian Sweet Pea of a girl and she puts up with this bear of a guy and keeps him in line. Thank God for my Sweet Pea and Russia. It is sad actually when you listen to a family member in the USA or UK especially and specifically those two countries, which is where the brunt of English speaking family will reside in the worldyou have to hear amazing things It is always the parroting of western media and then it turns into excuses about how no one would ever hurt them and take their money and well do anything but treat them like they are the Queen and King of La La Land Sveta made her call to try to wake a British Russian and her family.Nope, ~~ Isnt Russia loosing the war? ~~ They ask with seriousness France just started to block all people bank accounts whom were born in Russia. Neither the fact that they are also French citizens matter, Russians are phoning home crying about no money, as France takes all of it I tried for years to get my son to get a passport for him and his son in the USA! Nope, why do I need that? Well I say, you might need to run one day and get out of dodge So like so many all over the world, when trouble rears its head and the devil himself looms on the horizon and your plan is to ride it out when the devil comes for your soul.Family, friends and such whom all look the other way and try to ignore, you have to watch it happen. Except, you tried to get them woke up and they slept through it all It reminds me of my sister and the last time I talked to her she seriously asked, Are Russians Christians? No sis.they are actually the only Christians with white people as predominance alive today. The rest of the group of so called Christians, as in the USA, Catholics and whatsits are literally all fallen from the tree and rotting I thank God everyday of my life for he blessed me and allowed me to find a way to Russia and my SweetyPea is an unbelievable girl.seriously, I have been blessed and I still cannot figure out why! I just wish my western based family and Svetas western based family would wake up before it is too late and too late, is right around the corner WtR Tag team of crooks The woman offered to transfer the call to a specialist at American Express, and he identified himself as Kevin Wright and gave an employee ID number. When she denied purchasing porn before dawn that day, he acted like he didnt believe her. Both Wright and the woman were impostors. (After contacting Microsoft and American Express, Jo learned neither firm had had recent contact with her.) Wright, Jo says, often was calm and reassuring. He said that he would investigate the $15,000 charge but that she had to provide that much in gift cards in case the charge was really hers. After that he kept insisting she buy more cards. Much of what he said didnt make sense, she says, but she was terrified and when she asked him for an explanation, he grew exasperated. Repeatedly he warned her not to talk to others about the gift cards, alleging that would hamper his bid to prove her innocence. That first day, Wright told her hed wait on the phone while she got dressed before hitting the stores. That day Jo used her American Express card to buy $8,000 in Apple gift cards, $5,000 in Macys cards and $2,000 in Target cards, giving Wright all the redemption codes. He also stayed on the call to her cellphone as she drove from store to store. (For what these merchants said, see separate story.) Next Wright directed her to withdraw $30,000 from her bank to buy more cards. On the second day, she visited three Apple stores and picked up $9,000 in gift cards at each for a total of $27,000. (Federal law requires merchants to report cash payments of more than $10,000 to the IRS, so its likely the crook told Jo to spend no more than $9,000 at each Apple store to avoid the extra scrutiny, says Jack D. Smith, an anti-money laundering specialist who teaches at George Washington University Law School.) At Wrights direction on the third day, Jo spent $3,000 on Target cards with what remained of the bank withdrawal. That brought the grand total for all the gift cards, which ranged in value from $500 to $2,000, to $45,000. Jo says some clerks questioned her about the purchases and a Macys supervisor even refused to let a sale go through. The crook urged Jo to try another department in the same Macys, and the purchase was authorized. At the time, she says, she resented that retailers were giving her a hard time and in response made up stuff on the spot and said some cards were for a niece. Wright had another trick up his sleeve, sending Jo to two locations to buy cryptocurrency, but thankfully, she could not get the machines to work. Adults in their 50s have greater concerns about aches, pains, and health maladies associated with aging than their older counterparts, according to recent AARP research. With the majority of adults ages 5079 not expressing concern about aging-related ailments concern levels for any given aspect of aging were limited to less than one-third of the population the results further reveal that as older adults age they become less worried about the effects on their bodies. Still, some areas of health and wellness are consistently raised, including arthritis, changes in physical appearance, back pain, memory loss, and loss of mobility. And within such concerns fall various nuances, such as differences between men and women. The eight-minute online survey, conducted to inform an upcoming article (You Asked. We Answered. - Your Top 50 Health Questions Answered!) in the AprilMay 2022 edition of AARP The Magazine, examined what health, wellness, and appearance aspects worry adults ages 5079, both now and as they look down the road. The list of worries wanes significantly as people age. While more than two dozen ailments sparked concern for at least 20% of people in their 50s, the list of areas of concern cited by more than 20% of people in their 60s and 70s dwindled to 11 and four, respectively. AARP researchers suggest perhaps the fear of whats to come is greater than the reality, or that acceptance of these changes grows as imminence arises. While more research is needed to confirm the speculation, the researchers note one possible factor: Adults in their 50s are more likely to be working than those ages 60-plus (55% vs. 24%) and they are more likely to have children under the age of 18 (22% vs. 9%), putting them in different life stages. Top Concerns Arthritis was a top concern among all age groups, cited by 30% of those ages 5059, 27% of those ages 6069, and 26% of those ages 7079. Joint pain was also a source of apprehension for all age groups, with 21%, 24%, and 28% of those in their 70s, 60s, and 50s, respectively, mentioning it. Besides arthritis and joint pain, other top concerns among all age groups are high blood pressure and cancer. But again, the worry diminishes over time. For instance, cancer is cited by 27% of those ages 5059, 21% among those ages 6069, and 20% among those ages 7079. Anxiety about high blood pressure is held by 29% of those in their 50s and 24% of those in their 70s. Gender Differences In general women have more trepidation about aging ailments than men. The difference is particularly pronounced when it comes to aspects of physical appearance and physical changes. In their 50s women express greater concern than men about wrinkles (29% vs. 18%), gray hair (28% vs. 10%), and jowls/double chin (21% vs. 12%). A decade later, women in their 60s are more likely than men to express apprehension over numerous changes including thinning hair, hair loss, under-eye dark circles and bags, and age spots. But the list of worries held by women also expands to physical changes, including loss of mobility, vision loss, incontinence, and digestive tract issues. Each such change is more likely to be cited by women than men. The only aspect of aging that men in their 60s are more concerned about than women is tinnitus (16% vs. 8%). Among those in their 70s, with the same physical-appearance concerns continuing comes the additional concern of poor posture. Again, women continue to be more concerned than their male counterparts when it comes to this aspect, and women in their 70s are also more likely than men to worry about joint pain (27% vs. 13%), lack of energy (18% vs. 8%), and trouble sleeping (17% vs. 9%). Methodology The online survey was conducted by Interloq for AARP. There were no qualifications for this survey beyond being ages 5079. The sample of 900 surveys was demographically representative by gender, race/ethnicity, and region, and by age cohort, with 300 surveys completed for each cohort. For more information, please contact Vicki Levy at vlevy@aarp.org. For media inquiries, please contact External Relations at media@aarp.org. Suggested citation: Levy, Vicki. AARP Survey on Health and Aging. Washington, DC: AARP Research, April 2022. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00536.001 Gary Saxe/Getty Images Day 2: Bolinas to Bodega Bay (45 miles) You could cover todays driving distance in less than two hours, but this leg is about exploring on two legs, as well, not just four wheels and deserves your unhurried attention. Fuel up for an active morning with coffee and made-from-scratch pastries at Bovine Bakery, a favorite local haunt in the small town of Point Reyes Station, 14 miles north of Bolinas. Then head to Point Reyes National Seashore for some hiking on its 150 miles of trails offering unrivaled California scenery (rugged cliffs, pastoral settings and wildlife). Its 9.7-mile out-and-back Tomales Point Trail runs along the ridge of a narrow peninsula, with 360-degree land and sea views. Keep your eyes open for tule elk, a subspecies of elk found only in California. For something shorter but no less spectacular, opt for the 1.7-mile Chimney Rock Trail, an easy out-and-back hike with impressive sea views. While on the trail, stop at the Elephant Seal Overlook, popular especially during pupping season, DecemberMarch the prime time for spotting California gray whales, too, as they make their annual migration from Alaska to Baja, Mexico. As you continue on, youll be skirting 15-mile-long Tomales Bay, known for its abundant oysters. On weekends, the Boat Oyster Bar at the beloved Hog Island Oyster Farm in Marshall serves tasty raw and barbecued oysters; fill up on the bivalves on outdoor tables (book in advance) with bay views. Eighteen miles farther up the road, youll pass through the hamlet of Bodega; here, an old schoolhouse, now a private residence, may look familiar since it had a cameo in Alfred Hitchcocks The Birds. Another 6 miles and youre in the harbor-hugging town of Bodega Bay, where youll want to saunter along its 1-mile-long Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail for some good birdwatching. The trail wraps around two freshwater ponds and overlooks marshland, a setting that attracts waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds year round. You can also do your watching from the back deck of Sonoma Coast Vineyards tasting room, sipping pinot or chardonnay. Or grab lunch in town at Spud Point Crab Company, known for its fantastic clam chowder and fresh-off-the-boat crab. Where to stay: From the 86-room Inn at the Tides, walk to restaurants and shops. For dinner, take in unbeatable sunset views from its Tides Wharf Restaurant and feast on seafood dishes, such as Dungeness crab cocktail and zesty cioppino. Rosemarie Mosteller/Alamy Stock Photo Day 4: Beaufort to Aiken (111 miles) Leaving Beaufort on U.S. 21 N, drive approximately 16 miles from downtown, then go west on Old Sheldon Road. A commemorative plaque about a mile and a half down the road marks the ruins of Prince Williams Parish Church (aka Sheldon Church), where four exterior walls and columns and the church burial grounds remain. Dating back to 1753, the church suffered damage in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Historians believe this to be the first structure to imitate a Greek temple in the U.S. From Old Sheldon Road take a slight right to state Route 68 and continue meandering down the back roads as marshland gives way to cotton fields. Following signs to Barnwell, pick up state Route 300, which leads to U.S. Route 278 W and ultimately U.S. Route 78 W into Aiken, where enormous live oaks laden with Spanish moss form a welcoming shady canopy over South Boundary Road. When wealthy northerners chose Aiken as their winter colony in the late 19th century, they brought polo with them, and the passion for this equestrian sport lives on. Sprawling cottages built by these aristocrats line the streets in the horse district, where road signs feature horses and sandy streets provide a gentle-on-the-hoofs thoroughfare for these favored animals. Learn about local equestrian superstars at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, off Whiskey Road in this district. A half mile away on Newberry Street, the Aiken County Historical Museum reaches beyond the horse culture, delving into Aikens history through a wide variety of artifacts, including an 1890s one-room schoolhouse displayed on the grounds of this 1930s Winter Colony mansion. Within the layers of Aikens history lies the story of the Savannah River Site, a story brought to life at the Savannah River Site Museum, downtown on Laurel Street. The brainchild of Walt Joseph, who worked at the site for 39 years, the museums exhibits reveal the role Aiken played in producing materials used in the fabrication of the nuclear weapons that helped the U.S. win the Cold War with Russia. The museum also shares the stories of sacrifice and resilience demonstrated by the more than 6,000 residents who gave up their homes to make way for the site. For some fresh air, venture into the center of town to Hitchcock Woods, the nations largest privately owned urban forest, with 2,100 acres of long-leaf pine forest and 70 miles of trails. For a moderate hike, the 3.3-mile Devils Backbone Loop follows along a wide trail of sand aptly named Sand River. Be sure to yield to riders horses always have the right of way here. For dinner, head downtown to Whiskey Alley, a whiskey bar and tapas restaurant. The menu changes daily, featuring small and large plates and charcuterie boards. Always on the menu, the Royale With Cheese Burger comes loaded with American cheese, dill pickles, shredded lettuce and magic sauce. Dont forget to sample the whiskey. Where to stay: For a luxe experience that shouldnt cost more than about $225 a night, check into one of the 28 rooms at the Willcox Hotel, a white-pillared Colonial Revival downtown landmark. Alternatively, if youre a golfer, a stay at the Inn at Houndslake comes with access to golf at the Houndslake Country Club. Terri Marshall is a New York City-based journalist whose work can be found on the World Footprints and A Girls Guide to Cars websites and in Girl Camper magazine. Also of Interest Haodex Executes Framework Agreement . China Co-Op Group is also known as China Supply and Marketing Group and is a large group in the agriculture related industry. Its foundation has been approved by the State Council. NJZH was established with the main goal of serving grass-roots supply and marketing cooperatives and farmers' professional cooperatives. NJZH has built a digital platform for the farmers' cooperation, which includes supply and marketing and credit sales. About Bulkbuy World BulkBuy is a wholesale e-commerce marketplace that allows users to participate in group buying deals. BulkBuy enables merchants to set up an online store and sell products from Chinese factories directly at wholesale prices to all USA customers similar to the operation of Amazon by allowing several customers to participate in group buying deals (crowd-ordering). On the Bulkbuy marketplace, Haodex generates revenue from sales commissions, membership fees and product listing fees. Bulkbuy now has set up several provincial offices including Beijing, Guandong, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Hanan with local franchises. About Haodex Limited Haodex Limited (NSX:HAO) is an Australian company focused on forward thinking online platforms and global projects. Haodex owns 78% of and operates 2 omnichannel marketplaces, being MonkeyKing Australia (www.monkeykingaustralia.com) and BulkBuy (www.bulkbuyworld.com), and owns 100% of a short term Chinese accommodation hosting business, Franks Haus (www.frankshaus.com). MonkeyKing is an online e-commerce platform which sources Australian products from Australian suppliers to distribute to consumers in Asia, mainly China. BulkBuy is a wholesale e-commerce marketplace which allows users to participate in group buying deals. BulkBuy enables merchants to set up an online store and sell products directly to customers at wholesale prices by allowing several customers to participate in group buying deals (crowd-ordering). Franks Haus is an online platform for leasing private properties, mainly for short term accommodation, in China. The platform will attract tourists Link: Haodex Executes Framework Agreement Related Companies Haodex Limited Social Media Share this Article Tweet Print This Article ABN Newswire Annual Report to Shareholders Melbourne, Mar 31, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - In 2021 the iSignthis Ltd ( ASX:ISX ) ( FRA:TA8 ) completed the demerger from ISX Financial EU Plc ('ISX EU'). Post the demerger of ISX Financial EU Plc from iSignthis Ltd, the Company retained one subsidiary iSignthis Australia Pty Ltd (ISAU). ISAU is an Australian principal member of Mastercard. The Company also retains card acquiring licences from ChinaUnionPay, Diners Discover and American Express, in addition to Mastercard, for the Australian region.Post the demerger the Company is now at the early stages of rebuilding its Australian strategy, as it looks to how it can commercialise the licences it holds in Australia.Further the Company will continue to focus on its ongoing legal action against the Australia Securities Exchange (ASX).StrategyPost the demerger of ISX Financial EU Plc from iSignthis Ltd, the Company retained the ISAU business unit. ISAU is an Australian principal member of Mastercard. Its licence, is presently for card acquiring, however, this can be extended to card issuing and to include Mastercard Send and Home Send services. ISX Financial EU Plc and ISAU have entered into a technical gateway services agreement for access to the PCI DSS level 1 certified ISXPay gateway on a per usage basis. The Company also retains card acquiring licences from ChinaUnionPay, Diners Discover and American Express, in addition to Mastercard, for the Australian region. With licences and the payment gateway agreement in place, the Company is at the early stages of rebuilding its Australian strategy and will now look as to how it can commercialise these licenses for future growth.The Company has also identified opportunities under the Consumer Data Right (CDR) regulations that are supervised by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission, with its subsidiary ISAU considering its approach to a license application.The Company will seek shareholder approval for a name change at the forthcoming general meeting of shareholders.Further, post the demerger the Company will focus its efforts in 2022 in its legal action taken against the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). The Company's current statement of claim totals $464.7 million. Due to delays in Australian courts, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the Company cannot provide an expected timeline for the court action.*To view the full Annual Report, please visit:About iSignthis Ltd iSignthis Ltd (ASX:ISX) (FRA:TA8) is a hybrid monetary financial institution and also a RegTech leader in remote identity verification, payment authentication with deposit taking, transactional banking and payment processing capability. iSignthis provides an end-to-end on-boarding service for merchants, with a unified payment, electronic money and identity service via our Paydentity(TM) and ISXPay(R) solutions. By converging payments and identity, iSignthis delivers regulatory compliance to an enhanced customer due diligence standard, offering global reach to any of the world's 4.2Bn 'bank verified' card or account holders, that can be remotely on-boarded to meet the Customer Due Diligence requirements of AML regulated merchants in as little as 3 to 5 minutes. Paydentity(TM) has now onboarded and verified more than 1.5m persons to an AML KYC standard. iSignthis Paydentity(TM) service is the trusted back office solution for regulated entities, allowing merchants to stay ahead of the regulatory curve, and focus on growing their core business. iSignthis' subsidiary, iSignthis eMoney Ltd, trades as ISXPay(R), and is an EEA authorised eMoney Monetary Financial Institution, offering card acquiring in the EEA, and Australia. ISXPay(R) is a principal member of Mastercard Inc, Diners, Discover, (China) Union Pay International and JCB International, an American Express aggregator, and provides merchants with access to payments via alternative methods including SEPA, Poli Payments, Sofort, PRZ24 and others. Probanx Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of iSignthis Ltd, provides API based access to CORE Banking solutions, SEPA Core, SEPA Instant and SEPA business scheme, for neobanks, banks, credit unions and emoney institutions, and provides a bridge to the Eurosystem's Central Bank of Lithuania's CENTROLink service. Annual Report to Shareholders Perth, April 1, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cyprium Metals Ltd ( ASX:CYM ) has made considerable progress over the past year to return the iconic Nifty Copper Project to a profitable operating mine. There has been over 30kms of drilling completed at Nifty for mineral resource infill and extensions, metallurgical test-work, infrastructure sterilisation and waste characterisation.An updated JORC 2012 mineral resource estimate was issued in November 2021 for Nifty of 732,000 tonnes contained copper at an average grade of 1.6%. A further update of the Nifty mineral resource estimate will be undertaken during the first half of 2022 which will include the results from our infill and extensional drilling programmes that were completed during 2021.Condition assessments have been completed on the existing infrastructure at Nifty which have resulted in a decision to proceed with the refurbishment of the SX-EW plant rather than purchase a new plant, upgrade of the communications infrastructure to 4G services and commence a mine site camp upgrade.Site surveys, baseline studies and water management plans have been completed so that the various comprehensive regulatory approval submissions can be made in accordance with our projected timelines. Site visits to demonstrate the current state of the facilities and Cyprium's plans for the restart of the project have been well received with government, traditional owners and investors.Currently, the optimum open pit economic design for the Nifty Re-start Study is based entirely on the measured and indicated categories of the updated Nifty mineral resource, with pit wall design incorporating the geotechnical studies undertaken in 2021. The current pit envelope does not include any increases to the mineral resource from the inferred conversion, infill or extensional drilling programmes completed during 2021. The final extended open pit mine design and schedule will be incorporated into the model once the expanded mineral resource is re-estimated during the first half of 2022. Incorporation of these drill results will in fact convert some material which is currently included as waste in the pit envelope, into ore, consequently further enhancing the already robust economics of the Nifty Re-Start Study.*To view the full Annual Report, please visit:About Cyprium Metals Ltd Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX:CYM) is poised to grow to a mid-tier mining business and manage a portfolio of Australian copper projects to deliver vital natural resources, strong shareholder returns and sustainable value for our stakeholders. We pursue this aim, in genuine partnerships with employees, customers, shareholders, local communities and other stakeholders, which is based on integrity, co-operation, transparency and mutual value creation. BRIGHTON, Colo. A Colorado couple face felony charges in connection with the fentanyl death of their 1-year-old child, whom prosecutors say died after ingesting enough of the extremely lethal drug to kill an adult. Alonzo Montoya, 31, and Nicole Casias, 30, of the Denver suburb of Brighton were charged with child abuse resulting in death and distribution of a controlled substance in connection with the girls death on Jan. 2, the 17th Judicial Districts Office said in a statement Thursday. It said the Adams County Coroner had determined that the child died after ingesting fentanyl and that Montoya and Casias participated in illicit drug activity in the childs presence at home before and after her death. Montoya was being held on $250,000 bail at the Adams County Jail. Bail was set at $100,000 for Casias. A status hearing for both was set for Monday. Telephone and email messages seeking comment from Casias attorney, Rachel Lanzen, were not immediately returned. Montoya was being represented by the public defenders office, which doesnt comment on pending cases. Court records that would provide details on the accusations werent immediately available from the county district court. Christopher Hopper, a district attorneys spokesman, said he could not provide additional information. Fentanyl is an unpredictable and powerful synthetic painkiller blamed for driving an increase in fatal drug overdoses. Its 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Today could look, and smell, a lot different in New Mexico with the opening of recreational marijuana sales. April 1, 2022, is a cause for celebration for many New Mexicans who have long-championed legalizing marijuana, not the least of whom were former Republican Gov. Gary Johnson two decades ago and current Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has promoted cannabis legalization as a way to diversify the states economy, create jobs and bolster tourism. State fiscal analysts estimate the Cannabis Regulation Act allowing recreational sales to adults 21 and older will generate $20 million in state revenue in fiscal 2023, along with an estimated $10 million for local governments. Despite that additional revenue, many New Mexicans wish this was all an April Fools Day joke. Some worry ubiquitous marijuana will further the spread to children and only exacerbate our existing challenges with substance abuse. The new law essentially has zero penalty just counseling and community service for minors who use, grow or sell pot. Businesses are concerned about the workplace ramifications and how to deal with stoned employees. Some drivers are concerned about roadway safety, and they have good reason to be. Were already running at the top of the nation in DWI and pedestrian deaths. Albuquerque Police Department officer and drug recognition expert Charles Files told KOAT-TV this week we can count on more accidents involving impaired drivers. Cannabis can impair your coordination, your perception and your judgment, your reaction time, Files said. DWIs are not limited to alcohol. Were going to see an increase in DWIs, were going to see an increase in crashes. That should be concerning to everyone. Our already overburdened law enforcement officers need to be prepared. APD public information officer Rebecca Atkins says the agency has eight drug recognition expert officers and about 87 advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement officers (a step below DRE-trained officers but still more drug-trained than a normal officer). As far as other countermeasures we will have DWI officers who are DRE-certified out patrolling the entire city, and they are ready to assist the field officers with any DRE-specific requests 24/7 with either on-duty or call-out investigations, she says. State Police public information officer Ray Wilson says the agency has 12 drug recognition experts to combat drugged driving over the state the fifth largest in the nation at 121,590 square miles. Shortly after lawmakers passed the landmark legislation during a special session in March 2021, paving the way for recreational pot sales to begin today, state Rep. Javier Martinez, a longtime advocate of legalized pot, promised well have to come back and make tweaks to it, and thats OK. The Albuquerque Democrat was right. And more than tweaks may be needed. The experts are already warning of side effects. Prohibiting the open consumption of cannabis is going to be challenging. The new state law prohibits consumption in public spaces other than on-site areas at dispensaries. Public consumption of cannabis of any kind, including edibles, is punishable with a citation and a fine up to $50. Yet, Clovis Mayor Mike Morris says local governments have had little guidance from the state when it comes to preparing for the start of cannabis sales. State and local governments need to mount an aggressive education campaign to prevent public areas from becoming 4/20 carnivals and our roadways from becoming even more deadly. The ramifications of pot legalization likely are going to be a mixed bag that require some unpacking. The state needs to closely monitor the industry over the next six months and honestly report not only any problems that develop but also an honest accounting of jobs created with pay rates and revenue collected. New laws or regulations clamping down on drugged driving and public smokeouts may be necessary. Gov. Lujan Grisham needs to hold to what she said last year after the bill passed the Legislature that the work will go on. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Most people have heard of the legal remedy called a temporary restraining order, TRO. In broad-brush strokes, a TRO is an emergency court order prohibiting a person or entity from engaging in certain behavior. A petitioner files essentially an affidavit swearing under oath he or she is in imminent danger and/or will be irreparably harmed if the court does not issue the TRO. If a judge signs the TRO, then a hearing is set within 10 days. Copies of the TRO are given to the petitioner, who then arranges for someone to serve the TRO upon the other party, the respondent. Generally, the TRO places specific limitations on the respondent until the hearing. At the hearing, the judge decides whether there is evidence to support the petitioners allegations. The respondent is allowed to provide his or her side of the case. If necessary, a full trial on the merits is scheduled. Ultimately the judge must decide whether to enter a permanent injunction against the respondent or dismiss the petition. As a civil division judge, the most common type of petition for a TRO that crosses my desk requests a civil harassment restraining order. This generally involves conflicts between neighbors, roommates, co-workers, ex co-workers and casual acquaintances. Petitions alleging civil harassment often contain extremely serious claims involving threats of violence and actual robbery, burglary, battery, assault and other acts of intimidation and abuse. Normally, when I issue a TRO the conflict between the parties de-escalates. This is not always the case, however, and therein lies an inherent problem. Law-abiding people will comply with a TRO. Scofflaws, substance abusers and mentally ill people often will not a piece of paper signed by a judge means little to them. The threat of penalties, up to and including incarceration, have minimal deterrent effect. Especially in cases where the respondent is abusing alcohol, drugs or is mentally ill, the petitioner should not expect rational behavior. Petitioners can hope for, but not expect, compliance. Law enforcement officers and the courts do everything in their legal authority to enforce civil harassment restraining orders. However, issuance does not, and should not, replace common sense and the undertaking of other necessary safety measures. When I served on the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, I presided over hundreds, if not thousands, of domestic violence cases. I almost always issued a no-contact order against the accused, ordering him or her to stay away from the alleged victim. It is worth noting many times the alleged victims would undertake other safety measures. They did not rely solely upon my no-contact order to protect themselves from harm. Carolyn N. Ko, in Civil Restraining Orders for Domestic Violence: The Unresolved Question of Efficacy, wrote as only a handful of studies have examined the issue of effectiveness, the deterrent effect of restraining orders remains inconclusive. Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal, Vol. 11:361. The same uncertainty exists in cases involving civil harassment. Thus, while a TRO might be helpful, it should not be considered a cure-all for someone seeking protection from another actual or potentially dangerous individual. No one wants conflict in his or her life. When it happens, we each have to deal with it. Where a situation becomes dangerous, the courts and law enforcement stand ready to help as much as legally possible. TROs should be part of an overall approach that incorporates common sense and all other safety measures. Judge Daniel Ramczyk is a judge of the Second Judicial District Court. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the judge individually and not those of the court. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico will become the 17th state to launch legal cannabis retail sales Friday, when dispensaries from Farmington to Hobbs begin selling marijuana flowers, edibles and other products to adults age 21 and older. The start of commercial sales comes after a multi-year political struggle and 353 days after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a legalization bill into law. The Democratic governor said Thursday that New Mexico was better positioned to launch its new cannabis industry than other western states like Arizona and Nevada, with roughly 250 licensed retail locations statewide, 52 licensed producers, 57 micro producers who can cultivate smaller amounts and 16 manufacturers. It looks to me were as prepared as you can be, Lujan Grisham told the Journal. She also said she planned to be out meeting and congratulating some cannabis retailers on the states opening day of commercial sales, but said she would not be making any personal purchases. Lets leave the product on the shelves for other people, the governor said. New Mexico has had a medical cannabis program since 2007, but attempts to legalize recreational marijuana and tax its sales were unsuccessful at the Roundhouse until the Democratic-controlled Legislature approved a bill last year. Backers of the legalization law say it could create thousands of new jobs, diversify New Mexicos economy and bolster the state as a tourist destination, especially with neighboring Texas unlikely to legalize marijuana in the near future. Kristen Thomson, the director of the states Cannabis Control Division, said New Mexico has taken notes from other states experiences rolling out cannabis retail sales. Specifically, she cited the states packaging and labeling rules, along with an increased maximum plant count for larger cannabis producers, as policies intended to avoid trouble spots in other states. Weve done everything we can to ensure everything goes smoothly, Thomson said. Thomson and other state officials have acknowledged there could be cannabis shortages in the opening days of the states new industry, though she has maintained such shortages would only be a short-term issue. The likelihood of cannabis shortages has prompted concern among some medical cannabis patients, who use marijuana to treat ailments ranging from cancer to severe chronic pain. Some licensed dispensaries plan to give priority to medical cannabis patients, while others plan to serve customers on a first-come, first-serve basis. Exuberant outlooks Within the cannabis industry, a sense of excitement has been building toward the first day of legal sales. Ellie Besancon, the executive director of Red Barn Growers, said shes expecting a wide range of customers, from elderly state residents to longtime cannabis users who might have previously bought marijuana on the black market. She said her cannabis company which now runs dispensaries in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Gallup and Las Cruces added a second cultivation site last year in order to grow more cannabis plants. They have also purchased some cannabis products from wholesalers in an attempt to avoid shortages during the initial weeks of retail sales. I think that Im going to be in good shape, but I dont know for sure, Besancon told the Journal. We want to make sure that people who havent engaged or been involved (with cannabis products) in decades come in and feel comfortable. Besancon, who has a background in corporate marketing, rose up quickly in the cannabis industry after starting as a part-time budtender, or cannabis salesperson, several years ago at a medical cannabis dispensary. She said the lure of legalization is also attracting other young professionals to enter the industry, adding, I just feel like this is the green gold rush. Meanwhile, under New Mexicos legalization law, its up to cities and counties to make zoning decisions and set allowable hours of operation for cannabis dispensaries. Some cities, like Las Cruces, have not established such time limits, meaning cannabis dispensaries in the states second-largest city will be able to open just after midnight tonight. Concerns abound The buzz surrounding New Mexicos new cannabis industry is not entirely positive, however. Some local government officials around the state expressed concern about a possible uptick in impaired driving and other cannabis-related crimes. Luke Niforatos, the executive vice president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a Colorado-based group, said New Mexicos launch of commercial cannabis sales could lead to an increase in high-school dropout rates and fatal traffic accidents. Todays pot is not Woodstock Weed, Niforatos said. As retail sales launch in New Mexico, the marijuana industry is focused on and concerned about one thing: profit. And profit comes by encouraging the use of their dangerous, high-potency products. But state officials insist legalization will be a net positive for New Mexico, and say they plan to closely scrutinize the new industrys various impacts going forward. Some policymakers have also highlighted legalization as a social justice issue, as a state law allows people with past cannabis convictions to enter the industry. In addition, a bill approved by lawmakers in 2021 calls for criminal records related to cannabis possession or consumption to be automatically expunged, though judicial branch officials are still reviewing records to make that happen. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., lauded the states move to legalize recreational cannabis on Thursday, saying on social media it represented an important first step forward in ending the war on drugs. For her part, Thomson acknowledged its unlikely legalization will completely eliminate the black market for cannabis, but said it would reduce illicit sales. She also said its likely New Mexico legislators and regulators will have to make changes to the laws governing cannabis sales and usage in the coming years, as other states have done, but described the state as ready to launch after nearly a year of planning. I absolutely believe the industry is ready to go, Thomson said. Theyre chomping at the bit. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Expect long lines. Or maybe not. Look for the stigma around cannabis to subside slowly. And remember, its good for the states economy. Those are a few of the views New Mexicans have about the start of recreational marijuana sales, beginning Friday. New Mexico joins more than a dozen other states that have legalized cannabis for recreational use. Its an industry expected to bring in $300 million in sales the first year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Thursday. I was thinking about just going to one of our local dispensaries here and if theyre not sold out getting some (cannabis), and taking it back to my house and enjoying it at the end of the day, said Joshua Long, a University of New Mexico student majoring in political science and psychology, about his plans for day one. Long, 21, said he expects short-term shortages as customers flock to dispensaries on opening day and the days following. But Nicholas Havens, 20, a patient in New Mexicos medical cannabis program, said he believes dispensaries will be well-equipped to supply the flood of customers that he expects. I know that they stock up pretty well, at least at the medical ones, Havens said. I feel like the recreational ones are probably going to stock up even more because I feel like the demand is going to be even greater. If they dont do that, (that would) honestly surprise me. Recreational sales are for adults 21 and older, while residents under 21 can qualify for medical marijuana. Eddie Sanchez, 27, also has concerns about supply running out. I think (Friday is) going to be crazy, he said. I think theyre probably going to sell out. Breaking the stigma Some say that the legalization of recreational cannabis on June 29, 2021 and sales starting Friday will slowly help break the stigma of cannabis consumption. Imani Crawford, a 21-year-old psychology major at UNM, said marijuana sales in New Mexico are a sign that things are changing. Crawford has used cannabis once, she said, but plans to purchase cannabis in the future now that it is legal to consume in New Mexico. I feel like older people are going to see their peers using it and realize, like, its not as big of a deal as theyve made it seem. All their myths are going to be squashed, she said. UNM graduate student Inusah Mohammed said people tend to equate marijuana with smoking. But thats not the case. Cannabis is a whole lot of things, Mohammed, 32, said. It can be used for menstrual cramps (and) a whole lot of medicinal purposes. I feel a lot of people have been marginalized people who (have) believed in cannabis and what have you for some time. I think this is the time for us all to be free and come out freely. Jesse Bullock, 37, recently moved back to New Mexico from Florida with his wife, who has family here. He said the start of adult-use sales takes a lot of the stigma out of it for a lot of people. Hopefully, itll open up a new industry, and some more money and income for certain people, without taking away potentially from other industries or businesses, Bullock said. Good for economy Many agree that cannabis will be good for New Mexicos economy going forward. Havens said he expects restaurants, convenience stores and other businesses to reap the benefits of adult-use sales. Its going to bring a lot of business to everybody around the whole city, he said. Everybodys going to get, like, the munchies. In the long term, cannabis can play a large part in New Mexicos story, said Andrew Seeger, a 36-year-old medical patient and cannabis consultant based in Santa Fe. Were not going to fulfill all of our promises in the cannabis market right away here in New Mexico, Seeger said. Its going to take a while, but the tax revenue is going to be quite large. This is a good that is rivaling alcohol in some areas. Sanchez said he would like if some of the money the state reaps from recreational cannabis sales could be used to fix infrastructure. We can fix the roads, get bridges done, Sanchez said. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal The New Mexico Supreme Court has launched a new effort to speed up the processing of criminal cases and relieve law enforcement officers in Albuquerque and Santa Fe from making certain court-related appearances thus allowing them to stay on the streets to fight crime. The slate of changes is aimed at streamlining court practices to help our justice partners and courts make the best use of their time and limited resources, said Chief Justice Michael Vigil in a statement. The changes have been lauded by the Albuquerque Police Department and prosecutors, while state public defenders have questioned whether the push for efficiency at least in misdemeanor cases could compromise defendants rights and actually backfire by forcing more jury trials. Under new pilot programs in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court and in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court, prosecutors will no longer be required to schedule pretrial interviews with law enforcement officers in misdemeanor cases, such as DWI and battery on a household member. Defense attorneys assessing the cases against their clients prior to a trial will have to rely on police reports and recordings such as lapel videos, as well as criminal complaints that set out the criminal charge and the reasons someone is arrested. Traffic violation cases in magistrate courts statewide and in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court generally will continue to be conducted remotely a practice adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. That will allow police officers, the defendant and witnesses to avoid traveling to a courthouse for in-person trials before a judge and can free up time for officers for other law enforcement duties. Previously, there was a presumption that traffic cases would be heard in person. In addition, district courts will be permitted to hold settlement conferences in felony criminal cases and assign a different judge to facilitate possible plea discussions and ensure the parties exchange evidence in a timely manner. Status conferences will be required early in a criminal proceeding for defendants not in jail, to allow cases to resolve faster and permit witnesses, law enforcement and crime victims to avoid having to appear at a later hearing. When possible we want to prevent law enforcement officers, crime victims and witnesses from unnecessarily making multiple appearances in court proceedings, said Justice David Thomson in a press release issued by the court. Across the state and at the Albuquerque Police Department, law enforcement coverage has been strained by too few officers trying to meet the increased demand for public safety. Some law enforcement agencies throughout the state have stopped responding in person to property crimes because of a lack of officers. Meanwhile, prosecutors say that some victims and witnesses, particularly during the height of COVID-19, have been reluctant to appear for the required pretrial interviews and hearings, sometimes resulting in criminal cases being dismissed. The Supreme Court initiatives were developed with input from judges, prosecutors and public defenders. Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez told the Journal, The Supreme Courts changes are modest but they are a welcome start in building a more just and equitable system. The most controversial appears to be the pilot programs elimination of the requirement that prosecutors make law enforcement available for pretrial interviews in misdemeanor cases. Barry Massey, Supreme Court spokesman, told the Journal at least 40 states have no such requirement. Torrez said eliminating pretrial interviews in misdemeanor cases will free up many hours for prosecutors and will relieve some of the burdens imposed on law enforcement officers in misdemeanor cases. But he said APDs staffing shortage still will be impacted by the officers having to participate in pretrial interviews in felony cases, while also appearing for testimony at preliminary hearings and trial. In a March 4 letter to the court, Torrez wrote, Pretrial interviews require police officers to appear for court-related activities in greater numbers and for more time than is necessary to adjudicate cases in a fair and just manner. These police officers are too frequently taken off the streets and away from their duties. Chief Public Defender Ben Baur told the Journal that pretrial interviews of police officers are important in certain misdemeanor cases. We are interested in efficiency because we are so under-resourced we want to be able to move things, but it cant be at the expense of our clients. Clearly the court with the best of intentions is trying to find efficiencies in the system, but I believe that this may actually lead to more trials because if we cant interview the officers without a trial, there are cases where we may end up going to trial simply because we need to ask them those questions. He added that he isnt sure if defense attorneys could seek a subpoena to get a pretrial interview, adding, Were going to have to see how this is interpreted. Probably, initially, Baur added, this will reduce some burden upon law enforcement and district attorneys but if there are more trials, not necessarily. It is definitely adding to the burden of the defense because we will have to find other ways to seek these interviews or potentially do more trials. APD Chief Harold Medina said, Overall, this is a welcome change that will help move cases through the system and allow officers to do their jobs in the field. Medina also renewed his call on Thursday for pretrial detention criteria to be adjusted to keep more violent offenders jailed pending trial. KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned his people early Saturday that retreating Russian forces were creating a complete disaster outside the capital as they leave mines across the whole territory, even around homes and corpses. He issued the warning as the humanitarian crisis in the encircled city of Mariupol deepened, with Russian forces blocking evacuation operations for the second day in a row, and the Kremlin accused the Ukrainians of launching a helicopter attack on a fuel depot on Russian soil. Ukraine denied responsibility for the fiery blast, but if Moscows claim is confirmed, it would be the wars first known attack in which Ukrainian aircraft penetrated Russian airspace. Certainly, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, five weeks after Moscow began sending upwards of 150,000 of its own troops across Ukraines border. Russia continued withdrawing some of its ground forces from areas around Kyiv after saying earlier this week it would reduce military activity near the Ukrainian capital and the northern city of Chernihiv. They are mining the whole territory. They are mining homes, mining equipment, even the bodies of people who were killed, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. There are a lot of trip wires, a lot of other dangers. He urged residents to wait to resume their normal lives until they are assured that the mines have been cleared and the danger of shelling has passed. While the Russians kept up their bombardment around Kyiv and Chernihiv, Ukrainian troops exploited the pullback on the ground by mounting counterattacks and retaking a number of towns and villages. Still, Ukraine and its allies warned that the Kremlin is not de-escalating to promote trust at the bargaining table, as it claimed, but instead resupplying and shifting its troops to the countrys east. Those movements appear to be preparation for an intensified assault on the mostly Russian-speaking Donbas region in the countrys east, which includes Mariupol. Zelenskyy warned of difficult battles ahead as the Russians redeploy troops. We are preparing for an even more active defense, he said. He did not say anything about the latest round of talks, which took place Friday by video. At a round of talks earlier in the week, Ukraine said it would be willing to abandon a bid to join NATO and declare itself neutral Moscows chief demand in return for security guarantees from several other countries. The invasion has left thousands dead and driven more than 4 million refugees from Ukraine. Mariupol, the shattered and besieged southern port city, has seen some of the worst suffering of the war. Its capture would be a major prize for Russian President Vladimir Putin, giving his country an unbroken land bridge to Crimea, seized from Ukraine in 2014. Mariupols fate could determine the course of the negotiations to end the war, said Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Ukrainian think tank Penta. Mariupol has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, Fesenko said, and without its conquest, Putin cannot sit down at the negotiating table. The fall of Mariupol, he said, will open the way to a peace agreement. On Friday, the International Committee for the Red Cross said it was unable to carry out an operation to bring civilians out of Mariupol by bus. It said a team had been on its way but had to turn back. City authorities said the Russians were blocking access to Mariupol. We do not see a real desire on the part of the Russians and their satellites to provide an opportunity for Mariupol residents to evacuate to territory controlled by Ukraine, Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. He said Russian forces are categorically not allowing any humanitarian cargo, even in small amounts, into the city. Around 100,000 people are believed left in the city, down from a prewar 430,000, and weeks of Russian bombardment and street fighting have caused severe shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine. We are running out of adjectives to describe the horrors that residents in Mariupol have suffered, Red Cross spokesperson Ewan Watson said. On Thursday, Russian forces blocked a 45-bus convoy attempting to evacuate people from Mariupol and seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies bound for the city, Ukrainian authorities said. Zelenskyy said more than 3,000 people were able to leave Mariupol on Friday. He said he discussed the humanitarian disaster with French President Emmanuel Macron by telephone and with the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, during her visit to Kyiv. Europe doesnt have the right to be silent about what is happening in our Mariupol, Zelenskyy said. The whole world should respond to this humanitarian catastrophe. Elsewhere, at least three Russian ballistic missiles were fired late Friday from the Crimean Peninsula at the Odesa region on the Black Sea, regional leader Maksim Marchenko said. The Ukrainian military said the Iskander missiles were intended for critical infrastructure but did not hit their targets because of Ukraines air-defense forces. It was unclear where they hit. Marchenko said there were casualties, but he did not elaborate. Odesa is Ukraines largest port and the headquarters of its navy. As for the fuel depot explosion, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said two Ukrainian helicopter gunships flew in extremely low and attacked the civilian oil storage facility on the outskirts of the city of Belgorod, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the Ukraine border. The regional governor said two workers at the depot were wounded, but the Rosneft state oil company denied anyone was hurt. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraines national security council, said on Ukrainian television: For some reason they say that we did it, but in fact this does not correspond with reality. In an interview with Fox, Zelenskyy refused to say whether Ukraine launched the attack. Russia has reported cross-border shelling from Ukraine before, including an incident last week that killed a military chaplain, but not an incursion of its airspace. Amid the Russian pullback on the ground and its continued bombardment, Ukraines military said it had retaken 29 settlements in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. Russian forces in the northeast also continued to shell Kharkiv, and in the southeast sought to seize the cities of Popasna and Rubizhne as well as Mariupol, the Ukrainian military said. Meanwhile, Russia on Friday began its annual spring conscription, which aimed at rounding up 134,500 men for a one-year tour of military duty. Russian officials say new recruits wont be sent to the front lines or hot spots, but many young Russians are skeptical and fear they will be drawn into the war. On the outskirts of Kyiv, where Russian troops have withdrawn, damaged cars lined the streets of Irpin, a suburban area popular with young families, now in ruins. Emergency workers carried elderly people on stretchers over a wrecked bridge to safety. Three wooden crosses next to a residential building that was damaged in a shelling marked the graves of a mother and son and an unknown man. A resident who gave her name only as Lila said she helped hurriedly bury them on March 5, just before Russian troops moved in. They were hit with artillery and they were burned alive, she said. An Irpin resident who gave his name only as Andriy said the Russians packed up their equipment and left on Tuesday. The next day, they shelled the town for close to an hour before Ukrainian soldiers retook it. I dont think this is over, Andriy said. They will be back. ___ Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Andrea Rosa in Irpin, Ukraine, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal A decadeslong project to pipe water from the Ute Reservoir to eastern New Mexico communities will receive $160 million from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation this year. The money is a gamechanger for towns relying on the rapidly depleting Ogallala Aquifer, said Jim Lucero, a Portales city councilor and board member of the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority. Without this project, we would probably have a pretty bleak future to try to get by with the limited water resources that we have, Lucero said. The Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Project, or Ute Pipeline Project, includes 120 miles of pipelines, three pump stations and a treatment plant. Ute Reservoir in Quay County stores the states share of the Canadian River. Water piped from the reservoir will serve Clovis, Texico, Portales, Elida and Cannon Air Force Base. Clovis Mayor Michael Morris, who chairs the water board, said the project is now expected to be completed in five years several years ahead of the original timeline. Crews have finished the pipeline section that connects Clovis and Cannon. The segment linking Cannon and Portales is under construction and the utility will soon solicit bids for the portion extending north from Cannon toward the reservoir. This amount of funding allows us to really speed up all of that work, and gets us a long way down the road to being connected to that renewable source of water, Morris said. The money comes from the infrastructure law Congress passed last year. New Mexico received the largest allocation of rural water project funding, with more appropriations for the pipeline expected over the next five years. The funding is key for rural areas navigating drought and climate change, said Tanya Trujillo, the Interior Departments assistant secretary for water and science. I know how important this project is to utilize surface water to supplement the groundwater supplies that were very concerned about, she said. The pipeline also received $17.4 million from the recent federal spending bill, and $30 million from the state Legislature and the governors capital outlay this year. The water authority will spend $20.7 million on the project in 2022. State Engineer Mike Hamman commended the municipalities for reversing the trend of relentlessly pumping the aquifer. Its dawned on us that we cant do it that way any more, Hamman said, and its been on the radar of everybody thats tapped into the Ogallala, particularly in the more shallow portion of it that underlies eastern New Mexico. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. A prosecutor urged jurors Friday to convict four men in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, saying they were anti-government extremists filled with rage and intent on touching off a civil war in the final weeks of the polarizing 2020 general election. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler summed up the evidence on the 15th day of trial, tracing the groups secretly recorded words as well as testimony from agents, an extraordinary informant and two star witnesses who pleaded guilty. Defense attorneys, meanwhile, panned the governments case: One said the men were turned into terrorists by rogue investigators, while another pleaded with jurors to put the brakes on the FBI. After listening to hours of closing arguments, the weary jury said its deliberations would start Monday. Kessler began his final remarks by saying there are boundaries when it comes to scorn for people in power. If you dont like your elected representatives, you can vote them out at the ballot box. Thats what makes this country great, Kessler told the jury. What we cant do is kidnap them, kill them or blow them up. Thats also what makes America great. Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are charged with conspiracy to kidnap. Three of them also face charges related to weapons. The men were arrested in October 2020 amid talk of raising $4,000 for an explosive that could blow up a bridge and stymie police responding to a kidnapping, according to trial evidence. Fox twice traveled to northern Michigan to scout the area; one of those trips included Croft and undercover agents. Kessler said the groups motive was to spark the boogaloo, a reference to a U.S. civil war, by kidnapping Whitmer. Thats what bound these defendants together. They were filled with rage, the prosecutor said. They were paranoid because they knew what they were doing was illegal and were afraid of getting caught. The four men deny any scheme to abduct Whitmer from her vacation home, though they clearly were livid with the government and with restrictions imposed by the governor during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ty Garbin, who pleaded guilty and testified against the men, said the goal was to get Whitmer before the election and create enough chaos to stop Joe Biden from winning the presidency. Kessler took the jury back to events in summer and fall 2020: a national meeting of militias in Ohio, training in Wisconsin and Michigan, and a September night excursion to see the governors property on Birch Lake and inspect the bridge. The men had constructed a crude shoot house in Luther, Michigan, to replicate Whitmers home and practiced going in and out with guns, according to evidence. The investigation began when Army veteran Dan Chappel joined a militia, the Wolverine Watchmen, to maintain his firearm skills. Chappel testified that he was alarmed when he started hearing talk about attacking police and agreed to become an FBI informant. Thank God for Dan Chappel. He went back at great personal risk, Kessler told the jury. But jurors got a different view from the defense. Foxs attorney, Christopher Gibbons, hammered away at Chappel, who was paid roughly $50,000 by the FBI, including expenses, and talked to Fox almost daily for months, recording their conversations. Gibbons said Fox was a hapless man living in the basement of a Grand Rapids-area vacuum shop, smoking marijuana whenever possible and totally incapable of leading the wild plot. The plan was utter nonsense. It wasnt real to Adam Fox. He was LARPing, Gibbons said, using an acronym for live action role playing. Adam Fox is usually impaired. Hes just playing his game. A person cannot accidentally enter into a conspiracy. He accused the government of radicalization. Inviting citizens that they think are susceptible to a theater where they are given full senses of who and what they are, and somebody rattles the chains, somebody beats the drum and gets them all worked up, Gibbons said. Thats unacceptable in America, he said. Thats not how it works. They dont make terrorists so we can arrest them. Croft, a trucker from Bear, Delaware, vented on social media about hanging governors for treason, and he was repeatedly recorded talking about violence and explosives. Prosecutors noted that he made four trips by car to the Midwest. His attorney, however, called it crazy talk from a stoned pirate, referring to marijuana and Crofts three-cornered hat, not a plan to attack Whitmer. I am ashamed of the behavior of the leading law enforcement agency in the United States. This investigation was an embarrassment, Joshua Blanchard told the jury. Lawyers for Harris and Caserta emphasized that neither man went to Elk Rapids with Croft and Fox to surveil Whitmers home during the training weekend in Luther. Julia Kelly said Garbin and Kaleb Franks, who both testified against the group, are liars, though they pleaded guilty and are facing prison. The defense used a big screen to complement closing remarks. Some jurors smiled when attorney Michael Hills showed a cartoon bobblehead dog to highlight that Caserta supposedly nodded in agreement to the kidnapping plan but wasnt recorded as saying he was in. Whitmer, a Democrat, rarely talks publicly about the plot, though she referred to surprises during her term that seemed like something out of fiction when she filed for reelection on March 17. 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. Whitmer has said Trump was complicit in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. ___ Find APs full coverage of the Whitmer kidnap plot trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial ___ White reported from Detroit. VATICAN CITY Pope Francis on Friday made a historic apology to Indigenous peoples for the deplorable abuses they suffered in Canadas Catholic-run residential schools and said he hoped to visit Canada in late July to deliver the apology in person to survivors of the churchs misguided missionary zeal. Francis begged forgiveness during an audience with dozens of members of the Metis, Inuit and First Nations communities who came to Rome seeking a papal apology and a commitment from the Catholic Church to repair the damage. The first pope from the Americas said he hoped to visit Canada around the Feast of St. Anna, which falls on July 26. More than 150,000 native children in Canada were forced to attend state-funded Christian schools from the 19th century until the 1970s in an effort to isolate them from the influence of their homes and culture. The aim was to Christianize and assimilate them into mainstream society, which previous Canadian governments considered superior. The Canadian government has admitted that physical and sexual abuse was rampant at the schools, with students beaten for speaking their native languages. That legacy of that abuse and isolation from family has been cited by Indigenous leaders as a root cause of the epidemic rates of alcohol and drug addiction now on Canadian reservations. After hearing their stories all week, Francis told the Indigenous groups that the colonial project ripped children from their families, cutting off their roots, traditions and culture and provoking inter-generational trauma that is still being felt today. He said it was a counter-witness to the same Gospel that the residential school system purported to uphold. For the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask forgiveness of the Lord, Francis said. And I want to tell you from my heart, that I am greatly pained. And I unite myself with the Canadian bishops in apologizing. The trip to Rome by the Indigenous leaders, elders and survivors was years in the making but gained momentum last year after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves outside some of the residential schools in Canada. The three groups met separately with Francis over several hours this week, telling him their stories, culminating with Fridays audience. The president of the Metis National Council, Cassidy Caron, said the Metis elder sitting next her burst into tears upon hearing what she said was a long-overdue apology. The popes words today were historic, to be sure. They were necessary, and I appreciate them deeply, Caron told reporters in St. Peters Square. And I now look forward to the popes visit to Canada, where he can offer those sincere words of apology directly to our survivors and their families, whose acceptance and healing ultimately matters most. First Nations Chief Gerald Antoine echoed the sentiment, saying Francis recognized the cultural genocide that had been inflicted on Indigenous peoples. Today is a day that weve been waiting for. And certainly one that will be uplifted in our history, he said. Its a historical first step, however, only a first step. He and other delegates said there was far more for the church to do on the path of reconciliation, but that for now Indigenous leaders insisted on being involved in organizing the papal visit to make sure Francis stops in places that hold spiritual importance to their people. Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, thanked Francis for addressing all the issues the Indigenous delegations had brought to him. And he did so in a way that really showed his empathy towards the Indigenous people of Canada, he said. Nearly three-quarters of Canadas 130 residential schools were run by Catholic missionary congregations. Last May, the Tkemlups te Secwepemc Nation announced the discovery of 215 gravesites near Kamloops, British Columbia, that were found using ground-penetrating radar. It was Canadas largest Indigenous residential school and the discovery of the graves was the first of numerous, similar grim sites across the country. Even before the grave sites were discovered, Canadas Truth and Reconciliation Commission specifically called for a papal apology to be delivered on Canadian soil for the churchs role in the abuses. In addition, as part of a settlement of a lawsuit involving the Canadian government, churches and the approximately 90,000 surviving students, Canada paid reparations that amounted to billions of dollars being transferred to Indigenous communities. The Catholic Church, for its part, has paid over $50 million and now intends to add $30 million more over the next five years. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, acknowledged Francis apology and said he looked forward to having him deliver it in person in Canada. This apology would not have happened without the long advocacy of survivors who journeyed to tell their truths directly to the institution responsible and who recounted and relived their painful memories, he said. Todays apology is a step forward in acknowledging the truth of our past in order to right historical wrongs, but there is still work to be done. Francis said he felt shame for the role that Catholic educators had played in the harm, in the abuse and disrespect for your identity, your culture and even your spiritual values, he said. It is evident that the contents of the faith cannot be transmitted in a way that is extraneous to the faith itself. It is chilling to think of determined efforts to instill a sense of inferiority, to rob people of their cultural identity, to sever their roots, and to consider all the personal and social effects that this continues to entail: unresolved traumas that have become inter-generational traumas, he said. After the papal apology, the audience continued with joyous performances of Indigenous prayers by drummers, dancers and fiddlers that Francis watched, applauded and gave a thumbs up to. The delegates then presented him with gifts, including snowshoes. Francis, for his part, returned a First Nations cradle that the delegation had left with him overnight as he pondered his apology. Francis apology went far beyond what Pope Benedict XVI had offered in 2009 when an Assembly of First Nations delegation visited. At the time, Benedict only expressed his sorrow at the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the church. But he did not apologize. The Argentine pope is no stranger to offering apologies for his own errors and for what he himself has termed the crimes of the institutional church. Most significantly, during a 2015 visit to Bolivia, he apologized for the sins, crimes and offenses committed by the church against Indigenous peoples during the colonial-era conquest of the Americas. He made clear those same colonial crimes occurred far more recently in Canada at the Catholic-run residential schools. Your identity and culture has been wounded, many families separated, many children have become victims of this homogenization action, supported by the idea that progress occurs through ideological colonization, according to programs studied at the table rather than respecting the lives of peoples, he said. ___ This version corrects name of First Nations chief to Gerald Antoine. Wilfred Tebah doesnt begrudge the U.S. for swiftly granting humanitarian protections to Ukrainians escaping Russias devastating invasion of their homeland. But the 27-year-old, who fled Cameroon during its ongoing conflict, cant help but wonder what would happen if the millions fleeing that Eastern Europe nation were a different hue. As the U.S. prepares to welcome tens of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing war, the country continues to deport scores of African and Caribbean refugees back to unstable and violent homelands where theyve faced rape, torture, arbitrary arrest and other abuses. They do not care about a Black man, the Columbus, Ohio, resident said, referring to U.S. politicians. The difference is really clear. They know what is happening over there, and they have decided to close their eyes and ears. Tebahs concerns echo protests against the swift expulsions of Haitian refugees crossing the border this summer without a chance to seek asylum, not to mention the frosty reception African and Middle Eastern refugees have faced in western Europe compared with how those nations have enthusiastically embraced displaced Ukrainians. In March, when President Joe Biden made a series of announcements welcoming 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, granting Temporary Protected Status to another 30,000 already in the U.S. and halting Ukrainian deportations, two Democratic lawmakers seized on the moment to call for similar humanitarian considerations for Haitians. There is every reason to extend the same level of compassion, U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, and Mondaire Jones, of New York, wrote to the administration, noting more than 20,000 Haitians have been deported despite continued instability after the assassination of Haitis president and a powerful earthquake this summer. Cameroonian advocates have similarly ratcheted up their calls for humanitarian relief, protesting in front of the Washington residence of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the offices of leading members of Congress this month. Their calls come as hundreds of thousands in Cameroon have been displaced in recent years by the countrys civil war between its French-speaking government and English-speaking separatists, attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram and other regional conflicts. The advocacy group Human Rights Watch, in a February report, found many Cameroonians deported from the U.S. suffered persecution and human rights violations upon returning there. Tebah, who is a leading member of the Cameroon American Council, an advocacy group organizing protests this month, said thats a fate he hopes to avoid. Hailing from the countrys English-speaking northwest, he said he was branded a separatist and apprehended by the government because of his activism as a college student. Tebah said he managed to escape, as many Cameroonians have, by flying to Latin America, trekking overland to the U.S.-Mexico border and petitioning for asylum in 2019. I will be held in prison, tortured and even killed if I am deported, he said. Im very scared. As a human, my life matters too. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees TPS and other humanitarian programs, declined to respond to the complaints of racism in American immigration policy. It also declined to say whether it was weighing granting TPS to Cameroonians or other African nationals, saying in a written statement only that it will continue to monitor conditions in various countries. The agency noted, however, that it has recently issued TPS designations for Haiti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan all African or Caribbean nations as well as to more than 75,000 Afghans living in the U.S. after the Taliban takeover of that Central Asian nation. Haitians are among the largest and longest-tenured beneficiaries of TPS, with more than 40,000 currently on the status. Other TPS countries include Burma, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, and the majority of the nearly 320,000 immigrants with Temporary Protected Status hail from El Salvador. Lisa Parisio, who helped launch Catholics Against Racism in Immigration, argues the program could easily help protect millions more refugees fleeing danger but has historically been underused and overpoliticized. TPS, which provides a work permit and staves off deportation for up to 18 months, doesnt have limits for how many countries or people can be placed on it, said Parisio, who is the advocacy director for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. Yet former President Donald Trump, in his broader efforts to restrict immigration, pared down TPS, allowing designations for Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in West Africa to expire. Although programs like TPS provide critical protections for vulnerable refugees, they can also leave many in legal limbo for years without providing a pathway to citizenship, said Karla Morales, a 24-year-old from El Salvador who has been on TPS nearly her whole life. Its absurd to consider 20 years in this country temporary, the University of Massachusetts Boston nursing student said. We need validation that the work weve put in is appreciated and that our lives have value. At least in the case of Ukraine, Biden appears motivated by broader foreign policy goals in Europe, rather than racial bias, suggests Maria Cristina Garcia, a history professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, focused on refugees and immigrants. But Tom Wong, founding director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California, San Diego, said the racial disparities couldnt be clearer. The U.S. has responded without hesitation by extending humanitarian protections to predominately white and European refugees, he said. All the while, predominately people of color from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia continue to languish. Besides Cameroon, immigrant advocates also argue that Congo and Ethiopia should qualify for humanitarian relief because of their ongoing conflicts, as should Mauritania, since slavery is still practiced there. And they complain Ukrainian asylum seekers are being exempted from asylum limits meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while those from other nations are being turned away. Black pain and Black suffering do not get the same attention, says Sylvie Bello, founder of the D.C.-based Cameroon American Council. The same anti-Blackness that permeates American life also permeates American immigration policy. Vera Arnot, a Ukrainian in Boston who is considering seeking TPS, says she didnt know much about the special status until the war started and wasnt aware of the concerns from immigrants of color. But the Berklee College of Music sophomore hopes the relief can be extended to other deserving nations. Arnot says TPS could help her seek an off-campus job with better pay so she doesnt have to rely on her familys support, as most in Ukraine have lost their jobs due to the war. Ukrainians as a people arent used to relying on others, she said. We want to work. We dont want welfare. For Tebah, who is staying with relatives in Ohio, TPS would make it easier for him to open a bank account, get a drivers license and seek better employment while he awaits a decision on his asylum case. Well continue to beg, to plead, Tebah said. We are in danger. I want to emphasize it. And only TPS for Cameroon will help us be taken out of that danger. It is very necessary. ___ Associated Press video journalist Patrick Orsagos in Columbus, Ohio contributed to this story. An Alabama man who parked a pickup truck filled with weapons and Molotov cocktail components near the U.S. Capitol on the day of last years riot was sentenced Friday to nearly four years in prison. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said she still hasnt heard an explanation for why Lonnie Leroy Coffman had almost a small armory in his truck, ready to do battle. She sentenced Coffman to three years and 10 months in prison, giving him credit for the more than one year he already has served since his arrest. Coffman, 72, of Falkville, Alabama, said he never intended to hurt anybody or destroy any property. He said he drove to Washington alone to try to discover just how true and secure was the (2020 presidential) election. If I had any idea that things would turn out like they did, I would have stayed home, he wrote in a handwritten letter to the judge. More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot, when supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the building in an effort to disrupt lawmakers formal certification of his reelection defeat. Five people died and scores of Capitol Police officers were seriously injured. Over 240 participants in the attack have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors punishable by a maximum of six months imprisonment. More than 130 have been sentenced. Coffman is one of nine defendants whose prison sentence exceeds one year. Coffman, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Army, pleaded guilty in November to possession of an unregistered firearm and carrying a pistol without a license. He was carrying a loaded handgun and revolver without a license as he walked in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, according to prosecutors. He isnt accused of entering the Capitol or joining the mob during the riot that day. When Coffman parked his truck a few blocks from the Capitol on the morning of Jan. 6, it contained a handgun, a rifle, a shotgun, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a crossbow, machetes, a stun gun and a cooler containing eleven mason jars with holes punched in the lids, according to prosecutors. Each jar contained a mixture of gasoline and Styrofoam, which are components of the homemade incendiary devices called Molotov cocktails, prosecutors said. Law enforcement officers found the cache of weapons and ammunition when they searched Coffmans truck. They had been sweeping the area after pipe bombs were found near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee. Later, investigators also found Molotov cocktail components at Coffmans home in Alabama. Possession of so much dangerous weapons in our nations capital is uniquely offensive to our cherished, democratic political traditions, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Friedman said. Handwritten notes found inside the vehicle included a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln that said, We The People Are The Rightful Masters Of Both The Congress And The Courts, Not To Overthrow The Constitution But To Overthrow The Men Who Pervert The Constitution. The notes included a list of good guys and bad guys, with a federal judge named in the latter category, and contact information for a member of a Texas militia group known as the American Patriots, prosecutors said. The handwritten notes also included an address for a reported gathering place in Texas called Camp Lonestar, where militia groups had reportedly sought to patrol the border looking for illegal aliens, prosecutors wrote. Investigators had previously identified Coffman as an armed participant at Camp Lonestar, according to prosecutors. Coffman, a retired machine operator, had travelled to Washington in December 2020 and tried to drive to the home of a U.S. senator who isnt named in a court filing by prosecutors. He also called the senators office in an effort to help with the election fraud he saw. A staff member at the Senators office recorded that the defendant seemed unbalanced or not 100% there during the call, but did not seem threatening, prosecutors wrote. Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of approximately three years and six months. Defense attorney Manuel Retureta said a prison term wouldnt be appropriate given Coffmans age and medical condition. Coffman didnt have a criminal record before this case. At my age, one of the most precious (things) we possess is time, and I have wasted almost a whole precious year, he wrote in his letter to the judge. Robert Downey Jr. wants you to eat insects. He said as much in early 2021 during a virtual appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The Iron Man actor is such a big fan that the investment company he started pledged more than $220 million in funding for a French mealworm product company called Ynsect. But Downey isnt in it for the money. He says that eating bugs, or entomophagy, might just be the alternative to beef, pork, chicken, and seafood that we need to help protect the environment. His enthusiasm is based on an idea that has the attention of several researchers, conservationists, and international agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. And yes, money talks, too. Market researchers expect the global edible bug market to grow nearly 30% over the next five years, reaching $3 billion by 2027. So, whats all the buzz about? The gist of it is this: Raising land animals that give us much of our protein contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change. Plant-based foods, such as nuts, legumes, grains, and vegetables, also contain protein and have a much lower environmental footprint than meat, but they might not satisfy everyones tastes. Insect farming could be a more sustainable solution to help meet the worlds growing nutritional needs. There are huge environmental benefits, says Arnold van Huis, a tropical entomologist at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and the first author on the FAOs seminal 2013 report on edible insects. When compared to other animal protein sources, van Huis says, farmed insects emit less greenhouse gases, they need less land, and they need less water. So, insects could be well-positioned to help feed the world, while having a smaller impact on the planet. And, the best partaccording to proponentstheyre tasty! Baggit, Indias leading fashion brand which has a strong distribution across hundreds of stores across the length and breadth of the country and a prominent digital e-commerce presence has become increasingly resonant with its target audience as evident from significant gains in market share. The brand has witnessed over 3X growth in its online business over the last 2 years in addition to running a strong, growing and profitable offline business. We recognise that our customers are very resilient and digitally savvy and the new campaign celebrates the resilience in everyday women and inspires them to do more, Nina Lekhi, Managing Director and Chief Design Curator, Baggit. The world of fashion advertising across brands is indistinguishable from one another as they mostly rely on the glamour of a celebrity to make the brand advertised trendy, fashionable and aspirational, but very similar to one another. Nina explains, Baggit is a home-grown fashion brand which prides itself on its solid base of loyal customers, we want to be a customer centric company and are willing to challenge any norms that can take us towards our objective. Driving this change, Nagarajan Subramaniam, the brand and business consultant explains, Baggit is always seen as a classic Fashion Brand with high quality and very good durability. It has successfully met the challenge of all its major competitors dumping cheat imported products on to Indian market. Our typical patrons are ordinary women doing extra-ordinary thing under difficult circumstances in life. The new Digital campaign is a celebration of the spirit of resilience of the Brand and its millions of customers and truly inspirational This campaign is truly a digital first campaign and leads with inspiring content which includes brand videos, social experiments and other new content formats that are aimed to drive digital conversation. Explaining the concept Mahuya Chaturvedi, CMO and head Online who is leading this change, We realized that in this evolving environment, we need to recognize and celebrate our customers Who are doing extraordinary work almost on a daily basis. We wanted to celebrate their resilience. The repositioning exercise is driven by 0101 who will handle their communication and the digital performance and Martech operations. Ajay Verma, managing partner explains, Our focus was our core customer, the woman who tirelessly does her everyday work with lots of grit and determination without expecting anything in return. Its their superlative resilience that makes them a superhero, who has not been celebrated - hence we decided to celebrate real life stories. The campaign challenges the fashion advertising norms. It plans to focus on real women its customers rather than selling its features and designs philosophy. It is scheduled to break soon with inspiring and engaging content across leading social channels. Get ready for a nail-biting experience as Colors Tamil, the fastest-growing GEC in Tamil Nadu brings to screen the World Television Premiere of Vanam, this Sunday 3rd April at 4 pm. Evoking a sense of horror and suspense, the film narrates the journey of a college student attempting to discover the reason behind certain disappearances in a hostel room. Directed by Srikantan Anand, this eco-horror-thriller features Vetri Sudley, Anu Sithara, and Smruthi Venkat in lead roles. Located in the backdrop of a forest, the plot revolves around Magizh (Actor Vetri) who is studying in an arts college. Soon he is joined by his childhood crush Jasmine(Actor Smruthi Venkat), a documentary filmmaker who arrives at his college to shoot a film. In the meantime, Magizh is forced to shift to a room where a man had previously hanged himself and finds his roommates dying one by one under mysterious circumstances. How Magizh and Jasmine dig into the past and discover the dark realities behind the door, would make for an interesting watch. Commenting on the occasion, director Srikantan Anand said, Vanam though a thriller film woven in tropes of horror, attempts to send an underlying message of protecting the environment. Despite being only four films old, Vetri has performed phenomenally well, along with the rest of the cast. I am glad that the movie is going to premiere on Colors Tamil, making the weekend enjoyable for the audiences while also leaving them with a lingering thought. Adding to this, Actor Vetri Sudley said Shooting Vanam was a different experience altogether since I had to shoot in a forest, and it is not easy making a film in this genre. We had to shoot in cramped spaces and had to be cautious about not damaging props. Furthermore, filming at the college, filled me with immense nostalgia, reminding me of my college days. I am excited for the film to premiere on Colors Tamil, and I am certain that it will be well received by the television audience like it was in theatres. The essence of the enigmatic plot is captured by Ron Ethan Yohaans brilliant background score, making the film all the more worth watching. Dont forget to tune into Colors Tamil to witness exceptional performances intertwined with a gripping narrative this Sunday, 3rd April 2022 at 4 pm. Colors Tamil is available on all leading cable networks and DTH platforms - Sun Direct (CH NO 128), Tata Sky (CHN NO1515), Airtel (CHN NO 763), Dish TV (CHN NO 1808), and Videocon D2H (CHN NO 553). Allana Consumer Products is the Consumer Products Division of the Allana Group that deals in the B2B and B2C spaces and has a multi-faceted product portfolio. The B2C business deals with well-known brands like London Dairy premium ice-cream, Sunny, and Priya Refined Oils, Radhuni Palmolien, Allegro Olive Oil and Beyond Meat. In the B2B space, the company deals with Pristine range of bakery ingredients and a range of specialized Oils and Fats under the brand names of Alfa, Pristine and Lion. In conversation with Adgully, Milind Pingle, CEO, Allana Consumer Products, speaks at length about the journey and growth of Allana brand ever since they started importing and distributing London Dairy in 2011 to how it has now expanded, the marketing strategy, growth seen during the pandemic period and much more. How has the journey of Allana Consumer Products been since inception? The journey started over a decade ago when the company started importing and distributing London Dairy in 2011. We then set up a world-class facility at Kalwa to develop and manufacture a range of bakery ingredients in 2012. In 2013, the company established a state-of-the-art refinery in Khopoli in Maharashtra to service the Edible Oils & Fats requirements of various customer segments in B2B and B2C. With the introduction of Allegro Olive Oil in 2017, the company made a foray into the premium Olive oil category in India. In 2021, we started distribution of the globally renowned plant-based meat Beyond Meat in India and have entered the ever-evolving vegan market in India. With a strong R&D foundation, a core understanding of consumer needs and emerging global trends and an emphasis on quality and innovation, Allana Consumer Products aspires to grow it into a multifaceted and multiproduct Food conglomerate meeting customer expectation and developing long-term relationships with all stakeholders. Could you share more details about the brand categories and product portfolio? Allana Consumer Products services a wide range of customer segments, both in B2B and B2C space and is respected for its quality and customer service. London Dairy ice creams have been in the country for over a decade and enjoy a significant loyalty amongst premium ice cream lovers across the country. Sunny & Priya Refined Oils are the flagship Oil brands of the company which hold a significant stature in the premium & popular category of refined edible oil brands in Maharashtra. Allegro is a range of our Spanish Olive Oil and is renowned in the gourmet category for its premium Extra Virgin and Extra Lite range of Olive oils. Pristine is a global bakery specialist brand of cake mixes, Decors & Fillings and amongst the top three brands in the country. We are distributors of Beyond Meat in India and with this latest offering, we have entered the emerging Plant Based meat category in India. While we have a multi-faceted product portfolio in Foods, we at Allana Consumer Products continually strive to collaborate with our customers to create customised and differentiated products. Who is your target audience and what are your Marketing strategies for them? Allana Consumer Products has a play in both B2B and B2C sectors and caters to a wide range of customer segments. In the B2B segment, we are a supplier to several MNCs and domestic companies in the Industry & Food Services sector, where we supply our range of specialised Oils & Fats and Bakery Ingredients such as cake mixes, decors & glazes. We partner with leading donut and waffle companies in the country. Pristine cake mixes are one of the most preferred cake mixes for bakers across the country. We also meet the requirements of several thousand artisan bakers through our Alfa and Pristine range of Bakery Fats, bakery Ingredients, etc. Extensive cooking demos, restaurant tie-ups and wet sampling drives outreach in the B2B segment. Sunny, Priya, Radhuni, London Dairy, Allegro and Beyond Meat are our B2C brands. Sunny and Priya range of edible oils are prominent Oil brands in Maharashtra, with a play in Premium and Popular categories. Sunny International Cooking Oil has Sonali Bendre as its brand ambassador. It has been an association that has lasted over 5 years. The brand is promoted with extensive Media support encompassing TV, Digital, Consumer Offers and On-ground activations. Sunny was a pioneer championing immunity way before it had become mainstream. With London Dairy & Allegro, the brand reaches out to gourmet customers primarily in the Metro cities. Digital is a key medium for both the brands. With Beyond Meat, the company has made a foray into the Vegan category and reaches out to Vegans who want the best in the world at their doorsteps. On-ground events help in building the stature of brands like Beyond Meat, London Dairy & Allegro and help us in delivering a quality brand experience which helps consumers in making informed choices. How do you understand your consumers and their preferences? Consumer centricity is a way of life at Allana Consumer Products and is the basis of all decision making in the organisation. We are constantly looking out for emerging trends in B2C space and invest in market research. In the B2B space, we identify need gaps of our customers that we can service well. Our wide network of sales team, on-ground promoters and distributors are eyes and ears of the company providing us with regular feedback on whats in and ticking. Our marketing team is also scanning the markets for opportunities in which we can play sustainably. Allana Consumer Products has a well-equipped R&D, which is always on the look-out for cutting edge products in both domestic and international markets to develop products that will be differentiated and add value. How are you overcoming the challenges of the pandemic situation? What changes did you observe in consumer behaviour? We viewed the pandemic as an opportunity to strengthen our business. Besides meeting Maharashtras demand for the essential category in edible oils, we also promoted Pristine cake mixes to thousands of home bakers who took to baking. As consumers expanded their culinary skills, we also saw a significant growth for Allegro Olive Oil and London Dairy. We have extensively worked on strengthening our E-Commerce presence which has grown significantly in the last two years. E-Commerce is now the fastest growing vertical in the company. Some of the behaviour and consumption changes that we witnessed during the pandemic are as below: Increasing health consciousness Immunity as a brand promise gained more relevance since the inception of pandemic and has been picked up by a lot of cross-category brands in recent past. Our premium edible oil brand Sunny is promoted on grounds of immunity. Adoption of healthier cooking oil With the focus on health being more than ever, there is an increase in demand for specialised healthy oils and blends for culinary purpose. More number of people cooking at home With uncertainty regarding surface transmission, a lot of consumers who were eating out or ordering-in stopped doing so in the initial months. Home Baking Home baking came of age in India during the pandemic. People in the baking category are also on the lookout for healthy products (Sugar free, Gluten Free etc.) and the pandemic has fastened the adoption. E-Commerce as a business contributing channel has grown exponentially since the inception of the pandemic. Whenever there was a lockdown, E-commerce sales spiked up. Even when the restrictions were lifted, the base of E-Commerce has certainly grown on a Y-O-Y level. What are your views on the FMCG sectors growth? Which factors are driving growth? What are the forthcoming trends in the FMCG sector in 2022? The last couple of years have taught businesses to adapt to uncertainty and ambiguity. The experience has increased our resolve to succeed despite challenging scenarios by staying nimble footed, determined, and responding to challenges with a positive attitude. The modern day consumer is more inquisitive about origins and environmental impact of the product. They are more conscious to claims made on authenticity and health and would want reasons to believe. These omni-channel consumers are comparing features and evaluating products from multiple platformsstarting from in-stores to official online websites to multiple e-commerce platforms. Moreover, digitisation, improvisation, and innovation in home delivery system is ever evolving and will continue to undergo further changes. The e-commerce portals that deliver to their customers instantly are growing further and brands are willing to tie-up with them for the last mile connectivity. Even within those portals, there is a stiff competition as to who will deliver faster to the consumer. As consumers are becoming digitally savvy; we as marketers must become digital-first in our approach. At Allana Consumer Products, there is a greater adoption of the E-Commerce channel in last 2 years and a trend that is slated to continue. Sustainability is another area that merits our attention. In todays era, brands that take care of the environment, have clearly articulated sustainable policies and clean labels, rank higher in the view of consumers. Irrespective of all the changes, Allana Consumer Products believes in seeking a consumer-first approach. We closely follow changing consumer usage and attitudes and accelerate innovation across the value chain to flourish in the longer run. We are looking to the future with optimism and are confident that the FMCG industry will continue its growth trajectory well into 2022. Fujifilm India, a pioneer in imaging technologies, has strengthened its pledge to contribute to societys betterment and overall development, by partnering with Parwarish Cares Foundation. Under Fujifilms 'Aao Padhai Karein' campaign, the company will provide 1000 'YeloGreen Bags', a student organiser for education, to underprivileged children allowing them to sit and learn comfortably at school and at home. Many students in India, especially ones from an unprivileged background, are not privy to the basic prerequisites or infrastructure in order to study. Keeping this in mind, under this campaign, Fujifilm India will be distributing the 'YeloGreen Bags' a holistic organiser for students which converts into a foldable desk for students. In addition to this, Fujifilm will also be conducting training programmes for children in order to protect themselves against sexual abuse. This is a long-term mass-scale effort with the goal of making India free of child sexual abuse by 2030. The Aao Padhai Karein Campaign will run from March to May, 2022, and benefit students from the Government Senior Secondary School, Sec-45, Kanhai Gurugram and Country Grammar School. Fujifilm India will provide 1000 bags to the schools, starting with Government Senior Secondary School, Sec-45, Kanhai Gurugram on 31 March along with Parwarish Cares Foundation. As part of the training program, Fujifilm India will also be supported by the foundation to train 1000 students: 500 students each from Govt. Model Sanskriti School and Country Grammar School. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Koji Wada, Managing Director, Fujifilm India said, We are aiming to bring positive change in a students life through 'Aao Padhai Karein' in partnership with Parwarish Cares Foundation. Through our philosophy of creating a better world for tomorrow, we think that the campaign has the potential to develop into a full-fledged movement that will serve to help students in their school and home environments and encourage studies. We understand that students face certain challenges when it comes to studying, and along with a lack of infrastructure, which can impede their educational progress. To address this, we have provided YeloGreen bags that transform into a floor workstation, encouraging children to improve their posture instead of hunching over their books. Commenting on the campaign, Mr. Tribhuwan Joshi, Brand Communication, Public Relations & CSR, Fujifilm India said, Children are the future of tomorrow and we have to make sure that they have an enriching and prosperous learning experience. Through our campaign, we aim to provide the best of learning experience and accessories to them. When the students are happy and have all the resources to foster their learning, we can be sure of bright future of the country. We are grateful to Parwarish Cares Foundation for their collaboration and support for making India a better for our future generation. Fujifilm has made a positive contribution to society through its commercial operations and proactive engagement with local communities as a corporate citizen, resulting in long-term development. The Fujifilm Group has developed its Sustainable Value Plan 2030 (SVP2030) as a CSR plan, and it is expected to set the groundwork for the Group's long-term business management initiatives. In order to develop into a firm that can make a bigger contribution to creating a sustainable society, the Fujifilm Group will implement more steps to resolve social concerns through commercial activities, including the deployment of innovative technologies, products, and services. Marking the 75th year of independence while celebrating the courage & sacrifice of the armed forces, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India flagged off Hness CB350 Ride for Pride in 11 major cities across India in association with 92.7 Big FM radio station. Over 200 riders participated in this special ride across 11 cities (New Delhi, Jammu, Lucknow, Bareilly, Kolkata, Ranchi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune). Gracing the occasion were distinguished members of the armed forces astride their Hness CB350, further elevating everyones spirits with their life story & anecdotes. Noteworthy, the ride culminated with a felicitation ceremony to honor the special invitees including war-veterans and martyrs families. Sharing his excitement during the ride, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., said, The Hness CB350 Ride for Pride celebrates the courage & sacrifice of the armed forces and salutes the families of these brave hearts. Their unbridled devotion for national defense is a symbolic roar for millions of Indians to feel inspired and lead a life of courage & integrity. It is a matter of pride for us as we celebrate Hness CB350 first anniversary milestone with members from the armed forces joining us in this ride. Revving up the excitement, Ride for Pride is a token of respect & honor from team Honda 2Wheelers India to the Armed forces. Spreading the Joy with Honda Hness CB350 With a powerful engine and unmatched performance, Hness CB350 delivers on its promise albeit with an unmistakable roar. The commanding riding stance & stability automatically instils confidence in the rider. Remarkably, customer response remains a testimony of the trust & love earned by Hness CB350 in such a short span of time. Further amplifying the pride for its riders, Hness CB350 anniversary edition was launched as the motorcycle completed successful first year of its launch. The golden themed emblems incorporated on the tank & side panel, brown colored dual seat and chrome side-stand accentuate the motorcycles golden heritage. The special edition is available in two color options of Pearl Igneous Black and Matt Marshal Green Metallic. Introduced at special prices for armed forces personnel, Hness CB350 & CB350RS are also available at 35 CSD depots across the country. With the Oscar fever still on, this week, just sit back, relax, and indulge in the world of Oscars as ShortsTV brings the Oscar winning and nominated short Films from around the world. Indulge in the world of Cinema and experience some of the best handpicked short films just one click away. Please find below the list of short films available. SIX SHOOTER Director: Martin McDonagh Synopsis: This Oscar Winner is a black and bloody Irish comedy about a sad train journey where an older man, whose wife has died that morning, encounters a strange and possibly psychotic young oddball. TRT: 27 minutes Language: English VISAS AND VIRTUE Director: Chris Tashima Synopsis: This Oscar Winner is the story of Europe, 1940. For thousands of Jews, a Japanese diplomat and his wife defy Tokyo and the Nazis, and offer visas, for life It is called the Japanese equivalent of Schindlers list. TRT: 26 minutes Language: English, Japanese HARVIE KRUMPET Director: Adam Elliot Synopsis: This Oscar Winner is an odd biography of a man who has Tourette's Syndrome, chronic bad luck, menial jobs, nudist tendencies, and a book of "fakts" hung around his neck. TRT: 23 minutes Language: English THE SILENT CHILD Director: Chris Overton Synopsis: This Oscar Winner is the story of a deaf 6-year-old girl named Libby lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker teaches her to use sign language to communicate. TRT: 20 minutes Language: English, British Sign Language THE VOORMAN PROBLEM Director: Mark Gill Synopsis: This Oscar Nominee is the story of Doctor Williams who is the latest psychiatrist to deal with a smug patient called Voormanwho claims to be God himself. Although skeptical, Williams soon gets an eerie feeling that openly malicious Voormanis not simply insane. TRT: 13 minutes Language: English SILENT NIGHTS Director: Aske Bang Synopsis: This Oscar Nominee is the story of a volunteer at a housing shelter falls for a Ghanaian refugee. TRT: 30 minutes Language: English, Danish DEKALB ELEMENTARY Director: Reed Van Dyk Synopsis: This Oscar Nominee is the story inspired by an actual 911 call placed during a school shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia. TRT: 21 minutes Language: English THE KICKSLED CHOIR Director: Torfinn Iversen Synopsis: This Oscar Shortlist is the story of Ten-year-old Gabriel dreams of joining the KicksledChoir, a local caroling group known for raising donations for the refugees in his community. TRT: 18 minutes Language: Norwegian HENRY Director: Yan England Synopsis: This Oscar Nominee is about Henry, a great concert pianist, has his life thrown in turmoil the day the love of this life, Maria, disappears mysteriously. He'll then discover the inevitable verdict of life. TRT: 21 minutes Language: French SARIA Director: Bryan Buckley Synopsis: This Oscar Nominee explores the unimaginable hardships faced by young female orphans at the Virgen de La Asuncion Safe Home in Guatemala, leading up to the tragic fire which claimed 41 of their lives in 2017. TRT: 22 minutes Language: Spanish REFUGEE Director: Brandt Andersen Synopsis: This Oscar Shortlist is about a Syrian doctor, who attempts to escape her war-ravaged homeland with her young daughter. TRT: 23 minutes Language: English WHITE EYE Director: Tomer Shushan Synopsis: This Oscar Nominee is about a man who finds his stolen bicycle, which now belongs to a stranger. While attempting to retrieve it, he struggles to remain human. TRT: 20 minutes Language: Hebrew You can watch these festivals on Tata Play ShortsTV, Airtel ShortsTV and ShortsTV Active. For updates on the festivals, keep up with ShortsTV social channels by following us on Instagram and Facebook Onsurity, Indias first tech-led monthly subscription-based employee health benefits platform has further strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Sarvendu Singh as Head of Technology. He will lead the technology team to make Onsurity, a world-class trusted platform in the B2B segment. Singh will drive the organization's technological vision to support its growth journey in the coming years. As the head of Technology, he will be working closely with business, product, and operations to align technology with the organizations objective. He will build upon the existing technology foundation, strengthening it further through the right processes, tools, and structures. Mr. Sarvendu Singh shares about his role, "The pandemic has made us realise the importance of accessibility to affordable and comprehensive healthcare. I echo the vision of Onsurity to democratize healthcare in India and truly believe that by leveraging technology this can be accomplished. I am excited to head the technology team at Onsurity to make it a world-class and a trusted platform for millions of employees in the MSMEs, start-ups, and growing businesses." Kulin Shah, Co-founder, Onsurity, comments on his appointment, We are happy to have Sarvendu join us and steer Onsurity in its journey towards building a robust digital infrastructure which will be imperative for Onsuritys growth. I am confident that with Sarvendu leading the technology team, we will capitalise on the transformative power of Big Data and AI to elevate our customer experience to build our health and wellness proposition seamless. Singh comes with close to 15 years of experience in product-based technology companies across industries such as fintech, social network , e-commerce, real estate, and consumer tech. Prior to Onsurity, Sarvendu was a founding member at Paytm Money, where he was responsible for building and scaling various fintech products like Mutual Funds, NPS, Digital Gold, and EdTech platform for Wealth. By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman Five weeks out from the Kentucky Derby (G1), the prep race action is heating up in a big way. A trio of pivotal qualifiers worth 100-40-20-10 to the top four finishers will take place on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, Gulfstream Park, and Turfway Park. Let's explore the entries and plan our picks: Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park Just how talented is the filly #6 Secret Oath (5-2), who looms as the morning line favorite to win the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby? There's no way to know yet, because no one has come close to beating her in three starts at Oaklawn this winter. I loved Secret Oath's performance in the Feb. 26 Honeybee S. (G3). After settling off the pace in fifth place, Secret Oath advanced up the inside and found herself boxed in behind the leaders. She had to wait in traffic and even steady while trying to find a way through, but once an opening appeared along the inside, Secret Oath shot through and powered away to win by 7 1/2 lengths. Secret Oath's performance was visually impressive, but it was also fast on the clock. She completed the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:44.74, nearly a second faster than #5 Un Ojo (6-1) required to win the Rebel S. (G2) later in the afternoon. And the fact Secret Oath had to wait before unleashing her winning bid suggests she might have run even faster with an unencumbered journey. I'm excited to see what Secret Oath can accomplish in the Arkansas Derby. Brisnet Speed ratings rank Secret Oath as the fastest horse in the field, so don't be surprised if she rallies to victory. Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park There are many viable contenders to choose from in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, and narrowing them down is difficult. #3 Simplification (3-1) was as impressive as could be in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream last month, launching a sweeping outside rally to win by 3 1/2 lengths. But #7 White Abarrio (3-1) defeated Simplification by 4 1/2 lengths in the Holy Bull S. (G3) two months ago, albeit on a day when Simplification endured a troubled trip. And what about recent Tampa Bay Derby (G2) hero #2 Classic Causeway (7-2), who finished 2 3/4 lengths clear of White Abarrio when second in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill Downs last fall? You could choose any of the proven graded stakes winners and feel confident in your chances. But I'm going to take an admittedly risky shot outside the box and favor #6 Charge It (7-2) instead. I loved Charge It's maiden victory racing one mile at Gulfstream on Feb. 12. The son of Tapit was quick into stride from the outside post, clearing the field through fractions of :24.24, :47.47, and 1:11.45. Considering the run-up distance for one-mile races at Gulfstream is very short, the pace was arguably a bit quicker than it appears at first glance. In any case, Charge It was full of run down the homestretch. Under a hand ride from jockey Luis Saez, Charge It cranked out the penultimate furlong in :11.80 and the final furlong in :12.30 to win by 8 1/2 lengths, completing the race in a snappy 1:35.55. From a pedigree perspective, Charge It is bred to be a star. His dam is I'll Take Charge, a daughter of three-time Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady and a half-sister to such notable names as Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy, champion three-year-old male Will Take Charge, Beholder Mile S. (G1) winner As Time Goes By, and Charming. The latter just happens to be the dam of champion two-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi and three-time Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach. Suffice to say, Charge It is bred to excel racing around two turns, so he's eligible to run even better while stretching out over 1 1/8 miles in the Florida Derby. The fact trainer Todd Pletcher has won five of the last eight editions of the Florida Derby adds to the appeal. Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park I can't argue with anyone who wants to support #7 Tiz the Bomb (2-1) in this 1 1/8-mile Tapeta test. What's not to like? Tiz the Bomb enjoyed a strong juvenile campaign, winning two stakes before placing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), and he showed an affinity for Turfway when battling to a neck triumph in the John Battaglia Memorial S. one month ago. The only problem is, the Jeff Ruby has drawn a large and competitive field, and Tiz the Bomb's 2-1 morning line odds aren't especially enticing. He's surely the horse to beat, but I see appeal in playing one of the many other talented runners offering superior prices. Ultimately, I'm keen to support #5 Tawny Port (5-1). Conditioned by two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, Tawny Port opened his career with a pair of stretch-running victories at Turfway. After smashing a one-mile maiden special weight by 6 1/2 lengths, Tawny Port nabbed a $50,000 allowance optional claimer over the same distance by a neck. Tawny Port tried to translate his Tapeta success to dirt in the Feb. 19 Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds, and he didn't run badly by any means, passing a few horses late to finish fifth. The only runners to beat Tawny Port were next-out Louisiana Derby (G2) 1-3 finishers Epicenter and Pioneer of Medina, Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) winner Smile Happy, and Remsen S. (G2) runner-up Zandon. The caliber of competition is arguably easier in the Jeff Ruby, and returning to Turfway should trigger a strong showing from Tawny Port. At 6-1, I'm willing to bet he can outkick Tiz the Bomb down the homestretch. Now it's your turn! Who do you like in this week's Kentucky Derby prep races? ***** Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contests pagethere's a new challenge every week! (Please note: older contest entries can be found here.) J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. The United States does not have a real president right now. There is an individual named Joe Biden who shows up occasionally and sits in the Oval Office, but in no way can he be considered to be President in the traditional understanding of that term. Biden is an ersatz president. An American president is essentially the CEO of the federal government. He or she sets the overall strategy and direction of the country, outlines and articulates its major objectives and manages the subordinate elements that create the actual policy in order to achieve the big-picture goals laid out by the president. Like any CEO, that person likely doesnt personally have the specific technical knowledge and expertise on a micro level in a given subject area that his/her subordinates have (nor should a CEO or president get bogged down in that kind of attention-diverting minutia), but the CEO must have an overriding vision of their companys intended direction and be able to see how the various component parts work together in the proper proportion and timing needed to achieve the stated goals. That holds true as well for the President of the United States. Donald J. Trump was the prototypically ideal president in terms of setting clear achievement objectives for the country (securing the southern border, becoming energy independent, rebuilding our military, renegotiating advantageous international trade agreements, stopping China from taking unfair advantage of America in trade matters, getting NATO to pay more of its share of its defense needs, etc.) and putting in place the laser-focused personnel required to execute the plan. This was classic large-scale business-style vision and management at its best. Putting aside the unfounded, irrational personal animosity that his political opponents felt for him for having defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 and for being direct, rough-edged and unapologetic in his dealings with the liberal media, recalcitrant foreign adversaries and feckless erstwhile allies, President Trumps clear-eyed ambitions for the country led to a very targeted effort with unrelenting emphasis on the ultimate goal. Many presidents, coming from a life-long appearance-oriented, You-scratch-my-back-and-Ill-scratch-yours political background, are only too happy to compromise their objectives for the sake of popular acceptance and media adulation. For them, the final results as they redound to the countrys benefit are not their true goal. For the conventional politically minded president, an agreeable process is actually the end goal: activity that looks and sounds good, even if its bereft of real, meaningful substance. Results vs. Process. Trump was a Results president. Biden is a Process president. Biden and the Democrats embark on a flurry of meaningless activity that plays well to the media and to their supporters, but which amounts to nothing of positive significance. To the extent that Bidens empty activity subtracts from or negates President Trumps actual beneficial results, what Biden and the Democrats are doing is incredibly harmful to this country and detrimental to a smooth-running world order. Unlike President Trumps clearly-stated, very specific intentions of how to improve the quality of daily life in America, Biden and the Democrats seem intent only on currying favor with special-interest groups and their accomplices, the adoring liberal media. Consider the major initiatives undertaken or proposed by the current Democrat regime: The dissolution of our border integrity, with intentional unrestricted illegal immigration. Ending American energy independence, curtailing fossil fuel exploration and production -- astonishingly, before a viable replacement exists! -- and imposing crippling restrictions on future fossil fuel energy industry activity. Supporting destructive BLM activities and riots, favoring defunding the police, eliminating cash bail and decriminalizing what liberals laughably refer to as low-level crimes like shoplifting, robbery and breaking & entering. Endorsing positions clearly opposed by the majority of the country, such as men competing in womens sports, the U.S. military paying for gender-change surgery, males being able to declare that they identify as women and enter female bathrooms and locker rooms, elementary-age children being taught and exposed to alternative LGBTQ lifestyles far before children have any natural understanding or interest in such matters, and so on. This is the fringe woke speaking to the fringe woke. Its not a government putting forth policies approved by the majority that benefit the majority. Denuding our military of its equipment, mission and spirit by attempting to transform it into a mechanism for social change instead of a sharply honed, singularly aimed instrument of national security. Its bad enough that the Biden Democrats are reducing the funding and equipping of our military. Its even worse when Bidens Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says his biggest concern is understanding white rage. The only thing Mark Miley should be concerned with is defeating our enemies on the battlefield. Nothing else. This is the difference between a president concerned with bottom-line beneficial results and one whos concerned with laughably shallow meaningless activity that amounts to nothing, other than buying the favor and future votes of niche special interest groups. President Trumps results-oriented approach gave us: Energy independence with $2.25 per gallon gasoline vs. begging Iran for oil and $4.37 gasoline. Secure, orderly, humane borders vs. human trafficking, drug infestation and illegals overwhelming our schools and healthcare system. Treating 8-year-olds like 8-year-olds with worthwhile educational methods that emphasized a solid understanding of scholastic fundamentals along with a proportional appreciation for tolerance and compassionate societal norms. A battle-ready military standing proud and poised to defeat any threat to American national interests. The Biden Democrats have saddled us with the opposite. As a direct result of having an ersatz president without any semblance of worthwhile goals or inspired vision, daily life in America is now close to an unmitigated disaster. Absent Americas clear leadership on the world stage, uncertainty and potential catastrophe loom everywhere, around every corner because foreign adversaries are emboldened by our weakness. We are living through the debacle of not having a real president, someone with a clear plan to better the country. Results are all that matter. Are you safe? Are you prosperous? Are you healthy? Are your children being educated? A real president understands all that and works to bring it about. A real president is immune to the distractions of appearances and media approval. We dont have a real president now. Photo credit: YouTube screengrab Vermonts social justice legislators have launched a transparent and illegal assault against free speech liberties. Vermonts Senate has amended the states assault statute mightily. S.265 seeks to heighten penalties for threatening with the intent to terrify, intimidate, or unlawfully influence the conduct of a candidate for public office, public servant, election official, or public employee in any decision, opinion, recommendation, vote, or other exercise of discretion taken in capacity as a candidate for public office, public servant, election official, or public employee, or with the intent to retaliate against a candidate for public office, public servant, election official, or public employee for any previous action taken in capacity as a candidate for public office, public servant, election official, or public employee, shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both. In other words, Vermont seeks to send citizens to jail for threatening political leaders for twice as long as if they physically assaulted them! Political speech is the very highest and most protected form of free speech in American jurisprudence: Vermont now has more upside down than right side up laws, and the whole bizarre circus is unraveling. A Shakespearian character famously proclaimed The first thing we do, lets kill all the lawyers. Now, under Vermonts new law, that statement could land someone in jail, especially if one of the faux lawyers in the legislature says they feel threatened the revised statute will criminalize threats against groups of people, possibly even when they arent present. These legislators do not seek to shield public servants from unprotected threatening speech, but to intimidate the public for engaging in protected speech that criticizes social justice. This specifically targets a political intent. The obviously unconstitutional S.265 makes little effort to hide the fact that its purpose is to intimidate voters against criticizing representatives even when the latter are overtly violating basic tenets of law. Legislators in Vermont have called to ban unvaccinated people from entering public buildings, suborned voter fraud, pushed for transgender therapies for children with no age limit or parental consent, distributed funds and privileges solely according to skin color, and are currently crafting numerous other patently unconstitutional laws. Meanwhile, a Republican state senator who challenged a teacher on behalf of constituents for pressuring young students to employ gender pronouns was attacked by the Vermont Left for allegedly doxxing the teacher for making his already-public email public. S.265 also eliminates a statutory speech protection making it an affirmative defense if it is impossible for the defendant to carry out the crime. Thus, if a person threatens nuclear war against filthy lawyers, they could be charged even when they own no nukes. The statute seeks to ban specific content, and it is also strikingly vague it seeks to protect all public servants and employees, including teachers, from threats: A person who violates subsection (a) of this section by making a threat that places any person in reasonable apprehension that death or serious bodily injury will occur at a public or private school; postsecondary education institution; place of worship; polling place during election activities; the Vermont State House; or any federal, State, or municipal building shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both. What of off-duty teachers or employees are they always held to a higher protection status than the parents of their students? Is there an affirmative defense or mitigating factor if the public employee actually violated the law in the performance of their duties? This idiotic statute is designed to silence dissenting opinion by parents and constitutionalists, and is thus the most base form of unsconstitutional law. It is content-based, and creates two classes of Vermont citizens. This is a big issue in Vermont, which has nearly twice as many public employees per capita than neighboring New Hampshire. This statute says any citizen who threatens state elites for violating their oath of office can be imprisoned for twice as long as if one of those public servants (rulers?) threatened a parent or citizen. H.265 would penalize the political protester more severely than a public official who threatened to coerce money: give me $100 or I will beat your face to a pulp would carry only half the jail sentence as You groom my kindergartner for sex any more and Im going to smack you! This is content-based government restriction, and it is unconstitutional. The clueless drafters of this bill rushed to illegally silence Vermonters so quickly they left common sense at the door: there is no heightened penalty in Vermont for actually assaulting this list of government-protected political elites 13 VSA 1023 provides only one year in jail for purposely causing bodily injury to another. It protects certain categories of public workers engaged in official duties, but the traitorous teachers and legislators undermining the constitution with their eugenics-like racism are not currently granted heightened protection from assault. There are several dastardly miscreants in Vermonts legislative midst, abusing their legal training to lie about the law. These are what I call bad wizards they cast legal spells that they know full well wont work or are in fact illegal. I aspire with my law degree to be a good wizard, arming the public with the law so that they may defend themselves. As a good wizard, I must observe that for Vermont parents upset over the criminal indoctrination of their children by trusted government actors who are preying on them for ideological power, it would be legally preferable under the new law to physically beat them senseless as an expression of that view rather than to verbally threaten to do so. Under S.265, threatening to punch a teacher for betraying your child will soon carry twice the jail sentence and fine as actually pummeling them: political speech is being criminalized even more forcefully than actual assaults, in the New Age Vermont. It is better to speak with your fists than your tongue. The thugs in the Vermont legislature will soon realize the ludicrous error they are displaying, and will doubtless rush to inflict greater jail time on the parental underclass for assaulting their elitist rulers. That Shekespeare line about killing all the lawyers that was a reference to what tyrants do, so that those who uphold the laws cannot oppose totalitarianism. Tyrants dont want any good wizards around to restrain them with the Rule of Law. What the bad wizards and ignorant zealots in Vermont seem to have forgotten is that after they have dismantled the Rule of Law, only anarchy and the guillotine remain. Gee, I hope I dont get arrested for stating that truth.. Did I threaten a group of people? Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Leftist malevolence has set upon America, seeking to destroy our country from within. It must be acknowledged for what it is and then vociferously resisted in the same way our Founders did when confronted by the abuses of King George III and Parliament. They understood clearly that the primacy of the law exemplified by the English Bill of Rights of 1689 and the Habeus Corpus Act of 1679 cannot and should not be relativized by excluding English citizens who were American colonists. Without the law, there is no liberty. Without liberty, there is no country. Today, we find ourselves in a position similar to that of the 18th century colonials who founded our identity and government. Either we uphold the rule of law, the liberty founded upon that law, and the morality that is foundational to the expression of natural rights, or we shall be ruled by the whims of the progressive elite and thereby doomed. Progressives continue to menace our country on many levels, and the GOP must do more to convince the electorate that it is the sober alternative. Even the term progressive can be misleading since we experienced the progressive movement at the turn of the 19th century which included both Democrats and Republicans. Furthermore, those progressives were clearly demarcated from the Socialists of the time, led by Eugene V. Debs, who advocated collective ownership of the means of production of a range of major industries. But, in the aftermath of WWII, Henry Wallace, a former Secretary of Commerce under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, appropriated the term progressive; Wallace held extreme sympathies for the communist government of Josef Stalin. While the New Deal considerably expanded the role of the federal government compared to what it was prior, it still did not break in principle with traditional values based in law on: the separation of powers, federalism, the validity of the Bill of Rights, and the limitations on federal law-making found in Article I, Sections 8, 9, and 10, and the Tenth Amendment. Under FDR, it was still in vogue to be patriotic, to believe that the traditional family was the keystone of society, that deficit spending was justified but had to be handled with care, that local governments should be respected, and that God was not a dirty word. By 2012 though, modern progressives booed God at the Democratic National Convention, and now, we have so-called protected classes of people who attack the protected rights of all classes of citizens under our First Amendment. Before the 1960s there was an invisible line delineating public expressions that were clean or moral from those that were lewd, lascivious, and a threat to the well-being of both adults and minors. Abortion was not a certified right. There was no homosexual marriage. Eminent domain was limited to taking property for public use projects, not for confiscatory taxation as permitted later in the case of Kelo v. City of New London, and prayer and Bible reading were still allowed in public schools. In 1960, only 15 years after the death of FDR, the percent of babies born out of wedlock nationally was 5%, whereas since 2014, the percentage is about 40%, and as high as 77% in the African-American community. The size of the police force in New York City in 1954 was about 20,000, but today it is 36,000, yet crime is still skyrocketing. Today, the term progressive has mutated even further to define a mindset that is atheistic, sexually immoral, totally relativized without objective morality or even a willingness to distinguish between women and men except for certain limited purposes, indifferent to or outright opposed to federalism, soft on crime, and unwilling to promote basic learning skills as a top priority in our schools instead, using teachers as facilitators to invade the privacy of students with hundreds of personal questions as part of their computerized social and emotional learning programs (SEL). Even the so-called conservative Republican Senator John Cornyn joined with the progressive Chris Coons to sponsor legislation that would promote social activism in the schools. Students would study civics, but not from the point of view of learning how government works, but rather from a community organizers who can impact government perspective. The course should be called Obamocracy 101. In pursuit of their goals, the so-called progressives have destabilized our national currency by printing so much money that the depreciated dollar led to the Chinese trying to get the Saudis to accept the yuan for payment instead of purchasing in dollars. District attorneys funded by Soros organizations, are softening the rules of prosecution in our major urban centers to such a degree that we see an unbelievable rise in all categories of crime. Progressives have relativized the rule of law by betraying the rule that the punishment must fit the crime. Thats why Lady Justice is blindfolded. She is not looking for excuses to intensify the punishment nor is she looking for excuses to diminish the punishment. Rather, justice must be objective and based on natural law as the founders wished, although obviously discrepancies will arise which the system must correct. According to the darkened minds of cancel culture, especially according to critical race theory revolutionaries like Derrick Bell and Robin DiAngelo, race is a pretext for grievance. They vociferously impute systemic inequalities as the reasons for why people repeatedly fail. They claim such people are disaffected victims of society rather than from their own lack of individual initiative and responsibility. Agenda-driven teachers in turn have seized upon this and despotically indoctrinated their students to hate their country as irredeemably racist and repressive. They activate them to "join the revolution" and vituperatively involve them in rash, destructive and injurious protest activity. Progressives hate America with such vitriolic and reckless abandon that they ostensibly hold the moral stature of illegal aliens and even terrorists in higher regard than their honest law-abiding countrymen. After the foreign policy catastrophe at the hands of progressives, the U.S. took in a massive amount of displaced Afghans, many of whom lacked identifying paperwork, ramping up the risk of terrorism. Refugees with no official sanction for admission to these United States and often no legitimate identification are flown in the dark of night to various localities. Lawless and disputable health mandates are directed against large segments of the population. The deterioration of rights and the explosion of tyranny and immorality from the so-called progressive Left must end. A certain congressional airhead (AOC) recently whispered Most people dont really know what capitalism is; most people dont even know what socialism is and we are compelled to agree -- most people dont know what these things are. But then, a Supreme Court nominee isnt expected to know what a woman is, so perhaps this isnt so incriminating an indictment of the publics general level of political awareness. Still, we are inclined to take the vapid whisperers implied advice and seek a lesson in what capitalism is. A harsh critic can sometimes render a more honest appraisal than can a solicitous friend, so we begin by consulting the writings of one of the most highly committed and energetic socialists of the twentieth century for some insight into what capitalism is. Though this lesson was given nearly 100 years ago (and shows something of its age) it has an oddly contemporary ring to it, especially when placed alongside the tweeted musings of the thought leaders of the Democratic Party. Addressing his contemporaries, our chosen source proclaimed: Capitalism is not a thing, but rather a disposition toward things. Our social needs dont stem from mines, factories, buildings, lands, railways, money and stock portfolios, but rather from the misuse of these goods. Capitalism, then, is nothing other than the misuse of social capital, and such misuse is by no means limited to the economic sphere, but applies more generally to all areas of social life. The capitalist principle is the deliberate misuse of social capital, and the individual who practices this misuse is a capitalist. If I misuse economic goods to torment and tantalize my people, then I am not worthy of possessing them. Were I to act in such a fashion, I would effectively have turned the intent of life into its opposite, and I would be an economic capitalist. Were I to misuse cultural goods... then I would be a poor steward of the cultural goods entrusted to me, and hence a cultural capitalist. Capitalism can assume a wide variety of forms, and it appears wherever personal goals are pursued in opposition to the peoples interests... It is the opposite with socialism. The socialist world view begins with the people and proceeds to things, and things are subordinated to people, rather than vice versa. Socialism puts the people before all, and things are a means to that end. Such bracing moral clarity! How could any young American socialist fail to take inspiration from such nobly proclaimed humanitarian sentiments? Indeed, how could one resist being moved by our chosen sources sincere compassion for the neglected and the deprived, his righteous indignation at the criminal practitioners of capitalism? Surely (one is tempted to assume) if only such a man were granted the authority to assign to all his constituents that which each truly deserves, injustice would cease to govern public affairs and the good of the people would no longer be sacrificed to the narrow interests of a selfish few. And, of course, that is precisely the plan -- every socialist envisions a command economy (and dreams of dominating it). Our chosen source of this lesson, Joseph Goebbels, rose to power at the side of Hitler using rhetoric like this. The lesson we have chosen to relay appears in an article Goebbels contributed to his newspaper Der Angriff entitled "Kapitalismus" (published July 15, 1929.) It is with sentiments such as these that the National Socialists justified their quest for power, and once in power, they would go on to determine who was worthy of what, with consequences that are too well known to require recounting here. Perhaps, then, we should return to the question: What is capitalism? One could say it is a network of economic interactions among independent actors each of whom seeks to better his or her economic standing by more effectively meeting the dynamically evolving needs of an ever changing market than do their similarly motivated rivals. One could speak of the capitalist as one who recognizes opportunities and then innovates and improvises in response to these so as to create value that customers recognize, and will voluntarily pay for. Individual initiative - not government dictates -- determines what succeeds or fails in a capitalist economy. Risk is encouraged; many ventures fail, though some are conspicuously successful. But what is capitalism in the eyes of a socialist? At its most vulgar, capitalism is a slur used to freeze political opponents; it is convenient defamatory shorthand for enemy (see Goebbels above.) But it must be ackowledged; the socialist does indeed have legitimate reasons for detesting capitalism: capitalism (at least in its pure libertarian form) is a barrier to the exercise of political authority. Free economic actors neednt seek a tyrants blessing to act. And what is socialism? Socialism is authoritarianism -- the socialist, at bottom, is a petty tyrant possessed of an exalted sense of political entitlement grounded in a claim to moral superiority. The preening little socialist fantasizes about exerting absolute control over all aspects of social life, and expects to be congratulated for this. Socialism is the sentimental veneer of political brutality. To their deep discredit, the Democrats routinely and increasingly echo and advance the political sentiments of the worst political criminals of the 20th century. Looking over the last few years, we have observed Democrats habitually ginning up racism, slandering police, inciting (and then justifying) riots, promoting and practicing both censorship and viewpoint coercion, proclaiming the supposed virtues of socialism, viciously smearing their critics, and generally wallowing in the political gutter. The Democrats have venom on their lips and blood on their hands. Which brings us to reflect upon a recent episode: during a press conference in Europe, President Biden rushed at the chance to denounce former President Trump (and by implication all those who had voted for him) as Nazis. Bidens repeated recourse to the fine people hoax seems almost pathologically reflexive -- he simply refuses to drop the debunked smear. As if on cue, he resorted to his stale, rehearsed little pantomime where he pretends to have been moved to seek the office he now holds in response to the unbearable spectacle of Charlottesville. In this periodically trotted out stock cheap shot -- always delivered with the same insufferable scripted sanctimony and clumsily feigned personal anguish -- Joseph Robinette Biden effectively proclaims that the nation he now leads is so chock full of racists that he just had to come out of retirement to block them from taking over. In this sick little self-congratulation fantasy, this rasping husk of what was once a time-serving dimwitted kleptocrat defames an entire nation in order to portray himself as its reluctant savior. What a revolting spectacle it is to see this isolated, historically inconsequential incident repeatedly dredged up as a national indictment -- and now on foreign soil, no less! -- and all so that the American people can be casually slandered for the benefit of a fading geriatric demagogue. Isnt it well past high time he stop milking the dead cow of Charlottesville? Any society is apt to be confronted with numerous problems and challenges, and ours is no exception. But some problems are bigger than others, so priorities must be set. Our problem is not that we dont know what capitalism is, or what socialism is, or, for that matter, what a woman is; our problem is: we dont know what a demagogue is. But given the cheap, overheated, divisive, contemptuous rhetoric being sprayed out of the mouths of leading Democrats with all the self-restraint of a skunk afflicted with severe chronic incontinence, perhaps even the least attentive of us is beginning to learn. With November approaching, let us propose: a party dominated by political hacks that habitually disgrace themselves by stooping to this level richly deserves to be demolished at the polls. Image: Free SVG The big "slap" witnessed worldwide was not actor Will Smith's slap on comedian Chris Rock. That was mere "theatre" compared to the slap in the face all Americans experience with current U.S. policies. All Americans experience the big slap when "leaders" (so-called) dismissively perpetuate brazenly grotesque lies, hypocrisy, and fraud! When Biden and his administration attempt to assert that the economic pain we're experiencing is wholly due to "Putin," this is a grotesque lie! This lie is being proffered by people who are not serious. They have no intention of solving economic woes; they created them. Economic chaos was created when Biden decided to restrict oil production in the U.S. to cater to Marxist "green" environmentalists, irrespective of the harm all Americans will feel in trying to heat their homes and drive their cars. After progressively gaining momentum over the past year, many now experience a doubling of their grocery and gasoline costs! "Putin did it" is pure projection and a slap in the face of all Americans who began experiencing the pain of Biden's policies in the early spring of 2021. When various "leaders" assert that their "defund the police" mantra is not encouraging more crimes, they are proffering a grotesque lie. Their denigration of law enforcement has caused more assaults, death, and destruction in our communities. Additionally, the "defund" movement has resulted in a significant increase in police ambushes and death. It is a slap in the face of all Americans who sees the carnage and feel the increased threats of crime and violence as they walk the streets of their respective communities. Attempts by city council members, city mayors, governors, and members of the House and Senate to obfuscate the obvious disastrous impact of the "defund" movement are cynical, hypocritical, and fraudulent. The border crisis is really a crisis! One of Biden's most cynical and hypocritical policies is apparent when we observe that he commits to doing all he can to protect the sovereign borders of Ukraine. He commits to investing American "blood and treasure" (military and American tax dollars), while mostly un-securing and encouraging unvetted people from all over the world to readily "invade" U.S. borders. Then he and his DHS secretary assert that the U.S. borders are fully "secured"! Huh? This a whopper of a slap in the face of Americans! We see reports of the U.S. experiencing the highest level of "undocumented" entries in history, we see reports of "secret flights" taking illegal entrants to various states, we see reports of people having to endure inhumane assaults (including gratuitous rapes of girls and young women) and record drug-, human-, and sex-trafficking, but the Biden administration asserts that the border is fully secure and under control! Obviously, Ukraine's border and sovereignty mean more to Biden than the protection of the country he "leads." The elitists who make up the Biden Administration are cynical hypocrites. Calling them liars is too soft; these people are wholly un-serious, demented destroyers of America. They actually believe that America is made up of stupid dupes and plebes who will ingest any abhorrent lie and talking point as truth. They obviously don't know the principled resolve of the American spirit, but I suspect they will find out this November. We are tired of being abused! Every Black Life Matters (EBLM) finds degrading Americans with cynical, hypocritical lies detestable. Unfortunately, we can't do much about it at the moment; however, EBLM will continue to hold "leaders" accountable for reckless policies that harm Americans (especially if they disproportionally disaffect poor communities). EBLM will remain vigilant. Will you stand with us? Kevin McGary: entrepreneur, author, and keynote speaker. Serves as president of Every Black Life Matters, chairman of the Frederick Douglass Foundation of California, and executive with the Douglass Leadership Institute and the Northstar Leadership PAC. As a professional, Kevin has worked the past 35 years in information technology expertise: cyber-security, enterprise applications, application development automation, and enterprise job scheduling/utilities. Committed to developing innovative and new approaches to today's socio/political issues, and with the assistance of elected officials and a myriad of community activists, he lectures and provides workshops about today's most perplexing issues. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. It is not the intent here to either support or condemn gun ownership or gun control. It is to remind people of an issue that tends to be glossed over or forgotten: some people just should not have guns, whether the law says they can or not. In October of 2021, my wife received that late-night phone call dreaded by all parents. Her oldest daughter, who lived in Denver, Colorado, was in emergency surgery for a gunshot to the head. After four grueling days at the hospital, trying to hope for the best while knowing there was no such thing, my wife had to make the decision to remove the ventilator and watch her daughter's life ebb away. This is a decision that should have been for the husband to make. He couldn't, though. He was in police custody, and has been since, awaiting trial for her murder and a likely conviction and a life sentence in prison. They had one last bitter argument, perhaps over the spy app he had placed on her phone, or over his frequent (and current) drunkenness. She told him she was finally leaving him. No one knows exactly what happened in their living room that night, but the coroner's report and the crime scene photos certainly indicate homicide, despite his claim that she did it herself. While this was happening, his father was waiting outside the house with their two-year-old son. He is a twice-convicted felon, at least once for violence, both when they lived in Wyoming. The guns he owned at the time should have been confiscated, but she made the poor choice of hiding them for him, each time. They never kept friends for long. Once people started figuring him out, they were cut off. So while others knew of his violent tendencies, his drinking problem, and the existence of said guns, apparently, none knew of his felony record. Also, it seems that the only person who knew of the state's "red flag" law was I, in Wyoming. Whether you think the so-called red flag laws are for good or evil, this is one instance in which they should have been used. It may not have changed the ultimate outcome, but it's possible it might have. There are enough what-ifs to go around for every view on guns, but these facts remain: one man will (likely) have to testify against his own son in a murder trial, and one young boy will now grow up never knowing the mother who was trying hard to raise him well, or the father who just didn't give a damn. Image: Pixabay. You think President Biden has hit bottom? Wait a couple of weeks for the next big "zapato" to drop, which will be the total chaos that the U.S.-Mexico border is about to turn into. According to news reports, there are thousands waiting to come. This is from Niall Stanage: Immigration is hitting the headlines again at just the wrong moment for President Biden and his fellow Democrats. The Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday that March is set to see the highest number of arrests by the Border Patrol of unauthorized immigrants [sic] at the southern border "in at least 22 years." The Border Patrol "has made approximately 7,000 arrests each day in March," the Journal reported, citing preliminary government data it had acquired. Unauthorized crossings at the southern border soared to the highest level in decades last summer, with more than 200,000 encounters being recorded by the Border Patrol in both July and August. Seven thousand arrests each day? I was never a mathematics kind of guy in school but that's 291 an hour! Beyond the number, imagine the pressure we are putting on the men and women working the border. Then there is the issue of Title 42, or what the Trump administration used to limit illegal entry based on COVID. Apparently, Title 42 will soon be history and open the door to more and more people. Take it from me: the border mess will be the straw that breaks the back of the Biden administration. This country, especially people like me who came here legally and are now naturalized citizens, is angry with the lawlessness. Voters in the U.S. want their border respected. The Biden administration does not. What could go wrong? A lot, such as a big "zapato" dropping on the White House soon. PS: Click for my videos and podcasts at Canto Talk. Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. Based on the torrent of information that has been made public about Ketanji Brown Jackson, it is shocking that any member of Congress would vote to confirm her to the SCOTUS. Add to this that thousands of documents from her four years on the Sentencing Commission have been withheld, presumably by Dick Durbin. Those four years of her record must be damning, for never before has a nominee's record not been made available to the Judiciary Committee. Despite this breach of protocol, and thanks to Mike Davis of the Article3 Project, the members of the committee and the public have been able to familiarize themselves with her judicial history. Just in the last few days, an eighth case has come to light, withheld by the White House, that again shows Jackson's penchant for handing out the briefest sentences possible. In this one, the offender had 6,500 images of children being reprehensibly abused. If confirmed, she would be the most radical justice ever to sit on the Supreme Court. Jackson's sympathy for those who use and distribute child pornography (every image represents the torture and rape of a child) is mystifying, as it is among the most heinous crimes on the planet. But reducing the sentences of those who purchase, use, and distribute these images has long been her pet project. Listening to her evasive answers throughout her hearings, one can assume she would sentence anyone present at the Capitol on January 6 as harshly as possible, even if he was ushered into the building by the Capitol Police, but she aches to let child porn users serve the absolute minimum time in prison. Oh, and she also represented four Guantanamo detainees, terrorists, and won their release. Like the rest of the left as constituted in Congress today, she favors criminals over victims. Why? And why did Biden nominate her rather than any of several other equally qualified black women? It was Biden, ever the actual racist, who threatened a filibuster to prevent Janice Rogers Brown from being nominated by George W. Bush to the Supreme Court. Was Jackson nominated perhaps because, in his own addled mind, he knows that his son Hunter is potentially guilty of having/using child pornography and has somehow normalized it? Just a few weeks ago, he said, "I bet everybody knows somebody, somewhere along the line ... in an intimate relationship what happened was the guy takes a revealing picture of his naked friend, or whatever, in a compromising position and then literally sends blackmail." Uh, no, Mr. President. Most people do not know anyone who has done such a stupid and childish thing and would never consider doing it themselves. The Bidens are a very dysfunctional family. Given the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop, it looks as though they are riddled with perverts and victims. Brown Jackson is also a supporter of Critical Race Theory, though she evaded questions about this as well. She claimed that it is "only taught in law school," which is an outright lie. She sits on the board of a Georgetown school that is shot through with CRT for very young children. The core of CRT is teaching white children to feel guilt and black children to be angry. That's it in a nutshell. It is racist, cruel, and destructive. Most hilarious if it were not so deadly serious was Jackson's refusal to commit to a definition of the word "woman." This telegraphs her fear of offending the LGBT, etc. activists who demand that all human beings accept the nonsensical notion that gender is a choice, fluid and interchangeable. God forbid she anger that crowd. Democrat-run states and corporations like Disney have succumbed like wet dishrags to their demands. So we know that Jackson is not only a liar, but also a coward. Sadly, Kavanaugh and Barrett have proven to be just as cowardly, just as fearful of igniting the ire of the left. One has to wonder if they've been threatened. How else do we explain their repeated capitulation to the left? Those two are terrible disappointments to those of us who celebrated their confirmations. Jackson would just be another leftist on the Court, albeit the most radical, on the wrong side of American culture's most sacred values: liberty, family, and individual rights. Like our overlords at the World Economic Forum, she is very likely part of the "we will embrace authoritarianism and like it" crowd. Every senator on the committee who casts a vote to confirm Jackson will be officially subscribing to her surrender to the woke mob and her extreme judicial philosophy even though she asserted that she had no judicial philosophy. Of course she does, and it is Marxist, dismissive of the individual, and dedicated to those they celebrate in favored groups based on race, class, and sex. The more challenging to traditional Judeo-Christian values, the better. The same goes for every senator in the full Congress who votes to confirm, if and when he is called upon to vote. No doubt Judge Jackson is a nice woman, a smart woman who does know the difference between men and women, but her dedication to the far left's campaign to destroy American as founded, to forgive those who engage in the use of child pornography, to sexualize very young children, to aggressively push transgenderism, and to reorder society based on race, not character renders her a Trojan horse, a grenade sent to do further damage to our once great nation that is being systematically destroyed by the quislings who installed Joe Biden as president. Photo credit: YouTube screen grab. Posted on: April 1, 2022 2:27 PM The leaders of Anglican Churches around the world have today called for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. The call was made by senior archbishops, bishops and moderators in a communique issued at the end of a Primates Meeting in London. Primates Meetings are one of four instruments of unity of the global Anglican Communion the worlds third largest Christian denomination. The primates had been due to gather in Rome this week, but Covid-related travel restrictions resulted in the meeting being transferred to Lambeth Palace in London the official residence and offices of the Archbishop of Canterbury. In their communique, the church leaders said that: we were conscious that, as we gathered in London, many people in the world are in a time of turmoil. We are particularly aware of the humanitarian crisis and other catastrophic effects of Russias invasion of Ukraine. We call for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. We know, from our experience in the different parts of the world we are from, that conflict causes lasting damage. The longer a war goes on, the longer it takes to heal shattered relationships and bring about reconciliation. They added: we are also aware of conflicts in many other parts of the world, including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Mali, Congo, the Holy Land, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Central America, South Sudan, and many others; and terrorism in Mozambique. These have forced many people to flee their homes. We recognise the plight of refugees, migrants, and displaced people around the world as one of the major tragedies of our time. We pray for peace and urge those with the ability to do so to bring about justice, sanctuary, and reconciliation. In their communique, the primates also addressed other issues, including climate change, saying that they were also aware of the worsening disaster of climate change and its effects on millions of people around the world not least the thousands of people in Madagascar and Mozambique, where four cyclones in two months have resulted in thousands of people being made homeless, and infrastructures and crops destroyed. Environmental damage affects the most vulnerable people in the world, including indigenous peoples who are affected by the exploitation of forests and others natural resources. We urge an end to the destruction of the Amazon from mining and logging. They included a message of support for the Archbishop of Alexandria and his Diocese of Egypt, which continues to face attempts by a protestant group to forcibly subsume them. We reiterate that the Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria, spread across 10 countries in North Africa and the Horn of Africa, is a full member Church of the Anglican Communion, they said. The Diocese of Egypt is an integral constituent part of this Church. We stand with Archbishop Samy Fawzy Shehata and support him and the Diocese of Egypt in their efforts to maintain the legal recognition in Egypt of the Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria. The Primates also addressed the unilateral decision to construct the Grand Ethiopian Dam and the potential for water shortage in Egypt and Sudan that may result from it. They said: we strongly believe the Blue Nile is Gods gift to the countries through which it flows and should therefore be a reason for cooperation between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt to achieve sustainable development. We wish to appeal to the three countries to resume, with good will, their negotiations immediately to ensure a fair distribution of the water of the Blue Nile. They also referred to the continuing abuse of Pakistans blasphemy laws in ways that unfairly target religious minorities, including Christians. The primates said: the laws are being used to defend malicious prosecutions, beatings, and the forced conversion and marriages of young girls. We appeal to the government of Pakistan to bring about legislative change to outlaw these abuses. Other issues referenced by the primates include the increasing use of fake news and false reporting. They said: such practices have a dangerous impact on democratic processes and can be used to defend unjust wars and conflicts. We call on everyone especially politicians, campaigners and all Christian people to reflect on the commandment not to bear false witness and to adopt this commandment when making public statements. The primates described the post-covid and war-generated rise in prices of basic necessities as a great concern . . . in its impact for the poor. They said: we are alarmed by increasing levels of hunger in the world. Eating is a human right and it is a Christian duty to ensure that all are fed. We call on governments and civil society organisations around the world to prioritise food security and distribution to ensure that all have access to food. The need is urgent. Hungry people can't wait. There were 31 primates from 30 of the Anglican Communions 42 provinces gathered in London. A further nine primates, who were unable to travel to London because of Covid-related travel restrictions in their own country, joined the business sessions of the meeting online. In their communique the primates expressed solidarity with people affected by Covid. They said: we are particularly aware of the situation in the Province of Melanesia, where Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands are experiencing, for the first time, a severe outbreak of Covid. We pray for them and all who have suffered and who continue to suffer or grieve as a result of the pandemic. They also referred to those primates who choose to absent themselves from Anglican Communion Primates Meetings, saying: we continue to lament the absence from our meetings of three primates who choose to stay away. Our reflections, deliberations and fellowship are diminished by their absence. We miss them and their prayerful wisdom, and we long for the time when we will all meet together. They began their communique by stressing that their primary calling as primates in the Anglican Communion . . . is to follow Jesus command to the church to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. They described the prime purpose of their meeting as being to pray and reflect together on our identity in Christ in an attitude of pilgrimage. The primates held Bible studies on 1 Peter, the biblical theme of the Lambeth Conference, a gathering in Canterbury in July and August this year to which every bishop in the Anglican Communion has been invited. After a two-year delay due to Covid restrictions, we are excited about gathering together in person with more than 700 other bishops of the Anglican Communion for prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and encouragement, they said. Our hope and prayer is that our time in Canterbury will produce fruit that will enable the Anglican Communion to live as Gods church for Gods world. They said: we were deeply disappointed not to meet in Rome, but we leave London refreshed and spiritually renewed, thankful for the opportunity to connect again with each other. As we return to our home Churches, we do so knowing that we will gather again, soon, with our brother and sister bishops at the Lambeth Conference. We encourage all bishops in the Anglican Communion to attend this important gathering. During the past week, the primates attended worship at Southwark Cathedral and Westminster Abbey (see photo above) as well as the chapels within Lambeth Palace. They heard from Dr Marion Watson, Head of Operations at the Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine at the University of Oxford, who has overseen a wide range of clinical trial research and development activities on vaccines for malaria, TB and Covid. They also visited the Houses of Parliament and observed question session in the House of Lords before briefings from the Speakers Chaplain, the Revd Patricia Hillas; the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Andrew Selous MP; and the Prime Ministers Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. They were also addressed by James Cleverly MP, a minister in Britains Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. BEIRUT - The fate of about 100 minors detained in a Syrian prison managed by US-backed Kurdish forces of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) stormed by ISIS fighters at the end of January is still unknown. The alarm was launched on Friday by the UN and by humanitarian NGOs like Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Save the Children. At the end of January, the same organizations denounced the presence of about 700 minors in the jail of Gweiran, in Hasake, in northeastern Syria. "We are extremely concerned by the fact that since the attack on January 2022, the fate of at least 100 of those kids remains unknown", said a joint statement released over the past few hours by UN humanitarian experts and by other organizations. "Some of these minors could have been victims of forced disappearances", said the experts. In clashes that lasted 10 days, some 500 people were killed, mainly jihadist prisoners and assailants. Among the victims were Arab and Kurdish militants affiliated with the PKK and prison guards of the stormed jail. According to some local sources, at least 100 prisoners were able to flee. The UN and other organizations are asking with insistence for Kurdish authorities and their foreign sponsors, de facto responsible for security in northeastern Syria, to allow full access to prisons to humanitarian operators. "It is necessary to identify damage inflicted to these children, and those responsible need to respond for their actions to prevent impunity", said experts of the United Nations. The UN recalled how many of the minors detained in the prison of Gweiran, mostly children of adult prisoners, were wounded during the clashes. "They are not receiving necessary medical care", said the experts. TEL AVIV - A Palestinian demonstrator was killed in clashes with the Israeli army in Hebron, West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry was quoted as saying by Palestinian news agency Maan. The agency said the man was shot in the chest during incidents in the central part of the city. Israeli forces are on the highest level of alert for Friday prayers at the holy site in Jerusalem known as Haram al-Sharif to Muslims and Temple Mount to Jews, preceding the holy month of Ramadan beginning tomorrow night. The alert follows a series of Palestinian attacks in Israel which caused in a week the death of 11 people and the attackers. Police deployment in the city has been increased with hundreds of officers deployed. The army has also dislocated 12 additional battalions of soldiers along the border with the West Bank where demonstrations are expected. The defense minister also recalled 300 border police reservists. BELGRADE - The first of two days of silence began on Friday in Serbia ahead of general elections scheduled on Sunday. Early parliamentary elections will be held together with a presidential and administrative vote in the capital Belgrade and 13 other municipalities. The electoral campaign wrapped up last night with the last rallies and appeals to voters to cast their ballots. According to the latest polls, the three elections scheduled Sunday should register a large victory by outgoing President Aleksandar Vucic, who is the expected to win in the first round of presidential elections, and his Serbian progressive party (Sns, conservative), the leading political force in the country, which does not appear to have rivals, both in the legislative and administrative votes. A doubt could concern the local vote in Belgrade, where the opposition has always been stronger than in the rest of the country. Contrary to a boycott carried out at the last political elections in June 2020, the opposition this time is taking part in the vote with various parties and movements. The decision was taken after pro-democracy changes and improvements of the law and the entire electoral process defined with dialogue over the past few months between the government and opposition, with the mediation of the European Parliament. The latest surveys confirmed the huge distance between Vucic's Sns - still very popular and promoter of a strong, muscular political stance, with increasingly populist tones - and the remaining political forces in the country. Sns is estimated to be worth more than 50% of the vote, very far from the presumed 13%-14% of the opposition cartel - United for victory of Serbia led by Dragan Djilas and Vuk Jeremic, and by about 10% of the Serbian Socialist party (Sps) led by former Parliament speaker and ex-foreign minister Ivica Dacic. Sps is an ally of Sns of the government coalition led by Premier Ana Brnabic (Sns). An additional four minor opposition parties could pass the 3% threshold and make it into Parliament, including progressive and environmentalist movement Moramo (We must). In total, 19 lists of parties and movements are running in parliamentary elections. Eight candidates, including three women, are running for president. Vucic's main rival is expected to be Zdravko Ponos, ex-Serbian army chief of staff, a candidate of United for the victory of Serbia. A potential second round of parliamentary elections is scheduled after two weeks. Twelve candidates are running for mayor of Belgrade. The strongest candidate, according to surveys, is Aleksandar Sapic, a former water polo champion and a representative of Vucic's Sns. Toma Fila, the Socialist candidate, is considered a rival, along with Vladeta Jankovic of the opposition cartel United for the victory of Serbia. Out of a population of just over 7 million inhabitants, 6.5 million voters could cast their ballot Sunday in 8,255 polling stations from 7 am to 8 pm local time. TUNIS - The speaker of the dissolved Tunisian Parliament, Rached Ghannouchi, has been summoned to appear before judicial authorities over alleged "conspiracy against the State's security" after a plenary session was reportedly held despite the suspension of Parliament in July by President Kais Saied. Ghannouchi, 81, who is also the leader of Islamic party Ennahdha, received on Thursday an injunction to appear in court "for information on a plenary session on Wednesday", Imed Khemiri, the deputy and spokesman of Ennahdha, told AFP. He is accused of "plotting against State security, a dangerous precedent", added Khemiri, who was also summoned for the same reason. Saied announced on Wednesday the dissolution of Parliament, eight months after suspending it on July 2021. The decision was taken a few hours after a virtual meeting of 120 lawmakers, at the initiative of a governing body of Parliament, which challenged the suspension of the assembly's activities. During the plenary session, which was not attended by Ghannouchi, 116 MPs voted to annul the exceptional measures adopted by Saied on July 25 which, according to them, are blocking the democratic process and establishing an authoritarian government in the country. The lawmakers, elected by Ennahdha, its allies and independent MPs, also asked the organization for early legislative and presidential elections to get out of the political, social and economic crises. Saied described the meeting as a "failed coup attempt" and accused participants of "conspiring against the security of the State", urging Justice Minister Leila Jaffel to undertake legal action against them. On Thursday, a judicial investigation was opened against lawmakers who attended the online session, according to justice ministry sources. Over 30 MPs received an order to appear from the anti-terrorism brigade, according to Ghannouchi who, in an interview to AFP, expressed his refusal for the dissolution of Parliament. "This decision is void and unconstitutional. It is a continuation of decision taken since July 25, which we have opposed and consider a coup", he stated. The biggest jump in domestic energy bills in living memory has come into effect as charities warn that 2.5 million more households are set to fall into fuel stress and supplier websites remained unresponsive to customers. As a 54% increase to Ofgems price cap hit bills, the Resolution Foundation think tank said the number of English households in fuel stress those spending at least 10% of their total budgets on energy bills was set to double overnight from 2.5 to five million. Resolution Foundation senior economist Jonathan Marshall said: Todays energy price cap rise will see the number of households experiencing fuel stress double to five million. Another increase in energy bills this autumn hastens the need for more immediate support, as well as a clear, long-term strategy for improving home insulation, ramping up renewable and nuclear electricity generation, and reforming energy markets so that families energy bills are less dependent on global gas prices. Some energy suppliers are having trouble with their websites today. If you're trying to submit a meter reading but can't because the website is down, take a picture of the meter reading so you can prove what the meter was today. https://t.co/JhyIEdTUnV CitizensAdvice (@CitizensAdvice) March 31, 2022 Citizens Advice said around five million people would be unable to pay their energy bills from April, even accounting for the support the Government has already announced. It warned this number would almost triple to one in four people in the UK more than 14 million if the price cap rises again in October based on current predictions. Concern about the pressures households are facing came as energy firms continued to struggle to allow customers to submit up-to-date meter readings to avoid paying the higher tariff on energy used before April 1. Customers reported issues logging in to supplier websites including British Gas, EDF, E.On, SSE, So Energy and Octopus Energy from early on Thursday. Energy UK, the trade body for the industry, urged people not to worry if they were unable to submit a meter reading ahead of Friday. It said: Most suppliers are offering alternative options such as submitting at a later date, and different methods to send meter readings such as text, social media and email. This demonstrates the scale of the problem and how worried people are about high prices, which is why we have been asking Government to intervene to provide further support to consumers. Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said: The energy price cap rise will be potentially ruinous for millions of people across the country. The support announced so far from the Government simply isnt enough for those wholl be hit hardest. With the long-anticipated price rises now hitting, many more people will face the kind of heart-rending choices that our frontline advisers already see all too often. The energy price cap for those on default tariffs who pay by direct debit is rising by 693 from 1,277 to 1,971 from April 1. The energy price cap increase applies from 1 April. What you should know Ofgem (@ofgem) March 30, 2022 Prepayment customers will see a bigger jump, with their price cap going up by 708, from 1,309 to 2,017. The regulator was forced to hike the energy price cap to a record 1,971 for a typical household as gas prices soared to unprecedented highs. Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) warned the cost of heating an average home has now doubled in 18 months, leaving 6.5 million households unable to live in a warm, safe home across the UK. An Ofgem spokeswoman said: We know this rise will be extremely worrying for many people. The energy market has faced a huge challenge due to the unprecedented increase in global gas prices, a once in a 30-year event, and Ofgems role as energy regulator is to ensure that, under the price cap, energy companies can only charge a fair price based on the true cost of supplying electricity and gas. Ofgem is working to stabilise the market and over the longer term to diversify our sources of energy, which will help protect customers from similar price shocks in the future. (PA Graphics) Chancellor Rishi Sunak has previously pledged to take the sting out of the price rises, promising all 28 million households in Britain would get a 200 upfront rebate on their energy bills from October. The Government will provide the cash for this, but it wants the money back so will hike bills by 40 per year over the next five years from 2023 to recoup it. Goldman Sachs has already warned that prices in the gas market are likely to remain at twice their usual levels until 2025. Higher energy prices are not the only way households are set to feel the pinch, with tax rises and reductions in state pandemic support increasing costs for businesses and, ultimately, leading to higher prices for customers. The cost of buying a pub meal, soft drink or hotel stay could become more expensive from this month as VAT levels across the hospitality sector lift back to 20%, while the National Insurance tax rise will come into force on April 6. Fuel prices have also reached record highs in recent weeks amid a rise in oil prices following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Mr Sunak cut fuel duty by 5p in his spring statement last week, but retailers have been accused of failing to fully pass on the saving. MPs are to stage an inquiry into the detention and release from Iran of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori. The Commons Foreign Committee said it would take evidence on how their cases were handled by British officials as part of a wider investigation into state level hostage situations. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was detained for six years, and Mr Ashoori, who was held for almost five, were released last month after the UK agreed to settle a historic 400 million debt dating back to the 1970s. Following their return both have been critical of the failure of the Foreign Office (FCDO) to secure their freedom sooner. Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat (House of Commons/PA) Announcing the inquiry, committee chairman Tom Tugendhat MP said their return was long overdue and that they were right to seek answers as to what happened. He said that it was also important to look at the wider issues raised by Irans use of the detainees as leverage in the debt negotiations. Iran is not the only country engaging in state hostage taking, he said. The tactic is fast becoming a tool of choice for authoritarian states and recent high-profile cases have highlighted the challenges governments face when securing the release of hostages held captive by states. This inquiry will examine the support provided by the FCDO to hostages in recent cases, as well as take a look at the broader picture and ask how the Government can clamp down on the practice internationally. The announcement of the inquiry was welcomed by Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes local MP, Tulip Siddiq, who was involved in the campaign for her release. While in Iran, Nazanin was blindfolded, handcuffed, interrogated and subjected to solitary confinement, sleep deprivation and torture, she said. The Government has serious questions to answer about why this was allowed to happen to an innocent British citizen, who was caught as a pawn in a political dispute between two countries. The landlord of the Leadmill club in Sheffield said it will continue as a music venue after an announcement by its current management sparked fears for its future. Bosses at the famous site said on Thursday their landlord was forcing us to close after being given an eviction notice requiring them to quit the building in a year. But there was never any question of the venue shutting its doors, said owner the Electric Group, which promised a substantial investment when it takes over the running of the club next year. Ill be making a statement regarding @Leadmill shortly. For avoidance of doubt, we are music people, we spend our lives running independent music venues and the Leadmill will continue to operate as a special music venue. The management may change but the song stays the same. Dominic Madden (@DominicMadden) April 1, 2022 A statement from the Brixton-based firm said: The Leadmill is not closing. Independent music venues operator the Electric Group bought the Leadmill freehold in 2017, which made it the landlord for Phil Mills, Leadmills leaseholder. Phil Mills tenancy runs until March 2023, after which Electric Group will oversee a substantial investment in the Leadmill the sort of acclaimed facilities and sonic overhaul the company has already delivered at its venues in South London and Bristol. Mike Weller, the head of music at Electric Group, added: There was never any question of us closing the Leadmill, despite all the social media chat. The refurb will make the room better equipped to accommodate the modern wants of live music and club nights for audiences and performers. We want to ensure the Leadmills future is as exciting as its history. Dominic Madden, Electric Groups chief executive and co-founder, tweeted: For avoidance of doubt, we are music people, we spend our lives running independent music venues and the Leadmill will continue to operate as a special music venue. Met my other half there in 1988. It was our 29th wedding anniversary last Jan. Got a piece of the old Leadhills dance floor on top of our fire place. #wecantlosetheleadmill pic.twitter.com/cKvuZDmBli Jeremy Dyson (@mypreciousgolum) March 31, 2022 The management may change but the song stays the same. The Electric Group owns and runs 1,500-capacity venue Electric Brixton in South London and SWX in Bristol. It is also preparing a 1.5m refurbishment of the former O2 Academy in Newcastle, which will reopen in October as an independent music and club venue called NX. The Leadmill opened its doors in 1980 and has played host to Pulp, Coldplay, Arcade Fire, Muse, Oasis, Stone Roses, The White Stripes, Jorja Smith and Michael Kiwanuka. Bands, music fans and local MPs answered a social media appeal to support the venue after Thursdays announcement. Kaiser Chiefs said they had very fond memories of playing there, while Manic Street Preachers described it as a magical place one of the great venues. Sheffield music legend Jarvis Cocker responded to the closure fears by saying: This had better be an April Fools joke. Ben Wallace has claimed Vladimir Putin is now a man in a cage he built himself. As the Russian war against Ukraine entered day 37, the Defence Secretary said Russias president no longer bore the force he used to. In an interview with Sky News, he said: President Putin is not the force he used to be. He is now a man in a cage he built himself. A young Ukrainian refugee stands with two soldiers after crossing the border point from Ukraine into Medyka, Poland (Victoria Jones/PA) His army is exhausted, he has suffered significant losses. The reputation of this great army of Russia has been trashed. He has not only got to live with the consequences of what he is doing to Ukraine, but he has also got to live with the consequences of what he has done to his own army. We have seen it before. It always gets worse. It goes for more civilian attacks, more civilian areas. Secretary of State Ben Wallace said Vladimir Putin is now trapped in a self-built cage (PA) The Chief of the Defence Staff earlier expressed similar sentiments. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said Russias bid to take all of Ukraine during its invasion looks to have fallen apart as Mr Putins troops retreat. The head of Britains armed forces said the Russian leader had been misled about the effectiveness of his countrys armed forces, with early indications suggesting Moscow was withdrawing troops a move that has opened them up to counter attacks by Ukrainian defenders. In a speech and follow-on question-and-answer session at an Institute for Government (IfG) event, the Chief of the Defence Staff said Mr Putin was a weaker and more diminished figure today than he was before the invasion started on February 24. He announced that the UK was incredibly cautious about believing Russian claims of ground troops withdrawing from Kyiv but said there did appear to be signs the Kremlin was preparing to focus its efforts on the east and south of Ukraine. The Duke of York was allegedly paid 750,000 for assistance he provided in relation to an elderly Turkish womans passport, a judge overseeing a High Court dispute has been told. Both the duke and his ex-wife Sarah have been named in a recent ruling on a row between Nebahat Isbilen, who is in her 70s, and Selman Turk. In the ruling, deputy High Court judge David Halpern said he was told substantial sums were paid to Andrew and to Sarah, Duchess of York. Both the duke his ex-wife Sarah have been named in a recent ruling (PA) A document outlining Mrs Isbilens claim against Mr Turk, a Turkish businessman based in London, says she authorised a transfer of 750,000 in late 2019. The duke has since returned the money, the paper said. Mrs Isbilen had needed help moving assets out of Turkey after her husband because a political prisoner, Judge Halpern was told. Mr Turk, a former banker, agreed to help. Mrs Isbilen alleges he breached fiduciary obligations he owed to her and advanced claims in deceit. Mr Turk is fighting the case, which is ongoing and has been heard in London. A number of preliminary rulings have been published. Judge Halpern said a lawyer representing Mrs Isbilen told him in an affidavit that information had emerged to show evidence given by Mr Turk was misleading. He said solicitor Jonathan Tickner told him evidence showed money was used for purposes unconnected with Mrs Isbilen, e.g., substantial sums were paid to Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and to Sarah, Duchess of York. Judge Halpern said barrister Dan McCourt Fritz, who is leading Mrs Isbilens legal team, told him the total sums which his client claims were misappropriated amount to 50 million US dollars (about 38 million). Mr Turk has provided explanations for approximately two thirds of these sums, most of which have been allegedly spent on professional or other fees or lost in bad investments, the judge added in his ruling. No explanation at all has been given for the remaining one third. A statement of claim drawn up by Mrs Isbilens lawyers said: In or around November 2019, Mr Turk told Mrs Isbilen that she needed to make a purported gift of 750,000 to HRH Duke of York by way of payment for assistance that he told her HRH Duke of York had provided in relation to Mrs Isbilens Turkish passport. The representation that Mrs Isbilen needed to make a gift to HRH Duke of York in connection with her passport (or for any other purpose) was false, and Mr Turk made it dishonestly, knowing it to be false and intending Mrs Isbilen to rely on it. The lawyers added: Mrs Isbilen authorised a transfer of 750,000 on 15 November 2019. They went on: Mrs Isbilen has now received 750,000 from HRH Duke of York. Mr Tickner, head of fraud and commercial disputes at law firm Peters & Peters, told the PA news agency in a statement on Friday that Mrs Isbilen had trusted Mr Turk to help her through extremely difficult circumstances. He added: The court documents and decisions given in her case to date speak for themselves. A spokeswoman for the Duke said: We are unable to comment on ongoing legal proceedings. Entrepreneur and self-made business mogul Emma Grede knows a few things about building successful businesses with the Kardashians. Together they have co-founded several: Good American, SKIMS, and Safely. "I have a very long relationship [with the Kardashians], going back to my former career where I'd worked with the family, for I guess near enough 10 years now," Grede told Yahoo Finance Live Presents (video above). "So it's been a relationship that's taken a very long time to form. We've done many, many different things together, but just like anybody, they're very shrewd businesswomen, and they get their fair share of pitches." She added that creating new companies "wasn't exactly a walk in the park, but we've been able to build really fantastic businesses, starting with Good American, and then SKIMS with Kim Kardashian, and now onto Safely with Kris." Khloe Kardashian and Emma Grede attend the Good American Miami Launch Party at Good American on October 24, 2019, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Good American) Her first venture with Khloe Kardashian, Good American, launched in 2016 as a size-inclusive fashion brand. The brand's debut collection brought in $1 million on its first day and has grown into a multi-category brand that offers apparel from denim to activewear in a range of sizes from 00 to 32+. For decades, size inclusion efforts were led by independent brands like Lane Bryant, which stood out as a rare retailer that specialized in plus-size clothing. Today, that's changing as the industry as a whole recognizes shoppers of all sizes. Data from Plunkett Research estimates that 68% of American women wear a size 14 or above, which is slightly higher than in 2012. Additionally, the average American woman is a size 16 to 18, according to a 2016 study published in the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology, and Education. Grede noticed that diverse sizing was missing in other luxury apparel categories, and following the success of Good American, she wanted to bring size inclusivity to other brands. A SKIMS giant poster with Kim Kardashian West is displayed at the 'Galeries Lafayette' department store on October 04, 2021, in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty Images) She then expanded her business portfolio with Kim Kardashian by building the shapewear and loungewear company SKIMS in 2018. SKIMS has helped reinvent intimate apparel by offering sizes that range from XS to 5X for garments that are capable of stretching twice their original size. The company is now estimated to be worth $3.2 billion. For Grede, inclusion is more than just selling clothes in larger sizes; it's about having a "purpose" and "a community around our brands" who "become your best advocates." Her latest startup, which is co-founded by Kris Jenner, is also mission-driven. The pair launched Safely, a plant-based cleaning product brand that uses formulas free of certain chemicals. "I am a product person, I'm a person that takes a look at the market, takes a product, and always strives to make something better," Grede said. "And that's what we've done in each of those companies. We have enormous amounts of success." Emma Grede, the CEO of fashion juggernaut Good American and founding partner of SKIMS, returns to the Tank in an all-new episode of Shark Tank. (Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images) 'Spreading the love' After working with the Kardashian co-owned brands, the CEO has now turned to helping other budding entrepreneurs get their start. In 2021, Grede appeared as a guest shark on the reality television show Shark Tank. "My aim in going on Shark Tank was really about spreading the love and figuring out what can I do to actually help founders that might otherwise not have access to traditional financing means," she said. Grede, who is also the chair of the 15 Percent Pledge, a movement that encourages retailers to allocate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses, offered some advice for budding entrepreneurs. "For any founders, I always tell them, embrace social [media] for what it is, because it's such an incredible business tool," she said. "You can make content really cheaply. You can meet audiences really cheaply. And when you've got something great, you're going to find the right communities to get behind your product." While social media has helped to level the playing field for many new businesses, Grede noted that it doesn't remove all of the obstacles in the way. "The hurdles are still there, and we still need people like me and like so many others to get behind those new businesses," she said. "And that's what's really important, I think where my entire focus is now." Dani Romero is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @daniromerotv Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn Chris Rock continues to keep things positive. The comedian, 57, returned to The Wilbur in Boston on Thursday, following two standup shows the night before at which he broke his silence about the 94th Academy Awards. After Rock took the stage on Thursday, dressed in an all-white ensemble much like the night before, he began his set by once again addressing the weekend. (On Sunday, Rock was smacked in the face by Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars after the presenter made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's appearance.) However, at this particular show, an audience member yelled out, "F Will Smith!" Rock, who did not engage with "Will Smith" chants the night before, responded this time around by immediately shutting it down. "No, no, no, no, no..." Rock replied. At Rock's shows on Wednesday his first appearance since presenting at the Academy Awards he said that he was "still processing what happened" over the weekend. During his late-night set, he also told the crowd, "I haven't talked to anyone, despite what you heard." Though he did not mention Smith by name at either show on Wednesday, he seemed to imply that he hasn't yet spoken with the King Richard star directly despite reports earlier this week that Sean "Diddy" Combs said the pair had made amends. (PEOPLE later reported that Combs spoke to each privately but never confirmed a reconciliation.) RELATED: Chris Rock Says 'I Haven't Talked to Anyone Despite What You Heard' at Comedy Show Following Oscars Following Sunday night's televised altercation, ticket sales for Rock's upcoming Ego Death tour dates saw a spike in popularity, according to secondary ticket seller TickPick. During the 2022 Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Rock presented the Best Documentary Feature award, taking time to crack a few jokes, including one about Smith's wife. He made a gag about her hair matching Demi Moore's shaved head in the movie G.I. Jane, which Pinkett Smith recently opened up about, revealing it was a result of having alopecia. Pinkett Smith, 50, was visibly unamused by the joke, rolling her eyes from her seat. NO REUSE! *PREMIUM-EXCLUSIVE* Chris Rock Spotted for First Time Since Controversial Oscars Night Patriot Pics / BACKGRID RELATED: Raven-Symone Says She's 'Really Proud' of Will Smith for Apologizing to Chris Rock Seconds later, Smith, 53, walked onstage and approached Rock, smacking him in front of the audience and millions watching the telecast at home. Back at his table, Smith shouted to a stunned Rock: "Keep my wife's name out of your fg mouth." Smith remained seated with his wife at his table for the rest of the night. Rock declined to press charges. When Smith won Best Actor later in the ceremony, he apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees, but did not mention Rock. In his tearful speech, he spoke about acting out of love and protection, saying, "Love makes you do crazy things." On Monday, Smith publicly apologized to Rock in a statement shared on Instagram, saying, "I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. He also said, "Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally." "... I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family," continued Smith. "I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress." Also on Monday, the Academy said in a statement, "The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night's show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law." On Wednesday, the Academy said that Smith was actually asked to leave after the incident but "refused." "Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated," read a statement issued to PEOPLE. "While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently." Wednesday's statement from the Academy also said, "The Board of Governors today initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy's Standards of Conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy." "At the next board meeting on April 18, the Academy may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct," the statement said. Oscars producer Will Packer will appear Friday on Good Morning America, giving T.J. Holmes his account of how the debacle unfolded on Sunday's awards show, after the Academy said Smith was asked to leave. Leave the heckling at home. Chris Rock reportedly shut down a fans negative comment about Will Smith during a live show days after the duos Oscars drama. Read article The Everybody Hates Chris alum, 57, returned to the Wilbur Theatre in Boston on Thursday, March 31, after performing on the same stage one day prior. According to multiple outlets, Rock didnt want to engage after an audience member yelled, Fk Will Smith, during the Thursday show. No, no, no, no, no, Rock replied before moving along with his routine. Shutterstock (2) The comedians comment comes days after he was slapped by Smith, 53, while presenting at the 94th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 27. After Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smiths shaved head, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum marched onto the stage and hit the Madagascar actor in the face. Keep my wifes name out your fking mouth, Smith shouted as he returned to his seat. After landing in Massachusetts on Wednesday, March 30, Rock briefly broke his silence on the incident. Whats up, Boston? he began. How was your weekend? Im still processing what happened. Read article Us Weekly exclusively reported before the gig that Smith has not privately been in touch with Rock after the Oscars. During the show, the former Saturday Night Live cast member hinted, I havent talked to anyone despite what you may have heard. Rocks performance on Wednesday was great, an eyewitness told Us, noting that the crowd laughed a lot and it really cut the tension. After receiving a standing ovation, the Grown Ups actor said, Yall are getting me misty eyed and st. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock Smiths behavior at the awards ceremony shocked viewers and attendees alike, with a source exclusively telling Us that the shows staff was scrambling to move forward after the slap. During an interview on Friday, April 1, producer Will Packer opened up about the feeling inside of the Dolby Theatre once Smith left the stage. [The energy was] sucked completely out of it, the 47-year-old told Good Morning America. It was like somebody poured concrete in that room. It was this feeling of, What just happened? Is this real? How am I supposed to react? So it sucked the life out of that room and it never came back. Read article Packer went on to say that Rock salvaged the remainder of the show, adding, Because Chris handled the moment with such grace and aplomb, it allowed the show to continue. It was such a huge moment and such a sad and disappointing moment that it wasnt something that we were gonna come back from within that night, within this week. I dont know when well come back and people will be talking about anything else other than this show. Rob Latour/Shutterstock The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences previously announced that a formal review of the situation would be conducted. Smith, for his part, issued a lengthy statement via social media on Monday, March 28, calling himself a work in progress. The Will author continued, I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness. Devo have been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame once again, and it seems like the third time might finally be the charm. While the Ohio eccentrics might have been considered a comedy band or novelty act at first with their energy-dome hats, kooky characters, and bonkers early music videos their message about the de-evolution of society turned out to be prescient, and sadly resonates more than ever in 2022. So how does it feel to be right, so to speak, almost 50 years later? Not good! quips Devo co-lead vocalist an bassist Gerald Casale. I mean, humans just keep proving us right, you know? It's depressing. We were hoping that we were just a little overly paranoid, frontman Mark Mothersbaugh adds drily. A lot of people didn't understand our message, or our sense of humor, Mothersbaugh tells Yahoo Entertainment. And so, from the very beginning, there were people that were just like, Oh, it's a joke. Or the record company would call us quirky. Which kind of one way to just defuse anything serious. What we were doing was making connections between dissimilar things and fusing them together to show people that you could be innovative and think for yourself. And that was the real warning. We were telling people to quit conforming and start thinking for themselves, Casale elaborates. I mean, we always intended to be a multimedia performance band. We never had an intention of being a rock n roll act. It was a conceptual multimedia band, a collaboration of artists. We saw ourselves as like a contemporary Dadaists in a real sense. It wasn't like you just played a guitar in the corner, says Mothersbaugh. Our message was a manifesto for a way to think about the future and a way to work yourself through all the obvious things that were happening, coming downward. We were for positive mutation in the beginning, but it is true that we questioned man's very centralized view of their selves being the most important species on the planet, when we might very well just be the most dangerous species on the planet. Devo in 1980. (Photo: Ed Perlstein/Redferns/Getty Images) One of the ways in which Devo got their message across was through their groundbreaking music videos most of them co-directed by Casale years before MTV. It was right around the time of MTVs debut that the world started to catch up with the new wave trailblazers, and suddenly Devo were an unlikely mainstream pop act thanks to their massive hit Whip It, a single off their 1980 album Freedom of Choice. And so, the MTV brass requested that Devo make a video for the song. What Casale came up with for a meager $15,000 a sort of S&M peep show on a dude ranch populated by beer-swilling cowboys and cowgirls probably wasnt quite what the network expected. The idea there was to just make a video that almost ludicrously hit every lyric on the nose and gave 'em exactly what these radio programmers were thinking, Casale recalls with a chuckle. Because Mark and I would have to do a lot of interviews and they always would go, Hey, you guys whipping it? Theyd make the jerk-off move where theyd go, Oh, yeah, whip it. Whip that bitch! And we'd be like, Oh my God! Jeez! And then we would be trying to explain to them what it really meant, and they'd get really turned off and bummed out when they found out it wasn't about masturbation or sadomasochism. So, I made sure the video hit all those notes. As it turned out, Whip It, like most Devo songs, was subversive, but in a multi-layered way that went over most listeners heads. It was a humorous exercise. We were talking about how in America there's that obsession with obsession-ism. Like, You're number one! Individual! Everybody's a winner! And so, it was lyrics that were parodying that kind of go-get-'em positivism, says Casale. It had kind of a Thomas Pynchon feel to it, but we also told people back in the day, this was for Jimmy Carter. Because from touring, we'd find out that people all over the world thought his foreign policy was crazy and lame. And we were trying to give him a pep talk to beat Reagan [in the 1980 presidential election], Mothersbaugh reveals. Some editions of the Whip It single featured a B-side of an earlier released cover, of the Rolling Stones (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction one of the most radical remakes of all time. But Devo had always had the support of various classic rock artists (for instance, Davie Bowie was instrumental in helping them land a record deal, and they later made the movie Human Highway with Neil Young), so perhaps its unsurprising that the Stones were totally on board with Devos cover. Their version even had the one-and-only Mick Jagger doing his famous chicken dance. Back in those days, when you did a rearrangement like that, you had to get permission from the writer to be allowed to do it. And we wanted to put it on our album, so Gerry and I went to New York and we went to the Rolling Stones manager's office in Manhattan, Mothersbaugh recalls. And Jagger showed up and listened to it. And when he was about halfway through the song, he got up and started dancing around the room like Mick Jagger, Casale interjects. He did a very good impression of himself, Mothersbaugh laughs. And I read somewhere once where he said that our cover was his favorite Rolling Stones cover. While the above-mentioned doubters who thought Devo were a joke band probably assumed Devo were poking fun at the Rolling Stones, Mothersbaugh and Casale insist that was never the case. Because we got a reputation of being smart-ass or disrespectful, people thought we were taking the piss out of the song. But that's not true at all, Casale clarifies. That was probably with us, as it was with millions of people, the penultimate rock song ever written. We thought it was incredible. We were kind of crazy to take it on, in a way, but we were fearless. So, we did it. We were updating it. It was 10 years from the song originally coming out. And so, we just updated it, adds Mothersbaugh. We were in this room, a storage room for a car wash, and the snow was about three feet deep outside. We were freezing. And so, we're all wearing coats and gloves while we're playing. And [keyboardist/rhythm guitarist] Bob Casale started playing this little riff, and everybody started filling in, and we put the lyrics to Satisfaction to it. Bob Casale, Geralds younger brother, sadly died of heart failure in 2014. Mothersbaugh had his own brush with death in May 2020, when he contracted a serious case of COVID19 and had to be placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit at Los Angeless Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for 18 days. He is still dealing from the effects from the virus nearly two years later. It wasn't fun, Mothersbaugh says flatly. Gerry and I both got it. He luckily went to the doctors right away. I was isolated on my own and I just kept thinking, Oh, I'm just tired because I'm working so hard. And I just ignored it for at least a week while I was sick, and that was my big mistake. ICU was no fun. Somehow my vocal cords got torn from the tube that they put down my throat into my lungs. And then, I've lost use of one of my eyes. It's now just a souvenir, my right eye. The hospital took very detailed notes about every time they took my temperature or fed me or something, but then they neglected to mention when my eye turned bright red and I no longer could see anymore. But Mothersbaugh hasnt lost his wry, dry sense of humor. When asked about the viruss long-term effect on his ability to sing, he answers, I've lost about an octave, but we found ways around it with most of the Devo songs. [Childlike Devo character] Booji Boy might be the one who's suffered the most in that. I believe our songs didn't really involve, like, really amazing vocals. Mark Mothersbaugh performs Devo's classic 1978 album 'Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo' in 2009. (Photo: Jim Dyson/Getty Images) Amazing vocals or not, it seems Devos time for Hall of Fame glory has finally come, and thankfully Mothersbaugh, whos been touring with Devo since last year, will be able to perform at the Class of 2022 ceremony. As for who will induct the group if they make the final cut, Mick Jagger seems like a great choice. Wouldn't that be nice? laughs Casale. Watch Devo's video interview above for additional conversation about their "Girl U Want" and "Freedom of Choice" videos, as well as their iconic 1982 performance on the sitcom Square Pegs. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Follow Lyndsey on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Amazon Video produced by Jen Kucsak, edited by Jimmie Rhee After a day of counting, the Amazon union drive at a Bessemer, Alabama, warehouse is still up in the air. Though 6,153 workers were eligible to vote, 1,868 valid votes were counted Thursday 875 voted "yes" to being represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) while 993 voted "no." These results seem to suggest a loss for the union, but the elections not over yet 416 challenged votes are still on the table, so a hearing will likely determine the ultimate result of the election. That hearing will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Theres not a guarantee that the hearing will be necessary theoretically, the RWDSU and Amazon could get together and agree on challenged votes but its likely. Unfair labor practice charges have already been filed in this case, possibly echoing concerns that undermined Amazons victory in an earlier union vote in Bessemer in 2021. In April, the NLRB ordered a new election, citing concerns surrounding a mailbox and Amazon-distributed vote no accessories. Previously, RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum, along with pro-union Amazon workers, told Yahoo Finance that a different strategy and a new set of grievances energized the campaign, and that new strategy seems to have paid off. By how much? Time will tell, but Thursday's vote marked a major upswing in pro-union votes as compared to the first election in Bessemer. In the first election, the 738 votes cast for the union were crushed by the 1,798 votes cast against. A person affiliated with RWDSU (Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union) holds a sign supporting unionization in front of an Amazon facility on the first day of the unionization vote in Bessemer, Alabama, U.S., February 4, 2022. REUTERS/Dustin Chambers It's remarkable that the election is closer this time around, according to Patricia Campos-Medina, a labor expert at Cornell University. In a separate union drive in Staten Island, New York, early results showed that workers were learning toward unionizing. Counting in that vote is set to resume on Friday. Often, union support will go down in a second election due to retaliation, Campos-Medina said, noting that workers can feel demoralized. "The union must have done a great job keeping workers informed. Im really excited about how things have gone today in both Bessemer and Staten Island and, who knows, well see how things go tomorrow. Bessemer isn't alone Neither of the simultaneous union elections exists in a vacuum, and how one resolves could perhaps have implications for the other. Both will have meaning for workers across the country and, in Bessemers case, particularly in the South. In the scope of Black organizing in the South, this is a continued swing upwards, said Tamara Lee, a Rutgers University labor expert. Im optimistic, this is not the type of labor organizing we expect to see in the South in the modern era. Domino effects are real, and I dont think theres a bigger target for the labor movement than Amazon If they can get this close in Bessemer, if they win in Staten Island, workers will start to decide they can do it anywhere. Regardless of the final outcome in Bessemer, the elections sheer closeness matters. I dont think they will stop, if its not a victory, itll be a close one, said Maite Tapia, a Michigan State University labor expert, who frequently works with Lee. This is good for the union either way, said Lee. This is a major improvement and theres any number of ways this could resolve in the unions favor, whether its a union victory or a new election. In a statement previously provided to Yahoo Finance, Amazon said it eagerly awaits the results of the union election in Bessemer. We look forward to having our employees voices heard, spokesperson Kelly Nantel said. Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work. Max Zahn is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Find him on twitter @MaxZahn_. Allie Garfinkle is a senior tech reporter at Yahoo Finance. Find her on twitter @agarfinks. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit Its no April Fools joke: Ikea wants to buy back its old furniture. As of Friday, the retailer will accept back certain models of its own products, reports CNN. Ikea is making its Buy Back & Resell policy permanent at three dozen stores across the U.S., including Brooklyn, Hicksville, Long Island, and Elizabeth and Paramus, N.J. Ikea Ikea (Shutterstock/) Do you have IKEA furniture thats an oldie, but its still a goodie, and looking to retire it? the retail giant says on its website. Well buy it back and you help pave the way toward sustainable living. By finding your furniture a new home, we are making the things we love last longer. Types of merchandise included are bedside tables, solitaire wardrobes, various shelf sets and storage units, certain stools and chairs no upholstery and shelving units, coffee tables and office furniture, among many other types of items. Dressers and chests of drawers are not part of the program. Items must be in good condition, fully assembled, wholly functional and unaltered. In other words, Ikea-hacked furniture need not apply. It also has to be personally used. The gently used items can be exchanged in return for store credit and will be sold at discount in the stores as is section. The program is already established in the U.K. and Ireland, according to CNN, where customers can trade like-new Ikea products for up to 50% of its original price in store credit. Very good and well used get 40% and 30% of the original price, respectively. FILE - People enjoy the sunny weather and a view of the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn waterfront, March 21, 2021, in New York. A judge has ordered New York's Democrat-controlled Legislature to redraw the state's congressional and legislative districts after finding they were unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) NEW YORK (AP) A judge has ordered New York's Democrat-controlled Legislature to redraw the state's congressional and legislative districts after finding they were unconstitutional. Judge Patrick McAllister said in a Thursday ruling that maps redrawing the state's congressional districts were gerrymandered to benefit Democrats. McAllister said those districts must be redrawn, along with the legislative districts, in a way that attracted at least some bipartisan support. The judge gave lawmakers until April 11 to try again. If their new maps fail to pass muster in the courts again, then the judge said he would order the state to pay for a court-approved expert to redraw the maps. Legislative leaders said they would appeal the ruling. The state's primary elections are scheduled June 28 and candidates have already begun campaigning in the new districts. The judge said that if the Legislature fails again and an outside expert is hired to draw the maps, the process would be expensive and lengthy and may leave the state without maps before Aug. 23, the last possible date that the state could push back its primary election. Republicans had argued in a lawsuit that the maps were unconstitutionally gerrymandered to benefit Democrats and marginalize GOP voters. Leo Varadkar has insisted that his Fine Gael leadership is not endangered, during an appearance at Dublin Zoo. The Fine Gael leader has seen his party struggle to retain support from voters in recent months, according to some polls. But during his visit to Dublin Zoo, he rejected the suggestion that he or his party faced any threat of political extinction. Sinn Fein remains the most popular party in the Republic of Ireland at 33%, according to a Red C poll published last Sunday. Fine Gael saw support fall to 19% in the same poll. However, a Behaviour & Attitudes poll in the middle of last month put his party up four points to 24%. The Tanaiste was speaking in Dublin Zoo, not far from own local area of Castleknock, as he opened new red panda and snow leopard habitats. He praised the role of zoos as positive actors for biodiversity. Fantastic morning at @DublinZoo opening the new Himalayan Habitat in glorious sunshine. Well worth a visit to see the Snow Leopard and Red Pandas @emer_currie1@dublinzoo@siobhanshovlin pic.twitter.com/TFzeYOkIu5 Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) April 1, 2022 Citing acclaimed naturalist and TV presenter Sir David Attenborough, he warned: The threats to vulnerable species brought about by habitat loss clearly show the association of climate change and the biodiversity crisis. But speaking to reporters afterwards, he rejected the suggestion that his own leadership is endangered. We had two polls in the last two weeks. One had us down one to 19. The other had us up four to 24. But its often the case the focus is always on the one that has you going down. But if theres one thing Ive learned after 20 years of politics opinion polls do not predict the outcome of general elections. Mr Varadkar also rejected any suggestion his party was in panic mode. He said that at a recent Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, he was the only person who mentioned polls. It is an open forum where our TDs and senators express their ideas and express their concerns and pass on to me and each other, what their constituents are telling them. Thats a good thing because we are a democratic party. Its hard to ignore the growing buzz surrounding the latest COVID-causing variant known as BA.2, which has now become the dominant coronavirus strain in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization, which tracks variants, called it a variant of concern. But what is it and how concerned should you really be? After the Omicron surge last winter, its understandable to feel a bit worried and weary about yet another variant (or in this case, subvariant), just as things seem to be opening back up across the country. Heres what experts have to say. What exactly is BA.2? The Omicron variant has multiple lineages associated with it, such as BA.1 and now BA.2, Dr. Mahdee Sobhanie, an infectious disease physician at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells Yahoo Life. So BA.2 is a subvariant, or sublineage, of Omicron that is now replacing the BA.1 variant, which was responsible for the surge of cases this winter, explains Sobhanie. Although its now become the dominant strain in the U.S., Dr. Steven Gordon, chair of infectious disease at Cleveland Clinic, tells Yahoo Life: This is not a surprise, as we have learned that this subvariant is more transmissible than the original Omicron variant which was several times more transmissible than Delta. How is it different from other variants? When it comes to symptoms, its similar to other variants. Dr. Prathit Kulkarni, assistant professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life that the preliminary knowledge at this point is that the symptoms of BA.2 are not substantially different from the original Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2. Sobhanie agrees, saying the symptoms of BA.2 tend to be similar to ones of other variants and respiratory viral illnesses in general namely, runny nose, sore throat, cough and fever, he says, noting: It is important to still have home tests at hand if you develop symptoms. However, BA.2 does appear to be highly contagious. Sobhanie describes the strain as a more fit version of BA.1, which means that it can spread much more aggressively than previous variants and the BA.1 lineage. But more contagious doesnt necessarily mean its deadlier than other variants. So far, that seems to be the case with BA.2. The preliminary knowledge at this point is that the severity of BA.2 is not higher than the severity of the original Omicron strain, says Kulkarni. This might prove to be different going forward potentially more or less severe. However, at the current time, it appears to be similar in terms of severity. Gordon agrees, saying: We dont think that BA.2 causes more serious disease. It seems to be similar in severity to the original Omicron. The Omicron subvariant BA.2 has now become the dominant strain in the U.S. (Getty) Could BA.2 trigger another surge? Its possible. Based on what we have seen in Europe, there is a potential to see another surge, says Sobhanie. Its possible we will not see as great a surge as seen in Europe due to mitigation factors, such as warmer weather leading to more outdoor activity than indoor activity in the spring and summertime. He adds: COVID has taught us that whatever happens locally will eventually happen globally and we are watching what is going on with Europe very closely. Gordon echoes that sentiment, saying: We are closely monitoring for signs of another surge, as well as watching what is happening in other countries. We know other places, such as in Europe, are seeing increasing cases and hospitalizations. We do expect to see some increase in infections. However, in the United States, we were hit particularly hard by the original Omicron wave, and that, along with vaccination, may help stave off a large surge. So how concerned should people be in general, especially if theyre already vaccinated? Experts say that if you dont have a weakened immune system and are up to date on your vaccine status, you are in a better position than those who are not vaccinated or up to date on their vaccine status in [terms of] developing severe disease, which can lead to hospitalization, says Sobhanie. For those who are eligible, having a booster is also important. We know that the booster makes a significant difference in reducing severe illness, hospitalization and deaths from COVID-19, says Gordon. These are the outcomes that can be most prevented by vaccination. We encourage all those who are eligible and have not yet gotten their booster to do so. Those who are particularly vulnerable aged 50-plus or immunocompromised are also now eligible for a second booster. For those who are immunocompromised, there is also a preventive monoclonal antibody drug called Evusheld, which is an FDA-authorized drug for patients who cannot produce an adequate antibody response with vaccination alone, Sobhanie explains. This monoclonal antibody is given before a patient gets COVID, so that they have antibodies circulating in their immune system and prevents them from getting COVID. It is not considered a treatment, and is intended to prevent people from getting sick. Sobhanie adds: We do have other potential therapies for people who do get COVID, such as Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, and you may be eligible for either of these treatments if you get COVID. Even if youve already had Omicron, Gordon points out that you can still get infected with BA.2. However, in general, previous infection with Omicron does provide protection against this new variant, he says. Should some consider being more vigilant about wearing masks in public, particularly indoors? That depends, say experts. It is going to depend on what the case counts are in their area, says Sobhanie. If there is a high circulation of COVID in your area, bringing the mask back is a good idea. Because the pandemic is continually evolving and is different in different geographical areas of the country, Kulkarni says, one of the ways to keep up with the changing numbers at the local and state levels is to access CDCs geographical data tracker. The tracker lets you look up whether COVID levels are high, medium or low in your county. Its a convenient way to monitor trends in different areas, he says. In general, Gordon recommends both being mindful of your own risk level, such as underlying health issues, and paying attention to the level of COVID-19 spread in your community. Certainly, those who are elderly, have underlying health conditions or who are immunocompromised should be more careful, he says. Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. Almost half of adults were struggling to pay their energy bills before the biggest jump in prices in living memory came into effect this week, figures suggest. Some 43% of adults in Britain who pay energy bills said they were finding this very or somewhat difficult in March, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to bite, 6% of those with gas or electricity supplied to their homes said they were behind on these bills. The stark findings reveal the struggles people were experiencing even before Fridays hike in the energy price cap. As the 54% increase to Ofgems price cap hit bills, the Resolution Foundation think tank said the number of English households in fuel stress those spending at least 10% of their total budgets on energy bills was set to double overnight from 2.5 to five million. Resolution Foundation senior economist Jonathan Marshall said: Todays energy price cap rise will see the number of households experiencing fuel stress double to five million. Of those who pay energy bills, 43% said they found it very or somewhat difficult to pay their bills https://t.co/3yaB51un6t pic.twitter.com/VpERWjgBC1 Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) April 1, 2022 Another increase in energy bills this autumn hastens the need for more immediate support, as well as a clear, long-term strategy for improving home insulation, ramping up renewable and nuclear electricity generation, and reforming energy markets so that families energy bills are less dependent on global gas prices. Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said the rise will be potentially ruinous for millions of people across the country. The charity said around five million people would be unable to pay their energy bills from April, even accounting for the support the Government has already announced. It warned this number would almost triple to one in four people in the UK more than 14 million if the price cap rises again in October based on current predictions. The ONS survey of 3,100 adults, conducted between March 16 and 27, also found: 87% said their cost of living has increased up from 83% in the previous survey period in the first half of November. Just over a third (37%) said they would be able to save money in the next 12 months down from 46% in November. 58% said they could afford to pay an unexpected, but necessary, expense of 850, down from 61% in the previous survey period. The most common reasons given by adults whose cost of living rose were a rise in food prices (88%), gas or electricity bills (83%) and fuel (77%). More than half (54%) of adults said they were spending less on non-essentials, using less fuel at home (45%) and cutting back on non-essential journeys (39%) to mitigate the rise. Concern about the pressures households are facing came as energy firms continued to struggle to allow customers to submit up-to-date meter readings to avoid paying the higher tariff on energy used before April 1. Customers reported issues logging in to supplier websites including British Gas, EDF, E.On, SSE, So Energy and Octopus Energy from early on Thursday. Energy UK, the trade body for the industry, urged people not to worry if they were unable to submit a meter reading ahead of Friday. It said: Most suppliers are offering alternative options such as submitting at a later date, and different methods to send meter readings such as text, social media and email. This demonstrates the scale of the problem and how worried people are about high prices, which is why we have been asking Government to intervene to provide further support to consumers. The energy price cap for those on default tariffs who pay by direct debit is rising by 693 from 1,277 to 1,971 from April 1. Prepayment customers will see a bigger jump, with their price cap going up by 708, from 1,309 to 2,017. If youre struggling to pay your gas or electricity bills there are things you can do. Don't feel alone, our advice can help https://t.co/ILKwGjMNTg pic.twitter.com/PupJBnONNb CitizensAdvice (@CitizensAdvice) April 1, 2022 The regulator was forced to hike the energy price cap to a record 1,971 for a typical household as gas prices soared to unprecedented highs. An Ofgem spokeswoman said: We know this rise will be extremely worrying for many people. The energy market has faced a huge challenge due to the unprecedented increase in global gas prices, a once in a 30-year event, and Ofgems role as energy regulator is to ensure that, under the price cap, energy companies can only charge a fair price based on the true cost of supplying electricity and gas. Ofgem is working to stabilise the market and over the longer term to diversify our sources of energy, which will help protect customers from similar price shocks in the future. Were continuing to engage with suppliers about customer issues submitting meter readings. You will still be able to submit readings in the coming days for this period and we advise taking a photo of your meter if you cant get through to your supplier. pic.twitter.com/lD8vOvdN5E Ofgem (@ofgem) April 1, 2022 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has previously pledged to take the sting out of the price rises, promising all 28 million households in Britain would get a 200 upfront rebate on their energy bills from October. The Government will provide the cash for this, but it wants the money back so will hike bills by 40 per year over the next five years from 2023 to recoup it. Fuel prices have also reached record highs in recent weeks amid a rise in oil prices following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Mr Sunak cut fuel duty by 5p in his spring statement last week, but retailers have been accused of failing to fully pass on the saving. Lebanon Police personnel walk up Reinoehl St. in Lebanon, Pa., after a city policeman was killed and two others wounded by a 34-year-old suspect, who was also shot and killed, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Mark Pynes/The Patriot-News via AP) A police lieutenant killed on duty in Pennsylvania was one month away from retirement when a man suspected of breaking into a family member's home opened fire on responding officers, authorities said Friday. Lebanon City Police Lt. William Lebo and three other uniformed officers were met with immediate gunfire when they entered the home on Forest Street, Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said at a news conference. Two other officers were injured and remain hospitalized. The suspect, 34-year-old Travis Shaud of Lebanon, was also killed in the exchange of gunfire. Graf said Shaud had a record of domestic assaults as well as mental health issues. Family attempts to intervene, to provide assistance, were met with his utter resistance," she said. Shaud had previously lived in the home but not for some years, she said. A man listed as a co-owner of the home declined comment when reached by phone early Friday. Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello said the injured officers are Ryan Adams, 34, and Derek Underkoffler, 32, both with seven years on the force. Lebo, 63, had planned to retire May 1 after 40 years with the department. A family member arrived home after work Thursday and realized Shaud had broken into the rear of his home, so he called police, Graf said. When police attempted to enter the residence, four officers encountered immediate gunfire, Graf said. Shaud used a gun from the home to shoot at police, Graf said. Officers returned fire and Shaud was pronounced dead at the scene. A Shaud family friend, Susan Schott, told the Lebanon Daily News the Forest Street home was Travis Shauds childhood home. Travis was a wonderful person when he was OK, Schott told the paper. But as soon as I heard the address I knew what happened. Authorities have not said who shot who and did not take questions about what Graf called an ongoing investigation at news conferences Thursday and Friday. As one can imagine, it's clearly a traumatic event, Lebanon Police Chief Todd Breiner said Thursday night. Our guys are strong, but we're human and we have families. Lebanon resident Angelo Gonzalez, 17, was working at a pizzeria down the road from the shooting when he said he saw cop car after cop car flying down the street. Then we heard something and werent sure what it was and the street filled up with cops and ambulance in a matter of 15 min, Gonzalez said in a text message. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden marked Transgender Day of Visibility on Thursday by denouncing hateful bills being passed at the state level as the White House played host to Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider, the first openly transgender winner on the popular quiz show. Schneider met with second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who joined Rachel Levine, the assistant health secretary and the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the Senate, for a conversation with transgender kids and their parents. Schneider used the moment in the Washington spotlight to speak out against bills affecting transgender people. Theyre really scary and some of them in particular that are denying medical services to trans youth, those are, those are lifesaving medical treatments," Schneider told reporters. "These bills will cause the deaths of children and thats really sad to me and its really frightening. Biden, in a brief video message, said that the onslaught of anti-transgender state laws attacking you and your families is simply wrong. The president said his administration "is standing up for you against all these hateful bills. And were committed to advancing transgender equality in the classroom, on the playing field, at work, in our military and our housing and health care systems. The administration announced several actions to make the federal government more inclusive for transgender people and said the Health and Human Services Department will be the first agency to fly a trans pride flag.. The steps come as Republican leaders have advanced state measures targeting transgender people as part of a broader push to stoke culture wars heading into a critical election season. The administration said the federal government will become more inclusive for transgender people, including through the use of a new X gender marker on U.S. passport applications, beginning on April 11, and new Transportation Security Administration scanners that are gender-neutral. It is working to expand the availability of the X gender marker to airlines and federal travel programs and will make it easier for transgender people to change their gender information in Social Security Administration records. Visitors to the White House complex soon will also be able to choose an X gender marker option in the White House Worker and Visitor Entry System, which is used to conduct screening background checks. At airports, changes will be made to screening scanners along with the introduction of the use of an X for travelers going through Precheck who do not identify as male or female. Transportation Security Administration agents will receive new instructions on how to make screening procedures less invasive and will work with airlines to promote acceptance of the X gender marker. Jeopardy! star Schneider spoke of being a trans person out there that isnt monstrous and isnt threatening and is just a normal person, like we all are, and said "the more that people like me can be seen, the harder it is to sustain the myths that are ... kind of driving a lot of this hate and fear. In his video, Biden said there is work still to be done to end the epidemic of violence against transgender women of color and girls of color and to ensure that transgender seniors can age with dignity. He called anew on Congress to pass the Equality Act to help transgender people around the world live free from discrimination and violence. Biden tried to reassure any transgender person who is struggling, telling them to remember that you're not alone. Youre so brave. You belong. And we have your back, Biden said. The administrations actions follow recent steps at the state level to limit activity by transgender people. At least 10 states have banned transgender athletes from participating in sports at all levels in a way that is consistent with their gender identity. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking reelection, has ordered the states child welfare agency to probe reports of gender-confirming care for kids as abuse. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is running for reelection and considering a 2024 presidential bid, on Monday signed into law a measure that bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. The law has drawn intense national scrutiny from critics who argue it marginalizes LGBTQ people. Republicans and advocates of the law argue that discussion of these topics should be between parents and their children. ___ Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, and Colleen Long and Ben Fox contributed to this report. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon holds a press conference in 2021 on reforms to the criminal justice system. (Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) Embattled Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon is vowing to 100% fight a recall campaign that he blames on unscrupulous politicians who are scaring voters about rising violent crime rates and hard-line ideological prosecutors in his own office who have balked at his progressive policies. You have unscrupulous politicians who basically will tailor their message to what they think is polling well, Gascon said in an interview for the Yahoo News Skullduggery podcast when asked about a recall campaign that claims to have raised more than $3.5 million in an effort to remove him from office in this falls elections. (Last year, a similar recall effort failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.) This work is too important for the community that I love, Gascon said of fighting the recall. The community that embraced me since I was a young kid a community where my kids were born, my grandkids were born. This is too important. As for the resistance he has faced from members of his own staff, Gascon dismissed his internal critics as old-school, law-and-order prosecutors wedded to what he views as the failed policies of the past. This group of prosecutors that has opposed me they were opposing me during the elections. They spent a lot of money running against me. They were talking about a recall the first week that I got elected. I think it's important to contextualize who are prosecutors, public defenders, police like, these are extremely ideological careers, Gascon said. Gascon, who started his career as a Los Angeles beat cop before serving as assistant LAPD police chief and San Francisco DA, has emerged as among the most high profile and polarizing of a wave of progressive prosecutors elected in the wake of the social protest movement ignited by the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers in May 2020. Gascon, then San Francisco police chief, at a news conference in 2011. (Jeff Chiu/AP) From the moment he took office, Gascon ordered far-reaching changes to the way L.A. prosecutors do business, mandating an end to cash bail, life sentences without parole and the prosecution of anyone younger than 18 as an adult without exceptions. And in what the New York Times called a rare, if not unprecedented, move by an American prosecutor, Gascon also declared his intent to effectively end very long sentences in pending cases as well as new ones for some of the most serious crimes, including murder. We need to understand that the answers and the solutions that got us in trouble in the '90s and for the last 30 years are not the solutions that are gonna get us to a better place, Gascon told Yahoo News. But as homicide and violent crime rates have climbed during the COVID-19 pandemic in areas with both progressive and conservative DAs Gascons attempts at reform have repeatedly met resistance from prosecutors, police officers and at least one state judge who shot down a decree directing the DA's office not to seek enhanced sentences under Californias three strikes sentencing law. Meanwhile, an association of deputy district attorneys which represents the prosecutors in Gascons office last month overwhelmingly voted to back the recall after accusing him of a serious breach of public trust due to purposeful inaction in the face of increasing and distressing violence against innocent members of the public. Gascon at a news conference concerning the sentencing in San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi's domestic abuse case in 2012. (Beck Diefenbach/Reuters) In response, Gascon has started to moderate some of his most progressive policies, quietly conceding in recent weeks that there can be exceptions to his bans on seeking life sentences in murder cases or trying juveniles as adults. Such compromises may reflect a turning point for the progressive-prosecution movement as it seeks to maintain public support in the face of rising concerns over violent crime the same dynamic that has prompted President Biden to distance himself from left-wing demands to defund the police by proposing an additional $32 billion to fight crime. As human beings, we need to continue to evolve, Gascon told Yahoo News. I kept listening to the public; I kept listening to people inside and outside. And weve gotten to what we have as a result of that journey. In his most high-profile shift, Gascon was forced to admit last month that his office was wrong to have tried as a juvenile a transgender woman accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old when she was a teen after she was caught on a tape mocking her victim and boasting that she wouldnt have to spend any meaningful time in jail. With prosecutors from around the country behind him, Gascon holds a press conference on reforms to the criminal justice system on Dec. 8, 2021. (Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) When I became aware of the audiotape which came much later, past the resolution of this case I found it to be disgusting, Gascon told Yahoo News. I found her to be just completely devoid of any remorse or any understanding of the harm she caused. Retrospectively, had I had a different opportunity had I had that information would I have gone in a different direction in the case? The answer is probably yes. What follows is an edited transcript of the Skullduggery interview conducted in Gascons office by Skullduggery co-host Michael Isikoff and Yahoo News National Correspondent Andrew Romano. Isikoff: I want to start out by asking you about your reaction when you heard the president in his State of the Union speech say, The answer isnt to defund the police, its and Im quoting the president exactly here fund the police, fund the police, fund the police. Gascon: I understand why the president did what he did. We live in a world of very simple messaging "build that wall," "lock her up." Its effective, right? And as someone that was in policing for 30 years before I became a prosecutor, I deeply appreciate policing. But I also grew up very poor. I grew up in some very rough areas. And the relationship with policing was mixed. On the one hand, we wanted good policing to feel protected. On the other hand, we often felt singled out and treated in ways that people in other neighborhoods would not be treated. And that hasnt changed. Part of the legitimacy of the entire system, not just policing but prosecutions and our entire criminal legal system, [is] that people trust and believe that the system is going to treat them fairly, equitably that theyre gonna be respected, that theres gonna be proportionality. So I think that the problem with the whole concept, defund or fund the police, is that theyre terms that sound sexy depending on where you are politically. But I think it oversimplifies extremely complicated issues. Ive never been one that said "defund the police." I do believe that we have to also think about funding education, public health, social services, all those other things. Isikoff: But youre the DA youre not in charge of the social services department. No. Isikoff: So do you accept, especially in a time of rising violent crime which we have in many inner cities, including in Los Angeles here that we do need more police on the streets and more funding for the police? I think that we need better policing. And whether that requires more people in uniform, the same or different kind of policing I think that those are all questions that are still open. And while it is true that violent crime has increased throughout the country, interestingly enough ... in California, we see in communities where you have really strict district attorneys, proportionally their violent crime has gone up more than in communities like mine. We need to understand that the answers and the solutions that got us in trouble in the 90s and for the last 30 years are not the solutions that are gonna get us to a better place. A lot of the problems that were having today, many researchers and certainly a lot of data would point out that theyre sometimes a direct [result] of ... over-incarceration and underinvesting or divesting in many communities. Then what happened is COVID came in and all of a sudden, all the infirmities of a system that has been barely surviving economically and socially just came to a screeching halt. [Its like] youre in the 14th round and you just needed Muhammad Ali to come in and land the knockout punch. That was COVID. Romano: You might be the most progressive of the progressive prosecutors. You certainly put into place, from your very first day in office, policies that some other progressive prosecutors have resisted not trying any juveniles as adults, for example. As a result, youre now facing your second recall effort. Why are you getting so much resistance after getting elected by a wide margin? Did something change? Or did you miscalculate? There is no question that there has been an uptick in violence in this community and throughout the country. The numbers are there. But if you take a 10-year look ... were still relatively in a very good place. Not to make excuses or to say that we should be comfortable with that. To the contrary, I go to bed at night thinking about this stuff; I get up in the morning thinking about it. But ... it is very political, right? This is an old playbook. It was played in the 70s. The L.A. Times recently talked about make America afraid again. Its a playbook that gets repeated. Then you have unscrupulous politicians who basically will tailor their message to what they think is polling well. And unfortunately you also have a combination of intentional misinformation in the media [and] the impact of social media on how people consume information. [Recently] this very smart lady in Beverly Hills [told us, after learning about the actual crime numbers in her area], You know what [Gascons] biggest problem is? ... He doesn't have a good PR firm. Were in this world where its not necessarily about the facts its just how you present things, how you package them. Isikoff: But the resistance hasnt come only from across the political divide. Your own staff, your own prosecutors have sued you over your directive to basically ignore the "three strikes and youre out" law. And the judge rebuked you for doing that and saying you were asking prosecutors to take a position that was unethical for them. This will be in appeals; it will go to the Supreme Court. But we didnt lose. It was a split decision. Prosecutors exercise that discretion every day. Even in this office, we never filed every single three-strike case. This group of prosecutors that has opposed me, they were opposing me during the elections. They spent a lot of money running against me. They were talking about a recall the first week that I got elected. I think its important to contextualize who are prosecutors, public defenders, police like, these are extremely ideological careers. Then here comes someone who is talking about transforming and taking the system in a different direction and basically puts into question everything that you believe in things that, quite frankly, have been the path to success: More trials. More punitive convictions. All of a sudden you have somebody who says, You know, some people need to go to prison. But we need to be more measured in the way that we intervene, and we need to think about not only the case in front of us, but the impact multiple layers down the road. Romano: But Angelenos are worried about the increase in homicides right now up 77% from 2019 across L.A. County. They worry about homelessness, they worry about robbery in their neighborhood. How is your approach actually working and not just making things worse? If we went to places that have traditional prosecutors and their crime was going down, I would be the first one to come back to the office and start saying, OK, I gotta do something differently. But when I see crime in some places like Kern County is going up at a higher per capita rate, or Sacramento is going up they have a completely different approach and theyre having the same problem. I have to stop and say, OK, there is something beyond what a prosecutor does that is impacting crime. And if locking people up for longer periods of time is not causing crime to go down, and if locking people up for lower periods of time is not causing crime to go up, what do we do? How do we look at this in the short term? So here are the things that I point to. The city of L.A. now, year to date, has a 23% reduction in homicides... Romano: Youre saying the homicide rate in the first few months of 2022 is 23% lower than the homicide rate in the first few months of 2021. Right. Were beginning to see the trends go in the other direction. ... And we actually prosecuted more felonies last year than in, than in prior years, percentage-wise. We created the Community Violence Reduction Division [to reduce gang-related crime]. We put prosecutors, investigators in this office. But we also brought in public health and community [leaders] and the police to areas that are really, really challenging and have been very challenging for decades. Were beginning to see breakthroughs there. Look, last weekend, there were 50 shooting victims in this country, and four of them happened in four different cities in Texas. One, I believe, it was Arkansas. Ones in Virginia. Ones in Florida. All of them are strong Republican [places] with very hard-core prosecutors. Can you imagine if one of those shootings happened in L.A. this weekend? CNN would be breathing down my door. Isikoff: Hannah Tubbs, a 26-year-old transgender woman, pleads guilty in juvenile court to sexually assaulting a child at a Denny's restaurant. Shes caught on tape mocking the sentence, talking about how shes going to go free, shes going be out on probation. Shes making disparaging remarks about the victim and others. You initially tweeted, This is not an acknowledgement we made a mistake in the Tubbs case by directing that she be tried in juvenile court rather than adult court despite the severity of the crime. Then, after the tapes came out, you tweeted, If we knew about her disregard for the harm she caused, we would have handled this case differently. What was your reaction when you first heard those tapes, and do you now acknowledge it was a mistake to direct that case to be tried in juvenile court rather than adult court? So first of all ... this young person was 17 when she committed the crime. Shes now 26. When we initially looked at the case, we were looking at the case as when the case occurred not where she is now but where she was. I also look at information that is confidential concerning mental health and medical issues and all that stuff. All that together as a package led me to believe that this case would be better served if it remained in the juvenile jurisdiction. Now, when I became aware of the audiotape which came much later, past the resolution of this case I found it to be disgusting. I found her to be just completely devoid of any remorse or any understanding of the harm [she caused]. Retrospectively, had I had a different opportunity had I had that information would I have gone in a different direction in the case? The answer is probably yes. Having said that, whether youre going one direction or the other whether youre a law-and-order prosecutor or [not] we live in a world where theres always going to be a bad case. Romano: But [you came into office with a] more aggressive approach, where you wanted to try to rule out any exceptions at all because you were pushing for as much reform as possible. Have you now moderated that approach? Were you wrong not to be more cognizant of the fact that there will be these bad cases and build those exceptions into the system? I believe that, as human beings, we need to continue to evolve. If you were to talk to me ... maybe 25 years ago ... I was pro-death penalty. I believed that ... if you do an adult crime, you pay an adult price. Ive learned a great deal. I have educated myself a great deal. Ive arrived at a different place. When I first came into office, I came into [one] set of circumstances. Since then, we have put a different team in place. We have different capacity. At the same time I kept listening to the public; I kept listening to people inside and outside. And weve gotten to what we have as a result of that journey. A year from now, you may see other tweaks in other areas. Isikoff: From a philosophical perspective, youve articulated a certain vision that has been called restorative justice. But theres another philosophy about crime and punishment, and it was articulated most recently by William Barr, the former attorney general, in his new book, where he argues that the real purpose of criminal justice is retribution: When someone commits a crime, a punishment proportionate to the offense is justified and required solely to address the transgression and restore societys moral order. That punishment is due regardless of any social utility the punishment may otherwise have in controlling crime in the future. Mr. Barrs assessment its a good 19th century approach to the work, when we had no understanding of the impact of trauma, the impact of brain development in human beings, what works, what doesn't work. We spend millions and millions of dollars in a process that creates more insecurity, and it takes funding away from other things like education, housing and other services. Romano: You mentioned your journey and how youre continuing to evolve. Upon taking office, you said that youre not the same man you were when you first put on the uniform. What changed you? One of the big moments for me was what I call the insurrection today. I used to call it a riot in 1992. You know, the post-Rodney King incident, the impact of that. It was shocking to me. Because all of a sudden, I started to question the work that we were doing. I started to see that we, in policing, we were walking in one universe, and it was very different than the universe of the people that we were policing. I used to view myself as the safe-keeper, the one that people can come to for help. But there was such a significant portion of our community that actually looked at us, and looked at what I stood for, as the aggressor as the occupation army type. There were other things too. When you work in these very vulnerable areas, life is short, right? When you get as old as I am, you start seeing the kids of the generation that you might have arrested before, and theyre going down the same way. And you have to stop and question yourself. In those days, violence was way higher than it is today. The city of L.A. was recording 1,000 homicides a year. But one of the things that Father Greg Boyle [the founder and director of Homeboy Industries, the worlds largest gang-intervention and rehabilitation program] always used to say, in the darkest moments, was, "Every human being has a story, and every human being has a capacity to be better. When we start looking at people as human beings, and we understand that everyone has a story, and that everybody has the capacity to be better some may never get there, but we have the capacity to you [create] a system that begins to acknowledge that and hold people accountable. [A system] that ensures that those who are dangerous are segregated from the rest of us, but that those who are no longer dangerous are not. When the respected California attorney and horse enthusiast Larry McNabney was killed, he was married to a younger woman named Elisa and lived happily in Sacramento, California - or so he thought. McNabney died by a lethal dose of horse tranquilizer on September 12, 2001. His wife Elisa McNabney, who was using one of her many aliases, was actually named Laren Sims, a woman with a troubled past from Florida. Watch the full story on "20/20" TONIGHT at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. McNabneys death was at the hand of Sims and her friend Sarah Dutra, who was a secretary at McNabneys law firm. PHOTO: Laren Sims pictured by the Pinellas County Sheriffs Department on April 29, 1991. (Pinellas County Sheriffs Department) Sims would later die by sucide while in police custody for her husbands murder. Sarah Dutra would be convicted of voluntary manslaughter and being an accessory to murder by a jury in 2003 and sentenced to just over 11 years in jail. McNabneys body was found buried in a vineyard on February 5, 2002. At that time, Sims had already liquidated the couple's assets and fled with her daughter. Sims would change her name again and a national manhunt ensued for weeks until her daughter called the police worried that her mother was suicidal and when police found Sims on a beach in Destin, Florida - she turned herself in on March 20, 2002. Her daughter Haylei Jordan spoke to 20/20 in her first interview on what it was like to live life on the run. She said she hasnt spoken until now because she wanted to forget her past. PHOTO: Haylei Jordan spoke to '20/20' in her first interview. (ABC) I spent a significant portion of my life being known as Elisa McNabney's daughter, said Jordan. I have previously refused to talk because I didn't want to have to deal with it anymore. I can reflect back on it. It didn't happen to me. I lived through it. After her mother died, Jordan moved back to Brooksville, Florida, where she spent most of her childhood. Her mother had been part of a prominent family that has lived there for generations. I came home to the town that I was born and raised in, but I hadn't seen my family in almost a decade, said Jordan. I didn't know what to do, because the only thing I had ever done was make sure that my mom was okay. Jordan said growing up with her mother was erratic and that the two of them were constantly on the move, only spending a year to six months at a place at a time. PHOTO: Larry McNabney pictured with his wife Elisa McNabney, who was really named Laren Sims. (Haylei Jordan) When I think about my mom from that time, for her it was about fun, until it was not. Until it was about waking up in the middle of the night and saying, Hey, we have to leave. Because rent hadn't been paid, or she was being evicted, said Jordan. After Sims was arrested in Texas for attempted shoplifting in 1993, she decided to take Jordan and go to Las Vegas. Two years later, Sims got a job at the law office of attorney Larry McNabney. Both Sims and McNabney shared a passion for horses. The two quickly got married and she and Jordan moved into his home in Reno. MORE: Heaven's Gate survivor reflects on the cult's mass suicide 25 years ago McNabney suffered from alcohol and drug addiction and Jordan said his drinking problem made her feel constantly unsafe around him. While McNabneys daughter from another marriage, Cristin Olson, claimed her father was not physically abusive, Jordan said she witnessed McNabney abuse her mother. She said at one point her mother separated from McNabney - but claimed she was too afraid to do anything about it because she saye he threatened to use her outstanding arrest warrants from Florida against her. She did try to leave a couple of times actually. He tracked us down and said if she didn't agree to come home with him he would kill both of us and then kill himself, said Jordan. Jordan said McNabneys drinking got worse and, after an incident between the two where Jordan said he had grabbed her violently, her mother sent her away, allegedly for her own safety. PHOTO: Larry McNabney pictured in Reno, Nevada. (Haylei Jordan) [McNabney] was going off the rails. He was losing control of himself. I knew it got really bad when my mom looked at me and said, Oh, I got you a job training horses in Maine, said Jordan. And I packed up and left. An audit of McNabneys law firm revealed that at least $74,543 was missing from a clients trust account. An investigation revealed that McNabney had allowed his Chief Operating Officer, who was his wife Elisa, to misappropriate money from the firms client trust account. Shortly after McNabney was publicly reprimanded by the Nevada Bar Association, the couple and Jordan moved to Sacramento where he opened a new practice. In California, the McNabneys hired Sarah Dutra as a secretary and Sims quickly befriended her. While the couple appeared to be living large by attending horse shows and drinking fine wines, trouble brewed under the surface. McNabney was last seen alive on September 11, 2001, being pushed in a wheelchair at a horse show he and Sims had attended in City of Industry, in Los Angeles County, the day before. Authorities searched for McNabney but the investigation dragged on. Four months after McNabney disappeared, authorities began to look into Sims and then she disappeared too. PHOTO: Laren Sims pictured with her daughter Haylei Jordan at an unknown date. (Haylei Jordan) A break came in the case when police discovered McNabneys body five months after he had gone missing. At the time, Jordan and her mother were in Arizona, but after authorities found the body, the two were on the move again. Jordan said at that point she hadnt known what her mother had done and was so used to moving that she didnt question it. The two drove through multiple states including Colorado, Louisiana and Alabama, and spent time in multiple towns for weeks. Jordan said they picked towns based on tourism because it was easy to disappear and they paid in cash. MORE: Woman convicted in 2005 murder of her husband speaks from prison At this point I still had no idea what was happening in Sacramento, said Jordan. But [leaving] Arizona had really just reinforced to me that this was going to be my life to continue protecting my mom from whatever is chasing her. The two finally settled into the town of Destin, Florida, a month after McNabneys body was found and changed their names. However, the new home didnt last long. Sims got the feeling that law enforcement was closing in on her so she picked up Jordan and the two went to Charleston, South Carolina. Jordan said that when her mother wanted to go to South Carolina, she told her that she had had enough. PHOTO: Haylei Jordan pictured at 8-years-old. (Haylei Jordan) I just felt resigned. I'm just a non-person, a non person. I exist, but I'm not really me, said Jordan, who added that was the moment when her mother told her about what had happened to McNabney. She said, I need to tell you this, but I need you to not freak out We killed him, said Sims, referring to herself and Dutra. And it kind of felt like everything was just white noise. I couldn't think. I didn't see anything around me. I was horrified, said Jordan. After that, Sims and Jordan drove back to Destin. Jordan said when they got back her mother dropped her off and then drove off again. Not knowing where her mother was going and nervous about what her mom might do to herself, Jordan called the police and said that she worried that her mother might hurt herself. She gave police a description of the car her mother was in and that she was last seen in Destin. She didnt mention what she knew about McNabney on the phone. MORE: Lead prosecutor shares courtroom strategy that took down Robert Durst Police tracked Sims to a beach nearby and before the cop said anything, Sims turned herself in, according to authorities. She admitted that she was a part of the killing of her husband in Sacramento. I was both incredibly relieved that she was okay and horrified that I had contributed to her worst nightmare happening, said Jordan. After her mother was arrested and then died while awaiting extradition back to California, Jordan said she didnt know how to live without her and, even after years without her, she is still healing. Jordan said she believes her mother was a victim of domestic violence and what she has learned from her is that nobody should have to feel trapped in an unsafe situation. You never have to stay in a situation that you don't feel safe, a situation that you question, she said. You have a right to feel safe and you have a right to whatever future you're willing to make. Daughter of female killer speaks for the 1st time: 'You never have to stay in a situation that you don't feel safe' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Facebook used an old playbook. The social media giant reportedly paid a Republican lobbying firm to drum up a nationwide political and media campaign against emerging rival TikTok. Facebook, now technically known as Meta, hired the lobbyists at Targeted Victory to plant anti-TikTok stories in media outlets with an end goal of local politicians railing against TikTok, the Washington Post reported. The spurious stories included a TikTok devious licks challenge, which actually began on Facebook, and the slap a teacher challenge, which didnt actually exist at all. Both Facebook, through a spokesman, and Targeted Victory confirmed to the Post that Facebook had hired the firm and it was focused on TikTok. The Facebook and TikTok apps are both very popular, but with different demographics. The Facebook and TikTok apps are both very popular, but with different demographics. In one internal email, a Targeted Victory employee said the goal would be to get stories with headlines like From dances to danger: how TikTok has become the most harmful social media space for kids, according to documents obtained by the Post. Facebook has been worried about TikTok for years. The company launched its Instagram Reels feature in a clear ripoff of TikToks basic content and the two have gone back-and-forth trying to pay the most popular creators. Despite its dominance across social media, Facebook has use similar schemes in the past. In 2011, the company ran a similar smear campaign against Google, and in 2018 Facebook hired a different lobbying firm to criticize its own critics. The newest anti-TikTok plan involved searching for bad trends on the app and sounding concern alarms in media outlets with influence in local markets, the Post reported. Anti-TikTok opinion pieces, initially crafted by Targeted Victory, appeared earlier this month in the Denver Post and the Des Moines Register. Facebook was also looking for positive press where possible, according to the Post. The overarching goal was to share a message that while Meta is the current punching bag, TikTok is the real threat. Internally, Targeted Victory employees were commended for their work pushing anti-TikTok stories through public relations firms and into local media outlets, the Post reported. The teams that worked on the Denver Post and Des Moines Register stories were invited to share their processes. TikTok responded to the news in a statement saying it was deeply concerned about the Facebook operation. By Dave Graham MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is this month poised for victory in a referendum on his rule that could fortify his authority during the final stretch of his administration even as critics dismiss the vote as a sideshow. The recall referendum on April 10 has given the popular leftist Lopez Obrador a focal point for his constant broadsides against the opposition, which is struggling to capitalize on the troubles he has had delivering on promises. Lopez Obrador argues the first-of-its-kind vote, which he himself called, is vital to validate his democratic mandate. Much of the opposition sees it as a distraction from governing a country where presidents can only serve a single six-year term. "It reaffirms the principle that the people are sovereign, that they are the ones in charge," Lopez Obrador said of the vote late last year. "(And) the conservatives don't like it." Many people, however, seem indifferent. A poll published in early March by newspaper El Financiero showed 52% regarded the referendum as unnecessary. Some 42% took the opposing view. Still, when asked whether Lopez Obrador should finish his term, 63% said 'yes'. Only 30% said no. The survey estimated between 18% and 27% of the electorate would take part, well below the 40% threshold required to make the result binding, even though the president has said he will step down if he loses, irrespective of turnout. He has helped to keep the referendum in the public eye by accusing the national electoral institute of siding with his critics, and trying to undermine the vote, which it denies. Lopez Obrador's approval rating has been robust, helped by a divided opposition and his control of the political agenda via daily news conferences. Latest polling shows it around 60%, even though the economy's recovery from the pandemic stalled late last year and homicides remain close to record levels. Prominent opposition politicians have argued the referendum is a waste of public money and should be ignored, likely depressing the turnout among their supporters, and making the likelihood of an upset vanishingly small, pollsters say. "The referendum's a joke," said Alejandra, 23, a Mexico City student who voted for Lopez Obrador in 2018 but now opposes him, partly because she disagrees with his energy policy. Lopez Obrador wants to change the constitution to favor Mexico's state energy companies, which are large consumers of fossil fuels, over private solar and wind firms. He has set a vote in Congress on the issue for the week after the referendum. POLARIZATION Arguing that past governments rigged the electricity market in favor of foreign capital, he has used the issue to frame his narrative that as custodian of the state, he is defending a poor majority from a corrupt elite bent on self-enrichment. As a candidate, Lopez Obrador pledged to deliver average annual growth of 4% and to get violent gangs under control. The violence remains acute, with 20 people massacred in a shooting on Sunday. Meanwhile, the economy shrank even before the pandemic and remains well below pre-COVID-19 levels. Without better results to point to, Lopez Obrador is likely to double down on his polarizing narrative in the 2 1/2 years that remain to him, said Jesus Ortega, a former ally. "The referendum is part of that strategy," said Ortega, who ran Lopez Obrador's unsuccessful 2006 presidential campaign. Lopez Obrador won by a landslide in 2018. But in midterm elections last June, his hold on Congress was weakened and opposition parties unexpectedly gained control of a majority of boroughs in Mexico City, long viewed as his bastion. Mexico City's mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, is one of the front-runners to succeed Lopez Obrador in 2024, but her chances may hinge somewhat on public support for him in the capital. If in the recall vote Mexico City delivers sub-par results despite many billboards urging participation, it could hurt her presidential credentials, according to half a dozen government officials and politicians from within the ranks of the ruling National Regeneration Movement. Sheinbaum's office did not reply to a request for comment. Roberto Romero, 42, a graphic designer in Mexico City who voted for Lopez Obrador in 2018, said he was disappointed by the government and unlikely to participate in the referendum. "I have a lot of friends who voted for (Lopez Obrador) who say they're going to look for a different option," he said. Still, among his supporters, the faith burns brightly. Jose Luis Zumaya, a 47-year-old logistics worker from Ecatepec on the edge of Mexico City, said Lopez Obrador was helping the poor, and not just kowtowing to greedy foreign companies. "The old governments were untouchable," Zumaya said, enthusing about the referendum. "They had immunity for ever." (Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Alistair Bell) Migrant break through a line of National Guards trying to block them from leaving Tapachula, Mexico, Friday, April 1, 2022. Migrants have complained they have been essentially confined to Tapachula by the slow processing of their asylum cases and that they are unable to find work. (AP Photo/Edgar H. Clemente) TAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) Some 500 migrants from Central America, Venezuela and elsewhere fought with Mexican police, National Guard and immigration officers in southern Mexico Friday in one of the first such marches this year. The migrants described the march as a traditional annual protest related to Holy Week, and those at the front carried a white cross, as others have done in previous years. However, this year the protest came two weeks early and some participants said they would go far beyond the usual short march and try to reach the U.S. border. In a clash with National Guard officers and immigration agents, the migrants used the cross they were carrying as a battering ram to break through the Guard lines, shattering the wooden cross. The officers, who had riot shields, batons and what appeared to be an irritant spray, detained some marchers. The two sides exchanged blows and many migrants left behind knapsacks in the melee. Some managed to break through and disappear down dirt roads and paths, but many of the rest of the marchers took refuge in a church just a few miles outside of Tapachula. The migrants set out from the southern Mexico city of Tapachula, near the border with Guatemala, early Friday. Migrants have complained they have been essentially confined to Tapachula by the slow processing of their asylum cases and that they are unable to find work in the border state of Chiapas that would allow them to support their families. They are practically holding us prisoners; they do not allow us to leave this state because we are not regularized here," said Venezuelan migrant Noreydi Chavez. They require us to get a visa, but we never get any answers. We fill out paperwork, but they never process it. Reynaldo Bello, a migrant from Peru, joined the march with his wife and baby because the family had been living a park and going hungry while waiting for their immigration paperwork to be processed. The march came as the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden announced it would end a policy that allows turning back asylum seekers on grounds of protecting the country against the coronavirus pandemic. Migrants have been expelled more than 1.7 million times from the U.S. under the policy, known as Title 42 for a public health law, which was invoked in March 2020. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said Friday it would end the authority effective May 23. Near the height of the omicron variant in late January, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had extended the order to this week. Luis Garcia Villagran, an immigration activist with the Center for Human Dignification, said Mexican immigration authorities had largely shut off most visa processes in Tapachula and told migrants the only path to regularize their stay in Mexico was through the much lengthier procedure of applying for asylum or refugee status. A migrant march in the same area was broken up in January, and similar efforts were dissolved by police and immigration agents in 2021 and 2020. The marches are significantly smaller than caravans in 2018 and 2019 that brought thousands of migrants to the U.S. border. The caravans began several years ago as a way for migrants who did not have the money to pay smugglers to take advantage of safety in numbers as they moved toward the U.S. border. However, Guatemala and Mexico became more aggressive in breaking up the caravans. The Mexican government has tried to appease the United States by stopping caravans of walking migrants and allowing reinstatement of the so called Remain in Mexico policy. But Mexico has been unable to stanch the flood of migrants stuffed by the hundreds into trucks operated by smugglers who charge thousands of dollars to take them to the U.S. border, trips that all too often turn deadly. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian troops left the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early Friday after returning control to the Ukrainians, authorities said, as residents in parts of eastern Ukraine braced for renewed attacks and awaited blocked supplies of food and other humanitarian relief. Ukraines state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received significant doses of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it could not independently confirm the exposure claim. In what would be the first attack of its kind, if confirmed, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region accused Ukraine of flying helicopter gunships across the border on Friday morning and striking an oil depot. The depot run by Russian energy giant Rosneft is located about 35 kilometers (21 miles) north of the Ukraine-Russia border. The helicopter attack set the facility ablaze, and two people were injured, according to a Telegram post by Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. The fire at the oil depot occurred as a result of an airstrike from two helicopters of the armed forces of Ukraine, which entered the territory of Russia at a low altitude, the governor wrote on the messaging app. It was not immediately possible to verify the claim or images that were circulating on social media of the alleged attack. Russia has reported shelling from Ukraine before, including an incident last week that killed a military chaplain, but not an incursion of its airspace. Satellite image of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. (Maxar Technologies). Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces have retaken the villages of Sloboda and Lukashivka, which are south of the besieged northern city of Chernihiv and located along one of the main supply routes between the city and Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, according to Britain's Defense Ministry. Ukraine has also continued to make successful but limited counterattacks to the east and northeast of Kyiv, the ministry said. Russian forces have subjected both Chernihiv and Kyiv to continued air and ground-launched missile strikes despite Moscow officials saying Tuesday they planned to reduce military activity in those areas. Western officials said there were growing indications Russia was using its talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were just a military tactic to build up strength for new attacks in the southeast. We know their intentions, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us. There will be battles ahead, he added. Ukrainian and Russian negotiators planned to resume talks via video on Friday, five weeks into a conflict that has left thousands dead and driven more than 4 million refugees from Ukraine. There seemed little faith that the two sides would find agreement on their respective demands any time soon. Russian President Vladimir Putin said conditions werent yet ripe for a cease-fire and he wasnt ready for a meeting with Zelenskyy until the negotiators do more work, Italian Premier Mario Draghi said after a Thursday telephone conversation with the Russian leader. Following a plea from Zelenskyy when he addressed Australian Parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that his country would send mine-resistant armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. A Ukrainian serviceman takes a selfie photograph standing on a destroyed Russian tank after Ukrainian forces overran a Russian position outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) He said Friday the four-wheel drive Bushmaster vehicles, specifically requested by Zelenskyy, would be flown to Europe but did not say how many would be delivered or when. Were not just sending our prayers, we are sending our guns, were sending our munitions, were sending our humanitarian aid, were sending all of this, our body armor, all of these things, and were going to be sending our armored vehicles, our Bushmasters, as well, Morrison said. In the encircled strategic port city of Mariupol, Russian forces on Thursday blocked a convoy of 45 buses attempting to evacuate people after the Russian military agreed to a limited cease-fire in the area. Only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars, according to the Ukrainian government. Russian forces also seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies in a dozen buses that were trying to make it to Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. The city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. Tens of thousands of residents managed to get out in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing the population from a prewar 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 by last week. But continued Russian attacks have repeatedly thwarted aid and evacuation convoys. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed by Ukraine that the Russians forces at Chernobyl had transferred control of the site of the worlds worst nuclear disaster to the Ukrainians in writing. The last Russian troops left Chernobyl early Friday, the Ukrainian government agency responsible for the exclusion zone said. Energoatom gave no details on the condition of the soldiers it said were exposed to radiation and did not say how many were affected. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin, and the IAEA said it was seeking more information. Russian forces seized the Chernobyl site in the opening stages of the Feb. 24 invasion, raising fears that they would cause damage or disruption that could spread radiation. The workforce at the site oversees the safe storage of spent fuel rods and the concrete-entombed ruins of the reactor that exploded in 1986. Edwin Lyman, a nuclear expert with the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said it seems unlikely a large number of troops would develop severe radiation illness, but it was impossible to know for sure without more details. People hide in a basement of a church which is used as a bomb shelter, after fleeing from nearby villages, that have been attacked by the Russian army, in the town of Bashtanka, Mykolaiv district, Ukraine, on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi was in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad on Friday for talks with senior officials there about nuclear issues in Ukraine. In addition to concerns about Chernobyl, nine of Ukraine's 15 operational reactors are currently in use, including two at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhya facility, the IAEA said. Early this week, the Russians said they would significantly scale back military operations in areas around Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv to increase trust between the two sides and help negotiations along. But in the Kyiv suburbs, regional governor Oleksandr Palviuk said on social media Thursday that Russian forces shelled Irpin and Makariv and that there were battles around Hostomel. Pavliuk said there were Ukrainian counterattacks and some Russian withdrawals around the suburb of Brovary to the east. At a Ukrainian military checkpoint outside Kyiv, soldiers and officers said they dont believe Russian forces have given up on the capital. What does it mean, significantly scaling down combat actions in the Kyiv and Chernihiv areas? asked Brig. Gen. Valeriy Embakov. Does it mean there will be 100 missiles instead of 200 missiles launched on Kyiv or something else? NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said intelligence indicates Russia is not scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead trying to regroup, resupply its forces and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas. Russia has repeatedly lied about its intentions, Stoltenberg said. At the same time, he said, pressure is being kept up on Kyiv and other cities, and we can expect additional offensive actions bringing even more suffering. The Donbas is the predominantly Russian-speaking industrial region where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014. In the past few days, the Kremlin, in a seeming shift in its war aims, said that its main goal now is gaining control of the Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including Mariupol. (Reuters) - An aide to the mayor of Mariupol said on Friday the besieged southern Ukrainian city remained closed for anyone trying to enter and was "very dangerous" for anyone trying to leave. Petro Andryushchenko said Russian forces had since Thursday been preventing even the smallest amount of humanitarian supplies reaching trapped residents, making clear a planned "humanitarian corridor" had not been opened. Tens of thousands of civilians have been trapped for weeks with scant food, water and other supplies in the city that was once home to 400,000 people but has been devastated by Russian bombardment. "The city remains closed to entry and very dangerous to exit with personal transport," he said on the Telegram messaging app. "In addition, since yesterday the occupiers have categorically not allowed any humanitarian aid - even in small quantities - into the city." A convoy of buses that set out for Mariupol on Thursday did not reach the city, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday evening. A girl walks in the courtyard of an apartment building destroyed by Russian forces in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk wrote in an online post late on Thursday that new efforts would be made "to push through a humanitarian corridor to Mariupol so as not to leave our people on their own." In a Facebook post, the general staff said on Thursday Ukrainian forces were still holding Mariupol, a gateway to the Black Sea which links a strategic corridor between Russia-backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine and the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula. The Mariupol mayor's office estimates 5,000 civilians have been killed in the siege of the city. The mayor put the number of civilians in the city earlier this week at up to 170,000. Repeated attempts to organise safe corridors have failed, with each side blaming the other. Russia denies attacking civilians in its assault on Ukraine that began on Feb. 24. The governor of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine said separately that he hoped five safe corridors would be opened on Friday to towns and cities in his region. Local residents walk past a destroyed apartment building in Mariupol. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russian forces in Ukraine are not withdrawing but regrouping. Commenting on Moscow's announcements about a scaling down of military operations around Kyiv, Stoltenberg also said the alliance has yet to be convinced that Russia was negotiating in good faith in peace talks in Istanbul because Moscow's military objective since launching its invasion of Ukraine has not changed. "According to our intelligence, Russian units are not withdrawing but repositioning. Russia is trying to regroup, resupply and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas region," Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels. Moscow says it is now focusing on "liberating" the Donbas region - two southeastern provinces partly controlled by separatists Russia has backed since 2014. "At the same time, Russia maintains pressure on Kyiv and other cities. So we can expect additional offensive actions, bringing even more suffering." Russia says it launched a "special military operation" to disarm and "denazify" its neighbour, and that the mission is going to plan. Stoltenberg said: "We have no real change in the real Russian objective ... they continue to pursue a military outcome." He also said NATO allies would continue to provide weapons to Ukraine for as a long as necessary. - Additional reporting Robin Emmott and Sabine Siebold. Omar Alshakal was just 17 when he left war-torn Syria behind before swimming his way to Europe. Almost a decade later, the Syrian refugee and his non-governmental organization welcome Ukrainian families fleeing Russian bombardment as they enter Romania through the border town of Siret. "It's a really hard feeling to flee from your home," Alshakal, 28, founder of Refugee 4 Refugees, told ABC News during a recent interview in Siret. "Women are crying when they cross the border because they just said goodbye to someone they love." MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates Since the start of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, more than 4.1 million people have fled Ukraine and over half of Ukrainian children are displaced, according to the United Nations. The response from European governments in favor of refugees was swift. One week after Russia launched its invasion, the Council of the European Union unanimously agreed to offer temporary protection to those fleeing Ukraine. PHOTO: Ukrainian refugees embark on a ferry to cross the Danube river at the Ukrainian-Romanian border at Isaccea-Orlivka on March 25, 2022. (Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images) In France, the government has launched a campaign called "Je m'engage pour l'Ukraine," or "I get involved for Ukraine," which connects regular French citizens with Ukrainian refugees in need of assistance. "They say some of the politicians in Europe, they make it very clear those people believe in the same religion we believe in" Alshakal told ABC News, comparing his situation to that of Ukrainian refugees. "That's why we [in Europe] are helping them because they are scared of Muslim people and they are scared of those people from different country." "As a person I was really upset, but as [the founder of] an NGO I cant complain because we are here to help people," he added. "We don't care about where they're from. We don't care about the religion. We don't care if they are black or white." MORE: Reporter's notebook: Traveling along Ukraine's southern border Although Alshakal wishes he had received similar treatment as a Syrian refugee, he empathizes with Ukrainians because of his own escape from war. "I still have the hope that I'm going back to my city, to my place, to my house," he said. PHOTO: Omar Alshakal, founder of Refugee 4 Refugees, is pictured working for his organization in Greece in this undated photo. (Omar Alshakal) According to the U.N., more than 390,000 of those fleeing Ukraine have crossed into neighboring Moldova, the smallest nation to share a border with Ukraine. Like Ukraine, Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite being the poorest country in Europe, Moldova opened its border to Ukraine's refugees, letting in the equivalent of 15% of its population in a matter of weeks. MORE: Map of where Ukraine refugees are heading In the Moldovan capital of Chisinau, 17-year-old Katalina volunteers after school at an abandoned cinema-turned-temporary shelter for refugees. "I visit Ukraine, I have relatives, my grandfather is from Ukraine," Katalina, who only gave ABC News her first name, said during a recent interview in Chisinau. "They are our brothers, our neighbors, and I'm sure that if Moldova has some problems, they would help us without thinking about it." PHOTO: Katalina speaks to ABC News in Chisinau, Moldova, March 24, 2022. (Ibtissem Guenfoud/ABC News) Another Moldovan citizen, Dan Romanescou, also does what he can to help by offering accommodation to Ukrainian families. "I helped a family who were really in need," Romanescou, 30, recalled during a recent interview with ABC News in Chisinau. Romanescou was born in the disputed territory of Transnistria, which borders western Ukraine and where at least 400 Russian peacekeepers are posted. "We are scared because it's war nearby," he said. "My grandparents were deported in Siberia in 1943 -- it was during Soviet Union." "Now, we face the situation that Russia wants to rebuild somehow the ex-Soviet Union space, which Moldova was a part of," he added. MORE: Warsaw mayor calls on international community to increase aid to Ukrainian refugees After fleeing their home in Ukraine and crossing into Slovakia, Irigna jumped on a bus with her son Yaroslav and daughter Sophia. "We are going to the school for one night," Irigna, who only gave her first name, told ABC News during a recent interview in Kosice, eastern Slovakia. "Next, maybe Vienna ... but we dont know." According to the U.N., more than 292,000 of those fleeing Ukraine have crossed into neighboring Slovakia. PHOTO: Father Pavol Novak is pictured in the village of Inovce, eastern Slovakia, March 22, 2022. (John Templeton/ABC News) In the eastern Slovakian village of Inovce, less than a mile from the border with Ukraine, Father Pavol Novak serves as the priest of a Catholic church. "I never thought that there would be a war. I just didn't want to accept that," Novak told ABC News during a recent interview in Inovce. "But when it actually happened, it wasn't a question of yes and no; it was duty. We felt like there's no choice, we had to help people at any cost." MORE: How to help Ukraine amid Russian attacks Novak's church has housed more than 100 refugees from Ukraine since the start of the war. "We dont know what could happen to us and maybe we will be in this situation in the future, and maybe we'll need help," he said. "So maybe if we help now, people will help us in the future." For more coverage: ABC News' Ibtissem Guenfoud reports: Refugee Effort in Romania Teenager Helps Refugees in Moldova How Ukraine's neighboring countries are welcoming refugees originally appeared on abcnews.go.com WASHINGTON Even as other European leaders rushed to support Ukraine in its effort to repel the invasion Russia launched in late February, Hungarys nationalist, authoritarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, remained defiantly aloof, unwilling to sacrifice his long-standing relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the sake of a neighboring nation trying to assert its independence from Russia, as Hungary once had. Like counterparts across the continent, Orban had been subject to an impassioned appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In Orbans case, Zelensky invoked Hungary's uprising against communism in 1956, which was ruthlessly suppressed by Moscow. There is no time to hesitate. Its time to decide, Zelensky told Orban. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks from Kyiv by video to leaders of the European Council on March 24. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) The man sometimes called Viktator which intentionally rhymes with dictator remained unmoved. Our moral responsibility is not for Ukraine: our moral responsibility is for our own people, he said in a radio interview last Sunday, pointing out that Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian energy. He also drew a distinction with his liberal opponents, who he said were willing to sacrifice our interests on the altar of Ukrainian interests and do what the president of Ukraine says we should do. Those liberal opponents hope to score a major victory in Sundays parliamentary election, which will serve as a referendum not only on Orbans self-described illiberal democracy a cousin of the managed democracy his friend Putin implemented in Russia but on the imperiled future of democracy in Eastern Europe. In many ways, Hungary is a cautionary tale, David Koranyi, a fellow at the Atlantic Council and a critic of the Orban regime, told Yahoo News. He laments how, under Orban, the promising, newly minted democracy of the 1990s has curdled into a repressive regime where, as in Russia, independent media outlets have been suppressed and democratic institutions bullied into submission. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday at the final electoral rally before Sunday's election. (Petr David Josek/AP) Hungary under Orban has also become something of a fixation with American conservatives; in January he received an endorsement from ally Donald Trump, who praised him as a strong leader. Many on the right seem to admire Orban for claiming victories in the same culture wars they have been waging for decades. Since returning to power in 2010 (he had previously served a single term as prime minister between 1998 and 2002), Orban has pushed what he calls a pro-family agenda that is similar to the one supported by American evangelicals. He was also a staunch opponent of allowing migrants from Syria and North Africa into Hungary, and he built a border fence similar to the barrier Trump promised as a means of keeping migrants from Latin America out of the United States. That earned Orban a visit from Tucker Carlson in the summer of 2021. The Fox News host hosted a week of his primetime program from the capital city, Budapest, culminating in a one-on-one interview with Orban. Hungary, Carlson told his American viewers, is a small country with a lot of lessons for the rest of us. Orban fandom on the American right did have to do with his moves to ban abortion or same-sex marriage or otherwise curtail LGBTQ rights in Hungary, the journalist Sarah Posner, who has covered Hungarian politics, told the radio program "On Point" last year. They liked that. They also liked his appeals to not just ethnic nationalism but Christian nationalism, which is what they have been promoting here in the United States. Fox News host Tucker Carlson speaks during the Mathias Corvinus Collegium Feszt in Hungary in 2021. (Janos Kummer/Getty Images) Hungary is a starkly different cultural battleground from the United States. About 62% of Hungarians are Catholic today. The nations Jewish population, once large and thriving, was nearly eradicated in the final murderous months when the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau was in operation during World War II, while Muslims have never been nearly as welcome in Hungary as they have been in Western European countries like Germany and the United Kingdom. Opponents of Orban hope the mutual admiration will be disrupted with Sundays election, which they hope will be the culmination of years of political organizing under highly inauspicious circumstances. Liberal and centrist opposition groups have united behind Peter Marki-Zay, a young mayor from a southern city near the Romanian border. Hungary borders seven countries in all, and it has historically served at different times as an imperial power and as a vassal. Today it is both a member of the European Union and an ally of Russia a weak link in the chain of NATO, as Koranyi put it. Marki-Zay imagines a different future for Hungary, one more closely aligned with the West. Putin and Orban belong to this autocratic, repressive, poor and corrupt world. And we have to choose Europe, West, NATO, democracy, rule of law, freedom of the press, a very different world: the free world, he recently told the New York Times. Hungary's joint opposition candidate for prime minister, Peter Marki-Zay, at a campaign event in Budapest on Tuesday. (Anna Szilagyi/AP) The sad irony of the Hungarian oppositions increasing unity is that it is up against an authoritarian ruler as determined as ever to stay in power. Now that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stepped down, Orban is the European Unions longest-serving head of state. Never especially shy about wielding state power to advance his own chance of reelection, he has recently gone so far as to use a coronavirus alert service to make a pitch ahead of Sundays election. Given the crosscurrents of fear and propaganda that mark Hungarian public discourse, Marki-Zays chances of victory are lower than they should be, Koranyi lamented. Orban has tried recently to edge away from Putin without alienating him, a tactic to spare Hungary from repercussions an embittered Kremlin could levy. The contrast is especially stark with Poland, where a nationalistic and conservative government has pivoted to support Ukraine. A similar move is highly unlikely to emanate from Budapest if Orban remains in charge. There are really alarming similarities between Putins Russia and Orbans Hungary, media scholar Eva Bognar of the Central European University in Hungary, told Yahoo News. The two countries are not identical, she cautioned, but the war in Ukraine could only bring the similarities into high relief. Orban has been very proud of being friendly with Putin, Bognar said. The special relationship between the two strongmen makes Sundays election a broader referendum on Hungarys future. Orban really subordinated the country to Putin, Hungarian politician Katalin Cseh recently told former Obama foreign policy adviser Ben Rhodes on the Pod Save the World podcast. If Orban stays in power, we will become the pariah of the EU for a very long time to come. _____ What happened this week in Ukraine? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out. Around one in every 100 people in the UK is likely to have been newly infected with Covid-19 per day during the current surge of the virus, figures suggest. Infections are estimated to have climbed as high as 657,300 every day by March 16, according to new modelling published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is the equivalent of roughly 1% of the population. It is also more than double the number of daily infections that were occurring at the end of February. The figures suggest that by mid-March the virus was circulating at levels higher even than those reached during the Omicron-led surge at the start of the year. More data is needed before estimates can be made for the number of new infections in more recent days, however. (PA Graphics) The modelling is based on results collected as part of the ONS weekly Covid-19 infection survey of private households. Sample sizes are smaller for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland than they are for England, meaning margins of error are wide and care should be taken in interpreting results, the ONS said. But the estimates suggest that the steep jump in new infections that began at the end of February has continued well into March, mirroring the sharp rise in the overall prevalence of the virus at the same time. They are also another reminder of just how many infections are being missed from the official figures published each day on the Governments coronavirus dashboard. There was an estimated 4.2 million people newly infected with Covid-19 in the UK in the week to March 16, according to the ONS. This is nearly eight times number recorded in the same period on the dashboard. Responding to the figures, Professor Kevin McConway, of the Open University, acknowledged that routine testing for Covid-19 is never likely to pick up all infections, because some people dont have any symptoms and some may choose not to be tested. But until about the start of February, generally a third and a half of the estimated new infections from the survey were being recorded as new cases on the dashboard, he continued. So the fall to about an eighth is large, and not at all encouraging for the accuracy of dashboard trends in case rates. He added: One in every hundred people being newly infected every day is a really high rate. Separate figures published by the ONS on Friday showed the prevalence of coronavirus in the UK has reached record levels, with 4.9 million people likely to have tested positive for the virus last week, up from 4.3 million the previous week. The latest wave of infections is continuing to be driven by the Omicron variant BA.2, the ONS said. An American man kidnapped by the Taliban in early 2020 was seen alive for the first time since then on Friday in a hostage video. Mark Frerichs, 59, asked for his release in the video, which was sent to the New Yorker by an unidentified Afghanistan source. He appeared to be reading off a script and said the video was recorded on Nov. 28, 2021. Id like to ask the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, please, release me, he said. Release me so that I may be reunited with my family. Mark Frerichs, a Lombard, Ill., native who was kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2020, poses in an undated photo. Mark Frerichs, a Lombard, Ill., native who was kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2020, poses in an undated photo. ( Charlene Cakora/) Frerichs is a Navy veteran and former civilian contractor. An Illinois native, he was living in Kabul in January 2020 when he was snatched off the street. Family members remained convinced that Frerichs was alive despite no evidence prior to Fridays video. Hes believed to be the last American hostage held by the Taliban. This is public confirmation of our familys long-held belief that he is alive after more than two years in captivity, Frerichs sister and chief advocate, Charlene Cakora, told the New Yorker. Cakora said shes been disappointed by former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Bidens efforts, or lack thereof, to secure Frerichs release. We consider this to be an important indicator of the Talibans interest in seeking to arrange for Marks immediate release, she said. President Biden and Secretary (of State Antony) Blinken, we urge you to take bold and decisive action to bring Mark home. The Taliban has named its price for Frerichs release: Bashir Noorzai, a convicted druglord serving a life sentence in U.S. federal prison. In 2008, NPR referred to Noorzai as the Pablo Escobar of the Middle East. Noorzai has been detained in the U.S. since his 2005 arrest in New York. The Taliban has requested his release in previous negotiations, including for Bowe Bergdahl, but the U.S. has not budged. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to the representatives of the Assyrian community of Armenia on the occasion of the Assyrian New Year, Kha b-Nisan, the PMs Office said. The message reads as follows: I warmly congratulate the Assyrians of Armenia on the occasion of the New Year, Kha b-Nisan. New hopes and dreams, new plans and ideas are associated with the New Year. May the coming year be a year of success and new achievements for the Assyrians of Armenia, and may the heirs of the ancient Assyrian culture in Armenia not only preserve, but also develop and enrich their native language and culture. May this beautiful spring holiday of love and fertility accompany you throughout the coming year, and may all the ordeals remain away. I wish the Assyrian community of Armenia happiness, prosperity, success and new development programs. YEREVAN, 1 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Russian peacekeeping contingent continues to fulfill its tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. Russian peacekeepers are monitoring the situation around the clock at 27 checkpoints and are monitoring the ceasefire. No violations were registered in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. "Four convoys of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces were escorted through the Lachin corridor, two to the north and two to the south. Patrol service was carried out in Askeran, Martakert, Martuni regions, in Lachin corridor. Continued cooperation with the General Staffs of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia is maintained to ensure the security of Russian peacekeepers and prevent possible incidents," the statement said. by Vladimir Rozanskij Between 5 and 6 million inhabitants involved. Data collection also for revision of real estate. 28 thousand people hired to process statistics. At the end of April the second phase begins: it will involve villages and peripheral areas. The country wants to modernize. Moscow (AsiaNews) - In Kyrgyzstan, the third population census since independence, obtained 30 years ago after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, is underway. The verification takes place every ten years, and the previous ones took place in 1999 and 2009. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however, it was postponed by two years, and now, together with the statistics on citizens, whose number ranges between five and six million people, the cadastre of real estate and land properties will be reviewed. The deputy chairman of the National Statistical Committee, Zaynidin Zumaliev, explained in an interview with Azattyk the purpose of the procedure, which officially started on March 25. Twenty-eight thousand people participate, temporarily hired in all local administrative structures. Previous censuses were conducted with manually filled forms, while the current one will be entirely electronic, through special smartphone applications with special Qr-Codes. The revision of the cadastre does not require the submission of property documents, but only the description of apartments and spaces, the availability of cold and hot running water, sewerage, the use of home computers and other similar parameters. As Zumaliev explains, "the population lives with us in very different ways, some depend on the earnings of members working abroad, and then more in-depth questions are asked." There are five different modules, with 45 basic questions, on the answer of which other questions may depend. If one claims to have worked in Russia, they are asked why they returned, and simply answer "I didn't like it," or "I stopped working." If it is not clear where the livelihood is taken from, it is sufficient to answer that you are a "private entrepreneur". If the extent of earnings and assets is not made clear, the origin of the funds will be clarified. This is "because this is private information. The entire census should be completed in early April, after which an in-depth analysis of the data collected will be carried out. At the end of the month, a second phase will begin, which will take place in the most peripheral areas of the country and in villages, often located in territories with difficult access and roads that are not always passable, depending on weather conditions. Finally, information will be arranged by categories: men/women, children/adults, workers/unemployed, and so on, to be processed by other specialists hired for this task. A guarantee is given that personal data will not be disseminated, according to Kyrgyz laws. The importance of the census for the life and economy of Kyrgyzstan, as Zumaliev points out, depends on the fact that "only by knowing the actual number of those living on certain territories will it be possible for each region to plan the construction of schools, hospitals and other social goals". Kyrgyzstan wants to put itself on a par with many other countries, and show that even in the post-Soviet republics of Central Asia it is possible to live in conditions of civilization and progress, overcoming the old prejudices and the resistance of part of the population. Ali Erbas, head of the Diyanet, announces its return "for the first time in 88 years". The presence of the faithful is expected, after the restrictions of the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The rite of tarawih will take place every Friday, Saturday and every Sunday of the holy month of fasting and prayer that begins tomorrow. Istanbul (AsiaNews) - After almost a century, in the former Christian basilica - then museum - of Saint (Hagia) Sophia, which was converted into a mosque by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will once again hear the Islamic prayer for Ramadan. The tarawih, which every devout Muslim recites every night in the holy month of fasting and prayer, will be celebrated inside the building, as confirmed yesterday by the country's highest religious office. The powerful Ali Erbas, head of the Diyanet, already leading the first Islamic Eid prayer in the disputed place of worship, said that "thank God for the first time in 88 years, the mosque [...] will welcome the faithful for the tarawih prayers in this Ramadan." He added that "inshallah [God willing], I will witness this beautiful moment by leading the first prayer myself." In a note, the Diyanet explained that the ritual will take place every Friday, Saturday and every Sunday of the holy month of fasting and prayer "starting this week." The two ancient Christian basilicas, Hagia Sophia and Chora, were first converted into mosques during the Ottoman era and later secularised and turned into museums following the founding of the Turkish republic by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the first part of the 20th century. Last year, the two churches were reconverted into mosques as part of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans nationalism and Islam policy, designed to hide the countrys economic crisis and maintain his hold on power. Following the decision that authorised the transformation, Islamic authorities ordered white drapes be placed to cover the images of Jesus, and other frescoes and icons that testify to the buildings Christian roots. The changes to the two UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2020 sparked a major international political-religious controversy. However, the very restrictive measures imposed to contain Covid-19 and limits on access to places of worship had prevented massive participation in prayer during the holy month for Muslims. The first prayer of Ramadan, which begins tomorrow with the first new moon, is scheduled this evening in all mosques in the country, including "the Great Mosque of St. Sophia" as stated in the note of the religious institution. The rites also include the reading of large excerpts from the Koran and the recitation of the Rak'a, the constituent unit of prayer in Islam. Today's news: South Korean Constitutional Court upholds ban on tattoos; Manila asks Church for help with Taal volcano; Russia and India finalize procedures for an alternative platform for transactions; Laos fuel emergency worsens; Beijing hunts former number two Justice (and friend of Xi Jinping) from party. ISRAEL - PALESTINE Thousands of people, including many ultra-Orthodox Jews, attended the funeral of 32-year-old Christian policeman Amir Khoury, paying tribute to him. The officer was killed on the evening of March 29 in Bnei Brak, in the attack carried out by an attacker - later "neutralized" - in the ultra-Orthodox suburb of Tel Aviv. The funeral was held yesterday in the Basilica of the Annunciation, in Nazareth. CHINA Beijing has expelled the former deputy chief of police and number two in the Ministry of Public Security from the Communist Party. Fu Zhenghua had been preevoulsy linked to President Xi Jinping. Among the reasons were his "extremely despicable" behavior and the accusation of having made friends through "political fraud." In the past he had contributed to the ouster of Zhou Yongkang. SOUTH KOREA The Constitutional Court upheld the ban on tattoos, leaving South Korea as the only developed nation to allow only doctors this procedure. Tattoo artists have announced a battle, branding the ruling as retrograde. In 50 thousand practice the profession, risking searches and trials. The risk ranges from two years in prison to life imprisonment, in addition to a 40,000 euro fine. PHILIPPINES The Philippine authorities have asked the Church for help in facing the emergency caused by the eruption of the Taal volcano, in the province of Batangas, south of Manila, which began on March 26. So far at least 5,000 people have been evacuated from five villages. Through Caritas, food baskets and basic necessities have been distributed. Taal is among the most active in the archipelago. INDIA - RUSSIA The Russian State Development Bank Beb and the Reserve Bank of India have concluded the joint procedures for the alternative transaction platform to the Swift system. The aim is to facilitate trade transactions in rubles and rupees between the two countries after the introduction of Western sanctions. TURKMENISTAN The Mari velayat traffic police in Turkmenistan have imposed a new licensing procedure on private taxi drivers to prevent them from using personal cars to make money on rides. The basic requirement is the display of the portrait of the new president Serdar Berdymukhamedov on the front and rear windows of the car. ARMENIA - AZERBAIJAN Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pasinyan stated that Azerbaijan does not accept the principle of mutual recognition of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. Baku would take advantage of the war in Ukraine to clear Nagorno-Karabakh of Armenian presence. Yerevan expects "concrete steps" from Russian peacekeepers to resolve the issue. LAOS In Laos there is a fuel emergency, with service stations gradually closing in various parts of the country. A crisis that began six months ago and has worsened over time, with angry citizens demanding urgent measures from the government. The most fortunate are buying petrol sold in bottles on market stalls. At the root of the crisis is the soaring prices. Meeting representatives of Canadas First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples victimised by forced assimilation, Francis asked for forgiveness for the abuses committed by Catholics in residential schools. For the pope, It is chilling to think of the determined efforts to instil a sense of inferiority, to rob people of their cultural identity, to sever their roots, and to consider all the personal and social effects that this continues to entail: unresolved traumas that have become intergenerational traumas. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis today met in the Vaticans Clementine Hall with representatives of Canadas First Nations, Inuit and Metis; peoples who were deeply affected by forced assimilation in residential schools. In his address, the pontiff spoke about the many forms of political, ideological and economic colonization [that] still exist in the world, driven by greed and thirst for profit, with little concern for peoples, their histories and traditions, and the common home of creation! Sadly, this colonial mentality remains widespread. Let us help each other, together, to overcome it. Between the end of the 19th century and the middle of the 20th century, about 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend government schools, administered by Christian religious orders, cut off from their families and their culture. These schools sometimes saw abuse and degradation, with at least 3,200 children dying from malnutrition and disease. Pope Francis solemnly asked for forgiveness during the audience for such suffering. In a series of private meetings over the past few days, representatives of these peoples also had the opportunity to express their own culture and spirituality through gestures and prayers under the frescoed vaults of the Vatican. Francis acknowledged that great harm was done to your identity and your culture, many families were separated, and great numbers of children fell victim to these attempts to impose a uniformity based on the notion that progress occurs through ideological colonization, following programmes devised in offices rather than the desire to respect the life of peoples. Listening to your voices, I was able to enter into and be deeply grieved by the stories of the suffering, hardship, discrimination and various forms of abuse that some of you [have] experienced, particularly in the residential schools. It is chilling to think of [the] determined efforts to instil a sense of inferiority, to rob people of their cultural identity, to sever their roots, and to consider all the personal and social effects that this continues to entail: unresolved traumas that have become intergenerational traumas. The pontiff expressed indignation and shame for this, indignation because without historical memory and without a commitment to learning from past mistakes, problems remain unresolved and keep coming back; shame for the role that a number of Catholics, particularly those with educational responsibilities, have had in all these things that wounded you, in the abuses you suffered and in the lack of respect shown for your identity, your culture and even your spiritual values. All these things are contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask for God's forgiveness. Finally, Francis said that he hoped that these recent meetings will point out new paths to be pursued together. To this end, he urged Canadas bishops and Catholics to take part in a journey that can favour the rediscovery and revitalization of your culture, while helping the Church to grow in love, respect and specific attention to your authentic traditions. The pontiff also expressed the desire to meet with Indigenous people again and visit them in person in their lands, hopefully this year on the occasion of the feast of St Anne (July), who is greatly venerated among them. Nuns released a letter on the 11th anniversary of the countrys civil war. In Jihadi-held Idlib, Christians are subjected to harsh conditions and deprivation. Even in the Kurdish north-east, minorities live a tragic reality. Now entire families who left the war in Syria and went as refugees to Ukraine [. . .] find themselves in a new exodus. A recent conference in Damascus brings some hope. Damascus (AsiaNews) The Trappist nuns of Azeir, Syria, published a long letter on the OraproSiria blog to mark 11 years of Syrias conflict that "passed somewhat in silence, due to the new tragedies and concerns that afflict the world. Penned by Sister Marta Luisa, the letter painfully refers to the prospect of a new Syria in the heart of Europe while still today "we [. . .] see our young people leaving for promised lands that no longer exist. The reference is to Russias invasion of Ukraine, a new conflict in the heart of Europe. "We know young people, entire families who left the war in Syria and went as refugees to Ukraine. Now they find themselves in a new exodus, still fleeing war. From their monastery in the small Maronite village of Azeir in western Syria, located between the cities of Tartous and Homs, the Trappist nuns can look at a still divided country from a privileged position. The war "unfortunately is not over yet, writes Sister Marta Luisa, although most of the territory is "now consolidated under the control of the state". An extremist pocket remains in the Idlib area on the border with Turkey, almost a small state in itself, which uses the Turkish language and currency, an area where the remaining Christians are subjected to harsh conditions and deprivation. Problems have also been reported in the Kurdish-majority north-east, where the situation of Christian minorities is tragic because they are "trapped between opposing forces in conditions of insecurity. In this part of Syria, you can only get there by plane (small internal flights) because the roads are still threatened by jihadists. The crisis in Lebanon has made the already precarious situation more difficult in terms of jobs and supplies, seriously weakening the business class of the country. The Trappist nuns picture a very harsh reality. Eighty-five percent of the population lives below the poverty line, with difficulty in getting even just their daily food. Fourteen and a half million people need subsidies, and some estimates say they are many more. Generally speaking, Life is very expensive as the price of everything has increased: a carton of eggs today costs 13,000 Syrian pounds, a gas cylinder 110,000, when a basic salary is 100,000 (US$ 40), reads the letter. Crime and sanctions have compounded the problems caused by war and economic crisis. Mafias are rampant, Sr Marta Luis writes, gangs of jackals that every conflict, every war produces [. . .] thrive, even with the help of international sanctions. Sadly, despite the continuous appeals made by geopolitical experts, statesmen, countless Syrian bishops and lay people who fight every day against the effects of poverty, they [sanctions] not only continue, but are regularly renewed by European states and indeed improved, aggravated, with banal contempt, not only for human solidarity but also simple common sense. For the Trappist nuns, sanctions, including the infamous Caesar Act, never hit the powerful, only poor people. Another issue is the supply of weapons that end up in the hands of gangs, a danger to stability and security because "regular armies can be controlled, weapons in the hands of civilians cannot". In this difficult reality, a sign of hope has come from the recent conference of the Syrian Church in Damascus, which brought together for the first time cardinals, bishops, priests, laity, local and international Christian and Muslim associations, such as the Red Crescent. The aim, explains Sister Marta Luisa, is forming together a conscience, a vision of what we are experiencing, of what is at the heart of the painful experience of our people, but also of their hopes, of the real possibilities of building, after so much destruction. The nuns have undertaken certain initiatives to cope with certain difficulties and meet a number of challenges. We, in our small way, try to encourage formative meetings, with more and more guests who come to the Monastery. We try to financially support children and young people in their studies, and give work to some women left alone or with family difficulties. This includes support [for] some micro projects, like helping young people buy some cattle or giving them a chance to start a job with some income. After ten years of military service, so many find themselves with nothing in their hands. by Melani Manel Perera Vehicles set on fire and stone throwing were met by tear gas and police arrests. A crowd protested at the soaring prices of essential goods and power cuts. The country is fast approaching the precipice of a failed state that will in its wake inflict irreversible injuries on the people, the countrys Catholic bishops warn Colombo (AsiaNews) Protests against the rising cost of basic necessities and power cuts lasting up to 13 hours have resulted in an attack last night against the residence of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksha in Mirihana, Colombo. Organised extremist groups joined previously peaceful protests burning cars and damaging property. For their part, police attacked demonstrators and made several arrests. A number of vehicles and a bus placed as a barrier at the entrance to the presidents house were set on fire. Using tear gas and water cannons, police tried to disperse protesters, who threw stones and other objects. About 20 agents were injured. To stop the violence, the police imposed a curfew in several districts of Colombo, which was lifted only this morning. Protest organisers reject the accusation by the Sri Lankan presidents office of provoking the violence. Instead, they blame agents provocateurs for the devastation and Rajapaksa who has done nothing to alleviate the suffering of the people during this economic crisis. Police arrested 54 people in connection with the riots. Several lawyers are assisting those arrested. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) has also expressed its concern at the countrys tragic situation. The CBCSL recently issued a statement, noting that, All successive governments to date are responsible in varying degrees for the present state of affairs. The bishops go on to say that, the present government as well as those in the opposition must adopt a conciliatory not a confrontational approach and avoid play[ing] the blame game. The country is fast approaching the precipice of a failed state that will in its wake inflict irreversible injuries on the people, the bishops warned. The prelates also urged the faithful and Church institutions to help the most vulnerable and affected groups during the economic crisis. The skies darken against the glow of fire as Buttermilk Mountain erupts in an ancient ritual used to determine the next leader of Aspen Ski Inc. BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Peace and development, the theme of our times, are facing grave challenges, with the Ukraine crisis lingering and rifts among major countries widening. When the global peace deficit keeps enlarging, Chinese President Xi Jinping has consistently advocated a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, inspiring human society to march towards lasting peace and universal security. CHINESE VISION As the Ukraine crisis has drawn global attention and the world is eager for a way out, Xi, on multiple occasions, has pointed out that countries need to actively advocate a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. In a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Feb. 25, Xi called on dropping the Cold War mentality, attaching importance to and respecting the legitimate security concerns of various countries and forming a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiation. During a video call with U.S. President Joe Biden on March 18, the Chinese president stressed "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." Whatever the circumstances, there is always a need for political courage to create space for peace and leave room for political settlement, he added. China's rational and fair stance of calling for peace and promoting negotiations is widely recognized around the world. In their calls with Xi, multiple leaders expressed their recognition of China's propositions. Back in 2014, at the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Shanghai, Xi proposed a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security strategy for Asia. In the following years, the Chinese leader has continuously developed the concept and expounded it on various international occasions. As demonstrated by Xi's vision, the world cannot just have security for one or a few countries while leaving the rest insecure, and each has an equal right to participate in regional security affairs and equal responsibility to uphold security. Xi's security vision has also shown that diversity and differences should be turned into energy and a driving force for security cooperation, and that development is the foundation of security and security a precondition for development. It has also enlightened countries to resolve disputes through peaceful means and oppose the arbitrary use of force or threats. Overseas observers agreed that the vision advocated by Xi provides a new way to solve the widespread "security dilemma" in international relations. It has offered a "China solution" to the world in the field of international security, said Tursunali Kuziev, a professor at Uzbekistan's University of Journalism and Mass Communications. CHINESE CONTRIBUTION As a responsible major country, China has adhered to the path of peaceful development and win-win cooperation, actively advocated and put into practice a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. China remains a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order. The country has taken solid and firm actions in fulfilling its international responsibilities. From safeguarding global strategic stability, to actively participating in international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, from pursuing a nuclear strategy of self-defense to taking an active part in international peacekeeping operations, China has injected strong impetus into the maintenance of world peace with concrete actions. "China is already helping us a lot in many ways, and the deployment of Chinese troops in many missions is critically important," UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix has said. Meanwhile, China's position on promoting political settlement of hotspot issues has been consistent. To resolve the Ukraine crisis, China has actively encouraged the two sides to keep the momentum of negotiations, overcome difficulties, keep the talks going and bring about peaceful outcomes. China has also worked to promote the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through dialogue and consultation. As Iran's nuclear talks reach a critical point, China has been urging all parties to stay focused and build consensus. China's contributions in non-traditional security fields such as health, climate, digitalization and anti-terrorism are being witnessed by the international community. To date, China has supplied more than 2.1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations, taken an active part in addressing climate change, put forward its carbon peak and carbon neutral goals and formulated relevant action plans, as well as proposed the Global Initiative on Data Security. It has also actively advanced global counter-terrorism cooperation, calling for addressing the root causes of terrorism and abandoning "double standards." To realize common development, China has not only eradicated poverty through unremitting efforts, but also cooperated with other countries in this regard. It has continued to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win results, and put forward the Global Development Initiative to focus on the most pressing issues facing developing countries, including poverty reduction, food security, economic recovery, employment, health and green development. Former Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva said that the initiatives and propositions put forward by Xi, including the security vision, have charted the course for the future of mankind. FOR BRIGHTER FUTURE Some major countries, however, in pursuit of hegemony and their own interests, have stirred up troubles in the world, only to complicate security issues, which, due to the interwoven past and reality, ideologies and interests, are already intricate and hard to address. They smear other countries, hype up groundless fear, forge cliques, and politicize economic and technological issues ... in every effort to poison the atmosphere of international relations, deteriorate tensions and conflicts, hazard the global development. They weaponize globalization and wage proxy conflicts and wars in the name of seeking "absolute security," subjecting civilians in small countries to the cost of geopolitical confrontations, while standing by and making a fortune in war ... in order to incite separation and confrontations, which has undermined world peace. In many countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Cuba, people have been accusing the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization of ruining their work and normal life and violating their human rights and freedom, which showcases how evil hegemony falls to be. One cannot live in the 21st century with the outdated thinking of Cold War and zero-sum games, Xi said on May 21, 2014, when delivering a keynote speech at the fourth summit of the CICA in Shanghai. Through adhering to a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, as well as dialogue and negotiations based on equality and respect, crises and disputes can be resolved step by step. Over the South China Sea issue, China has advocated and observed an Asian way of cooperation in the course of advancing regional cooperation, which features mutual respect, consensus-building and accommodation of each other's comfort levels, promoted the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea with other countries, and worked to reach a framework of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, realizing general stability in the region. Regarding the Middle East issue, China has proposed establishing a multilateral dialogue platform in the Gulf region to explore ways of solving disputes by Middle Eastern countries in their own ways. China never seeks its own gains or sphere of influence in the Middle East, nor will it participate in geographical competition in the region, and stands ready to promote the South-South cooperation with the Mideast countries. Regional organizations and mechanisms, including the CICA and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, have continued to grow stronger, strengthened policy coordination on managing hotspot issues and regional security cooperation, and promoted the establishment of regional security cooperation and dialogue mechanisms. China's vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security will strongly contribute to international peace and stability, said Kabinet Fofana, director of the Guinean Association of Political Science. Right now, the motorsport-prone division has no less than four bespoke models: the GR Yaris pocket rocket, the affordable GR86, the legendary GR Supra, and the new Hot Hatch five-door kid on the block, GR Corolla. As per the numerous teasers and the recent pre-official leak , the latter is everything promised... and then some more.In a sea of crossovers, SUVs, and trucks - and mind you, Toyota has great ones as well (RAV4, 4Runner, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra , to name a few) - the Japanese automaker takes ample strides to show that passenger cars are not yet ready to be dismissed as yesterdays news. And while slowly falling out of favor with other carmakers, the makers iconic Corolla line has just revealed something to make your stomach flutter.Claiming it brings heat for the streets! Toyota has just officially released their first-ever (and hopefully not the last) GR Corolla five-door hatchback and brings to the brand a Hot Hatch to sell in North America after an awfully long and arduous wait. Even better for the carmaker, there is little to no competition as rivals are slowly yet steadily abandoning passenger cars in the chase for high-riding profits.The Japanese automaker promises this is the real deal, a genuine sportscar, precision built at the GR Factory at Toyotas Motomachi Plant in Japan, and for the moment, there is virtually no reason to consider it otherwise. It carries the smaller GR Yaris siblings rally racing ethos and will even hone the skills of its drivers with a complimentary one-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association, featuring a High-Performance Driving Event.Two grades will soon become available: Core (later this year) with white, black, and Supersonic Red paints, wide-fender flares, and GR fabric sport seats; as well as Circuit Edition (from 2023, limited edition, launch-year-exclusive) in white, Supersonic Red, and Heavy Metal. There are also GR-Four side rockers, wide fenders, and on top of Core, it brings a forged carbon-fiber roof, vented hood, rear spoiler, Brin Naub suede-accented sport seats with red details, as well as an exclusive Morizo-signed shift knob.Pricing will be announced later this year (hopefully, it will be more competitive than GR Supras), and Toyota also introduces the 2023 GR Corolla to its all-new touchscreen Toyota Audio Multimedia system. But enough with the trifle stuff because what we need to talk about are numbers and codes, starting with a simple reference: G16E-GTS . This is where GR Yaris enthusiasts are having a moment of epiphany since it is the very same light, compact, powerful turbo three-cylinder engine.Only this time around, the GR folks did not forget to offset the inherently higher weight, and inside the GR Corolla, it develops 300 horsepower and 273 lb. ft. (370 Nm) of torque. There are no performance measurements just yet, but ( WRC ) purists will surely rejoice. They will do so at the sight of a six-speed manual transmission and knowing that under the body lies a GR-Four all-wheel-drive drivetrain with a choice of 60-40, 50-50 or 30-70 power distribution between the front and rear wheels. Aercap is considered the worlds biggest aircraft lessor, so its problems are just as big. Following the imposed sanctions, the Dublin-based company terminated leases on 135 planes and 14 engines with Russian airlines, Irish Times reports.Not only did it lose the $33 million per month that it was making in rent, on the aircraft it was leasing to Russia but it also found itself unable to recover its aircraft from the country so that it could lease them to other carriers. According to Aercap, the planes that are stuck in Russia represent 5% of the value of its entire fleet, leading to a potential net loss of $2.5 billion.As a result, the leasing company filed insurance claims adding up to $3.5 billion. Even though insurers will probably contest these claims, we intend to aggressively pursue all our claims on all our policies, Aengus Kelly, Aercap's chief executive, told Irish Times. This shows one of the many ramifications with complicated legal aspects of the sanctions imposed on Russia. It could be argued that the Russian airlines that have held on to the 500 foreign aircraft are operating them illegally, disregarding international laws. But with no access to parts and maintenance services, in addition to all the other financial factors, its hard to believe that they are able to actually use them, even internally. Throwing insurance claims in the mix just adds another level of complexity to the issue.Still, Aercaps executive acknowledged the fact that potential financial losses are far less important" than the loss of human lives in Ukraine, which is why peace is the only urgent goal. As hard as it was to believe it, we scheduled a video interview, and his only demand was that we write exactly what he said. Musk was pretty candid in his answers about quality issues, production delays, racism cases, and past promises, which the Tesla CEO denied were ever broken: they were just poorly timed.Heres the interview:First of all, Mr. Musk, it is a surprise that you accepted to talk to the press. Most of all, that you asked us to talk about all that Tesla is going through.I felt that uh well it was time to clarify some stuff and reassure our customers and investor about uh their concerns.Perfect! Lets start with what seems to be the most urgent situation with Tesla vehicles. Im talking about quality issues. Paint that peels, suspensions that break, glasses that shatter on their own, and more recently, the failing heat pumps . How does Tesla plan to avoid those problems?Were uh starting a program to check these issues. We always thought people would not complain about them, but yeah. They did. Then, we thought we could fix them with over-the-air updates, but well, it did not work as we planned.But what about recalls or a better quality control process to avoid these things?Thats the idea now. Well, when we uh realized that some of these things did not work like software, we were uh quite mad that the strategy we had set before did not work. We wanted things to be simpler, to give customers a seamless experience. Who knew?Everybody did. Philippe Chain warned you about that before you released the Model S.Yeah, he did, but uh we wanted to make things differently. We did not want to follow what the automotive industry had done for more than one hundred years. That was outdated.But it worked, right? And it avoided many issues, prevented defective vehicles from hitting the roads It does not always work but recalls help to solve that in most cases.We could not wait. We did not have the money to test. We had to spend it on other stuff.Such as in the MCUs that did not use automotive-grade screens?Well, uh yeah. And in finding better ways to do cars at lower prices so that we could make a profit with our EVs. And in creating the Supercharging network.But wouldnt it be better for you to invest more in quality control so that your customers have to inspect their cars to avoid those that are too problematic? Tesla does not spend much money on advertisements apart from China.Now we see that. For our cars to keep selling, we have to uh well, yeah. We have to make them more reliable so that people stop complaining about them. Were lucky that some never do. They even bash those who complain on forums and on Facebook. Our Tesla ambassadors are great.Apologists, right?Well yeah, thats another way to frame them. I love it when they uh say that our cars saved their lives in fender benders!But what about those that just need a reliable car to drive? One that will not freeze them to death in cold weather, will not flood when it rains, or will not lose their bumpers in puddles?I used to think we didnt need them, but yeah. It seems they are an essential part of customer base out there. Some of them dont even have our stocks, so, yeah we have to keep these guys happy as well. Thats why well hire quality control experts.And what will they do? Will they test future vehicles more intensively? Will theyOh, we will not have future cars. We need to sell the ones we have already developed.But what will you do about them?Uh We will do nothing. YeahBut what will this quality control program do?Ill announce it on Twitter.Then what?Then our ambassadors will talk about it, share it, and well uh generate more value to our investors.With no real changes to the cars?There will be real changes. Well add fun features to them. Theyll fart louder, fly, play music to pedestriansBut what about the issues? And the engineers that will be hired to solve them?Well say they took a sabbatical when they are too frustrated to continue and hire others. Cristina Balan was fired for trying to tell you about issues with the cars. She did not take a sabbatical. And Tesla accused her of terrible things, such as embezzlement.Yeah Uh Well hire her again and put her on a sabbatical right after that.And apologize?No, we never apologize. We give stock options. We make people millionaires, and they leave us alone.What about the customers that are waiting for the Cybertruck , the Semi, the Roadster?Well make these EVs when we can.And when will that be?In two years.You said that more than two years ago for all of them.Yeah I'm not good with predictions.Those customers were counting that you didnt.Theyll get their cars. We have not broken any promises. We just uh postponed them.But what about those who already paid for their cars, such as Roadster customers?Those not willing to wait will get their money back in Tesla stocks equivalent to what they paid at the time. We could give them Dogecoins, but we do not want to get rid of them.At the price the shares had when they paid for their cars or the current one?The one they had. But people will not trade their Roadsters for $4 million. That would be insane.In what sense, if the car was worth $250,000 and it still does not exist?These cars will fly!With $4 million, they can buy planes.But not with their tops down.OK You also promised people will have one million robotaxis made by Tesla by 2020. When will that happen?In two years.Then why are you already allowing people to use beta software on public roads as if it was autonomous or even ready to deploy?They asked for it.They paid for it. To be more precise, they paid for a production version of that software.YeahAnd when will they have it?In two years.What if they hit a pedestrian or a biker Our legal disclaimer clearly states they are to blame. Would you let a drunk novice driver drive you home?Would you define Full Self-Driving that way?No. German courts did . YeahPerhaps we should talk about another topic. Regarding racism cases in FremontI have never seen anything there.But didnt you use the bathrooms? What about the swastikas and racist writings on the walls?All I saw were uh weird flowers and strange memes on the wall. Besides, I was tweeting. YeahWell, Mr. Musk , is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?Sure. Never believe the press.Even on April Fools'?No, thats an exception. Everything you see on April Fools is true. Dont you remember my joke about being bankwupt? I really was. Now Im the richest man on Earth. If you watched Supernatural, one of Dean Winchesters most iconic one-liners (besides "Pudding," yes) was Im Batman. But neither Dean nor Jensen Ackles, who plays the iconic character on the fantasy-horror show, became Batman.However, Ackles just got pretty close to the superhero world with his upcoming role on Amazon Primes show, The Boys, which will premiere its third season this July. The actor, who had previously auditioned for Marvels Captain America before the role went to Chris Evans, will get a chance to play Soldier Boy, the evil version of Captain America on The Boys.Jensen Ackles and Supernatural and The Boys creator Eric Kripke and Baby (Deans 1967 Chevrolet Impala) had a mini-reunion at the 2022 South by Southwest (SXSW) panel , but it looks like Ackles did more than that.Because in his most recent post on social media, the actor also shows a Batmobile. He captioned it: Saw this during #sxsw I definitely dig the car. #batmobileThe vehicle must have been there to promote the new film with the caped crusader, The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson . The Batmobile also features on the first few spots in any list about iconic movie cars , and it wouldve been hard for Ackles to pass on the opportunity to get a nice shot with it. But while fans did appreciate the picture of Ackles and the Batmobile, many reminded him not to cheat on Baby.The 1967 Chevrolet Impala had been an unpaid third character for the entirety of the show, which ran for 15 seasons from 2005 to 2020. After the show ended in 2020, each of the lead actors, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, walked away with one of the Impalas used on set. And so far, no, Ackles doesn't own nor drive a Batmobile... Yet. kWh Built by China Tree Gorges Corporation (CTG) and Hubei Three Gorges Tourism Group, the ship is 53 ft (16 m) wide and 13 ft (4 m) deep. It is fully electric and packs a battery with a capacity of 7,500, which is the equivalent of the battery capacity of over 100 electric cars. According to its makers, it is the first zero-emissions ship, being charged using clean hydropower. The power is generated by the Three Gorges Dam.Its builder also boasts of the vessel using the worlds first high voltage plus low voltage charging solution and of featuring the most intelligent technologies, newly developed for electric ships.But there is room for improvement with the Yangtze River-Three Gorges 1 when it comes to its quite limited range. The vessel is capable of traveling just 62 miles (100 km) on a charge, which doesnt compare to what conventional cruise ships can offer. But on a more positive note, 62 miles is the equivalent of 530 metric tons of fuel, which translates into an emissions reduction of 1,660 tons per year.Aiming to encourage the switch to greener transportation and the use of cleaner energy, the Chinese Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology sponsored the vessel, which required an investment of $23.5 million, according to China Daily Earlier this week, the cruise ship made its maiden trip at the Xingang Dock of Zigui, Yichang City, Hubei Province. As for the vessels applications, the Yangtze River-Three Gorges 1 will be used for sightseeing trips on the Yangtze River.Prior to its maiden voyage, the electric vessel underwent multiple trials, sailing out daily for the past month. Just the other day we learned that Blue Ovals most hyped rock-climbing, dune-crashing asset the 2022 Bronco Raptor will go under the hammer thanks to the first retail units presence on the red carpet at an upcoming Barrett-Jackson event. And their Palm Beach 2022 auction (April 7-9, South Florida) might become one of the most exciting venues for collectors also because of a second reason.The legendary auctioneer has also secured a slot for VIN 001 of the spectacular 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible, with the action to go down at approximately 4:30 P.M. EDT on Saturday, April 9th, 2022. Better mark that in your auction records calendar because if the previous Z06 Coupe auction is any indication , there is a huge sum waiting to be spent on this open-top FPC hero.The very first retail 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 sold earlier this year for no less than $3.6 million and 100% of the proceeds went to charity. Luckily, the same will happen again, as the (HTC) Convertible auction will benefit the notorious Thurgood Marshall College Fund (which supports around 300k students attending some 47 member schools).As for the Corvette Z06 Convertible, the 3LZ example featured here by Barrett-Jackson will be one of the stars of the show mostly because of its wide looks and the mid-engine setup that includes a record-breaking 670-hp naturally aspirated V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft design and the stated ability to happily rev at up to 8,600 rpm! Designers and engineers clearly stopped at nothing to achieve a marvelous setup one that will also sound ICE-heavenly thanks to that interesting center-floating exhaust system! Right now, Washington is the first and only U.S. that provides some clarity for Uber and Lyft drivers. It has been made clear that theyre not employees but contractors. This clears the air and stops any previous hassle on the matter.This new addition doesnt mean that drivers wont enjoy any kind of normal benefits. The document includes sick leave, paid sick time, medical leave for family matters, and care programs that extend over longer periods of time. In addition, if someone gets injured or ill during their activity as an Uber or Lyft contractor, theyre entitled to compensation.At the same time, drivers will enjoy some benefits like knowing the minimum pay per journey made with a client. The limit is set at $3 per trip, with the tariff being $1.17 per mile and $0.34 per minute. The only exception here is Lyft and Uber contractors from Seattle they get $5.17 per trip, as previously decided and kept under the new law.Another useful aspect of this new law is the one that states drivers can now appeal if theyre removed from the app. Up until now, that was close to impossible. There will be a review and a final decision, which will settle a lot of frustrations.These changes were supported by Uber and Lyft because they made it clear that drivers who use the platforms are not employees. The Union Local 117 was also a major backer, according to Reuters , since the organization was also behind Seattles own regulation regarding minimum pay for rides.Governor Jay Inslee approved the proposal thats now become law. The only other similar regulation is found in New York City. Besides Washington, no other U.S. state has taken the time to decide what Uber and Lyft drivers can enjoy as benefits or what their working status is. For us, the British epitome of all-black shenanigans must be that widebody Novitec Rolls-Royce Cullinan riding lowered on matching-black solid Forgiato Designs forged wheels. Alas, achieving that arguably desirable all-black atmosphere means you will not be able to stand out too much in a traditional murdered-out crowd.As such, we have recently started seeing slight variations of the dark theme like the orange-detailed one deployed by Curren$y or aftermarket RS Editions that mixed Basalt Black with Hermes, including on the grille and badges, not just inside. Then, of course, you also have the unusual creations, such as sparkling Ice Blue Cullinans that easily prove there is no limit to Rolls-Royce builds when the aftermarket realm intervenes.The latter was a creation stemming from the good folks over at Hollywood, California-based RDB LA, who now decided to double up the Cullinan hype with something that may be considered as evenly bleached as one can imagine. The baller Rolls seen in their showroom from a singular POV has been fully wrapped in Satin Pearl White and even got color-matched RDB LA aftermarket wheels.But a monochromatic look may be just as niched as the murdered-out attire in the end. So, if that one is not everyone's cup of tea and you still want a white Cullinan maybe Scottsdale, Arizona-based Luxury Auto Collection has the perfect orange is the new black solution for us. It arrives in the form of a pure-looking Rolls that is still up for grabs (unlike the contrasting black example also shown in the video embedded below), complete with lots of subtle Crayola orange details on the outside and a full-shade treatment inside.Sure, maybe we are mistaken, and that is a Pantone or Hermes orange though it does not look as vivid reddish-orange as the other two, right? Before RAF pilots can properly handle beasts such as the F-35B Lightning and Typhoon fighter jets, they need to practice on fighter jets that are just as powerful. A fleet of 28 Hawk TMk2 Advanced Jet Trainers made by BAE Systems is based in Anglesey, North Wales, ready to operate as part of the UK Military Flying Training System (UK MFTS).Through this investment, we will continue to train our student pilots to become the best in the business, said Air Vice-Marshal Ellard, Director Combat Air at DE&S (the Ministry of Defense's procurement arm Defense Equipment and Support). Not just the Hawk T2 training aircraft but also the Hawk T1 aircraft that are flown by RAFs Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, will benefit from in-service support through this investment.The main contract was awarded to BAE Systems for extensive Hawk T2 airframe support, and a second contract was signed with Rolls-Royce for engine support. Rolls-Royce was the one who developed, together with Safran, the Adour Mk951 engine that powers both the trainer jets and the aerobatic aircraft used by RAF. Described as a twin-spool, counter-rotating turbofan, the Adour can deliver a maximum thrust of 8,000 lb.The Hawk T2 combines a glass cockpit with advanced avionics for fast jet training. It can simulate functions of modern fighters, as well as complex scenarios such as electronic warfare operations or air-to-ground weapon drops. Before the Hawk T2 entered service, the T1 acted as RAFs fast jet trainer. It was then fitted with a smoke generation system, and its engine controls were modified for an enhanced throttle response before joining the Red Arrows. The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has dedicated an entire program to the concept of cargo rockets and is also working with several universities, including the University of Central Florida (UCF), which was awarded a USAF grant for the first time. The $350,000 grant was awarded through the U.S. Space Force (part of USAF)s University Consortium Research Opportunity.Michael Kinzel, Tarek Elgohary, and Luis Rabelo are the engineering researchers who will be working on an innovative project that studies the use of commercial rockets for delivering global disaster relief. They will collaborate with more than 100 students at UCF to understand and research what is needed in order to achieve this goal.Can commercial rockets be used to transport cargo anywhere in the world as fast and as efficiently as possible? USAF is determined to examine this possibility. It envisions a future where rockets instead of aircraft could be deployed for disaster relief. They would be able to ship 100 tons of first-aid supplies, food, and blood donations, to any location in the world. And they would be able to do so in no more than an hour.Now, the UCF teams job is to test the viability of this ambitious goal. The researchers will use complex methods such as numerical analysis, control theory, and aerodynamic modeling techniques to make sure that the rocket will be able to land anywhere with precision, that the cargo will be delivered on time, and that the entire shipping process can be completed in the shortest time possible.On one hand, UCF will offer the advantages of its proximity to the Patrick Space Force Base and its location on what is known as the Space Coast. On the other hand, UCF graduate students will have the unique opportunity to intern with the Air Force Research Laboratory.USAFs goal is to have a cargo rocket delivering essential supplies globally in less than a decade. BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Global experts have hailed China's role in supporting peaceful, stable development in Afghanistan. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a written message on Thursday to the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan held in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province. Peace and development is the common aspiration of the Afghan people, which is also in line with the common interests of regional countries and the international community, said the experts. Xi's message has injected strong impetus into the coordination and cooperation mechanism among neighbors of Afghanistan, they added. Shoazim Shozamonov, an associate professor at the Faculty of Sinology of the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, said China has been promoting and contributing to peace in Afghanistan. In the process of addressing the Afghan issue, China has played an important and positive role in diplomatic mediation and the promotion of peace talks, which is widely welcomed by neighbors of Afghanistan, said Shozamonov. Abdul Ghafar Gardizi, a retired professor of Afghanistan's National Defense University, said China has always respected Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. During the past two decades, China has done its best to support Afghanistan to achieve peace, stability and development, "while we witnessed double standard policies from many other countries during the period," said Gardizi. Holding the foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan indicates China's support for Afghanistan and the Afghan people, Gardizi said. Sayyed Naqibullah Haidari, a local commentator with The Kabul Times, said China has been one of the key stakeholders honestly trying to restore peace and security in Afghanistan. The meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries is a good opportunity to encourage the participating countries to invest in Afghanistan and help the poverty-stricken nation step toward a brighter future, said Haidari. Rustam Shah Mohmand, a former Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan, said President Xi rightly asked the neighboring countries of Afghanistan to do their best to build consensus on Afghanistan. "The neighbors must enhance cooperation and increase support to Afghan people in achieving a safe, secure and stable Afghanistan, which is good for all," said Mohmand. Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesian think tank Asia Innovation Study Center, said the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan is beneficial to maintaining regional stability and combating terrorism. Noting that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and neighbors of Afghanistan have better understanding of the country's needs, Suryono said regional cooperation should play an important role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Neighbors of Afghanistan should encourage the country to participate in regional cooperation to promote its economic development, he added. German logistics and aviation company Zeitfracht Group and its subsidiary, German Airways, will initially purchase 17 Wingcopter 198 delivery drones for that purpose and might buy an additional 115 units by 2023. The UAVs will be deployed from the second half of 2024.With this newly signed agreement, the two buyers will be among the first companies in the world to commercially deploy drones in logistics, according to Wingcopter.The drones will come with advanced technological features to be capable of landing with pinpoint accuracy on moving ships. They will take off from Rostock Airport, which is part of the Zeitfracht Group since the beginning of 2022. That will also be the location where Wingcopters team will conduct extensive test flights with its drones.Wingcopters aircraft were chosen for several reasons. The drones are wind and weather resistant, being able to handle the most extreme conditions. They dont require additional infrastructure, as they take off vertically. Once in the air, they transition to horizontal flight just like an airplane.These electric flying machines have a wingspan of 78 (198 cm) and can fly at a top speed of 90 mph (144 kph). They can reach altitudes of 16,400 ft (5,000 m) and use two batteries and eight motors.As for the range of the Wingcopter 198, it depends on the weight it has to transport. It can fly up to 59 miles (95 km) with a payload of just 2.2 lb (1 kg), 53 miles (85 km) with a payload of 6.6 lb (3 kg), and 46 miles (75 km) when carrying 11 lb (5 kg). Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Mirzoyan also said Yerevan hopes that Russia, the United States and France, which co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group, will mediate those talks despite their bitter standoff over the conflict in Ukraine. As you know, the Azerbaijani side presented some proposals [on the peace treaty] to the Armenian side and we found those proposals acceptable while saying that they do not fully address the whole scope of issues, he told reporters. So we complemented those proposals with our own proposals by adding that the issue of Nagorno-Karabakhs rights and status is key to us. We hope that the co-presidency of the OSCE Minsk Group will manage after all to organize peace talks with this agenda and with the aim of signing a comprehensive peace treaty, he added at a joint news conference with Polands visiting Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau. The Azerbaijani proposals cited by Mirzoyan call for a peace accord based on five elements, including a mutual recognition of each others territorial integrity. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian publicly stated on Thursday that Yerevan is ready to negotiate a deal along these lines. Pashinian did not explicitly mention the question of Karabakhs status, speaking instead of the need to protect the rights of Nagorno-Karabakhs Armenians. His remarks were construed by Armenian opposition leaders and other critics as a further indication that Pashinians government is ready to recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh. Armen Rustamian, a senior member of the main opposition Hayastan alliance, claimed on Friday that Pashinian has essentially met all Azerbaijani demands. He noted that the Armenian government is refusing to publicize its official response to Bakus proposals on the peace treaty. We are still trying to get a copy of that text, Rustamian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. I presume that if that text makes reference to Artsakh (Karabakh), it contains very vague wordings such as protection of peoples rights. This means nothing unless we say that those rights cannot be protected if the right to self-determination is not upheld as well, he said. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Thursday that he is encouraged by Yerevans response to his proposals. Aliyev again claimed that Baku put an end to the Karabakh conflict with its victory in the 2020 war. Aliyev and Pashinian are scheduled to meet in Brussels on April 6 for fresh talks that will be hosted by European Council President Charles Michel. International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City to return in September The 16th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC 2022) will be held in September, the organisers announced at a press conference in Hanoi on March 31. Delegates at the press conference on March 31 With the theme: Growing Forward Together, ITE HCMC 2022 aims to recover and promote inbound tourism, promising a breakthrough in organization and expansion in both quantity and quality. ITE HCMC 2022 is expected to attract more than 200 exhibiting companies and brands including airlines, hotels and resorts, tour operators, travel businesses and representatives of international tourism promotion agency from over 45 provinces and cities of Vietnam, and 30 countries and territories. With the desire to attract international tourists to Vietnam and create a breakthrough in tourism marketing and promotion, ITE HCMC 2022 is expected to attract 150 quality international buyers. High quality, senior leaders from travel agencies, MICE companies from key markets such as Southeast Asia, Europe, Japan, Korea, USA, Australia and New Zealand, Middle East, etc. In order to facilitate meetings between buyers and sellers, the online appointment scheduling system - ITE Online Matching System provided free of charge to exhibitors will be opened one month before the fair. Within the framework of ITE HCMC 2022, there will be various activities including Tourism Exhibition, International Hosted Buyer Program and International Media Program, Gala Dinner "The Quiessence of Vietnamese Rice", Vietnam MICE Forum coorganised with European Chamber of Commerce, Seminar on key tourist markets, ITE HCMC Awards 2022, Local Experience Area and many more. In addition, visitors can also join in lucky draw programs with many valuable prizes, discount tours across Vietnam, cultural exchange program technology, lottery programs to win cheap tickets, promotions of airlines, etc. Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism said: After two years due to the COVID-19, ITE HCMC 2022 is committed to make the breakthroughs in term of organizing the expo, and continues to affirm its role as the leading international tourism event in Vietnam and the region, an ideal platform for regional tourism authorities, hospitalities, hotels, resorts, attractions and travel related businesses to promote products and services to domestic and international tourists." ITE HCMC 2022 will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in District 7 on September 8 10. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, March 31, 2022. The top Iranian diplomat is in China to attend the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) HEFEI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, on Thursday. The top Iranian diplomat is in China to attend the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan. Wang said under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, bilateral relations between China and Iran have maintained a strong development momentum. China supports Iran in defending its national sovereignty and dignity, and safeguarding its own legitimate rights and interests. China believes that Iran will also firmly support China in safeguarding its own core interests, Wang said. As a comprehensive strategic partner of Iran, China is committed to deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, and stands ready to work with Iran to deliver more outcomes of cooperation to benefit the two peoples. Amir-Abdollahian extended his congratulations to China on the successful hosting of a series of meetings on the Afghan issue, saying that the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders has injected strong impetus into the development of bilateral relations. He added that Iran is committed to the development of relations with China, and firmly supports China's just position. Amir-Abdollahian also expressed Iran's willingness to expand cooperation on oil and gas with China, and be a reliable energy partner of China. Both parties agreed to strengthen their cooperation in counter-terrorism. Wang noted that both countries should maintain a state of high alert against terrorist forces, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, using the situation in Afghanistan to stir up troubles. China supports Iran's efforts to improve and develop relations with its neighbors, and resolve differences through dialogue, Wang said. The two sides also agreed to jointly resist unilateral sanctions. Wang said the United States has become the "champion" of unilateral sanctions, which not only violates the basic norm governing international relations but also damages its own credibility and hurts its own interests. Sanctions will not solve any problem, but only enhance the development resilience of the countries that are sanctioned, the Chinese foreign minister added. The two sides also exchanged views on the negotiation on resuming compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, March 31, 2022. The top Iranian diplomat is in China to attend the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) Professor Ethan Baxter, chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences and a lead investigator on the project, said the award reflects expanded expertise and capacity in the department, opportunities created by its new Ph.D. program, as well as its focus on earth systems, particularly the essential role on Earth and in societies of water and its quality. As a department, we have embraced this intentionally broad theme of water as a department identity for several years now, said Baxter. We have been building strength in areas such as geochemistry, computational geophysics and in field analysis. That allowed us to develop this proposal for the Army Corps of Engineers and bring everything together in a multi-year research program. The project wll be affiliated with the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, where it will be an integral component of the new Center for Integrated Environmental Systems Research, according to Baxter and Schiller Institute Director Laura J. Steinberg. Specifically, the project will monitor and simulate the evolution of coastlines, rivers, and related habitats in response to natural and human forced events such as deglaciation, sea-level rise, climate change, nutrient runoff, sediment placement operations, and the construction of dams, levees and other structures. Sedimentological, geophysical, and geochemical analyses will be integrated into numerical models designed to understand the evolution of these systems including coastal erosion, subsidence, and water quality, according to Baxter. The team will establish a network of sensors to monitor conditions and water quality in lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastlines in study areas that include New England, the Gulf Coast region, and the Seven Mile Island Innovation Laboratory in New Jersey. The research will include compiling field measurements of sediment dynamics and river morphology complemented by high resolution LIDAR aerial imaging and other remote-sensing data to chart the long-term evolution of natural and engineered waterways, according to Baxter, joined on the project by his department colleagues, Professors Noah Snyder, John Ebel, Mark Behn, and Gail Kineke, and Assistant Professors Hilary Palevsky and Xingchen Tony Wang. The White House and President Joe Biden announced a plan on March 31 to release up to one million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve per day over the next six months for a total of 180 million barrels. The strategy is part of a plan to provide Americans relief at the gas pump as prices rise, the statement from the White House said. The average price of gas in the U.S. is $4.215 per gallon as of April 1, according to the American Automobile Association. While prices dropped one cent on Friday from Thursday, pricing is up 60 cents since last month and nearly $1.40 since last year. A gallon of gas costs an average of $3.832 in Texas, with price increases over the last month and year following similar nationwide trends, AAA shows. During a press conference, Biden said the release of the oil reserves could save Americans between $0.10 to $0.35 a gallon within days or weeks, but he said its difficult to tell how much lower prices will drop and when this could happen. Thats a really important question and theres no firm answer, Biden said during the press conference. GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan told USA Today he believes the release could save people up to $0.30 a gallon, but that is the "least" likely scenario. De Haan said gas prices may fall between $0.10-$0.20 per gallon instead and the decrease in price may be temporary. What is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve? The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is an emergency stockpile of oil managed by the Department of Energy. President Gerald Ford created the reserve in 1975 after the 1973 oil crisis, in which multiple Arab countries cut off the U.S. from its oil supply. USA Today reported as of March 25, the reserve held 568 million barrels of oil. In a tweet, De Haan said the release of the oil, along with a previously announced release of oil, would bring the reserves down to between 350 million to 365 million barrels of oil, which would be the lowest in the reserve since 1984. The scale of this release is unprecedented: the world has never had a release of oil reserves at this [one] million per day rate for this length of time, the White House statement said. This record release will provide a historic amount of supply to serve as a bridge until the end of the year when domestic production ramps up. The statement said the Department of Energy will use the revenue from the release to restock the reserve in future years. In the statement, the White House announced other plans to decrease prices at the pump, including increasing domestic energy production. The statement said oil production is expected to increase by one million barrels per day this year and nearly 700,000 barrels per day next year. Biden also called on Congress to force companies sitting on unused federal land with approved permits for oil production to pay higher fees for not producing oil. Biden also called on Congress to pass legislation investing in clean energy, which the statement said could save Americans $950 a year from use of electric vehicles and $500 a year using clean electricity. Biden is also authorizing the use of Defense Production Act to domestically produce minerals and materials to bolster clean energy, the statement said. Beaumont police are searching for a teenager out on bond who has now been tied to a homicide earlier this week. Joseph Freeman, 18, is wanted in connection with the shooting death of Richard Shillow, 31, on Sunday evening at the Virginia Estates apartment building. Freeman is a person of interest in the homicide at 2250 W. Virginia, police said in a news release on Wednesday. He is currently on bond for deadly conduct-discharge firearm, evading and unlawfully carrying a weapon. According to court documents, a Jefferson County grand jury indicted Freeman on Nov. 17. In that incident, Freeman is accused of firing a handgun at another man and striking the vehicle that was used to shield the man. Multiple people have been arrested in connection with Shillows death, including two adults and three children who were allegedly traveling in a stolen vehicle. Port Arthur resident Ronald Demard Babino Jr., 23, and Beaumont resident Charles Jerome Verdine Jr., 19, were arrested for murder and taken to the Jefferson County jail with a bond set at $1 million each, police said. A 16-year-old boy also has been charged with murder. Two 14-year-old boys have each been charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon and evading on foot. The three children were taken to Minnie Rogers Juvenile Detention Center, police said. If you know the whereabouts of Joseph Freeman, contact Beaumont Police, the Beaumont news release said. The police cant be contacted at 409-832-1234 or Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS (8477). You may also submit a tip by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smartphone, the release said. All tips are anonymous and you may be eligible for a cash reward. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie Nearly 4,700 elementary and middle school students from the Beaumont ISD converged on Ford Park for their inaugural Fair Day at the YMBL South Texas State Fair Thursday. Administration staff - a.k.a. "the welcoming committee" - were already in place, cheering as other staffers arrived, before the real show got underway - the arrival of the buses. Amelia Elementary was the first to arrive, its students waving from behind their darkened windows as they peered out at the day of fun that awaited. It wasn't long before the morning quiet on the midway was filled with the shrieks of children as they fanned across the midway, taking in the thrilling rides, signature concession food and games. For many, it seemed nearly as fun to watch classmates on the rides as actually being on them - the shouts from the crowd rivaling that coming from the riders who spun, soared and flipped overhead. It was a thrilling experience long overdue. BISD had planned an official "Fair Day" experience, which included free entry and 3 ride tickets per student - a congratulation forr meeting academic, attendance and behavioral goals - two years ago. COVID-19 disrupted that event, but it was back on track this week, despite weather disruptions Wednesday causing the district to alter plans that originally included high school students spread across a two-day venue. kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at a press conference after chairing the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and the first foreign ministers' meeting between the Afghan interim government and its neighboring countries in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, March 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) HEFEI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China believes that if Afghanistan responds more effectively to the concerns of all parties, the diplomatic recognition of the Afghan government will come naturally, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday. Wang made the remarks at a press conference after chairing the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and the first foreign ministers' meeting between the Afghan interim government and its neighboring countries in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province. Wang said diplomatic recognition is a major concern of the Afghan interim government and a common concern of the international community, stressing that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community. China has observed that the Afghan interim government has made significant efforts and achieved certain results in maintaining stability and state governance since its establishment, Wang said, adding that the Afghan side has demonstrated its determination to achieve development, expressed its willingness to gain more understanding and support from its neighbors and the international community, and showed a positive attitude toward foreign exchanges. Noting that the international community, including Afghanistan's neighboring countries, still has a lot of concerns and expectations involving the Afghan interim government, Wang said it is hoped that the interim government will make greater progress in promoting national reconciliation, building a more inclusive government and protecting the rights of women and children in employment and education. In particular, he expressed the hope of the international community that the interim government will take a firmer attitude in fighting terrorism and make more tangible results in this respect. "We believe that diplomatic recognition of the Afghan government will come naturally as the concerns of all parties are addressed more forcefully," Wang said. China hopes that the Afghan interim government will take steady steps and make concrete efforts in the right direction, the Chinese foreign minister added. Luckily, the only surgery Ive ever had in my life was an appendectomy. I still remember most of the incident with surprising clarity. Id been experiencing intense pain in my side for about sixteen hours though I somehow had managed to drive from Austin, Texas to my house in Houston during the last three of those hours. Once I arrived home, I made some soup, took a spoonful, and was met with a scary feeling in my insides and the overwhelming realization that something was very wrong. So I called 911 and they sent an ambulance. Another eighteen or so hours later, my appendix had burst and I was undergoing emergency laparoscopic surgery to have it removed. While laparoscopic surgery is less invasive than an incision (and doesnt leave a huge abdomen scar), my appendix had burst before the doctor could take it out and I was in the hospital for a full week after. I remember the overwhelming pain in my bodys core and that I had a difficult time sitting and standing up for the first week. I watched a lot of television (mainly episodes of "Law and Order" and "Criminal Minds") in my hospital room. After I returned home, it took another couple of weeks until I started to feel normal. The best gifts for someone who has just had an appendectomy are those that help ease the pain so that they can rest and recover. Linen Spa bed rest and reading pillow Shredded Foam Reading Pillow with Neck Support Linenspa amazon.com $59.99 Shop Now Ive always loved reading pillows or pillows with arms as I usually call them. Theyre great for propping you up in bed or on the floor in comfort. This one from Linen Spa has excellent back and shoulder support. It's filled with shredded memory foam so that it keeps its loft and shape longer without clumping while molding to your body shape. These pillows do arrive compressed and flat so if youre purchasing one for someone who has just undergone surgery, make sure you unpack and (vigorously) fluff the pillow into shape for them. Drinking cup with straw Red Double Wall Insulated Hospital Mugs Mugs N Coffee amazon.com $26.95 Shop Now Staying hydrated is always important, even more so when youre recovering from surgery. This handled cup with straw and lid makes it easy to drink even when you have trouble sitting up all the way while in bed. These double-walled, dishwasher-safe, and BPA-free mugs include an 11 long flexible straw. You can buy them in packages of one, two, or three. And the measurement markings help you keep track of your fluid intake. Stuffed appendix plush GIANTmicrobes Appendix Plush GIANT MICROBES amazon.com $14.95 Shop Now After my surgery, the doctor gave me a photo of my burst appendix taken inside my body. I have no idea if this is a common practice and anyone Ive ever told about this thinks it's pretty odd. So in lieu of that, heres a cute, stuffed, plush appendix that makes for a much cuddlier (and less gross) gift. It also includes an educational information card with facts about the appendix. You can also buy appendix lapel pins. And yes, I still have that photo of my appendix somewhere. Folding lap bed desk Cooper Mega Table Cooper Cases amazon.com $74.95 Shop Now A folding bed desk makes it easy to read, eat, and work or play on your laptop while still reclining and resting in bed or on the couch. This one from Cooper Cases comes with a tablet groove where you can prop your Kindle, iPad or other tablets, a phone stand, a book holder with fold-out legs, and a storage drawer. Theres enough room under the table to cross your legs if you want without jostling and the entire thing folds flat when not in use. If you get (or receive) one of these youll probably end up using it long after youve recovered from surgery. A Kindle Kindle - With a Built-in Front Light - Black Amazon amazon.com $69.99 Shop Now Recovering in bed means lots of time for reading and one of the best ways to read these days is on a Kindle. Kindles didnt exist yet when I had my appendix out and while I did have some books to read, it would have been extraordinary to be able to read pretty much any book I wanted on a thin, lightweight device. As a longtime reader, I consider the Kindle one of the best things ever invented. As most people already know, the Kindle connects to the internet where you can search and purchase almost any book. With a Kindle Unlimited membership, you can read and listen (via Audible) to as many books and magazines as you want. Heating pack/hot water bottle Hot Water Bottle with Soft Premium Cover Qomfor amazon.com $14.99 Shop Now Recovering from an appendectomy includes a good deal of pain management, especially during the first week. Even though my surgery was laparoscopic, meaning the surgeon went in through a tiny incision near my belly button, having an organ sucked out of your insides causes a lot of disruption in your gut. As well as taking whatever pain medication is recommended by the doctors, a nice, cozy hot water bottle can bring some relief to a sore, healing abdomen. This one from Qomfor has a soft, faux fur cover and a large 1.8-liter capacity. Both the leak-proof bottle and cover are designed to retain heat and remain warm for hours. And theyre baby and kid-safe without any toxic materials. Fill with hot (not boiling) water by using a measuring cup or tea kettle. A cozy blanket 100% Cotton Knitted Throw Blanket TREELY amazon.com $26.99 Shop Now Im a person who always has a blanket or throw of some kind around when lounging, recovering, or relaxing. A cozy blanket is a great gift for someone spending time in a hospital room recovering as its functional and provides some personalization to a bland hospital room. Im partial to cotton blankets like these colorful, lightweight knitted ones from Treely. These soft blankets are a perfect throw size of 50 inches by 60 inches and are machine washable on a gentle cycle (do not dry). I also like Eddie Bauers reversible flannel, Sherpa blankets in the winter months, or if your hospital room is especially chilly. While most anyone recovering from appendix surgery would enjoy any of these gifts, remember that the best one you can probably give is an in-person visit if youre able. Id also like to take this opportunity to shout out the surgeon (I wish I could remember his name) at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Houston, Texas who not only removed my navel ring but also put it back in after my appendectomy. I wish everyone as good of a surgical experience as I had if you must have one. Muhib Ullah, a leader of Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, speaks to Rohingya who face problems collecting relief supplies, at the Kutupalong camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, April 7, 2019. Muhib Ullah was gunned down in his office at the camp on Sept. 29, 2021. Updated at 9:37 a.m. ET on 2022-04-02 Canada has agreed to give refuge to 11 family members of a Rohingya rights activist who was gunned down at a refugee camp in Bangladesh last September, officials in Dhaka and a human rights group said Friday. Nasima Khatun, the widow of Muhib Ullah, their nine children and the husband of one of their daughters departed the South Asian country on a flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Thursday night, human rights advocate Nur Khan Liton confirmed to BenarNews. They are scheduled to arrive in Canada by Saturday, Liton said. They left with the aim of having a safe life. On Friday, Bangladesh foreign ministry official Miah Md. Mainul Kabir credited the Canadian government for accepting Ullahs survivors. The government of Bangladesh gave more importance to the Canadian governments interest in this regard than the application of Muhib Ullahs family, he told BenarNews. As a shelter-providing country, Canada has done everything needed, Mainul Kabir said, adding that Canada was the only country offering to shelter the family. Thursdays flight was out of the ordinary, he said, because groups that large normally are sent to another country in phases. Serious fear for their security In October, an immigration and refugee affairs analyst said it was not unusual for Bangladesh to send Rohingya to a third country in the past. More than 900 Rohingya were sent to countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden in 2009 and 2010, said Asif Munir, a former official of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This transfer is different because Ullahs family left the country over a serious fear for their security, said Liton, general secretary of Ain-O-Salish Kendra (ASK), a local human rights organization. The IOM, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, and Canadian High Commission had arranged the familys exit from Bangladesh, he said. Gunmen killed Ullah, chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH), in his office at the Kutupalong refugee camp in southeastern Coxs Bazar district on Sept. 29, 2021. Last month, Bangladeshi police said four of 15 people arrested over alleged ties to the killing had confessed to their roles in it and that those in custody said they belonged to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a Rohingya insurgent group. UNHCR does not comment on individual cases, Mostafa Mohammad Sazzad Hossain, an official at the U.N. agencys office in Dhaka, told BenarNews. IOM officials did not immediately respond to a separate request for comment. In Ottawa, an official with the Canadian government declined to confirm whether Muhib Ullah's family would be granted asylum in the country. "For the safety and security of those involved, we cannot comment on specific cases. This includes confirming or denying that an asylum claim has been made," Jeffrey MacDonald, a spokesman with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a government department, told BenarNews via email. Before leaving the country, the family asked Bangladesh officials to reopen the recently closed Myanmar curriculum school established by Ullah, Liton said. About 1 million Rohingya, including 740,000 who fled Myanmars Rakhine state following a military crackdown in 2017, have settled in refugee camps in and around Coxs Bazar, close to the border with Rakhine. Nasima Khatun, the widow of Rohingya activist Muhib Ullah, speaks to reporters at her home in a refugee camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, Sept. 30, 2021. (BenarNews) In his role as ARSPH chairman, Ullah had represented the stateless Rohingya community before the United Nations and at the White House in Washington, where he expressed concerns about his fellow refugees to then-President Donald Trump in 2019. Two weeks after Ullah was killed, Bangladesh authorities cited security concerns when they moved his family to an undisclosed location. Police also moved the families of 10 other ARSPH leaders. At the time, Md. Rashid Ullah, ARSPH spokesman and Ullahs nephew, told BenarNews that those families wanted to leave Bangladesh over their own safety concerns. Millions of dollars for Rohingya Ullahs family left Bangladesh days after American Ambassador Peter Haas announced on March 29 that the United States was providing U.S. $152 million (13 billion taka) in new humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya and their host communities in Bangladesh. Haas made the announcement after his first visit to Coxs Bazar earlier in the week, according to a news release from the U.S. Embassy. This brings the total weve provided since August 2017 to $1.7 billion (145.5 billion taka), Haas said in the news release. Of this new funding, $125 million (10.7 billion taka) is for programs inside Bangladesh for Rohingya refugees and affected Bangladeshi communities, it said. In Fiscal Year 2021 alone, the U.S. government reported spending nearly $302 million (25.9 billion taka) in support of humanitarian assistance programs for Rohingya sheltering in Bangladesh. Also this week, UNHCR launched a 2022 Joint Response Plan to raise more than $881 million (75.7 billion taka) to assist Rohingya. The funding is to support more than 918,000 Rohingya and about 540,000 Bangladeshis in neighboring communities, a UNHCR press release said. This report has been updated to add a statement from the Canadian government. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (left) talks with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi at her office in Jakarta, Aug. 9, 2017. During a meeting with her Russian counterpart in China this week, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said she pressed Moscow to end its war with Ukraine, citing the urgent humanitarian situation and the conflicts ripple effects on the world economy. Her Wednesday talk with Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of an international meeting to discuss the situation in another country scarred by war Afghanistan focused on the war in Ukraine, Retno told reporters on Thursday. Indonesia conveyed the importance of ending the war immediately because of its tremendous humanitarian impact, not to mention its impact on global economic recovery, Retno told a virtual news conference from China. I reiterated Indonesias consistent position, including respect for international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, she said. Retno said that, during a separate meeting on Wednesday, she also asked Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to support efforts to end the Russian invasion. I conveyed the importance of all parties, including China, to push for an immediate end to the war so that the humanitarian crisis does not get worse, Retno said of her meeting with Wang. Retno talked with Lavrov and Wang on the sidelines of a dialogue between Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and its neighboring Chinese district of Tunxi. The dialogue sought to stabilize Afghanistan, which is known today as an Islamic emirate after the Taliban took over following the withdrawal of U.S. forces last year. Regarding Ukraine, Indonesian officials hope negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv could be positive, she said. Flexibility is needed so that negotiations can produce good results. And all parties must strive to end the war immediately to avoid the worsening of the humanitarian situation, she said. During peace talks in Istanbul on Tuesday, Russian negotiators agreed to fundamentally cut back operations near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv, news agencies reported. Alexander Fomin, Russias deputy defense minister, said the move was meant to increase trust and create conditions for further negotiations. Despite those statements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday dismissed Russias pledge, saying his army was getting ready for clashes in the east, Agence France-Presse reported. We dont believe anyone, not a single beautiful phrase, Zelenskyy said in a video address to his nation. We will not give anything away. We will fight for every meter of our territory. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, more than 4 million Ukrainians have fled their country, according to a United Nations report. Shuttle diplomacy Hikmahanto Juwana, an international law professor at the University of Indonesia, said Jakarta should maintain communication with all parties in the Ukraine conflict. Indonesia can also send its foreign ministers or a special envoy to engage in shuttle diplomacy to discuss solutions [on ending the war], he told BenarNews. He noted that Indonesia will be hosting the G-20 summit of the worlds leading economies in October, and that could be spurring the nations interest in seeing fighting end in Ukraine. Indonesia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must act immediately to make the G-20 summit a success and ensure that all heads of government and heads of state are present, he said. Indonesia has sent invitations to all member countries, including Russia, foreign ministry official Dian Triansyah Djani said earlier. Russias ambassador to Indonesia has said that Putin planned to attend G-20 summit in Bali despite attempts by Western governments to oust Moscow from the grouping. Ukraine, which is not a G-20 member, had previously urged Indonesia to include discussions on the invasion during the summit. But Teuku Faizasyah, spokesman for Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had said Jakartas stance was that the G-20 summit should focus on global economic issues. Afghanistan While attending the gathering of Afghanistan and other countries during the China dialogue, Retno said she stressed the need for the ruling Taliban to open education to all children. In his own message to dialogue attendees, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged his nations support for Afghanistan but without mentioning the Talibans alleged human rights abuses, the Associated Press reported. Meanwhile on March 26, Indonesian and Qatari officials signed a letter of intent to provide scholarships and skills training for teen girls in Afghanistan, Retno said. I expressed my hope that the ban on schooling for Afghan girls at the secondary school level can be reviewed, she said of her statement at the dialogue. As the largest Muslim country, Indonesia is ready to contribute to helping the people of Afghanistan, including in the field of education, she said. The Taliban, which returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, had planned to allow teen girls to attend secondary schools, but dropped the plan last week over concerns about uniforms and the dress-code for schoolgirls. Girls can attend school up to grade six. She said it was important that the Taliban make good on its promises. The Taliban needs to prepare a road map with concrete steps and timelines for fulfilling promises, Retno said. Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. speaks during a news conference with his Japanese counterpart in Manila, Jan. 9, 2020. Japan plans to hold two-plus-two meetings with the Philippines and India to discuss maritime security including in the South China Sea, a move analysts said could send a message to Beijing about Tokyos determination to foster ties with like-minded partners. Two-plus-two are ministerial-level meetings that involve foreign and defense ministers of participating countries. Unnamed diplomatic sources were quoted by Kyodo News Agency as saying arrangements are being made for Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi to meet with their Philippine counterparts in early April, and their Indian counterparts in mid-April in Tokyo. Chinas growing maritime assertiveness is expected to be high on the agenda, and ministers are expected to renew their pledge to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana are expected to travel to Tokyo for the talks. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Radio Free Asia, a sister entity of BenarNews, that Japan and the Philippines are considering the launch of a two-plus-two meeting but maintained that the timing has not been decided yet. Neither the Philippine nor Indian foreign ministries immediately responded to requests for comment. The talks are being planned amid a complex geopolitical backdrop. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he would meet with his friend Chinese leader Xi Jinping on April 8. China and the Philippines are claimants to South China Sea territories along with four other parties Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. Beijing holds the most expansive claim. While Japan is not a claimant, it is a strategic rival of China and the two powers have competing claims in the East China Sea. Huynh Tam Sang, an analyst at Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Vietnam, said Tokyos plans for the two-plus-two talks could send a nuanced message to Beijing about Japans determination to foster security ties with like-minded partners. If Japan could bring the Philippines and India on board for maritime deterrence, it will be a big deal, Sang said. The Philippines filed a diplomatic protest this week over a Chinese Coast Guard ships dangerous maneuvering in the South China Sea. Beijing rejected the accusation, saying China has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the waters. Japanese and Philippine ministers are expected to discuss arms exports to the Philippines as well, according to Kyodo. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, March 19, 2022. [Reuters] Quad members When Japanese Prime Minister Kishida visited India last month, Japan and India also agreed to hold what would be their second two-plus-two meeting at an early date. The timing of that meeting has not been decided, Japanese officials said. Both Japan and India are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) and important players in the Indo-Pacific so it is only natural for India to also interact with Japan for two-plus-two, said Sana Hashmi, visiting fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation. Two-plus-two talks demonstrate the level of engagement and the willingness to strengthen the partnership by both sides, Hashmi said, adding: Of course, Chinas aggression is a factor in countries willingness to advance ties, but India-Japan relations are multifaceted and two-plus-two dialogue is a part of this multifaceted engagement. In addition to the Philippines and India, Japan has held two-plus-two security talks with the United States, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Indonesia and Russia. Philippine and U.S. troops arrive at a beach on the northern tip of Luzon Island for a drill simulating a response to an external attack, March 31, 2022. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said he would meet next week virtually with his friend, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as Filipino and U.S. forces conduct one of their largest joint exercises in years in the Southeast Asian nation bordering the disputed South China Sea. The presidential office in Manila announced the upcoming meeting while troops, during the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercise, participated Thursday in a drill simulating an attack response on a remote beach on the northern tip of Luzon Island that fronts China and Taiwan. China is good, Duterte said, according to transcripts released to the media on Friday. April 8. Xi Jinping wants to talk to me. We are friends. Additional details of the planned meeting were being firmed up on Friday and Dutertes office had not yet released topics to be discussed by the two leaders. [T]his meeting is still in the preparatory stage, Communications Undersecretary Kristian Ablan said. So what specific issues will be discussed by the world leaders will be known in the coming days. Although the Xi-Duterte meeting will be virtual, it is customary for a Philippine president to visit allies before leaving office. Dutertes single six-year term ends on June 30. The 2022 version of Balikatan is the biggest joint exercise involving Philippine and U.S. troops in seven years. About 9,000 troops are involved in the war games, which are schedule to end on April 8, the same day Duterte is to meet with Xi. The exercise began shortly after the Philippine Coast Guard reported a March 2 close distance maneuvering incident involving one of its ships and the China Coast Guard near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Philippine officials said the Chinese ship sailed within 21 meters (69 feet) of the Philippine ship and accused Beijing of violating 1972 international regulations on preventing collisions at sea. Balikatan comes two months after the Biden administration in the United States introduced a new strategy to increase security engagements in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing concerns about China. Dutertes relationships At the beginning of his term in 2016, Duterte drifted away from traditional ally Washington in favor of China and Russia. Instead of enforcing an international court ruling that invalidated Chinas expansive claims to the nearly all of the South China Sea, the president pursued friendlier ties with Xi, leading to increased Chinese investments in the Philippines. While admitting in 2021 that the court ruling was binding, Duterte continued to emphasize his friendship with the Chinese leader, noting that Manila was indebted to Beijing for providing COVID-19 vaccines in the early days of the pandemic. In March 2021, Duterte said he planned to visit China, a country he traveled to six times, to personally thank Xi for the vaccines. Those visits are the most by any Philippine president while in office to a foreign country but Duterte has never visited Washington, according to officials. Duterte last traveled to China in August 2019 on a five-day official visit when he raised the landmark arbitral ruling for the Philippines on the South China Sea. China has rejected the ruling and insisted on its historical claims over virtually the entire sea region, which the court ruled as having no basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Aside from China and the Philippines, five other Asian governments Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have territorial claims. While Indonesia does not regard itself as a party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of the sea overlapping Indonesias exclusive economic zone. Manila has grown critical of Beijings actions during the past year, including Chinese fishing boats swarming near the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal. In early March, the Philippines protested a Chinese navy reconnaissance ships illegal incursion in the Sulu Sea a move that Beijing said did not break international law. In a rare move in November 2021, Duterte expressed grave concern after a China Coast Guard ship fired water cannon on Filipino supply boats in the disputed waters. We abhor the recent event in the Ayungin Shoal and view with grave concern other similar developments, Duterte said at the time. GENEVA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China and a group of countries on Friday called for eliminating the gap of inequality when realizing people's economic, social and cultural rights amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Introducing a draft resolution on behalf of Bolivia, Egypt, Pakistan, South Africa and China at the 49th session of the Human Rights Council, China's permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva Chen Xu said the pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to the economic and social development of all countries, especially developing countries. "It has further exacerbated existing inequalities within and among states, with the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, including the rights to health, food, education and work, seriously affected," he said, adding that the pandemic has again highlighted the importance of strengthening the work on economic, social and cultural rights by multilateral human rights institutions. The resolution stresses the importance of strengthening international cooperation to promote and protect economic, social and cultural rights and address inequalities. It requests the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene a workshop to discuss practical ways. The Chinese envoy called for investing in economic, social and cultural rights. "We call on the Human Rights Council to hear the call of all countries, especially developing and least developed countries, and to respond to the aspiration of peoples of all countries, by helping people of all countries to better enjoy economic, social and cultural rights and addressing inequalities and building a better future in the recovery from the pandemic." "It is the common aspiration of people of all countries to eliminate the gap of inequality and to benefit from the outcome of development more directly and fairly, with the realization of all human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights," Chen said. Anas Abdulrahman, the head of the peace talks panel for the BRN, a southern Thai separatist rebel group, speaks at a press conference at a hotel near Kuala Lumpur, April 1, 2022. The warring sides in Thailands Deep South conflict agreed to a 40-day pause in violence to cover Ramadan and, in a first, unarmed rebels will be allowed to visit their families during the holy month, officials said after the latest peace talks hosted by Malaysia wrapped up Friday. Malaysia facilitated the two days of peace talks between the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist insurgents and the Thai government the second round of negotiations this year at a hotel near Kuala Lumpur. Both parties have agreed to [a] violence reduction agenda during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting that starts this week, as a confidence-building and trust-building measure, Abdul Rahim Noor, the Malaysian peace broker for the talks, told reporters at the end of the latest meetings. A BRN representative said the two main parties agreed to stop the violence in the Deep South as part of the Ramadan Peace Initiative, which will last until May 14. This agreement is to create a peaceful and prosperous atmosphere for the Patani community in particular and a confidence-building process between the two sides to create peace, Anas Abdulrahman, the leader of the BRN delegation who is also known as Hipni Mareh, told reporters at a separate press conference. Patani is the name given to the Thai southern border region by BRN and other armed groups who have been waging a decades-long armed separatist insurgency against Buddhist-majority Thailand. In addition, according to a statement from Rahim Noor, the Thais agreed to a request from the rebel side that BRN members can return home to spend time with their family during Ramadhan without fear of arrest but with conditions that they promise not to carry out any attacks and not to carry weapons home. Thai authorities will also allow BRN members in prison to be with their family members during Eid, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, Rahim Noor said. At the same time, fighters who live across the border in Malaysia could return to the Deep South during Ramadan after registering with the Malaysian authorities. The Thai authorities also agreed not to arrest BRN members or conduct raids during Ramadan. While BRN agreed to conduct no attacks, according to Rahim Noor, the Thai authorities did not agree explicitly to no violence, saying they would retaliate if provoked. The BRN, a highly secretive organization, is the largest and most potent of the armed groups in the mainly Muslim and Malay-speaking Deep South, with many of its members and sympathizers believed to be living on the Malaysian side of the border. The truce to which both sides agreed covers Songkran as well, the Thai new years festival that falls on April 13-15, the Malaysian facilitator said. The Ramadan agreement to reduce violence shows the world that there is hope for peace in the Deep South and there is opportunity to solve the real problem via peace dialogue process, he said. Gen. Wanlop Rugsanaoh, the Thai peace talks panel chief, was expected to hold a press conference here on Saturday. Late in the evening on Friday, the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur issued a statement about the latest round of talks. The two sides achieved a significant progress which will be an important milestone that will bring about long-lasting peace to the southern border provinces of Thailand, it said. The parties also mutually agreed on the Peaceful Ramadan Initiative to create [an] environment conducive to peace during the holy month of Ramadan. The one-page Thai statement did not specify the provision mentioned by Rahim Noor allowing BRN members to travel home to be with their families during the fasting month. Malaysian peace talks facilitator Rahim Noor speaks to reporters after the BRN-Thailand meeting near Kuala Lumpur, April 1, 2022. [S. Mahfuz/ BenarNews] Meanwhile in the Deep South, a resident lauded the Ramadan Initiative. If they can do that, people can live a normal life, Yaowadee Doloh, a resident of Yala province, told BenarNews. I pray for eternal peace. The military and BRN should be able to control their men and honor the ceasefire. They are key players in the Deep South violence. According to Thai officials, a younger brother of Abdul Aziz Jabal, one of the members of the BRN panel at the peace talks, was shot and wounded in Yala town on Thursday, the first day of the talks. BRN, in a Facebook post, condemned the shooting and said the incident had nothing to do with the peace process. On Friday, a Thai army spokesman said that authorities were investigating the cases, but the motive was still unknown. The shooting came a day after two policemen were killed and two others injured in a roadside bombing in Bannang Sata, another district in Yala, one of the provinces in the Deep South. A Thai political analyst said that the pause in violence during Ramadan would likely succeed. If both sides have agreed to the Ramadan Initiative, its likely possible that they would honor the agreement, said Srisompob Jitpiromsri, director of Deep South Watch. Most importantly, the BRN must continue with the peace talks. The BRN must monitor the situation to ensure none of its members carry out an attack. If something goes wrong, it must assess the incident and what is going on to prevent future disruption, Srisompob told BenarNews. Three-point agreement According to Rahim Noor and Anas both, the talks over two days had resulted in a positive discussion, with a General Principles agreement on three issues: reduction of violence, public consultation, and political solution. The meeting has churned out positive output as both the parties, for the first time, agreed to General Principles in discussing three substantive issues, Rahim Noor said, adding that the two sides exchanged documents signed by two independent observers. While the Thai authorities and BRN representatives did not sign the document on General Principles, they both issued letters of endorsement agreeing on them, Rahim Noor and Anas said. The efforts made by the Thai government and BRN should be acknowledged and supported by all in the community because both panels showed the credibility and efforts to create peace in Deep South, Rahim Noor said. The two sides agreed to form three joint-working groups, each with three members from both parties, to hash out the three topics outlined in the document, he and Anas said. The two sides also discussed the framework, or Terms of Reference, for the joint working groups, Anas said without elaborating. When a BenarNews reported asked him whether Malaysia could be a neutral broker of the talks as some observers had questioned Rahim Noor replied that Kuala Lumpur would not take sides. They can make any assumption or conclusion because not only are we neighbors with the Deep South, the Patani people are also Malay and Thai-Muslim. But Malaysia is always professional, he said. We remain bipartisan. We do not side with any parties. Cambodian authorities on Friday denied media reports that Thai citizens are being held against their will in Cambodia by criminal gangs, but Malaysian police said human trafficking syndicates were running rampant across the entire Southeast Asian region. Chhoun Narin, police chief of the Sihanoukville Police Department, told Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister entity of BenarNews, that more than 100 Thais have crossed over the border between the two countries to illegally take jobs in casinos located in Sihanoukville province. We hear fake stories about detentions and torture, he said. There are no illegal detentions. The denial contradicts reports in the Bangkok Post and other Southeast Asian outlets that there are between 2,800 and 3,000 Thais working illegally in Cambodia who have been tricked by gangs to take positions as scammers, according to Thai police estimates. Despite the denial, Chhoun Narin said the police will cooperate with Thai officials in repatriating Thai citizens. But he declined to comment on whether Cambodia will charge Thais found to be in the country illegally. RFA was unable to reach National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khouen for comment on Friday. After the Cambodian government opened up the company following COVID-19 restrictions, reports of criminal activities in Sihanoukville province flooded the offices of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, Cheap Sotheary, the groups Sihanoukville province coordinator, told RFA. She urged Cambodian authorities to work with their Thai counterparts to resolve complaints about kidnapping and detentions in Cambodia. There should be an investigation to see how many separate incidents there are. If Thai delegates come, there should be a cooperation to avoid any misunderstanding, she said. Police in Malaysia, meanwhile, have information indicating a human trafficking syndicate has trapped Malays as forced labor in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, BenarNews reported. Since 2021, the Anti-trafficking unit of Malaysias Federal Criminal Investigation Department received six police reports of involving 26 victims 24 men and two women in need of rescue from crime syndicates. The police believe that there are still many people in similar situations but have not lodged reports with authorities. Police said the victims were duped by job advertisements offering relatively high salaries doing social media work as customer service officers in other countries. Interested job seekers were encouraged to contact agents through WeChat, WhatsApp or Facebook who then would arrange travel costs for the unsuspecting victims. Once they arrived at the destination, the syndicate would confiscate or destroy travel documents and mobile devices, leaving the migrants with no way to call for help or escape on their own. The victims then would be sent to specific locations such as Preah Sihanouk in Cambodia, Mae Sot in Thailand, Vientiane in Laos and Kayin State in Myanmar and forced to work in scams involving online gambling, fake investments and Bitcoin mining. They would not be allowed to return home if they did not reach the companys sales targets or they could pay between U.S. $7,125 and $11,875 for their release. The Royal Malaysian Police is working with Interpol and Aseanapol to seek help in tracking and rescuing Malaysian victims. RFA reported last month that dozens of Thais and hundreds of Lao citizens were duped into working in casinos in Laos Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone. If these victims failed to meet sales quotas, they were told they would be sold to employers at different companies, including for positions in the sex trade. Groups of Thais escaped last month back to Thailand or were rescued and repatriated. TRIPOLI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A total of 60,000 illegal immigrants have been voluntarily deported from Libya to their countries of origin since 2015, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement on Friday. "Since 2015, IOM has assisted 60,000 migrants in Libya to return to their country in a safe and dignified manner through the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) Program," said the IOM statement. About 47 percent of returnees assisted through the VHR program had been in detention centers while the remainder were living in urban settings, the statement added. The VHR program is set to arrange the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya to their homeland. Libya has become a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores. So far this year, more than 3,000 illegal immigrants have been rescued at sea and returned to Libya, according to IOM. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us 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. Blunt; direct; a fiercely loyal, tireless behind-the-scenes mover and shaker in Albany and New York State Democratic Party politics, Dorothea Polly Noonan was a force of nature, especially as portrayed by Antoinette LaVecchia in director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahills passingly involving, workmanlike production of Sharr Whites The True at Capital Repertory Theatre. NORTH ADAMS Seven years ago, Nicole Puopolo was living on the street in Chelsea and struggling with substance use disorder. Her life changed when she accepted support from the Chelsea Hub, a coalition that includes the police department and social service agencies in the eastern Massachusetts city that noticed her on the street. Puopolo didnt know there were resources for her and people who wanted to help, she said. I thought I had to do everything on my own, she said. The hub team got her a cab and connected her to a detox facility and later, to recovery housing and rental assistance. It made a load of a difference, she said. Im still clean almost five years later. Word of success stories from the Chelsea Hub like Puopolos eventually reached the Berkshires, and now similar efforts are underway here to help people who are at risk and may want services from different community groups. In north county, a group consisting of 30 agencies meets weekly on Tuesdays, and members bring possible cases from their everyday work that they decide internally may need another groups support. The Northern Berkshire Hub initiative launched in January and is facilitated by Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Executive Director Amber Besaw. Members include police departments and school districts, the Elizabeth Freeman Center, Northern Berkshire EMS, the Berkshire County Sheriffs Department and the Williamstown Council on Aging. A similar, but separate Hub project was also rolled out this year in Pittsfield. When I first learned of the (hub) model I heard very clearly that there was a public safety piece to this. I had to think about that for a little bit, Besaw said. The way that I understand it, its a way of telling our community, especially the members in our community that are struggling with some of the most difficult life experiences, that they are seen and we want to help them that they are not forgotten. Both the Northern Berkshire Hub and Pittsfield Hub are modeled after the Chelsea Hub, which started in 2015 and is based on a Canadian model. The Northern Berkshire Hub addresses situations related to a range of issues including self-harm, addiction, elderly abuse and domestic violence. The Hub table first hears about the situation without the persons name or other identifying information and must come to a consensus on whether the person is at acutely elevated risk, meaning there is immediate risk of harm to themselves or others, Besaw said. If the group decides thats the case, the persons identity is revealed and a team of people forms to do outreach. The teams members depend on the situation sometimes a police officer who knows the person will join, but oftentimes police are not involved, Besaw said. While we want to train them, and they are being trained more, to understand mental health and substance use concerns, they are law enforcement and not social workers. Dan Cortez, the Chelsea Hub coordinator and a community engagement specialist at the Chelsea Police Department, helped train the Northern Berkshire Hub members. In his trainings, Cortez says he stresses that the hub has zero to do with enforcement. Its strictly providing services, he said. It would erode the trust if all the sudden people were getting arrested. When the team goes out to find the person in a door knock, that person chooses whether or not to accept services. Its a question of, can we help you? Besaw said. As of late March, 19 situations have been presented to the group, and of those, eight people were connected to services or informed of them and one person declined, according to Besaw. Weve had individuals referred in for chronic homelessness and untreated mental health concerns who are not connected to services, Besaw said. Individuals with families who have been referred in due to living conditions and the need for support around appropriate and safe housing. The initiative helps catch people that are falling through the cracks, said Becca Phelps-Smith, director of emergency services at the Brien Center, an organization with representation at the table. It brings all the different agencies together to figure out how to best help them. Another benefit of the table: it builds connections between organizations. If youre at the situation table you instantly know everyone, Cortez said. Everyone has the same Rolodex all the sudden. Its a really great thing. The Brien Center doesnt provide housing, for example, and a co-responder a mental health clinician who responds alongside police might see someone across multiple calls who is homeless and that could lead to the co-responder bringing the situation to the table. The Brien Center has referred people in to the Pittsfield Hub for housing-related issues, Phelps-Smith said. Jen Weber, EMS director at the Lanesborough Volunteer Fire Department, got involved in February. When they encountered someone with a mental health issue, sometimes her department would spend a whole day calling around to different agencies who might be able to help. We hit roadblocks a lot, Weber said. We dont even know programs exist. The hub makes that work easier, she said. We werent even necessarily aware that there were people in some of these roles until we went to these meetings. LUSAKA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Friday announced a relaxation of COVID-19 preventive measures following a continued decline in cases and hospitalizations. Under the adjusted measures, the government has removed restrictions on population movement, and people visiting the country will no longer be required to have a PCR test as long as they have proof of vaccination. The government has also allowed public gatherings which, however, must be held with strict observance of preventive guidelines. Schools and places of work will resume normal schedules. Sylvia Masebo, the minister of health, said the number of daily cases has fallen significantly, with average test positivity rate at less than five percent for over three weeks. "The COVID-19 outbreak situation in the country is encouraging as we note that the fourth wave is subsiding," she said in a release. The ministry has decided to adjust the public health and social measures following a COVID-19 risk assessment, Masebo said. Zambia's cumulative COVID-19 cases now stand at 316,911, following 91 new cases reported in the previous 24 hours. A total of 3,966 people have died since the outbreak of pandemic in March 2020, while 312,249 have recovered. staff photographer Gillian Jones has been a staff photographer and columnist for the Berkshire Eagle since 2014. She began her journalism career at The North Adams Transcript in 1992. LUSAKA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's biggest public university has launched the production of mealie-meal at a milling plant financed by the Chinese government. The University of Zambia (UNZA) said it has opened a sales outlet at its campus in Lusaka, the country's capital, to start selling mealie-meal, according to a statement released Thursday. Luke Mumba, the university's vice-chancellor, said the university was given one of the three milling plants funded by the Chinese government and was grateful for the decision. He said the milling plant will also be developing and offering programs in milling science, a program offered only by South Africa and Kenya, as well as processing of maize into maize products for income generation. He further said the milling plant systems, whose construction works were finalized last year, have been tested and gauged for effectiveness and efficiency. The milling plant has a capacity to produce 40 tons of mealie meal per day. The plant is also engaged in the production of maize bran. In 2017, the Zambian government decided to give the plant to the university funded by China under the Presidential Milling Initiative. Two other plants are situated in Mpika in the northern part of the country and Monze in the southern part of the country. The three plants are a result of an agreement by leaders of the two countries when former President Edgar Lungu visited China in 2015. The three plants are in addition to over 1,000 solar-powered milling plants that have been installed in various parts of the southern African nation since 2015. The First and Last Songs in the Bible The first song in the Bible and the last are remarkably similar. Both are a spontaneous, praise-filled celebration of Gods redemption. For 400 years the children of God were enslaved by the Egyptians. When they cried out to God, He sent Moses to facilitate their deliverance. But Pharaohs heart was hard; he had no intention of freeing his captive laborers. God demonstrated His power and softened Pharaohs heart by sending 10 successive plagues upon Egypt. Through the first nine plagues, Pharaohs oppressive grip on the slaves grew tighter. But the 10th plague was so powerful, so unspeakably horrific, that it finally shattered Pharaohs resistance and caused Him to let Gods people go. During their exodus, Pharoah burned with regret and decided to pursue the freed slaves. One final barrier stood between Israel and freedomthe Red Sea. As Pharoah and his army gained ground, the children of God found themselves trapped until Gods hand moved through Moses and opened the great body of water, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land. When the Egyptians followed, the waves engulfed every horse and rider in Pharaohs army. Upon their deliverance, Moses and the Israelites burst into spontaneous praise. I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my fathers God, and I will exalt Him. (Exodus 15:1-2) Israels 18-verse deliverance song (Exodus 15:1-18) is a detailed recap of Gods miraculous deeds and His power to defeat the enemy. But as Israel collectively sang about Gods strength, provision, mercy, and justice, the lyrics evolved into a faith-filled prophetic view of Gods continued victory on their behalf. The last song in the Bible is found in the book of Revelation. Scripture refers to this final song as the song of Moses and of the Lamb. (Revelation 15:3) In this passage of Scripture, John has just witnessed the saints overcome the power of the Beast through their faithful obedience to Christ. Seven final tribulation plagues are administered by seven angels, but the saints stand by a sea of fiery glass and sing their song of triumph to the One who has secured their redemption. Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. Both the first and last song in Scripture center on Gods redemptive power to deliver His people out of slavery and into the promises prepared for them. MOSCOW - On Wednesday, the Moscow Police Department celebrated the graduation of the 21st annual Citizen's Police Academy. After being unable to host the course last year due to COVID, the department had 32 students participate in the 11-week program this year, the largest class the department has ever had. During the course, officers and instructors covered everything from patrol procedures to computer forensics and investigations. Participants even spent an entire Saturday learning with the Regional SWAT team. The Citizens Police Academy is open to the public and offered as a University of Idaho class. Applications for the next Citizen's Police Academy will be available in October. Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, should we be gloating over Joe Biden's failures? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Local proptech firm Flow has been awarded Best Late-Stage Startup at this year's AfricArena Summit. Held in Johannesburg last week, the summit was a side event to the SA Investment Conference. The event saw 21 startups from across Southern Africa come together to learn, network, and showcase their ideas to the AfricArena ecosystem of investors, incubators and accelerators. Gil Sperling and Daniel Levy, co-founders and co-CEOs of Flow Its at events like AfricArena that you get to lift your head up from the entrepreneurial trenches and get the validation for you and your team that the business youre working hard on is having an asymmetrical impact on something so meaningful to all of us - finding and buying our homes, says Flow co-founder and co-CEO Gil Sperling.The five winners, including Flow, qualified for the AfricArena Grand Summit in Cape Town in November 2022.Winning an award like this in a talented pool of amazing startups shows that were on the right track, says Flow co-CEO and co-founder, Daniel Levy. We know that were making a difference in the proptech sector in South Africa and beyond and its encouraging to see that other people understand the amazing value weve unlocked for the property industry, buyers and sellers." There are currently no plans to discontinue the use of coal as part of the country's energy mix, said Deputy President David Mabuza while responding to questions in the National Assembly on Thursday, 31 March. Need for new infrastructure, technologies and solutions Planned optimised plant shutdowns He said the countrys energy generation is guided by the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019 which provides for the use of all energy resources available, including, among others, coal, gas and renewable energy sources.Currently, there are no plans for the discontinuation of the use of coal as 99% of South Africas electricity supply is derived from coal and 30% of liquid fuels are derived from the same commodity.Coal remains one of our largest natural endowments that will continue to form part of our energy mix in terms of the IRP 2019, he said.He said, however, that despite this, the country is committed to forging a low-carbon growth path that prioritises environmental sustainability.We need to ensure that we deploy new infrastructure, technologies and solutions that enable us to adhere to ambient air quality standards, and protect the lives of communities from negative environmental externalities.Going forward, the IRP 2019 proposes the use of high efficiency, low emissions coal technologies. Government is currently working on other measures, such as the Gas Utilisation Master Plan and the Renewable Energy Master Plan.Mabuza said government is exploring the development of the Nuclear Procurement Framework as proposed in the IRP 2019. He said these are part of the medium to long-term plans in ensuring security of energy supply.Having said that, it is important to point out that out of the entire fleet, there are planned optimised plant shutdowns that is aligned with the Integrated Resource Plan to balance capacity, environmental, social and economic considerations.This is inevitable because, in the main, these plants are approaching the end of their lifespan, and have become uneconomical, unpredictable and costly to run.Nine coal-fired power stations will be shut down by 2035, thereby impacting significantly on the reduction of generation capacity, he said. Russia and Ukraine may be tens of thousands of kilometers away from South Africa, but the former's invasion of the latter will have serious ramifications for the citizens of this country. Source: Supplied. Russel Morena, chief executive officer of the Southern African Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA). When Russia unleashed its military might on Ukraine on February 24, its leader, Vladimir Putin, said the assault was aimed at protecting Ukrainians who, he claimed, had faced humiliation and genocide at the hands of their government. This, he added, would be achieved through the demilitarisation and de-Nazification of Ukraine.While it is difficult or nearly impossible to predict the future, one scenario being put forward is that the conflict will develop into a protracted war. This will likely happen if it takes longer than anticipated for Russian forces to secure Ukrainian cities, whose defenders fight from street to street. This implies that the impact on both the protagonists and countries that have absolutely nothing to do with the conflict, such as South Africa, will be felt for a long time to come.As stated, South Africa is not insulated from the ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. We have already seen the price of crude oil increase to levels about $100/bl, owing to fears that Western trade and other sanctions on Russia would curb supplies from that country, which is the worlds largest oil exporter, according to the International Energy Agency.Elevated crude oil prices on the world market will translate to higher fuel prices for South African motorists, taxi operators and those in the business of moving goods. The taxi operators will simply pass the additional cost of fuel on to commuters, and so too will retailers, that themselves will be asked to part with more money to have their wares delivered to their outlets.Oil prices had been rising for about six months prior to the outbreak of the war. If the recent increases persist, the World Bank estimates that a full percentage point will be shaved off the gross domestic product growth of South Africa and other oil importers. Prior to the conflict, this countrys economy was expected to grow by 2% annually in 2022 and 2023.Russia and Ukraine, which happen to be former members of the now defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, are major producers of wheat and other grains. Combined, the two countries account for 30% of the worlds traded wheat. With Ukraines ports closed and much of Russian grain supply frozen by Western sanctions, there are fears that tightening supplies will lead to shortages in importing countries. This country imports 40% of its wheat requirements and in the past almost a third came from Russia and Ukraine.While the Agricultural Business Council of South Africa has stated that it does not believe this country will experience shortages of wheat, which is milled into flour, a key ingredient for making bread - one of this countrys staple foods - the international wheat price has soared because of limited supplies. In early March, wheat traded in Chicago (the international benchmark), had risen by more than 50% since the Russian invasion. This will ultimately reflect in South African wheat prices and prices South Africans will pay when buying bread.It is likely that, because of the raging war, the planting of this years spring wheat, barley, and maize crops in the two countries will be disrupted. This implies that the global shortage of these grains will linger for some time.The guns may not be ringing out on our shores, but South Africans from all walks of life will feel the impact of the war between Russia and Ukraine. PHNOM PENH, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of China Phnom Penh Branch (BOCPP) has officially released the new function of UnionPay QR code payment for mobile banking, said its press statement on Friday. "It is the first Chinese bank in Cambodia to implement UnionPay QR code payment on mobile banking," the statement said. Mobile banking UnionPay QR code refers to scanning or generating a UnionPay standard QR code through BOC mobile banking for payment. Customers need to download the BOC mobile banking APP, scan the UnionPay QR code or generate a UnionPay QR code through the "Scan" function, then they can make payments at nearly 31 million merchants in about 45 countries and regions around the world, according to the statement. UnionPay QR code payment is used in countries or regions, such as the Chinese mainland, China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia through online and offline payment channels, said the statement. It added that in Cambodia, UnionPay QR code payment is available at major shopping malls, supermarkets, brand stores, restaurants and hotels. ISLAMABAD, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called upon the international community to support the Afghan people in their journey towards sustainable peace and development, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday night. Addressing virtually a high-level meeting on supporting the humanitarian response in Afghanistan convened by the United Nations secretary general, Qureshi underscored the importance of "durable solutions including the provision of livelihood opportunities and ensuring of access to basic necessities such as food, health and education for the Afghan population." The foreign minister stressed that new humanitarian situations emerging in other parts of the world should not move the focus away from the dire needs of millions of Afghans, according to the statement. He emphasized that humanitarian assistance should be unconditional and apolitical, in line with international principles. Qureshi called for concerted international efforts to help Afghanistan build a sustainable economy and reintegrate in the global supply chains and banking system. SEOUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A trainer fighter jet of the South Korean air force crashed in the country's southeastern city, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday. The KT1 trainer jet crashed down at a rice field in Sacheon, some 440 km southeast of the capital Seoul, at about 1:36 p.m. local time (0436 GMT). Three people were reported to be killed, and one was seriously injured. The firefighting authorities dispatched two helicopters, 14 vehicles and 35 personnel to the scene for rescue operation. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) presented the records on the Senate floor on March 28 and March 29. One showed a wire payment of $100,000 to Owasco, one of Hunter Bidens firms, from CEFC China Energy, a now-defunct company closely associated with the Chinese regime, Another showed a wire transfer of $5 million to Hudson West, a company Hunter Biden invested in and managed, from Northern International Capital, a business that partnered with CEFC. A contract also made public by the senators showed $500,000 went to Hunter Biden as a one-time retainer fee. Two others showed a $1 million payment made to Hudson West by CEFC and a transfer of $1 million from Hudson West to Owasco, with the money appearing to go to Hunter Biden for the purposes of representing Patrick Ho, a Chinese businessman who has helped CEFC gain advantages through bribery. The receipts are just some of the records that undeniably show strong links between the Biden family and communist China, Grassley said. The $100,000 transaction was dated Aug. 4, 2017; the $5 million transfer was dated Aug. 8, 2017; the two other payments were made on Nov. 30, 2017, and March 22, 2018, respectively. Hunter Bidens lawyer didnt respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment; the White House also didnt respond to an inquiry. For years, Grassley and Johnson have been probing Hunter Biden, who is under federal investigation, producing a report in 2020 that exposed connections between the younger Biden and Chinese nationals connected to the Chinese regime and military. Among them is Ye Jianming, a Chinese oil tycoon who founded CEFC. Ye was put under investigation by Chinese authorities in 2018 and hasnt been seen since then. The senators discovered that Hunter Biden made millions from Ye and his company and millions more from Dong Gongwen, a financier and business associate of Ye. Messages later obtained by The Epoch Times showed Hunter Biden had a close relationship with Ye, including being the first guest at the Chinese businessmans new apartment, while other messages listed Joe Biden and Dong as office mates. Andrew Bates, who at the time was representing Joe Bidens campaign, claimed the Senate report was using taxpayer dollars to launch an attack founded on a long-disproven, hardcore right-wing conspiracy theory. Bates is now a White House spokesman. Acknowledging their efforts have drawn criticism, Grassley told colleagues on March 28 that the report was largely based on records from the Obama administration and almost a dozen interviews with government officials. Grassley said he and Johnson did what any good investigator would do: we gathered even more records to prove all these people wrong. The senators said they plan on releasing the financial records theyve obtained in full. Their offices didnt respond by press time to requests for more information. Bank records like this piece of evidence are pretty hard to deny and sweep under the rug, Johnson told senators, asserting that the documents show corruption and conflicts of interest that could compromise Biden. The evidence is stunning, and it is growing. Frank Fang contributed to this report. When on 7 March, the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) suspended 6 Russian precious metals refiners from the London Good Delivery Lists for Gold and Silver, and in the process blocked from the London market any new gold and silver bars produced by these refiners, one unanswered question was whether the London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM) was going to follow suit and also suspend Russian precious metals refiners from its Good Delivery Lists for Palladium and Platinum. This was more than a theoretical question because two of the refiners excluded from the gold and silver Good Delivery Lists by the LBMA were JSC Krastsvetmet (located in Krasnoyarsk) and Prioksky Plant of Non-Ferrous Metals, and both Krastsvetmet and Prioksky were also accredited refiners on the LPPMs Good Delivery List for both Platinum and Palladium . For anyone reading BullionStar Blogs, this LBMA LPPM conundrum was not a surprise since we highlighted it on 28 February, saying that: Note too that the LBMA also administers the London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM) , and t here are two Russian refineries on both the current LPPM Good Delivery List for Platinum and the LPPM Good Delivery List for Palladium , namely The Gulidov Krasnoyarsk Non-Ferrous Metals Plant and the Prioksky Plant of Non-Ferrous Metals (a.k.a. Krastsvetmet and Prioksky ). To make matters worse, since the CME Group (operator of the COMEX) more or less clones the LBMA Good Delivery Lists and had the 6 Russian refiners on the COMEX Approved Brands lists, this forced the COMEX to follow the LBMAs lead on 7 March and exclude the same 6 Russian precious metals refiners from these Approved Brands lists for gold and silver, while leaving the Krastsvetmet and Prioksky refiners on the COMEX Approved List for Platinum and leaving Krastsvetmet on the COMEX Approved List for Palladium. For how could the LBMA in London, as it said in its press release on 7 March, suspend the 6 Russian refiners with immediate effect and in light of UK/EU/US sanctions, while its sister organization, the LPPM in London, did nothing about Krastsvetmet and Prioksky? And how could the Commodity Exchange (COMEX) also on 7 March effective immediately and until further notice, suspend the approved status for warranting and delivery of the 6 Russian refiners for their gold and silver brands, while leaving Krastsvetmet and Prioksky on its Platinum/Palladium approved brands lists? The answer is of course about money, and the fact that sanctions are a political weapon which can be ignored in hypocritical closed doors meetings in the City of London and Chicago/New York when it affects the bottom line too much. LBMA and LPPM Same People, Different Hats As Reuters Peter Hobson pointed out in a 8 March article titled London market green-lights Russias palladium while blocking its gold: The London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM) , an industry association, said it would keep the two Russian refiners it accredits on its good delivery list of firms whose material is eligible to trade in London. Traders and analysts said removal of the palladium refiners from London trading would have worsened worries over Russian supply that have sent prices to record highs . On 8 March, the LPPM also with a straight face added a hypocritical press release to its website, which said: LPPM GOOD DELIVERY PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM UPDATE Due to the terrible events taking place in Ukraine, the LPPM has reviewed its Good Delivery list and the US, EU and UK sanctions . Following that review it has decided to make no changes to the Good Delivery list. We will however continue to monitor and review the situation. In other words, due to, in the words of the LPPM, terrible events in Ukraine, the LPPM decided to do nothing, all because Russian palladium and platinum are too important to sanction. On the same day, Reuters published another version of its 8 March article which is now only available on the NASDQ website and is titled Russian refiners still OK to trade, says London Platinum and Palladium Market", in which Peter Hobson wrote that: Following a meeting of the Management Committee of the LPPM , there will be no changes to our Good Delivery list ," the LPPMs Chief Administrative Officer, Jane-Anne Wardley, said. So now we know that it was the LPPM Management Committee which made the decision to make no changes to the LPPM Good Delivery Lists, despite what they called the terrible events in Ukraine. Sometime in the last 15 years, the racial equity leftist narrative morphed from the egalitarian vision of the civil rights era of forging brotherhood across racial lines into a blatant, unapologetic racial jihad against the white infidel. As well get into later, there is a very practical reason for this shift; its not an organic ideological evolution. First, via Huffington Post: Not many forces work harder than Black women leading a movement. From the fight for suffrage to todays battle against voter suppression, Black women have been the backbone of political progression, even when they dont get the return on investment they deserve. But heres the truth: Black women arent showing up to save America. Theyre showing up to save themselves when Black women fight, they are fighting for their lives and the lives of those who look like them. The racial equity agenda has taken a hard left turn. Contrast the framing above of the black women (black being capitalized of course while white is lowercase) fighting for the lives of those who look like them with the definitively anti-racist ethos in MLKs I Have a Dream speech: I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character . One of those things is not like the other! Either the [capital B*] Black women in the HuffPost piece are: selfless heroes who deserve recognition for their altruistic crusade for racial equity, or selfish racists advocating for their own narrow demographic interests They cant be both simultaneously, as the HuffPo articles confused narrative attempts to depict them. *Why Does the Corporate Media Now Capitalize Black But Not white? Via AP: After changing its usage rules last month to capitalize the word Black The Associated Press said it would not do the same for white. white people in general have much less shared history and culture, and dont have the experience of being discriminated against because of skin color. We agree that white peoples skin color plays into systemic inequalities and injustices, and we want our journalism to robustly explore these problems, John Daniszewski, the APs vice president for standards, said in a memo to staff Monday. But capitalizing the term white, as is done by white supremacists, risks subtly conveying legitimacy to such beliefs.' So, now, arbitrarily gauging how oppressed one ethnicity is compared to another determines whether its terminologies deserve to be capitalized. How equitable! How liberal! How loving! In the language of the HuffPost piece quoted at the outset, which mirrors the racialized rhetoric at large in the corporate media, you can still detect the vestiges of the egalitarian MLK vision. At times, the race hustlers still pay lip service to the equal treatment ideal. But their rhetoric becomes muddled with mixed messaging that indicates an ideological sea change. In addition to being morally abhorrent on its face, the [capital B] Black women for [capital B] Black women narrative is a losing political strategy. Black people make up approximately 13% of the US population, meaning that black women account for approximately six and a half percent of all Americans. Assuming DNC electioneers could get all black women on board with the [capital B] Black Diverse Apartheid (or whatever) agenda, and that they could get them all politically active as a voting bloc, they would have a paltry 1/20th of the public on their explicitly racist team. The key point: For the Democrat Party and corporate media overlords like the Huffington Post hucksters that hock this brand of identity politics to their braindead readers, building effective political coalitions isnt the objective . The point, rather, is to inject a venomous racial animus into the public consciousness to the exclusion of a nuanced accounting of the state of American politics or the nature of its true puppet masters. Partisan politics, in turn, becomes a lowest-common-denominator race-to-the-bottom tribal struggle with factions pitted along racial, sexual, and religious lines. The effect is that the voting public to the limited extent that voting actually has the capacity to impact political outcomes at that stage of American democracy is neutered of any real teeth with which to challenge the elite political and economic forces looting American wealth and mortgaging the future to a technocratic ruling class. Youll own nothing and be happy, as World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab dictates But first youll blame your different-colored neighbors while we dismantle your national wealth is the next, unspoken portion. Under your new WEF feudal lords, what you will get in exchange for a living wage and hope for a brighter tomorrow is the modern, real-world iteration of 1984s Two Minutes Hate: The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but that it was impossible to avoid joining in. Within thirty seconds any pretence was always unnecessary. A hideous ecstasy of fear and vindictiveness, a desire to kill, to torture, to smash faces in with a sledge hammer, seemed to flow through the whole group of people like an electric current ,..And yet the rage that one felt was an abstract, undirected emotion which could be switched from one object to another like the flame of a blowlamp. -George Orwell, 1984 In real-world practice, instead of the dreaded Eurasians or Eastasians (depending on which object of hate suited the interests of the state at any given moment) that Orwell imagined in his fiction, you are directed to conduct your rage toward the fashionable race or sex that the technocrats have programmed you to believe is the true source of your dystopic misery. In 2022, that fashionable racial. sexual, and cultural identity is very specific: white, male, heterosexual, and Christian the theoretical spawn of Satan: According to the Associated Press, the University of Kansas is offering an Angry White Male course [it] will chart the rise of the angry white male in America and Britain since the 1950s, exploring the deeper sources of this emotional state while evaluating recent manifestations of male anger. To pinpoint who robbed you of your civilizational birthright, look up not at your neighbor. At this rate, well all be in tenement coffin high-rise apartments soon enough, regardless of complexion. Ben Bartee is a Bangkok-based American journalist with opposable thumbs. Follow his stuff via his Armageddon Prose, Substack, Patreon, Gab, and Twitter. Please support his independent operations however you can. Bitcoin public address: 14gU3aHBXkNq8bDqmibfnubV7kSJqfx5LX PHNOM PENH, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 88,646 tons of milled rice to China in the first quarter of 2022, up 3.8 percent from the same period last year, Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon said on Friday. China remained the top buyer of Cambodia's rice, followed by the European Union, he said, adding that the export to China accounted for 52 percent of Cambodia's total rice export during the January-March period this year. The southeast Asian nation sold 47,674 tons of rice to the European market during the cited period, the minister said. "A total of 170,539 tons of milled rice were exported to 47 countries and regions during the first three months of this year, up 11 percent year-on-year, earning a gross revenue of 145.8 million U.S. dollars," said the minister. Agriculture is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. According to the minister, Cambodia exported 3.43 million tons of agricultural products to 57 countries and regions during the first quarter of this year, up 11 percent year-on-year, making a total revenue of 1.26 billion U.S. dollars. Main agricultural products for exports included rice, rubber, cassava, mangoes, bananas, pepper, cashew nuts, corn, palm oil, and tobacco, among others, the minister said. A review conducted by the Postal Service Office of Inspector General found that the Postal Service surveillance program iCOP exceeded its legal authority by surveilling Americans during protests between 2018 and 2021. In 2021, Yahoo News reported the existence of the secret program, prompting outrage from lawmakers and constitutional experts who noted the program operated without oversight from Congress. Soon after the Yahoo News report, Congress requested the Inspector Generals office to launch an investigation into iCOP (Internet Covert Operations Program). We determined that certain proactive searches iCOP conducted using an open-source intelligence tool from February to April 2021 exceeded the Postal Inspection Services law enforcement authority, the March 25, 2022, Inspector General report stated. Furthermore, we could not corroborate whether other work analysts completed from October 2018 through June 2021 was legally authorized. According to Yahoo News, iCOP used sophisticated technology, including facial recognition, to compile reports on protesters. It ran keywords searches for terms such as protest on online platforms to collect speech about protests that had nothing to do with the Postal Services work. The House Oversight Committee chair, Rep. Carolyn Maloney said the Inspector General report proves there was cause for concern over iCOPs activities. The Oversight Committee requested this report because of our significant concerns about intelligence activities conducted by the Postal Service Inspection Services analytics team related to First Amendment activity, Maloney said in a statement to Yahoo News. The Inspector Generals audit makes clear that the committees concerns were justified, and that the use of open-source intelligence by the analytics team exceeded the Postal Inspection Services law enforcement authority. The report concluded that the Postal Service exceeded its legal authority in monitoring protesters, and stressed iCOPs activities should have a postal nexus. However, the keywords used for iCOP in the proactive searches did not include any terms with a postal nexus. Further, the postal nexus was not documented in 122 requests and 18 reports due to a lack of requirements in the programs procedures. These issues occurred because management did not involve the Postal Inspection Services Office of Counsel in developing iCOP or its procedures. Less than one week after Joe Biden claimed his "unprecedented sanctions" had reduced the ruble "to rubble," Russia's currency has recovered all its losses and is now trading higher than before the war began. As a result of our unprecedented sanctions, the ruble was almost immediately reduced to rubble. The Russian economy is on track to be cut in half. It was ranked the 11th biggest economy in the world before this invasion and soon, it will not even rank among the top 20. President Biden (@POTUS) March 26, 2022 Putin took aggressive measures to rescue the ruble, from demanding foreign nations pay for Russian oil in rubles to pegging their currency to gold. BIG BANG "A clear and transparent scheme." "Open ruble accounts in Russian banks." "If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default." "Nobody sells us anything for free, and we are not going to do charity work. That is, existing contracts will be stopped". pic.twitter.com/NAqjGSiSgY Pepe Escobar (@RealPepeEscobar) March 31, 2022 While Europe is committing suicide (or being suicided), China and India are refusing to go along with the DC regime's BS. Can you help me fight your friend so that I can concentrate on fighting you later? CGTN LIU Xin (@LiuXininBeijing) March 19, 2022 From China's FM Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's press conference on Thursday: Reuters: Before the Beijing Olympics started, the Chinese and Russian Presidents said that the two countries cooperation would have no limits. Now if we are widening cooperation now, what does that mean and how much are we widening it in which areas? Wang Wenbin: There is no limit to China-Russia cooperation in the pursuit of peace, no limit to our efforts to safeguard security, and no limit to our opposition to hegemony. China-Russia relations feature non-alliance, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of any third party. ALERT India buys Russian oil at a discount of $35 per barrel, defying international sanctions - Bloomberg Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) March 31, 2022 Russian FM on rupee ruble payment system: Many years ago we started more and more use of national currencies...A way would be out to bypass unilateral sanctions.. a solution will be found https://t.co/IscNMpZCMl Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) April 1, 2022 Russia's FM Sergey #Lavrov: A new reality is taking shape: the unipolar world is irretrievably receding into the past and a #multipolar world is being born. Nobody on Earth will be considered a second-rate player. All nations are equal and sovereign. pic.twitter.com/crGej3qpXP MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) March 31, 2022 In Delhi, Russian FM Lavrov slams West on Ukriane; lauds India for not looking at the situation in a "one sided way" pic.twitter.com/3k7WDTxbtN Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) April 1, 2022 Our globalist overlords used and abused sanctions to go after all of their political enemies and now they're shooting blanks. Enigma Public's (now-shuttered) "sanctions tracker" showed how the US put sanctions on around 30% of the globe over the past three decades: 1994: 2007: 2017: They've alienated so much of the planet that no one is listening to them anymore. As Pepe Escobar noted earlier this month, "no nations from West Asia, Latin America or Africa have joined Washington's sanctions bandwagon." French companies are refusing to leave Russia and China and India are holding firm. This is a complete and total humiliation for the DC regime. [Header image by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0] Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds, Parler and Telegram. Russian military uncovered US-operated biolabs in Ukraine while conducting a special operation in the nation. Some very interesting findings in the form of list of Americans coordinating bioweapons research at Pentagon biolabs in Ukraine have been revealed as well. On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) released new files procured by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, which include communications between American financier Hunter Biden the son of US President Joe Biden and figures engaged in biological research in Ukraine that his investment company aided in financing. The documents revealed an intent to create a Central Depository of Especially Dangerous Microorganisms in Kiev, according to Russian MoD spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, as well as ways to distribute biological agents via drone. Russias MoD releases info on US involvement in Ukraines bioweapons research Photo : Russian Ministry of Defence The emails disclosed the identities of numerous key American leaders from Metabiota and Black & Veatch, and also officials from the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), who were involved in biological research initiatives. Those named include: Russias MoD releases info on US involvement in Ukraines bioweapons research Photo : Russian Ministry of Defence Robert Pope From 2017 to 2020, Pope served as the DTRAs deputy director of operations, readiness, and exercises. He formerly worked at the Pentagon, the US Air Force European Command (USAFE), and the US Central Command (USCC). Pope was essential in the creation of radiochemical methods for monitoring international nuclear weapons treaties (Air Force Technical Application Center). Between 2016 and 2019, Pope corresponded with Ukraines acting health minister, Ulana Suprun, an American-born Ukrainian who travelled to Ukraine to take part in the US-backed revolution in 2014. Rhys M. Williams Williams, who was formerly the agencys director of development, test, and evaluation, ended up taking over for Pope as acting DTRA director in 2020. He oversaw the Pentagons project to establish capabilities for detecting, locating, and neutralizing foreign weapons of mass destruction and improvised explosive devices. Williams was also Assistant Deputy Administrator for Nonproliferation at the US Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which is in charge of the countrys nuclear arsenal. Joanna Wintrol At the Defense Threat Reduction Office of the US Embassy in Kiev, Wintrol oversaw DTRA programs in Ukraine until 2021. According to emails released by the Ministry of Defense, she oversaw projects such as the UP-2 Project for mapping highly infectious diseases in Ukraine, including anthrax; the UP-4 Project for risk assessment of particularly dangerous pathogens transmitted by birds in Ukraine during migration; and the UP-8 Project for studying spread of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and hantaviruses in Ukraine and the potential need for differential diagnosis of patients with suspected leptospirosis. She also headed Project P-782, which investigated disease transmission through bats, according to previously disclosed records. In early 2021, Wintrol switched to Chemical Security and Elimination (CSE). CSE was previously known as the Chemical Weapons Elimination (CWE) and Chemical Weapons Destruction (CWD) programs, according to a DTRA document. The effort started in 1992 to build the capacity of the states of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) to reduce the threat from chemical weapons (CW) by securing and eliminating CW stockpiles, chemical research capabilities, and production facilities, while also redirecting scientists to peaceful purposes, the agency said. Russias MoD releases info on US involvement in Ukraines bioweapons research Photo : Russian Ministry of Defence Steven L. Edwards Edwards has been the CEO of Black & Veatch, an American engineering business that has long been a Pentagon contractor for a range of building projects, since 2013. He joined the firm in 1978 and previously served as its Chief Operating Officer. Black & Veatch has long been known to collaborate on Pentagon initiatives in Ukraine, but records procured by Russian forces earlier this month divulged the companys role in supervising biological programs in the country, including the UP-8 project, which analyses Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, leptospirosis, and hantaviruses. Lance Lippencott Since 2011, he has served as the project manager and biological project coordinator for Black & Veatch in Ukraine. He informed the Kansas City Business Journal in August 2021 that his efforts in Ukraine on airborne biological agents had aided Black & Veatch in developing a system for cleaning air of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, the pathogen that induces COVID-19. Lippencott is a West Point graduate of the United States Army Military Academy. A report from Ukraines Kherson regions Security Service was included in one of the papers disclosed by the MoD, and it mentioned a potential threat to the epidemiological and epizootic situation in our country that has recently come to light as a result of DTRAs intentions through Black & Veatch to establish control over the functioning of Ukrainian microbiological laboratories that conduct research into particularly dangerous pathogens that can be used to create or upgrade new types of biological weapons. Another paper addressed to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense by Lippencott addresses the extension of the UP-8 project previously described. David Mustra Issues of biomonitoring and transfer of information were supervised by David Mustra, who is closely associated with another Pentagon contractor, Metabiota, Konashenkov said. Previously, he led military bio-projects in Ukraine and Eastern Europe as part of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. Mustra was the firms biosafety recruitment manager in Ukraine, as well as the biosurveillance and control managers and the research and development director. Russias MoD releases info on US involvement in Ukraines bioweapons research Photo : Russian Ministry of Defence Mary Guttieri Guttieri, who holds a doctorate in microbiology from UMass Amherst, served as Metabiotas Executive Vice President from 2014 to 2019, and was formerly the companys Vice President of Technology and Science Administration. At Labyrinth Global Health, she has become the head researcher. Guttieri was the integrator of research programs for the US biology program in Ukraine, and she oversaw the implementation of biological programs involving the study of animals as disease vectors. Nita Madhav Since 2019, Madhav has led Metabiota as its CEO. With a PhD in Public Health, she focuses in epidemiology and pandemics. The Russian Ministry of Defense, on the other hand, claims that there was no evidence in the records that she was in charge of any particular biological activities in Ukraine. Scott Thornton Between 2006 and 2016, Thorton worked for Metabiota as a senior microbiologist and lab start-up coordinator. He served as a research microbiologist and the chief of the Navys Threat Assessment Department for the past 20 years in the US Navy. Thornton conducted research on disease agents of military relevance, especially enteric pathogens at covert sites, as per his CV, one of which is in Cairo, Egypt. Thornton advised local workers in DTRA projects in Ukraine on extremely hazardous pathogens and other epidemic disease-related concerns, and organized the update of reference labs in Ukraine to biosafety level 3 (BSL-3), which can be used to research contagious agents or toxins that can be spread via the air and induce potentially deadly infections. Travel fair helps to kick-start Vietnam's tourism sector The annual Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2022 opened in downtown Hanoi on Thursday, attracting thousands of travel lovers seeking promotions. The fair will attract thousands of people and enterprises over four days. This year, as the borders have reopened for international tourism, the theme of the fair is: "New Normal New Chance for Vietnams Tourism''. The event is a continuation of a series of events hosted by the Vietnam Tourism Association, such as the National Travel Forum on January 21; the National Domestic Travel Tourism Forum on April 15, 2021; and the Sustainable Recovery for Vietnams Tourism Forum on November 30, 2021. Addressing the opening ceremony yesterday, Cao Thi Ngoc Lan, deputy director and general secretary of the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA), noted that while VITM Hanoi has been an annual event, this year, it has extra significance. The fair marks a new period of the tourism sector a period for recovery and development in the new normal context, a period that the sector starts to change into a green and digital economy, she stressed. Despite various hardships after two years of the pandemic, more than 500 enterprises from 52 provinces and cities around Vietnam, as well as from six other countries and territories, have joined the event. More than 2,000 enterprises and over 40,000 people are expected to visit before the event closes on April 3. During the four-day event, VITA and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism will host various activities, especially the national forum titled 'Vietnam Tourism Recovery New Orientation, New Actions', where experts will discuss urgent solutions for domestic enterprises to change their actions in a safer direction to secure an environmental and digital transition, she said. A series of workshops and press conferences on tourism human resources, new products, new destinations and promotion activities will take place. Deputy culture and tourism minister oan Van Viet suggested the concerned agencies should pay more attention to improving technical facilities for the sector, investing in new products, new destinations and new air routes to meet the new demands and trends after the pandemic, especially enhancing the quality of human resources and encouraging start-ups in the field. The official also suggested tourism enterprises review customer markets after the pandemic, especially international customers; promote PR activities in targeted markets using digital technology in this task. Enterprises and localities will further co-ordinate to actively join in the global value chain, fairly competing in order to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnamese tourism in the worlds tourism map, he said. New hopes The event has attracted many visitors with different purposes. Wandering around the fair, elderly Phi Thi Lien Chau and her two friends sometimes stopped at the booth of companies and localities that caught their eye. I am seeking an affordable tour to Phu Quoc for me and my former high school classmates, she said. The pandemic is over and we would like to gather to relax and reminisce on our old days. Last time we bought a good voucher for hotels, which cut the price by half. We are retired and not many of us can afford high prices. So such a fair is helpful to us. Unlike Chau, Dr Bui Van Vuong is visiting the fair for the first time. I heard about the event a few days ago and I'm curious to see whats here, he said. Im planning for a holiday with my family to refresh after COVID lockdown. I hope to find some new tours and new destinations, though I have been travelling throughout the country a lot. Nguyen Hoai Thu, deputy director of Saigontourists Hanoi branch, said the company offers over 60 package products in coordination with 18 other transport partners. This is a chance for the company to confirm the strength of our inbound and outbound products, she said. Our tours will depart from April to September this year and we will receive foreign guesses from September to December. Our products are diversified in forms throughout the country at different price ranges especially tours with Vietnam Airlines. Many people come here to ask about our tours to Dubai in mid-April. We offer prestigious tour service with thorough tourism insurance policies for customers travelling overseas. Uchida Shusuke, deputy head representative of the Japan Tourism Promotion Agency, said: It has been almost two years since the latest event, where we can introduce our hospitality, culture and destinations to Vietnamese people. Though Japan has not opened to tourists yet, we hope to welcome Vietnamese people soon. Shusuke said the booth introduces national activities and local delicacies, such as seafood. Lee Jae Hoon, director of the Korea Tourism Organisation in Vietnam, appreciated the annual fair as it gives tourists a chance to travel and advertise international destinations to Vietnamese people when the pandemic is under control. He said in 2019 the number of Vietnamese people visiting South Korea increased significantly to 550,000 people, while some 4.3 million visitors from South Korea came to Viet Nam. In 2022, it is hoped that 20-40 per cent of the number of Vietnamese people recorded in 2019 will visit South Korea. The agency offers various activities at this fair, like the chance to wear a traditional hanbok, play folk games featured in the popular Squid Game series and make traditional handmade products. Lee said in this year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The organisation will host many more events throughout the year like South Korean Days in Hanoi and other tourism-themed events. The organisation will assists companies to offer special promotions to Vietnamese tourists and will try to ease visa and quarantine policies for visitors from Vietnam. The fair will close on April 3. Photo taken on April 1, 2022 shows the causeway linking Singapore and Malaysia by land, on the first day of full re-opening of borders between Singapore and Malaysia. Malaysia opened its borders to international travel on Friday, ending restrictions that have been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia opened its borders to international travel on Friday, ending restrictions that have been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Among measures adopted by Malaysian authorities to facilitate the travel of non-Malaysian nationals to the country are the abolishing quarantine requirements for vaccinated travelers, with only a pre-departure test and a test within 24-hours of arriving in Malaysia. There is already optimism that the move into the endemic phase will see economic recovery, especially for the country's hard hit tourist sector which has been largely closed off. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Nancy Shukri said over 10,000 foreign travelers and Malaysians residing abroad are expected to arrive at airports nationwide on Friday alone and the ministry is targeting over 2 million tourist arrivals within the year. "After two years, today is a historic moment and a huge relief for our tourism industry as we welcome international tourists, newcomers and regulars alike, back to Malaysia, supporting our economy again," she told reporters at an event to mark the reopening at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Malaysia attracted 4.3 million tourists in 2020 because of lockdowns following the COVID-19 pandemic, a sharp decline from the 26.1 million in 2019. Separately, Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong noted the influx of travelers moving across the bridge connecting Malaysia and Singapore, allowing families to reunite ahead of Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month, and Qingming, a traditional tomb-sweeping festival. "Some were on motorcycles or in cars, and some even walked. This is the result of good discussions between the Malaysian and Singaporean governments to benefit the people of both countries," he said in a statement. "However, everyone is reminded to always take care of the health and safety of yourself and your loved ones. This is the first step towards a normal life," he cautioned. The relaxed standard operating procedures (SOP) and other measures, while welcome, must not mean that caution is thrown to the wind, according to Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) President Koh Kar Chai. "As everyone is either preparing to travel or to receive visitors from abroad due to the opening of our international borders from today, the public is reminded that we are still in the pandemic phase of COVID-19. The borders have been opened not because we are free from disease but because we need to revive our economy," he told Xinhua in a phone interview. He added that the coming weeks and months would be important, with health authorities being expected to keep a close eye on the rate of hospitalization of COVID-19 cases and the incidence of severe cases which are warning signs to look out for. Malaysia reported 18,560 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight Thursday, bringing the national total to 4,201,919, according to the health ministry. A further 44 deaths have been reported, bringing the country's COVID-19 death toll to 34,983. Photo taken on April 1, 2022 shows the causeway linking Singapore and Malaysia by land, on the first day of full re-opening of borders between Singapore and Malaysia. Malaysia opened its borders to international travel on Friday, ending restrictions that have been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) Tourists queue to cross the causeway into Malaysia at Singapore's Woodlands Checkpoint, on the first day of full re-opening of borders between Singapore and Malaysia on April 1, 2022. Malaysia opened its borders to international travel on Friday, ending restrictions that have been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) JOHANNESBURG, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The world should "be very concerned about U.S. biolabs in Ukraine," Buyile Matiwane, deputy-president of the South African Students Congress, has said. "It is nothing short of astonishing that there wasn't a widespread outcry around the discovery of biolabs in Ukraine," he said in an opinion piece published on March 26 by the South African news website IOL. Matiwane said documents that the Russian defense ministry obtained from the personnel of a biolab in Ukraine "expose the U.S. and its NATO allies' research on biological weapons in Ukraine." "The documents show that a large number of serum samples belonging to the Slavs have been transferred, and that the experiments in Ukraine are similar to what Japan's Unit 731 did in World War II," said Matiwane. "The documents were uploaded online by Russia for free download. Considering the above, we need to be cautious about the unchecked, uncontrolled, and secretive operations of biolabs across the world," he said. TEHRAN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Despite the significant progress acknowledged to have been made in Vienna nuclear negotiations in recent weeks, the latest dynamics around Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have complicated the prospect of a final agreement in the talks aimed at salvaging the Iran nuclear deal. Among the remaining gaps between Iran and the United States, Tehran's demand that Washington delist the IRGC as a "foreign terrorist organization (FTO)" is believed to be a major sticking point. TERROR TAG The IRGC must be removed from the FTO blacklist, Kamal Kharazi, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on March 27, adding Iran will not back down from efforts to secure the removal of the IRGC from the U.S. list before returning to the 2015 nuclear pact, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "The IRGC is a national army, which should not be considered as a terrorist group," Kharazi told the Doha Forum, a global platform for dialogue. The IRGC also has important economic institutions in Iran, and if it is not removed from the U.S. list, economic dividends and sanctions relief, both Iran's principal priority in Vienna, cannot be effectively ensured, analysts said. Yet, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley told the same conference that the IRGC will remain sanctioned under U.S. law. "Regardless of what happens to the IRGC issue that you raise, our view of the IRGC is that many other sanctions on the IRGC will remain. This is not a deal that intends to resolve that issue," he said. Malley's remarks came as Israel and some U.S. Congressmen have warned against removing the IRGC from the blacklist. They, generally opposed to the possibility of a new nuclear deal with Iran, believe that delisting the IRGC would further embolden Tehran and Iran-backed militant groups in the region. NEW SANCTIONS The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on an Iranian procurement agent named Mohammad Ali Hosseini and his network of companies that Washington accuses of procuring materials for the IRGC unit responsible for the research and development of ballistic missiles. The United States, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, has taken this action following "Iran's recent missile attack on Erbil, Iraq, as well as missile attacks by Iranian proxies against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates." The IRGC confirmed earlier this month that it has hit with missiles an Israeli intelligence base in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish regional capital Erbil. The missiles on March 13 also reportedly landed near the U.S. consulate building in Erbil, which is new and unoccupied. "These attacks are a reminder that Iran's development and proliferation of ballistic missiles pose a serious threat to regional and international security," Blinken noted. In reaction, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Washington's fresh sanction is "another demonstration of the ill will of the U.S. government toward the Iranian nation and a continuation of the failed policy of maximum pressure by that government against Iran." "The United States claims to be ready to return to full implementation of its obligations under the nuclear deal, while it continues to significantly violate the UN Security Council resolution 2231," he added. PRESSURE CAMPAIGN Amid reports suggesting painstaking talks in Vienna have entered the final stage, Washington and Tehran have taken recent steps to exert pressure on each other within an acceptable scope, while not derailing the nuclear negotiations, Liu Lanyu, an Iran expert at the Institute for International and Area Studies of China's Tsinghua University, told Xinhua. For instance, regarding the missile barrage near the U.S. consulate in Iraq, the IRGC said it only targeted Israel, while U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters that Washington had no indication the attack was directed at the United States. After Washington withdrew from the JCPOA and resorted to maximum pressure against Tehran in 2018, Iran's nuclear program has galloped ahead, and Iran's proxies have not subdued, Price said on Thursday. "This was in the aftermath of the decision to abandon the JCPOA. It was in the aftermath of the decision to apply the FTO designation to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. It was in the aftermath of the killing of (IRGC commander Qassem) Soleimani," he noted. TOKYO (AP) Starting out with funny videos and chat over Mario Kart racing games, two Ukrainian brothers have added a somber tone to their YouTube channel popular with young Japanese with updates from their country that bring the harsh realities of war closer to Japan. Ukraine's YouYubers Sava Tkachov, right, and his young brother Yan Tkachov attend a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan in Tokyo, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Ukrainian YouTuber duo Sawayan, popular among young Japanese for their funny videos and chat over Mario Kart games, are now using their platform to share the reality of war in Ukraine and send an antiwar message. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) TOKYO (AP) Starting out with funny videos and chat over Mario Kart racing games, two Ukrainian brothers have added a somber tone to their YouTube channel popular with young Japanese with updates from their country that bring the harsh realities of war closer to Japan. The Russian invasion of Ukraine began just after the duo, Sava Tkachov, 26, and his younger brother Yan, 20, celebrated the second anniversary of their YouTube debut with subscribers exceeding 2 million for their Sawayan Channel and Sawayan Games that Sava hosts. The first word of war came from their father, a business consultant who had returned to Kyiv two months ago just before Russian troops rolled in and has stayed since to help defend his country. The siblings YouTube content, which used to be full of pranks, jokes and action videos, has become more serious. Worried about their 53-year-old father and friends in Ukraine, the brothers in early March announced on their channel that they planned to volunteer as defenders too. It triggered a wave of reactions, some supporting and others criticizing them. Ukraine's YouTubers Sava Tkachov, right, and his young brother Yan Tkachov attend their news conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan in Tokyo, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) The father objected and the Tkachovs, who have no military training, abandoned the idea, especially when Sava said he received long and serious messages from some of his teenage fans showing their willingness to follow the brothers to Ukraine. "By sending out messages through our channel, I made kids want to go to war and I cannot say if it was good or bad," Sava said at a news conference Thursday. "But at least it was meaningful that they became interested in the issue. Fighting the war on the front-line is not the only way." Sava, who uses the handle "No War," instead turned his gaming channel into a driver for donations and charity game events. He collected some 3.6 million yen ($29,500) in three hours, and donated entirely to the Ukrainian Embassy. The siblings said they also started receiving messages from parents saying their children started thinking about peace and others thanking them for raising important social issues. "I believe the merit of YouTube is I can convey the real information from the ground that my father is sharing with us about the situation that is very up to date, and I can stream that online almost immediately, so in that sense it could be much faster and accurate than news provided by traditional news media," Sava said. He said that his father would send videos of bombardment and bodies "as in war movies," but he couldn't use them because they were too graphic. In a recent appearance on a YouTube talk show hosted by popular former vaccine minister Taro Kono, Sava said the brothers were in regular communication with their father from an undisclosed location. Japan was quick to join other industrialized nations in imposing sanctions against Russia and providing support for Ukraine. Tokyo has also sent bulletproof vests, helmets, tents, medical supplies and other nonlethal defense equipment to Ukraine as an exception to Japan's ban on military equipment transfer to countries in conflict. Japan has taken tougher measures against Russia, worried about the impact of Moscow's war on East Asia where Tokyo has faced threats from North Korea and China. In response to sanctions, Russia suspended peace treaty talks with Japan over the disputed Kuril Islands, which Moscow has held since 1945. Sava Tkachov, who arrived with his family in Japan when he was 4 and studied at a top Japanese university, thanked his adopted country for its support but says Tokyo should stick to its pacifist role. "Japan is the world's top-class peaceful nation ... and what the country is doing right now is very appropriate," he said. "As to the question of whether Japan should send weapons, I do not think it's the kind of role Japan should be playing." Instead, he said, Japan can better contribute by continuing to appeal for peace and take a leadership role within Asia. He also said Japan can provide home to many war-displaced Ukrainians. Some may face challenges of language or unfamiliar food, "but I'm sure they can overcome the difficulties with the empathy of the Japanese people and the spirits of the Ukrainians." A man who choked his partner during an argument and was found unconscious behind the wheel was sentenced to time served in jail on Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertise With Us A man who choked his partner during an argument and was found unconscious behind the wheel was sentenced to time served in jail on Thursday morning. The 29-year-old man pleaded guilty to assault by choking and impaired driving in two separate incidents. The Sun is not naming the man to protect the identity of the victim. In the early morning hours of July 10, 2021, police in Brandon responded to a report of a domestic assault in progress, Crown attorney Jonathan Mays told the court. A woman received a text message from her daughter saying her boyfriend wanted to fight her. When officers arrived, the victim was "visibly upset and very scared," Mays said. The woman said she and the man had been drinking together, but she went to bed at approximately 9 p.m. She woke up at 11:40 p.m. to find the man still drinking and looking through her phone. He got angry and pushed the victim before he got on top of her and sat on her, the Crown said. The man put his hands around her throat and started to choke her while digging his elbows into her chest. At the time, there was a child present, Mays told the court. Then, on Jan. 18 at approximately 5:30 p.m., police in a Westman First Nation found the accused in the drivers seat of a running vehicle and he appeared to be sleeping, Mays said. When the officer opened the door, he could smell a strong odour of alcohol coming from him. He tried to wake the man by tapping him on the shoulder, but there was no response at first, he said. Once police were able to rouse him, they arrested him. While the man wasnt actively driving the vehicle, Mays said he was still in care and control of it. Mays recommended two months time served for the crimes. He noted there was a child present during the choking incident, which itself is serious. "That can obviously be very dangerous. You can do a lot of damage very easily." Defence lawyer Bob Harrison asked the court to sentence the man to the minimum fine for the impaired driving charge, saying the man was found sleeping, not speeding down the highway. The man also has Gladue factors, Harrison said, and he accepts responsibility. While alcohol was a factor, the man has too much to lose, he said, and it isnt an issue for him. Harrison recommended a suspended sentence for the charges. Judge Patrick Sullivan said it was "upsetting" to learn there was a child around when the domestic assault happened as they can often carry that with them through the rest of their lives. Sullivan sentenced the man to a $1,000 fine and a one-year driving ban for the impaired driving charge, but warned him the fine would typically be higher. He also sentenced the accused to 30 days of time served and one year of supervised probation for the choking incident, calling it "very serious." dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ Almost eight months after Brandon City Council voted to save the Park Community Centre from demolition, the facilitys board of directors is urging the city to make progress on necessary repairs. Advertisement Advertise With Us Almost eight months after Brandon City Council voted to save the Park Community Centre from demolition, the facilitys board of directors is urging the city to make progress on necessary repairs. "The issues at Park have been very well-identified, and it is past time to put out tenders and allow our construction industry to respond," the centres secretary-treasurer, Colleen Sigurdson, said in a news release issued Wednesday. SUBMITTED Park Community Centre board vice-president Lyall McDermid and secretary-treasurer Colleen Sigurdson show off their love for the facility on Thursday. The board issued a news release on Wednesday calling for the city to make progress on soliciting bids for the renovation or replacement of the facility eight months after Brandon City Council voted not to demolish it and replace it with a greenspace. "We do not want to miss yet another construction season. It would frankly be unreasonable to do so. Honestly, our distressed and disadvantaged downtown residential core area needs Park Community Centre back to full capacity now." The letter also said delays in the process to repair the building have harmed public trust in the city and work should be progressed in the interest of "accountability, transparency and responsible government." After years of deteriorating conditions at the centre that included structural, mechanical and electrical issues, city administration issued a report in December 2019 recommending it be demolished. That started a back-and-forth argument between proponents of the centre and members of city council and administration that werent keen on the price tag to rehabilitate the centre. Finally, in July 2021, Coun. Kris Desjarlais (Rosser) marshalled enough support among his colleagues to vote in favour of soliciting proposals to repair or entirely replace the centre. Since then, there has appeared to be little movement on the project. "To keep the facility and keep it going is so beneficial for the community, is one point," Sigurdson said Thursday. "Theres also the fact that its such a wonderful facility for the community we need to get it out to tender so we can get some budget numbers." While the issues at the centre have kept it from being used at capacity, it is still being utilized. Recently, the Park Community Centre hosted an art sale to raise funds for relief efforts in Ukraine. One of Sigurdsons concerns is the longer it takes for work to be completed and get full capacity for events back, the harder it will be to get the project off the ground. "Its been with city council for a long time," she said. "We need to get this going, this cant wait any longer." That message was communicated to Mayor Rick Chrest earlier this month. In a letter addressed to him dated March 21 and signed by Sigurdson of which a copy was provided to the Sun the board urged progress on the project. "Both yourself and the majority of city council have acted with integrity on this matter, but we need the marketplace to be invited to bid on completing the work identified," reads the letter, which Chrest told the Sun on Thursday was hand-delivered to him on Tuesday. "Only when tender bids are received will council have the accurate numbers and information needed to proceed. Indeed, it is not unreasonable for us to demand what has been sought since 2019, and towards which our community has been working in what we accepted as an honest partnership with city." According to the mayor, he understands the boards frustration but said behind the scenes work to prepare a tender has been going on for a while. "Primarily, its because the project is not without its complications," Chrest said. "Last summer, council did pass a motion, so council has been convinced by the Park Community Centre board and the community that we ought to endeavour to have a community centre facility in that location administration have been working on it." Councils request for administration to examine the feasibility of repairing, renovating or entirely replacing the facility is a large part of the complexity when it comes to issuing a tender because of a wide range of possible outcomes, Chrest added. Another complicating factor is the state of the aging building, with the mayor saying that additional engineering studies have revealed more problems relating to structural issues. "Anything can be overcome. Its just a matter of money," Chrest said. "As always, council needs to be judicious with taxpayers dollars and not throwing good money after bad. We need to make sure whatever method we pick is going to be a sound use of funds and yields a proper, long-lasting facility for the community that can last years and years into the future." On March 22, the mayor said council held an informal meeting before it was aware of the community centre boards thoughts where the issue was discussed. The intent is still to proceed with the project. Chrest wasnt sure when it would appear at council, but said the centre would appear on an upcoming agenda "to clarify and reconfirm the issuing of the [request for proposals]." Brandon City Councils next meeting is on Monday at 7 p.m. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started, members of the public will be able to attend the meeting in person. cslark@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ColinSlark ROME - Chief Wilton Littlechild felt a swell of emotions and tears in his eyes as he heard Pope Francis apologize at the Vatican on Friday for the Roman Catholic Church's role in residential schools. Advertisement Advertise With Us Members of the Assembly of First Nations perform in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. First Nations, Inuit and Metis delegates are set to have a final meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Alessandra Tarantino ROME - Chief Wilton Littlechild felt a swell of emotions and tears in his eyes as he heard Pope Francis apologize at the Vatican on Friday for the Roman Catholic Church's role in residential schools. The words came on the chief's 78th birthday. It was especially meaningful, he said, because during the 14 years he attended residential school as a child in Alberta, he was not allowed to celebrate. "I hoped for it. I prayed for it. I dreamt for it," he said. "But I never expected to live and see and feel it." The pontiff stood before a room of nearly 200 Indigenous delegates in the Sala Clementina, one of the halls of the Apostolic Palace, and asked for God's forgiveness for the deplorable conduct of church members. "I want to say to you with all my heart: I am very sorry," Francis said in Italian during a final meeting with First Nations, Inuit and Metis delegates. "And I join my brothers, the Canadian bishops, in asking your pardon." Francis said he felt shame and sorrow that Catholics, particularly those in charge of education, caused such significant harm. He also said he will come to Canada, possibly in the summer. Tears streamed down Angie Crerar's face too. The 85-year-old Metis elder said she could see that Francis spoke with sincerity. "My heart is so full I can hardly speak," she said. The hour-long meeting was a mix of solemn prayer with moments of laughter, music and dance. Elder Fred Kelly prayed for the children who went to residential schools and another prayer was done in the Dene language. "Our Father" was sung in Inuktitut. It was the culmination of years of work in Canada and a week of meetings at the Vatican, said Chief Gerald Antoine, the Assembly of First Nations delegation lead. It felt like seeing fresh moose tracks in the snow, Antoine said, when you know there's a real possibility of success. Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said that in the moment of the apology, he couldnt help but think about how people can change the world. He thought about how there can be a path toward justice. "Behind the coverups, behind the indifference over a 100 years, behind the lies, behind the lack of justice, this Pope Pope Francis decided to go right through it and decided to speak words that First Nations, Inuit and Metis have been longing to hear for decades," Obed said. Some members had expressed their apprehension and anxiety prior to the week's final meeting with the Pope, because they were unsure what the outcome would be. "I know how important those words are going to be for our survivors back at home," said Cassidy Caron, president of the Metis National Council. An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools and more than 60 per cent of the schools were run by the Catholic Church. The Indigenous groups involved in the delegation also requested the church provide reparations to support healing, return Indigenous artifacts and share any documents about residential schools. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he looks forward to Pope Francis coming to Canada to deliver that apology in person and commended the bravery and determination of survivors who advocated for it. "Today's apology is a step forward in acknowledging the truth of our past in order to right historical wrongs, but there's still work to be done," he said in Ottawa. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released an extensive report that detailed mistreatment at the schools, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse. It included a call to action that the Pope deliver an apology on Canadian soil. At the Vatican, there was an exchange of gifts to mark the day. Pope Francis received a cross made with baleen, a filtration system in a bowhead whale's mouth, placed in a sealskin bag. He was also given a beaded leather stole, which is a liturgical vest, traditional handmade snowshoes, as well as a book of memories from residential school survivors. In return, the Pope gave each Indigenous group a bronze olive branch as a sign of peace and reconciliation, said the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Murray Sinclair, the former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said in a statement that the apology is an important step and long past due. He said he thought of Littlechild, who has been on the journey to Rome for a long time, and wished him a happy birthday. "I wish we could go back in time to tell that six-year-old who attended a residential school in Alberta, that one day he would be in the room, hearing an apology directly from the Pope, for all he has been through," Sinclair said. The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program has a hotline to help residential school survivors and their relatives suffering trauma invoked by the recall of past abuse. The number is 1-866-925-4419. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2022. I have so many questions. Why am I surprised the party that loudly opposed the creation of Canadas medicare system in the 1960s would oppose the first steps toward the creation of a national pharmacare program and a national dental-care plan for low-income Canadians? Why am I surprised a federal MP who enjoys a taxpayer-funded health, drug and dental plan, who lives in a taxpayer-funded mansion, and who sleeps on a taxpayer-funded mattress while snuggly-wrapped in taxpayer-funded sheets would oppose a proposal that would help ensure the poorest Canadians receive the dental care and prescription drugs they need? Why am I surprised so many Canadians including some who work in the media appear to have no clue as to how our democracy works? As most of you know by now, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh have entered into a "confidence and supply agreement" that could give us political peace at the national level until 2025. Though its a non-binding, legally-unenforceable deal, it means the NDP MPs in the House of Commons will not vote to defeat the Liberal government for the next three years. As the Sun reported on Wednesday, in exchange for the Singhs colleagues agreeing to support the Trudeau government, the Liberals have agreed to start working on a dental-care program for low-income Canadians, national pharmacare, affordable housing, phasing out subsidies for fossil fuels, forbidding the use of replacement workers in federal industries during strikes or lockouts and supporting Indigenous communities that wish to undertake burial searches at the former sites of residential schools. The deal was met with instant, zero-to-sixty outrage from Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen, who complained that, "No one knew they were doing this weve got a war going on in Ukraine, we had the Emergencies Measures Act that was declared [and] backed by the NDP. One has to wonder when did these talks start? What kind of agreements were made? What was the quid pro quo that was given? "These are important questions that go to the very heart of our democracy. Democracy and openness has been replaced by backroom deals." She apparently forgets that her own Conservative party is a coalition of the Reform and Progressive Conservative parties, cooked up in a back-room deal between former leaders Stephen Harper and Peter Mackay. Not to be outdone by his colleague, Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa MP Dan Mazier griped that, "Theyve basically done a backroom deal at the expense of democracy. Its terrible. Its so in your face. Its brazen." Well, no, Dan. Its not. We constantly complain that politics is too toxic, and constantly ask why parties wont work together for the good of the country. And then, when they finally do, we hear petulant whinging from the party that just lost a national election and just tossed their leader overboard because he wouldnt pose with fake truckers who terrorized citizens and wanted to overthrow the government. The reality is, with everything going on in the world these days, Canada could use some political stability for awhile. And the further reality is, combined, the Liberals and NDP represent the majority of votes cast in the last election and the majority of seats held in the House of Commons. In other words, this is exactly the way democracy is supposed to work. And the "further-further" reality is, theres a lot of support among Canadians for a national pharmacare plan, dental coverage for poor Canadians, more affordable housing and a greater effort to find the graves of Indigenous children who died while attending residential schools. Really, what kind of person stands up in Parliament and yells against a government taking steps to ensure that poor kids dont suffer from dental pain, and that our seniors dont have to choose between food and their prescription medications each month? How is more affordable housing a bad thing? How much longer must Indigenous communities wait for their lost children to come home? Read the room, Candice. This Liberal-NDP deal is the best outcome for the Tories, and Bergen knows it. After their lame-brained support of the Ottawa occupation, the Conservatives would have been crushed in an election if it was called this year. Now they have time to elect a new leader, raise even more money and find candidates that Canadians living in urban Canada might actually vote for. And they get to cash fat MP paycheques for three more years and enjoy a health, drug and dental plan that most Canadians can only dream of. If that really makes them unhappy, theres an obvious solution: resign. They can go back to being nobodies in their home ridings, making a fraction of what theyre earning now and without the gold-plated pension plan. They can just walk away. As if that would ever happen. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Each day, Gaynor Andrews dogs take a vitamin supplement to support their digestion. And the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeder encourages her new puppy owner clients to consider supplements for their own four-legged friends. There is a big change in how people value their dogs, Andrew says. For the people I deal with, a dog is a member of the family. And dogs are under so much more stress than they used to be. Australia has just experienced a COVID-fuelled pet boom and a string of lucrative new business lines - from pet insurance to professional dog walking to pet-friendly yoga classes have emerged alongside the phenomenon. Another is the $4 billion-a-year animal wellness industry. Analysts describe an unfolding humanisation of pets - a shift in the way families value their animals that has made them keen to find pet equivalents of human wellness products, like vitamins. Gaynor Andrew has been breeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and advising puppy owners on holistic health for more than 10 years. Credit:Eddie Jim There definitely is a trend, Andrew says. Billion-dollar, ASX-listed health supplements provider Blackmores has clocked the opportunity and has been telling investors that its Pure Animal Wellbeing (PAW) line of pet products will be a core part of its strategy moving forward. The company now makes multivitamin chews for pets, a fish oil supplement for dogs and products for soothing stress and anxiety. Advertisement Blackmores chief executive Alastair Symington says consumers have become more in-tune with their pets after two years of working from home. We spend on our pets as much as we do on anyone, he says. For us, its about providing those natural healthcare solutions that you can build into the daily routine. Blackmores boss Alastair Symington says pet supplements are a long-term opportunity. Credit:Louie Douvis Symington expects supplements for stress reduction to be a very big product for us as Australians return to the office, leaving their four-legged friends at home after two years of living in close quarters. Last year, Blackmores outlined to investors that its pet products would be one of its three major brands, alongside the Blackmores and Bioceuticals products. Competitor Swisse also has a presence in the space, with its parent company H&H Group buying animal supplements maker Zesty Paws last August. Australias multibillion dollar pet supplies business was growing at around four per cent annually prior to the pandemic but revenue growth has more than doubled between 2020 and 2021, according to industry research firm IBISWorld. Advertisement IBISWorld senior analyst Tim Calabria says medicines, wellness products and fancy pet foods have boomed throughout this time, with dogs and cats not the only growing markets. Although cats and dogs constitute the vast majority of pets in Australia, exotic animals like ferrets, lizards and cockatoos also grace more homes than ever before, he says. Close to 70 per cent of Australian households now have a pet - and they are willing to spend big. A survey of more than 1,000 pet owners by Animal Medicines Australia (AMA) in 2021 suggests dog owners spend $3,200 a year on pet care, while cat owners spend $2,100 a year. There are around 6.3 million dogs and 4.9 million cats in Australia and the AMA estimates Australians spend nearly $31 billion just on them ($20.5 billion a year on dogs and $10.3 billion on cats). Blackmores is also tracking growing pet ownership rates overseas, including in its key export market of China. More than 10,000 animal supplement products are already listed on the Chinese e-commerce website Alibaba. We have seen pet ownership skyrocket in places like China, and were geared more towards small feline and canines - because we know thats what consumers have, Symington says. Advertisement I take vitamins every single day and so does my family, why wouldnt you give it to a pet? Sydney cavoodle owner Natalie Headland Portfolio manager at Blackmores investor Spheria Capital, Matt Booker, says sales of pet products at the vitamins maker are not yet material, but that is likely to change quickly. In the next 5-10 years it could be material, as the addressable market for pet healthcare is expanding - and the Blackmores brand and reputation lends itself to that. Head of China research at stockbroker Select Equities, Frida Wang, says Gen Z consumers are driving pet ownership in China and Blackmores has a solid opportunity to capitalise. A partnership with a capable Chinese distributor to navigate the regulated and competitive category might be a good idea, she says. Meanwhile, over at Australian founded online animal pharmacy Pet Chemist, there are also supplements for lizards and a probiotic for birds. Earlier this year, ASX-listed dog sitting business Mad Paws bought Pet Chemist in a $25 million deal. Pet Chemist boss Howard Humphreys says the online health trends seen throughout the pandemic translate to the world of animals, too. One of the biggest products we sell is a joint supplement another one is an anxiety supplement, Humphreys says. Advertisement Justus Hammer is chief executive of pet sitting and wellness brand Mad Paws. Credit:Nick Moir Mad Paws chief executive Justus Hammer says Pet Chemist was a natural acquisition for the business because enhancing the health of animals was now a top priority for owners. Its a big market, and its fast growing. The online penetration is still low, but thats also fast growing. Sydney Cavoodle owner Natalie Headland looked into supplements for her two-and-a-half year old dog Bear in hopes of finding ways to help calm him when she returned to the office after a long period where she was working from home and on maternity leave. Sydney cavoodle owner Natalie Headland has been trying vitamin supplements designed to calm anxiety for her two and a half year old dog, Bear. Credit:Oscar Colman He cried and he barked when we werent home... you want to do whatever you can to calm them down, she says. She was open-minded to trying new approaches to make it easier on her dog when she left the house, and has been using a stress relief product made by Blackmores. Advertisement A single card is yet to be dealt in the higher-roller casino at Crowns new $2.2 billion Barangaroo resort which now towers over Sydney, with the NSW gambling watchdog still not convinced to reinstate its licence almost a year and a half after it was due to open. The Star is now three weeks into a public inquiry into its Pyrmont casino triggered, like those into Crown, by the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and 60 Minutess investigative reporting and appears to be following the same path. Crown is yet to open the casino at its new Barangaroo tower Sydneys tallest building after it was ruled unfit to hold the licence in early 2021. Credit:Renee Nowtarger Already evidence has emerged of it encouraging patrons to make $900 million in fraudulent transactions on Chinese bank cards, ignoring warnings about its failing anti-money laundering controls, and working with high-roller junket groups despite their known criminal links. Queensland, where The Star has casinos in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, is watching closely. The risk of criminal infiltration was why Victoria and NSW were the last two states to legalise casinos in the 1990s, two decades after Australias first, Hobarts Wrest Point, opened its doors. Xavier Connor, QC, wrote two prescient reports for the Victorian government. The first, in 1983, on whether the state should allow casinos (he said it shouldnt) and another in 1991 on how to regulate one when Joan Kirners Labor government, facing an economic meltdown, decided to open one anyway. Crime is constantly knocking on the door and the most stringent and sustained measures are required to keep it out, the former Federal Court judge warned. James Packer (pictured in 2015) led Crowns aggressive push into the Chinese market. Credit:Bloomberg Bob Carr was NSW opposition leader when the Greiner government legalised casinos in 1992, and premier when The Star opened in September 1995. He says there was a consensus across politics, business and the media that permitting casinos was the lesser of two evils. He points to three factors to support this view: eliminating illegal backroom gaming that could draw police into corruption, the opportunity to create a drawcard for international tourists, and the opening of Crown in Melbourne a year earlier. A gargantuan casino was sucking life from every corner of its city, but clearly adding to tourist appeal and underpinning jobs, he explains. The business sector in Sydney was asking: surely we can compete? Carr says the casino legislation appeared up to the task, noting some potential bidders even backed off when they saw how rigorous it was. Both states wrote their casino laws based on Connors second report, which urged strict, even draconian government control to ensure the casinos were run properly. CCTV footage shows Suncity staff dealing with large amounts of cash in the junkets private gaming salon at The Star Sydney, which one casino executive has said was probably money laundering. Connor warned, though, that casinos would initially accept such conditions and then inevitably pressure governments to relax the rules, in a constant wearing-down process, like water pressing against a dyke, ready to flood through any opening that occurs. And sure enough, the highly prescriptive and tight oversight of casinos in both states was watered down over the past 30 years in a shift to self-regulation. Reverend Tim Costello, a long-time gambling reform campaigner, says the erosion of casino regulation is a case of state capture. Thats why its profoundly gone off the rails, he says. The regulator got captured if they wanted to do something, they had their political masters saying, well they pay a lot of revenue, and political donations to both sides, the fundraisers for both sides. Crown has been ruled unfit to run its casinos in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Credit:Joe Armao The casinos were handed responsibility for tasks originally conducted by the regulator. They were allowed to vet their own junket partners and high rollers for criminal links something at least Crown failed at abysmally and even write their own responsible gaming codes. The specialist casino watchdogs were neutered, stripped of dedicated staff and absorbed into the generalist liquor and gaming regulators with questionable independence from state governments. (NSW and Victoria have now pledged to re-establish stand-alone casino regulators). John Langdale, a criminologist at Macquarie University, says high-level criminal infiltration was almost guaranteed once casino regulation was weakened and Crown and Star started vying for the flood of cash coming out of China in the mid-2000s. Loading By 2006, Macau, the only part of China where gambling is legal, surpassed Las Vegas as the worlds biggest gambling hub. James Packer was one of the first foreign casino tycoons to see the potential of this market and went after it aggressively. By 2015, Crown was making almost $955 million in revenue from international VIPs, making up almost a third of its revenue. The Star made $588 million from international high-rollers that year, a quarter of its winnings. But with this lucrative market came new risk. China limits the movement of capital past its borders so the casinos worked with junkets, which would bring (sometimes illegitimately) wealthy Chinese to Australia, lend them tens of millions of dollars to gamble with and then collect the debt when they returned home. Long a feature in Macau, the junkets Crown and Star work with were shown time and again to have clear links to organised crime, but they ignored these signs. The inquiries have examined footage of what is almost certainly money laundering taking place inside the private rooms Crown and The Star handed over to Suncity, their biggest junket partner, capturing its agents handling millions of dollars in suspect cash stored in shopping bags and backpacks. The push is really from each of the state governments to pay little attention to the money-laundering and capital-flight issues, and try to attract as much turnover as possible, says Langdale, who specialises in the greater China region and has researched crime in the Asian casino industry. The other need is that drug traffickers need to launder their money. Youve got a major growth in the methamphetamine markets in Australia and that money has to be recycled, back to Hong Kong or Macau, and the casinos were one of the ways of doing it. Youve got a recipe for problems. Costello says Australias casino industry did not have to end up like this. He points to England, where casinos are small, boutique establishments and every gambler has to register their personal details so that authorities can track potential money laundering. He also says its not too late to reform the sector for the better, starting with harsher penalties when casinos do the wrong thing. Crown, despite a hat trick of unsuitability findings, has not been stripped of its licences, with Victoria, Western Australia and NSW all giving it time to reform itself. Loading If you have been found unfit, with the strongest adjectives condemning you, you should lose your licence, Costello says. No one will take it seriously until someone loses their licence. Carr, the former NSW premier, wouldnt be drawn on whether allowing casinos in Australia was a mistake, or the fresh debate about whether we would be better off without The Star and Crown. But I rather suspect that a government that backed off banning greyhound racing will back off [from this] when business organisations point to tourist numbers, a viable Lyric Theatre, the cluster of small businesses in the casino buildings and the sum total of jobs involved, he says. For its part, Crown says it has substantially reformed itself, installing a new board and new management team. Its set to have a new owner, too, with shareholders due to vote on an $8.9 billion takeover by US private equity firm Blackstone on April 29. Meanwhile, the resignation of The Stars chief executive Matt Bekier on Monday may be the start of a similar exodus from that group. Swimming through a healthy coral lagoon is to be exorcised of the worries and cares of everyday life and to be taken somewhere else; a place of psychedelic, sensory overload. To be in awe of nature beyond the reach of any cliche. Ningaloo reef stretches for more than 260 kilometres and is Australias largest fringing coral reef. Credit: Mick Fogg. It is a genuine privilege to introduce people to coral reefs for the first time, hearing the comic squeal of delight through a snorkel from young and old alike, and the excited chatter on the beach or boat afterwards. The human-coastal connection runs deep here, measured in millennial timeframes that most of us are likely ill-equipped to adequately process. Coral reefs support a quarter of known life in our ocean. As a spectacle and a magnet for wildlife like whale sharks and manta rays which people are willing to pay to see, they support countless jobs and put food on the table of many families in our north. So it is distressing that our reefs are now under the highest levels of alert as satellites track overheated water with maps all burning angry red like the adjacent Pilbara landscape. Its advancing southwards like a stain the size of some countries. But scientists arent surprised, theyve been warning us of this for years. Most of our heat pollution goes into the ocean. Over the weeks ahead, water hot like a bath will be stressing corals so much that some begin to expel the algae that provide most of their food, and colour, turning ghostly white: bleaching. Part of Ningaloos marine park in Exmouth Gulf is bleaching now. If hot water stays around for long enough, corals die, sometimes en masse. Thats whats happened repeatedly at the Great Barrier Reef, and has already changed large parts of it beyond recognition. Whatever happens over the next few weeks to our West Australian corals, surely we cant ignore the warnings any longer. This should be a moment of reckoning. What may have seemed hypothetical and far away is here, now, in our backyard. You can literally wade into the water near Exmouth or off the Pilbara and see what hot water is doing to our reefs. The damage from climate change to coral reefs is migrating from the pages of specialist journal articles to raw images and news reports. The strange, stark white equivalent of the scorched, blackened aftermath of a bushfire is a symptom of the same malady. Whether we identify as being from the right, left, centre or something else, it means not a jot to a reef being cooked in our sea. What matters is the release of each additional molecule of carbon and methane. What these stressed ecosystems need desperately is genuine, rapid transition away from fossil fuels and relief from local pressures that kick them when theyre down. So it falls to us, those who identify with these rare and remarkable places and who feel some responsibility, to act. Whether our preferred habitat is the boardroom, the party room, the lunchroom, the banter in the stands or at the boat ramp, lets agree to reject images of bleached white corals as being acceptable to us in WA. Let us not allow ourselves to become fatigued by what we see but galvanised and spurred to be ambitious in showing the country, the world and each other that we are up for this challenge. That we know a measure of our time in this place will be how much we authentically wielded the influence we have in our own lives, privately and publicly, to give our coral reefs every chance of surviving this era. The alternative in unthinkable. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size As the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland suffers through a mass bleaching event, marine scientists in Western Australia have had their fingers crossed that the states stunning corals do not suffer a similar fate. The whitening of corals often triggered by warmer waters as coral is stressed, loses its colour and become more susceptible to disease was observed late last month across hundreds of kilometres from the Kimberley down to the Exmouth Gulf. A wait and watch approach has been taken to see whether there will be any widespread bleaching but water off the Pilbara and Kimberley coast was not expected to cool down until May with March and April traditionally the hottest months. Regular coral bleaching is the new normal for WA and scientists now pray for cyclones, which, while destructive for reef structures, can lower ocean temperature which can have less of an impact compared to marine heatwaves. Researchers tag coral for monitoring at the Ningaloo Reef. Credit:Blue Media Exmouth Research is turning towards genetic studies of corals which show greater heat resilience that could be possibly be used to replace reef that has been lost or intervene in declining populations. There is a time limit on the work with sea temperatures expected to be 1.5 degrees higher than pre-industrial levels some time after 2030, which will put pressure on reefs that need multiple years to recover from bleaching events. Advertisement All have WAs coral reefs have bleached at least once since 2010. In 2016, during an El Nino year when there are historically warmer waters, there was a reduction in coral cover and bleaching at northern locations like Christmas Island, Ashmore and Scott Reef as well as inshore at the Kimberley. Further south Ningaloo and Pilbara reefs, seagrass and kelp forests copped a beating in 2011 during a La Nina year which occurred in both 2021 and 2022 resulting in heavy rainfall and flooding on Australias east coast as the Leeuwin Current intensified and brought warm waters south. Kelp forests, which also store large amounts of carbon, off the coast of Kalbarri were mostly wiped out along a 100-kilometre stretch that marks the northern fringe of the Great Southern Reef. Other than some protected pockets the forest has not grown back in the impacted area. Now there is bleaching of northern WA reefs during La Nina as well as the Great Barrier Reef which had not experienced mass bleaching during the weather phenomenon before. Australian Institute of Marine Science coral ecologist James Gilmore is based in Perth and is part of the WA Coral Bleaching Group that puts out regular alerts on possible bleaching events. He said in the last five years water temperatures had been persistently high. Advertisement Our climate is changing and with that change, it makes it so much more difficult to predict what will happen, Dr Gilmore said. We do have a situation where temperatures are routinely close to one degree above normal. Loading When we push towards two degrees above normal for weeks that becomes a big problem for coral bleaching. Last year, also a La Nina, the waters around the world heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef were warm but local conditions came together so that bleaching was not widespread. In the past two weeks moderate bleaching was observed at Bundegi Reef in the Exmouth Gulf, which is adjacent to Ningaloo and lies between the North West Cape and the mainland. But a coastal low has also recently drifted past the region with more than 100 millimetres of rain dropping in Exmouth on Thursday night. Advertisement Dr Gilmore said scientists were still resigned to bleaching generally in the future and were more concerned these days about whether there would be mass events which killed large amounts of corals. Loading We sit and wait and hope for tropical lows and cyclones to cool things, he said. Weve become a little bit complacent about background bleaching or heat stress and hope for things like cyclones to come through and reduce bleaching. Reefs in WA need about five to 10 years to recover from bleaching. But by 2049 bleaching could be happening in places like the Ningaloo Reef every year. Theres a clear pattern. Whether its catastrophic this year or not the trajectory is clear, Dr Gilmore said. Advertisement There are a bunch of intervention and restoration activities proposed. You have this incredible pressure to find something that will be useful and implement it. Research focuses on heat resilient species For the past few weeks, a group of marine scientists and students from UWA and AIMS have been out on the Ningaloo Reef for its spawning season. Coral spawning at WAs Ningaloo, unlike the Great Barrier Reef, takes place during the warmer months in the water around Autumn. The researchers were collecting samples of the coral species Acropora tenuis, which is made up of stony-like branches, to take back to the Minderoo Foundations recently opened Exmouth Research Laboratory. AIMS coral ecologist Luke Thomas. Credit:Blue Media Exmouth Advertisement In 2021 the European Union imported $108 billion worth of energy from Russia, including 40 per cent of its gas and 25 per cent of its crude oil. By far the largest consumer of Russian energy is Germany, which has frustrated its NATO allies by firming up its reliance on Russian energy with the construction of pipelines. Germany, in turn, needs access to cheap energy as it remains at the heart of European manufacturing. Since the latest Russian invasion began, the US has declared a ban on Russian oil, gas and coal imports, Britain plans to phase out Russian oil by years end and the EU will reduce gas imports by two-thirds. Poland has already significantly reduced its use of Russian oil and plans to end coal imports by the end of next year, its Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said this week. Germany too is working fast to cut its ties. Every supply contract terminated hurts Putin, said the countrys Economy and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck on March 25. He told reporters it would be nearly free of Russian coal and oil by the end of the year, with gas to follow by 2024. The speed at which Europe wants to cuts itself off from Russian fossil fuels cannot be exaggerated. Last week Vladimir Putin threatened to cut Europe off unless it paid for its energy in roubles, thereby propping up its war effort and its currency. And European leaders are aware that unless they manage to both diversify energy supply and dampen demand by the northern winter, they will suffer not only economic impacts but the prospect of some of their most vulnerable citizens dying in unheated homes. Loading Its immediate plan includes increasing imports from other sources, with Poland, for example, building or expanding terminals for imports from the Middle East. But calls for a new energy revolution - a warp speed transition - are growing louder. On March 3 the International Energy Agency (IEA), an organisation that until recently held very conservative views about the potential for renewables, issued a 10-point plan on how Russian gas use could be cut by a third in short order. Nobody is under any illusions anymore. Russias use of its natural gas resources as an economic and political weapon show Europe needs to act quickly to be ready to face considerable uncertainty over Russian gas supplies next [northern] winter, said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. The IEAs recommendations ranged from measures as simple as calling on householders to heat their homes to 21 degrees rather than the standard 22 over winter, to extending the life of some of the continents nuclear reactors. But the plan also recommends the EU cuts red tape for wind turbines and subsidises retrofitting homes with better insulation, smart heating controls and rooftop solar. It proposes replacing gas heaters with more efficient heat-pumps, better known in Australia as split-system air conditioners. These units have collapsed in cost over recent years due to better technology and the vast scale of Chinese manufacturing - some of the same pressures that have driven down the cost of solar cells. Not surprisingly, the 10-point plan was not universally supported. In Britain some conservative politicians and commentators, already agitated by Prime Minister Boris Johnsons embrace of rapid decarbonisation, began to rebel. Loading Many spoke out under the banner of Net Zero Watch, a group founded by the Global Warming Policy Foundation lobby group, which opposes what it considers to be reckless action to address climate change. But Johnson held firm, writing in Londons Daily Telegraph that Britain must double down on renewables, which were invulnerable to Putins manipulations. He may have his hand on the taps for oil and gas. But there is nothing he can do to stop the North Sea wind, Johnson wrote. Todays UK Conservatives have never been more united behind renewables, says Dave Jones, global electricity analyst for Ember, a British-based global climate and energy think tank, noting that half of all Tory MPs have now joined the partys green group, the Conservative Environment Network. The biggest winners of this energy crisis will be wind and solar. In many parts of the world, coal prices are up three times and gas prices up 10 times, and both - especially gas - are now having security implications, Jones says. Wind and solar were the cheapest form of electricity in most countries before this crisis, and definitely are now. And whats more, they are supplying the homegrown energy that governments are so craving at the moment. The response in Europe in the last month ... has been unambiguous: the energy transition needs to be sped up. A flare stack burns at an oil refinery in Thessaloniki, Greece. Credit:Bloomberg In the US, the White House is taking a similar line - urging the private sector to deliver more oil and gas in the immediate term while seeking to decarbonise their energy systems as quickly as possible by deploying renewables, electrifying households and increasing efficiency. Addressing a leading conference of energy, tech and finance leaders last month, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm declared that the world was now on a war footing. Loading We have to respond by increasing short-term supply and that means releases from strategic reserves across the world and that means you producing more right now where and if you can. But she said it also meant embracing the energy transition, dismissing arguments that it could not be done as the same old DC BS: [The] clean energy transition is not just coming, it is here. Your investors are demanding action, your customers are demanding climate action, 70 per cent of voting Americans support the clean energy transition. Bourne made his own transition when he retired from BP in 1999, only to take a job leading WWF Australia. He is now a councillor for the Climate Council, the body that formed privately to inform the public about climate change when the Abbott government sacked what had been the Climate Commission upon taking office in 2013. Bourne believes that the tragedy that has befallen Ukraine and Europe has struck at an already pivotal moment in history. Mornington Peninsula residents and their council have urged the state government to delay the installation of an artificial reef at Point Nepean, saying not enough is known about how it will affect an environmentally sensitive area of Port Phillip Bay. The Victorian Fishing Authority plans to install 16 large concrete structures in clusters of four about 50 metres apart in the ocean north of Observatory Point, at Point Nepean. Fishing enthusiasts hope the new artificial reef, touted as the largest in Victoria, will attract yellowtail kingfish and give anglers an area, secluded from busy shipping lanes, where they will be able to catch the prized species. Jenny Warfe, of the Port Phillip Conservation Council, Mechelle Cheers, chair of Rye Community Group Alliance, and marine conservationist Judy Muir are among Mornington Peninsula environmentalists worried about the planned artificial reef at Point Nepean. Credit:Paul Jeffers But in a letter to Melissa Horne, the minister for fishing and boating, the Mornington Peninsula Shire has requested urgent consideration of the planned reef, and called for its installation to be postponed until public consultation has taken place. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Its a hot and humid late summers day and Im driving around Mona Vale, one of the more semi-industrial areas of Sydneys otherwise glamorous northern beaches, searching for whats been described to me as an atelier. It turns out to be nothing more than a plain brick warehouse, at least from the outside. Inside, however, is an Aladdins cave. This is the beating heart of The Raconteur, a niche fragrance brand that took off in 2020. It was founded by former corporate lawyer Craig Andrade, who wants us to consider products like his which celebrate native Australian botanicals ahead of the traditional French perfumes that have long dominated the global fragrance market. The 400-square-metre space is divided into three areas: a beeswax section, where Andrade makes and moulds arresting, tactile bowls and unscented candles; the scented candle section, where the wax is poured into jars that are then neatly lined up on trestle tables to await their wicks; and the fragrance section, where all the fun stuff happens and which Im most interested in. Above Andrades workspace are shelves containing meticulously ordered and colour-coded glass vials full of Australian and exotic essential oils: yellow for the top notes, green for the heart or middle notes and red for the base, the three layers of ingredients used to construct fragrance. Andrade further groups them by descriptive adjectives: citrus, earthy, smoky, spicy, gourmand, woody and minty. Chanel No. 5 this is not. For todays masterclass, hell conjure up the scent of Bondi Beach. I cant help but wonder whether the famed strip of sand and water really has a distinctive scent. But Im no expert, so I settle in for the ride. I start with the concept, or brief, he explains, collecting armfuls of glass beakers, scent strips and pipettes. I used to live in Bondi, so I wanted to capture what Bondi was about, from a native botanical sense, then capture the playground that Bondi is. For me, one of its core elements is that its exciting, uplifting. Most of us see it as a place of summer and surf, so citrus became the obvious choice as to how youd interpret Bondi. Andrade at work. His shop in Sydneys eastern suburbs touts itself as the worlds first perfumery dedicated to Australias native botanicals. Credit:Janie Barrett Advertisement First come the top notes, around five ingredients in total. Andrade pulls out bottles of lime and lemon oil: Smell that, its so gorgeous. He moves on to another: This pine needle absolute comes from a beautiful aged wild pine; its rich and almost boozy. The heart notes, then the base components, follow. Native white cypress oil here, a soft woody note there that Andrade hopes will evoke the dry grassiness, nearby jasmine and pines of the popular Bondi to Bronte coastal walk. And, finally, cumin to capture the suburbs spicy, edgy side. Muttering as he works, Andrades eyes light up when he finds the right ingredient, his brow creasing as he discards another in favour of a more complementary scent. Fifteen minutes later, hes loosely recreated a formula resembling Bondi 5, a fragrance he conceived in 2018 after a complex, trial-and-error process, and which retails today as Citrus Republic. Andrade might be celebrating Australias long-derided native botanicals, but this is no tourist gimmick. Citrus Republic has been elegantly packaged, to be sold alongside The Raconteurs seven other fragrances and 34 scented candles and reed diffusers at The Embassy, his new shop in Sydneys fashionable eastern suburbs. It touts itself as the worlds first perfumery dedicated to Australias native botanicals. Loading Nor are they cheap. At $240 for his 50ml, limited-edition eau de parfum, Andrade has what he believes to be Australias most expensive fragrance, something hes unapologetic about. My target demographic is the luxury consumer who wants to connect with exceptional raw materials: actual plant extracts, sourced from Australian nature. South African-born Andrade moved to Australia in 2001, and was made partner in 2007 at the Melbourne office of global law firm Baker McKenzie. Restless, he knew hed found a new direction after being introduced to the world of scent through a class with Sydney-based French candlemaker Elise Pioch Balzac. Andrade went on to study at the institute of perfumery in Grasse, Frances famed perfume capital, then deepened his knowledge in San Francisco with natural perfumer Mandy Aftel, where he solidified his determination to create something using native botanicals. Just because it comes from Europe doesnt mean its the best. We have beautiful ingredients here that are unique to Australia. Advertisement The broad objective is to help Australians find a sense of confidence to love and appreciate our botanical heritage, he tells me. Just because it comes from Europe doesnt mean its the best. We have beautiful ingredients here that are unique to Australia. So strong have been his convictions that Andrade retired from the law in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, to focus solely on The Raconteur, which hed been running as an online side hustle since 2018. Bondi Washs Belinda Everingham became convinced there was a market for the native botanicals used in her home and body-care products as stand-alone fragrances. Credit:Janie Barrett Andrade is one of a handful of local entrepreneurs who are following the path paved by boutique gin distillers and the bush food movement in making a virtue of native plants. Around the corner from The Embassy in Paddington is the just-opened Wyalba, a shop dedicated to perfumes that combine native botanicals with exotic essential oils; a co-production between self-trained perfumer Samuel Gravan and Belinda Everingham, who founded the Bondi Wash brand. A bit further away in Potts Point, Grandiflora florist Saskia Havekes has also branched into fine fragrances, some of which feature native botanicals that French perfumers formulate for her. Other small businesses experimenting in this nascent industry include Goldfield & Banks, Ayu, Heartwood in Western Australia, and Wunyun in Bendigo, Victoria. If youll pardon the pun, native botanical scents seem to be taking root. Lisa Lods is the business manager at Essential Oils of Tasmania, the worlds largest exporter of Boronia megastigma, commonly known as brown boronia, part of its portfolio of five Australian botanical oils and extracts. Grown mostly in Tasmania, boronia is a fingernail-sized flower that only blooms for a few weeks each year and takes 12.5 million flowers to make 1 kilogram of essence. Regarded as the supermodel of Essential Oilss collection, it costs $US10,000 ($14,000) per litre and has been used by international perfumers since Christian Dior in the 1930s. Lods describes its scent as complex and nuanced: A fresh green base overlaid with sweet, floral and woody notes, and elements of hay and tobacco. Advertisement Lisa Lods of Essential Oils of Tasmania, the worlds biggest exporter of brown boronia flowers. Shes noticed a marked increase over the past 18 months in perfumers looking to make native botanicals like boronia their key scent. The big difference is that perfumers are now wanting to celebrate and highlight natives such as Tasmanian kunzea, she says, because theyre unique. The antibacterial, insect- and mould-repellent properties of native botanicals piqued Belinda Everinghams interest in 2008 when she began researching their use in cleaning products, hand soaps and the like. The result was Bondi Wash, which she launched in 2013 and which today has 40 products, including baby- and dog-care ranges, that are sold in 30 countries worldwide. Yet Everingham wasnt done. She became convinced there that was a market for the native botanicals used in her home and body-care products as stand-alone fragrances. But while lemon-scented eucalypt, boronia and sandalwood each have appealing scents, combine them in the wrong proportions and the result can smell medicinal. It was always part of the dream to create Australian scents, but I hadnt come across beautiful [homegrown] scents, she says. Working at her kitchen bench in Bondi, she began experimenting with only natural ingredients. Try as she might, however, she couldnt find the right mix. Lemon tea tree or eucalyptus peppermint are nice but intense; you dont really want to wear them as a perfume. Finding the right blend was a big leap. Perfumers want to celebrate and highlight natives such as Tasmanian kunzea because theyre unique. Credit: In late 2016, Everingham chanced upon a newspaper article about self-taught local perfumer Samuel Gravan, and sought him out. The pair eventually began working together, Everingham on the brief and Gravan in scent development in a lab underneath Bondi Washs Paddington store. A trial fragrance range was launched via Bondi Wash in 2018, and today the Wyalba boutique sells a raft of handmade traditional perfume sprays, balms and roll-on oils in its signature scents of Wildflower, Firetree and Rockpool. Advertisement Everingham recalls a conversation she had with a French-German friend she met in Paris pre-pandemic, which speaks to the slowly changing perceptions of Australian botanicals and the role of storytelling in their uptake. She used to work for Givenchy, and I was chatting with her about our fragrances and she said, Why would I buy an Australian scent? Its not sexy and fragrance is sexy. But shes since changed her tune. With travel so hard, she loves the idea of being transported to the Australian outback, or this clean, healthy island paradise, through one of our fragrances. And that was the vision: escape into an Australian experience. Scent takes you on a journey the scent of the ocean in Queensland or the earthy, bushwalking nativeness of Tasmania . Lisa Lods takes up the storytelling idea. Scent takes you on a journey and when people cant go on holidays, the scent of the ocean in Queensland or the earthy, bushwalking nativeness of Tasmania can all be brought out in perfumery and high-end candles, giving you that immersive experience. Grandifloras Saskia Havekes has long been one of Sydneys most famed florists, creating incredible backdrops for society weddings and luxury corporate events, as well as selling flowers out of her tiny Potts Point shop since 1995. In 2013, she branched out from floristry with the launch of her first fragrance, also called Grandiflora. A celebration of the magnolia flower after which her business is named, the fragrance was created in France by the late perfumer Sandrine Videault. Not long after, while working with perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour on another new scent, she found herself discussing boronia with him. When Sydney florist Saskia Havekes tried to make her perfumes in Australia she says it was a nightmare. We didnt have the standards we needed for a fine perfume and the restrictions with shipping from Australia are totally debilitating. Credit:Louie Douvis Advertisement In 2018, backbencher Julia Banks, upon resigning from the Liberal Party, denounced bullying and intimidation and an entrenched anti-woman bias in the party. Former deputy leader of the Liberal Party, Julie Bishop after leaving parliament - said that the treatment of women in politics would not be tolerated in any other workplace across Australia. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit:SMH So why is nothing happening? Is the problem that we just see politics as horrible anyway? Or that politicians only acknowledge it at the point of retirement or resignation? Will this ever change if there is too great a cost to air concerns beforehand? A study in the Australian Journal of Social Issues published last week analysed the responses of Liberal MPs to allegations of bullying and intimidation by female MPs and found that a politics is tough repertoire served to downplay and legitimise bullying and intimidation as normative and unproblematic. As the authors, Jasmin Sorrentino, Martha Augoustinos and Amanda Le Couteur from the University of Adelaide, point out, the consistent pattern of responses to bullying is to deny it happens more with women than men, and to shrug it off as part of an intense political environment. Consider this language. When Morrison was asked on The Project about whether women had been bullied before his leadership win he said: Well politics is pretty ferocious. I mean, its probably been the most ferocious period of human politics over the last decade that I think we have seen since ... Gough Whitlams time when those ballots are conducted, both men and women are subject to a lot of pressure when they are making these decisions. Loading The president of the Liberal Partys Federal Womens Committee, Helen Kroger, told ABCs RN that both men and women cry during leadership contests, but that politics was just a rough and tough game and an environment which is not for everyone. What worries me is that accepting this premise just means only those blessed with rhinoceros hides, or narcissistic types who are oblivious to criticism because it is also packaged with attention will bother with politics. Dont we want gentler souls in politics along with the thick-skinned spotlight-bathers? And arent we all sick of ugly spats on our public stages? How often do you see a genuine act of grace in political life? In 2018 Fierravanti-Wells said if women wanted to complain, they should go through a complaints process. And we all know how that works out. Four years later, she is making her complaints public. Her serious charges should be investigated by the party, and probably wont be. I cannot speak to the truth of them. But in previously denying bullying when it happens to other women, and by shoring up the narrative that politics is a tough business, she too has been part of the problem. Sure, her act of vengeance on budget night was gutsy, but true courage would also require talking about behavioural issues in your own party or across parties when you are in Parliament, when you are in a position to lend weight to other people, when you are being watched by other men and women who have suffered from similarly vile behaviour and been silenced by the prospect that their complaints would only see that behaviour get uglier. There are many ways to support other women under fire without trashing your own party. Loading Think of all the women who either participated in, or silently watched the mass cultural bullying of former prime minister Julia Gillard. The stifling notion of putting up with all behaviour in the cause of unity is partly what made Brittany Higgins think she had to stay quiet about her alleged rape. She said: There is a strange culture of silence within the parties, as though to speak of poor conduct would be letting the team down. Who would it be letting down? Mostly the bullies. On Thursday night, speaking on a panel about women in politics (that I was also on with the journalists Jess Hill and Marian Wilkinson, organised by Avalons wonderful Bookoccino bookstore), Julia Banks was blunt: The leader determines the culture. This applies of course to all party leaders. What kind of culture is Albanese creating? How accountable has he been, and will he be to bullying behaviour in his party? Will Kitchings experience give him, and the party pause? The worst time for such allegations to be responded to is at the time of someones death. The states ambulance network hit its highest possible emergency response level multiple times in the past fortnight, as overstretched paramedics struggle to keep up with extreme demand. Overcrowded emergency departments, a significant increase in triple zero calls, staff shortages and rising COVID cases have pushed the NSW ambulance network to status three mode - its most severe level - four times in two weeks. NSW Ambulance reached status three mode, the most severe caseload designation, four times in the past fortnight. Credit:Dean Sewell Managers and executives are pulled off duties to respond to surging demand when the network reaches this crisis level which, before last year, had occurred only once in the services history. NSW Ambulance on Friday night confirmed it was now reviewing the circumstances surrounding two deaths in March. In mid-March, it became clear that Russia was failing to achieve its objectives in Ukraine and that it needed a new theory of victory. Since then, it has shifted to a strategy which might be described as seize the east and terrorise the Ukrainians into submission. While it is debatable whether this is working, part of this new approach from Russia is the use of mercenaries. The New York Times and British Intelligence have described how 1000 members of the Wagner Group, a private company based in Russia, were expected to deploy and conduct combat operations in Ukraine. There are several things that might be read into this deployment, but first some background on the use of mercenaries in warfare. The Russians viewed the use of the Wagner Group in Syria as a successful part of that campaign. Importantly, this is a reasonably common occurrence. From wars in antiquity, through to the conflicts of the 21st century, nations have employed private citizens from other nations to fight on their behalf. Both sides in the American War of Independence did it, just as many sides in the recent operations in Iraq did so. Even Ukraine now employs foreign soldiers on short-term contracts. Mercenaries are used for many reasons nations can use them to launch attacks where they can deny involvement in doing so or to supplement the size of ones military forces. Ideological struggles, such as in Afghanistan, Iraq and beyond, draw in mercenaries. Even Australia used mercenaries (or private military forces as they are more often called) to protect its embassy in Baghdad. The first challenge was to find and identify victims lost in the furnace. The Victorian Institute of Forensic Services identified every one - a modern scientific miracle. There were 521 serious injuries, 3394 buildings destroyed and 726 vehicles melted. One way of dealing with the aftermath would have been to decide it was just too big, accept the death toll and complete a general inquiry with broad conclusions. Superintendent Paul Hollowood at the Black Saturday Royal Commission. Credit:Pool picture Instead, it was decided each individual victim and every grieving family was entitled to the truth, resulting in Australias biggest police investigation. Hollowood was then in charge of several investigative units, including the Arson Squad. Because of the extreme weather, for about a week before Black Saturday we were aware of the growing risk, but no one was prepared for what happened, he recalls. I was duty Crime Department Superintendent on the day, and it was as bad as it could be. Units were reporting from around the state saying it was utter chaos. The 2009 Black Saturday fires. Credit:The Age Police set up the Phoenix Taskforce and initially 400 Crime Department detectives were sent into the field. It would take two years, more than 100,000 investigative hours and result in taking more than 5000 statements. If each case went before the Coroner in the usual way, the process would have taken years and traumatised thousands of witnesses and family members. It soon became apparent that we just couldnt do this the traditional way, Hollowood says. Police experimented with electronic briefs that were more than online versions of the vast paper files that would make up one case. The final interactive product was both brilliant and awful. The before-and-after satellite photos show the lottery that is life and death. There are well-prepared properties, seemingly bushfire-proof, that are obliterated, while others dropped into the scrub, often built without planning permits, are spared. Click on the mouse and you see a man standing proudly by his house. Click again and a graphic program shows the man trying to save the property, his wife urging him to go, his car idling in the garage if he needs to escape. Then the call to 000 when he yells above the roar of a wall of fire that he is trapped. Then he is gone. Instead of having to sit in a sterile courtroom and hear strangers describe their loved ones last moments, Hollowood says, we were able to sit with relatives and explain exactly what happened. As a young cop, Hollowood was part of a group that benefited from a change of policy that fast- tracked talented young police into criminal investigations, becoming a detective in Brunswick. Soon he was assigned to homicide and by the age of 32 was running a team as a Detective Senior Sergeant. In June 1991, six-year-old Sheree Beasley was abducted from outside a Rosebud milk bar, with witnesses saying they saw a distressed girl driven away by a middle-aged man. Her body was found stuffed in a Red Hill stormwater drain three months later. Initially the case was treated as an abduction and a taskforce formed to try and find her. After her body was found it became a homicide investigation, with Hollowood in charge. It would take 18 months to lay charges and Hollowood had to enlist the help of a police killer to resolve the case. One of the first routine suspects was church elder and convicted sex offender Robert Arthur Selby Lowe. He was telephoned and asked about his movements after his work car, along with 775 others, were flagged as similar to the vehicle in the abduction. Robert Arthur Selby Lowe, convicted of the murder of Sheree Beasley, Credit:The Age He was called in for a further interview in August but gave an alibi for the day of the crime. After the body was discovered, Hollowood ordered a review of known suspects: We kept coming back to Lowe. It wasnt only the police who had their doubts. Lowe occasionally consulted psychotherapist Margaret Hobbs, who became increasingly concerned at the sinister nature of her patient and tipped off police. Hollowood decided to use a court-approved bug in her office. Lowe, he recalls, used Hobbs as a sounding board, never telling the truth but rehearsing versions of events he could later use if confronted again by police. After Lowe was charged, Hollowood found another ally. Armed robber Peter Reid, convicted of the 1982 murder of Senior Constable Stephen Henry, gave evidence that Lowe had confessed to him inside jail. Lowe was using Reid as a jailhouse lawyer and Reid had no time for a child killer. Reid had done a drafting course in prison and was able to map out the abduction better than some professionals, says Hollowood. If you work homicide, you deal with offenders who kill for a variety of reasons. Then there are the stone killers, those who turn murder into business and see life as a tradeable commodity. None was worse than Alistair Farquhar Sandy MacRae, implicated in 20 suspicious deaths. I would have to say that he would be Australias worst known multiple murderer, and we will never know how many people he has killed. He had no regard for life at all, says Hollowood. Killer: Alistair Sandy MacRae is interviewed by Paul Hollowood at Pentridge Prison in 1992. After quitting as a standover man for Melbournes biggest vice ring, MacRae moved to a 10-hectare property at Merbein, near Mildura. This was no retirement move, as he began to lure people to his property on the promise of buying marijuana in order to kill them. In 1987 police found the body of Domenico Marafiote buried under MacRaes chicken coop. Two years earlier MacRae had shot and killed his victim (he had already dug the grave) before driving to Adelaide to kill Marafiotes parents Carmelo, 69, and Rosa, 70. He was desperate to find the money that Marafiote was to use for the marijuana deal but didnt find the cash, which was sewn into Rosas clothing. Hollowood says it was over a space of a few years that law enforcement went from a craft for the crafty to a profession. He began in an era when short-tempered detectives in short-sleeved shirts had a tendency to punch suspects with a short right to gather information, and worked through to a time when tertiary-educated investigators drinking short blacks punch a keyboard to gather intelligence. The big change was from the early 1980s to the late 1980s. We started taking statements on typewriters and ended with video-recorded interviews. We could only collect blood group samples and there was no DNA. We were only allowed to present black-and-white crime photos because colour ones were considered likely to inflame a jury. We moved from caveman days to professional in a few years. Phil McAdam has fished sardines in Port Phillip Bay for 45 years, but this week he netted his final catch. Mr McAdam was among the last commercial net fishermen to ply his trade in the bay and his sardines were sold by restaurants and fishmongers across Melbourne. For the next two weeks, Mr McAdam will wind up his business in Williamstown, clearing out freezers, tanks and his boat. Then reality will set in. Phil McAdam has netted his final catch of sardines in Port Phillip Bay. Credit:Scott McNaughton When theres nothing left to do, and youre left twiddling your thumbs then it will get a bit harder, he said. Ive never had another job. Laura Brown is one of Australias most successful exports. Until recently, she was editor of American InStyle, which under her leadership over the past five years has become so much more than a middle-of-the-road fashion magazine. Its important to represent different voices, Brown told me when we met for a Good Weekend profile in 2017, shortly after she was named to the top job. This was before diversity became every companys favourite buzzword: over at US Vogue that same year, Midwestern model Karlie Kloss was photographed as a Japanese geisha, and The New York Times published a report in which 18 black journalists said Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour favoured thin, white employees from elite backgrounds. Nowadays, Brown is more likely to use her platform to raise awareness among her half a million followers about sexual violence or charities supporting Afghan refugees than to wax lyrical about a heel. Credit:Paola + Murray Loading For Brown, everyone is InStyle, and subjects to receive the fashion mags glam treatment included Deb Haaland (Americas first Indigenous cabinet member, in traditional Pueblo garments), Stacey Abrams (a voting rights champion, dressed in suffragette white) and Anthony Fauci (the diseases expert, pictured poolside looking vaxxed and relaxed). Brown didnt just change what people expected to see in a fashion magazine broadening the definition of style to include people doing good, bringing joy and breaking barriers she also transformed how we think about fashion editors via her Instagram account, in which she was anything but the icy stereotype. I had one husband and four sons and Lydia had one son and four husbands! When she married the fourth one, Lydia was crying at the altar. I said, Lydia, were you moved? and she said, No, I already regret marrying this one. We are not similar at all. She likes a bit of a drink: scotch and champagne. I drink maybe a spoonful of Baileys in the evenings. I like blues and jazz; she likes classical. Lydia doesnt ring anybody and nobody rings her. Shes not crazy for the clubs like me; I like bingo. To everything, at first she says, No. I always say, Yes. Lydia lives around the corner. She comes every day at about 8am Do you need something, Liliana? then drives to Malvern Central to go shopping. At 2-2.30pm, I go to see her, then at 5.30pm she comes back with dinner for me: salmon with an egg on top. We both love Foyles War. I tape it and we watch it together. I love her generosity. And the closeness. LYDIA: My mother said, I wanted you both dead because I didnt have any milk and the wet nurses all had syphilis, so they imported two from overseas: I had one type of milk and Liliana another. Maybe because of this we are a bit different. I was a very naughty child I used to run away but Liliana was very good. In Roma, they put ads in the paper: Extras wanted. It was like living in Hollywood. And we were beautiful. They used to say, Lilianas got a bum like a guitar and Lydias is like a mandolin. The Italian men used to follow us. Our mother said, You want sex? Ill kill you, then Ill kill myself! We were terrified. She threw a knife at me once because I was talking to a Hungarian. We were virgins when we got married. Anthony Albanese is playing it safe in the final days before Scott Morrison calls the election and the campaign for power begins in earnest. The Labor leader chose one simple idea for his budget reply a $2.5 billion aged care policy in the knowledge that other big policies will be needed during the campaign when more voters are paying attention. There is still something missing from the Albanese campaign. Some of his policies are big but blurred. Credit:Louie Douvis But this has left him open to the claim that he only has a targeted response to the Prime Ministers brazenly populist offer of $8.6 billion in cuts to fuel excise, direct payments and income tax cuts. Some pundits say this means Albanese is merely a small target because he should launch a broader fight with Morrison to put a rocket under the campaign which is to say that they invite him to copy former opposition leader Bill Shorten, adopt something like a $387 billion tax agenda and lose the election. Global warming and rising seas are such a threat to Torres Strait communities that Australian governments have been forced to build a $15 million seawall to protect the remote, low-lying Boigu Island from ocean inundation and severe weather. Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt on Friday announced the completion of the 1-kilometre wave return wall, along with the raising and 450-metre extension of an existing bund wall and upgrades to stormwater drainage on Australias most northerly inhabited island. Paul Kabai looking at the sea at the seawall in Boigu. Credit:Talei Elu The new Boigu seawall is a practical response delivered by all levels of government working together to address the effects of climate change and the threat of inundation for our Torres Strait communities, Mr Wyatt said. The federal and Queensland governments, along with the Torres Strait Island Regional Council, are rolling out a $40 million coastal protection infrastructure program across five islands under Australias National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy. The Victorian government is calling for the minimum wage to rise by at least 3.5 per cent to eclipse the rate of inflation as Australians struggle with living costs, while NSW is urging caution. Both states have made vastly different submissions to the industrial umpires annual wage review, with the former pointing to the pandemic as the reason to bolster living standards of low-paid workers, and the latter highlighting it as a reason to be wary of wage growth. The Victorian government is calling on a 3.5 per cent increase in the national minimum wage. Credit:Natalie Ord The Labor-led Victorian government said the rise was necessary to assist those on low incomes ... to recover from the impacts of coronavirus, to counteract an increase in inequality due to coronavirus, and to help the Victorian economy and community recover from the pandemic, its Fair Work submission reads. An increase in the [national minimum wage] and award wages of less than 3.5 per cent would effectively be seen as a cut to relative living standards and the needs of the low paid. The austere concrete blocks of apartments that crowd the Ben Buckler headland in North Bondi have pulled an impressive roll call of rich list buyers in recent years, from billionaires Nick Molnar and Monica Saunders-Weinberg to Meriton heiress Orna Triguboff. But it was still a surprise to discover the neighbourhoods latest buyer is media mogul Bruce McWilliam. The 1971-built duplex is hoped to be rebuilt as a single luxury residence. Not that the Seven commercial director isnt known for his side hustle as a high-end home investor. It is just that his real estate of choice has long been predominantly based in established prestige suburbs like Bellevue Hill and Point Piper. McWilliams latest passion project (as it was described by a source) is the clifftop duplex built in 1971 by the late Holocaust survivor Naftali Kirsch that sold recently for about $15 million, although confirmation of the price will be revealed on settlement in September. Singapore: To find out what has gone wrong in Solomon Islands, you have to go back to a meeting in Townsville in November 2000. Manasseh Sogavare, the Prime Minister who this week vowed to sign a security deal with Beijing had flown to the Queensland city to make a peace deal with four other Solomons leaders and representatives from the United Nations. Civil war between the largest provinces, Malaita and Guadalcanal, and their different ethnic groups had ravaged the islands since 1998. The warring parties agreed that the provinces would be given more autonomy and that the constitution would be rewritten to reflect these amendments. Malaita, which was poorer than Guadalcanal, would be given infrastructure projects to pump up its economy and development funding - usually funded by international aid - would be distributed away from the central government. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, left, and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing. Credit:AP But few if any of these promises were met by Sogavare. By 2001, the government was bankrupt and the economy had collapsed. Solomon Islands had become a failed state. It took troops from the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to restore order. When they left in 2017, the same regional tensions exploded again. While Lukashenkos military has not yet joined Putins in Ukraine, Russian soldiers have been based in Belarus since before the war began and launched their main ground offensive on Kyiv and northern Ukraine from there. About 200 members of the volunteer battalion are serving on the front lines, including in Irpin on Kyivs outskirts, where Ukrainian forces recently regained control, Kulazhanka and other recruits said. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko holds power thanks to support from President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Credit:AP They are funded and equipped mostly through donations from the Belarusian and Ukrainian diasporas, including in the United States. But the recent induction of the battalion into the armed forces has meant that some received guns and armour, including some supplied by NATO, from the Ukrainian military. Those leading the recruitment effort say there are thousands more who have expressed interest, but vetting them and getting equipment has created a backlog. Many are dissidents who were arrested during protests against Lukashenkos 2020 election win, which they and international observers say was brazenly stolen. In March, Vadim Prokopiev, a Belarusian restaurateur who has become one of the main organisers of Belarusian recruits from around Europe, met 14 of them at the Poland-Ukraine border before guiding them to a training site. Loading Only a few allowed their faces to be photographed and none agreed to provide their last names, saying that family members in Belarus could be targeted. Basically, there are two wings, Prokopiev said. One in Kyiv already, and one in western Ukraine. Over here, we train recruits intensively for two weeks everything from tactical matters to digital hygiene. Then they move east in small groups and make their way to the front lines. Prokopiev said that out of thousands who had expressed interest from all over the world, only a hundred or so were currently in the pipeline. He said he expected more high-ranking defected officers to join soon, but for now most were untrained recruits. While most said they had no prior combat experience, some said they have been at the receiving end of Lukashenkos brutality, which has imbued them with the spirit of revenge. I only spent three nights in prison during the 2020 protests, said Aleksandr, 38. But it was enough to make me leave Belarus. I saw women begging not to be beaten, I saw a guy with long hair get scalped. They put 70 of us in a small cell. It was pure brutality, like we are enslaved people or animals. Im fighting here because until we overthrow Lukashenko, I cant go back. Defeating Putin in Ukraine is the first step for both countries freedom. One of the recruits who crossed the border that day, also named Aleks, was a Belarusian passport holder who is ethnically Russian. The 61-year-old, the oldest in the group, described himself as a freethinker and a proud Russian who wanted to show Ukrainians that not all Russians supported the war in fact, there were some like him who would fight on their side. We have to prove that the Soviet mentality cannot last forever, he said. Putin is against goodness, truth and freedom. He has opened old wounds. To heal them, unfortunately, we must fight, and it may take our lives. Since the war in Ukraine began, Belarusian dissidents have warned that an invasion of Ukraine by Belarus military is imminent. Ukraines military has echoed those warnings and accused Russia and Belarus of staging small-scale attacks on Belarus as pretexts for a Belarusian invasion, though those allegations have not been proven. A Belarusian volunteer receives military training in Kyiv. Hundreds of Belarusian emigrants and citizens have arrived in Ukraine to help the Ukrainian army fight against Russia. Credit:AP According to my sources in the military, battalions on the Belarusian side of the border are completely prepared for the invasion, they are just waiting for the word go, said Pavel Latushko, Belarus former culture minister who defected to Poland a decade ago and has since organised protests and now recruitment to Ukraine from there. To me it is obvious why Lukashenko has not said go yet, Latushko said. He is a master at self-preservation, and he knows that invading Ukraine may be the end of him. His soldiers morale is zero for this war. They will defect in droves. Lukashenko dismissed the battalion as insane citizens in a recent interview with Belarusian state-run media. Meanwhile, Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, appear to have rejected a union bid but outstanding challenged ballots could change the outcome. The votes were 993-to-875 against the union. A hearing to review 416 challenged ballots is expected to begin in the next few days. The union campaigns come at a time of widespread labour unrest at many corporations. Workers at more than 140 Starbucks locations around the country, for instance, have requested union elections and several of them have already been successful. People arrive for work at the Amazon distribution center in the Staten Island borough of New York. Credit:AP Photo/Craig Ruttle John Logan, director of labour and employment studies at San Francisco State University, said the early vote counts in New York have been shocking. The nascent ALU, which is leading the charge on Staten Island, has no backing from an established union and is powered by former and current warehouse workers. I dont think that many people thought that the Amazon Labor Union had much of a chance of winning at all, Logan said. And I think were likely to see more of those (approaches) going forward. After a crushing defeat last year in Bessemer, when a majority of workers voted against forming a union, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) got a second chance to organise another campaign when the NLRB ordered a do-over after determining that Amazon tainted the first election. Loading Though RWDSU is currently lagging in the latest election, Logan said the early results were still remarkable because the union has made a good effort narrowing its margin from last year. Amazon has pushed back hard in the lead-up to both elections. The retail giant held mandatory meetings, where workers were told unions are a bad idea. The company also launched an anti-union website targeting workers and placed English and Spanish posters across the Staten Island facility urging them to reject the union. In Bessemer, Amazon has made some changes to but still kept a controversial US Postal Service mailbox that was key in the NLRBs decision to invalidate last years vote. In a filing released on Thursday, Amazon disclosed it spent about $4.2 million last year on labour consultants, which organisers say the retailer routinely solicits to persuade workers not to unionise. Its unclear how much it spent on such services in 2022. Both labour fights faced unique challenges. Alabama, for instance, is a right-to-work state that prohibits a company and a union from signing a contract that requires workers to pay dues to the union that represents them. The union landscape in Alabama is also starkly different from New York. Last year, union members accounted for 22.2 per cent of wage and salary workers in New York, ranked only behind Hawaii, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thats more than double the national average of 10.3 per cent. In Alabama, its 5.9 per cent. Staten Island based Amazon.com Inc distribution center union members celebrate after getting the voting results to unionise. Credit:AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez The mostly black workforce at the Amazon facility, which opened in 2020, mirrors the Bessemer population of more than 70 per cent Black residents, according to the latest US census data. Pro-union workers say they want better working conditions, longer breaks and higher wages. Regular full-time employees at the Bessemer facility earn at least $US15.80 ($21.11) an hour, higher than the estimated $US14.55 per hour on average in the city. That figure is based on an analysis of the US Census Bureaus annual median household income for Bessemer of $US30,284, which could include more than one worker. Loading The ALU said they dont have a demographic breakdown of the warehouse workers on Staten Island and Amazon declined to provide the information to the Associated Press, citing the union vote. Internal records leaked to The New York Times from 2019 showed more than 60 per cent of the hourly associates at the facility were black or Latino, while most of managers were white or Asian. Amazon workers there are seeking longer breaks, paid time off for injured employees and an hourly wage of $US30, up from a minimum of just over $US18 per hour offered by the company. The estimated average wage for the borough is $US41 per hour, according to a similar US Census Bureau analysis of Staten Islands $US85,381 median household income. A spokesperson for Amazon said the company invests in wages and benefits, such as health care, 401(k) plans and a prepaid college tuition program to help grow workers careers. As a company, we dont think unions are the best answer for our employees, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work. Washington: The AUKUS military pact designed to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines will be strengthened after members of US Congress created a special group to sharpen Washingtons focus on the historic agreement. With China presenting a growing threat in the Indo-Pacific and Russias invasion of Ukraine testing global security more broadly, senior US politicians announced on Friday (Saturday AEST) that they would form an AUKUS Working Group, solely dedicated to advancing the three-way alliance between America, Britain and Australia. Scott Morrison with US President Joe Biden in New York after the AUKUS partnership was announced. Credit:AP The bipartisan group, which was flagged exclusively by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age last month, will elevate the importance of AUKUS on Capitol Hill, and also help to minimise legislative roadblocks when key elements of the agreement are dealt with by Congress. AUKUS is a critical new partnership that should be at the forefront of our security architecture in the Indo-Pacific, said Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher, who will co-chair the new group with fellow Republican Blake Moore and Democrat congressmen Joe Courtney and Derek Kilmer. on Friday reported a 14.5 per cent decline in sales in March at 4,721 units, hit by supply chain constraints due to the new COVID-19 variant and the ongoing global semiconductor chip shortage. The company had retailed 5,528 units in March last year. Sales in March this year was "immensely impacted by the supply chain constraints due to the new COVID-19 variant and the ongoing global semiconductor chip shortage," said in a statement. The company, however, said it continues to witness positive momentum in enquiries and bookings across its product portfolio, including Astor, Hector, Gloster, and the all new ZS EV, which has registered 1,500 bookings just within March. The carmaker is continuously accessing and aligning its production, subject to the volatility of supply constraints existing worldwide, it added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (TKM) on Friday reported total wholesales of 17,131 units in March, its best-ever monthly sales in five years. Last month, the company's dispatches rose by 14 per cent compared to 15,001 units in March 2021. The automaker also registered a 58 per cent cumulative growth in FY2021-22 by clocking wholesales of 1,23,770 units when compared to 78,262 units in FY21. "We have been witnessing tremendous demand from the market and our March wholesales stand testimony to the current demand trends. Not only that, it also reiterates the kind of popularity all Toyota models enjoy in their respective segments and the fact that we have been able to offer products basis our customers' expectations," TKM Associate Vice President (Sales and Strategic Marketing) Atul Sood said in a statement. This is clearly reinforced with segment-leading models like the Innova Crysta, clocking almost 8,000 units in just a single month, he added. "The Fortuner and the Legender too, both have faired phenomenally well and especially with the Legender having carved a niche for itself in such a short time. Both models put together, we have clocked close to 3,000 units," Sood noted. The recently launched Camry hybrid has also been very well appreciated by customers and the automaker is doing its level best to meet the rising demand for the same, he added. The company is overwhelmed by the response that the new Glanza has received, Sood stated. "Deliveries of the new Glanza have begun as well, and we are looking forward to meeting our customer expectations and demands. Our focus will be to reach out to as many new Toyota customers as we can, more so as we also intend on expanding our footprints, especially in Tier II and Tier III towns, beginning this new financial year," 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.) Standard and Poors (S&P) on Friday said Axis Banks acquisition of Citigroup Inc's consumer portfolio in India will bring in significant profitability improvements only from FY2025 onwards. It will take time to complete the acquisition and integrate the assets. The acquisition is likely to be completed over the next 9 to 12 months, while full integration will take another 18 months, S&P said in a statement. on Wednesday announced its proposed acquisition of Citibanks consumer businesses in India for Rs 12,325 crore. The rating agency said the acquisition will strengthen Axis bank's retail market position and diversify its revenue profile and is positive for it's long-term profitability. Earnings will depend on Axis Bank's ability to retain acquired customers and successfully cross-sell its products and services to them. A large part of the portfolio is unsecured, where yields are higher than mortgages. Indian private lenders credit card customer base will increase by 2.5 million through this acquisition--a 31 per cent jump which enhances its market position in this segment. should be able to absorb any incremental risks given the small size of Citi's portfolio. The acquired portfolio is equivalent to about four of Axis Bank's loans, and it comprises credit cards, mortgage loans, personal loans, asset-backed finance and small business loans. Citi's portfolio mainly comprised affluent clients, where credit quality tends to be better than mass-market customers. Citi's spending per credit card is higher than Axis Bank's as well as the average for Indian banks. The acquisition will reduce Axis Bank's capital buffer because it plans to use excess capital to fund the deal. The bank's S&P Global Ratings risk-adjusted capital (RAC) ratio was 8.5% as of March 31, 2021. As per our initial estimates, this acquisition can reduce the RAC ratio by about 100 basis points. Despite the deterioration, we expect the RAC ratio to stay sufficient for its rating, S&P said. The bank's earnings will remain supportive of its capital position. enjoys good access to markets and can raise additional capital to restore buffers and fund organic growth. Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd clocked a record production of over 168 million tonne in the 2021-22 financial year, registering a growth of around 14 per cent over the previous fiscal, an official said on Friday. The Odisha-based miner dispatched 176.17 mt of coal to its consumers, with a 21 per cent growth over the previous year, chairman-cum-managing director Om Prakash Singh said. The Sambalpur-headquartered firm has set a target of producing 176 mt of coal in 2022-23. The record production of 168.17 mt in the last fiscal is 103 per cent of the target set by it, Singh said at a press conference in Bhubaneswar. He stated that the capital expenditure of the miner was Rs 3,805 crore in the 2021-22 fiscal, as the outlay would meet future goals. "We have also made advance preparations, keeping in view the monsoon season and other operational challenges, to meet the rising demand by producing more coal," he said. Singh claimed that the Miniratna public sector unit had been successful in meeting the growing coal demand during the third quarter of the last financial year, despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. "It is estimated that the demand will continue to remain high in the coming months," the official said. The firm has registered a growth of more than 18 per cent in overburden removal, which will help in increasing coal production in the new fiscal, Singh said. has mining operations in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Angul districts of Odisha. (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.) Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Friday said it has inked a pact with Novartis AG to acquire the cardiovascular medicine brand Cidmus in India for USD 61 million (about Rs 463 crore). Under the agreement, Dr Reddy's will be assigned and transferred the Cidmus trademark in India from Novartis AG for a consideration of USD 61 million, the Hyderabad-based drug major said in a regulatory filing. The Cidmus brand shall be affixed on the pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of Valsartan and Sacubitril (currently under Novartis patent) which is indicated for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, it added. The tablets are available in three strengths. As per IQVIA MAT data, Cidmus had sales of Rs 136.4 crore in India for the most recent twelve months ending in February 2022. Dr Reddy's will look to leverage its wide base to engage with healthcare professionals, and to significantly enhance the reach of the product in and beyond metros into tier-I and tier-II markets in India through its strong marketing and distribution network to maximise access to patients in need, it said. The acquisition of Cidmus is yet another move by drug major to widen access of healthcare professionals and patients to well-established brands. Given the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, this acquisition will allow Dr Reddy's to make a trusted portfolio of medicines available to patients in India, it added. The medication will be a strong addition to the company's existing portfolio in the cardiovascular segment alongside its leading brands such as Stamlo, Stamlo Beta, Reclide-XR and Reclimet-XR, and will take it closer to its ambition of breaking into the top 10 cardiac players in the Indian pharmaceutical market, the company stated. It will also strengthen the presence of Dr Reddy's in the chronic space in India as its India business continues to be a solid growth driver and focus market, it added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Motor India on Friday said its total sales declined 14 per cent to 55,287 units in March, as compared with same month last year. The company had dispatched 64,621 units to its dealers in March 2021. For 2021-22 fiscal, the company reported total sales of 6,10,760 units, up by 6 per cent from 5,75,877 units in 2020-21. Sales in the domestic market rose by 2 per cent to 4,81,500 units last fiscal as against 4,71,535 units in 2020-21. Exports increased by 24 per cent to 1,29,260 units last fiscal as against 1,04,342 units in 2020-21. (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.) Paints Ltd on Friday said its Executive Director Anuj Jain has been elevated as the managing director of the company. Jain succeeds H M Bharuka, vice chairman and managing director, who has been spearheading the firm for the last 21 years, Paints said in a statement. In his new role, Jain will be responsible for steering the next phase of the company's growth and bolstering the brand's presence in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, it added. He has been serving as executive director in charge of the sales and marketing, manufacturing, technical and human resources functions since 2018. After joining the company as a management trainee in 1990, he rose through the ranks. In his tenure spanning over 30 years at Kansai Paints, Jain has worked in various capacities, including vice president, decorative marketing and sales and director, decorative. He played a pivotal role in driving growth organically and inorganically along with business excellence, the company 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.) State-owned Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) has transferred its remaining 26 per cent stake shareholding in Vizag Transmission Ltd to infrastructure investment trust PGlnvlT for a consideration of about Rs 330 crore. Also, the company has relinquished its right of additional revenue in its subsidiaries in favour of PGInvIT against a consideration of about Rs 304 crore. "Power Grid has transferred balance 26 per cent equity shareholding of Power Grid Vizag Transmission Ltd (PVTL) to PGlnvlT on 31st March, 2022, at a consideration of Rs 330,78,44,638 after adjustments of dividend received by Power Grid from PVTL. With this, Power Grid has nil shareholding in PVTL," a BSE filing said. This has been done following the approval of board in February this year. "Power Grid has relinquished its right on additional revenue accruing to Power Grid Parli Transmission Ltd, Power Grid Warora Transmission Ltd and Power Grid Jabalpur Transmission Ltd to PGlnvlT on 31st March, 2022 against aggregate consideration of Rs 304,15,00,000," the filing 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.) Multiplex operator on Friday said it has discontinued operations of 23 screens across nine properties after the expiry of their lease with Cineline India. After this, PVR's screen count as on date has come down to 848 at 172 properties in 73 cities, the company said in a regulatory filing. "We wish to inform you that on March 31, 2022, the company has discontinued operations of 23 screens across nine properties on expiry of their lease with Cineline India Ltd," it said. Cineline India, a part of Kanakia Group, had earlier announced reentering the film exhibition business with a new brand identity. In 2012, Cineline had sold its multiplex business along with Cinemax Brand to Limited under a non-compete clause which has already ended. Further, Cineline had leased out nine properties with 23 screens to under lease and license agreements, on which multiplex operations were run by PVR. It has plans to start its film exhibition operations in the first quarter of FY23 through nine properties with 23 screens across Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, and Nagpur having an aggregate seating capacity of more than 6,000. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The beleaguered Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC) Bank depositors have a reason to cheer ahead of Gudi Padva as Unity Small Finance Bank has paid Rs 3,791.55 crore to around 847,606 depositors after Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) settled the amount as per the list furnished by the bank. According to the plan approved by the Union government, Unity Small Finance Bank was supposed to pay the insured deposit amount up to Rs 5 lakh received from the DICGC immediately. And, the bank will have 20 years to repay DICGC. DICGC in a statement on Thursday said, Pursuant to Government of India notification dated January 25, 2022 regarding the merger of with Unity Small Finance Bank with DICGC support, the main claim of the captioned bank for an amount of Rs 37,91,55,33,367.64 has been settled for 847,506 traceable depositors, as per the list furnished by the bank. Around 900,000 individual depositors of are owed an amount to the tune of Rs 7,836.77 crore as of September 30, 2020. For depositors who have deposits in excess of Rs 5 lakh in the bank, after the initial amount of Rs 5 lakh is paid, Rs 50,000 over and above the insured amount will be paid to them at the end of first year. Another Rs 50,000 will be paid out at the end of the second year. After three years, the bank will pay up an additional Rs 1 lakh to the depositors and after four years, the bank shall pay up to an additional Rs 2.5 lakh. After five years, the bank shall pay up to an additional Rs 5.5 lakh. And after 10 years, any amount pending after the payments detailed above, will be paid on demand from the depositors. Unity SFB started its operations in November last year after receiving a final nod from the central bank. Unity SFB is 51:49 joint venture between the Centrum Group and Bharat Pe. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor A whistleblower has filed a complaint against Invesco Asset Management (India), alleging irregularities in the management of its fixed income schemes. The complaint has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) as well as with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC). The complainant has also filed a case with the Bombay High Court, which is currently at a pre-admission stage, according to two people familiar with the matter. The whistleblower worked as a fund manager with the fund house and was allegedly sacked a few days after the complaint was filed, said one of the persons. is said to be examining the matter internally and has reached out to the fund house on the matter, said a source. Business Standard could not, however, ascertain the nature of the alleged irregularities. In an email response, Invesco Asset Management (India) said it maintains policies and procedures for investigating allegations of improper conduct received from any source and always handles such matters in a manner consistent with global best practices. Invesco seeks to maintain excellent relations with all our regulators. We cooperate with any regulatory inquiries (including any examinations or investigations) in a manner that is transparent and consistent with global best practices, the fund house said, replying to a Business Standard query on whether the regulatory authorities, or the US SEC, had reached out to it on the matter. The fund house, however, did not divulge more details on the alleged irregularities. An email sent to did not elicit a response. Globally, Invesco has put in place a whistleblower policy that encourages complaints regarding violation of its code of conduct, violations of laws, questionable accounting matters, internal accounting controls, auditing matters, breaches of fiduciary duty, or rules at Invesco to be reported via a toll free number or a separate whistleblower hotline website. Invesco holds itself and its employees to the highest standards of honest and ethical conduct, and strives to ensure that all activity conducted by, or on behalf of, the firm and its subsidiaries is in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. Employees of Invesco and its subsidiaries are affirmatively required to report possible violations of the Invesco Code of Conduct, the asset managers whistleblower website states. Currently, the fund house in consortium with Warburg Pincus and Kedaara Capital is in the race to acquire IDFC Mutual Fund, according to reports. A consortium of Bandhan Group, GIC, and ChrysCapital is also in the race to acquire IDFC MF. Regulations in the past two years have gone a long way in mitigating risks for debt investors. But problems can crop up if a fund house gets too aggressive and aims for significantly higher returns over others, said a debt fund manager from another fund house, on condition of anonymity. Parents getting their children into school buses after ensuring that they carried sanitiser bottles were seen across Delhi-NCR as decked up to receive students with the resumption of offline classes from Friday after over two years. While many reopened on Friday, several others plan to resume offline classes for all grades from Monday. Sudha Acharya, the chairperson of the Progressive Schools' Conference (NPSC), which has over 120 private as its members, said the students were eagerly waiting for this day. "It is after two years that schools are re-reopening and students were excited to get back," she said. Acharya is the principal of ITL Public School, Dwarka. At her school, teachers conducted a special prayer assembly for students. "Teachers had prepared special performances for students and it's like a festival today. Yesterday, we held a farewell for Class 12 students. At 11 am, we will tune in for the prime minister's Pariksha Pe Charcha," she said. Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, reopened for only pre-nursery class on Friday while students of all other classes will be called from Monday. "Today only pre-nursery students came to school to attend offline classes. From Monday, we will open for all students from pre-nursery to class 12. We want to make the process of reopening as comfortable as possible for students, parents and teachers. "In these two years, a lot has changed and we are accommodating these changes. We are prepared for resuming classes in these 'new normal' times while also prioritising face to face learning as students have missed on that the most," school principal Alka Kapur said. According to Nidhi Bansal, Pro-Vice Chairperson, Pacific World School, steps to maintain proper cleanliness and hygiene have been taken. "Our focus is to make children comfortable and get them to talk about their problems and emotional or mental quagmires that the pandemic had on children and resolve them in the best way possible," she said. Schools across the country were closed in 2020 ahead of a nationwide lockdown in March to contain the spread of COVID-19. Schools in several states reopened briefly before the second wave in April 2021 but had to shut down soon after. Schools reopened again but had to be closed in Delhi because of alarming levels of pollution. While they reopened in phases, the hybrid mode of classes -- online and offline -- became the popular approach and students were allowed to attend classes in schools only with their parent's consent. Shubhi Soni, head of The Shri Ram Wonder Years, Rohini, said, "Our school is excited to welcome our bundles of joy to the premises as it opens for offline teaching from April 4. The school has been decorated colourfully to recharge the students with positive energy and embrace them in the brick and mortar scenario, she said. "Regular temperature checks of children will also be done to minimize the risk of COVID-19. A full-time nurse has been trained and deputed to oversee compliance with all norms... We are reopening the school in a phased manner to slowly settle the children in a new environment. "Starting with bonding time classes, children will be asked to come according to the slots for a short period to acquaint them with school surroundings, peers, and teachers," Soni said. Anshu Mittal, the principal of MRG School, Rohini, said they are exhilarated to welcome our students back to offline classes after a gap of two years. "Various welcoming activities have been arranged to make students and teachers feel comfortable at school. "Ice-breaking exercises have been planned to build a cheerful bonhomie between students and teachers to eradicate the disconnection they faced during the pandemic period. Peer interactions will also be held to encourage student bonding and repartee," she said. Parents, however, complained of transportation being an issue. A parent of a class five student of Shri Ram Global School in Noida Extension said the first day was slightly chaotic, especially for the parents as some school buses were running late and they received multiple messages about the delay. "The bus was delayed by almost 30 minutes and I ended up getting late for work," she said. She, however, welcomed the resumption of offline classes, saying it would be a welcome shift for the students. "My son was earlier studying in Nagpur and today is his first day in his new school. He has been attending online classes in this school for the last one year. "He will be meet his friends. Students had grown comfortable with the idea of online classes but this will be a good shift for them as they will get back to a proper routine," the parent 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.) For the first time the tally in the has crossed the 100-mark. The also became the first party to achieve the feat after 1988. After the recent round of election for the Upper House of Parliament held on Thursday, the saffron party tally now stands at 101. The achieved this feat after winning four seats out of 13 for which polls were held on Thursday. The saffron party alliance partner United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) won one seat from Assam. The BJP won four seats from three Northeastern states -- Assam, Tripura and Nagaland. The BJP has also increased its members' tally in the Upper House from the region. Around midnight Assam Chief Minister Himanta BIswa Sarma tweeted, "Assam has reposed its faith in PM Sri @narendramodi ji by electing two NDA candidates to the Rajya Sabha by huge margins - BJP's Sri Pabitra Margherita (won by 11 votes) & UPPL's Sri Rwngwra Narzary (won by 9 votes). My compliments to winners." With the BJP crossing the 100-mark in the Rajya Sabha, the opposition has been put out of the race for the Vice President election in August this year. The elections for the two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam and one in Tripura were held on Thursday. BJP candidate and its women wing state president S. Phangnon Konyak was elected unopposed to the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Nagaland, making her the first woman from the state to get a berth in the Parliament's Upper House. The Rajya Sabha term of Ripun Bora and Ranee Narah of the Congress in Assam will expire on April 2. After thumping victory in the Punjab Assembly polls, the AAP won all the five seats from the state. Now APP tally has increased to eight seats in the Upper House. The Congresss' strength has reduced by five seats in the recent round of the Rajya Sabha polls. --IANS ssb/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Home buyers of projects in the National Capital Region can now submit their claims to insolvency resolution professional desk now as the developer was declared bankrupt by the National Company Law Tribunal recently. On March 25, the NCLT had declared Noida-headquartered major as insolvent while admitting a plea filed by the Union Bank of India over non-payment of its dues. All financial creditors, including allottees, must submit their claims with proof online by visiting https://www.supertechlimited.com/public-announcement.php. Also, for any claim related queries, home buyers are requested to call +91 8904039001 between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The NCLT order is likely to hit over 25,000 home buyers who have booked their homes with the company for over several years. The order for insolvency came as a blow to the company as its one-time settlement proposal has not been accepted by the Union Bank. Recently, the Supreme Court had ordered the demolition of its twin towers in Noida and last month, the local authority had informed the top court that 40-story twin towers will be demolished on May 22. --IANS ad/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Friday allowed the re-opening of certain areas of Markaz, where the Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained shut since then, to enable devotees to offer prayers during the month of . Justice Jasmeet Singh, who was hearing a plea by the Delhi Waqf Board seeking a direction to open the mosque for the holy month, clarified that no "Tablighi activities" and lectures can take place on the premises and only prayers can be offered. "It is directed that for Ramadan, namaz and religious prayers shall be permitted to be offered on the ground floor and four floors at Masjid Bangle Wali. This arrangement is only for the one month of culminating with Eid Ul Fitr," ordered the court. "Religious prayers and namaz (are allowed) but no Tablighi activities. Let's not dilute it. There will be no lectures. Prayers can be made. But no lectures," the court stated. It added that the instant permission was in continuation of the March 16 order which imposed various conditions for the reopening of the premises for the ocassion of Shab-e-Bharat. The court further directed the installation of CCTV cameras at the entry, exit and stairs of each floor of the premises and said that it shall be the responsibility of the markaz management to ensure that the cameras are fully functional during the period of . For the ocassion of Shab-e-Bharat, the court had removed the 100-person limit at one floor and said it has been agreed that the management of the mosque will ensure that COVID-19 protocols and social distancing will be followed while allowing devotees to enter the mosque to offer namaz. Lawyer Rajat Nair, appearing for Delhi police and central government, opposed the grant of permission to offer prayers on the fourth floor and said that mosque was only restricted to the ground floor which is borne out of the site plan. "If there are more floors, there is more space... If there is a reason (to oppose opening of the fourth floor), tell us. More surface area, better it is. More area is always conducive," the court remarked. The judge stated that as per the joint inspection report, the fourth floor was part of the masjid area and the present observations are only prima face and subject to adjudication. Central government lawyer also said that no "Tablighi activities" and lectures can be permitted in the markaz and only prayers are allowed. Senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose, appearing for the petitioner, and senior advocate Rebecca John, representing the management of the markaz, urged the court to permit offering of prayers on the fourth floor as well. The application for reopening the markaz was filed in the Board's 2021 petition which has sought the reopening of the premises on the ground that even after unlock-1 guidelines permitted religious places outside containment zones to be opened, the Markaz -- comprising the Masjid Bangle Wali, Madarsa Kashif-ul-Uloom, and attached hostel -- continues to be locked up. The high court had earlier asked the petitioner, represented through advocate Waqeeh Shafiq, to file an application before the SHO of Hazrat Police Station seeking permission to open the other three floors of Markaz to enable devotees to offer prayers during the two occasions. The Central government, in its affidavit, has opposed fully re-opening the Nizamuddin Markaz and stated that only a few people may be allowed to offer prayers on certain religious occasions. The counsel for the Delhi Waqf Board has argued that the mosque, which is under the lock of Delhi Police, should be opened as the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has now lifted all restrictions that were imposed on account of the pandemic. Several FIRs were registered under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act, the Foreigners Act and various provisions of the penal code in connection with the Tablighi Jamaat event held at the Nizamuddin Markaz and the subsequent stay of foreigners there during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. (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 spate of electric scooters catching fire in India, including one made by SoftBank-backed Ola Electric, is sparking safety concerns among some buyers, in an early setback for a nascent sector Prime Minister Narendra Modi is bullish about. India wants electric scooters and motorbikes to make up 80% of total two-wheeler sales by 2030, from about 2% today, and Modi's administration is offering companies billions of dollars in incentives to locally manufacture (EVs.) Sales of electric scooters more than doubled this year, but at least for some prospective buyers, the fires are cause to think twice. On Saturday, a video of an Ola e-scooter engulfed in flames went viral online, triggering a rare government probe. A scooter from startup Pure EV also caught ablaze and a burning Okinawa Autotech Pvt bike killed two people. The companies say they are investigating the incidents. Three potential buyers told Reuters they were deferring purchase plans, and dozens posted concerns on social media this week with several saying they were reconsidering whether it was the right time to go electric. "I had done a lot of research but I am now reconsidering the decision. I will buy a regular motorcycle," said Praharsh Mahadevia, 28, an engineer from the western city of Ahmedabad. Nayeem Quadri, an Indian journalist, is also having "second thoughts due to these repeated instances of fires," he said. The electric mobility push is critical for Modi's climate change and carbon reduction goals. Following the Ola incident, Modi's government told lawmakers in the Indian parliament it will take "appropriate action" against the manufacturers once the investigations are complete. Some in government circles say globally vehicles have been recalled by automakers in cases of fires. "This is a sunrise sector and anything negative is bound to have a detrimental impact," said Randheer Singh, director for electric mobility at government think-tank Niti Aayog. "How the situation is tackled will determine how consumer faith and confidence is maintained," he said. "UP IN FLAMES" Video footage of the Ola fire showed one of its popular black-coloured S1 Pro scooters emitting smoke before quickly being engulfed in fire on a busy street in the western city of Pune. The Okinawa Autotech incident was more deadly. The company said a man and his daughter died when their e-bike "went up in flames". It cited the police statement which said the likely cause was an electrical short circuit while charging. Jasmeet Khurana, who leads the World Economic Forum's initiative on electric mobility in India and emerging markets, said buyers may forgive one-off incidents given the popularity of the cheap-to-run bikes. But, he said, companies must do more to address the concerns. "The market will continue to grow rapidly but it can grow faster without such incidents," he said. Although most people still use petrol-guzzling motorbikes to travel on crowded Indian roads, are leading India' clean mobility revolution. Annual sales are expected to cross 1 million units by March 2023, from 150,000 a year ago, industry data showed. Ola Electric, valued at $5 billion, is making 1,000 scooters a day and has plans to manufacture electric cars and battery cells locally. Tarun Mehta, chief executive of Tiger Global-backed e-scooter maker, Ather Energy, told Reuters that despite the fires, his sales had been unaffected. "There is no question of demand derailing. While the incidents are unfortunate, we can't deny the fact that EVs are here to stay and the shift to electric has begun," 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.) India, with its "just and rational" approach towards international problems, can support peace efforts to resolve the ongoing situation in if it chooses to play such a role, Russian Foreign Minister said on Friday while complementing New Delhi's "independent" position on the conflict. Lavrov said at a media briefing after holding talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that no one would oppose if India decides to contribute to the peace initiatives. Describing India as an "important and serious" country, he said it does not come under any influence of the US. Lavrov said India can play the role if it "with its position of just and rational approach towards international problems, (thinks) it can support such a process and no one would be against it". He was responding to a question on whether India can play the role of a mediator in defusing the conflict between Russia and . The Russian foreign minister reiterated that it was for New Delhi to decide if it sees a "role which provides resolution of the problem in this present condition, and to provide equality and security". He claimed that it was the Western countries that forced Russia into the conflict. "I believe that India's foreign policy is characterised by independence and the concentration on the real legitimate interests," he said. Lavrov said Russia also follows the same approach and policy, and it has made both the "big" countries good friends and an important part of each other's international relations. We always respect each other's interests, he said. Lavrov arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening after concluding a two-day visit to China. Hours before the Russian foreign minister landed in India, US Deputy Security Adviser Daleep Singh cautioned that there will be consequences for countries actively attempting to "circumvent or backfill" American sanctions against Moscow. Unlike many other leading powers, India has not yet criticised Russia for its invasion of and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms in condemning the Russian aggression. However, last Thursday, India abstained on a resolution pushed by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which was seen as reflective of its neutral position on the conflict. India has been pressing for the resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue. Modi has held phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, March 2 and March 7. Modi had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy twice. Last week, Jaishankar said in Parliament that India's position on the Ukraine conflict has been "steadfast and consistent" and that it has been seeking immediate cessation of violence. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India may come up with a against two years down the line, with the phase-3 clinical trials of two candidates set to conclude in 2024. Dr Suchit Kamble, a scientist at the ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) in Pune, informed that the trials are underway to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two TB candidates -- VPM1002 and Immunovac -- in preventing in healthy household contacts of newly-diagnosed sputum positive pulmonary TB patients. New vaccines are urgently required to achieve India's goal of TB elimination by 2025. "A phase-3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VPM1002 and Immunovac vaccines in preventing tuberculosis is being held at 18 sites across six states -- Maharashtra, Delhi, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha," Kamble told PTI. The enrolment of 12,000 participants aged six years and above for the trial has been completed and their follow-up will continue till 2024. ICMR-NARI is the main site in Maharashtra and it has completed the enrolment of 1,593 healthy household contacts. These participants are being followed up at regular intervals for 38 months. The last follow-up at the Pune site is expected to complete by February 2024. "After the analysis of the data, based on scientific findings, we make conclusions regarding the efficacy and safety of these vaccines. We are hoping that India will have a good, effective against TB by 2024 or, at the most, by 2025," Kamble said. The risk of TB transmission to household contacts is a little more when the case in the family is sputum smear positive. "At present, there is no vaccine for the prevention of TB in household contacts except for those in HIV patients and those aged below six years," Kamble said. Currently, the BCG vaccine is used among children at the time of birth. The trial is being sponsored by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). "ICMR-NARI is working on various fronts to help India's goal of TB elimination. This includes treatment trials for multi-drug resistant TB and TB vaccine trial," National Institute of Virology (NIV) Director Dr Priya Abraham 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.) Russian Foreign Minister met Indian Prime Minister here on Friday and apprised him about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The meeting lasted for 40 minutes and Lavrov also informed the Prime Minister about various bilateral initiatives. He, thereafter, left the Prime Minister Office's but got stuck slightly in a traffic jam for a few minutes on way to the IGI airport to fly back to Moscow. Ahead of meeting Prime Minister Modi, Lavrov has said US pressure would not affect the India-Russia relationship and added if India wants to mediate for resolution to the Ukraine problem, such a process can be supported. Lavrov was on a two-day visit to India where he held deliberations with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar over crude oil offer, rupee-ruble payment, ongoing arms deals, Ukraine crisis, and the situation in Afghanistan and Iran. About India playing a bigger role in the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov said: "India is an important and serious country. If India plays that role that provides resolution, India as our common partner.. we are for the security guarantee of Ukraine.. West has ignored it's responsibility...If India is with its position of just and rational approach to international problems.. can support such a process." On India's view on the Ukraine crisis, he said that India's foreign policy is guided by its independent position. "I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterised by independence and the concentration on real legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners." India has stayed neutral on seven Ukraine-related resolutions at the United Nations. Lavrov categorically said Russia's aim in Ukraine is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia. During interaction with media persons here, Lavrov, talking about the Ukraine crisis said: "You called it a war, which is not true. It is a special operation, military infrastructure is being targeted. The aim is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia." In their meeting, Lavrov and Jaishankar assessed the overall state of cooperation and considered the implications of recent developments on trade and economic relations. The two ministers discussed developments pertaining to Ukraine. Lavrov briefed the Indian side on Russia's perspective, including the ongoing talks. Jaishankar emphasised the importance of cessation of violence and ending hostilities. Differences and disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and by respect for international law, UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, he added. The ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Lavrov conveyed his assessment of the recent conference on Afghanistan in China. Jaishankar noted that UNSCR 2593 expressed the concerns of the international community and spoke of humanitarian support for the Afghan people. Iran and the JCPoA issue were also featured in the talks. On the supply of crude and arms, Lavrov said Russia will be ready to supply to India any goods which India wants to buy from them. "We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations," he said. Asked whether the rouble-rupee system for bilateral trade is being worked out, Lavrov said: "We have to find ways to bypass impediments." (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian Foreign Minister met Indian Prime Minister here on Friday and apprised him about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Lavrov briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Ukraine, including the ongoing peace negotiations. Modi reiterated his call for an early cessation of violence, and conveyed India's readiness to contribute in any way to the peace efforts, the statement said. The meeting lasted for 40 minutes during which Lavrov also informed the Prime Minister about various bilateral initiatives. He, thereafter, left the Prime Minister Office's but got stuck slightly in a traffic jam for a few minutes on way to the IGI airport to fly back to Moscow. Ahead of meeting Prime Minister Modi, Lavrov has said US pressure would not affect the India-Russia relationship and added if India wants to mediate for resolution to the Ukraine problem, such a process can be supported. Lavrov was on a two-day visit to India where he held deliberations with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar over crude oil offer, rupee-ruble payment, ongoing arms deals, Ukraine crisis, and the situation in Afghanistan and Iran. About India playing a bigger role in the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov said: "India is an important and serious country. If India plays that role that provides resolution, India as our common partner.. we are for the security guarantee of Ukraine.. West has ignored it's responsibility...If India is with its position of just and rational approach to international problems.. can support such a process." On India's view on the Ukraine crisis, he said that India's foreign policy is guided by its independent position. "I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterised by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners." India has stayed neutral on seven Ukraine-related resolutions at the United Nations. Lavrov categorically said Russia's aim in Ukraine is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia. During interaction with media persons here, Lavrov, talking about the Ukraine crisis said: "You called it a war, which is not true. It is a special operation, military infrastructure is being targeted. The aim is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia." In their meeting, Lavrov and Jaishankar assessed the overall state of cooperation and considered the implications of recent developments on trade and economic relations. The two ministers discussed developments pertaining to Ukraine. Lavrov briefed the Indian side on Russia's perspective, including the ongoing talks. Jaishankar emphasised the importance of cessation of violence and ending hostilities. Differences and disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and by respect for international law, UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, he added. The ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Lavrov conveyed his assessment of the recent conference on Afghanistan in China. Jaishankar noted that UNSCR 2593 expressed the concerns of the international community and spoke of humanitarian support for the Afghan people. Iran and the JCPoA issue were also featured in the talks. On the supply of crude and arms, Lavrov said Russia will be ready to supply to India any goods which India wants to buy from them. "We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations," he said. Asked whether the rouble-rupee system for bilateral trade is being worked out, Lavrov said: "We have to find ways to bypass impediments." --IANS sk/vd/arm (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.) Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba arrived here on Friday on a three-day visit that is expected to inject fresh momentum into bilateral ties. A high-level delegation is accompanying Deuba. He and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging talks on Saturday, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are also expected to call on the visiting leader. It is Deuba's first bilateral visit abroad after becoming prime minister in July last year for a fifth time following a spell of political turmoil in Kathmandu. Deuba had visited India in each of his four earlier stints as prime minister of . His last visit to India in his capacity as the prime minister was in 2017. "A fond welcome to a special friend. PM of @SherBDeuba arrives in India for an official visit from 01-03 April 2022. This is his first bilateral visit abroad after assuming office in July 2021," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old "Roti Beti" relationship. The country shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states -- Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services. Nepal's access to the sea is through India, and it imports a predominant proportion of its requirements from and through India. The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations between the two countries. "The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review this wide-ranging cooperative partnership and to progress it further for the benefit of the two peoples," the MEA said on Monday. Besides official engagements in New Delhi, the prime minister of Nepal will visit Varanasi. (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 government has not received any proposal after June 2019 to increase the number of judges of the Supreme Court, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. Responding to a question on the sanctioned strength of the apex court, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said at present it stands at 34 (including the chief justice of India). The working strength of the top court is 32, leaving two vacancies to be filled. He explained that The (Number of Judges) Act 1956, as originally enacted, provided for the maximum number of judges (excluding the chief justice of India) to be 10. This number was increased to 13 by the (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law. The (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986 augmented the strength of the Supreme Court judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI. Subsequently, a fresh amendment in 2009 further augmented the strength of top court judges from 25 to 30. "The Chief Justice of India vide letter dated June 21, 2019 requested the government to consider augmenting the judge-strength in the Supreme Court appropriately. Though there has been no criteria for fixing the judge strength of the Supreme Court, in view of the number of cases pending disposal, an increase in the judge strength was considered by government. "The sanctioned strength of Supreme Court of India has been increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the Chief Justice of India) with effect from August 9, 2019. Thereafter, the Government has not received any further proposal for increase in the strength of Supreme Court judges," he said in a written response. Responding to a separate question on high court judges, he said against the sanctioned strength of 1104, 717 judges are working in the 25 high courts, leaving 387 vacancies. "At present, 168 proposals are at various stages of processing between the government and the Supreme Court Collegium. Further, recommendations from High Court Collegiums are yet to be received in respect of 219 vacancies in high courts," 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.) It was a proud moment for Shilla Bishanb, a class 9 student of Meghalaya, as she was one of the pupils selected from across the country who got the opportunity to interact with Prime Minister during the fifth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha' on Friday. Shilla, her friends and teachers in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Mawphlang in East Khasi Hills district, besides Governor Satya Pal Malik, took part in the programme virtually from Raj Bhavan here. The girl asked Modi how the National Education Policy (NEP) will empower the society in general and students in particular. It was a very exciting and joyful moment for me. His answer was that students could choose their own paths if they were not happy with the one they are on, Shilla said. The prime minister said NEP was made not by the government but by citizens, students and teachers for the development of the country, and it is an opportunity to follow one's passion. Priyanka, one of her teachers, said, Our student got the chance to ask a question to the PM. I am very happy. I feel it (the programme) will have a positive impact on students. The governor said he is proud that a student of Meghalaya got to present her question to the prime minister. The Pariksha Pe Charcha programme was held at the Talkatora Stadium in Delhi while arrangements were there for students and teachers to take part in it virtually. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister on Friday conveyed to Russian Foreign Minister that India stands ready to contribute in any way to the peace efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and called for early cessation of violence in that country. The prime minister communicated this when Lavrov called on him after holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, a day after arriving in India on a two-day visit. Ahead of his meeting with Modi, Lavrov said at a media briefing that India, with its "just and rational" approach towards international problems, can support the peace efforts if it chooses to play such a role. "Foreign Minister Lavrov briefed the prime minister on the situation in Ukraine, including the ongoing peace negotiations," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. "The prime minister reiterated his call for an early cessation of violence, and conveyed India's readiness to contribute in any way to the peace efforts," it said. On Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told NDTV that India can use its influence with Russia to convince it to stop the war in Ukraine. Asked if he sees Prime Minister Modi being a possible mediator between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kuleba said "if Prime Minister Modi is willing to play that role, we would welcome his efforts". At the media briefing, Lavrov said India can contribute to the peace efforts if it "with its position of just and rational approach towards international problems, (thinks) it can support such a process and no one would be against it." He was responding to a question on whether India can play the role of a mediator in defusing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Russian foreign minister reiterated that it was for New Delhi to decide if it sees a "role which provides resolution of the problem in this present condition, and to provide equality and security." Lavrov also complimented India's "independent" position on the conflict while describing it as an "important and serious" country that does not come under any influence of the US. "I believe that India's foreign policy is characterised by independence and the concentration on the real legitimate interests," he said. Lavrov said Russia also follows the same approach and policy, and it has made both the "big" countries good friends and an important part of each other's international relations. We always respect each other's interests, he said. In a statement on the Lavrov-Jaishankar talks, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two sides discussed developments pertaining to Ukraine. It said they assessed the overall state of cooperation and considered the implications of recent developments on trade and economic relations. The MEA said Jaishankar underlined that as a developing economy, global volatility in different domains is of particular concern to India. "It is important for both countries that their economic, technological and people to people contacts remain stable and predictable," it said. "The external affairs minister emphasised the importance of cessation of violence and ending hostilities. Differences and disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and by respect for international law, UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states," it said. Lavrov arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening after concluding a two-day visit to China. Hours before the Russian foreign minister landed in India, US Deputy Security Adviser Daleep Singh cautioned that there will be consequences for countries actively attempting to "circumvent or backfill" American sanctions against Moscow. Unlike many other leading powers, India has not yet criticised Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms in condemning the Russian aggression. However, last Thursday, India abstained on a resolution pushed by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which was seen as reflective of its neutral position on the conflict. India has been pressing for the resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue. Modi has held phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, March 2 and March 7. Modi had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy twice. Last week, Jaishankar said in Parliament that India's position on the Ukraine conflict has been "steadfast and consistent" and that it has been seeking immediate cessation of violence. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister on Friday held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, a day after the US warned of consequences over attempts to "circumvent" American sanctions against Moscow. The high-level talks took place in the backdrop of indications that India could buy greater volumes of discounted Russian oil and both sides were keen on having a ruble-rupee arrangement for bilateral trade. In his opening remarks at the talks, Jaishankar, referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, said India is in favour of resolving differences and disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. "We have diversified our cooperation by expanding our agenda. Our meeting today takes place in a difficult international environment apart from the pandemic," Jaishankar said. "India, as you are aware, has always been in favour of resolving differences and disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. In our meeting today, we will have an opportunity to discuss contemporary issues and concerns in some detail," he said. On his part, Lavrov said the ties between India and Russia were "very sustainable" during many "difficult times" in the past and that he did not have the slightest of doubts about continued cooperation. He said strengthening of ties with India has been a key priority of the Russian foreign policy. "We are interested in having a balanced world order which makes it sustainable," he said. "These days our western colleagues would like to reduce any meaningful international issue to the crisis in Ukraine...We do not fight anything and we appreciated that India is taking this situation in the entirety of effect and not just one-sided way," he added. Lavrov arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening after concluding a two-day visit to China. The Russian foreign minister is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his talks with Jaishankar. Hours before the Russian foreign minister landed in India, US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh cautioned that there will be consequences for countries actively attempting to "circumvent or backfill" American sanctions against Moscow. After holding a series of meetings with Indian interlocutors, he also said that Washington would not like to see a "rapid" acceleration in India's import of energy and other commodities from Russia. The proposed rupee-rouble payment system, if finalised, is likely to help the two long-standing strategic partners carry on with bilateral trade while avoiding the purview of Western sanctions on Russia. People familiar with Lavrov's visit said earlier that the Indian side is likely to press for timely delivery of various military hardware as well as components of the S-400 missile systems by Russia. Unlike many other leading powers, India has not yet criticised Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms in condemning the Russian aggression. However, last Thursday, India abstained on a resolution pushed by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which was seen as reflective of its neutral position on the conflict. India has been pressing for the resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, March 2 and March 7. Modi had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy twice. Last week, Jaishankar said in Parliament that India's position on the Ukraine conflict has been "steadfast and consistent" and that it has been seeking immediate cessation of violence. Traders' body on Friday said the sanctions imposed on Russia amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict have opened opportunities for Indian exporters. The Confederation of All India (CAIT) said that trade organisations from Russia have reached out to it seeking assistance to link the Russian demand for FMCG goods with Indian manufacturers, and exporters. Earlier, Russia was importing a large number of FMCG and consumable goods from the US, the UK and European Countries which has now stopped because of the sanctions on Russia, stated. It termed this situation as a "blessing in disguise" for Indian manufacturers and to fill the void with Indian goods. The traders' body said "several credible trade organisations of Russia have reached out to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) seeking its assistance to link the Russian demand with Indian manufacturers, traders and merchant exporters". The bilateral trade between India and Russia in April 2020 to March 2021 period was of USD 8.1 billion, out of which exports from India to Russia were USD 2.6 billion, while imports from Russia were USD 5.48 billion, said, adding that "we can rapidly increase the export figures from India to Russia. (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.) Chief Minister on Friday held a meeting with senior officials of the police department and directed them to recruit at least 10,000 police personnel in the next 100 days. Later in the day, the state home department approved filling up of 5,381 posts already created in the cybercrime, forensic science, social media, STF and the ATS wings among others. With the beginning of the second innings of the government, the chief minister has been holding review meetings of various departments and issuing necessary directions to further strengthen governance. Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Awanish Awasthi said that in compliance with instructions of the chief minister, approval for new posts is also being given to ensure the availability of manpower as per requirement in the police force and make the police administration better. Awasthi said that out of the 5,381 posts, 86 are gazetted category posts and 5,295 non-gazetted. According to an official statement, the chief minister has also instructed that from the first day of Navratri (Saturday), the police department should run a special campaign for the safety of girls, and the Anti-Romeo squad be activated near the schools and colleges. "From the first day of Navratri, the police department will start a special campaign pertaining to women's safety. 'Anti-Romeo' squads will be activated near schools and colleges. In the evening, the police will undertake foot patrolling in the busy markets and crowded places," the statement said. 'Anti-Romeo' squads were formed soon after assumed office of the chief minister in in 2017, thereby fulfilling the BJP's election promise to 'protect the honour of women' once the party comes to power. Dressed in plain clothes, the sleuths -- both men and women -- are generally deployed at public places like colleges, shopping malls, markets, parks, bus stands, stations and even schools. Meanwhile, an spokesperson said the chief minister has directed the state's home department to expedite fixing priorities under the 100-day work plan. Instructions were also issued at the Thursday late night review meeting of the home department to initiate tough action against criminals, mafia elements, and seize or destroy their illegal properties. The chief minister also laid emphasis on co-ordination among the intelligence department, the STF and the ATS. Instructions were issued to identify top 10 criminals in every police station area and initiate stringent action against them. He also emphasised on the use of technology to control crime. (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.) Chief Minister on Friday visited the temple town of and asked the city's municipal corporation not to impose commercial taxes on temples and other religious shrines. On his first visit to after assuming charge of the state for the second term, Adityanath also reviewed the preparation for the upcoming Ram Navami Mela in the temple town. Around 10 lakhs devotees are expected to participate in the fair that would be held after two years due to the Covid pandemic. At Ayodhya, Adityanath also offered prayers at the Hanumangarhi temple and paid a visit to the construction site of the Lord Ram temple. The chief minister also visited the Balrampur district later and offered prayers in three temples there. He will have a night halt at the Devi Patan temple there and leave for Siddharthnagar on Saturday. A report from Gorakhpur, meanwhile, said CM Adityanath will observe a nine-day fast during "Chaitra Navratri" beginning Saturday and will perform special puja there for peace, prosperity, health and happiness in the state and nation. In the temple town, Adityanath asked the Municipal Corporation not to take commercial tax from temples and other religious shrines. The municipal corporation must not charge house tax, water tax, sewer tax from monasteries, temples, 'dharamshalas' and charitable organisations at commercial rates as all these institutions do charity work and public service, the CM said. The chief minister asked the civic body to take only financial cooperation from religious shrines in the form of token monetary contributions. The CM also directed the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation to make a proposal regarding this and get it approved by the government. After the foundation-laying of the Ram temple in August 2020, this will be the first Ram Navami Mela after the Covid pandemic and the CM asked officials to organise this fair with grandeur and make special efforts for bringing Ayodhya on the world map. While reviewing the preparations for the Mela, Adityanath, in his address, said the construction of the Ram temple has started and thousands of devotees will come to Ayodhya every day from all over India. Keeping this in view, create an enchanting atmosphere and decorate Ayodhya in such a way that the devotees find the whole atmosphere full of Ramayana era, he said. During his visit, the CM met Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and senior seer of Bhaktmaal Mahant Kaushal Kishor. The report from Gorakhpur said that while keeping the nine-day fast during Chaitra Navratri, the CM will perform special puja for the peace and prosperity in the state and nation. On Saturday, along with the worship of Maa Shailputri, Durga Saptshati Paath will begin in Shakti temple on the first floor of the Gorakhnath temple Math, Dwarika Tiwari of the temple said. Acharya Ramanuj Tripathi, also of the Gorakhnath temple, said on the day of Ashtami on April 9, Nisha Pujan will be performed at the night and Kanya Pujan will be held on the Navmi which is on April 10. He hoped that the chief minister and Gorakshpeethdhishwer might participate in the temple's Kanya Pujan program. (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.) Vikas Kumar, a 1988-batch officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service, on Friday assumed charge as the new managing director of the Rail Corporation (DMRC), officials said. The Delhi government on Wednesday had appointed Kumar as the successor of Mangu Singh, who on Thursday bid an emotional farewell to the after an illustrious career of 25 years at the urban transporter, including the last decade as its top boss. Singh was the managing director of since January 1, 2012, and his famed tenure ended on Thursday. Kumar is the third managing director of the after and Mangu Singh, officials said. He will hold the post for a term of five years, as per an official order issued by the transport department of the Delhi government. "Vikas Kumar has taken charge today as the new Managing Director of Rail Corporation," a DMRC spokesperson said on Friday. Kumar, who was holding the position of the Director (Operations) in the DMRC, has over three decades of experience in rail-based urban transportation projects, the DMRC said in a statement on Thursday. He has worked with the Indian Railways in various capacities before joining the DMRC in September 2004. He has been associated with the urban transporter for more than 17 years in key management positions, it said. In the DMRC, Kumar has headed the operations wing of the organisation since 2007 in various leadership capacities, such as general manager (operations), executive director (operations) and director (operations). He has played a key role in ensuring the smooth commencement of metro services in Delhi-NCR. "Kumar was instrumental in the setting up of DMRC's wholly-owned subsidiary company ' Last Mile Services Limited' for provision of last-mile services to and from metro stations. He has also provided consultancy services to the Dhaka Metro project as its Operations and Maintenance Rules expert. This apart, he has been involved in providing consultancy for various metro projects in India, such as in Jaipur, Kochi, Noida-Greater Noida, Mumbai, etc," the statement said. He has travelled across the world to get exposure to the latest technologies and management strategies employed by rail-based urban transit systems, the officials said. "Kumar has been DMRC's Senior Benchmarking Representative to deal with TSC (Transport Strategy Centre), Imperial College, London, which is the coordinating agency for the CoMET (Community of Metros). DMRC is a member of CoMET which is a benchmarking group of large and medium-sized metros from across the world," it said. Kumar has also been the recipient of various awards while serving in the Indian Railways and the DMRC, such as the General Manager's Award, Operations Shield (in Indian Railways) and the Managing Director's Award (in DMRC). A graduate in electrical engineering from the University of Roorkee (now IIT-Roorkee), he has done his Masters in opto-electronics and optical communications from IIT-Delhi. Apart from being academically meritorious, Kumar was also involved in swimming and badminton as a student, the officials 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.) India is an important trading and strategic partner of the US, a top Biden administration official has told American lawmakers, asserting that despite some sharp differences, the two countries have agreed to work together on various issues, including the market access commitments. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday during a hearing on the US Trade Policy Agenda, noted that there are sharp differences between the two countries on a number of issues. For instance, during her trip to India in November last year, there was a strong push back from India on the issue of alleged dumping of shrimps, she said. I have raised this directly with my Indian counterpart in Delhi last November when I visited him. I did get very forceful pushback. But I am committed to working with you on this issue. And that means in our own system, but that also means engaging the Indian government. And I look forward to exploring ways to do that, Tai told Senator Bill Cassidy in response to a question. Cassidy alleged that warm water shrimp from India are heavily subsidised and perhaps do not meet phytosanitary standards. Similarly, they apparently heavily subsidise their rice even before the seed is planted, he alleged. But the United States, last year, gained access for pork to India, Tai said, adding that she had held a meeting with Minister of Commerce and Industry . Goyal, she told the Senators, is very, very charismatic and also a very strong advocate for his country's policies; some of which I think we will be able to strategically align with and some of which will and have proven to continue to be challenging for us. It was very important for us as the USTR and for me personally to go to Delhi to revive that trade policy forum. As a result of the Trade Policy Forum, the US secured commitments from India to open up trade for the first time or to resume trade in a number of areas. The one that has been delivered soon has been access for our US pork and pork products into India. We will continue to build on this relationship, which is so strategically important, but also has traditionally been quite challenging, she said. During their meeting, Goyal had said that the US and India have realised the necessity of diversifying their critical supply chains and both are poised to play an important role in developing a resilient supply chain. He had also suggested to take the bilateral relationship, which has changed over the past few years, particularly through defence cooperation and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, to the next level of engagement. Senator Steve Daines said that he also met Goyal last year in New Delhi to advocate for reducing tariffs on Montana state and the US. We talked a lot about pulse -- and to see firsthand some of the leading technology companies. That was down in Bangalore, he said. It was Delhi and Bangalore where I spent some time. It's clear that in the coming years, India is going to play an even larger role in the region. While it won't be easy, the US should consider entering formal negotiations with India, which presents an enormous opportunity for growth for US farmers, especially a state like Montana -- that is the number one producer of pulse crops, India the number one consumer, Daines said. Daines asked what the USTR is doing for the US-India Trade Policy Forum to address these long-standing agricultural market access issues. It is not a new problem we've had with India and particularly related to pulse crops? he asked. Senator Michael Bennet said India has been a critical US ally. I'm deeply concerned about the status and trajectory of our relationship with India, especially in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and India's reluctance to condemn what (Russian President) Vladimir Putin has done, he said. Tai said: With respect to India, India is such an important trade partner and a strategic partner. India is complicated, and we live in a complicated world. It was extremely important for us in the Biden administration to restart that trade policy forum with India and to do it at the ministerial level. It was the first time in four years that the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) had met at all. The last time it met in 2017, it was so fraught that the two sides did not even issue a joint statement. This time we issued a joint statement that was really robust, around five pages I think, and included important principles where we agreed to work together as well as market access commitments that we have made to each other. This will continue to be a complicated relationship. But to your point, it is an extremely important one and one where we need to continue to invest our dedication and our ability to make breakthroughs, Tai added. In the financial year 2021, the US exported over USD 1.6 billion of agricultural products to India. The total bilateral trade stood at USD 80.5 billion in 2020-21 as against USD 88.9 billion in 2019-20. India's to the US stood at USD 51.62 billion in 2020-21 as against USD 53 billion in 2019-20. India's imports from the US stood at USD 28.9 billion in 2020-21 as against USD 35.9 billion in 2019-20, according to commerce ministry data. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian exporters from over 6,000 broad sectors, including textiles, leather, furniture, jewellery and machinery, will get duty free access in the Australian market immediately after the interim trade agreement between the two countries comes into force, according to government sources. The economic cooperation and trade agreement will be signed by India and on Saturday, the sources said on Friday. The pact will come into force at a mutually agreed date once it gets approval from the Union Cabinet in India and the Parliament in . The sources said that on the very first day of the implementation of the interim pact, over 6,000 tariff lines would be available for Indian exporters at zero duty. is offering zero duty access to India on about 96.4 per cent value of exports from day one and this covers many products, which currently attracts 4-5 per cent customs duty in Australia, the sources said. Australia trade in about 6,500 tariff lines while India has over 11,500 tariff lines. Labour intensive sectors which would gain immensely, include textiles and apparel, few agricultural and fish products, leather, footwear, furniture, sport goods, jewellery, machinery, electrical goods, railway wagons, selected pharmaceutical products and medical devices. To safeguard sensitive sectors, India has several goods in the exclusion category in which no duty concessions will be accorded. The agreement will have a safeguard mechanism to deal with any unusual surge in imports, the sources said. Such goods will include milk and other dairy products, toys, sunflowers seed oil, walnut, pistachio nut, platinum, wheat, rice, bajra, apple, sugar, oil cake, gold, silver, chickpeas, jewellery, iron ore and most medical devices. The sources also said that India will get liberalised norms for over 100 services sub-sectors. This agreement is immensely beneficial for India as it mainly imports raw materials and intermediate goods from Australia, the sources added. On the other hand, India will be offering zero duty access in over 70 per cent of its tariff lines for Australia which will include products like coal. Coal accounts for about 74 per cent of imports from Australia and currently, it attracts 2.5 per cent duty. About 73 per cent of the coking coal, used mostly by steel players, is imported from Australia. India also imports thermal coal from that nation. India will also provide duty concessions to Australian wines in a phased manner over a period of ten years. It is learnt that these concessions would be provided on Australian wines under two categories based on price range. Once the pact is in force, the customs duty on the wines will reduce from 150 per cent to up to 25 per cent over a period of ten years. There will be eight chapters in the agreement -- goods, services, rules of origin, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), customs procedure and trade facilitation, legal and institutional issues and movement of natural persons, and trade remedies. The interim deal will pave the way for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CEPA) with Australia. It will be the second such pact after the one with United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was signed in February. Australia is the 17th largest trading partner of India and India is Australia's 9th largest partner. Bilateral trade in goods and services stood at USD 27.5 billion in 2021. India's goods exports were worth USD 6.9 billion and imports aggregated to USD 15.1 billion in 2021. Major exports by India to Australia include petroleum products, textiles and apparels, engineering goods, leather, chemicals and gems and jewellery. Imports mainly include raw materials, minerals and intermediate goods. (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 number of on roads in India has reached over ten lakh with around 1,700 charging stations operational in public places across the country, Union Minister informed Lok Sabha in a written reply on Thursday. As per Vahan 4 data, as of March 25 this year, a total of 10,76,420 EVs and a total of 1,742 Public Charging Stations (PCS), as per the Bureau of Efficiency (BEE), are operational. The Ministry of Power has issued "Charging Infrastructure for - the revised consolidated Guidelines and Standards" on January 14, 2022, to accelerate the e-mobility transition in the country, Gadkari said. "Action Plans have been prepared by the Bureau of Efficiency (BEE) for 8 cities with a 4 million-plus population (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Surat, and Pune)," Gadkari told Lok Sabha. Under these action plans, scenario-wise targets have been prepared for Business as Usual (BAU), Moderate and Aggressive Scenarios for the installation of chargers in these cities. The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) had invited proposals from any Government Organization or Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) to build and operate public EV charging infrastructure on expressways and National Highways under FAME India Scheme Phase-II for Highways and Expressways. On the other hand, PSU Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), in consortium with Convergence Energy Services Limited (a subsidiary of EESL), has been awarded the work for setting up EV charging stations along 16 NH or expressways. In order to facilitate EESL in the above prospect, NHAI has signed an MOU with EESL, the ministry said. As per this MoU, NHAI shall provide space or land near toll plazas and its buildings for the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, based on the revenue sharing model, subject to an agreeable amount to NHAI and EESL. As part of the Wayside Amenities (WSAs), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has also awarded 39 such facilities for development, it added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) and will sign an enhanced partnership agreement on Saturday to boost trade and investment ties. Under the agreement, will provide 100 per cent market access for all Indian goods over a period of five years. From the first day of the implementation of the trade pact, 95 per cent of the goods will attract lower duty. All labour intensive sectors such as apparel, footwear and jewellery will get zero-duty access from day one, government officials said. Most of the goods exported to attract a 5 per cent duty. will get liberalised norms in the services sector that will cover more than 100 sub sectors. Similarly, will lower duty access for Australia for more than 70 per cent of goods. This will include coal, which accounts for three quarters of India's imports from Australia. While India has also agreed to reduce duties on Australian wine, dairy will not be included in the agreement. We have tried to preserve the sensitivities (dairy sector) of India, one of the officials cited above said. Apart from dairy, other items such as iron ore, most medical devices, agricultural products including wheat, rice, sugar, and bajra will not get any duty concession. To deal with the massive surge in imports, there will also be a provision of a safeguard mechanism. When the negotiations kicked off in September, both countries had then agreed upon finalizing an interim trade deal or an early harvest agreement, that would be followed by a broader trade deal. However, officials said that both countries went ahead with a larger or an enhanced trade agreement as they were on the same page regarding several issues. A broader trade agreement may be worked out at a later stage, but the timeline is not known. The agreement will be implemented after the Australian Parliament approves it. This is the second major trade agreement that India will sign this year, after inking a similar deal with the UAE in February. India is also negotiating a trade with the United Kingdom right now. The agreement will be signed at a time when Australia is looking for a reliable trade partner at a time when it is facing export restrictions from . It will also help India neutralize the disadvantages it has vis-a-vis some of its neighbouring countries, especially in labour intensive sectors such as textiles. As far as Australia is concerned, 50 per cent of their tariff lines are already zero and the remaining attracts 5 per cent duty. Most of the goods that we export to Australia attract a 5 per cent duty. So vis-a-vis our competitors such as Bangladesh, with which Australia already has a free trade agreement (FTA) or the fact that Bangladesh is counted as an LDC (least developed country), they have that advantage of 5 per cent, which we did not, especially in labour intensive sectors. Thats where India will be able to neutralize the disadvantage, one of the officials cited above said. Australia was Indias 15th largest trading partner in FY21. Petroleum products, medicines, polished diamonds, gold jewellery, apparels are the key items exported to Australia, while coal, alumina and non-monetary gold are key products exported to India. In services, major Indian exports are related to travel, telecom and computer, government and financial services. In the case of Australia, services exports have mainly been in education and personal travel. arm JSW Neo Energy has inked a pact with the Chhattisgarh government for setting up a 1,000 MW capacity hydro pumped storage project. With rapid addition of renewable energy capacity in the country, development of energy storage solutions such as hydro pumped storage projects (PSPs) become essential due to intermittent power supply from renewables, the company said in a statement. Hydro pumped storage is a well-established technology that provides adequate peaking power reserves, reliable grid operation, and energy balancing and storage capacity, it added. " Limited, through its wholly owned subsidiary, JSW Neo Energy, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Chhattisgarh for setting up a 1,000 MW capacity of Hydro Pumped Storage Project viz. Hasdev Bango Pumped Storage Project...," the statement said. through its green growth vehicle JSW Neo Energy has been expeditiously securing key resources for hydro PSPs in various resource-rich states for projects with a targeted capacity totalling up to 10 GW, it stated. Earlier in FY22, the company signed a pact with the Government of Maharashtra for 1,500 MW and a Letter of Intent with the Government of Rajasthan for 1,000 MW Hydro PSPs. Prashant Jain, joint managing director and CEO of JSW Energy, said, "By integrating Hydro PSPs with our solar and wind power plants in the near future, we can provide firm despatchable renewable power. This will enable us to enter energy services play in the country." JSW Energy said it has set an ambitious target for 50 per cent reduction in carbon footprint by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 by transitioning towards renewable energy. The company aims to reach 20 GW capacity by 2030, with the share of renewable energy increasing to 85 per cent. (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.) Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday requested the Central government to release a total of Rs 23,430.38 crore to the state. Stalin met Finance Minister in Delhi and presented her a memorandum. According to him, a sum of Rs 20,860.40 crore is pending from various ministries of the Central government to the state including Rs 13,504.74 crore as Goods and Service Tax (GST) compensation arrears. With the holding of local body elections in Tamil Nadu, Stalin urged the Centre to release the basic grant of Rs 548.76 crore and the balance Rs 2,029.22 crore towards performance grant recommended by the 14th Finance Commission, the memorandum said. --IANS vj/sks/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian Foreign Minister on Friday said Russia has begun moving towards conducting trade in national currencies with India and other friendly countries to bypass the "impediments" of western sanctions and resolved to address New Delhi's requirement of oil, military equipment and other goods. He made the comments after holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that covered implications of the crisis in Ukraine on as well as ways to continue cooperation in diverse fields, including trade, investment and defence. The Russian foreign minister's assertion at a media briefing on using national currencies to bypass western restrictions came a day after the US warned of consequences for countries over attempts to "circumvent" American sanctions against Moscow. US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh also said on Wednesday that Washington would not like to see a "rapid" acceleration in India's import of energy and other commodities from Russia. Asked whether putting into place a rouble-rupee payment system was discussed in his talks with Jaishankar, Lavrov said such an arrangement was started for trade with countries like India and China many years ago and the payment system will now be intensified. "I would recall that many years ago, we started moving in our relations with India, China (and) many other countries from using dollars and euros to more and more use of national currencies. Under the current circumstances, this trend I believe will be intensified, which is natural and obvious," he said. "We don't want to depend on a system which would be closed anytime and we don't want to depend on a system whose masters can steal your money overnight," Lavrov said. ALSO READ: PM Modi conveys to Lavrov India's readiness to contribute to peace efforts He talked about the "very good relations" between the ministries concerned in India and Russia to ensure the continuation of bilateral trade, notwithstanding the western sanctions. "We have very good relations between the trade ministries, the ministries of finance, and I have no doubt that a way would be found to bypass the artificial impediments, which illegal and unilateral sanctions by the West create," Lavrov said. "This relates also to the area of military-technical cooperation. We have no doubt that the solution would be found and the respective ministries are working on it," he added. On whether the issue of India's willingness to procure larger volumes of crude oil from Russia was discussed, Lavrov said, "We will be ready to supply to India any goods which India wants to buy." A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two sides emphasised the need for keeping the bilateral economic, technological and people-to-people contacts "stable and predictable". "The ministers assessed the overall state of cooperation. They considered the implications of recent developments on trade and economic relations," the MEA said. It said Jaishankar underlined that as a developing economy, global volatility in different domains is of particular concern to India. "It is important for both countries that their economic, technological and people to people contacts remain stable and predictable," it said. After his talks with Jaishankar, Lavrov called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An official statement said Modi conveyed to the Russian foreign minister that India stands ready to contribute in any way to the peace efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and called for an early cessation of violence in the east European country. At the media briefing ahead of his meeting with Modi, Lavrov said India, with its "just and rational" approach towards international problems, can support the peace efforts if it chooses to play such a role. ALSO READ: Sitharaman, Jaishankar defend India buying Russian oil He also said no pressure can affect Russia's partnership with India and that his talks with Jaishankar reflected the depth of the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two sides. "Foreign Minister Lavrov briefed the prime minister on the situation in Ukraine, including the ongoing peace negotiations," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. "The prime minister reiterated his call for an early cessation of violence and conveyed India's readiness to contribute in any way to the peace efforts," it added. The MEA said the two sides discussed developments pertaining to Ukraine and Lavrov briefed the Indian side on the Russian perspective of the situation, including the ongoing peace talks. At the press conference, Lavrov also lauded India's position on the conflict in Ukraine and said most countries understand what has been going on and the root cause of the crisis. "The western colleagues just made their real face known and I have no slightest doubt that most countries...understand what is going on," he said. Lavrov said Russia is committed to maintaining the flow of trade with India, notwithstanding the sanction regimes. "It is a natural route for us to decide on a mutually beneficial relationship. In the context of this kind of unjustified reaction, we have to objectively and naturally work in this direction, work in trade and economic areas. "It is not yesterday but for many years we have been dealing with western sanctions and we have the experience of how to live in these conditions and we are fine and our partners are also fine in that," he said. Lavrov said the talks were characterised by the relations developed with India over many decades and referred to the privileged strategic partnership between the two sides. "I believe that India's foreign policy is characterised by independence and the concentration on the real national legitimate interests," he said. In his opening remarks at the talks, Jaishankar said keeping regular touch between the two sides is something "that is in our mutual interest". "Our meeting today takes place in a difficult international environment, quite apart from the pandemic. India, as you are aware, has always been in favour of resolving differences and disputes through dialogue and diplomacy," he said. On his part, Lavrov said the ties between India and Russia were "very sustainable" during many "difficult times" in the past and that he did not have the slightest of doubts about continued cooperation. He said the strengthening of ties with India has been a key priority of the Russian foreign policy. "These days, our western colleagues would like to reduce any meaningful international issue to the crisis in Ukraine.... We do not fight anything and we appreciate that India is taking this situation in the entirety of effect and not just in a one-sided way," he added. Unlike many other leading powers, India has not yet criticised Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms in condemning the Russian aggression. India has been pressing for the resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue. (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.) Australia will sign a trade agreement with India on Saturday that will eliminate tariffs on 85% of Australian goods entering India, helping farmers and miners to diversify export markets, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. The Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement will be signed on Saturday in a virtual ceremony by Trade Minister Dan Tehan and India's Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, Australia said in a statement on Friday night. Morrison and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will witness the signing of the interim agreement, and both countries would continue to work towards a full free trade deal. Morrison is expected to call a national election within days, and wanted to secure the trade deal with India, a decade after negotiations between the two countries began, before the election campaign. His government has pushed to diversify export markets to reduce Australia's reliance on its largest trading partner China, after diplomatic disputes resulted in Beijing sanctioning Australian products including wine, lobster and coal. The deal with India unlocks a market of almost 1.4 billion consumers and would strengthen Australia's economy, he said. "This agreement opens a big door into the world's fastest growing major economy for Australian farmers, manufacturers, producers and so many more," Morrison said in a statement. Tariffs will be eliminated on more than 85% of Australian goods exports to India, worth A$12.6 billion, rising to almost 91% over 10 years. Under the agreement, 96 per cent of Indian goods imports will enter Australia duty-free. Tariffs will be eliminated on fresh Australian rock lobster, sheep meat, wool, copper, coal, alumina, and certain critical minerals and certain non-ferrous metals to India. In a boost for Australia's wine industry, tariffs will be reduced from 150% to 50% over 10 years for bottles valued over US$5, and reduced to 25% in the same period for bottles valued over US$15. Tariffs of 30% on Australian agricultural produce including avocados, beans, nuts, and berries will be eliminated over seven years. Trade Minister Dan Tehan said the agreement would boost critical minerals trade, professional services, education and tourism, and lay the foundation for a full free trade agreement. The two countries will recognise each other's professional qualifications and licenses, and Australia will extend visas for STEM students from India who graduate in Australia with first class honours. In 2020, India was Australia's seventh largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at A$24.3 billion. "This agreement has been built on our strong security partnership and our joint efforts in the Quad, which has created the opportunity for our economic relationship to advance to a new level," Morrison said, referring to the security grouping of India, Australia, United States and Japan. Australia exported A$19.3 billion worth of goods to India in 2021, representing 4.2% of Australia's total exports. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Faculty members of the Indian Institute of Management (IIMA) and the B-school are at loggerheads over a logo. The premier institute has redesigned the IIMA logo inspired by a stone-carved latticework of an Ahmedabad landmark, the 16th century Sidi Saiyyed mosque and it maintained on Friday that the new insignia adhered to the legacy of the old one, even as faculty members sent a letter registering their protest. Signed by 12 teachers, the letter addressed to the chairman, the Board of Governors (BoG) as well as the director of IIMA raised objections to the approval given to the design of the new logo by the academic council without involving the faculty. Among several issues, the faculty members raised concerns over two new logo designs that were approved without consulting them. They said the change deviates from IIMAs legacy by doing away with the iconic Sidi Saiyyed Mosque jaali (net), which is emblematic of the old city of Ahmedabad. We are keen to meet you to understand the rationale for this change in logo and the process adopted by the board. Have there been changes to governance practices at the Institute?... IIMA since inception has been a faculty governed institute, which has followed due processes. Good governance and procedural correctness are what have contributed to the stellar reputation of the Institute, the faculty members wrote. Until they know the reasons behind the proposed change, they will view it as a violation of existing practices which were built on the premise of faculty governance, they added. On its part, the institute posted a statement on its website saying the need to refresh the logo arose during the process of revamping its website. According to the institute, evaluation, exploration, the development of wordmark and brand mark were all kept in mind while coming up with the final design recommendations. The proposed logo continues the legacy of the original, retains the status line in Sanskrit (Vidya viniyogadvikasa development through the distribution or application of knowledge) as in the original, the colour rendition has been improved, the fonts modernised, the jaali inspired brand mark has been made more amenable to communication in digital media, and the brand name made more distinct, IIMA has said, adding that the proposed logo is set to be released this June after the annual vacation. According to the faculty members, two new logo designs were okayed by the academic council, one of which does away with IIMAs Sanskrit motto. The faculty was called and a presentation was being made on the new logo. When the faculty began giving ideas, the members were told that the presentation was only to inform them and that the board had already approved the new logos. While one of the logos had edited the Sidi Saiyyed mosque jaali, the other replaced it with a palm tree, a source told Business Standard. The letter from the faculty cited past directors involving the academics. The directors of the institute have always respected faculty views and adopted proposals only after following a due process of consultation. However, in the recent past, we have noticed that there have been lapses and there have been repeated instances of process violations and bypassing of established faculty governance norms and practices, the letter read. It also raised concerns over dwindling interactions between the board and the faculty. There had always been board-faculty interactions, formal and informal, which had strengthened the governance processes at the Institute. Please note that the Board of Governors has not met the faculty members as a group for more than two years now. Further, questioning faculty representations within the BoG, the letter said that the faculty members were unable to present their views to the board since the selection of their representative on the board was not robust and transparent. As a result, the faculty representative is rarely a spokesperson for the collective views, which does not speak highly of the governance practices followed at the topmost management institute in the country, it said. producer Will Packer has addressed Hollywood star slapping comedian at the ceremony. In a preview clip of Packer's upcoming interview on 'Good Morning America', he shared that the Los Angeles Police Department was on the scene on Sunday night and ready to arrest Smith if Rock wanted to press charges, reports 'Variety'. "They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment. "They said, we will go get him. We are prepared. We're prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him," Packer said. "They were laying out the options. And as they were talking, Chris was being very dismissive of those options. He was like, 'No, no, no, I'm fine'. And even to the point where I said, 'Rock, let them finish'. The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said: "Would you like us to take any action?' And he said no. He said no." In the clip, Packer also said he did not speak to Smith directly the night of the . As 'Variety' reported on Sunday night, Rock declined to file a police report regarding the slap. "LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards programme. The incident involved one individual slapping another," the LAPD statement said. "The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report." There has been much confusion surrounding the altercation as the Academy said in a statement on Wednesday that they asked Smith to leave the ceremony and he refused; however, sources have since refuted that claim to 'Variety'. Also in the Wednesday statement, the Academy revealed that Smith now faces "suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted" as a result of the slap. Smith issued an apology on Monday, particularly addressing Rock, which he had not done in his best actor speech the night before. Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, Rock publicly responded to the slap for the first time during a comedy show in Boston. "I don't have a bunch of shit about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend," he said. "I'm still kind of processing what happened. So, at some point I'll talk about that sh**. And it will be serious and funny." --IANS dc/svn/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pradip Shah, who had taken charge as the chairman of National Asset Reconstruction Co Ltd (NARCL), stepped down before the (RBI) could approve the proposal, State Bank of India (SBI) said. Shah, a financial sector veteran, took charge of the NARCL soon after the debt recast firm received the licence from the . According to sources familiar to the development, NARCL sought the RBIs approval for appointing four directors. The application also indicated Shah's role as the chairman of the board. Directors appointment is one among the many approvals that an ARC requires prior to commencing business, said in a statement. NARCL has been set up by banks to aggregate and consolidate stressed assets for their subsequent resolution. SBI, along with other public sector banks will have 51 per cent stake in NARCL, the government had said. While these requests were under process, Mr Pradip Shah stepped down from the NARCL Board. The approval, therefore, was received only for the remaining directors. The factual position is that Mr Pradip Shah happened to step down prior to receipt of the approval, the statement said. Sources said the RBI approval for the four candidates were sought on January 21, 2022. Shah stepped down from the post on January 28. RBI wanted some more time, some more background check was required, said a source, requesting anonymity. The standard process for onboarding of directors for an ARC is to seek prior approval of the RBI. In view of the urgency to operationalise NARCL quickly, soon after receipt of RBI licence, a few directors, including Mr Pradip Shah, were onboarded and an application was submitted to RBI for approval, the said. After Shah stepped down, Subrata Biswas, a deputy managing director of and one of the nominee directors of NARCL, was appointed as interim chairman. Sources said that NARCL will seek fresh approval from RBI for appointing the chairman. One directors post in the NARCL board is still vacant. Senior U.S. officials fanned out this week to press world leaders to keep piling pressure on Moscow or join the campaign of sanctions and other measures, as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth week and the initial economic shock to Russia seems to be ebbing. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo met with senior officials in London, Brussels and Paris, and will finish the week in Berlin; the deputy national security adviser for international economics, Daleep Singh, pressed Indian officials in New Delhi, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the Ukraine war with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Morocco. The effort comes as the initial impact of unexpectedly tough sanctions on Russian banks, oligarchs and companies begins to wear off somewhat, and the United States considers its next economic steps to isolate Russian President . Within days of cutting off key Russian banks from the international SWIFT financial transactions network and immobilizing the bulk of the Russian central bank's $630 billion foreign exchange war chest, the rouble lost half its value, prompting U.S. officials to declare that Moscow was battling a financial crisis. But a month later, the rouble has largely recovered to its level just before the invasion, propped up partly by Russian capital controls, government orders for export firms to sell foreign currency and companies gathering funds to make quarter-end tax payments. Shares on Russia's stock market are trading again, although they have dropped in value. Russian bank VTB, a principal sanctions target, remains open for business in Europe, where it has gathered billions of euros in deposits, mainly from German savers. Other Russian banks are considering China's UnionPay credit card system after Visa and Mastercard suspended Russian operations. And the sanctions thus far have left Russia's biggest economic lifeline untouched - energy sales to Europe, which could be up to 500 million euros ($555 million) a day at current prices. Russia is demanding payments in roubles for gas starting on Friday, which could boost the currency further. The Biden administration is making sure European allies are firmly aligned on punishing Putin, while working to sway leaders who have sat on the sidelines as the war stretches on, officials say. "We've got to continue to raise pressure on Russia and increase our support for Ukraine," one senior U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "This is a challenge that is facing the free world and all democratic nations. And we need to be prepared for it to last a long time." COUNTERING CHINA, WARNING INDIA The visits follow closely on the heels of Biden's visit to Europe last week and come as Russia and China - the world's second largest economy - draw ever closer together. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, reaffirming Beijing's plans to continue bilateral ties and boost cooperation. Deputy Treasury Secretary Adeyemo's discussions with his European counterparts centered on sanctions, the impact of India and China on Russia's potential sanctions evasion efforts, and how to help countries like Germany cover their energy needs in the event of a Russian embargo, said one European official. In Brussels, officials discussed steps to "align sanctions implementation and enforcement, expand joint cooperation on sanctions, and further deepen the transatlantic sanctions alliance," Treasury said. One key issue was Russia's demand that foreign buyers pay for their Russian gas imports in roubles starting Friday or face supply cutoffs, the European official said. European capitals have rejected the demand, and the German government said it amounted to "blackmail." It is imperative the United States keep tending its relationships with allies, said Catherine Novelli, a former senior U.S. trade official and diplomat, underscoring the difficulty to maintaining the momentum of sanctions and other punitive measures after the initial outrage wanes. In India, White House economic adviser Singh, who led efforts to coordinate the Western response to the war, told officials Washington would not set any red lines about purchasing oil, but warned against rapid acceleration of purchases. India has a military dependence on Russian technology and hardware and has tried to balance its long-standing ties with Russia and the West. Unlike other members of the Quad group of countries - the United States, Japan, Australia - it has not imposed sanctions on Russia. Singh spoke ahead of Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's arrival in the Indian capital for a two-day trip. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal, David Lawder in Washington, Mark John in London and John O'Donnell in Frankfurt; Editing by Heather Timmons, Jonathan Oatis and Lincoln Feast.) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is accusing the of instigating the war in Ukraine and says NATO should have been disbanded following the break-up of the Soviet Union. As the culprit and leading instigator of the Ukraine crisis, the US has led NATO to engage in five rounds of eastward expansion in the last two decades after 1999, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters at a daily briefing Friday. The number of NATO members increased from 16 to 30, and they have moved eastward more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) to somewhere near the Russian border, pushing Russia to the wall step by step, Zhao said. While says it is not taking sides in the conflict, it has declared a no limits partnership with Moscow, has refused to condemn the invasion, opposes sanctions on Russia and routinely amplifies Russian disinformation about the conflict, including not referring to it as an invasion or a war in keeping with Russian practice. Zhao's comments came as Chinese and European Union leaders were meeting virtually for a summit at which Ukraine was expected to dominate discussions. EU officials say they are looking for a commitment from not to undermine sanctions and assist in efforts to halt the fighting. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Marwa Rashad LONDON (Reuters) -European governments and companies were working on Friday on a common approach to Russia's demand that they pay for its gas in roubles as the threat of an imminent supply halt eased. European capitals have been on alert for a disruption to gas imports for weeks as President seeks retaliation over Western sanctions for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A crunch point appeared to be in the offing when Moscow issued a decree on Thursday requiring foreign buyers of Russian gas to open rouble accounts in state-run Gazprombank from Friday or else risk being cut-off. But the Kremlin said on Friday it would not immediately turn off the taps to Europe as payments on deliveries due after April 1 come in the second half of this month and May. That message and signs Europe would take a pragmatic approach sparked relief on markets. Gas prices, which had risen on fears of disruption, fell. "If things remained like this, all in all not a lot would change," Italy's Ecology Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani told state broadcaster RAI. With weeks left before bills are due, governments in Europe, which relies on Russia for more than a third of its gas, are talking to their energy companies about how to pay them. "Working closely with Member States and operators. EU coordination today to establish a common approach on currency payments for gas contracts with Russia," European Commission energy division director general Ditte Juul Jorgenesen tweeted. The European Commission declined further comment. Analysts said the rouble payment plan, which cements Gazprom's position at the heart of Russian gas trading, was more about shielding the oil and gas company from future sanctions than depriving Europe of fuel. Gazprombank has been spared from the harsh sanctions imposed on other Russian banks so European gas buyers could open an account with it and let the lender buy roubles on their behalf. It would have to remain unsanctioned for trade to continue. Although energy exports are Putin's most powerful lever against sweeping Western sanctions, his room for manoeuvre is also limited because Moscow does not have alternative markets for its gas, which is piped to Europe. "If Putin turns off the gas it might only be for a relatively short period of time, he needs our money and cannot reroute all the natural gas," one European gas trader said. Germany, meanwhile, said it was examining Putin's decree, with an economy ministry spokesperson saying private contracts were valid and that the country, which depends on Russia for 40% of its gas needs, was paying in euros. Berlin has already activated an emergency plan that could lead to gas rationing if supplies drop too low. Gazprom said on Friday it was exiting its business in Germany, although it was not immediately clear how this would affect the supply of Russian gas into Europe's largest economy. PRICE PRESSURE Putin's decision to enforce rouble payments has boosted the Russian currency, which fell to historic lows after the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation". The rouble has since recovered much lost ground. European buyers are still prepared to buy gas under existing contracts while they seek clarity on Putin's demand, while Gazprom said on Friday it had started to notify clients of a requested switch of end-payment currency to roubles. Austria's OMV and Gazprom have had initial contact regarding paying for gas in roubles as demanded by Moscow, a spokesperson for OMV said on Friday, adding that the company is now waiting for written information. Denmark's Orsted, which has a take-or-pay contract with Gazprom running until 2030, said it had not yet received any enquiry from the Russian company. "Therefore we still do not know what the (Putin) statement will actually mean for the contract and for the supply of gas from Russia to Danish and European households and businesses," Orsted said in a statement. European gas prices have climbed as a result of uncertainty over Putin's plan, with rises of 7%-1 0% since his order, coming close to previous peaks. Relief that the taps would not be turned off any time soon prompted prices to turn negative. At 1256 GMT, the benchmark front-month contract for May delivery in the Dutch gas market was down 5.00 euros at 116 euros per megawatt hour (MWh), while the next day contract < TRNLTTFD1> was 4.90 euros lower at 119.85 euros/MWh. In the British gas market, the day-ahead price was 4.25 pence lower at 280.75 pence per therm, while the contract for May delivery < TRGBNBPMc1> was 10.00 pence down at 290 p/therm. (Reporting by Marwa Rashad and Nina Chestney; Additional reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels, Stephen Jewkes in Milan and Isla Bennie in Madrid; Editing by Alexander Smith and Carmel Crimmins) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian gas flowed into Europe while regional gas prices rose further on Friday as firms grappled with President Vladimir Putin's threat to cut off supplies unless they paid in roubles. The Kremlin said it would not turn off gas exports to Europe from Friday as payments on deliveries due after April 1 come in the second half of this month and May. Under Putin's decree, foreign buyers of Russian gas must open rouble accounts in Gazprombank from Friday so foreign currency can be converted to roubles. Analysts said the plan, which puts state-controlled oil and gas company Gazprom at the heart of Russian gas trade, was more about shielding it from future sanctions than depriving Europe. "It is of course a game to dodge sanctions, adding to uncertainty, propping up gas prices and filling Putin's pockets," a European gas trader said. The move has caused consternation in Europe, which relies on Russia for more than a third of its gas supply, and among companies buying Russian gas to generate electricity for industry and heat homes in the region. Ditte Juul Jorgenesen, director general of the European Commission's energy division, said on Twitter that European Union coordination was taking place to figure out a common approach on currency payments. "Working closely with Member States and operators. EU coordination today to establish a common approach on currency payments for gas contracts with Russia," Jorgenesen tweeted. The European Commission declined further comment. GAZPROMBANK Energy exports are Putin's most powerful lever as he tries to hit back against sweeping Western sanctions imposed on Russian banks, companies, businessmen and associates of the Kremlin in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation". But Russia does not have an alternative market to deliver its to, so stopping flows would also hit its income. Putin's decision to enforce rouble payments has boosted the Russian currency, which fell to historic lows after the Feb. 24 invasion. The rouble has since recovered much lost ground. European buyers are still prepared to buy gas under existing contracts while they seek clarity on Putin's demand. Austria's OMV has made initial contact with Russia's Gazprom regarding paying for gas in roubles as demanded by Moscow, a spokesperson said on Friday, adding that the company is still waiting for written information. Denmark's Orsted, which has a take-or-pay contract with Gazprom running until 2030, said it had not yet received any enquiry from Gazprom. "Therefore we still do not know what the (Putin) statement will actually mean for the contract and for the supply of gas from Russia to Danish and European households and businesses," Orsted said in a statement. Gazprom said on Friday it had started to notify clients of a requested switch of end-payment currency to roubles. So far, Gazprombank has been spared from a ban on Russian banks transacting through the SWIFT payments messaging system although Britain did freeze its assets last week. Britain, however, only gets about 4% of its gas from Russia compared to around 40% for Germany and a third for the entire region. PRICE RISES Gazprom's exports outside former Soviet Union countries fell to 38.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) in the quarter ended March 31, down 27.1% from a year earlier, according to the company. Nevertheless, two of the three main pipelines into Europe, Nord Stream 1 across the Baltic Sea and into Slovakia over Ukraine were flowing normally on Friday, while flows through the Yamal-Europe pipeline over Belarus reversed. While this meant gas was flowing from Germany to Poland through the Yamal-Europe route, it is not an uncommon switch. European gas prices have risen as a result of uncertainty over Putin's order, with British and Dutch gas prices up between 7% and over 10% since his announcement. Although they remain far from record highs seen earlier this year, European prices were on the rise again on Friday. The front-month contract for May delivery in the Dutch gas market was up 3.7 euros at 124.7 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) by 0925 GMT, while the weekend contract was up 4.00 euros at 123 euros/MWh. In the British gas market, the day-ahead price was 15 pence higher at 300 pence per therm. Meanwhile, requests for Russian gas into Slovakia from Ukraine through the Velke Kapusany border point rose to their highest since the end of November, while requests from Italy for Russian gas deliveries were slightly higher. Greece said its next payment for Russian gas was due around April 20, but it saw no security of supply issue even if Moscow halts flows as it can activate a contingency plan which would enable it to get additional liquefied (LNG) and switch four gas-fired electricity plants to diesel. It might also ramp up Azeri gas purchases. (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 International Energy Agency will hold an emergency meeting on Friday among consuming nations to discuss a new release of strategic reserves alongside a plan by the United States to pump massive supplies starting in May to cool soaring oil prices. Major consumers are seeking ways to ease the impact of global oil prices, which have soared more than 30% this year, on their economies after top producers group OPEC+ stuck to plans to add a modest 432,000 barrels per day of supply in May. Western sanctions on Russia after their invasion of Ukraine are expected to see a loss of about 3 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil in April, according to the . Moscow calls its activity in Ukraine a "special operation" to disarm its western neighbour. To fill the shortfall, President Joe Biden on Thursday authorized the largest release ever from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves, a release of 1 million bpd of crude for six months starting in May. The U.S. announcement comes a day before member countries are set to meet at 1200 GMT on Friday to discuss a further emergency oil release that would follow their March 1 agreement to release about 60 million barrels. Several members in the Asia Pacific have said they would support the IEA's initiatives. Japan will act appropriately on oil reserves release while closely watching global developments, the industry minister said on Friday. "It is not clear whether the release will be done by the U.S. alone or the United States will make a proposal at the meeting," Japanese industry minister Koichi Hagiuda told a news conference. "In any case, we would like to act appropriately while keeping an eye on the international situation," he said. South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a statement last week that it plans to support additional international cooperation in oil and gas and has already committed to releasing 4.42 million barrels in the March 1 agreement. New Zealand has reserves available for release if called upon, a spokesperson for Energy Minister Megan Woods said in an email. New Zealand has already released 369,000 barrels of oil as part of the IEA collective release agreed on March 1, she added. Australia has committed to release the full 1.7 million barrels it holds in its emergency stockpile in the U.S. strategic reserves in the March agreement. India, an associate IEA member, is committed to supporting initiatives for reserve releases, for mitigating market volatility and calming the rise in crude oil prices, junior finance minister Pankaj Chaudhury told lawmakers this week. (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo, Joyce Lee in Seoul, Sonali Paul in Melbourne, Lucy Craymer in Wellington and Nidhi Verma in New Delhi; Writing by Florence Tan; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Gerry Doyle) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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The information will be used for risk analysis and warnings to improve the effectiveness of customs inspection and supervision. Initiated by Vietnam and China, the Operation Mekong Dragon was launched in September 2018, and has gone through three main and one expanded phases, drawing the participation of 20 customs authorities and law enforcement agencies in Asia Pacific. Over 1,200 drug and wildlife trafficking cases have been reported to the Customs Enforcement Network Communication Platform (CENcomm). The first phase of the operation brought together six countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion, namely Vietnam, China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar. The participation in the second phase was expanded to nine, namely Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Hong Kong (China), India, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand and Singapore. Ending the first phase in February 2019, 164 cases were discovered with nearly 2,230kg of drugs seized. During the second phase, which lasted in 2020, 284 drug and wildlife smuggling cases were brought to light, with close to 2,000kg of drugs and nearly 2 million drug pills; 2,000kg of wildlife animals and more than 1,500 wildlife products; and some 150 tonnes and 1,000 cu.m of rare woods seized. Running in 2021, the third phase was participated by law enforcement agencies from 20 member countries and territories in Asia Pacific. It had detected 868 cases, including 756 drug trafficking and 112 wildlife animal and wood smuggling./. Ahead of Sunday's no-trust motion against him, Prime Minister on Friday said a "powerful country", which is supporting India, is angry with because of his recent visit to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin. Addressing the Islamabad Security Dialogue, Khan emphasised that an independent foreign policy was crucial for the country, and said the reason why could not touch its peak potential was its dependency syndrome on other powerful nations. "A county without an independent foreign policy remains unable to secure the interests of its people," he said. Khan said taking independent decisions while keeping high the interests of a nation was extremely important rather than submitting to the will of other countries in exchange for foreign aid. Referring to the US, Khan said a "powerful country" had expressed displeasure over his recent visit to Russia, the official APP news agency reported. "On the other hand, it is supporting its ally India which imports oil from Russia, he rued. (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.) Chip-maker has announced to acquire Granulate Cloud Solutions Ltd, an Israel-based developer of real-time continuous optimisation software, reportedly for up to $650 million. The acquisition will help cloud and data centre customers maximise compute workload performance and reduce infrastructure and cloud costs, said in a statement late on Thursday. "Granulate's cutting-edge autonomous optimisation software can be applied to production workloads without requiring the customer to make changes to its code, driving optimised hardware and software value for every cloud and data centre customer," said Sandra Rivera, executive vice president and general manager of the Data centre and AI Group at . Granulate's autonomous optimisation service enables cloud and data centre customers to significantly improve the performance of their deployments, reduce operational overhead and lower application costs. "As part of Intel, Granulate will be able to deliver autonomous optimisation capabilities to even more customers globally and rapidly expand its offering with the help of Intel's 19,000 software engineers," said Asaf Ezra, co-founder and CEO of Granulate. Intel and Granulate have worked together under a commercial agreement to collaborate on workload optimisation on Xeon deployments. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022. --IANS na/svn/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian authorities have accused of carrying out an air attack on an oil depot in Russian territory, the BBC reported. is yet to claim responsibility for the attack in Belgorod near the border -- it would be the first known time Ukrainian aircraft have flown into Russian airspace to strike a target, bringing the war home to Russia. Ukrainian helicopter pilots have plenty of experience of flying low and fast to avoid being detected by military radar and air defence systems. They have been doing exactly that in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine for years. But if these reports are correct -- flying at night, well into Russian territory, to launch an attack on an enemy fuel depot would have required extraordinary bravery -- as well as finely-honed flying skills. This alleged attack alone will not dramatically alter the battle. But it could show Ukraine has managed to keep its air force functioning, and give a huge boost to the morale of Ukraine's military, the BBC reported. A video shared on Twitter shows a blaze near apartment blocks in Belgorod, some 40 km (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine. Some clips appear to show rockets hitting the oil depot. Local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a Telegram message "there was a fire at the oil depot because of an air strike carried out by two Ukrainian army helicopters, which entered Russian territory at low altitude". "Nobody was killed," he added. Governor Gladkov's allegation was not confirmed by Ukrainian officials. --IANS san/pgh (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will arrive in India on a three-day visit starting Friday. It is his first such visit abroad after assuming office in July 2021. Deuba is expected to meet External Affairs Minister today. While on the second day of his visit, the Nepali Prime Minister is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, besides other engagements. Deuba will be accompanied by a high-level delegation and his spouse Dr Arzu Deuba. Nepal's Prime Minister is visiting India at the invitation of PM Modi. Besides official engagements in New Delhi, the Prime Minister of will visit Varanasi, UP.In a press statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India and enjoy age-old special ties of friendship and cooperation. "In recent years, the partnership has witnessed significant growth in all areas of cooperation. The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review this wide-ranging cooperative partnership and to progress it further for the benefit of the two peoples," MEA had said. Deuba was sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal in July 2021. This would be the first official bilateral visit, either incoming or outgoing since he took over the reins. The last HOS/HOG-level visit from Nepal was in May 2019, when then PM K P Oli visited India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. Before that PM Modi had visited Nepal in August 2018 for the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, which was preceded by a State Visit to Nepal in May 2018. PM Narendra Modi had extended a congratulatory message to Sher Bahadur Deuba soon after he won the Vote of Confidence in Nepal's Parliament. This was followed by a congratulatory telephonic conversation on 19 July 2021. The most recent meeting between PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba took place on November 2, 2021, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow. Sher Bahadur Deuba is a veteran politician of the Nepali Congress with a political career spanning over seven decades. This is Deuba's fifth tenure as PM. His first term was from September 1995 to March 1997. He has visited India several times, both when in and out of power. This will be his fifth visit to India as PM, with the last visit being in August 2017. The previous three visits took place in 2004, 2002 and 1996. (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.) summoned a senior US diplomat here and lodged a strong protest over America's alleged "interference" in its internal affairs, according to media reports on Friday. The US State Department on Thursday firmly rejected embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks over Washington's role in an alleged foreign conspiracy to oust him from power. In a live address to the nation, 69-year-old Khan discussed a 'threat letter' and termed it as part of a foreign conspiracy to remove him as he was not acceptable for following an independent foreign policy. He named the US as the country behind the threat letter in what appeared to be a slip of tongue. Dunya News quoted sources as saying that the US diplomat was summoned by the Foreign Office (FO) over a threatening letter that warned of dire consequences if the Opposition's no-confidence motion against Khan failed. The step was taken after a decision by Pakistan's National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday. The Foreign Office also handed over a letter of protest to the US diplomat over the language used by a foreign official during a formal communication. The US diplomat has been told that "interference in Pakistan's internal affairs is unacceptable", the report said. The NSC decided to issue the strong demarche to the country that, in an interaction, expressed displeasure at Pakistan's policy on Ukraine and subsequently Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Masood Khan sent a letter to the Foreign Office on the issue. Prime Minister Khan linked the letter with the no-confidence motion against him by the Opposition in the National Assembly. The National Assembly is scheduled to vote on the no-trust motion on Sunday. (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.) Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called upon the community to support the Afghan people in their journey towards sustainable peace and development, the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad said in a statement. Addressing a high-level meeting on supporting the humanitarian response in convened by the UN Secretary-General, Qureshi underscored the importance of "durable solutions including the provision of livelihood opportunities and ensuring of access to basic necessities such as food, health and education for the Afghan population", Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry statement as saying The Foreign Minister stressed that new humanitarian situations emerging in other parts of the world should not move the focus away from the dire needs of millions of Afghans, according to the statement. He emphasised that humanitarian assistance should be unconditional and apolitical, in line with principles. Qureshi called for concerted efforts to help build a sustainable economy and reintegrate in the global supply chains and banking system. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistani rupee plunged to a historic low of 183.70 against the US dollar in the interbank market after the State Bank of (SBP) reported a massive outflow of $2.9 billion, Dawn new reported. The SBP announced that its foreign exchange reserves dropped to $12.047 billion during the week ended on March 25 due to a major repayment of Chinese loans while the rest was regular debt servicing. "This decline reflects repayment of external debt including a major syndicated loan facility from China," said the SBP. The SBP did not mention the specific figure as repayment to Chinese syndicated loans. However, media reports suggested that the SBP had repaid $2.4 billion to . "The rollover of this syndicated facility is being processed and is expected shortly," said the SBP, adding that the amount is expected to come back in the reserves after completion of the rollover process. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is in China, said that his Chinese counterpart had assured him that Beijing has agreed in principle for granting rollover of $2.4 billion in commercial loans to . The SBP reserves have been falling since August 2021 despite $2 billion inflows from IMF and 'sukuk' (Islamic financial certificate) proceeds. The foreign exchange reserves of the SBP have fallen by $8.026 billion to $12.047 billion from $20.073 billion in August 2021. It was the lowest since October 2020. The political crisis in resulted in outflows of foreign investments in the domestic bonds which weakened the local . About $387 million from the Pakistan Investment Bonds and treasury bills left Pakistan in March alone. Pakistan borrowed heavily from during the last three years to meet its foreign obligations while the previous debts of the Paris Club and other financial institutions have already burdened the . --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.) Pakistan's opposition parties have declared Prime Minister a "security threat" for the country, Dawn reported. In a statement, Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said that Khan had brought into the crosshairs in a desperate attempt to hang on to power. He stressed that in his desperation and frustration, Khan was damaging diplomatic relations of Pakistan, which was why it was imperative that he should be banned from delivering these catastrophic speeches. "Not showing the letter means there is no letter. Imran Niazi is once again telling a new lie as he usually does," Sharif said. "After Imran's false narrative of corruption, lies about building a mirror image of Riyasat-i-Madina, this conspiracy letter was the latest false narrative to save his sinking ship." Speaking at a news conference, PML-N's Khawaja Asif blasted Khan for naming the US as the country behind the "threat letter". "There is no doubt that the US can create problems for us," he said, adding that the country could cause a financial crisis for and could even make it difficult for it to buy oil. He said Khan had become "dangerous" for the country's existence and economy. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari told a TV channel that he did not watch "the former Prime Minister's speech". He alleged that Khan had made the country a slave of the International Monetary Fund, harmed the Kashmir policy and sabotaged the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. --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.) Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Friday claimed that a plot to assassinate Prime Minister (pictured) has been reported by the country's security agencies, ahead of Sundays no-trust motion against the premier. Khan's security has been beefed up as per the government's decision after these reports, the Dawn newspaper quoted Chaudhry as saying. His statement came a week after similar claims were made by Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda who had said that a conspiracy was being hatched to assassinate Khan over his refusal to sell the country. Vawda had made the remarks on ARY News show over a letter Prime Minister Khan had brandished at the PTIs March 27 show of strength here, claiming that it contained evidence of a foreign conspiracy to topple his government. Vawda said that there was a threat to Khan's life. He, however, did not reveal if the purported conspiracy to assassinate the premier was mentioned in the letter. Vawda also said that Khan was told multiple times that bulletproof glass needed to be installed before his dais at the March 27 rally but he refused. In a live address to the nation, 69-year-old Khan discussed a threat letter and termed it as part of a foreign conspiracy to remove him as he was not acceptable for following an independent foreign policy. He named the US as the country behind the threat letter in what appeared to be a slip of tongue. Prime Minister Khan linked the letter with the no-confidence motion against him by the Opposition in the National Assembly. The US denied claims from Prime Minister that the Biden administration is seeking to oust his government. Default risk up, currency sinks on turmoil Investors are concerned the political struggle will distract the authorities from focusing on the yawning current-account deficit. The nations default risk as measured by five-year credit-default swaps has climbed to the highest since 2013 after nearly doubling last month. One-month rupee forwards fell 0.7 per cent on Friday to 189.25 after sliding 3.1 per cent on Thursday. The nations 5.625 per cent dollar bonds due in December have already tumbled 5 per cent this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. BLOOMBERG The Sri Lankan government on Friday termed the violent demonstration near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence over the current economic crises as "an act of terrorism" and blamed "extremist elements" linked to opposition parties for the incident. A violent protest erupted outside the residence of on Thursday as hundreds of demonstrators gathered there and demanded his resignation for what they called his failure in addressing the worst in the island nation. Several people were injured and vehicles were set on fire as the agitation turned violent. Police fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters after they pulled down a steel barricade placed near the president's residence. Following the incident, several people were arrested and a curfew briefly imposed in most parts of Colombo city. A foreign exchange crunch in has led to a shortage of essential goods such as fuel. cooking gas, and power cuts that last up to 13 hours a day. A statement issued by the presidential media division on Friday said an extremist group was behind the unrest near President Rajapaksa's residence in Mirihana, the Daily Mirror news website reported. "It has been revealed that a group of organised extremists were protesting near the Jubilee Post in Nugegoda, suddenly became riotous and turned violent," the report said, citing the statement. Many of those involved in the incident have been arrested and many have been found to have been organised extremists, the statement said. Meanwhile, talking to reporters, transport minister Dilum Amunugama said the violence "was an act of terrorism". Tourism minister Prasanna Ranatunga blamed "extremist elements" linked to opposition parties Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) responsible for the violence. Health minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the president's life was in danger as the demonstration had taken place due to intelligence failure. Meanwhile, police said the number of people arrested in the aftermath of the violence has increased to 54. Lawyers linked to opposition parties claimed that the police might charge those arrested under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Five policemen were injured, while a police bus, a jeep and two motorcycles were burnt as protesters turned violent. The demonstrators also caused damage to a police water cannon truck. A curfew, covering most parts of the Colombo district and the suburban police division of Kelaniya, imposed midnight following the agitation was lifted at 5 am Friday. In the Kelaniya area, protesters had blocked the main Colombo-Kandy road. From late Thursday evening, hundreds of people gathered at the Jubilee Post junction in the east Colombo suburb of Mirihana, holding placards against what they say was the mismanagement and inefficiency of the government in handling the current . The numbers slowly swelled to several thousands as they started marching towards Rajapaksa's private residence at Pangiriwatte Lane, off the main road. The police placed barricades preventing protesters from reaching the president's residence located in the middle part of the bylane. It is not known whether was at his residence at that time. is currently experiencing its worst in history. With long lines for fuel, cooking gas, essentials in short supply and long hours of power cuts the public has been suffering for weeks. Rajapaksa has defended his government's actions, saying the foreign exchange crisis was not his making and the economic downturn was largely pandemic driven where the island's tourism revenue and inward remittances waning. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President is demanding foreign buyers pay for Russian gas in roubles from Friday or else have their supplies cut, a move European capitals rejected and which Germany said amounted to "blackmail". Putin's decree on Thursday leaves Europe facing the prospect of losing more than a third of its gas supply. Germany, the most heavily reliant on Russia, has already activated an emergency plan that could lead to rationing in Europe's biggest economy. Energy exports are Putin's most powerful lever as he tries to hit back against sweeping Western sanctions imposed on Russian banks, companies, businessmen and associates of the Kremlin in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moscow calls its Ukraine action a "special military operation". Putin said buyers of Russian gas "must open rouble accounts in Russian banks. It is from these accounts that payments will be made for gas delivered starting from tomorrow," or April 1. "If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default on the part of buyers, with all the ensuing consequences. Nobody sells us anything for free, and we are not going to do charity either - that is, existing contracts will be stopped," he said in televised remarks. It was not immediately clear whether in practice there might be a way for foreign firms to continue payment without using roubles, which the European Union and G7 have ruled out. Italy said it was in contact with its European partners to give a firm response to Russia, adding its own gas reserves would allow economic activity to continue even in the event of disruptions. Meantime, Germany's energy firms said they were in close talks with Berlin about how to respond to possible supply disruptions and draw up a roadmap on what to do should stop gas exports. SEARCHING FOR ALTERNATIVES Under the mechanism decreed by Putin, foreign buyers would use special accounts at Gazprombank to pay for the gas. Gazprombank would buy roubles on behalf of the gas buyer and transfer roubles to another account, the order said. A source told Reuters that payments for gas delivered in April on some contracts started in the second half of April and May for others, suggesting the taps might not be turned off immediately. Putin's decision to enforce rouble payments has boosted the Russian currency, which fell to historic lows after the Feb. 24 invasion. The rouble has since recovered much lost ground. "What sounded grandiose has turned into a storm in a teacup. By making it the main recipient of money for gas, it puts an extra shield against sanctions around Gazprombank," said Jack Sharples of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Western companies and governments have rejected any move to change their gas supply contracts to another payment currency. Most European buyers use euros. Executives say it would take months or longer to renegotiate terms. Payment in roubles would also blunt the impact of Western curbs on Moscow's access to its foreign exchange reserves. Meanwhile, European states have been racing to secure alternative supplies, but with the global market already tight, they have few options. The United States has offered more of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) but not enough to replace . "It is important for us not to give a signal that we will be blackmailed by Putin," Germany Economy Minister Robert Habeck said, adding that had not been able to divide Europe. Payments would continue to be made in euros, Germany said. French economy minister Bruno Le Maire said France and Germany were preparing for the possibility of Russian gas flows being halted. He declined to comment on technical details linked to latest Russian demands for rouble payment. Putin said the switch to roubles would strengthen Russia's sovereignty. He said the West was using the financial system as a weapon, and it made no sense for Russia to trade in dollars and euros when assets in those currencies were being frozen. "What is actually happening, what has already happened? We have supplied European consumers with our resources, in this case gas. They received it, paid us in euros, which they then froze themselves. In this regard, there is every reason to believe that we delivered part of the gas provided to Europe practically free of charge," he said. "That, of course, cannot continue," Putin said, although he said Russia still valued its business reputation and would continue to meet obligations in its gas and other contracts. STAYING UNITED European gas prices have rocketed higher on mounting tension with Russia raising the risk of recession. Companies, including makers of steel and chemicals, have been forced to curtail production. British and Dutch gas prices were up 4% to 5% after Putin's announcement. European companies had little or no immediate comment on the Russian announcement or on their contracts with Gazprom, which has a monopoly on Russian gas exports by pipeline. Poland's PGNiG said it remained in contact with Gazprom with which it has a long-term contract that expires at the end of this year, but it said it would not discuss details. Italian energy firm Eni, another major European buyer of Russian gas, also had no comment. It bought around 22.5 bcm of Russian gas in 2020. Its contracts with Gazprom expire in 2035. Danish energy firm Orsted, which has a long-term take-or-pay contract with Gazprom, said it was waiting to hear from the Russian firm and declined to comment further. Uniper and EnBW's VNG, two major German buyers of Russian gas, declined to comment, while RWE did not immediately respond. (Reporting by Reuters correspondents including Stephen Jewkes in Milan, Vera Eckert, Joseph Nasr and Tassilo Hummel in Berlin, Nina Chestney in London, Marek Strzelecki in Warsaw and Christoph Steitz and John O'Donnell in Frankfurt; Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Edmund Blair and Grant McCool) (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.) Russia's central bank said on Friday it was softening restrictions on foreign fund transfers for individuals for a six-month period. The bank said the measures, which raise an earlier limit on funds that can be transferred abroad, did not apply to residents and non-residents from countries that had imposed sanctions against Russia over Ukraine. "Within a calendar month, individuals have the right to transfer no more than 10,000 U.S. dollars or the equivalent in another currency from the Russian Federation from their account in a Russian bank to their account or to another person abroad," the bank said in a statement. The bank added that transfers abroad from bank accounts of non-residents, individuals or legal entities from countries that had imposed sanctions were suspended for the next six months. The measure will ease strain on Russians who regularly send funds to relatives abroad, or to those who have left the country without access to their funds at home. Earlier this month, the central bank said it was temporarily suspending transfers by foreign legal entities and individuals from several countries to accounts abroad. It also limited transfers at the equivalent of no more than $5,000 a month. The regulator said last week that Russia's central bank imposed in the past month on capital flows out of the country were a tit-for-tat move in response to part of its reserves being frozen by Western countries. Western sanctions imposed on Russia for what Moscow calls "a special military operation" in Ukraine have limited the central bank's ability to support the rouble currency with dollars and euros held in its foreign currency and gold reserves. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Jason Neely and Alexander Smith) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said that is "trying to regroup, resupply and reinforce" its offensive in eastern Ukraine's separatist Donbas region despite Moscow's claim that it would reduce military activity. The chief made the remark while releasing his Annual Report 2021 here on Thursday. "We have heard the recent statements that will scale down military operations around Kiev and in northern . But has repeatedly lied about its intentions," Stoltenberg said in a statement published on the website. "So we can only judge Russia on its actions, not on its words." He went on to say that "according to our intelligence, Russian units are not withdrawing, but repositioning". As Russia "maintains pressure on Kyiev and other cities... We can expect additional offensive actions, bringing even more suffering", the NATO chief added. Stoltenberg further said that the Ukrainian forces are now "bigger, better-equipped, better-trained, and better-led than ever before". "And they are putting their training and their equipment to use on the front lines, with courage that has inspired the world." He once again reiterated that Russia "must end this senseless war. Withdraw all its troops. And engage in talks in good faith." On a similar note, the UK's Ministry of Defence also claimed that "Russia is redeploying elements of its forces from Georgia to reinforce its invasion of Ukraine". In its latest update late Thursday night, it said that "between 1,200 and 2,000 of these Russian troops are being reorganised into 3 x Battalion Tactical Groups". "It is highly unlikely that Russian planned to generate reinforcements in this manner and it is indicative of the unexpected losses it has sustained during the invasion." --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UK will join the US in releasing more oil from its reserves as part of a joint effort to lower prices and reduce reliance on Russian supplies, two people familiar with the matter said. US President Joe Biden on Thursday said his plans to release a million barrels of oil a day for six months would lay the foundations for the US to achieve energy independence from foreign suppliers. Member countries of the Energy Agency committed to another coordinated oil release in an extraordinary meeting on Friday, according to Japan's industry ministry. For comparison, a month ago, IEA members agreed on a 61.7-million barrel release, with 30 million coming from the US and 2.2 million from the UK. REUTERS EU warns on stance while peace talks resume Talks between and resumed Friday via video link, even as previous negotiations failed to agree even a temporary cease-fire. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow is preparing a response to Ukraines proposals on ending hostilities. President Xi Jinping said finds the situation in deeply regrettable. Xi held a virtual summit Friday with European Union leaders, who said they expect Beijing at the very least not to interfere with sanctions imposed. BLOOMBERG IAEA monitors set to return nuclear monitors are preparing to return to the stricken nuclear power plant site of the deadly 1986 meltdown as soon as Russian troops complete their withdrawal and Ukrainian operators resume control. BLOOMBERG working on response Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said is preparing a response to Ukraines proposals on security guarantees and ending the war. Lavrov made televised comments during a press briefing in New Delhi. BLOOMBERG Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is on a two-day official visit to India, is expected to meet and hold talks with External Affairs Minister on Friday. Lavrov arrived in India on Thursday. This is the first trip of Lavrov to India since Moscow launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24. Lavrov's visit comes soon after China's foreign minister Wang Yi visit to India last week and ahead of the 2+2 dialogues set to be held between India and the US on April 11. The Russian Foreign Minister reached New Delhi after his two-day visit to China. On Wednesday, in China, Lavrov held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and both sides pledged to strengthen bilateral ties. Lavrov informed the Chinese side of the Russia-Ukraine talks, saying is committed to easing the tensions, continuing peace talks with Ukraine, and maintaining communication with the community. Russian Foreign Minister participated in two multinational meetings on Afghanistan along with representatives from Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Lavrov also held meetings with representatives from China and Pakistan and attended a separate meeting of the "Extended Troika" with special Afghan envoys from China and the US. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) European buyers of Russian gas faced a deadline to start paying in roubles on Friday, while negotiations aimed at ending the five-week war were set to resume even as Ukraine braced for further attacks in the south and east. Moscow's invasion of its neighbour has killed thousands, sent millions fleeing and galvanised the United States and allies around the world to impose punishing penalties on Russian government entities, businesses and oligarchs. Russia will respond to European Union sanctions, the RIA news agency quoted a senior foreign ministry official on Friday. "The actions of the EU will not remain unanswered ... the irresponsible sanctions by Brussels are already negatively affecting the daily lives of ordinary Europeans," Nikolai Kobrinets told the news agency. Russian President played one of his biggest cards on Thursday, demanding European energy buyers start paying in roubles from Friday or have existing contracts halted. European governments rejected Putin's energy ultimatum, with the continent's biggest recipient of Russian gas, Germany, calling it "blackmail". The energy showdown has huge ramifications for Europe as U.S. officials circle the globe to keep pressure on Putin to stop an invasion that has uprooted a quarter of Ukraine's 44 million people. 'BATTLES AHEAD' Putin sent troops on Feb. 24 for what he calls a "special military operation" to demilitarise Ukraine. Western countries say Putin's real aim was to topple Ukraine's government. At talks this week, Moscow said it would reduce offensives near the capital Kyiv and in the north as a goodwill gesture and focus on "liberating" the southeastern Donbas region. Kyiv and its allies say Russia is instead trying to regroup after taking losses from a Ukrainian counter-offensive that has recaptured suburbs of the capital plus strategic areas in the northeast and southwest. In a late night address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned of "battles ahead" in Donbas and the besieged southern port city of Mariupol. "We still need to go down a very difficult path to get everything we want," Zelenskiy said. Peace negotiations are set to resume by video conference on Friday. Seeking to bolster its position, Moscow is redeploying forces from Russian-backed breakaway regions in Georgia to Ukraine, Britain's defence ministry wrote on Twitter. The reinforcements indicated Russia had sustained unexpected losses, it said. U.S. and European officials say Putin has been misled by generals about his military's dire performance. Ukrainian authorities were hoping to evacuate more residents from Mariupol after Russia agreed to open a humanitarian corridor on Friday, but several previous deals have collapsed amid mutual recriminations. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 45 buses sent to evacuate people from Mariupol had been stopped on Thursday by Russian forces outside Berdyansk, about 75 km to the west. "Tomorrow we will continue trying to push through a humanitarian corridor to Mariupol so as not to leave our people on their own," she said in an online post. In a Facebook post, the general staff said Ukrainian forces were still holding Mariupol, a gateway to the Black Sea which links a strategic corridor between Donbas and the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula. The mayor's office estimates 5,000 people have died. Tens of thousands have been trapped for weeks with scant food, water and other supplies in the city that was once home to 400,000 people but has been pulverised by bombardment. Elsewhere, there was evidence of Ukraine's successful counter-attack in Trostyanets, an eastern town. Burned-out Russian tanks and abandoned ammunition littered muddy roads. "We spent 30 days in the basement with small children. The children are shaking, even still," said a woman named Larisa. ENERGY CRISIS? With the war exacerbating global fuel prices, President Joe Biden on Thursday launched the largest release ever from the U.S. oil reserve and challenged oil giants to drill more. "This is a moment of consequence and peril for the world," Biden said as he announced a release of 180 million barrels starting in May. But that amount fails to cover a U.S. loss of Russian oil, which Biden banned this month. The war also threatens to disrupt global food supplies, with a U.S. government official sharing images of what they said was damage to grain storage facilities in Ukraine, the world's fourth largest gain exporter last season. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Michael Perry) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is on a two-day official visit to India, the US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on Thursday (local time) said that every country has its own relationship with Moscow and Washington is not seeking any change in that. "Different countries are going to have their own relationship with the Russian Federation. It's a fact of history. It's a fact of geography. That is not something that we are seeking to change," Price said during a press briefing. He continued by saying, "What we are seeking to do, whether it is in the context of India or other partners and allies around the world, is to do all we can to see to it that the community is speaking in unison, speaking loudly against this unjustified, unprovoked premeditated aggression, calling for an end to the violence using the leverage that countries including India, have to those ends." Price made these remarks amid Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to India. He is expected to meet and hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today. "...We understand that what we are asking for, what we are calling for is that all countries use the leverage that they have to make sure that that message is coming across to Vladimir Putin loud and clear," he said. While answering India working out any rupee-rouble conversion for trade, Price said, "I would refer to our Indian partners when it comes to any such rupee-ruble conversion that may have been discussed." Price further said, "When it comes to the Quad, one of the core principles of the Quad is the idea of a free and open Indo Pacific that is specific in that context to the Indo Pacific, but these are principles. These are ideals that transcend any geographic region." "It's not in our interest. It's not in Japan's, Australia's, or India's interest to see flagrant examples of countries whether in Europe, whether in the Indo Pacific, whether anywhere in between, of countries flouting, violating rules-based order," he added. launched its invasion on February 24 after recognizing the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as "independent republics." has since continued to maintain that the aim of its operations has been to "demilitarize" and "de-nazify" the country. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many Western nations and European countries have imposed tough sanctions on targeting its economy and financial system. (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 pressure would not affect the India-Russia relationship, visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday, adding that if India wants to mediate for resolution to the Ukraine problem, such a process can be supported. Lavrov is on a two-day visit to India where he held deliberations with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar over crude oil offer, rupee-ruble payment, ongoing arms deals, Ukraine crisis, and the situation in Afghanistan and Iran. About India playing a bigger role in the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov said: "India is an important and serious country. If India plays that role that provides resolution, India as our common partner.. we are for the security guarantee of Ukraine.. West has ignored it's responsibility...If India is with its position of just and rational approach to international problems.. can support such a process." On India's view on the Ukraine crisis, he said that India's foreign policy is guided by its independent position. "I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterised by independence and the concentration on real legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners." India has stayed neutral on seven Ukraine-related resolutions at the United Nations. Lavrov categorically said Russia's aim in Ukraine is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia. India is important country.If India sees to play that role which provides resolution of problem...If India is with its position of just&rational approach to int'l problems,it can support such process:Russian Foreign Min on possibility of India becoming a mediator b/w Moscow-Kyiv pic.twitter.com/IywQ2tUN9c ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2022 During interaction with media persons here, Lavrov, talking about the Ukraine crisis said: "You called it a war, which is not true. It is a special operation, military infrastructure is being targeted. The aim is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia." In their meeting, Lavrov and Jaishankar assessed the overall state of cooperation and considered the implications of recent developments on trade and economic relations. The two ministers discussed developments pertaining to Ukraine. Lavrov briefed the Indian side from Russia's perspective, including the ongoing talks. Jaishankar emphasised the importance of cessation of violence and ending hostilities. Differences and disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and by respect for international law, UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, he added. The ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Lavrov conveyed his assessment of the recent conference on Afghanistan in China. Jaishankar noted that UNSCR 2593 expressed the concerns of the international community and spoke of humanitarian support for the Afghan people. Iran and the JCPoA issue were also featured in the talks. On the supply of crude and arms, Lavrov said Russia will be ready to supply to India any goods which India wants to buy from them. "We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations," he said. Asked whether the rouble-rupee system for bilateral trade is being worked out, Lavrov said: "We have to find ways to bypass impediments." --IANS sk/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has tweeted he had discussed steps toward peace in with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the conversation, Zelensky on Thursday noted the high level of organisation of negotiations of Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul, Xinhua news agency reported. Besides, the Ukrainian leader said he appreciates the readiness of to become a guarantor of Ukraine's security. and Russia concluded their fresh round of face-to-face peace talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Tuesday. At the negotiations, Kiev proposed to sign a new treaty on security guarantees, which enshrines obligations for the guarantor countries to provide with military assistance in the event of an attack. --IANS int/shs (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Life India Asset Management (NAM) said on Friday that the company and its executives are constantly working along with its legal advisors to assist market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on any inquiries in the matter pertaining to the asset managers investment in Yes Banks AT1 bonds. has launched an investigation into NAMs formerly known as Reliance Mutual Fund-- investment in the bonds, which were influenced by its former promoter Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital. NAM had made an investment of Rs 2,500 crore in Yes Bank's AT1 bonds. has been asking the company and its executives certain information with respect to the aforesaid investment as well as information with respect to certain third parties, as may be available with us, NAM has said in a statement. According to reports, NAMs chief executive Sundeep Sikka's role is also being examined by . AT bonds are perpetual bonds without any maturity date. Yes Banks AT1 bonds were written down to zero in March 2020 as part of a government-approved restructuring plan for the insolvent lender. This has led to losses to several investors. KFIN Technologies on Friday filed its (DRHP) with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). Through the IPO, private equity major (GA) is looking to divest shares worth Rs 2,400 crore of the company. GA is the promoter of KFin Tech with nearly 75 per cent stake. KFin Tech provides services and solutions to intermediaries operating in the capital market ecosystem such as mutual funds (MF), alternative investment funds and wealth management firms. For (IPOs), Kfin Tech acts as a registrar and is responsible for processing applications and allotment of shares. For the MF industry, it acts as a registrar and transfer agent (RTA), handling the responsibility of recording-keeping of all the transactions and KYC verification. KFin Tech provides services to 25 out of 42 domestic MFs. For the nine month ended December, KFin clocked revenues from operations of Rs 458 crore and a net profit of Rs 97.6 crore. The are likely to start on a negative note on Friday amid globally weak sentiment as US, European closed with significant losses overnight. The SGX Nifty futures were quoting at 17,431 levels at 7:30 am, hinting at a gap-down start of 100 points on the Nifty50. Meanwhile, these are the out for in trade today: Bharti Airtel, Tech M: The two on Thursday announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop and market enterprise-grade digital solutions across 5G, private networks and cloud. Airtel and Tech Mahindra will co-develop and market 5G use cases in India, according to a statement. Read here. SpiceJet: SpiceJet has entered into an in-principle settlement with Credit Suisse, saving itself from possible liquidation. Last December, the high court had ordered the winding up of SpiceJet for failing to make payment of $24 million to Swiss maintenance company SR Technics. Read more Hero MotoCorp: An expenditure of more than Rs 800 crore on the books of Hero MotoCorp was not for purposes of business but made for a service from an event management company, which allegedly siphoned off the amount, according to an income-tax department probe. The siphoning off was done through shell firms. Read here Future Retail: Some of the entities of Kishore Biyani-controlled Future group, for whom payments were due on March 31, have defaulted. In a related development, Future Retails Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sadashiv Nayak on Thursday resigned from the post seven months after his appointment, according to a filing. Read more Paytm: Fintech company Paytm said on Thursday will be able to use its buy-now-pay-later service to buy train tickets from the IRCTC website. Read more Vodafone Idea: Vodafone Idea on Thursday said its board has approved the allotment of 3.38 billion equity shares at Rs 13.30 per scrip to three promoters group entities - Euro Pacific Securities, Prime Metals and Oriana Investments - for about Rs 4,500 crore. The telecom operator had earlier this month announced Rs 14,500 crore fundraising plans, where promoters would inject Rs 4,500 crore. Read here ONGC: ONGC that opened seven out of India's eight oil and gas producing basins, is on the way to open another basin, Vindhyan as it details out commercialisation of a gas discovery in Madhya Pradesh. An exploratory well in Son valley sector in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district discovered gas, and on tests confirmed commercially available volumes, the company said. Read more Lupin: Mumbai-based drug major said that it's New Jersey facility has received thirteen observations from the US drug regulator. The facility accounts for less than 5 per cent Lupin's global turnover. The observations do not, however, imply any restriction on supplies. Read here IndiGo: The company has partially reinstated salaries of its pilots with the stabilisation and growth in its operations. India's largest domestic airline had introduced a 28 per cent pay cut for pilots in 2020. Read here GAIL: Gail (India) on Thursday approved a buyback of 57 million shares at Rs 190 apiece aggregating to Rs 1,083 crore. The buyback is at a 22 per cent premium to the companys last closing price. Read more Vedanta: Mining giant Limited on Thursday said its board has approved a proposal to source 580 MW of green energy for its operations across India. The company said a power delivery agreement has been signed with the Sterlite Power Technologies Private Ltd, a special purpose vehicle for supply of solar and wind-based energy. Read here Sterlite Technologies: The company has signed the definitive agreement to sell its 64.98 per cent stake in Maharashtra Transmission Communication Infrastructure (MTCIL). Total consideration of Rs 43 crore agreed to be received in multiple tranches. Industries: The board has approved issue price at Rs 650 per equity share for its follow-on public offer. HDFC Asset Management Company: As per reports, Life Insurance Corporation of India has acquired 2.02 percent stake in the company via open market transactions. With this, its shareholding in the company stands at 7.02 percent, up from 5 percent earlier. Adani Enterprises: Won order worth Rs 2008.47 crores National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). With this order, adani has assets worth of more than Rs 41,000 crores in road portfolio Biocon rose 1.46% to Rs 339.45 after the Biocon Biologics' partner received positive EU CHMP opinion for biosimilar human insulin for intravenous infusion. Biocon Biologics (BBL), a subsidiary of Biocon, said that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (EU CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for Inpremzia, a biosimilar version of Actrapid (human insulin). This is a ready-to-use insulin formulation for intravenous (IV) infusion developed by Celerity Pharmaceuticals LLC (Celerity), using Biocon Biologics' biosimilar human insulin drug substance. Biocon Biologics has developed the drug substance of Inpremzia insulin human (rDNA), a fast-acting human insulin for injection. Inpremzia is a pre-mixed ready-to-use insulin for IV infusion for patients in hospital and other acute care settings. Inpremzia would help lower blood glucose by facilitating uptake of glucose into muscle and fat cells and by simultaneously inhibiting glucose output from the liver. This presentation would offer convenience in administration and better patient experience. Once approved, Inpremzia will be commercialized in the EU by a leading global medical products company. Biocon Biologics has developed and supplied the US FDA approved biosimilar human insulin drug substance for Inpremzia and also has supported Celerity by providing relevant data, regulatory and technical expertise throughout the development of the final drug product under a license and supply agreement signed between the two companies. Shreehas Tambe, deputy CEO, Biocon Biologics said: The CHMP's decision to recommend Inpremzia, an innovative rh-insulin IV formulation developed by our partner, for approval in the EU, is yet another milestone in our mission to broaden access. The positive opinion by CHMP underscores our scientific and technical capabilities in developing and manufacturing a high-quality insulin drug substance that can be formulated to offer multiple drug delivery options to people living with diabetes, globally. This decision further builds on our success with biosimilar Insulin Glargine which is already available in many markets across the EU. A biosimilar medicinal product, Inpremzia is highly similar to the reference product Actrapid (human insulin), which was authorised in the EU on 7 October 2002. Data show that Inpremzia has comparable quality, safety and efficacy to Actrapid (human insulin). The CHMP positive opinion will be considered by the European Commission. The European Commission decision on the approval is expected later this year. Biocon Biologics' rh-insulin product has been commercialized in almost 40 countries across the world. Biocon is a global biopharmaceuticals company committed to enhance affordable access to complex therapies for chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer and autoimmune. The company's consolidated net profit jumped 17.68% to Rs 219.60 crore on a 17.05% surge in revenue from operations to Rs 2,174.20 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 FY21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) HFCL announced the successful completion of laying optical fiber cable (OFC) in the state of Jharkhand under the Government of India's prestigious BharatNet Project. HFCL has completed connectivity of 1,789 Gram Panchayats through GPON network wherein 7765 kms of OFC network has been laid out thereby providing Broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats of Jharkhand. Despite tough terrains and other challenges in the State, Jharkhand has become the first State in the Country to provide connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats of the State under State-led model of BharatNet Programme of the Government of India. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hindustan Oil Exploration Company slumped 10.28% to Rs 197.30, extending losses for second day. The stock has declined by 12.45% in two session, from its recent closing high of Rs 225.35 recorded on 30 March 2022. While the scrip is currently trading below its 50-day simple moving average placed at 208.47, it has managed to trade above its 100-day and 200-day SMA placed at 196.46 and 179.28, respectively. Referring to its B-80 Project, Hindustan Oil Exploration Company yesterday said that the pre-commissioning and safety checks at KGB-Offshore Installation (MOPU) and FSO Prem Pride (FSO) are complete and the system is ready to receive the first hydrocarbons. "The well opening sequence was followed to bring the first well safely on production, however we have encountered operational issues and troubleshooting is currently ongoing," the company said. The delay witnessed in the commencement of production from the field being unanticipated, necessary corrective actions are being taken by the company, and the field will safely be brought on line for production as soon as the issues are rectified. Hindustan Oil Exploration Company is engaged in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons crude oil and natural gas, which are natural resources. The company provides geological and geophysical services relating to the exploration of oil and natural gas and other oil field services. The company has a 100% subsidiary namely HOEC Bardahl India Ltd which is engaged in marketing of fuel or engine additives. The company's consolidated net profit surged 127.86% to Rs 19.14 crore in the quarter ended December 2021 as against Rs 8.40 crore during the previous quarter ended December 2020. Sales rose 57.91% YoY to Rs 43.93 crore in Q3 FY22. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hindustan Unilever Ltd is quoting at Rs 2058.1, up 0.46% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 13.28% in last one year as compared to a 19.88% gain in NIFTY and a 6.14% gain in the Nifty FMCG. Hindustan Unilever Ltd rose for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 2058.1, up 0.46% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.47% on the day, quoting at 17547.25. The Sensex is at 58877.13, up 0.53%. Hindustan Unilever Ltd has dropped around 4.23% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty FMCG index of which Hindustan Unilever Ltd is a constituent, has dropped around 2.96% in last one month and is currently quoting at 36287.75, up 0.34% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 8.4 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 28.42 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark April futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 2063.55, up 0.41% on the day. Hindustan Unilever Ltd is down 13.28% in last one year as compared to a 19.88% gain in NIFTY and a 6.14% gain in the Nifty FMCG index. The PE of the stock is 55.37 based on TTM earnings ending December 21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maruti Suzuki India recorded total sales of 170,395 units in March 2022, increasing 2% from 167014 units sold in March 2021. Total sales in the month include domestic sales of 137,658 units, sales to other OEM of 6,241 units and its highest ever monthly exports of 26,496 units. On a sequential basis, however, the company's total sales have improved by 3.86% from 164,056 units sold in February 2022. Total domestic sales fell by 7.4% year on year to 143,899 units in March 2022. Total Exports soared 128% to 26,496 units in March 2022 over March 2021. For the full financial year 2021-22, the car making company posted total sales of 16,52,653 units with a growth of 13.4% over FY21. Total sales includes domestic sales of 13,65,370 units, sales to other OEM of 48,907 units. Meanwhile, the company announced that it reported record breaking exports of 238,376 units in FY22, the highest in any financial year. The car maker shipped 238,376 units to over 100 countries in FY22. The company exported 26,496 units during March 2022, clocking its highest ever monthly exports. Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO of Maruti Suzuki said, This export milestone demonstrates the dedication and hardwork of team Maruti Suzuki led by Kenichi Ayukawa, from whom I have taken up this role. These export numbers are a reflection of India's manufacturing potential and the acceptance of India-manufactured vehicles, all over the world. Maruti said shortage of electronic components had some impact on the production of vehicles in FY 2021-22. The company said it took all possible measures to minimise the impact. As the supply situation of electronic components continues to be unpredictable, Maruti said it might have some impact on the production volume in FY 2022-23 as well. Shares of Maruti Suzuki India were trading 0.75% higher at Rs 7616.35 on BSE. Maruti Suzuki India is engaged in the manufacture, purchase and sale of motor vehicles, components and spare parts (automobiles). The auto maker recorded 48% decline in net profit to Rs 1,011.3 crore on as net sales remained flat at Rs 22,187.6 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 FY21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NTPC surged 5.93% to Rs 142.95 after the company reported highest ever annual group generation of 360 billion units (BU), a growth of 14.6% compared to previous year. As per the company's press release, during this period, NTPC recorded the highest ever single day generation of 1,215.68 million units (MU) (group) & 1,013.45 MU (NTPC). The coal-based plants recorded a PLF (Plant Load Factor) of 70.7% with an availability factor of 88.8%. On a standalone basis, NTPC generated 299 BU in FY22, recording an increase of 10.4% over the previous year. The total installed capacity of NTPC group rose 4.7% to 68,940 mega-watt (MW) with 3,130 MW of capacity addition. On a standalone basis, NTPC's capacity increased by 4.1% to 54,575 MW. The PSU company further highlighted that it is also increasing its renewable portfolio and has received approval from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for setting up of 4,750 MW Renewable Energy Park in Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. NTPC also expects to set up 10,000 MW capacity in Rajasthan for which Letter of Intent (LOI) has been issued. The state-run corporation has set a new target of installing 60 giga-watt (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2032. In a separate announcement today, NTPC stated that its first part capacity of 22 MW out of 92 MW Kayamkulam Floating Solar PV project at Kayamkulam, Kerala, has been declared operational from 31 March 2022. With this, standalone installed and commercial capacity of NTPC has become 54,516.68 MW. Further, the group installed and commercial capacity of NTPC has become 68,631.68 and 67,971.68 MW respectively. NTPC is India's largest energy conglomerate. It has presence in the entire value chain of the power generation business. The Government of India holds 51.10% in NTPC as of 31 December 2021. The PSU power major reported 24.63% increase in standalone net profit to Rs 4,131.99 crore on 17.77% rise in net sales to Rs 28,864.79 crore in Q3 December 2022 over Q3 December 2021. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vedanta: The company has entered into certain long term power security agreements for Green / Renewable Energy (RE) power for Hindustan Zinc Limited, Bharat Aluminum Company Limited and Vedanta Limited (Jharsuguda Aluminium Operations) via captive power projects, which will be created through dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for each entity. ONGC: The company is on its way to commercialize another Basin - the Vindhyan Basin. This would be the ninth producing Basin of India; the eighth by ONGC. Sterlite Technologies: The company has signed the definitive agreement to sell its 64.98% stake of in Maharashtra Transmission Communication Infrastructure Limited (MTCIL). The closing as per the agreement is completed on 31 March 2022. Ruchi Soya Industries: The board of directors of the company has approved the issue price of Rs 650 per equity share for its follow-on public offer. Cantabil Retail India: The company has opened three new showrooms/ shops at different location in India during the month of March 2022. Now total number of showrooms/ shops of the company stands at 378. Nuvoco Vistas Corporation: The company has made timely payment of redemption amount and interest for the secured, redeemable, listed and rated non convertible debentures of Rs.400 crores. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Alright, so India has finally resumed regular international flights after a coronavirus pandemic-induced hiatus of about two years. With this, the country scrapped more than 35 bilateral air-bubble agreements with other nations, and has opened up routes that were hitherto not available. In the process, it has spawned a host of new opportunities for the Indian tourist to explore different parts for the world. Of course, if you had your way, you'd take the next flight to your dream destination, wouldn't you? But there's a small problem. You don't have enough money in the ... The AFSPA, under which a geographical location is declared as disturbed area to facilitate operations of the armed forces, will now be applicable fully only in 31 districts and partially in 12 districts of four states in the Northeast Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. These four states together comprise 90 districts. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, was completely withdrawn in Meghalaya in 2018, Tripura in 2015 and Mizoram in the 1980s. The announcement for the reduction of the 'disturbed area' imposed under the in the Northeast was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday. The move apparently came following the recommendations of a high-level committee constituted to examine the possibility of lifting the law after the killing of 14 civilians by the army in Nagaland's Mon district in December last year in a case of "mistaken identity". The empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant besides giving immunity from arrest and prosecution to the security forces if they shoot someone dead. In two separate notifications issued late on Thursday, the Union Home Ministry said Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Zunheboto districts in Nagaland and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of police stations of Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha in Kohima district, Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki 'C' in Mokokchung district, Yanglok in Longleng district and Bhandari, Champang, Ralan and Sungro in Wokha district were declared as 'disturbed area' under the for six months with effect from April 1. Nagaland has 15 districts. The 'disturbed area' notification has been in force in the whole of Nagaland from 1995. For Arunachal Pradesh, the home ministry said Tirap, Changlang and Longing districts, and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevour police stations in Namsai district bordering Assam have been declared 'disturbed areas' under AFSPA for six months from April 1. There are 26 districts in Arunachal Pradesh. The AFSPA has been in force only in the said districts of Arunachal Pradesh for the last several years and other districts of the state are by and large free from any kind of insurgency and hence not imposed. While for Assam, a notification was issued by the state government, which said that 'disturbed area' under the AFSPA has been withdrawn completely from 23 districts and one sub-division of the state's 33 districts -- from Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Hojai, Morigaon, Kamrup Metro, Darrang, Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, South-Salmara Mancachar, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baka, Udalguri, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar districts, except Lakhimpur sub-division. The 'disturbed area' under the AFSPA will be applicable in nine districts and one sub-division of Assam. They are Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao districts and Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar district. The 'disturbed area' notification is in force in entire Assam since 1990. The Manipur government has also issued a similar notification where it said that the 'disturbed area' tag will no longer be applicable in seven police station areas of Imphal West district, four police station areas under Imphal East district and one police station area each in the districts of Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching and Jiribam. There are 16 districts in Manipur. The police stations are Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lamsang and Patsoi (all Imphal West district), Porompat, Heingang, Lamlai and Irilbung (all in Imphal East district), Thoubal (Thoubal district), Bishnupur, (Bishnupur district), Kakching (Kakching district) and Jiribam (Jiribam district). The 'disturbed area' declaration is in force in entire Manipur, except Imphal municipality area, since 2004. There have been protests and demands for the complete withdrawal of the law from the Northeast as well as Jammu and Kashmir for its "draconian" provisions. Manipuri activist Irom Chanu Sharmila fought against the law by remaining on hunger strike for 16 years, before ending it on August 9, 2016. (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.) Union Home Minister will chair the core committee meeting of the on Friday evening and is likely to finalise on cabinet expansion. The meeting will also discuss the emerging situation in the state in the backdrop of series of developments in connection with the hijab row, ban on Muslim merchants in temples and halal ban campaign. Shah arrived here on Thursday. The meeting will be attended by state party in-charge Arun Singh, National General Secretary C.T. Ravi, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, state party President Nalin Kumar Kateel and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. Heavy political activities are shaping up within the state unit and the meeting has assumed importance as the state is entering into a poll mode. The Assembly elections are scheduled in 2023. Before this, will participate in three major programmes on Friday. He will take part in Guruvandana programme and 115th birth anniversary celebrations of late Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt in the morning in Tumakuru. About four lakh people are expected to attend the programme. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had made repeated visits to monitor the arrangements in Tumakuru. Yediyurappa's son B.Y. Vijayendra was stationed in the Siddaganga Mutt and had been looking into the arrangements. Later, Shah will participate in the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the hospital in Muddenahalli village of Kolar district and will also attend a public programme here. will attend the Cooperation convention organised in the premises of the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru. He will inaugurate "Yashaswini" health insurance scheme for members of cooperative institutes. The scheme will include 1.50 crore members, including those in the cooperation sector and their family members and provide cashless facilities for health issues at hospitals on par with private health insurance companies. Amit Shah will also launch Nandini Ksheera Abhivrudhi Bank, the state's first milk bank. --IANS mka/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister on Friday accused Prime Minister of "robbing" the state of its rights amid a political row over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent announcement that central service rules will apply to employees of Chandigarh. Mann said this while winding up the discussion during the one-day special Assembly session, in which a resolution seeking immediate transfer of Chandigarh to was passed. Mann, whose Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had stormed to power in the just-concluded state Assembly poll, said 80 per cent of the sacrifices were made by people from in getting India freed. And the prime minister of free India now is "robbing" the rights of Punjab, he said in the House. Sharing his past experience as a parliamentarian, Mann exhorted all MPs and MLAs from the state to exhibit the same spirit of unity and bonhomie as demonstrated by leaders of southern states to safeguard the rights of their states while rising above vested interests and petty personal considerations. He said MPs of states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh come together for raising their issues in Parliament. "I often used to feel why we do not come together. I used to ask them but they said their party lines are different," said Mann. Lashing out at the BJP-led Centre, Mann said its leadership indulges in vendetta in general and especially in states like Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, where its leadership "miserably failed" to get people's mandate for the formation of its government. He asked the Centre whether the states where the BJP was not in power were not part of the country. He said in Delhi, the permission of the Lieutenant Governor is necessary for any work. Mann said Punjab had demanded extra electricity from the central pool but it was denied, however, it was given to Haryana. "On the other hand, the PM says 'sabka saath sabka vikas'. Where is our 'saath'? Neither you take our 'saath' nor give the same to us," said Mann. He recalled that Punjab was asked to pay Rs 7.50 crore by the Centre for sending the military following the terror attack at the Pathankot airbase in 2016. Mann said he along with the then MP Sadhu Singh asked the defence minister whether the military was provided to Punjab on rent. Mann said he then had asked, "Don't you consider Punjab as a part of the country." Thereafter, the sum of Rs 7.50 crore was waived, said Mann. Targeting the BJP for questioning the intention of the resolution, Mann said the BJP should not question their intention and took a jibe at BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma, saying they get their speech straight from Nagpur, a reference to the headquarter of the RSS. "I have heard a lot about 'Nagpuri santre' (oranges from Nagpur) but I heard 'Nagpuri bhashan' (address) for the first time. They get their address straight from Nagpur," said Mann while taking a jibe at the BJP. "You live in Punjab, you eat Punjab's food and drink Punjab's water then you say no, no," he said in an apparent dig at Ashwani Sharma for not supporting the resolution. Without taking the name of former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Mann said those who used to say that it was different to run a stage or a state are now not visible anywhere. The resolution was passed by the House in the absence of the two BJP MLAs, who had staged a walkout. Except the BJP, whose state unit chief Ashwani Sharma said he doubts the intent behind the resolution, members of all political parties supported the move. The Centre has notified the rules, under which the retirement age has been increased from 58 to 60 years while child care leave has been increased from one year to two years. Until now, Punjab service rules applied to employees of Chandigarh, which was made a UT and joint capital of Punjab and Haryana more than five decades ago. Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Friday urged the Centre to release outstanding dues of over Rs 20,000 crore pending to the state, saying the Covid-19 outbreak has necessitated additional expenditure to the government towards upgrading the health infrastructure in the state. Chief Minister M K Stalin, who is on an official visit to New Delhi, submitted a memorandum to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, highlighting the pending dues, including GST compensation. The dues from the Centre amount to Rs 20,860.40 crore of which the GST Compensation was Rs 13,504.74 crore, he said in the memorandum. was facing 'severe financial stress' despite easing of the covid-19 situation at present, as the revenues have been badly affected due to the pandemic, he said. "The pandemic necessitated the State to incur additional expenditure towards upgrading health infrastructure, medical equipment, drugs and also implement welfare schemes for the vulnerable sections of the populace", he said. Among the dues, he said the Goods and Services Tax Compensation arrears from the Ministry of Finance was the highest at Rs 13,504.74 crore. He said the state government was yet to receive Rs 2,203.25 crore for the custom milled rice subsidy from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. The school education department was yet to receive the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan grant of Rs 2,109.08 crore from the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Stalin also made a requested the Finance Minister to extend the GST compensation period, stating would face a revenue loss of approximately Rs 20,000 crore. During the introduction of GST in July 2017, Tamil Nadu accepted to forego its fiscal autonomy with an assurance from the Centre that the revenues of the state would be protected, he said. "In the last five years, there has been a wide gap between the actual revenues realised and the protected revenues guaranteed. This trend was visible even before the pandemic and the gap has been increasingly wide ever since", he said. Stalin said the GST Compensation period was ending on June 30, 2022 and Tamil Nadu would face a revenue loss of approximately Rs 20,000 crore in the coming financial year. "We urge the Union government to extend the period of compensation by at least two years beyond June 2022", 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.) In a meeting with the Union finance minister in New Delhi on Friday, Chief Minister urged the Centre to release Rs 20,860 crore towards pending GST compensation and many government schemes. He indicated that this would help the state in overcoming the fiscal crisis. The amount mostly consists GST compensation, which is about Rs 13,500 crore, and dues from schemes like rice subsidy, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. In a memorandum submitted to Sitharaman, the chief minister added that is in severe financial stress as the revenues were hit by the pandemic. He added that the state had to incorporate additional expenses in the health sector and its infrastructure and hence it is under financial stress even after easing out of the pandemic now. On Thursday, Stalin had asked for the Centre government nod to send relief items including essential commodities and medicines to Tamils living in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka As the country is reeling under economic crisis. The island nation is reeling under financial stress with public debt that is estimated to be 119 percent of the GDP. Around 36 percent of its foreign debts are coming in the form of international sovereign bonds, followed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that contributes around 15 per cent. The union government should permit us to help Lankan Tamils in economic distress. The Prime Minister patiently listened and has assured to act on our demands. I thank him for his assurance, Stalin had said. Other demands that the state is lining up before the Centre include help in Karnatakas plan to come up with Makedatu Reservoir project across river Cauvery and exemption for the state students on NEET medical entrance among others. As the new financial year brings new tax rules, taxpayers should bear in mind that the deadline for filing late income tax returns for Assessment Year 2021-22 was March 31. If an assessee missed this deadline, he or she will have to pay a penalty and interest, and may even face imprisonment for violation. Further, not linking PAN with Aadhaar from today will carry a penalty. Rs 500 will be charged if its linked within three months from today and Rs 1,000 if done thereafter. Although the PAN will remain operative, linking it to Aadhaar will cost you money and if left unlinked beyond March 31, 2023, PAN will become inoperative. Perhaps the most important tax rule thats coming into effect today is the flat 30% tax on gains from the transfer of virtual digital assets, including and non-fungible tokens. A new provision allows individuals to file an updated return for errors or mistakes within two years from the end of the relevant assessment year on payment of a penalty. Both these provisions come with certain riders. The surcharge on long-term capital gains on all types of assets will be capped at 15% from today. This cap was previously applicable only on listed equity and mutual fund units. Moreover, the interest on an employees excess contribution over Rs 2.5 lakh to the Provident Fund account will be taxed year after year. The additional interest deduction of up to Rs 1.5 lakh under Section 80EEA on home loan taken for affordable housing project has been discontinued. Higher TDS and TCS rates will be applicable for those who have not filed their ITR for FY21, the late filing deadline for which ended yesterday. The taxation regime for and NFTs is being rolled out gradually. While the gains will be taxed at 30% effective today, the provisions related to 1% TDS will come into effect from July 1. To boost manufacturing, generate employment, increase exports and cut imports, the government had launched the Production-Linked Incentive, or . At present, it covers 14 significant sectors and involves a total outlay of Rs 3 trillion. And the government initiative has started showing clear results. This week, Apples vendors have made a commitment of a minimum incremental production of Rs 25,000 crore of mobile devices in FY23 beginning from April 1. It is a threefold jump in the commitment of minimum incremental production over FY22. But how is the progressing in other sectors and what are the challenges ahead? Things are not going according to plan in one sector, at least. On 30th March, a financial daily reported that of the 14 eligible firms, only two or three were likely to meet their first-year targets under the for IT for the financial year ending 31st March. According to the report, some of the companies concerned blamed the situation on inadequate sops under the scheme. Meanwhile, others blamed the ongoing chip shortages and global supply chain disruptions. While the current corpus for IT PLI is Rs 7,350 crore, spread over 4 years, members of the industry has told the financial daily that it wants the corpus to be expanded to up to 20,000 crore rupees. According to the report, the industry believes that additional incentives are needed to make India more attractive than China and Vietnam. Issues regarding allocations have cropped up in the past, too. In November last year, the department of pharmaceuticals had urged the government to provide additional funds of about 3,000 crore rupees under the PLI scheme for drugs. China has set up the worlds highest automatic weather station on Mount Everest as part of the Peak Mission scientific expedition launched April 28. The weather station sits over 8,800 meters above sea level on the worlds highest mountain, known locally as Mount Qomolangma. More than 270 researchers participated in the expedition, among whom 13 reached the summit on Wednesday. The team is the first to make the famous climb from China this year May 06, 2022 08:15 PM Warning over electricity shortages due to coal supply difficulties. The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) has been concerned about the power shortage from next month amid the tight coal supply. Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group only provided 4.49 million tonnes of coal in the first quarter of this year for EVN's coal-powered plants out of the 5.85 million tonnes pledged in signed contracts between the two sides. The films voice cast features Jack Black as protagonist and narrator, voicing the adult version of Stan, a child whose dreams are fueled by the nearby work of NASA scientists and astronauts. Black is joined by Zachary Levi, Glen Powell, Josh Wiggins, Milo Coy, Lee Eddy, Bill Wise, Natalie LAmoreaux, Jessica Brynn Cohen, Sam Chipman, and Danielle Guilbot, many of whom were able to attend the films SXSW premiere with Linklater. At time of publication, the film boasts a 94% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes with reviews praising its nostalgic appeal and the filmmakers novel approach to first person storytelling. Heres what some of the reviews had to say about the film following its SXSW world premiere. Varietys Peter DeBruge was full of praise for the roundabout way in which Linklater reveals the films story by traveling back and forth through time, delivering an end product that is more than the sum of its parts: As a narrative, Apollo 10 1/2 meanders amicably down seemingly endless tangents, and when Linklater finally loops back around to where he left off with junior astronaut Stan (performed by Milo Coy) barfing in a NASA simulator its not at all clear how the kids top-secret moon mission fits into the larger narrative. At least, not at first. Turns out, this movie isnt so much about space as it is about time travel, or more specifically, taking Linklater and his followers back more than half a century. In her review for the Associated Press, Lindsey Bahr praised Linklaters ability to do something familiar, that never feels recycled: As with most Linklater joints, its so sincere and so sweetly true that you cant really fault it for not reinventing the wheel. Just like a story that your parents have told or maybe youve told a million times before, its comforting. So put that ham casserole on the stove, pull up a chair and enjoy hearing one more time about how someone who grew up with a black and white television set never knew Oz was in color. The Guardians Peter Bradshaw comfortably places the film on par with Linklaters other animated works: Richard Linklater is looking back from outer space at childhoods blue remembered hills in this intensely enjoyable and sweet family movie for Netflix. Its a rotoscope animation digitally based on live action; in its way, it is every bit as cultish and hallucinatory as the ones that Linklater has made before, like Waking Life from 2001 and A Scanner Darkly from 2006. David Ehrlich at Indiewire was impressed by how Linklater pieced together a sweetly effervescent string of Kodachrome memories from the filmmakers own childhood: Linklaters bittersweet collage might be glued together from the shreds of semi-related memories, but that emphasis on bite-sized moments in time (many of them specific, others more representational) has the satisfyingly counterintuitive effect of slurring them all together into something unreal. As wonderfully recalled as Apollo 10 is, Blacks narration, Stanleys eventual trip to the Moon, and the dreamlike animation that illustrates it in the same vivid style as real life are unified by an idea that Linklater has carried with him since he first picked up a movie camera: To remember the past is to re-imagine it as well. A rare voice of dissent, Abby Olcese at RogerEbert.com complains that Linklater prefers to talk at the audience: Photo: Contributed Kelowna-Lake Country MP Tracy Gray Last Tuesday, residents in Kelowna-Lake Country awoke to the news that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh had reached a backroom agreement. The deal will see the NDP support the government on budgets and other confidence votes through 2025 in exchange for adding NDP priorities to the governments agenda. A governments mandate is meant to come from Canadian voters, not the backroom operatives of political parties. Canadians gave the Liberal Party a second minority government at the last election. They did so to keep the accountability of Parliament. Parties elected to serve as the opposition, often work collaboratively and cooperatively to hold the government to account. I have experienced this first-hand on committees. The Liberal-NDP deal gives the government a blank check on many decisions for the next three years in exchange for putting forth NDP priorities. One of my greatest concerns, is with reported information on the agreement giving the NDP MPs access and advantages. Its been reported there will be extra meetings between the party leaders and senior caucus members, advance notice given to the NDP of certain votes and extra collaboration between these two parties on committees. These activities go against collaboration between all parties, particularly between opposition parties, for accountability and to hold the government to account. Its also been reported there is a formal, written agreement between the Liberals and NDP. The Official Opposition has asked for this agreement to be disclosed to the public. If political operatives have written an agreement to direct the government for the next three years, the public deserves to see it. One of the early examples of how this new parliament will function was the Liberals and New Democrats choosing to vote down the Conservatives call for the federal government to end its federal vaccine mandates. That came after twice previously asking for a plan. Every one of the 10 provincial governments have now either entirely lifted mandates and restrictions, partially done so or published their intent to do so. While the speed of lifting may vary, no provincial medical officer of health has said these restrictions must continue. Even Canadas chief medical officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, has said were now within means to live with the virus. In the House of Commons, I asked the prime minister what information the federal Liberals and NDP had that medical health officers did not. There was no answer to my question. The Liberal Party and it new partner, the NDP, beg to differ from health experts. They refuse to publish the metrics theyll use to lift restrictions on federally mandated industries and on federal employees. Their decision on this appears to be political rather than based on science. Maintaining the mandates on federal employees leaves our public services needlessly underserved. One less postal worker, EI claims advisor, pilot or RCMP officer may not sound like a lot, but it will slow and weaken the reliability of service that Canadians rely on. I hear from people losing their livelihoods and from people affected by federal service delays. Most of these jobs were deemed essential throughout the pandemic and people in these positions worked safely and stepped up to serve. Ive also heard from people who work from home, who still fall within the governments rules. We need to have common sense when making government policies. Medical science, not political posturing, should guide our decisions both for keeping people safe and for economic recovery. If you need any assistance with programs or have any thoughts to share, feel free to reach out. 250-470-5075 or [email protected]. 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 A woman rides a bicycle past a burned bus after fighting on the outskirts of Mariupol, Ukraine, in territory under control of the separatist government of the Donetsk People's Republic, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino discuss the International Criminal Court investigation into alleged war crimes by Russia. (AP Photo/Alexei Alexandrov) Russia's blocking of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and its bombing of medical facilities should be the subjects of an international war crimes investigation, says Canada's international development minister. Harjit Sajjan offered that view as a half dozen extra RCMP investigators head to The Hague to assist in the International Criminal Court investigation of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. "I have worked enough conflict areas and war zones to understand what international humanitarian law is. This is something that does need to be investigated. Civilians are not supposed to be harmed. That also includes when civilians need medical support, food support," Sajjan said in an interview. Sajjan, a former defence minister and Canadian Armed Forces veteran of the war in Afghanistan, was speaking ahead of the International Committee of the Red Cross announcement Thursday that it would be ready to start evacuating citizens from the besieged port city of Mariupol on Friday. "For logistics and security reasons, we'll be ready to lead the safe passage operation tomorrow, Friday, provided all the parties agree to the exact terms, including the route, the start time, and the duration," the ICRC said in a statement on Thursday. "It's desperately important that this operation takes place. The lives of tens of thousands of people in Mariupol depend on it." Relentless Russian attacks on Mariupol have reduced massive sections of the city to rubble and have blocked efforts to get food, water and medicine to its estimated 430,000 residents, amid reports that some may have been abducted by invading troops. Canada's Parliament and others recognize as a genocide the acts perpetrated by Joseph Stalin that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s, a tragic chapter of which Sajjan is mindful. "The Ukrainians already have seen another Holocaust in their past with the Holodomor where the population was starved to death," he said. "This is just another time now, Russians using kind of a different tactic here. So, I hope that everything will be investigated thoroughly in this regard." Sajjan said carving out the corridors needed to get humanitarian supplies into Ukraine has been a difficult undertaking. Even when routes have been cleared, convoys have had to deal with booby traps and other hazards, he said. "Every time you try and co-ordinate something, it's been used for the Russians to start targeting folks in the corridor itself." Sajjan has travelled throughout eastern Europe to liaise with Canadian allies and international agencies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Program. The food program reported recently it had helped feed its one millionth displaced Ukrainian. An estimated 10 million Ukrainians have been forced out of their homes, while almost four million have sought asylum as refugees in the worst humanitarian disaster in Europe since the Second World War. In a separate interview, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the RCMP officers dispatched to assist the prosecutor's office of the ICC joining Mounties already deployed there on various investigations will be seized with documenting the atrocities that are "continuing to occur in real time" in Ukraine. Mendicino said he expected them to focus on digitally recording the destruction while eventually gathering testimony from the Ukrainians who have fled attacks. "They are all living witnesses to what's happened in Ukraine," said Mendicino. "Even while we continue to provide military aid and impose economic sanctions and (create) humanitarian corridors to allow those who are fleeing those atrocities to survive, we have to preserve the record." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that Russia should be kicked out of the G20, the group of leading nations charged with steering the world economy, echoing U.S. President Joe Biden's call last week. Trudeau said the G20, which also includes China, might include different countries with different approaches and "political structures" but its main function is to "manage and encourage economic growth." "Russia, right now, has with its illegal invasion of Ukraine upended economic growth for everyone around the world and can't possibly be a constructive partner in how we manage in part the crisis created by Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine," he said. "The bottom line is it can't be business as usual to have Vladimir Putin just sitting around the table pretending that everything is OK, because it's not OK and it's his fault." Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland welcomed a delegation of five Ukrainian MPs for further discussions on what Canada can do to help Ukraine's democratically elected government survive the Russian invasion. "We want to be a symbol of victory, for democratic growth, for democratic values," said Lesia Zaburanna, the delegation chair. She said it was a difficult decision "for us to leave our home, our people but we have to because it's our duty." Photo: The Canadian Press In this Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, file photo, a woman using an electronic cigarette exhales a puff of smoke in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. A New Brunswick judge has denied a motion to suspend the province's ban on the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Tony Dejak A New Brunswick judge on Thursday denied a motion to suspend the province's ban on the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to prove irreparable harm. The province banned e-cigarette flavours, except for tobacco flavour, last September, but the plaintiffs a vape store and five individuals wanted sales to resume pending a full court challenge to the legislation. They were also seeking the suspension of a requirement for specialty vape stores to obtain a licence. That requirement is due to come into force April 1. Mel Norton, the plaintiffs' lawyer, argued that vape stores in New Brunswick are suffering financially because of the law and that without flavoured e-cigarette options, people trying to quit smoking would go back to smoking tobacco, which poses a greater health risk. Judge Terrance Morrison of the Court of Queen's Bench said the government's intent with the legislation was to protect the health of residents, particularly young people. "When one places economic interests of the applicants on the scale against the public interest, the scale tips dramatically in the favour of the public interest," Morrison told the court. "In my view, the balance of convenience weighs strongly in favour of not granting the injunction." The judge denied the motion and ordered the plaintiffs to pay the province $2,500 in court costs. Outside the court, Norton said his clients are disappointed with the ruling. "This was brought because they have identified a serious issue that impedes their ability to not only quit smoking but to stay away from cigarettes," Norton said. "Also, there are the economic impacts to not only the businesses but also the people who work in their businesses." Meanwhile, Rob Cunningham, a lawyer for the Canadian Cancer Society who was observing the hearing, applauded the ruling. "It's an extremely important judgment for public health to be able to protect youth and to control youth becoming addicted because of favoured vaping products," he said. Similar bans on flavoured e-cigarettes are in place in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the Northwest Territories. Last year, a motion to suspend Nova Scotia's legislation was dismissed by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. Norton said lawyers on both sides of the issue will now prepare for a full constitutional challenge of the province's ban on flavoured e-cigarettes. While no dates have been set, Norton said the case needs to be heard sooner rather than later because the legislation has dramatically reduced sales and led to the closure of one vape store in the province and to the owner of another store declaring bankruptcy. Re.: Still tough finding workers (Castanet, April 1) I read on Castanet the article regarding how tough it is to get temporary foreign workers during the pandemic. In the article, it states temporary foreign workers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will be allowed to work in British Columbia. What this really means is that agricultural workers are more essential than our highly skilled healthcare professionals in British Columbia. Unfortunately, the British Columbia government has forced healthcare workers to be vaccinated if they wish to retain the ability to earn a living. Otherwise, these highly skilled healthcare professionals are easily disposed of. This is just one example of the hypocrisy of vaccine mandates. Many industries require vaccination to remain employed and unvaccinated Canadians cannot travel within Canada on a plane, train or bus. Some may say that temporary foreign workers may not have access to vaccines like we lucky Canadians have. The solution is when the foreign workers arrive in Canada they should be offered vaccines. Some would also say the risk to the general public is low because agricultural workers dont interact closely with the public. Where the problem lies is with the fact that agricultural workers live in congregate setting where the chance to spread the virus is higher. Do not misinterpret this to mean I am pro-vaccination. I am not. Forcing people to get vaccinated as a condition of employment is quite simply immoral and unethical. Give your head a shake B.C. government and reinstate all the workers who have been put on unpaid leave or fired because of their refusal to get vaccinated. Crystal Vossos, Kelowna On March 3, (Russian) President Vladimir Putin notified those European countries that purchase, and rely on, his (countrys) natural gas exports, he will only accept payment in Russian roubles beginning April 1. Thats no April Fools joke, but his way of countering severe economic sanctions so many countries have imposed on Russia since its assault on Ukraine. Also on March 31, (U.S.) President Joe Biden announced the United States will release a million barrels of oil every day for the next six months from its strategic petroleum reserve. That is aimed at controlling rocketing fuel prices in America, and is another sanction against Russia. The worlds media has focussed on the awful aggression and destruction of Ukrainian cities in the last five weeks, and on efforts being made to find sources of oil and natural gas apart from Russia. Many were surprised (the U.S.) imports 600,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Russia. Somewhat hypocritical overtures to fill that void were even made to Venezuela and Iran, oil-producing-pariahs in their eyes for many years. Only five months ago, the global medias focus was squarely on the climate change conference at Glasgow, Scotland, COP 26, where a plethora of postulating and pretentious princes, potentates, presidents, prime-ministers, premiers, performers and plebeians were all singing in unison from the same Green-coloured song-sheet about alternative energy, and demanding the immediate end to fossil-fuel industries. However, the real world does not go from once upon a time to happily ever after, without telling everybody what happens in between those two fairy tale phrases. The assault on Ukraine has brought some actual recognition of how much everyone in the world depends on fossil-fuels. Canada has huge fossil-fuel reserves but wont be able to help other countries as much as they want to because of the lack of pipelines. These could have been constructed many years ago from Albertas oil-fields, and from British Columbias natural gas reserves, to coastal export facilities but were successfully targeted and denied, mainly by misguided environmental groups. The squeaky wheel always gets the grease, and certain members of society have been squeaking and squawking very loudly for decades, often with unproven and unverified claims. They demand an immediate end to fossil-fuel production, mistakenly believing that alternative energy is ready to take over. But the war in Ukraine is real, as so is the worlds long-term dependence on fossil-fuel energy. Bernie Smith At least 72 Bigg's killer whales were spotted in the Salish Sea on Thursday, a new single-day record. There have been days in the last decade with around 50 different Biggs killer whales reported, maybe 60, says Mark Malleson, researcher for the Centre for Whale Research. But, Thursday was certainly the most so far. The Pacific Whale Watching Association (PWWA) shared the news on Friday, saying whale watchers in Washington and southern British Columbia saw 10 distinct groups of whales. The largest group spotted by PWWA operators was in the northern San Juan Islands, where 18 killer whales were seen. One of the most notable sightings was Chainsaw, an adult male born in 1978 known for his jagged dorsal fin. We were watching a group of four whales when out of nowhere, 14 more materialized, says Sam Murphy, a naturalist with Island Adventures Whale Watching, in a statement. It was magical, says Murphy. Other whales made appearances in the Hood Canal in Washingtons Puget Sound, and as far north as the Campbell River region. Monika Wieland Shields, director of Orca Behavior Institute on San Juan Island, says the number of whales spotted is astounding. "We wonder how long this increase in Biggs killer whales will continue, but they keep setting records," she says. Biggs killer whales hunt marine mammals and are thriving currently due to an abundance of seals and sea lions in the region. The Biggs population is growing at more than four per cent a year, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Eleven new Biggs calves were born in 2021. Photo: The Canadian Press A U.S. judge refused to throw out Ghislaine Maxwells sex trafficking conviction Friday, despite a jurors failure to disclose before the trial began that hed been a victim of childhood sexual abuse. Maxwell, a British socialite, was convicted in December of helping the millionaire Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse several teenage girls. U.S. Judge Alison J. Nathan declined to order a new trial weeks after questioning the juror under oath in a New York courtroom about why he failed to disclose his personal history as an abuse survivor on a questionnaire during the jury selection process. The juror had said he skimmed way too fast through the questionnaire and did not intentionally give the wrong answer to a question about sex abuse. I didnt lie in order to get on this jury, he said. In her opinion, Nathan said the jurors failure to disclose his prior sexual abuse during the jury selection process was highly unfortunate, but not deliberate. The judge also concluded the juror harbored no bias toward the defendant and could serve as a fair and impartial juror. Maxwell's lawyers had said they potentially could have objected to the mans presence on the jury on the grounds that he might not be fair to a person accused of a similar crime. The U.S. attorneys office declined comment. Messages were left with Maxwells attorneys. Photo: The Canadian Press Michael Keren smokes a marijuana cigarette, Tuesday, April 20, 2021, in New York. Democrats in Congress cleared a significant hurdle in their fight to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level in the United States Friday. By a margin of 220-204, the House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Mark Lennihan, File Friday on Capitol Hill was more 4/20 than April Fools' Day as Democrats in Congress once again cleared a significant hurdle in their fight to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level in the United States. By a margin of 220-204, the House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, which would effectively remove cannabis from the U.S. list of controlled substances. Two Democrats broke ranks by voting against the legislation, while a pair of Republicans defied their own party line and voted to support it. It's the second time the House has passed the bill, known as the MORE Act, which now heads to the Senate, where it faces a decidedly less certain future among evenly split Democrats and Republicans. It will also face competition: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the most powerful Democrat in the upper chamber, is expected to introduce a similar bill right around April 20, a holiday of sorts on the cannabis calendar. "For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem instead of as a matter of personal choice and public health," said Rep. Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House justice committee, who sponsored the bill. "Whatever one's views are on the use of marijuana for recreational or medicinal use, the policy of arrest, prosecution and incarceration at the federal level has proven both unwise and unjust." Republicans in the House slammed the measure as a glaring example of misplaced Democratic priorities, pointing to everything from gas prices and the war in Ukraine to the "crisis" at the U.S.-Mexico border as examples of issues that are more important than legalized pot. "You know why they're dealing with this today? Because they can't deal with the real problems facing the American people," railed Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican attack dog from Ohio. "This is wrong and everybody knows it.... Let's focus on the things that matter." But House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, whose 40-year career representing Maryland in D.C. began just as Ronald Reagan was resurrecting Richard Nixon's war on drugs, was having none of it. "When I hear this argument, 'Oh, we ought to be doing this, we ought to be doing that, we ought to be doing the other' this is an important, fair piece of legislation for the American people," he said. "I was a supporter of the war on drugs. I've been here a long time.... It's not a gateway drug. I've been convinced of that." Friday's debate and vote was closely watched by industry players in Canada, where cannabis has been legal since 2018 and producers and retailers alike are poised for the chance to both expand into the U.S. and defend their market share at home. Most agree that while legalization south of the border may not be imminent, it's likely more a matter of when, not if. "I do think it's going to happen," said Omar Khan, vice-president of corporate and public affairs for High Tide Inc., a Calgary-based cannabis retailer with operations in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. "We take a cautiously optimistic approach. I think we understand that getting comprehensive decriminalization or legalization through the Senate right now is not a sure thing. Let's just put it that way." There are also concerns about the level of support at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Even though President Joe Biden was adamant during the 2020 election campaign about the need to reform marijuana laws, the silence from the White House since he took office has been deafening, said David Culver, vice-president of global government relations for Canopy Growth Corp., based in Smiths Falls, Ont. "Not only is this inaction out of touch with his own party and the American public who overwhelmingly support reform efforts, but this inaction has consequences," Culver said in a statement. "Unkept campaign promises are ignoring the 1.2 million new jobs and the desperately needed sweeping social and racial equity reforms that would be introduced with federal cannabis reform." Asked Friday about the White House position, press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged the president supports taking a new approach to the drug, but would not offer specifics on the measures he'd like to see. "Our current marijuana laws are not working (and) he agrees we need to rethink our approach," Psaki said. "We look forward to working with Congress to achieve our shared goals, and will continue having discussions with them about this objective." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in supporting the bill, Democrats are simply acknowledging the realities of nearly half a century of failed federal drug policy. "The fact is, it exists. It's being used. We've got to address how it is treated legally and not in a way that mistreats people on the lower income scale," Pelosi said during her weekly news conference. "It's a fact of life that needed appropriate public policy to address it." Uzbek Commodity Exchanges trades 0.944Mt of cement in 2M22 ICR Newsroom By 01 April 2022 In the January-February 2022 period, Uzbekistans Commodity Exchange has traded 943,500t of cement, of which 864,300t, or 91.6 per cent, were sold at an average price of UZS546,700/t. The average monthly sales volume reached 432,200t. Around 32 per cent of the volumes sold was PC II A-K (P-I) 32.5N cement, followed by PC/A-I 32.5N cement, which accounted for 16 per cent of cement sold. Smaller shares sold were PTS M-400 D-20 cement (12 per cent share), Portland cement (10 per cent) an PTS II/A-G 32.5N (eight per cent). AQ Qizilqumsement accounted for 34.1 per cent of all cement sold, followed by JSC Akhangarancement with a 24.4 per cent share. Almalyk MMC accounted for 14.5 per cent while JSC Quvasaycement and JSC Bekabadcement had shares of 6.1 and six per cent, respectively. Combined these cement producers accounted for 83.7 per cent of cement sales on the exchange. Approximately 29 per cent was sold to the Tashkent regional market, followed by Surkhandarya and Bukhara, which purchased 12 per cent of total sales each. Navoi, Samarkand and Kashkadarya accounted for 11, nine and eight per cent, respectively. Published under In spite of his sometime irreverent comments on all subjects, Lewis Grizzards (L.G.) religious background was typical of a youngster raised in the Southern village of Moreland, Georgia (population of 300-400, no traffic light). He was taken to church on Sundays by his mother and grandmother - not ordered to go alone. In his 1983 humorous work If I was Oil, Id Be About a Quart Low he discusses the religious difference between the Baptists (submergers) and Methodists (sprinklers) that were the overwhelming denominations in Moreland. He compared the monthly dinners-on-the-grounds and concluded that the Methodists had better food than the Baptists for several reasons: 1. Baptists conducted a more austere lifestyle because they put off buying their first television set and installing indoor plumbing a lot later than the Methodists. 2. Methodists fried chicken was more plump and tender than the Baptists fare because they had better cooks. He compared the Baptists fowl cuisine to that of Chef Boy-Are Dee and canned spaghetti. 3. The Methodist pre-meal blessing was also a lot shorter than the one of the Baptist orators and allowed the hungry crowd to satisfy their Sunday appetites quicker. For example a simple Methodist Make us thankful Lord for these and all our many blessings, Amen. This was deemed sufficient to give thanks and all the Lord wanted to hear before feeding the hungry congregation. Such was not the case at the Baptist Church, particularly if the pastor was a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, who wanted to display his college education to the country folks. L.G. doesnt claim he was long winded but he did remark that the ants would have already covered the chocolate cake and the block of ice would have melted half away by the time he was finished asking for remembrance of all the sick and shut in, praying for rain, guidance for our state and local leaders, (Hamilton County Mayor race), and asking a blessing on each individual, and even the boiled okra that somebody always brought, despite the fact that nobody ever ate any of it, not even the ants! He also brings up a couple other acts of disharmony in the Baptist congregation. Discord arose over the issue of whether to continue to dip new followers in the scum covered stagnant pond behind the Church that was also infected with water bugs or to build a new baptismal pool behind the pulpit in the Church building. Differences of opinion arose between the more fundamental thinkers and the more modern disciples in Moreland. The debate went on for weeks on the subjects that included the cost of installing the new version of indoor plumbing and lack of any mention in the Bible of anybody ever being baptized in what would amount to a galvanized hog trough by one eloquent opponent of the project. The new inside baptismal pool won out by a scant three votes and in a show of healing unity a motion was also carried to drain the Baptist pond. (A description of what was found in the waters when the dam was knocked down will remain for a future article.) In the event that no overzealous Baptist practitioners should unleash fire and brimstone on me and L.G. for the combined contents of this article, it is too late for him, but I would point out that I was dipped in a baptismal pool at the now relocated First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, Florida by the legendary Dr. Earl B. Edington at the tender age of 12). * * * You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com) On February 25, 2022, one of the area's most experienced litigators for insurance companies found himself falsely imprisoned in one of the elevators in an historic office building on Broad Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The elevator stopped between floors, the door would not open and several unsuccessful attempts to extract himself from his site of incarceration took place. His many frantic unanswered calls for help resounded throughout the building and elevator shaft and he finally resorted to his own resources and pushed the Emergency button. Using his experience as a trial lawyer he attempted to call for assistance with said alarm but after being placed on hold and routed through several channels the phone was finally answered by an inquisitive employee of the service who with a foreign accent (from the North) inquired if he was calling from Wisconsin for help. Hell no, Im calling from a stuck elevator in the building, on Broad Street, in Chattanooga, Tennessee! The veteran attorney who has bravely faced lions, tigers, and rhinoceros on safaris in Africa and many plaintiff lawyers repeatedly hollered for help that echoed through the walls of his confined space. Fortunately, his many shouts to be rescued were finally heard by a caring legal colleague with offices on the third floor and the period of confinement and his ordeal in the small cramped 4 x 5 space finally ended. No broken bones or permanent injuries were sustained, and any potential psychological trauma has yet to be diagnosed and determined. The free legal advice of several of the more aggressive plaintiff law firms both locally and nationally offered to send a lawyer and suggested to the potential client that he immediately travel to the psychiatric ward of one of the local hospitals for immediate assistance and that they would meet him there to protect his legal rights. He has been assured by a local firm that one of their board-certified attorneys in the specialty of Elevator Entrapment cases would immediately start an investigation into his traumatic experience before the evidence to prove his case could be destroyed. Although the victim normally has only one year to file their lawsuit under applicable Tennessee law from the date of the horrendous event on February 25, 2022, if he should become mentally and permanently disabled it is anticipated that he will receive a substantial settlement based upon the expertise of the numerous lawyers that have contacted him within a few days of the tragic event. A tenant in the building however seemed unconcerned about the harrowing experience of their fellow renter and exclaimed - Whats the big deal he was just a lawyer! Happy April Fools Day! * * * You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com) Two Alabama families have sued Vision Hospitality over the condition of the swimming pool at Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Chattanooga. Plaintiffs are Charles and Ashley Keith and William and Amy Martin. The suit also names Hampton Inns Management LLC. The families from Greenville, Ala. said they checked into the hotel on March 26, 2021. They then took their children to swim in the indoor area of the pool. They said they brought in dinner on March 27 with plans to eat around the pool. The suit says four-year-old E.C. Keith exited the pool complaining of burning in her private region. Mrs. Keith looked at the area and found no obvious issue. E.C. continued swimming without issue. On March 29, the parents took E.C. Keith, M.P. Keith (two years old) and W.C. Martin (five years old) to the pool to swim around 8:30 a.m. After less than an hour, E.C. Keith began complaining of a stomach ache and got out of the pool, it was stated. She appeared disoriented, and Ashley Keith went to the lobby to get a drink and snack for her. W.C. Martin got out of the pool with complaints of stomach pain. M.P. Keith also got out of the pool. The suit says M.P. and W.C. got back into the pool and, within a few minutes, W.C. got out of the pool and M.P., who was near a light pole, began crying and put her hands to her mouth. It says she got out of the pool, but was not walking correctly. Mrs. Keith picked her up and sat with her. The suit says M.P.'s eyes rolled back and she became unresponsive. Mrs. Keith plead for someone to call 911. At this point, M.P. was unconscious, it was stated. The suit says M.P. was placed on the floor, and Mrs. Keith tried to revive her. She tried to call 911 from the pool phone, but it was not working. It says several bystanders with medical backgrounds came to assist. The suit says E.C. became pale and disoriented. E.C. and M.P. went with Mrs. Keith in the ambulance, and M.P. was unresponsive throughout the trip to Erlanger Hospital, it was stated. W.C., who was born with an atrial septal defect and who was also experiencing the same symptoms, was also transported to the hospital. The suit says the physician at the hospital contacted the Hamilton County Health Department and Poison Control. The children were treated and released. The discharge diagnosis was chemical reaction/exposure, the suit says. Hospital notes said, "The child does not smell like chlorine." The notes said the hotel advised the hospital that the chlorine levels were normal. The complaint says all of the children suffered from syncope, pain in their legs and burning to their genital region. It says W.C. continues to suffer from recurring rashes and M.P. has had multiple episodes of syncope, fevers, chills, sleep disturbances, muscle aches, fatigue and weight loss. She has episodes of hypoglycemia and has developed chronic sinusitis resulting in multiple sinus surgeries and double ear infections "attributed to the bacteria in the hotel pool water. She has suffered from mucosal thickening and silent seizures, it was stated. The suit says the health department inspected the pool on March 29, 2021, and found multiple violations, including with electrical systems, illumination, chemical storage, gas chlorination, lifesaving equipment and the phone. It states, "There were also problems with water temperature, turbidity and disinfecting methods, as well as positive bacteriological test results and no approved sanitizing residual. It was found to be completely devoid of chlorine and the Cyanuric Acid Stabilizer was found to be too high. There were also problems with cross connections, sewage disposal and water supply, and the pool was ordered closed." The suit claims that nine days earlier the hotel had been notified of numerous problems with the pool, but they had not been corrected. The parents alleged emotional and economical damages. The suit was filed in Circuit Court by Chattanooga attorneys Steven Dobson and Eric Burnette and Union Springs, Ala., attorney Elizabeth Littell Courson. Songbirds Guitar & Pop Culture Museum and the Pop-Up Project present Jumpin' Jazz Night on Thursday, April 14, at 7 p.m. Featuring Djoukil, a Jazz and American Swing band from Lyon, France, this special fundraising event will benefit Songbirds' Guitars for Kids program, which provides students across the south free guitars, music lessons, and in-depth music therapy. There will also be performances and ambiance by The Pop-Up Project, a dance-based production company specializing in creating unforgettable experiences. From the elegant to the absurd they do it all, said officials. The public is invited to get dolled up, put on dancing shoes, and swing the night away, all for a great cause. There will be free drinks and prizes for the best dressed guests. It will be held at Songbirds Guitar & Pop Culture Museum. Tickets are $15 and available here. In the Big Sky Season 2 Episode 14 recap of Dead Mans Float, Travis Stone (Logan Marshall-Green) confronts Jenny Hoyt (Katheryn Winnick) about trust. Plus, Alicia (Constance Zimmer) pits Ren (Janina Gavankar) and Jag (Vinny Chhibber) against each other. Cassie Dewell (Kylie Bunbury) does not make an appearance at all, while she recovers. Viewers get confirmation that Wolf Legarski (John Carroll Lynch) is really dead, but theres no mention of John Milton. [Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from Big Sky Season 2 Episode 14 Dead Mans Float.] Big Sky: Laurel Harris and Katheryn Winnick | ABC/Anna Kooris Big Sky Season 2 Episode 14 Recap: Everyone is suspicious of Travis When Big Sky Season 2 Episode 14 opens, Travis shows Jenny the body of Bob (Alex Knight). However, she questions where his loyalty lies. When Jenny begins asking questions about his connection to the Bhullars and his former lover, he gets upset. Ren and Jag discuss Travis ability to kill someone without any warning. He also admits he saw their father staring out the window, oddly. Donno (Ryan ONan) shows Travis a video of him killing Bob. He threatens to use it as blackmail if needed. Big Sky Season 2 Episode 14 Recap: Jenny Hoyt takes on a new case RELATED: Big Sky Season 2 Ratings Signal a Renewal Is Likely for Season 3 Jenny and Deputy Poppernak (J. Anthony Pena) meet at the scene of a deceased teenager, Mason Ford. Jenny knows the family and heads to their house to notify them that its true, their son is dead. Masons sister, Hayden (Keara Lloyd), admits that he drank, but didnt use drugs. Later, Jenny visits Hayden at her place of employment to let her know Mason died of a drug overdose. Their father, Richard (Dallas Roberts), is a recovering alcoholic that Denise also knows well. Sheriff Tubb (Patrick Gallagher) gets the coronors report. Mason overdosed on synthetic opiods cut with something different. Jenny suspects that the Bhullar family had something to do with the drug-related death. Big Sky Season 2 Episode 14 Recap: Jerrie Kennedy returns Mark Lindor (Omar Metwally) and Denise (Dedee Pfeiffer) discuss what they are doing to fill the time while Cassie recovers. Then we finally see Jerrie Kennedy (Jesse James Keitel) with her father (Jeff Kober). Her mother died and he admits how much it meant to their family that Jerrie was there for the past week. Has it only been a week? Jerrie finally returns to Dewell & Hoyt detective agency and Mark gets her up to speed. She thanks Mark for pushing her to visit home and see her mother before she died. He also tells Jerrie that something happened between him and Cassie. Theres some sort of love triangle going on here. RELATED: Big Sky Season 2 Cast: 2 New Series Regulars, Upgrades and Who Might Die First Big Sky Season 2 Episode 14 Recap: Veer finally tells his children his secret When Ren and Jen find their father, Veer Bhullars (Bernard White), reciting poetry in a field, they confront him. He admits there was trouble in Toronto, Canada. A former partner stole money from him. Veer tried to kill the person, but he got away. Ren and Jag worry that they will come after their family in Big Sky country. Later, Alicia tells Ren that Veer wants one of his children to take over the business. She would like it to be Ren. Meanwhile, Tonya (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) asks Donno whats going on and he reveals theres trouble coming. Hes worried about Ren and insists Tonya must be loyal and able to kill for her. Jenny is in trouble Later, Travis and Ren discuss Veers former girlfriends and Travis brings up his ex-lover, Kate. However, just as hes about to tell her how the woman died, Jenny shows up at the Bhullar residence. Jenny tells Ren its her fault the teen died. Travis gets in Jennys face to make her leave. Ren gives orders to find out who is messing with their drugs. With only a few minutes left in Big Sky Season 2 Episode 14, Jenny heads down into a basement near the truck viewers know will ship the drugs. She winds up in the Bhullars drug facility. Dhruv (Jinder Mahal) catches her in the last second and knocks her to the ground. According to the ABC press release, Big Sky Season 2 Episode 15, This Will Not Be Forgiven, returns on April 7, 2022. Big Sky airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST on ABC and is available for streaming the next day on Hulu. RELATED: Big Sky Season 2 Filmed in a Drastically Different Location In 2002, George Harrisons son, Dhani Harrison, invited Dave Grohl to Concert for George, a tribute concert for his father. The show made the Foo Fighters frontman cry. It also made him realize that hed been doing something similar; paying tribute to a fallen friend. Grohl realized hed been mourning Kurt Cobain through music just as Georges friends did at Concert for George. Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl | Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images George Harrisons son, Dhani, invited Dave Grohl to Concert for George Grohl and Dhani met in 2002, six years after Cobain died. Grohl wrote about the meeting on his blog, Daves True Stories. Foo Fighters guitarist, Chris Shifflett, brought Dhani over to meet Grohl, who had no idea who Dhani was at first. In all of our years traveling and touring, playing concerts and festivals from Mississippi to Melbourne, I can honestly say that there arent too many strangers in the world of Foo, but as familiar as Dhanis face seemed, I couldnt place where I had seen this young man before, Grohl continued. But, with a nagging sense of Deja vu, I felt I knew this person somehow, almost as if we had grown up together. Dhani handed Grohl a CD he said hed worked on with his father. It was Brainwashed. I noticed something handwritten in the lower, right corner By George Harrison, Grohl continued. Confused, I looked up at Dhani and immediately realized why he looked so familiar. As the son of the late, great George Harrison, he is the spitting image of his father. I took in his features: The unmistakable brow, the cheekbones, the shaggy, dark hair. I suddenly felt as if I were face to face with the quiet Beatle himself. And in that moment it all made sense.little did Dhani know, I had grown up with him. Dhani told Grohl that he was organizing a tribute concert for George. The list of performers at Concert for George astounded Grohl. These musical giants were not only the soundtrack of my life, but many of the gods that I had bowed to ever since I picked up a guitar. In my mind, this was Valhalla, he said. The best part of the conversation happened when Dhani invited Grohl to Concert for George. RELATED: How George Harrison Shocked Peter Frampton During Their First Meeting Watching Concert for George made Dave Grohl realize hed been mourning Kurt Cobain through music When Dhani invited Grohl to Concert for George, the Foo Fighters frontman said he levitated from excitement. He felt as if hed been granted a lifelong wish. A week later, Grohl and the group were escorted to a VIP box. Grohl started crying when he saw the portrait of George by the stage. After the show began, Grohl realized, This was no longer a concert hall this was a temple It was clear that this night was more than a concert. This was a spiritual experience. Then Grohl realized how the tribute concert related to his own life. Just as Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Ringo Starr, and many more were mourning George by playing his music, Grohl had been doing the same with Cobain. Grohl made the connection while Ringo performed his song, Photograph. As if the previous hour hadnt already been the most life affirming jolt to my soul, Ringos presence and this song in particular struck an unpredicted chord within me, Grohl wrote. Here was a man, generously withholding his own grief of losing a dear friend and bandmate, spreading love and joy by sharing the most healing force in time of mourning: Music. I realized that I had been trying to do the exact same thing since that cold, cloudy morning of April 5th, 1994. The day that Kurt Cobain died. I sang along at the top of my lungs. RELATED: George Harrisons Son Said Tom Pettys Death Was Just as Painful as His Fathers Death The Foo Fighters song about Cobains death Grohl was right; he had mourned Cobain through music without realizing it. He started Foo Fighters shortly after the Nirvana frontmans death. Grohl needed music to help him grieve. Otherwise, he would have taken a break for a while. Not only did Grohl carry on, but he wrote about carrying on in a song. Grohl hates when journalists ask which Foo Fighters songs were written about Cobain just as much as he hates talking about Cobains death. Many fans theorized which Foo Fighters songs were about Cobain. However, in a Rolling Stone cover story, Grohl revealed the bands 2011 song Walk is about Cobains death. It kind of comes from the day after Kurt died, Grohl explained. Waking up that morning and realizing, Oh, s***, hes not here anymore. I am. Like, I get to wake up and he doesnt. Im making a cup of coffee. And he cant. Im gonna turn on the radio. And he wont. That was a big revelation to me. The lyrics read: Learning to walk again/ I believe Ive waited long enough/ Where do I begin?/ Learning to talk again/ Cant you see Ive waited long enough?/ Where do I begin? I think also in life, you get trapped in crisis, where you imagine theres no way out, he continued. When really, if you dare to consider that crisis a blip on the radar, its easier to push through. And, yeah, I was just like, I dont want anyone to have that feeling that I had that morning.' Grohl had to start over after Cobains death and had no idea what to do. So he did the first thing he knew would make him feel better, play music. That was what Concert for George was all about too. Sometimes music helps people grieve. RELATED: Dave Grohl Was Ready to Quit Music When Taylor Hawkins Fell Into a Coma Following a Heroin Overdose Taylor Hawkins said it was intimidating being the drummer for Dave Grohl, one of the best drummers of the 1990s. Grohl was Nirvanas drummer, after all. Hed already formed Foo Fighters when Hawkins met him, and Hawkins was drumming for Alanis Morissette. When Grohl needed a drummer, he called Hawkins. However, asking Hawkins to join the band wasnt about the music. The pair had a profound first meeting. A connection sparked between them. Grohl didnt care about Hawkins drumming; he wanted a best friend. So, Hawkins had no cause for worry. Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins | Richard Dobson/Newspix/Getty Images Dave Grohl didnt choose Taylor Hawkins to be Foo Fighters drummer because of his skills In his 2021 memoir, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music (per Loud Wire), Grohl explained that he and Hawkins had a profound first meeting. Hawkins came into Grohls life like an F5 tornado. Tearing through the room like an F5 tornado of hyperactive joy was Taylor Hawkins, my brother from another mother, my best friend, a man from whom I would take a bullet, Grohl wrote. Upon first meeting, our bond was immediate, and we grew closer with every day, every song, every note that we played together. Essentially, it was love at first sight for the unstoppable duo. Grohl told NME that he asked Hawkins to join Foo Fighters because of their emotional connection, not Hawkins drumming skills. He said that theres no such thing as a musical audition to join the Foo Fighters. Its a much more emotional, personal thing. You could be the best drummer in the world, but youd never be in this band if you didnt fit. Everyone in this band fits for a reason. When I met Taylor, it took two-and-half minutes before we became best friends. It just happened. Its that way in life, whether its a best friend, a lover or someone you know youll carry for the rest of your life. When he joined the band, his drumming was the least important factor I just thought I want to travel the world with this guy, I want to jump on stage and drink beers with this person. That was my biggest concern. RELATED: Dave Grohl Named Foo Fighters After a Term for UFOs Coined by WWII Allied Forces Hawkins found it intimidating being in a band with Grohl, one of the best drummers Despite having great chemistry and feeling like they were long-lost brothers, it was still intimidating for Hawkins to join Foo Fighters. During an interview in 2021 on The Howard Stern Show, the radio host said, Dave, I dont care what Taylor says; its got to be intimidating being in Foo Fighters. In the sense that you were the drummer in Nirvana, and youre such a great drummer yourself, Im sure, Taylor, you sit there and have nightmares that hes gonna be critical, and is he critical? Hawkins replied, I think because Dave was the drummer, and the drummer is, like you say, Ah, who cares about the drummer? You know, thats the hot seat. And if the gig goes bad, its the drummers fault. Bands only as good as its drummer, Grohl interjected. Hawkins continued, Yeah, bands only as good as its drummer, and only as bad as their drummer as well. So like, Dave is never a d*** about it, really, honestly. I can honestly say that hes never a d*** about it. But its intimidating; theres no question. When I joined the band, I was super intimidated because I met Axl Rose, the first time he said, Whats it like being the drummer for the greatest drummer of the 90s? Im like, Ah, hard.' RELATED: Dave Grohl Had No Idea Who George Harrisons Son Was When They First Met Hawkins shined in Foo Fighters and eventually did things he never thought hed do On March 25, Hawkins was found dead in his hotel room in Bogota, Colombia. Fans and celebrities have shared their tributes, including music writer Jordan Runtagh. He told NBC News, I keep hearing people say that he was the only guy who could shine as the drummer in a band with Dave Grohl. It might have been hard to imagine going to a concert with Dave Grohl and not having him on drums, but Taylor was never a disappointment. He was the engine behind it all. What a machine. Runtagh was right; Hawkins was a machine. It might have been intimidating joining Foo Fighters at first, but Hawkins eventually did things in the band he never thought hed do. I think when we get onstage together that just naturally we become hams, Hawkins told Rolling Stone in 2021. And Im f***ing goofing around and hes goofing around, and we push each other in that department, not push each other in a negative way, but in a more, like, Lets take it to the next level. Lets see how far can you go in this jam. I was a loudmouth kid and I was like, I have ideas, I have ideas. And finally I just went, You know what? You have the best ideas. And if you want an idea, youll let me know. And when he wants an idea he said like the last album, Hey, I got this song, Sunday Rain. I want Paul McCartney to play drums on it. I want you to sing it and write it. Heres the music. Heres a little bit of a melody idea if you want it. And I did. And I have a song on a Foo Fighter record with me singing my lyrics, putting my Eagles and Queen harmonies all over it, with Paul McCartney playing drums. I have my own Wings song, because of Dave. Hawkins had nothing to worry about joining Foo Fighters. Grohl wanted him, and that was the bottom line. RELATED: Stevie Nicks Heartbreaking Poem in Tribute to Taylor Hawkins: I Feel the Pain Outlander provided Sam Heughan with a literary romantic fantasy, but it wasnt his first attempt. Years before, Heughan tried to be part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. As these films were in production at the end of the 90s, Heughan didnt graduate from drama school until 2003, but he went out for the films. The more established Liv Tyler beat him at the time. Sam Heughan | Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Starz Heughan discussed his Lord of the Rings audition on the March 4 episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Heughan returned to New Zealand for Season 2 of Men In Kilts. Outlander Season 6 is currently airing Sundays on Starz. How Sam Heughan and Liv Tyler auditioned for the same Lord of the Rings role The adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings was massive. Not every character made it into the three films (sorry, Tom Bombadil). Tyler ultimately played the elf warrior Arwen, a role generously beefed up from the books. When Heughan read for it, the role might have been another male elf. I did, I met Peter Jackson, Heughan said on Happy Sad Confused. I auditioned initially for an elf. Why do you laugh? What, do you think Id be better at an orc or something? I did, I met Peter Jackson. It was for a character who then I believe became Arwen I think but initially it was this elf warrior. It was something like Orcs have been seen crossing the path. But no, unfortunately, didnt get the part. RELATED: Outlander Book Adaptations Include Personal Elements From Screenwriters Heughan would have been 19 in 1999. Tyler was only three years older, but perhaps had more fight in her by then. Outlander stars return to New Zealand During a break from Outlander, Heughan and former co-star Graham McTavish took a motorcycle trip through Scotland. That landed them another hit Starz show, Men in Kilts. Men in Kilts was such a hit they did a second season. This time, McTavish and Heughan rode through New Zealand. Heughan teased how they might revisit The Lord of the Rings locations. We may have done something to do with that, Heughan said. Might be. Its Graham McTavish so he will of course wax lyrical about it. Sam Heughan and Lord of the Rings are back Heughan may have missed his chance to play an elf, but Lord of the Rings has not gone away. Amazon produced a Prime Video series set before the events of The Hobbit. An all new cast filmed Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in New Zealand too, and Heughan was well aware. A new legend begins this fall. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, only on @PrimeVideo Sept 2, 2022. #LOTRonPrime #LOTR #LOTRROP pic.twitter.com/o4o2udfiec The Lord of the Rings on Prime (@LOTRonPrime) February 14, 2022 They obviously just shot the new Lord of the Rings show in New Zealand as well, Heughan said. We met some of the people whod been working on that. Were excited for them to see that show as well. Its a big show. RELATED: Outlander Prequel: Sam Heughan Jealous of New Show Once upon a time, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were seen smiling along with many other British royals as they made their annual walk from the Sandringham House to church for Christmas Day service. But after two years of spending the holidays together, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex opted to stay in North America and celebrate the Christmas period away from the royal family. Some royal watchers were a bit surprised by that as they assumed that Meghan and Harry would continue the tradition of staying with the princes family given his grandparents advanced ages. Now, a royal expert is weighing in about how disappointing Harry and Meghans holiday snub was for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Harry, and Meghan leaving the Christmas Day service at Church of St Mary Magdalene in 2017 | Chris Jackson/Getty Images The queen allowed Meghan to do something she never let other royal fiancees do at Christmas Meghan and Harry announced to the world that they were engaged in November 2017 and a month later, the Suits star was celebrating Christmas in Norfolk with the entire royal family. It was actually a huge deal that the queen allowed Harrys bride-to-be to join the festivities because royal fiancees before her, like Kate Middleton, were not allowed to spend the holiday at Sandringham until after they were married. Once Meghan and Harry tied the knot in 2018, they were at the queens Norfolk residence again for the second year in a row. But that was the last year the Sussexes would spend in Sandringham. Weeks before they announced they were stepping down as senior royals, the couple stayed in Canada during the holidays. Expert says the queen and Prince Philip were disappointed by Harry and Meghans holiday snub Meghan Markle and Prince Harry walking arm-in-arm to the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in 2018 | Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images During a recent documentary titled Harry & Meghan vs. The Monarchy, veteran journalist Richard Kay stated that Christmas is a big deal for the royals. He reflected on the Sussexes absence in those years before Prince Philip died. Kay opined that not having the whole family there to celebrate with the monarch and her husband at their age was likely difficult for them. Christmas is a very, very important part in the queens calendar, Kay said (per Express). She likes to draw her family around her. She and Prince Philip were getting older. They knew that there wouldnt be too many more Christmases and they must have been disappointed. However, relationship psychologist Anjula Muntanda sees things differently and suggested that perhaps the Sussexes needed to remove themselves from a situation that they found difficult and painful. Muntanda explained: What you do sometimes, psychologically for yourself, is you remove yourself from a situation that you find difficult and painful, and put yourself in a space that you feel might be more nurturing and safe and secure. The Sussexes have spent Christmas in California since their exit Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared the first photo of their daughter Lilibet in their 2021 Christmas card https://t.co/lbTn0YVFpr pic.twitter.com/FGbsguQzO6 BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) December 23, 2021 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex celebrated Christmas in their Montecito home for the first time in 2020. One story that emerged about that Christmas in Santa Barbara is that Harry was mistaken for a tree salesman. According to Express, the pair visited a store just a few miles from their house called Big Wave Daves Christmas Trees & Pumpkin Patch. The couple reportedly thought they had the all-clear that the store was empty so they could go in and shop. However, there was still one family inside and thats when someone mistook Harry for a tree salesman. James Almaguer, who is a sales associate at the shop and was there the day Harry and Meghan were, relayed the story and said that a child still inside the store walked up to Harry and asked him if he was a worker. Almaguer then gave his impression of the Sussexes saying: They seemed like very nice people, honestly. Meghan sounds very kind and Harry sounded and acted like a chill lad honestly. Im really glad they liked our trees. RELATED: The 1 Royal Fashion Rule Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton Regularly Break That Meghan Markle Never Did The restoration of St James Power Station is finally complete and with it, comes the launch of the St James Power Station Heritage Trail and Gallery! Both the trail and gallery are FREE for everyone to visit so it's a new place to explore in Singapore with the family. The Heritage Trail is located OUTSIDE of St James Power Station so it is openly accessible to all at any time of the day. The Heritage Gallery is an indoor exhibition and is also free to access. However, advanced booking of tickets (and time slot) is compulsory. Here's what to expect of the new St James Power Station Heritage Trail and Gallery: Credit: Mapletree Investments St James Power Station Heritage Trail Gazetted as a National Monument in 2009, St James Power Station was a coal-fired power station built by the British between 1924 and 1927. The power station was decommissioned in 1976 as it was unable to meet Singapores rising demand for electrical power. Checkpoint 1: NEW HARBOUR AND SURROUNDS Start the Heritage Trail at VivoCity's Lobby F, Level 2. This is where the overhead bridge connects VivoCity to the other side of the road where St James Power Station is located. In the 1900's, Cape St James was situated between Blangah Bay and Sibet Bay and consisted of a small hill with a land connector leading to the main island. In the 1900's, Cape St James was situated between Blangah Bay and Sibet Bay and consisted of a small hill with a land connector leading to the main island. Initially, the cape was known as Tanjong Aur. It was later named Cape St James after James Guthrie, the founder of Guthrie and Co, who leased the land from the Temenggong to build his house. In 1924, Cape St James was acquired by the colonial government to construct St James Power Station, the first municipal major power station in Singapore. The site of St James Power Station was chosen for its strategic seafront location. The seawater provided an unlimited supply of cool water for condensing purposes during the power generation process. After the hilly terrain was flattened, the site allowed for ample land for expansion purposes and was easily accessed by road. Checkpoint 2: GLOBAL NETWORKS - HARPOON, ANCHOR & STONE POSTS As one descends the linkway via the escalator, you will see three installations located right in front of the power station. HARPOON Commercial whaling was common in the mid-19th century and was historically associated with Imperial Russia and later Soviet Russia. This harpoon gun was mounted on a ship named 'Voskhititel'nyy' translated from Russian as delightful. The ship was in commission from 1962, and belonged to a Russian whaling fleet called 'Sovetskaya Rossiya'. The fleet would often dock in Singapore during its expeditions to the Indian Ocean. Whaling eventually declined in the 1970s due to its controversy. The harpoon gun was gifted in 1974 to the Maritime Museum before 'Voskhititel'nyy' went out of commission in 1980. ANCHOR Standing nearly two metres high, this anchor was commonly used in vessels in the 20th century. Its cylindrical shank (instead of the usual sharp-edged shanks) differentiates this model from other anchors. Refined from earlier anchor designs, Hall's stockless anchor became the model for the modern anchors to come and continues to be used today. Stone Posts These two stone posts have stood at the boundary of the P&O wharf since the 1850s. The P&O wharf was built at the New Harbour, where its deep-water conditions were ideal for the significantly larger steamships. The wharf likely stood in place until the Singapore Harbour Board bought it in 1926. In 1977, the land was used to build the World Trade Centre, later renamed HarbourFront Centre. Checkpoint 3: HISTORIC MILD STEEL WINDOWS Walk towards the main road (West Coast Highway) to find these towering steel windows. The facades of St James Power Station feature tall mild steel windows with green glazing. The lofty windows resemble those of cathedral buildings, bathing the interiors with a soft, diffused light. The signature green tint is characteristic of early glass windows, a popular material of the 1920s, which reduces glare from the harsh tropical sunlight. The facades of St James Power Station are constructed of a self-supporting brick envelope in fair-faced finish. The word 'Alexandra' is imprinted on the bricks, indicating that they were sourced locally from Alexandra Brickworks. Established in 1899, Alexandra Brickworks was the first modern brickyard in Singapore, located at Pair Panjang. Checkpoint 4: TANJONG PAGAR GATEPOSTS Make a U-turn and head towards Sentosa. Walk past the harpoon and anchor, and you will come face to face with two gate posts. These two cast-iron gate posts possibly date back to 1864, when they marked the entrance to Victoria Dock, owned by the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company. By 1913, the colonial government had taken control of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company. They established the Singapore Harbour Board, which was eventually replaced by the Port of Singapore Authority. The gate posts have remained in place, witnessing more than a century of the transforming docklands. They established the Singapore Harbour Board, which was eventually replaced by the Port of Singapore Authority. The gate posts have remained in place, witnessing more than a century of the transforming docklands. Checkpoint 5: STEAM CRANE If your kids love large vehicles, then this installation will definitely excite! Located just beside the gate posts, this 10-ton Steam Crane, named Works Number 683, was made by John H. Wilson & Company of Sandhills, Liverpool. It was installed beside Albert Dock and ran along the docks on a fixed set of railway tracks. The steam crane is composed of parts made by different companies in the UK. The railway tracks for the steam crane were supplied by the British Steel Corporations rail making plant in Workington. They also once provided the rails for Singapores MRT systems for 30-40 years. These constant upgrades have allowed the steam crane to function for more than 100 years before its decommissioning in 1983. The steam crane is composed of parts made by different companies in the UK. The railway tracks for the steam crane were supplied by the British Steel Corporations rail making plant in Workington. They also once provided the rails for Singapores MRT systems for 30-40 years. These constant upgrades have allowed the steam crane to function for more than 100 years before its decommissioning in 1983. NOTE: Visitors are not supposed to step onto the raised platform. St James Power Station Heritage Gallery Once you are done with the outdoor trails, it's time to enjoy some air-conditioned comfort in the Heritage Gallery! Remember to pre-book your entry slot BEFORE heading down as you will need to scan the QR Code in your confirmation email at the entrance to enter. Housed in one of the power station's distinctive chimneys, the Heritage Gallery reflects Singapore's history as a trading hub, her rich heritage and progressive transformation over the years into a world-class city centre. Visitors will be treated to an immersive experience in this part of the national monument and discover the rich and fascinating history of St James Power Station and the evolution of the HarbourFront precinct. Power, Progress and Future The heritage gallery narrates the practical and symbolic roles of St James Power Station over a span of nearly a century. It traces the key players and events throughout the evolution of the Harbourfront precinct from its industrial and maritime past, to the commercial and leisure hub of today. 3D Augmented Reality Model The original commissioned interactive artwork by award-winning digital visual creative Jerome Ng Xin Hao Use your phone to scan the QR code to bring the building to life, with animated scenes that depict the intricate systems of moving water, steam and electricity through the building's layers of complex machinery. Alternative Futures Singapore's next phase of power generation priorities greener energy sources such as natural gas or renewables. In line with Singapore's power generation story, the adaptive reuse and 'rebirth' of St James today as the headquarters for a leading global technology company marks a symbolic shift towards sustainable practices. Learn more about the various power generation models and the transformation towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy use. A Steam Power Plant St James Power Station was outfitted with the most up-to-date steam- powered machines and it was conceived with lofty ambitions to supply electricity to the entire town and beyond. While other privately-owned electric plants were already present, none rivalled the capability and complexity of St James Power Station. Find out more about the different parts of the power plant, its operation and mechanisms. Be fascinated by how these systems remain a testament to the steam-power generation processes of its time. The Electric Men The smooth operation of the power station relied heavily on the men who worked tirelessly to ensure that the machinery was well maintained. Labourers carried heavy coal to provide a steady fuel supply to the boilers, while the engineers made certain that the machines performed as they should. They had to be on alert to react any time a fault occurred. The maintenance of a power station proved to be an arduous task. Take a deep dive into the collective memory and stories of the people involved with the power station especially the challenges faced during the post-war recovery period. St James Power Station's West Chimney Perhaps the greatest thrill is the opportunity to stand under one of the power station's chimney! The west chimney was part of the restoration and refurbishment works from 2018 to 2021. Rising to a height of 32 meters, the distinctive chimney marked a significant milestone in the power station's history when it switched from steam to gas turbines to meet the growing demand for electricity during the post-war era. The Heritage Gallery is not exactly that big to begin with, but it offers concise information of the history and workings of St James Power Station. All in all, it's an informative place to hang out if you are in the vicinity of VivoCity or even on your way to Sentosa! USEFUL INFORMATION ST JAMES POWER STATION HERITAGE TRAIL & GALLERY Address: 3 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098544 Opening Hours: Tuesday Sunday 10am 6pm (Last entry at 5.30pm) | Closed on Monday Admission Charges: FREE* *Visitors are required to pre-book the slot online prior to their visit: PRE-BOOK LINK **Children 13 years of age & below must be accompanied by an adult at all times in the Heritage Gallery. How to get there: BUS - HarbourFront station/VivoCity Bus Stop: RWS8, 61, 855, NR1, NR6, 97, 10, 30, 30, 57, 65, 80, 97E, 100, 123M, 131, 143, 145, 166. Alight at bus stop [HarbourFront station/VivoCity] MRT - HarbourFront MRT Station [NE1/CC29]. Take the NorthEast Line or Circle Line (NE1/CC29) DRIVE - Parking of car/motorcycle is not available at St James Power Station. Nearest carpark is at VivoCity. WEBSITE Located just beside the gate posts, this 10-ton Steam Crane, named Works Number 683, was made by John H. Wilson & Company of Sandhills, Liverpool. It was installed beside Albert Dock and ran along the docks on a fixed set of railway tracks. These two cast-iron gate posts possibly date back to 1864, when they marked the entrance to Victoria Dock, owned by the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company. By 1913, the colonial government had taken control of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company. As one walks through the linkway, take time to read the many information panels that have been put up which narrates the history of the Keppel area, especially how the power station got its name. Craig Simonian had a vision. It landed him in a war zone. Raised in an Armenian-American Orthodox family, he came to know Jesus personally at university. He served as a Vineyard church pastor in New Jersey for nearly two decades but continued to embrace his Apostolic church heritage. It laid the foundation of his faithbut also of his nation of origin. The reason Armenia still exists is because of the church, he said. It kept our shattered people together, especially in the diaspora. As a child, Simonians grandmother witnessed her father and mother murdered in the Armenian Genocide, killed by Turks in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. When she eventually arrived in America, it was the Apostolic church that embraced their family. Simonian recalled kindly visits by priests of their Oriental Orthodox tradition whoin the face of tragedy and devastationgave him a deep appreciation of the sovereignty of God. It was his evangelical awakening, however, that drew him back to Armeniaand in particular to its church. He relocated in 2018 to a nation locked in a cold war with neighboring Azerbaijan. A self-professed oddball, he longed for the Apostolic church to embrace fully the gospel he had discovered. If we are going to reach this generation, we cant do it without them, Simonian said. I will call people to Jesus but never to leave their church. But two years later, the war turned hot. Azerbaijan invaded the Armenian-controlled enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in October 2020. The territory is recognized internationally as belonging to Azerbaijan, yet the residents of what Armenians call Artsakh voted for independence in 1991. For three decades Armenia held the upper hand but was routed in a 44-day war through superior drone technology that Turkey and Israel supplied to Azerbaijan. Russian intervention enforced a ceasefire, with Nagorno-Karabakh demolished and Armenians holding a fraction of their previous territory. The nation felt numb after its defeat, and many found refuge in the Apostolic church. Today, Simonian provides ad hoc spiritual care as he builds relationships with evangelicals and Orthodox alike. His primary worship is through Yerevan International Church. But few in his personal circles have saluted his efforts to attend the Divine Liturgy and cultivate relationships with Orthodox clergy. Many evangelicals are soured by years of the older tradition labeling the newcomers a sect, or worse, a cult. But neither has Simonian yet found in the Apostolic church the fellowship that characterized his diaspora youth. The warm fuzzies I had growing up are completely void here, he said. The church is not so much a community. Simonian understands. Soviet communism purged the church, replacing clergy with compliant leadership. Following Armenias independence in 1991, this generation still exists but is giving way to a spiritual cadre that he says recognizes the church needs more than ancient traditions. We do not need to re-evangelize Armenia, said Shahe Ananyan, dean of Gevorkian Theological Seminary in the Apostolic holy see of Etchmiadzin, 13 miles west of Yerevan. Our main task is to wisely consider how to bring both Eastern and Western traditions together in synthesis. The church is still discussing application, he said. But he recognized that modern life for many has crowded out liturgical attendance and Bible reading. Forging forward anyway is Bagrat Galstanyan, bishop of Tavush, 100 miles northeast of Yerevan on the border with Azerbaijan. Previously presiding over the Canadian Apostolic diocese of Montreal, he is well placed to assist the synthesisbut is struggling with the weight of his spiritual responsibility. Practically, we are stretched, Galstanyan said. I am relying on the institutional memory of the church. Pre-pandemic, he established the One Community, One School program to get religious educationand social workinto the remote villages of Tavush. Out of 70 parishes, his diocese has 18 operating church buildings but only 10 priests. At Galstanyans inauguration, he pledged to bring Christ into every home. Sunday schooltype activities take place every day after regular classes, which become a sort of village center. And he is uniting each group under rotating themes, with family, identity, salvation, and eternal life at the forefront. We start at a level people can grasp easily, and then widen it, he said, focusing on practical, everyday issues. The gospel imperative is for the Word to become flesh. Galstanyan welcomes evangelical partnership in Tavush. But the few groups currently there, he said, pursue their own interests. And across the country, he lamented, there are so many denominationsall with different names and purposes. How can you claim to follow the one unchangeable Christ, he asked rhetorically, when you are internally divided? Armenia also lacks an evangelical alliance, noted one pastor. Previous efforts fell apart when the new government widened religious freedom, lessening the need for solidarity. Each group then went back to its own ways. It is very confusing for Armenians, admitted Hovhannes Hovsepian. Pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Church (AEC) in Yerevan, he is also assistant to the head of the historic Protestant denomination. Founded in 1846 during an Armenian revival and reformation effort in Turkey, its presence is more recent in Armenia proper. Its relief and outreach ministries expanded dramatically after an earthquake in 1988. Unlike most Baptists and Pentecostals, these evangelicals seek to honor the Orthodox as the mother church. We stress the importance of the Word of God and the gospel, against traditions that marginalize these, Hovsepian said. But once reformation happens, we can freely go back. For centuries, he explained, the Apostolic church not only preached Christianity but also held the Armenian people together in unity, becoming the church of the nation. They cannot comprehend another denomination within their fold. The ancient church traces its roots to A.D. 301 when St. Gregory converted Armenias king and created the worlds first official Christian nation. Hovsepian said the church has a biblical explanation for every Apostolic tradition but most priests do not communicate this to the people. And with the liturgy conducted in the old Armenian language, those in the pews cannot understand the richness of their heritage. Instead, the church calendar is populated with saints who distract intercession away from Jesus himselfthe one mediator between God and humanity. They prefer to light a candle, Hovsepian said, than to open their hearts toward God. Ananyan, who is also the head of the ecumenical department of the Apostolic church, grudgingly appreciates the mother church label. And he is not against the Reformed faith. The current Catholicos (akin to Patriarch), Karekin II, is also a current president of the World Council of Churches and oversees an official dialogue with the Anglican Communion. But the Orthodox seminary leader suspects that local evangelicals are confused by what it means to be Armenian. More than 100 different Protestant entities are registered by the government. Is their purpose to create as many evangelical communities as possible or to renew spiritual life? asked Ananyan, calling it nonsense. Instead, they are creating division and a deformed community. He views such splintering as dangerous. By pluralizing Christian identity, Protestants divorce the connection between religion and ethnicity. Look at the results in Europe, he said, where the entire faith is under threat. Hovsepian sees it differently. People can choose what type of church speaks more to their heart, he said, as some veer toward preaching, music, or tradition. God is using the church in its diversity, as each gathers its particular flock. But there is ample room for cooperation. The last half decade has seen an unofficial dialogue between the Apostolic church and the AEC, resulting in greatly improved relations. Through the Bible Society of Armenia, Hovsepian has joined Catholics in teaching the Bible to public school teachers, under the auspices of Etchmiadzin. The three denominations have jointly translated the New Testament into modern Armenian, soon to be released to the public. And the Christian Womens Forum adds Greek Orthodox and Assyrian participation, providing financial and moral support to young mothers considering abortion, among other services. The Bible Society board is composed of five Orthodox members, two evangelicals, and one Catholic. Ananyan said it sold 30,000 Bibles last year, evidence of a steady hunger for the Word of God. But though he lauds the Apostolic church for its missionary role in the sixth century, he believes such outreach is not appropriate today among its Muslim neighbors. Instead, the witness of the church comes through preservationespecially of historic monasteries seized by Azerbaijan during the war and threatened with the erasure of their Armenian identity. This steadfast faith should be better respected by Protestants and Catholics, he said. We as a nation are called to witness to Jesus Christ in a very difficult region, said Ananyan. Our very existence is a testimony of Christianity. This also burdens the heart of Simonian, who is eager to join with the Orthodox to promote church growth and evangelism. The church is ancient, but it continues. I love the Apostolic church, he said. Every dream I have for Armenia includes them. Of Ukraines more than 4 million refugees, 90 percent are women and children. Of the 6.5 million internally displaced Ukrainians, 54 percent are women. Men ages 1860 are required to stay and resist the Russian invasion. And thus it is men who usually tell the public tales of war. Women are often kept to private forums such as their journals: 32 days of war. Fall asleep while checking the news on your phone. See nightmares about concentration camps, bombing, dead people. Wake up from a nightmare and remember it is not just a bad dream. Check your phone with the thought, I hope everyone I love is alive. Kiss a sleeping husband thinking about the fragility of life. Wash your face. Put your clothes on. Go to work. Wear a smile as a mask. Distance your emotions from pain. Physically hear pain turn into white noise in your head. Check on your family during a 15-minute break at work. Cry on your break. Six seconds: breathe in. Eight seconds: breathe out. Feel grateful for being away from your phone eight hours a day at work. Feel helpless about being away from your phone eight hours a day at work. So began the March 27 entry of Tetiana Dyatlik Dalrymple, suffering vicariously from afar in Washington, DC. Her father, Taras, sensed that such female perspectives have been missing from coverage of the war. As Overseas Councils regional director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, he recruited six Ukrainian women leaders who could tell their stories. In partnership with the Eastern European Institute of Theology, ScholarLeaders International, and four affiliated seminaries, they sought to counter the critical observation of Svetlana Alexievich, a Belarussian novelist who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 2015: Everything we know about war, Alexievich wrote in The Unwomanly Face of War, we know with a mans voice mens words. Too few international supporters care to notice the gender gap. The theological educators second webinar, The Russia-Ukraine War: Women Voices, drew only about 200 registrations yesterday, less than half that of the first webinar, which featured male seminary leaders. Marina Ashikhmina, vice rector for educational work at Tavriski Christian Institute, said the distinction is patently unfair. Women in war have a double responsibility. Underappreciated in society is their behind-the-scenes work to cook meals, transport aid, and knit camouflage nets. But at the same time, said the licensed psychologist, they are expected to maintain the mental and emotional health of society. Ukrainian children will be the most affected, she said, as the vast majority are likely to experience PTSD or depression. But though war dehumanizes men, Ashikhmina believes this is impossible for women. The balance of vulnerability and mettle protects themand even causes them to utter the true sound of conflict. War is oppression, abasement, and discrimination, as it stems from a patriarchal worldview, she said. And yet, if war had a voice, it would sound like a womans lament, a childs fearful cry, a mothers quiet prayer. This is the service needed and provided by women like Valeriia Chornobai. The refugees are destroyed in their inner being; as they come to us, they often are not able to speak, said the professor of sociology and Christian ethics. You dont need to talk to them, but just sit in silence and share their pain. She remained with her husband in Dnipro, 300 miles southeast of Kyiv. Practically every day is the same for her. A truck arrives with humanitarian aid. She helps package it into individual parcels and then distributes the aid to displaced people taking shelter in church basements. Where possible, she helps find employment for those willing to stay. But amid the emotional toil is joy. Six women slept in what used to be her office; all six accepted Jesus. She even saw Gods healing when she prayed for one womans injured leg. It is Bible reading that keeps her going. But she also avoids pointless debatetoo many are arguing about why this happened or about the divisions between Christians, she said. Such discipline helps her balance. Stay focused on Gods love, not peoples pain, Chornobai said. I want to be with the Good Samaritans. So does Olga Dyatlik, Dalrymples aunt. An associate regional director at Overseas Council with her brother, Taras, she experienced burnout while helping those who suffered over the past eight years of Russian occupation in the Donbas region. She knows now that she must take care of herself first. But how can I, she said, when I am flooded with thousands of text messages saying, Please help us? Much of her pain is connected to Russia. Those eight years also involved much effort to strengthen cross-border relationships with fellow evangelicals. Yet not one of her received texts was a message of apology. I then understood, I dont have Russian friends, Dyatlik said. We were building bridges for eight years. Now it is their turn. But peace is still needed, said Tetiana Kalenychenko, even if she gets blamed for saying so. A facilitator working for conflict transformation with the Dialogue in Action initiative, she has partnered with Muslims, Jews, and the evangelical seminaries in interfaith peace building. Still in contact with her Russian colleagues, she admits that a bridge cannot be at peace with everyone. But to play its role, it must be at peace with itselfand with God. She has a dream that Ukraines churches will welcome the coming waves of the traumatized, where they can sit in silence and listen for Gods voice. But to be effective, silence is not enough. Under shelling, ready to shout, we must be brave and honest with ourselves, and especially in our prayers, Kalenychenko said. In anger and grief, we keep our hearts soft enough to feel Gods love. But they also keep their hearts firm enough to combat Russian propaganda, said Olga Kondyuk, head of the department of communication at Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary. After evacuating from its campus in Kyiv, she does her best to maintain normal operations online. Not only do we have to fight to survive, she said. We have to fight to preserve what we have built. This refers not just to seminary education but also to the values, economy, and independence of Ukraine. While Russia is doing its best to tear them down, Kondyuk exposes its false rationale. One frequent idea is that the two Slavic nations are brothers. Honorable in concept, it is misused to turn them into one nation and thus portrays Ukraine as having no sovereignty. Another concept that finds favor among many Christians is that President Vladimir Putins Russian world ideology is combating the moral degradation of the West. But a simple comparison finds worse rates of divorce, abortion, alcoholism, and crime in Russia. Unlike the Russian world, Christ saves people through relationship and love, said Kondyuk. The job of theology is to root out and condemn such heresy. Tanya Gerasimchuk hurts for those taken in. People that I used to respectwho are intelligent and well educatedthey sincerely believe that what Russia is doing is right, said the public relations assistant at Odessa Theological Seminary. I pray that God would open their eyes. She was commenting from Moldova, where she evacuated to her mother-in-laws home. But she is mindful that as the days go by, her status changes from guest to refugee. No matter how many good and kind people you meet on your way or how comfortable your conditions are at the moment, Gerasimchuk said, the feeling of detachment seems to be the most prevalent one. It gets its hold on you and never leaves. But even so, these women are not the classic picture of helpless victims fleeing war. They are active volunteers, helping others and teaching the Bible. Still, Matthew 24 is a poignant reminder: How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! (v. 19). Such women are present in 1 out of 10 internally displaced Ukrainian families. Gerasimchuk, at least, is safe. But it is cold comfort. You feel helpless, and you feel guilty, she said, because you are fine and comfortable, while others are suffering immensely. It is a divide that could tear Ukrainian women apart. It is becoming increasingly difficult for women to communicate with each other, given the very fundamental differences between their positions, said Ljuba Pastushenko, Dalrymples aunt, a refugee in Poland. The war cut us to pieces like a pie. But it is not simply those who fled versus those who stayed. Differences have appeared between those who had a backpack and those who left with nothing. Some are with family while others rely on strangers. And of those still in Ukraine, some chose to stay while others had no opportunity to leave. Suffering the tension, some have cut off communication with each other. But she urges understanding. Each of us has her own threshold of sensitivity, her own mechanism of living through panic, fear, and change, said Pastushenko. Each of us did the right thing, guided by our heart. Weathering the turmoil involves keeping others calm when fear abounds, said Kondyuk. It means talking to journalists and lawyers, said Dyatlik. It even includes making Molotov cocktails, said Ashikhmina. But whatever voice women give to war, their hearts often need to be expressed in private first. The pressure is tremendous, and journaling helps. It did for Dalrymple: Forget to eat. Forget to drink water. Pray for people who dont have food and water in Ukraine. Get used to the pictures of dead bodies. Hate Russian murderers. Remind myself there are some good people in Russia. Get a message that my friends house was hit by a Russian missile. Feel hate melt into helplessness. Come home. Translate documents for refugees. Send an update to donors. Call family. Be strong for family. See family being strong for me. Tell my brother I love him. Wish my mom and dad goodnight. See them online at 4:30 a.m. their time because of air alerts. Text them: Please make sure you are hiding. Pray the missiles dont hit my hometown. Read the news that the missile hit my town. Feel scared. Feel angry. Feel numb. Pray. Pray. Pray. Fall asleep while checking the news on your phone. [ This article is also available in Francais. ] Massachusetts city accused of stonewalling church's private school over religious beliefs Officials in a Massachusetts city have denied allegations that a local school committee rejected an application for the launch of a private Christian school due to the beliefs of the predominantly Hispanic church sponsoring the institution. Vida Real Church of Somerville, located around five miles from Boston, had asked local officials in 2021 to approve the creation of a private school for kindergarten to eighth grade, which would be known as Real Life Learning Center. A letter of complaint sent Wednesday to Superintendent Mary E. Skipper and Mayor Katjana Ballantyne alleges that the Somerville School Committee rejected the application by the church to create a private school because officials disliked the churchs beliefs. The letter was sent on behalf of the church by the conservative legal nonprofit First Liberty Institute and the Massachusetts Family Institute. Despite Vida Reals expressed desire to open RLLC as quickly as possible, the Committee has repeatedly stonewalled Vida Reals efforts to provide private, religious education for its community for over five months now, wrote Ryan Gardner of First Liberty and Andrew Beckwith of the Massachusetts Family Institute. Even more concerning, the Committee has expressed hostility towards Vida Reals religious beliefs, and multiple Committee members have stated that RLLCs desire to create a curriculum consistent with its religious beliefs is grounds for denying its private school application. According to the letter, the committee repeatedly asked for information about the proposed schools curriculum and allegedly mocked some of their beliefs during meetings. The complaint letter argued that the church satisfied all relevant criteria for obtaining Committee approval and that rejecting the application violated both state law and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Committee must grant RLLCs application so that RLLC can open in time for the Fall 2022 semester, the complaint states. If Vida Real does not receive approval for RLLC from the Committee by April 18, 2022, or if the Committee denies RLLCs application, Vida Real will pursue all available legal options. The Christian Post reached out to Somerville Public Schools for comment. A spokesperson emailed a statement from Superintendent Mary Skipper and School Committee Chair Andre Green. Skipper and Green disagree with the characterizations in that letter of the Committees communications with the RLLC to date and of the appropriateness and lawfulness of the Committees review of the RLLC application. The Committee has not yet reached a determination about the RLLC application, and all inquiries from the Committee have been for the purpose of evaluating whether RLLC meets the legal standards for approval, they stated. We note that if a private school is approved, the Committee does not engage in ongoing oversight or monitoring of that school; as such, the Committee considers a thorough review process, including a critical evaluation of whether an applicant has proposed and is capable of actually implementing a program that meets state requirements, to be essential to the Committees statutory obligations. Skipper and Green added that the school district does not discriminate on the basis of religion or any other protected class. They assured the committees review of the RLLC application has been and will continue to be fair, thorough, and consistent with the Committees legal authority. The Committee will complete its review of the RLLC application in a timely manner and issue a determination on the merits of the application, they concluded. However, Massachusetts Family Institute President Beckwith contends that its illegal and unconstitutional for city officials to question the religious beliefs of Vida Real. This is blatant religious discrimination, Beckwith contends. Its time for Somerville officials to stop treating Vida Real unfairly and allow it to pursue the opening of a school. The complaint letter argues that the school committee didnt promptly review materials sent in the application and took no action and did not communicate with Vida Real regarding its application for over a month. In November 2021, the committee told the church that the application was deficient and had to be resubmitted even though no formal process existed regarding such applications, the complaint adds. [T]he Committee never provided any guidance regarding the form in which the application should be submitted. Seeking to expeditiously cure the Committees stated issues with RLLCs application, Vida Real again submitted RLLCs application and related materials in November 2021, the letter reads. The letter accused the committee of taking no action for several weeks before inviting an official with the church to speak with committee members in early January 2022. After the official spoke with committee members, the letter claims that another month elapsed before the committee took additional action on the schools application. The complaint letter states that on Feb. 11, the committee contacted Vida Real and submitted 35 questions from its Educational Programs Subcommittee for Vida Real to respond to at a Feb. 28 meeting. These questions not only sought duplicative information that RLLC had already provided with its application but also inquired about information that is irrelevant to RLLCs application and is improper for governmental inquiry, including questions about RLLCs religious beliefs, the letter adds. Despite the improper and, in fact, illegal nature of many of these questions, Vida Real worked diligently to prepare responses for each of the Committees burdensome list of questions. At the Feb. 28 meeting, the letter claims that members of the subcommittee expressed hostility to Vida Reals religious beliefs. Subcommittee members are accused of questioning whether RLLC could adequately provide health education because of its decision to teach on matters of human sexuality in accordance with its religious beliefs. They also allegedly questioned whether the school should be allowed to teach creationism. Subcommittee members also allegedly voiced disapproval of the schools reliance on Christian authors for its curriculum. Additionally, the Subcommittee wrongfully accused Vida Real of submitting an incomplete application that did not include RLLCs handbook even though such materials had already been provided to the Committee multiple times, which the Committee negligently overlooked, the letter continues. The Subcommittee ended its meeting in the middle of deliberations without a final decision, which the Subcommittee informed Vida Real would result in an additional delay of a month before any further action would be taken on RLLCs application. Later that night, the letter reports that the subcommittee presented a report on the schools application in which it stated that RLLC does not meet the criteria and falls short in every subject, particularly science, social studies, and [social emotional learning]. The reports alleged reasons for the Subcommittees conclusion were riddled with factual errors, irrelevant considerations, and disparaging remarks regarding Vida Reals religious beliefs, the letter complains. According to the letter, the subcommittee took issue with there being no accommodations for students enrolled in special education or plans to address students not making academic progress. The committees report also claimed the application offered no details on assessments or how school staff would be supported. It also questioned how the application process will result in a diverse set of applicants and if the facilities are appropriate for younger students. The schools position on homosexuality and creationism make it difficult to see how a thorough science and health curriculum is possible, the subcommittees report stated, according to the complaint letter. The schools approach to student services and counseling appears to devalue evidence-based psychology and its emphasis on approaches rooted in the belief that mental illness is caused by sin and demons is unscientific and harmful. After the subcommittee presented the report, the committee voted unanimously to accept the Subcommittees report without any members raising any objections to the disparaging statements contained in the report regarding Vida Reals religious beliefs, the letter reads. In another meeting three weeks later, committee member Sara Dion was accused of making several comments expressing overt hostility against Vida Real based solely upon its religious beliefs and derided creationism as being factually incorrect. Dion had allegedly argued that denying RLLCs application was the morally right thing to do and that the committee should do what it could to prevent RLLC from opening. She even went as far as to state that spending money on costly litigation to prevent or delay RLLCs opening was well worth it, the complaint letter alleges. [Committee member] Sarah Phillips did not object to any of Ms. Dions comments and stated that her 'heart wants to deny [RLLCs] application as well despite her belief that such a denial would not hold up in court. Indeed, Ms. Phillips essentially conceded that the ACE curriculum proposed to be used by RLLC satisfied Massachusetts law because it is presently used by at least four private schools in Massachusetts. Despite this, Ms. Phillips proceeded to second and vote in favor of a motion by Ms. Dion to recommend that the Committee deny RLLCs application. The entire committee will consider the recommendation to deny RLLCs application in April. Wednesdays letter is not the first time that First Liberty Institute and the Massachusetts Family Institute have communicated with city officials in Somerville. In June 2020, during a time of widespread pandemic gathering restrictions, churches objected to then-Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatones order banning worship gatherings of more than 10 people despite state-level restrictions allowing in-door worship at 40% building capacity. The organization sent a letter to the city on behalf of churches that planned to hold worship services with safety protocols in place despite the mayors order. At the time, Jeremy Dys of First Liberty argued in a statement that the citys restrictions would prevent even Jesus and the twelve disciples from lawfully gathering in Somerville. Pastor used Scripture trying to coerce congregants into sexual relationships, prosecutors say A pastor charged with inappropriately touching multiple women tried to use Scripture to coerce female churchgoers into sexual relationships, Delawares Department of Justice has claimed. Bishop Major Foster, a former pastor at Philadelphia Pentecostal Holiness Church of Ellendale, faces pending charges of unlawful sexual contact. Prosecutors are asking women to contact local law enforcement if theyve been abused by the pastor as they now have reason to believe that additional victims may be unidentified. In a statement Thursday, Delaware authorities say that reports made to law enforcement allege Foster attempted to use scripture to coerce female parishioners into sexual relationships, made inappropriate comments, and instigated prolonged hugs during which he made inappropriate sexual contact with his victims. These alleged incidents occurred between 2013 to 2020. The Christian Post reached out to the Philadelphia Pentecostal Holiness Church of Ellendale for comment on Fosters indictment. A representative of the church hung up when contacted by phone. A response was not immediately received through email. Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said she is grateful to the women who have come forward to the Delaware State Police and our prosecutors. We have reason to believe that Fosters alleged years long pattern of abuse includes as yet unreported, additional instances, Jennings said in a statement. We ask that any additional victims or witnesses with information come forward. We will be there to support you. Last November, a Sussex County grand jury indicted Foster on three counts of unlawful sexual contact in the third degree. He was also charged with offensive touching after he pushed a victims husband when he was confronted. Before being charged, Foster gained notoriety in Sussex County, for, among other things, co-founding the Ellendale Community Civic Improvement Association and for campaigning to improve local water quality. In 2018, Foster worked alongside 87-year-old Harold Truxon and others to get an improved center water system installed in their Ellendale neighborhood after decades of effort. For me, it was a no-lose situation, Foster said in a 2018 interview with The News Journal. We knew it was Gods will. God doesnt want any people to live like that without good water, sewer. We knew that it was our job, some way, somehow to make that happen. We werent going to quit. How to cope with the failure of Christian leaders I found myself swearing last week, unloading all the pain and sharpness of disappointment at yet another dear friend and leader walking in sin with an outburst of profane language. My friend, not yet a follower of Jesus, turned and reminded me: But words like that dont belong in your mouth. Please, after all of this, be one who speaks words of hope. God often gives me the gentlest and clearest reminders from my friends who are on the fringes. I have watched many leaders fail over recent years. Some dearly and personally loved, some only distant to my own experience, but each feels like a sucker punch. I compare it to swimming in an icy sea; you dive down deep under a wave, come up for a breath, and then the next set rolls in too quickly, pulling you under and threatening to drown you in its painful tow. In times like these, I am reminded of the Psalms. The cries of these writers revealed something of the aching, longing, and expectant hope that God would come and set to rights all that was broken. They screamed in anguish: How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1). When leaders fall, especially with spectacular impact, our souls can feel betrayed. If they have failed in this way, will God fail me as well? How was this hidden for so long? Who else was involved? Should I discard their books, their music, their teachings, their podcasts? What do I say to the teenagers in my life? The older, more jaded generation? Is it worth it to pursue truth when so many leaders end up in a recurring cycle of pain and failure? Are all the reports true? Does someone have a vendetta against Christian leaders? Why did no one listen? How long, O Lord? Lament Where our hearts are broken, Scripture invites us to lament, to carry the full weight of our disappointment, anguish, pain, and sorrow into the presence of Jesus. I have wept for the pain of watching many leaders fail, but Jesus has never failed me. That sentence has been hard-won, but I stand behind it with all my heart and soul. Jesus has never failed. Recently, it seems like we have seen an acceleration of sins exposed, hearts laid bare, the broken places in the lives of our leaders revealed. What do we do when we find our heroes have fallen from their pedestals? I have found the following areas essential as I navigate moral failure. 1. Look to Jesus Beyond the current headlines, I think of key leaders in scriptural and Christian history: Noah, Moses, Naomi, David, Martin Luther, Karl Barth, Bill Hybels, Bob Coy, Ravi Zacharias, myself At some point, all will fall and all will fail. The only one in whom I have certain hope, trust, and expectation of faithfulness is Jesus. When my leaders fail, I fix my eyes on him. 2. Seek truth and accountability When I first experienced a period of watching leaders close to me fall into moral failure, I struggled with panic attacks, doubts, and anxiety. If they could fall, surely I would too. (I do, often). These questions can push us into pain and bitterness, or they can cause us to say: But for the grace of God, there go I. Choose friends in your life who will speak truthfully and honestly to places of failure, and ask for grace and help in growth. 3. Forgive Forgiveness is a key distinctive of the Christian faith. It reminds us that the faults and failures that once defined us can be redeemed at the cross of Christ. Actively choosing to forgive can be challenging and raw, but it frees us from carrying a weight that will cripple us. As Ray Hinton, wrongly imprisoned for years for a crime he did not commit, wrote: If you want to be free, you have to forgive, and I want to be free. 4. Process the pain Leaders fail. Allow that to bring grief. Let it break your heart, stretch your soul, make you weep. Dont rush past the emotion that it can and should bring us when one who proclaimed the words of truth with life and power, who made doctrine dance, also allowed honesty to dance away as well. Read the Psalms. Lament. These are the wounds we received in the house of our friends, and our savior is still binding them up. 5. Live in the light I dont publish every sin I wrestle with. I dont feel the need to post every place I have battled pride, lust, gossip, fear, or offense. But they are many. And my close friends, leaders and, above all, Jesus are walking with me in these places. If we walk in his light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Wherever possible, live in the light. 6. Pursue presence above platform Everything in our lives is an invitation to intimacy with Christ. Every day, we choose to turn our hearts towards his love or towards our own pleasures. I see some of the moral failures in our Church today and wonder about the infinitesimally small, unseen choices that turned hearts towards pleasure and power. Its easy to sit in the position of judgment towards others and forget how much our own souls long for immediate pleasure. In the presence of Jesus, we find a different, deeper, eternal joy. He continually invites me to choose his presence above any other platform. Learning what it means to be a leader who models the way of Jesus is a life-long process. A few of the characteristics I see in leaders of integrity include: We give away everything we possibly can. We are building a Kingdom, not empires. Weve trained and sent. Some of those weve sent are far better than we are. Antioch sends her best. We see even the very raw giftings of others and name them wherever possible. We share our open doors, stages, platforms, and opportunities. We are quick to know our own places of failure. We repent daily. We are bold and confident in Christ, the only hero of our stories. We sift the grit from the beauty in our history. We discard even the smallest roots of bitterness. We plant hope. We are expectant for the future. We seek and find the presence of Jesus, with us in all things. We know that all is grace. I wonder, in the long, messy story of grace, how we will tell these stories in eternity. Will we look back and decide we needed better safeguarding? Will we look back and see we needed clearer boundaries? Will we look back and decide we needed stronger accountability? Perhaps. But above all, I imagine we will look at all these places of heartbreak and be reminded that even in these places, Jesus is present with us. Lament. Listen. Laugh. Learn. Even as we grieve the failure and pain, may we be reminded every day that all is grace. Fox News host Shannon Bream tells how women of the Bible serve as inspiration amid difficult times In God there is purpose in pain Despite living in difficult times, Fox News host Shannon Bream says all can be inspired by the women in her new book, Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak. Bream's new book follows the success of her first installment in the series, Women of The Bible Speak, which sold over 1 million copies. The 51-year-old author said these faith-based books that focus on the heroines of the Bible came about because of her employer, Fox News. "It's been such a huge blessing, I work in an amazing place. We have a faithful viewership not only to our channel, but many are faithful in the sense of they're in their houses of worship every weekend. [Faith is] a big part of their lives. So Fox came to me a couple of years ago for this first book in the series, Bream told The Christian Post. Bream said Fox knew how important her faith was to her and approached her about penning the series. "I was so excited, not really realizing probably how much I had bitten off with this project, she said. But God has been faithful. He has provided me with people all along the way that were sounding boards, people who have actually been to seminary, theologians who let me ask them, 'What does this verse mean? What does it mean in Greek or Hebrew? What was the cultural context of the time?' In Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak, Bream delves into the family dynamics and how each person fulfilled Gods plans. Split into three parts, the book explores the relationships between mothers and daughters, mothers and sons, and fathers and daughters. It also highlights the lessons readers can draw from these biblical figures. "Not all of these mothers and daughters in the Bible were paragons of virtue," the book's description adds. "Like us, they were human beings who faltered and struggled to do their best. While some heard Gods voice, others chose their own paths. Through the lens of their imperfections, we can see how God used their stories to bring about His divine plans. Hes still doing the same work in our lives today." Though Beam grew up in a Bible-believing home and attended Liberty University, a Christian institution, before going to law school at Florida State, she was surprised by how much more she learned while researching these biblical subjects. It was a huge blessing to me to go through this process of researching them and feeling like I ended up knowing them personally by the time this book was done," she said. "As we know, in the Bible, some of them are really beautiful and faithful and some of these families are super dysfunctional, she continued. But I think they're all there for us to learn from the good and the bad. "I love that God has included all of these stories in Scripture. For anybody who is unfamiliar and hasn't really studied the Bible, they may not realize how [central] many of these strong female characters are to these stories where God wanted us to learn something and to know something and to see His faithfulness over the ages. One example is the story of Jochebed, a mother who, with her daughter, Miriam, risked it all to protect her son, Moses, from Pharaoh. She also shares the story of Rebekah, who made terrible choices in an attempt to ensure her sons place in history. Another daughter featured in the book is Michal, Sauls daughter, who did her part to keep her father from sin while facing her own battles. In her own life, Bream says her mother, Marie Norris, was instrumental in making her the woman she is today. "My mom is my greatest role model because she's one of these people who's a devout Christian in her walk 24/7," she declared. "I always tell people, 'If she says she's praying for you, even if you've run into her in the grocery store, and you're sharing your life story, she'll probably pray for you right there in the grocery store.' She's going to be praying for you. And she means that. She's on her knees, and she's the first person to show up with a casserole or a loaf of homemade bread, or wherever and whenever you need her, at the hospital, at your home. "She is the hands and feet of Christ in a very practical way," added Bream, describing her mother as selfless. "So I've seen that model. And it's such an impressive thing for my whole life. I always tell her, When I grow up, I want to be you, mom. I mean, shes the model of Christ we really aspire to, but she's a great earthly picture of Him. "It makes me grateful to look through the Bible and to see how important that relationship is, and to feel blessed that I have that with my mom, Bream added. Mothers and Daughters of the Bible also examines the relationship between spiritual mothers and daughters such as Naomi and Ruth and Elizabeth and Mary. "To see all the different female relationships that come together in the Bible was a huge blessing, Bream testified. "I find it so energizing because we're living in difficult times. The last couple of years of the pandemic, everybody has suffered some kind of loss and or anxiety or isolation that's just been reality for people, she stressed. Now watching the war unfolding in Ukraine and seeing this enormous humanitarian crisis. It shocks our conscience to see these things. However, writing has kept the popular Fox News host encouraged in times of uncertainty. In writing these books, they've been a reminder to me that God is not unaware of our suffering. We're told in Scripture that Christ, when He came here, [He] suffered everything that we had and then some, she posited. He knows every struggle we could possibly face." "So I'm encouraged in the Bible to see God was working through all of these stories, the Old Testament, the New Testament, sometimes these women were in periods of waiting that it seemed God didn't even hear or see their struggle. Some of them have been in very dark valleys, Bream said. Whether fleeing oppression and famine, or widowhood, or infertility, or financial disaster, or really dysfunctional families, these women are all there through Scripture. We see how God was working through them, even when they made huge mistakes. Reading about these women in the Bible really energized Bream who said these historic figures remind readers that whatever they might be experiencing, "God is in your story. He's aware of your circumstances and your suffering and we can take great courage in the promises that He is faithful. The accomplished journalist said she holds fast to God's Word for finding my identity and knowing that the Bible says He has good works already planned out for us. So He's got a purpose for us and even in the darkest, toughest times of my life, I've known there was purpose in that because of Him, she concluded. "So I stand in my identity as a daughter of my heavenly Father and I think nothing else will ever matter more than that when it comes to identifying who I am or what I believe. Mothers and Daughters of the Bible is now available everywhere books are sold. Hillsong Phoenix pastor announces separation from Hillsong Church, calls for investigation of board Hillsong Phoenix Lead Pastor Terry Crist has called for an investigation of the global board of the Australia-based Hillsong Church after announcing Sunday that he has formally asked to separate from the megachurch network due to a governance dispute in the wake of the resignation of founder Brian Houston. There are many reasons why we cant continue chief among them is our loss of confidence in the global board to continue leading us as a congregation, Crist told congregants during a service in Phoenix. Crist said that when his church decided to become a part of Hillsong Church in 2016 after being a Hillsong network church for several years before that, it was agreed that he and his wife Judith would stay in Phoenix and have the option to re-evaluate the terms of their relationship with Hillsong Church in the event that Brian Houston was no longer leading the denomination. Houston, who co-founded Hillsong in 1983, resigned last Wednesday after it was revealed that two women made serious complaints of misconduct against him in the last 10 years. His resignation also followed a series of misconduct scandals involving other Hillsong Church leaders in the U.S. and Australia. Last Friday, The Christian Post also reported how less than two weeks after Reed Bogard abruptly resigned as lead pastor of the now-defunct Hillsong Dallas in January 2021, an internal investigation commissioned by Hillsong Global showed that the married father of three was accused of rape by a junior female staffer with whom he had a monthslong affair while serving at Hillsong NYC years earlier. Crist said that even though he has much respect for the work of Hillsong Churchs Interim Global Senior Pastor Phil Dooley, he has wrestled with the global board over several issues in recent years, such as the need for transparency and accountability. In recent weeks, Crist said, he reached an impasse with the board over governance issues. Over the past year, following the sin that was exposed at Hillsong Church New York City and the subsequent investigation that was conducted into sexual misconduct and into financial misappropriation, I encouraged the results of that report [conducted by the church] to be made [public] in some general form, he said. I asked that the report be redacted so names could be protected. I asked that the report be synopsized so we could embrace accountability and transparency. And for whatever reason, that request was denied. Crist contends that as more information about misconduct in the church began emerging publicly, Hillsong Church took steps to protect the churchs brand. As information began to leak out as to what was in the report, and as the global board made the decision to increase financial controls within the churches, lead pastors were suddenly asked to sign NDAs and non-competes. Some of us couldnt do that in good conscience, Crist said. This had played out in recent weeks. It came down in recent weeks to the demand that we sign non-disclosure agreements and non-competes, meaning that if we were removed from our positions, we could not plant churches again within our community for at least one year, the Phoenix pastor continued. After failing to come to terms with Hillsong Church to reseat their local board, Crist said they formally asked that their church be released back to us last Saturday. Specifically, that simply meant the release of our church to be governed by a local board and also to include a couple of non-Hillsong pastors who are wise and credible and have proven ministries to also be seated on our local board for the sake of accountability by non-vested pastors who have nothing to lose by speaking truth to power, he said. I was told this week, it is all or nothing. We either had to allow the global church to govern our church and to own our properties, or we had to leave. And so with great sadness, I chose to leave, Crist added. I am heartbroken. The pastor said he is also heartbroken for everyone victimized during their time at Hillsong Church. He called for an investigation of the global board and the punishment of members who have done more to protect the institution over the people. Its in the best interest of Hillsong Church to conduct an investigation as it relates to board conduct, to immediately restore the Sydney eldership, to make the findings of that public and to dismiss the board members who have protected the institution and not the people, he said. I am a global apostolic leader, and I am not going to shrink back from that mandate on my life to lead not just our church but the Church in general in our generation. We have to get it right, he added. There is so much riding on the Church of Jesus Christ in getting it right. When secular corporations are more transparent than the church, and when secular boards hold their employees and directors to a higher standard of accountability, we have failed the injunction that judgment must begin at the house of God so that the people of God [can] stand as a prophetic kingdom witness to the nations of the earth. Crist said somewhere along the line in his relationship with Hillsong Church, he departed from his long-held practice of being transparent as the church grew. He repented for the times he also put the protection of the Hillsong Church brand above the well-being of people. I repent for my own ambition to do something great for God at the expense of people who are the mission. Not easy to be a pastor and to be an employer. Not easy to care for people and require work performance. And Ive gotten it wrong at times. And I repent for that, he said. Im committed as a leader to do a lot of soul work in this season. Im committed as a leader to looking back over the past decade and asking God, counselors and pastors in my life to help me become what God expects of me as a leader in the church, he added. My heart is broken for everyone who has left our church, for everyone who has walked away from our staff for various reasons. California prosecutors fabricated case against megachurch preacher accused of sex crimes: defense Weeks before his trial begins in May, the defense team of controversial megachurch leader Naason Joaquin Garcia, who is accused of multiple sex crimes, including making sex videos with minor girls from his flock at La Luz Del Mundo, has accused prosecutors in California of fabricating evidence in his case. In a 211-page motion filed on March 15, defense attorney Alan Jackson and his team argue that the case brought against Garcia by the California Attorney Generals Office alleging in part that he groomed and raped teenage girls from his congregation is based on fabricated evidence. We are shocked by the facts in the recent motion filed by defense attorney Alan Jackson on March 15 in the case regarding the Apostle of Jesus Christ Naason Joaquin Garcia, the church said in a statement to The Christian Post Tuesday. The motion states that the California Attorney Generals Office fabricated incriminating evidence, created reports based on that fabricated false evidence, and deleted and concealed exculpatory evidence. The 52-year-old megachurch leader, whose followers consider an apostle of Jesus Christ, was arrested in the summer of 2019 at the Los Angeles International Airport. Garcia and several co-defendants, who were tried separately, were charged with human trafficking, production of child pornography, forcible rape of a minor and other felonies committed between 2015 and 2019. A group of girls was allegedly told that if they went against Garcias desires, they were going against God, according to the criminal complaint. Children were allegedly told to perform flirty dances for Garcia while wearing as little clothing as possible. Garcia also allegedly once gave a group of children a speech about a king having mistresses and stated that an apostle of God can never be judged for his actions, the complaint adds. State law enforcement officer and forensic examiner Steven Stover testified in 2019 about a video found on an iPad seized from Garcia, which allegedly shows the church leader having a threesome with a woman and an underage male. Stover also testified that he found child pornography on an iPhone taken from Garcia. One video found on the phone shows females of a very young age performing sexual acts. More than 70,000 texts messages reviewed by the defense as a part of the defenses latest motion. The defense claims some of Garcias accusers, called Jane Does, were sexually active, angst-filled teenagers who lied, shoplifted, used drugs, drank alcohol, struggled with mental health issues and discussed having sex with the church leader for money. In one instance, Jane Doe 2, with the help of a friend identified as Jane Doe 3, fabricated a story for her boyfriend so he wouldnt break up with her over allegations she was having sex with her brother. The motion also claims that California Department of Justice Special Agent Joseph Cedusky selectively used information from the thousands of text messages to further the criminal narrative against Garcia while the prosecution actively delayed access to the entire cache of text messages to the defense. The magnitude of the governments misconduct was so vast that it cannot easily be quantified, and the cascading effect of consequences from these actions is immense, Jackson and his team wrote. These include, inter alia, Mr. Garcia being forced to sit through a mockery of a preliminary hearing based entirely on lies and fiction created from whole cloth in the minds of investigators and prosecutors. Garcia has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and is facing a $50 million bail, believed to be the highest ever imposed in L.A. County. The pastors lawyers have long argued the pastor is 100% innocent. Mr. Garcia remained detained in pre-trial custody on an astronomical bail order based entirely on fictional facts and a false narrative cobbled together from disparate pieces of evidence manufactured to appear inculpatory, and presented as truth while they knew that the presented evidence was false and while a mountain of exculpatory evidence was actively buried, the defense team argued. Simply put, this conduct is inexcusable and has no place in our system of justice. At the most fundamental level, Mr. Garcias due process rights have been trampled and crushed beneath the boot of a prosecution hell-bent on winning a conviction no matter the cost, the motion added. The only remedy in the face of this extreme and shocking conduct is for this Court to dismiss the information. In its statement Tuesday, La Luz Del Mundo officials said they are praying for justice for their leader. We continue to pray for and trust in the judicial system of the United States, knowing that it guarantees the constitutional rights of all individuals, including the guarantee of due process, the church said. These basic rights have not been granted to the Apostle Naason Joaquin Garcia. As of today, the Apostle has been detained for almost three years without attainable bail. Denzel Washington warns Will Smith about the devil after Chris Rock Oscar slap Actor Will Smith made headlines Sunday after slapping comedian Chris Rock across the face at the Academy Awards and apologizing for the physical altercation during his Oscar acceptance speech for best actor. Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, suffers from alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes bald patches on the scalp. It can affect both men and women of all races. During one of his comedy skits, Rock took aim at Jada and her condition. At first, Will Smith appeared to laugh at the joke, but Jada was visibly uncomfortable with it. Her husband then took action by walking up to Rock and slapping him across the face. Smith was awarded his first Oscar for his lead performance in the movie King Richard," where he played Venus and Serena Williams father, Richard. His speech, however, wasn't as celebratory as he might have envisioned because he spent much of his time explaining why he slapped Rock. Midway through his speech, Smith revealed that Denzel Washington, himself an Academy Award-winning actor, warned him about the devil's attacks. Denzel said to me a few minutes ago, at your highest moment, be careful, thats when the devil comes for you, Smith recalled. During an intermission that followed the slap, Tyler Perry and Washington were seen comforting and giving advice to Smith. Although he didn't apologize to Rock during his speech, Smith apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees. Love makes you do crazy things, Smith said during his acceptance speech. The father of three compared himself to Richard Williams and how William fiercely defended his family. Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world, Smith said with tears streaming down his face. Im being called on in my life to love people and to protect people. And to be a river to my people. And I know to do what we do, youve got to be able to take abuse, and youve got be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, youve got to be able to have people disrespecting you and youve got to smile and pretend like thats OK, he continued. In a previous interview with author, producer and preacher DeVon Franklin, Smith was asked if he is a man of faith like his character, Williams. You cant get where I get if you dont love the Lord. You dont get to sit how I sit, move how I move, if you dont love the Lord," Smith replied. "Youd be seeing a whole lot of other repercussions. The actor said he connects with the faith of the Williams family because of his grandmother, who attended Resurrection Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Much like his advice to Smith, Washington has been using his public platform to share the prominence of spiritual warfare in everyday life. Washington, who described himself as a God-fearing man" in an earlier interview with The New York Times, talked about God, the Bible and Heaven. He also revealed that he made a promise to his late mother to honor her and God. This is spiritual warfare. So, Im not looking at it from an earthly perspective. If you dont have a spiritual anchor youll be easily blown by the wind and youll be led to depression, he told the NY Times. Were living in a time where people are willing to do anything to get followed. What is the long or short-term effect of too much information? Its going fast and it can be manipulated obviously in a myriad of ways. And people are led like sheep to slaughter, Washington said. The entertainer then shared his view of Heaven, explaining that there are going to be two lines, the long line and the short line, and Im interested in being in the short line. 125-year-old 'remember me' letter by orphan choir boy discovered in church pew sparks writing campaign A 125-year-old letter written by a choir boy who was orphaned after his father died was discovered stuffed down the side of one of the pews at Sunderland Parish Church. Workers discovered the note as they were renovating the church, also known as Holy Trinity, which had ceased being used as a house of worship in 1988 due to declining attendance. The church was subsequently used as a community events space and was being renovated when the letter was found. The note was written by 13-year-old William Elliott on Aug. 11, 1897, on the back of an order of service, according to the Sunderland Echo. In the note, Elliott requested not to be forgotten. Dear friend, whoever finds this paper, think of William Elliott who had two months and two weeks and four days on the 11 of August 1897. Whoever you are that finds this paper don't tear it up or throw it away... keep it in remembrance of me, W. Elliott...I was the leading boy of this choir... I love you if you love me. The letter was found during the extended COVID-19 lockdowns as the Grade I listed Georgian building was being renovated into a catering space called Seventeen Nineteen, RTE News reports. Conservationists removed layers of wax and dust to make the text, written in pencil, visible. The Seventeen Nineteen project, which is working with the Churches Conservation Trust and other sponsors and volunteers to restore and repurpose the building as a venue space, researched more about Elliott's life and how he came to stay at the church as an orphan. Research by Seventeen Nineteen volunteers revealed Williams father was chief officer Thomas Duncan Elliott who was sailing on the vessel Skyros when he was washed overboard in 1887. William's mother Sarah Ann Elliott was left a widow with four children and, although the family appears to have been fairly comfortable until Thomas death, by 1891 Sarah was working as a dressmaker to keep the family afloat. As a consequence of losing his father, William was eligible for admittance to the orphanage and was ultimately accepted in 1892. He was discharged on 29 October 1897, his 14th birthday just weeks after he wrote his letter. It was discovered that he was a child of the Sunderland Orphan Asylum via the orphan admissions register images and sang in the Holy Trinity choir. His father was a Chief Officer Thomas Duncan Elliott in the Navy and was sadly lost at sea. #DearFriend#LettersThroughHistorypic.twitter.com/MUBSS06Nv5 Seventeen Nineteen (@17Nineteen) March 30, 2022 Seventeen Nineteen has now launched The Dear Friend project in honor of Elliott, which aims to encourage anyone who would like to participate to write a letter in reply. His letter has touched us all, said Tracey Mienie, Seventeen Nineteens center manager. He was clearly very aware that his time at the orphanage and in the choir was ending and I think apprehension at what his future may hold comes across in his words. Seventeen Nineteen added that based on their findings, Elliotts high marks in reading and mathematics, he became an errand boy for a lawyer. The historical record of Elliott's life ends in 1901, however. His letter is now framed in the churchs Lady Chapel near the seating area where it was believed to have been written. His name has also been added to the list of men and boys with ties to the parish who died in generations past. To participate in the Dear Friend project and write to Seventeen Nineteen, contact Lily Daniels with a postal address at 17nineteen@thecct.org.uk or call 0191 560 0288. Biden declares support for trans surgeries, puberty blockers for kids, adolescents President Joe Biden declared his support for allowing children and adolescents with gender dysphoria to undergo body mutilating surgeries or use puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to look more like the opposite sex despite unknowns about longterm side effects. In multiple documents released Thursday, which is observed by some as the Transgender Day of Visibility, the Biden administration backed what it described as gender-affirming health care" for children. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs released a document titled Gender Affirming Care and Young People." The document states that early gender-affirming care for non-binary or trans-identified minors is crucial to overall health and well-being as it allows the child or adolescent to focus on social transitions and can increase their confidence while navigating the healthcare system. The document lists top surgeries elective mastectomies and breasts enhancements and bottom surgeries removal of genitals as gender-affirming care. The document states that the surgeries are [t]ypically used in adulthood or case by-case in adolescence. Gender-affirming care is a supportive form of healthcare. It consists of an array of services that may include medical, surgical, mental health, and non-medical services for transgender and nonbinary people, stated OPA. Medical and psychosocial gender affirming healthcare practices have been demonstrated to yield lower rates of adverse mental health outcomes, build self-esteem, and improve overall quality of life for transgender and gender diverse youth. HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations National Child Traumatic Stress Network released a document titled Gender-Affirming Care Is Trauma-Informed Care. The networks document defined gender-affirming care as including so-called evidence-based interventions such as puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones and proclaimed that gender-affirming care is neither child maltreatment nor malpractice. The statement comes as officials in Texas have defined administering puberty-blocking drugs on children who question their gender as child abuse and experimental since the Food and Drug Administration has not approved such drugs for that use. There is no scientifically sound research showing negative impacts from providing gender-affirming care, the networks statement adds. [Transgender, gender diverse, and intersex] youth can thrive when they are supported and affirmed in their identities and their identity development. An entry on Mayo Clinic's website states that drugs aimed at blocking puberty might help reduce depression among youth. However, puberty suppression alone might not ease gender dysphoria, said the clinic, adding, Using medication to delay puberty beyond ones peers can be stressful, and thus, a child might experience lower self-esteem. The conservative American College of Pediatricians, an association of physicians and healthcare professionals dedicated to the health and well-being of children, has long voiced its opposition to using puberty-blocking drugs on children suffering from gender dysphoria. There is not a single long-term study to demonstrate the safety or efficacy of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries for transgender-believing youth, the organization said in a statement. This means that youth transition is experimental, and therefore, parents cannot provide informed consent, nor can minors provide assent for these interventions. Moreover, the best long-term evidence we have among adults shows that medical intervention fails to reduce suicide. Temporary use of puberty blocker Lupron has also been associated with and may be the cause of many serious permanent side effects including osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility, the American College of Pediatricians added. In addition to the harm from Lupron, cross-sex hormones put youth at an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their lifespan. The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued medical guidelines that support the surgical and hormonal transition of trans-identified children and adolescents. Often, pubertal suppression creates an opportunity to reduce distress that may occur with the development of secondary sexual characteristics and allow for gender-affirming care, including mental health support for the adolescent and the family, an October 2018 AAP guideline states. Supporters of puberty blockers have long claimed that puberty blockers' impact on children is reversible and are designed to give children with gender dysphoria more time to decide which gender they identify as. Proponents also claim that once adolescent users stop taking puberty blockers, their puberty resumes. The new OPA document claims that puberty blockers are reversible. However, the United Kingdoms National Health Service reports that [l]ittle is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria. Although GIDS advises this is a physically reversible treatment if stopped, it is not known what the psychological effects may be, the NHS website explains. Its also not known whether hormone blockers affect the development of the teenage brain or childrens bones. Side effects may also include hot flushes, fatigue and mood alterations. As teens who are 16 or over and have been on puberty blockers for at least a year are eligible to start cross-sex hormones in the U.K., the NHS warns that those hormones cause some irreversible changes, such as breast development and deepening of the voice. Long-term cross-sex hormone treatment may cause temporary or even permanent infertility, the NHS website added. There is some uncertainty about the risks of long-term cross-sex hormone treatment. The state of Texas has made headlines in the last year as Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and the states child services agency have questioned whether prescribing puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones to minors could constitute child abuse. In February, Paxton issued a formal opinion stating that prescribing puberty blockers or conducting sex-change surgeries on children with gender dysphoria can legally constitute child abuse under several provisions of chapter 261 of the Texas Family Code. Texas is also investigating whether AbbVie Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., manufacturers of puberty blockers, have been engaging in deceptive advertising practices. Paxtons office had issued Civil Investigative Demands against the two companies, seeking to determine whether these manufacturers of puberty-blocking drugs deceptively advertised and promoted hormone blockers for unapproved uses without disclosing the potential risks to children and their parents. Companies should never promote or supply puberty blockers for uses that are not intended or approved, stated Paxton. I will not allow Big Pharma to misleadingly promote these drugs that may pose a high risk of serious physical and psychological damage to Texas children who cannot yet fathom or consent to the potential long-term effects of such use. The Biden administration has challenged Texas, with the president claiming that his administration is putting Texas on notice that their discriminatory actions put childrens lives at risk. The administration issued guidelines saying that it may violate federal law for Texas to charge doctors who administer gender reassignment surgeries or puberty blockers on children with child abuse. Earlier this month, Paxton sued the Department of Health and Human Services and argued that the federal government is misinterpreting federal law and that Texas law does allow him to label such acts as child abuse. A state appellate court struck down Abbotts directive instructing the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures. The attorney generals office has asked the Texas Supreme Court to reverse the lower court decision blocking the directive. As a result of the governors directive and attorney generals opinion, the Houston-based Texas Childrens Hospital stated earlier this month that it will pause hormone-related prescription therapies for gender-affirming services. Actor Mickey Rourke says 'there is a God' and everything is in His hands Boxer turned actor Mickey Rourke recently shared his belief in God and credited his grandmother for being the person who stressed the importance of faith. Ahead of the "Man of God" film release, Rourke revealed that had it not been for his late grandmother, whom he described as a devout Catholic, he wouldn't have had the faith to get through some of the most difficult moments in his life. When speaking of the difficulties he's faced, Rourke told Fox News, "My life wouldve taken a different path if my grandmother wasnt so religious." "A lot of brutal s--- happened early on in my life. And when that happens, you live with shame. You either live in that shame and be a broken man or you get hard. The Golden Globe award winner added that one priest, in particular, was instrumental in helping him understand God and his faith. I was very comfortable on the streets growing up. But there is a God," he continued. "My priest told me, God hears everything you say. He just doesnt give it to you when you want it. Youve got to keep persevering and keep communicating with Him. Youve got to talk to God before the house burns down." When The Wrestler star was 18 years old, his younger brother, who was 17 at the time, was given only six months to live. That prognosis activated his prayer life and Rourke was encouraged by his Catholic grandmother to pray to St. Jude. His brother did not die and Rourke believes the answered prayer is why he was able to go on and live his dreams of becoming an actor. His brother survived to live many more years and later died in 20024 at age 50. Rourke admitted in the interview with Fox News that the loss still affected his faith and he wasn't able to pray for two years following his brother's death. The Rev. Peter Colapietro, a priest at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in New York City, is the man he credited with helping him get back on track with his faith. I felt understood, he said. But it took me two years before I was able to pray again. "Father Pete saved me," Rourke declared, adding that Colapietro explained that everyone suffers and loses loved ones. Speaking about filmmaking, Rourke said he endeavors to make movies that matter. In the Man of God, he plays the role of a paralyzed man and St. Nektarios of Aegina, a Greek Orthodox saint who performed miracles but was persecuted for it. I dont want to make movies where its just one guy and a machine gun killing 200 other people just because it sells, he maintained. Thats for somebody else. Its not for me. But one thing Ive learned is that everythings in Gods hands. NYC Mayor Adams fires Christian education adviser over 'anti-gay' writings: 'I feel bullied' Christian conservatives have spoken out against New York City Mayor Eric Adams dismissal of one of his education advisors, who also serves as a pastor, after The New York Daily News reported on some of her past writings on sexuality and gender. Last week, Adams announced nine picks to the citys Panel for Education Policy, which replaced the former Board of Education in 2022 and is part of the governance structure responsible for the citys public schools. Initially, the list of appointments included Rev. Kathlyn Barrett-Layne, the leader of Staten Islands Reach Out and Touch Ministries. In the initial announcement, the mayors office touted Barrett-Layne as a seasoned minister who spends her time inspiring people with her speaking and teaching in Bible studies. After Adams announced Barrett-Laynes appointment to the panel, The New York Daily News published an article highlighting what it characterized as anti-gay remarks from her past. Specifically, the tabloid publication took issue with Barrett-Laynes 2013 book Challenging Your Disappointments, which listed homosexuality alongside several other sins, including fornication, adultery, pedophilia, stealing, lying, envy, [and] covetousness. In the book, Barrett-Layne contended that incarcerated young people live in the grip of fornicating homosexual lifestyles with the risk of being infected with the AIDS virus and other sexually transmitted diseases. In a 2004 book titled When Your Mess Becomes the Message, the pastor recalled how her 3-year-old daughter determined that she was a boy after overhearing her mother provide counsel to a lesbian. After her daughters declaration, Barrett-Layne said she and her husband began to militantly and violently pray for, with and over our daughter and prayed against every spirit that was not of God, including the spirit of homosexuality. She wrote that the time when her daughter experienced gender confusion was one of the most frightening experiences I had with my little girl. Members of the citys LGBT community put pressure on Adams to remove Barrett-Layne from his administration in wake of the article. On the same day that Adams announced Barrett-Layne as one of his picks for the citys equivalent of a Board of Education, the administration indicated that it had asked for her dismissal. In a letter sent to Barret-Layne on March 25, Adams claimed that her past published statements are not compatible with a public education system that is open and welcoming to all New Yorkers, regardless of background or identity. The letter stated that her removal would be effective on April 7. Adams spokeswoman Amaris Cockfield told The New York Daily News via email that We were unaware of these writings and weve asked her to resign. The city scrubbed Barrett-Laynes name from the statement announcing new members of the Panel for Education Policy. Barrett-Layne reacted to the development in an interview with The New York Times. I feel bullied. I believe that the city is being bullied, she asserted. I feel as though my character, my name, my church have been defamed with lies and that everything was taken out of context. Conservative Christian activists cited Barrett-Laynes dismissal as another example of what they see as intolerance toward Christians with beliefs that correspond with biblical teachings about human sexuality. Tony Perkins, the president of the Washington, D.C.-based lobbying organization Family Research Council, wrote in an op-ed that by [pulling] the plug on Barrett-Layne and withdrawing her name, the Adams administration was sending a chilling message that people of faith need not apply. The controversy over a Christian with a Christian perspective should be another wake-up call to parents with children in government schools, he added. Dont think that the iron grip LGBT activists have on public education is limited to big-city schools. Perkins maintained that Barrett-Layne would have had direct input in the local curriculum as a member of the citys school panel. What does this say to Christian moms and dads in the area who have kids in the public schools? Simple: their views will not be tolerated, Perkins wrote. Radio host and author Michael Brown, a messianic Jewish believer, noted in a blog post Tuesday that Adams had previously faced pushback from LGBT activists for hiring three people with histories of homophobic views and statements to his Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships. While Brown praised Adams for declining to fire his appointees under pressure, he lamented that Barrett-Laynes previous comments on homosexuality were too much for Adams and his team. God forbid they should allow yet another Bible-believing Christian to darken the doors of their administration. This was a step too far, he wrote. Brown concluded by declaring Adams actions as anti-Christian discrimination that must be confronted head on, without compromise or capitulation. Adams, a Democrat first elected to office last November, has worked to establish himself as an ally of the LGBT community. After Florida passed a bill banning school officials from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with kindergarten through third-grade students, Adams issued a statement condemning the legislation as the Dont Say Gay Bill. The extremist culture war targeting our LGBTQ+ community is hateful and harmful. Floridas Dont Say Gay bill is the latest shameful measure, he said. Were the city of Stonewall. We fight for our LGBTQ+ neighbors, especially our children. Adams informed families leaving in fear of this state-sponsored discrimination that they were welcome in New York City. He described the arms and hearts of the city as wide open, embracing every child of every identity. Barrett-Laynes removal comes after then-mayor Kasim Reed of Atlanta fired Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran in 2015 over objections to a mens devotional he wrote for his church that he also distributed at work. The book highlighted Cochrans views on sexual morality. Reed claimed that Cochran had violated city policy by promoting the book while on the job. But in 2018, after Cochran filed a lawsuit claiming discrimination, the city agreed to pay $1.2 million as part of a legal settlement in the case. Given my history and work throughout my career and with the city of Atlanta, I was shocked that writing a book and encouraging Christian men to be the husbands and fathers and men that God had called us to be, would jeopardize my 34-year career, Cochran said in a statement. The Christian Post reached out to the Alliance Defending Freedom, the legal group that represented Cochran, for comment on Barrett-Laynes case. ADF wasnt able to issue a public statement on the matter. ADF has maintained, however, that the government cant force its employees to get its permission before they engage in free speech. It also cant fire them for exercising that First Amendment freedom, causing them to lose both their freedom and their livelihoods, ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot said in a 2018 statement. Pastor Artur Pawlowski released from solitary confinement after 51 days in prison for 'inciting mischief' A prominent Canadian pastor who has emerged as an outspoken critic of his governments response to the coronavirus pandemic has been released from prison after nearly two months in custody. Pastor Artur Pawlowski of Street Church and the Cave of Adallum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was released from prison Wednesday after 51 days of being moved between a cell and solitary confinement. Pawlowski was arrested last month for allegedly inciting mischief by addressing a crowd of truckers gathered at the Canada-United States border to protest the mandate requiring truck drivers who transport goods between the two countries to either get the vaccine or quarantine for several days upon re-entry into the country. Critics of the Canadian government, including Rebel News Ezra Levant, described Pawlowskis arrest as an attempt to stop him from expressing himself politically to these truckers. Rebel News also created a website, SaveArtur.com, to raise money for the pastors legal bills. The gathering of truckers, known as the Freedom Convoy, became a target of immense criticism from both the Canadian government and the private sector. The crowdfunding platform GoFundMe pulled a fundraiser created to raise money to cover the cost of the truckers expenses, purportedly following multiple discussions with local law enforcement and police reports of violence and other unlawful activity. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defamed the truckers, who represented a wide swath of ethnicities and religions, as proponents of antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-black racism, homophobia, and transphobia. Officials in the Canadian capital of Ottawa seized fuel from truckers and those seeking to provide fuel for the truckers to stay warm inside their cabins amid freezing temperatures, citing a belief that access to fuel was enabling the truckers to persist in causing mischief. Rebel News reporter Adam Soos posted a video of Pawlowski leaving the Calgary Remand Centre on his Twitter account Wednesday. Pawlowski embraced his wife Marzena and son, Nathaniel, before Nathaniel Pawlowski drove his parents back home. Pawlowski, sitting in the passengers seat of the car, reached across his son to wave at the camera. Artur is out. Full story coming soon at https://t.co/kwmn3j9Pxo. pic.twitter.com/2fSe0wmhar Adam Soos ? (@ATSoos) March 30, 2022 Ahead of Pawlowskis release, Soos reported that all those gathered to greet Artur upon his release have been instructed to leave immediately under threat Artur would be arrested again should anyone speak with him before he leaves the Calgary Remand Centre grounds. Prior to officials at the Calgary Remand Centre demanding that the crowd disperse, an image captured by Soos showed a group of supporters, led by Pawlowskis wife and son, standing in line hoping to greet the pastor. All those gathered to great Artur upon his release have been instructed to leave immediately under threat that Artur would be arrested again should anyone speak with him before he leaves the Calgary Remand Centre grounds. Artur will head straight home.https://t.co/kwmn3j9Pxopic.twitter.com/eEKjrftjJQ Adam Soos ? (@ATSoos) March 30, 2022 Eagerly anticipating the release of pastor, father and husband Artur Pawlowski.https://t.co/kwmn3j9Pxopic.twitter.com/fjOQYUAZZe Adam Soos ? (@ATSoos) March 30, 2022 In an interview with Soos, Pawlowskis attorney Sarah Miller said that a judge agreed to release the pastor from custody on bail conditions that she characterized as quite strict. Miller explained that while this is not the full-blown celebratory type situation that we would hope for because he is under very strict conditions, she concluded that being under strict conditions at home with his family is a far better cry than spending time behind bars. The Calgary Herald reported that Pawlowskis bail conditions include a nightly curfew of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., with exceptions that include Street Church services, and that he not attend any protests. Should Pawlowski violate the terms of his bail, his wife and son could be forced to pay $20,000 and $4,000, respectively. While Pawlowski was granted bail for his role in purportedly creating mischief stemming from his appearance at the border blockade, he was ordered to remain in prison for additional days on other charges. Specifically, the charges that kept Pawlowski in prison included allegations that he twice breached court orders to abide by COVID-19 public health measures and caused a disturbance at a Shoppers Drug Mart. Pawlowski had to put up a $25,000 cash deposit in order to secure his release, while his wife and son had to provide payments of $10,000 and $2,000, respectively. Miller told Rebel News that Pawlowski has quite a few criminal trials coming up, adding, hes facing up to $100,000 for attending a gathering in front of city hall. The news outlet also noted that the pastor spent much of his time behind bars in solitary confinement. Pawlowski first gained notoriety after documenting his tense exchanges with local law enforcement officials seeking to enforce coronavirus worship restrictions in videos that went viral. The videos, published last spring, featured the Polish immigrant to Canada likening the public health officials to Nazis and the Gestapo as they repeatedly entered the Cave of Adallum Church during Passover services and confronted him weeks later during a church service. In a previous interview with The Christian Post, Pawlowski accused the local government of abiding by a double standard regarding the enforcement of coronavirus worship restrictions because while they targeted his church for holding in-person worship services, the mosques were fully operational and no one harassed them, no one interfered with them. He also contended that government officials had developed a personal vendetta against him. Texas AG investigating whether pharma companies deceptively advertised puberty blocking drugs The attorney general of Texas is demanding documents from the manufacturers of puberty-blocking drugs as part of an investigation probing whether they have engaged in practices that violate state law. Last week, the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement announcing that it had issued Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) to AbbVie Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The demands are part of an investigation to "determine whether these manufacturers of puberty-blocking drugs deceptively advertised and promoted hormone blockers for unapproved uses without disclosing the potential risks to children and their parents. Companies should never promote or supply puberty blockers for uses that are not intended or approved, Paxton said. I will not allow Big Pharma to misleadingly promote these drugs that may pose a high risk of serious physical and psychological damage to Texas children who cannot yet fathom or consent to the potential long-term effects of such use. The attorney generals office contends that the medications at issue Supprelin LA and Lupron Depot have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat children with Central Precocious Puberty, a condition in which puberty comes early for a child. While Lupron has also been prescribed for palliative treatment of prostate cancer, neither drug has been approved as a treatment for gender dysphoria by the FDA. Steven Robinson, the chief of the Consumer Protection Division at the attorney generals office, wrote the letters to AbbVie Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Division believes that you are in possession, custody, or control of documentary material relevant to the subject matter of an investigation of actual or possible violations of the [Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act] sections 17.46(a) and 17.46(b) related to the advertising, marketing, promotion, sale and distribution of prescription hormone blockers for off-label usage, Robinsons letter reads. Both companies have until April 14 to provide the state with the documentary material requested. Robisons letters stressed that any person who attempts to avoid, evade, or prevent compliance, in whole or in part, with this directive by removing, concealing, withholding, destroying, mutilating, altering, or by any other means falsifying any documentary material may be guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 or by confinement in the county jail for not more than one year, or both. The documentary material requested of the drug manufacturers includes documents sufficient to identify all hormone blocker products that you sell, market, or distribute or have sold, marketed, or distributed from January 1, 2019, to the present. The state also seeks all documents related to the marketing and promotion of hormone blockers in Texas, including all branded and unbranded marketing materials, advertising, and educational materials, that contain information regarding the usage of hormone blockers, and/or off-label uses of hormone blockers. Additionally, the state is asking the drug manufacturers to provide all evidence of any investigations and lawsuits filed against them because of representations made by you about the safety or effectiveness of your hormone blocker products or hormone blockers generally for the treatment of gender dysphoria. Other documents sought as part of the demands include correspondences with healthcare providers in Texas regarding the drugs, marketing and sales plans, and training materials for their employees. The letters also asked for the production of all peer-reviewed articles that in any way relates to any of your hormone blocker products and all documents concerning misuse, adverse events, side effects, and/or injury from your hormone blocker products. The demand letters are the latest action taken by the Texas Attorney Generals Office and the state government expressing disapproval of puberty-blocking drugs and promoting gender transitions for minors. Paxton first indicated his intention to investigate AbbVie Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act late last year. That move came not long after the Texas Department of Family Services characterized genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery as child abuse following a request from the states Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Last month, Paxton issued a formal opinion asserting that certain sex-reassignment procedures and treatments can legally constitute child abuse under several provisions of chapter 261 of the Texas Family Code. As Paxton unveiled the opinion, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a directive ordering the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures taking place in the state. A state appellate court judge struck down the directive earlier this month, and Paxtons office has filed a request for emergency relief with the Texas Supreme Court in an effort to reverse the lower court decision. The debate about puberty blockers has received increased attention in recent years, particularly after 60 Minutes aired a segment featuring testimony from detransitioners, those who began to transition from one gender to the other only to regret doing so later. The young adults on the panel interviewed by CBS correspondent Lesley Stahl agreed that they were rushed into hormones and surgery without completely understanding the long-term impacts of taking that course of action. The conservative American College of Pediatricians has warned that the use of puberty-blocking drugs for gender identity purposes on children can cause infertility. Critics claim providing such drugs to children struggling with their gender identity would sterilize otherwise physically healthy children. Opponents argue that since the drug is not approved by the FDA for such a purpose, prescribing puberty blockers to children struggling with gender dysphoria should be seen as experimental. However, the left-leaning American Academy of Pediatrics has voiced support in the past for the surgical and hormonal transition of transgender children and adolescents. 16-y-o miraculously survives deadly Texas tornados, says God gave me another chance A 16-year-old boy whose truck was flipped over by last weeks tornado in Texas, which killed a 73-year-old woman and injured dozens, said God gave me another chance and recounted his experience in a media interview after a video showing his ordeal went viral. The teen, Riley Leon, was returning home after a job interview in his red 2004 Chevrolet Silverado when he was caught in the tornado in Elgin, Texas. The viral video shows his truck being picked up and thrown on its side like a piece of paper. I honestly didnt know what to do, to grab onto the steering wheel or to start praying, the teen told NBC 5. On the video, it looks like I drove off but in reality I didnt. I landed in the center of the road and I was just driving to get off the road. He said hes grateful Im here. [Im] grateful God gave me another chance because better things are going to come in the future. Never let small things bring you down because bigger things are going to come, he told KTBC-TV. It was my first time being in a tornado, and hopefully my last time, Fox7 quoted him as saying. The news outlet added that Leon was surprised in Fort Worth with a new car and a generous gift to his family. Chevrolet, in collaboration with Bruce Lowrie Chevrolet of Fort Worth, gifted him a brand new 2022 Chevrolet Silverado. Lowrie also gave a $15,000 check to his family. A GoFundMe page started for Leon has raised over $42,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. Riley is so lucky and blessed to have made it out of this terrifying incident," the page reads. "His truck was totaled, but for the most part, he is doing ok. Unfortunately, he has begun to experience body aches and severe back pain, as one would expect after this type of accident. Leon is a lovely, bright student making plans to graduate next year and could genuinely use some love from our community and anyone else who may have viewed this video and prayed for the passengers, said Bianca Jaimes, one of his teachers at IDEA Rundberg in Austin, Texas. When the accident happened, the teen was on his way back home from a job interview at Whataburger, which has now offered him the job. In Jacksboro, Texas, the principal of an elementary school thanked God for protecting more than 500 students and 50 staff who survived the tornado last Monday. We are just so blessed that God had His hand God gave wisdom and courage to the adults, Michael Qualls, the principal of Jacksboro Elementary School, said, adding that even the kids were not panicked. Jacksboro High Principal Starla Sanders told Fox4 she was alerted about the storm turning severe about an hour before it hit. She allowed the 300 high schoolers who could drive to leave early, but the bus riders and all staff had no option but to take shelter. Even as crews are now working through the rubble, the First Baptist Church, Fort Richardson Masonic Lodge and the Parish of Jacksboro are housing Pre-K through third-graders for up to a month, Texomas reported. What we are currently doing now is, we are gathering the materials that are useable at the elementary and putting them in totes and getting them over here to the Baptist Church so that this weekend the teachers can set up their classrooms, Qualls was quoted as saying. One of the survivors, 10-year-old Kenadee Sell, told News6, Things happen, I know, but God saved us. God made this miracle happen; He saved our lives. Near the school, a 90-year-old woman, Francis Wilson, recalled how she survived after hunkering down inside a shower as the tornado destroyed the back half of her home, including the roof above her head. God had a hand in it; thats the way I look at it, Wilson told News6. He had a hand over me because I shouldnt have made it out of here. In North Texas, the tornado injured several people and destroyed homes, schools and businesses. The tornado caused extensive and widespread damage, particularly in Jack and Montague counties. Federalist editor locked out of Twitter for calling Rachel Levine a man: 'They will come after you' An editor with the conservative news publication The Federalist has been punished by Twitter because he called Rachel Levine, a Biden administration official who is biologically male but identifies as female, a man. According to an article published by The Federalist on Monday, The Federalist Senior Editor John Daniel Davidson has been locked out of his Twitter account over a tweet made Friday. Theyre not even trying to hide it anymore, posted Davidson. If you say that Rachel Levine is a man, they will come after you. Doesnt matter that Levine is in fact a man. Truth is no defense. According to The Federalist, less than 24 hours after Davidson tweeted this, Twitter censored the post and locked Davidson out of his account until he agrees to delete the tweet. Davidson has expressed his refusal to do so. Born Richard Levine but having identified as female since 2011, Rachel Levine currently serves as assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Recently, multiple individuals and groups have found their accounts on Twitter suspended due to referring to Levine as a man in response to USA Today recently naming Levine among its Women of the Year. The Christian Post is among those punished after it posted a tweet that labeled Levine a man. CP is prohibited from posting new content since earlier this month pending an appeal. Twitter also took action against The Babylon Bee for posting a joke about the Christian satirical site supposedly honoring Levine as its Man of the Year. They could, of course, delete the tweet themselves. But they won't, tweeted Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon from his personal account in response to the punishment. It's not enough for them to just wipe it out. They want us to bend the knee and admit that we engaged in hateful conduct. Twitter also recently censored conservative social commentator Charlie Kirk for posting that Levine is a man. Kirk denounced Twitter's actions in a statement given to Newsweek. I will NEVER apologize for speaking the truth and any term of service that demands users ignore, forget, or disregard what's objectively true is un-American and wrong, stated Kirk. It's this type of censorship that will ultimately destroy Twitter as a viable platform for speech, if that hasn't already happened. Competitors are popping up everywhere. Why does the far Left want more women to have abortions? The Texas Heartbeat Act, in its mission to protect babies from abortion once their heartbeats are detectable, has faced legal challenges and resistance from the abortion industry and come out victorious. Along with saving thousands of lives, Texas has also provided a notable case study as the nation awaits the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, a case with the potential to overturn Roe v. Wade. While pro-life advocates are ready to care for mothers and their babies in the event Roe is overturned, the far Left that used to call for abortion to be safe, legal, and rare is now busily working to ensure that more and more women undergo abortions. The pro-choice facade of the past is finally slipping away as progressives become increasingly bold about their desire to increase the national abortion rate. Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), who has been outspoken about his goal to direct abortion tourism to his state, signed a new law to make abortion even cheaper for people on private insurance plans. Washington and Oregon also had dramatic reactions to Idahos Texas-style heartbeat protection, resisting the neighboring states move to protect the unborn. A recent New York Times article sounded gleeful as it relied on shoddy evidence to report that Texas Heartbeat Act had not drastically lowered abortions in the state because women were still able to obtain chemical abortion pills or travel across state lines to undergo abortions. National Reviews Michael New refuted these suspiciously enthusiastic claims, explaining, the reported out-of-state monthly increase of 1,250 abortions is only a fraction of the in-state decline of 3,200 abortions reported by the Texas State Health and Human Services Commission for September 2021. Agents on the far Left are determined to encourage women to undergo abortions, even if abortion is the logically less convenient and less safe option for them. Fund Texas Choice promotes abortion by provid[ing] travel assistance to Texas residents whether your appointment is in Texas or if you have to travel out-of-state. The group arranges and pays for hotel stays, bus tickets, flights, and gas for women undergoing abortions in cities where they are not residents in other words, whatever it takes to make sure that women have abortions. Even private organizations such as Citigroup have also chosen to fund travel for their employees to encourage them to get abortions. Why are progressives hellbent on pushing dangerous chemical abortions and spending thousands of dollars on travel over the simple solution of carrying a child to term and respecting his or her right to be born? Are they really so deluded as to believe that birth, which women are biologically designed to perform, is more traumatizing than invasive surgical procedures or dangerous chemical regimens? Are they simply mesmerized by the profit they stand to gain from vulnerable women when abortion is normalized? One thing is for certain, those who champion abortion have chosen to reject reality. Whether they acknowledge it or not, Americans know that every pregnant woman carries a unique, unrepeatable human being within her. It is only when a woman is considering an abortion that anyone denies the humanity of the child. As a visibly pregnant woman walks down the sidewalk or through the grocery store, it is not uncommon for men and women to stop to congratulate her on her baby. In fact, perhaps the only way to be more popular than a pregnant woman carrying a baby in her womb is to be a new mom carrying a baby in her arms. Person after person stops to say hello to the baby, play peek-a-boo, or ask, Can you give me a smile? Today, progressives are tripping over themselves to increase access to abortion, but they should recognize there is a better route. As the world awaits a decision in Dobbs, churches, communities, and legislators are working to support moms, dads, and children in need. Instead of doing everything possible to ensure that moms believe their easiest and only option is abortion, it is time for the pro-abortion lobby to accept the truth that daily life affirms: abortion ends the life of a beautiful baby. We invite anyone who is or has previously been part of the pro-abortion lobby to join us. There are countless ways to help moms, dads, and babies in need. Encouraging more abortions is not one of them. The cats whiskers: an important sculpture from Ancient Egypt A fine and well-provenanced example, this Egyptian bronze cat was made as a votive offering to the goddess Bastet, and is one of the largest examples to survive from antiquity This 2,300-year-old bronze cat from Egypt is so lifelike it feels like you have a feline friend in the room with you, says Hannah Fox Solomon, Christies Specialist and Head of Department for Ancient Art and Antiquities. Whereas some examples can be angular, or tall and lanky, this one has great proportions and a lifelike, naturalistic feel. The cat is a star lot of the Antiquities auction at Christies New York on 12 April. The sale also includes more than 130 Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Byzantine, and Near-East objects, including a very rare Sasanian square sardonyx cameo with a bust of King Narseh, who ruled the Sasanian Empire from AD 293 to 302. The cat sits upright with its tail curled around its paws, its head held proudly and its ears standing to attention. Its feline form is brought to life by precise, naturalistic modelling and the inclusion of fine details such as incised tufts of hair on its ears. The superb hollow-cast bronze was made during the Ptolemaic period, circa 332-30 BC. This dynasty takes its name from Ptolemy I Soter, a general who served under Alexander the Great and who seized Egypt following the death of the Macedonian conqueror. The last of the Ptolemaic rulers was Cleopatra VII, lover of Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony. It would have been given as a votive offering to Bastet, the cat-headed goddess of protection, good health and fertility. A mummified cat would originally have been inserted into the body cavity of the sculpture, which has long been lost. At just under 15 in tall, the cat is a far from typical offering to Bastet. It is among a small group of near-lifesize Egyptian feline bronzes to survive from antiquity. Only a handful of museums have similar excellent examples, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum in London, which is home to the Gayer-Anderson Cat (named after the British soldier who donated it) from Saqqara. Fine decorative details also add to the sculptures appeal. Holes in the cats ears indicate that it would once have worn earrings, probably made of gold, and its eyes would have been embellished with inlaid stones or glass. Incised lines decorate the animals chest to create two necklaces: a multi-strand broad collar and a cord with a wadjet-eye pendant. The wadjet represents the eye of the god Horus, which was injured but then restored to health, so was a symbol of protection and wellbeing. This is definitely a fancy cat, says Solomon. Its pretty remarkable if you think about the wealth the patron would have had to make such a high-quality offering as this. Bronze was more expensive than other materials such as wood or stone, and a piece this size would have been costly. The Egyptians reverence for cats can be traced back more than 5,000 years, when felines were credited with protecting early pharaohs from snakes and scorpions. Their dexterity at hunting mice and other vermin led to their domestication during the Middle Kingdom (around 2030-1650 BC). Bastet was probably the best known of Egypts feline deities and was a benevolent counterpart to Sekhmet, the lion-headed goddess of destruction. Together they illustrate the complex nature of cats that the Egyptians so admired: on the one hand they could be graceful, vigilant and fertile; on the other, they could be aggressive, destructive and ruthless. While early depictions of Bastet show her as a lioness, she later took the form of a domestic cat or cat-headed woman. Widely popular throughout Egypt, the centre of her cult was the city of Bubastis, just north of present-day Cairo. Thousands of worshippers would journey there each year for a festival in her honour, where more wine was drunk than in a whole year besides, according to the Greek historian Herodotus. Netflix First it was Invented Anna , then Tinder Scammer, and now Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King , Netflix's latest documentary based on the life of a scammer. Now it's about Gerald Cotten , creator of a cryptocurrency trading market called QuadrigaCX in Canada. The entrepreneur knew how to identify a growing market and his company had more than 115,000 active clients. Together with his partner, Michael Patryn , he created the company in 2013, when hardly anyone was talking about cryptocurrencies and they were the first to create a cryptocurrency-supported ATM network in their country. When the value of bitcoin increased in 2017, the partners ended up consolidating QuadrigaCX as an exchange or foreign exchange market. In 2018 the first complaints began to be heard: due to the fluctuation in the exchange rate of digital currencies, many clients tried to withdraw their investment, but could not do so. The police launched a series of investigations, but before they could reach a conclusion, Gerald Cotten died in India on December 9, 2018 due to Crohn's disease, a chronic intestinal condition that affects the digestive tract. The Obama portraits are finally here, and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) is planning a full afternoon of fun activities on Sunday, April 3, to celebrate their arrival. In 2018, the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., debuted The Obama Portraits, an exhibit with works by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald portraying former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The portraits have since gone on tour in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles and Atlanta. And now, its Houstons turn. The portraits will be on view at MFAH from April 3 to May 30. This Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., MFAH is hosting an outdoor festival called Sunday Best to kick off the exhibits Houston stay. The afternoon will begin with remarks from U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas and Necole Irvin of the Mayors Office of Cultural Affairs. There will be performances from Texas Southern Universitys marching band, Ocean of Soul, as well as from the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, and readings by Houston-based poet Joy Priest, author of "Horsepower" and winner of the Donald Hall Prize for Poetry, and Houston Poet Laureate Outspoken Bean. Attendees will also get to join in on a discussion with the Free Black Womens Library about White Teeth, a Zadie Smith novel recommended by Michelle Obama, and meet the folks behind Kindred Stories, a new bookstore that highlights Black authors and artists. Various craft activities will be available, from designing wearable art with Houston Community Colleges fashion faculty to decorating paper fans with artist Melissa Aytenfisu. Want your own portrait? The Jack Yates High School students featured in Eye on Houston: High School Documentary Photography will be there to take your picture. Finally, H-E-B is bringing the snacks at the Grab and Go stand, Third Wards Doshi House will sell vegan and vegetarian food, and Cafe Leonellione of the restaurant concepts inside MFAH's new Kinder Buildingwill have a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m., serving $5 wine and focaccias. View the full Sunday Best schedule on MFAHs website. After Houston, the Obama portraits will head to San Francisco, then Boston. In a few weeks, "Top Gun: Maverick" will finally hit our screens. It's been a long time coming. First derailed by the death of original director Tony Scott and then by COVID. But on May 27 Tom Cruise reprises his role as Maverick, this time as a flight instructor, along with a few other familiar faces, Paramount announced. Watch the new trailers above. "After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navys top aviators, Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him," reads the film's description. "When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: 'Rooster,' the son of Mavericks late friend Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka 'Goose.'" "Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it," finishes the description. Notably in the sequel, Iceman, played by Val Kilmer, outranks Maverick. Further proof that Maverick never stopped defying orders and has remained a thorn in the side of the Navy since the original movie. This means "Top Gun: Maverick" might be able to recapture "Top Guns" unique tone, according to reporting by screenrant.com. Getty Images Total Film spoke to the filmmaking team behind the sequel, with director Joe Kosinski saying that bringing back Kilmer was a particularly special moment. "That was a huge, huge get having Val come back to play Iceman," Kosinski told Total Film. "To get to work with an actor of that caliber, to see the chemistry, the camaraderie between him and Tom, and to have those two characters reunite in this film, was a really special moment, and one of my favorite parts of the film." Cruise, meanwhile, put the new cast through their paces, with Miles Teller revealing all about "Tom Cruise boot camp" in which they learned to fly jets. For more from Cruise, Teller, the cast and filmmaking team check out the March 31 issue of Total Film. "Top Gun: Maverick" also features Jennifer Connelly, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis and a returning Ed Harris. Does anyone care about a "Top Gun" sequel? Released in 1986, the original "Top Gun" was a sensation and the highest-grossing film of the year. It sold 47 million cinema tickets in America alone enough to keep it playing on more than a thousand screens nationwide for five straight months and shattered home media records, according to reporting by The Guardian. CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images It also made an overnight star of "Risky Business" leading man Cruise and featured a score that cemented its status as a Hollywood classic. The soundtrack contained '80s hits like "Danger Zone" and "Take My Breath Away." But 36 years later, does anyone care to see Cruise get whipped around in a succession of blazingly fast jet fighters? That's hard to answer. But there does appear to be significant interest. The trailer released less than 72-hours ago has more than 12 million views. Photo courtesy Kris Nordstrom McBride PETS. An important word in Rotary. Not the furry four legged kind although their importance cannot be underrated either. Rotarys PETS is an acronym for Presidents Elect Training Seminars and as most incoming presidents will tell you, this is the weekend that changes everything for them as they lean into their upcoming year as a club leader. Lone Star PETS the seminars our District 5910 Presidents Elect attend is the largest multi-district PETS within Rotary International. As such, the level of Rotary leaders the training draws is top notch. Ten Rotary Districts PEs across Texas and Oklahoma spend three days together in Dallas to prepare for their year. They gather with 500 other Rotarians who will soon ascend to the same positions, plus approximately 125 President Nominees; clubs are allowed to offer the training to the Nominee in order to give these new leaders two years of training, rather than just one. The President Nominees who attend and then return for their President Elect year always talk about how different the second year is for them; they are less overwhelmed and pick up things they missed in the first training. Spouses are invited to attend to help them understand the responsibilities their partner will have and the work it will take to have a successful year. The spouses are encouraged to jump in and become part of the life changing year and enjoy the ride. In total, 900-plus people are involved in this PETS training each year. Director of Public Health and Family Welfare Dr G. Srinivasa Rao said it is best if the students reach home by noon before the hottest part of the day; that was the intent of closing schools early. The hours between noon and 4 pm are the hottest and is best not to be out in the open. Representational image/AFP HYDERABAD: Some private schools did not follow the school education departments orders of closing classes at 11.30 am from Thursday, and sending students home in view of the rising temperatures. Government schools closed early. The classes were run till 11 am, after which the students were provided their meals before they left for home, said Manjula Reddy, a teacher in a government school said. Several private schools, however, held classes till 1 pm, and some of them till 3 pm. The managements of these schools said they needed time to prepare the students for the exams. There are schools which have air-conditioned classrooms or have installed air coolers, noted Telangana Recognised School Management Association president Y. Shekhar Rao. Meanwhile, Director of Public Health and Family Welfare Dr G. Srinivasa Rao said it is best if the students reach home by noon before the hottest part of the day; that was the intent of closing schools early. The hours between noon and 4 pm are the hottest and is best not to be out in the open. Asked about making more buses to help students reach home quickly, V.C. Sajjanar, TSRTC managing director, said the school education department had alerted the RTC about having adequate services that stop near schools and colleges. All RTC coordinators have been informed and they are following the guidelines, he said. With the rise in temperatures, people are utilising more power for the last few days. (Representational Image/ Dc File) HYDERABAD: As the power consumption is increasing in high proportions in the state for the past 10 days, the Telangana government is making sure uninterrupted power supply to the domestic and the agriculture sectors. Consumption of power has gradually been increasing in the state since March 25. The peak level of 14,160 MW power was utilised on March 29, and 14,019 on March 30 and 13,982 MWs on March 31. By spending Rs 35,000 crore, the state government has improved infrastructure of electricity across the state for the last eight years. The transmission system can supply a maximum of 18,000 MW per day in peak season, according to sources. With the rise in temperatures, people are utilising more power for the last few days. Air conditioners, air coolers, fans, and other electrical appliances have been used in rural and urban areas. A higher official from Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited (TSGENCO) said, To make the grid system healthy, they are balancing the peak and off-peak demand of power supply. There is high demand for power and low generation in peak hours and generation is high and demand is low in off-peak hours. Reversible pump consumption method has been adopted at the Nagarjunasagar and the Srisailam reservoirs to balance the peak and off-peak demand of power, he said. Though some farmers complained of unofficial power cuts, official sources denied it. If any power cuts were necessitated, it was due to local technical issues, they added. Chinese path to modernization: Characteristics and global significance 17:15, March 31, 2022 By Huang Qunhui, Yang Hutao ( People's Daily Online The formation and extension of the uniquely Chinese path to modernization show the vitality and advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, demonstrating that modernization need not mean Westernization, which is of great significance to both China and the wider world. Photo taken on May 27, 2020 shows a view of the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) The Communist Party of China (CPC) has led the people in pioneering a uniquely Chinese path to modernization, creating a new model for human advancement, and expanding the channels for developing countries to achieve modernization, as pointed out in the Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century. This has offered a new option for countries and nations who want to accelerate development while preserving their independence, said the resolution as adopted at the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. The uniquely Chinese path to modernization, a great innovation in human history, has resolved many problems as regards human development. The formation and extension of the uniquely Chinese path to modernization show the vitality and advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, demonstrating that modernization need not mean Westernization, and are of great significance to both China and the wider world. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, under the sound guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people in pressing ahead with the countrys Chinese-style modernization to make new contributions to humanitys search for alternative ways to successfully modernize. A thorough understanding of the characteristics and global significance of Chinese-style modernization is essential for thoroughly studying and implementing CPC Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinpings major expositions on Chinese-style modernization. Characteristics of the uniquely Chinese path to modernization The main characteristics of the uniquely Chinese path to modernization during its formation process include the following three aspects. Upholding the leadership of the CPC. An examination of the history of the economy and economic thought shows that for late-developing countries, an active and strong ruling party is the key to realizing rapid economic development. This is also the key to the formation and extension of the uniquely Chinese path to modernization. During the modernization process of a late-developing country, the ruling party plays a significant role in leading the people to lay foundations and create conditions that are not otherwise available but necessary for the countrys rapid economic development, including infrastructure, legal systems, industrial policies, education and training. Chinas internal and external constraints have always undergone dynamic changes during the process of pursuing socialist modernization. Facing complex and changing external and internal environments, China has, under the strong leadership of the CPC, realized two miracles rapid economic development and long-term social stability having done so by scientifically formulating and improving short-and medium-term modernization goals, adhering to the long-term goal of building a modern socialist country, as well as fully tapping potential and seizing opportunities. During this process, the CPC has fully demonstrated its foresight and strong political leadership, as well as its strength in thought guidance, mass organization and social mobilization. The Party has also lived up to its original aspiration and founding mission to seek happiness for the people and rejuvenate the Chinese nation, all while showcasing its distinctive character: that is, to have the courage to carry out self-reform. Photo taken on Jan. 2, 2021 shows the light show at the Lujiazui area in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) From the periods of the new-democratic revolution, socialist revolution and construction, and reform and opening up to a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, reflecting on the exploration and practice of Chinas modernization reveals that without the CPC, which has upheld lofty ideals and strong beliefs and has always represented the fundamental interests of all Chinese people, China would not have been able to bring together and mobilize the whole society in a complex, difficult and changing environment. Without the CPC, it would be impossible for China to always adhere to the right direction of development. It would be even more impossible for China to deepen its reform and opening up and pioneer a uniquely Chinese path to modernization. In the worlds history, only the CPC, a Marxist party that is the choice of history and the people, can take realizing, defending, and developing the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people as its immutable aim. Only under the leadership of the CPC can China insist that development is for the people, reliant on the people, and that its fruits should be shared by the people, and pioneer a uniquely Chinese path to modernization, creating a new form for human advancement. Therefore, the leadership of the CPC is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the fundamental guarantee for the formation and development of the uniquely Chinese path to modernization. Staying independent. We must follow our own path. This is the bedrock that underpins all the theories and practices of our Party. More than that, it is the historical conclusion our Party has drawn from its struggles over the past century, said General Secretary Xi Jinping while delivering a speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC. The resolution adopted during the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee summarized 10 items of historical experience for the Party over the past century, including staying independent. Staying independent is a distinctive feature of the CPC in leading the people to explore the uniquely Chinese path to modernization. The history of the world since the Second World War has fully proven that it is not easy for late-developing countries to modernize in an international political and economic system built and dominated by Western developed countries. Some late-developing countries have paid a price in losing their independence to seek dependent development, having ended up falling into various development traps. Aerial photo taken on Aug 31, 2021 shows a high-speed railway under construction and an expressway in Gaoling township of Du'an Yao autonomous county, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. (Photo/Xinhua) The uniquely Chinese path to modernization has come about as a result of the CPC having led the Chinese people to remain committed to independence and working in concert, and is in tune with Chinas national conditions and realities. On the uniquely Chinese path to modernization, China completed its process of industrialization, a process that took developed countries several centuries, in the span of mere decades. The Chinese nation has achieved a tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. The world is experiencing the combined impacts of major changes and a pandemic unseen in a century. Unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, and economic globalization is facing headwinds. General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed to accelerate the fostering of a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other, and mentioned that the essence of the new development paradigm is realizing a high level of self-reliance. This elucidates the path that will take China to economic modernization during the new development stage and bears important and far-reaching significance for promoting Chinas high-quality economic and social development and global economic prosperity. Adhering to simultaneous development. Although modernization does not only mean industrialization and economic development, industrialization and economic development are undoubtedly the most important parts of modernization. Experience in the global sphere shows that modernization driven by industrialization is an inevitable path for both developed countries and late-developing countries. From the 156 key projects listed in Chinas first Five-Year Plan (1953-1957) to the new type of industrialization since the period of reform and opening up, industrialization has always been the main basis and driving force for Chinas modernization. A duty-free store in Riyue Plaza in Haikou city, capital of south Chinas Hainan province, is crowded with customers, Jan. 1, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Wang Chenglong) In the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that industrialization, informationization, urbanization and agricultural modernization should be promoted simultaneously. This is a major innovation in modernization theory and shows that the Party has a deeper understanding of the laws of modernization and a clearer understanding of the uniquely Chinese path to modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that Chinas modernization is different from that of developed Western countries. The modernization of developed Western countries is like a series connection process during which industrialization, urbanization, agricultural modernization, and informatization have taken place in a sequence, having taken over 200 years to reach the current level. Given the fact that China is a latecomer, the countrys modernization process must therefore be a parallel connection process, during which industrialization, informationization, urbanization and agricultural modernization are developed simultaneously. The thought and practice of modernization featuring the parallel connection process greatly improved Chinas productivity. From 1952 to 2021, Chinas GDP jumped from 67.91 billion yuan to more than 110 trillion yuan, while its GDP per capita increased from 119 yuan to over $12,000. Since the reform and opening up, the average annual growth rate of Chinas GDP was 9.2 percent during the years between 1978 and 2020. It is undoubtedly a miracle in the worlds modernization history for a poor and backward developing country with a large population to achieve such sustained and stable rapid development in such a short period of time. The global significance of the uniquely Chinese path to modernization The formation and extension of the uniquely Chinese path to modernization are of great significance to not only China, but also the world at large. The Chinese path to modernization broadens the path toward modernization for developing countries. The uniquely Chinese path to modernization abandons the old Western way of modernization, which is capital-centric, polarized, and is characterized by soaring materialism and external expansion and plundering, being an old-fashioned way of modernization. Chinese-style modernization broadens the path toward modernization for developing countries, and provides a Chinese solution in mankinds search for a better social system. The uniquely Chinese path to modernization proves that there is no fixed path toward modernization, showing that whichever path best suits the national conditions of an individual country is the best path forward, while cutting ones feet to fit the shoes will lead nowhere. A farmer works in the field in Changping Village, Moudao Township of Lichuan City, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, March 28, 2022. (Photo by Wen Lin/Xinhua) Developing countries should be committed to their own goal of modernization and explore a path toward modernization that suits their own national conditions. The huge gap between the present backwards state of development and a vision for future development should provide a strong motivation and driving force for the acceleration of modernization, but never should be an excuse to stop pursuing an independent and self-reliant path toward modernization. Developing countries, in an attempt to turn their strong aspiration for modernization into actual results for economic and social development, need a powerful ruling party which always represents the interests of the people. Only under the leadership of such a party can developing countries pool together the consensus of the people, represent the interests of the people, and move steadfastly toward their goal of modernization, while catching up with the developed countries. Chinas path toward modernization answers the major question of how socialist countries can realize modernization. This Chinese-style modernization is a socialist modernization. Socialist countries and capitalist countries have different goals for economic development, and the characteristics and logics of modernization are different, too. In the capitalist world, modernization follows the logic of capital, and to relieve the contradictions of capital accumulation and satisfy the need for capital increment are the most fundamental and crucial factors. The CPC represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people of China, and the Party must therefore remain committed to a people-centered philosophy of modernization. Chinese-style modernization must focus on the free and all-round development of the people, and serve the well-being of the people. The Chinese-style modernization seeks to involve a massive population base; it seeks to pursue common prosperity for the people; it promotes coordination between material civilization and spiritual civilization; it is a modernization that guarantees the harmonious co-existence between humans and nature; it is a modernization that takes the road of peaceful development. Volunteers help pick and sell strawberries via livestreaming platform at a planting base in Banjing township, Rugao city, east Chinas Jiangsu province, Feb. 24, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Xu Hui) To realize socialist production goals, we creatively launched the socialist market economy, which gives play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation and allows the government to play a better role. It also gives full play to the role of capital in boosting economic development and prevents capital from growing in a disorderly fashion that goes against the objectives of social production. Based on the fact that the major contradiction of Chinese society has changed, and to enhance peoples well-being and to better satisfy peoples ever-growing aspiration for a better life, we are focusing our efforts on promoting common prosperity and solidly pushing for common prosperity. Chinese-style modernization effectively manifests the essential requirements of socialism, and answers the major question of how socialist countries should realize modernization. Chinas path toward modernization pushes for the progress of mankind and economic globalization. Chinas successful exploration of its own path toward modernization has enabled the country to achieve the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects while eradicating absolute poverty, creating a miracle that should be remembered in human history. Looking to the future, China aims to basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035 and build itself into a great modern socialist country by the middle of the 21st century, which means that more than one billion people of the worlds total population will embrace modernization. To build a modernized society for more than one billion people is undoubtedly a huge contribution to the progress of mankind. Chinese-style modernization is an open modernization, as well as one that conforms to the trend of globalization and the progress of human society. As the largest developing country in the world, China has become an important force in making economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. While developing itself, China has always proactively shouldered its responsibility, having made contributions to global economic stability. Aerial photo taken on Aug. 19, 2020 shows wind turbines in Jiucaiping scenic spot in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) China has been a ballast stone, a stabilizer, and an engine for world economic growth in various situations, be it the 1998 Asian financial crisis, the 2008 global financial crisis, or the sudden outbreak of the novel coronavirus. By putting forward the Global Development Initiative, calling for and promoting the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and pledging to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 and taking ensuing concrete actions, China has acted as a responsible and broad-minded major country that is engaged in building a community with a shared future for mankind. This is a translation of on page 9 of the People's Daily published on March 25, 2022. (Huang Qunhui is a researcher at the Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Yang Hutao is a researcher at the Center of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.) (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Hyderabad: Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan on Friday said she has begun to feel a gap between Raj Bhavan and Pragati Bhavan (the camp office of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao), going by the Chief Ministers repeated disrespect for her invitations to him for different events. Speaking to reporters at the Raj Bhavan during the Ugadi eve celebrations, the Governor, answering a question on the perceived gap between her and the Chief Minister, said I did not do anything to create a gap. You should ask the other person also. I wanted to be a constructive person. There may be some differences of opinion and that is not anything unusual. Everything that I did was in tune with the system and according to my conscience. Being a transparent person, I reveal everything I do to the media. However, when my invitations are repeatedly ignored, I can sense the gap. She drove home the point that all she wants is to be an affectionate sister to the people of Telangana. Answering a question, Dr Soundararajan said that she had not received any invitation to attend the official Ugadi celebrations of the government at Pragati Bhavan, the Chief Ministers camp office-cum-residence. I am not an egoistic person, she said with a laugh and added If I had received an invitation for the Ugadi celebrations at Pragati Bhavan, despite protocol, I would have attended the event. I respect invitations even if they are from the simplest of people. That is the bondage of brothers and sisters. She said invitations for the Ugadi eve celebrations at her official residence were sent to everyone, from the Chief Minister to all the 119 MLAs, all MLCs and MPs to leaders of political parties. No stone was left unturned, she said, referring to the invitations sent to TRS leaders. I am not sad at those who did not respect my invitation. It was only a sister calling. The invitations were extended with pure affection, she said. On the possible reasons why none from the ruling party had turned up for the event, she said with a laugh Perhaps they had some other work. I dont know. "After 3 yrs we are together. I already said because we are friendly and because we are smiling, it is not that we are weak. I am the strongest person. Nobody can make me bow down," she said. On her absence during the first day of the budget session of the State Legislature, she said that she had expressed her desire to attend the session. When a reporter said she was missed at the budget session, she replied I missed (being there). Before speaking to the media, the governor, in a brief address to the gathering that included former Maharashtra governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, and leaders of various political parties, said most of you have responded and respected my invitation and I thank each and everybody for that gesture. On this occasion, my message to the people of Telangana, whose people I love, is an energetic sister is there in the Raj Bhavan to extend a helping hand to you. This story was published with the support of a fellowship from Columbia Universitys Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights. When I was young, my mother would take a sheet of paper, hold it in front of me and rip it down the center. One chunk of paper symbolized the rich of San Antonio and the other represented the less fortunate population. The latter is where Im from. A community that has endured the burdens of a racist framework which has stunted upward mobility for generations. Shed tear the two sheets of paper even smaller: a snip for the minorities, another to represent the white population. From there, shed pull apart the paper even smaller. The minority slice shrunk into the kids who would become teenage parents, the ones who would be incarcerated, the ones who would be trapped in the cycle of poverty. The tiniest bit, smaller than a penny, would be the ones who would do something. Thats going to be you, shed say. At 5 years old, I couldnt understand how my familys chances were reduced to a tiny shred because we were products of the west and south, but I followed her demonstration like the law of our household. If I ever brought home a bad grade or felt overwhelmed by my coursework, shed find a sheet of paper to remind me. I didnt realize my mother was conveying a larger history of disinvestment in our community Im not sure she did either. What was always evident is that we would have to make do with what we had, just the way my family had been sustaining itself for decades. We were unaware that children living 10 minutes north didnt face the same barriers put in place by federal housing policies which decided our quality of life based on our zip code. It wasnt until adulthood, when I entered a newsroom, that I learned the Goliath-size thumb we were kept under had a name: redlining. U.S. cities still bear scars of the Federal Housing Administrations segregation policies of the 1930s. I cant speak to the lived experiences of other U.S. cities, like Cleveland, Los Angeles, or Chicago, where communities like mine were also color-coded, but Im a daily witness to the ways redlining continues to divide my city. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives. The street names aren't just places on a historic map, they're my home. The people are my neighbors. I cherish the memories attached to the panaderias, the humble homes, and the low-frills restaurants where everyone is mija or mijo. These parts of the city are where some of the truest displays of the Mexican American experience unfold. Theyre what make San Antonio. The scenes of a vibrant culture are what the local tourism department markets online. Folkorico dancers greet interested travelers perusing VisitSanAntonio.com. Those who buy in show up to enjoy Tex-Mex eateries dotting the River Walk under papel picado-draped ceilings while mariachis play. If they dont come for margaritas and enchiladas, maybe Fiesta is the motivation. Each year without fail since 1891 (save the COVID-19-wrought 2020 and a few war pauses) the headline celebration that plays heavy on the Latino aesthetic, unfurls for 10 days and claims an economic impact of $340 million. The most-recent data collected by the 2020 decennial census show Latinos account for more than 900,000 residents of the citys 1,434,625 people. That number is likely too low the U.S. Census Bureau reported Latino, Black, and Indigenous households were undercounted. Local government identified inequities in the citys most-recent Racial Equity Report (2019) which used data from the American Community Survey. One of the most-glaring exhibits of stunted opportunity is the educational attainment of the 25-or-older population. Only 16 percent of the Latino population had a bachelors degree or higher. Its the second worst, only higher than the other demographic. Meanwhile, 43 percent of the white population earned a bachelors degree or higher. In a city where Mexican culture is the biggest pull, how did its people get so pushed into a state of disconnection? Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, American National Red Cross Collection San Antonios history of deadly disinvestment The night of September 9, 1921, proved to be one of the most lethal in San Antonio history when a storm dumped more than 7 inches of rain on the sleeping city. The wall of water ripped through hotels and business in downtown, accruing $10 million in property damage, but the loss of a believed 80 lives was concentrated in the residential areas along the Alazan Creek, otherwise known as the Westside. Front page news of the days leading up to the flood centered on the drowning death of Harold F. Joske, the 32-year-old scion of the iconic local clothing company, who was caught under the current of the Guadalupe River. Society news from country club dances to frolics in New York City were also well-documented. A September 8 front page welcomed the heavy rainfall, which exceeded the total precipitation for August, as an end to a drought and a relief for agriculture south of San Antonio. Another disturbance was heading in and was expected to be the heaviest for 24 hours in six years, September 9 headlines read. While the drought ended, the cracks in the system were revealed the following day. On September 10, the San Antonio Light banner described the catastrophe which ripped through the city the night before, catching residents off guard as they slept. Homes were swept off their foundations like paper boxes, babies were snatched from their mothers arms by the waters. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, American National Red Cross Collection A running list of the dead was published the following day. Zepeda, Ramon, Hernandez, Cavazos, Falcon, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Cardenas were some of the surnames listed. The majority of the bodies that were unidentified were Mexican. Ages ranged from 2 weeks old to 60 years old. The grasps of death didnt discriminate based on age, but the addresses of the souls lost show a clear inequity. Tampico, San Marcos, South Laredo, South Flores, and more Westside addresses were listed as the city worked on relief. Archives said thousands of Mexicans in the congested Mexican quarters are homeless and without food and water. In the days that followed, the city was touted as emerging triumphant in the floods wake meanwhile a tent colony was set up in the hardest hit areas along the Alazan Creek. The Red Cross is speeding up its efforts to provide a tent city for the homeless Mexicans, the front page of the September 13 San Antonio Evening News reported. The main problem promises to be to force the Mexicans to move from where their homes once stood the bare ground that is still home to them. Manuel Garza, whose mark in history starts with his participation as an Edgewood High School student who walked out in 1968 in response to education inequities, said he lost multiple family members in the flood a sign that generations of his lineage have been entrenched in the disinvestment of the Westside. Though the flood was unprecedented, leaders were warned a deluge like it could happen. After two prior floods, the city tapped Metcalf & Eddy, a Boston engineering firm, to develop a flood prevention report in 1920. The engineering firm created a plan for the city, but the Westside was ignored because it had no economic value, environmental analysis and historian Char Miller wrote in his 2021 book West Side Rising. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong on the Westside, Miller said during a Westside symposium hosted to commemorate the centennial of the 1921 flood on November 20. Miller shared his research of telegrams and memos between city leaders and the American Red Cross which he found in the Library of Congress. He said in the immediate days following the disaster, city leaders painted a narrative that the flood wasnt as catastrophic and San Antonio didnt need outside help. The Red Cross questioned the portrayal, especially since the city was still asking for money privately. He said what he found was a patrician attempt by the local authorities to slow down the process and prevent intervention. The poor are fine, we will rebuild their housing exactly the way it was, Miller said of the local tone. And the Red Cross is going No, you're not, not using our money. You're going to actually rebuild them better than they were. So you can see this inner struggle going on in which the National Red Cross is appalled by the racism that it's encountering, racism that had been seen three months earlier, in Tulsa, just a different color in a different place. San Antonio shored up the city with the Olmos Dam construction in 1927, which Miller said the city knew should have been created in 1845. They knew what they should have done, they just didn't want to pay for it, he said. Now they do, not because they're a richer town, but because people on the Westside died at such a level they felt they had to do it so they built a dam that wouldn't help the Westside one iota. In fact, Olmos Park, the neighborhood developed around the dam, had covenants restricting Black people and Mexicans from living there unless they were chauffeurs, maids, and cooks, Miller said. Years of disinvestment in public works continued until 1974, when Communities Organized for Public Service began their work to secure funding to improve the Westside and protect the area from flooding along the Zarzamora Creek. University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)'s Digital Collection HOLC's hold Less than 15 years later, the abandonment got federal teeth. Racial covenants restricting the neighborhoods already existed, but the New Deal Era Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) reinforced the racist geography. Throughout the 1930s, federal agents were dispatched to U.S. cities to build out maps for investment, labeling areas best, still desirable, definitely declining, and hazardous for lenders. Field agents arrived in San Antonio in 1935. The majority of the East and Westsides and parts of the Southside were shaded red. The communities were mapped as knockout areas based on their racial composition and housing stock and were considered to be at a higher risk for home loans. On the West Side, Culebra divided the hazardous redlined areas from declining and still desirable neighborhoods. The southern boundary for hazardous areas ended at Division. The east, from Crockett Street downtown to the area near what is now Jefferson Heights, was also redlined. Corresponding outlook reports include language that was explicitly racist. The Mexican population had an adverse effect on the city, a survey report by the Mortgage Rehabilitation Division said in a summation of San Antonio. There are many economic drawbacks in San Antonios large Mexican population, the federal agent wrote in the official document. As a class they are non-productive, socially inferior, and in times of stress, a burden upon the community. The report, which provided a lay of the land for the government, confirmed that 75 percent of new construction was reserved to the highest rated sections of San Antonio. Those sections got the green light and were highly racialized. John Bennett Sr., a wealthy stakeholder and president of the Standard Trust Company, was interviewed for the report. He raised a socially prominent family every high tea and vacation was reported in local papers. He was also a founder of the San Antonio Country Club. His son, John M. Bennett Jr., ran for state comptroller in 1968, as education inequities surfaced, but did not win. The family went on to play a large role in Fiesta. The elder Bennett told the agent Mexicans were a menace. According to the banker, San Antonio's dependency on "nonproductive" class like Mexicans and retired people "has had something to do with failure of real estate to appreciate in values," the report said. But in 1923, Greater San Antonio the City of Destiny and Of Your Destination, a lengthy brochure published to lure visitors and travelers, said the citys commercial standpoint to Mexico made it a mighty metropolis. The same publication told guests to take a look around the Mexican District where its like going to a foreign country without the long voyage to see the huts. The Westside was portrayed as a kitschy portion of Disneylands Its A Small World ride, but a little more than a decade later, Mexicans came with a warning. Without investment and loans, the housing stock continued to depreciate. Colonia style housing became the norm in the hazardous parts of town. City utilities didnt extend to these areas, so mules and then tractors were used by independent vendors to deliver water to homes. Roads were unpaved and lacked flood prevention. Garza along with Diana and Richard Herrera, all lifelong residents of the Westside, called their neighborhood barrio de charcos, or neighborhood of puddles, for the ways the streets would swell with water during the rain, making walkability impossible, causing days of lost wages and learning. In his 1997 book, Texas School Finance An IDRA Perspective, the late Dr. Jose A. Cardenas, former Edgewood superintendent, wrote that there were only a handful of paved roads in the district in the 1960s. When approached, Mayor Walter McAllister dusted his hands and said the issues of West Side were of no concern to the city. Respected retired St. Marys University President Emeritus and political science professor Charles Cotrell analyzed the way racial covenants and redlining affected the infrastructure of areas that the government wasnt interested in. He said the two racist policies dropped the chances of residents advancing. When you look at the infrastructure that being the streets, the lighting, the curbs, the sidewalks, the tendency to flood and the lack of any kind of governmental assistance in funding the area had no way to improve itself, he said. There was no investment there." The disinvestment and urban decay of the parts of town south of Culebra Road, which Cotrell said was a clear boundary in what was considered north, created a ripple effect that swallowed up educational attainment, housing, and employment opportunities. You had all of those things basically conspiring to keep the Westside poor in wealth value, poor in improvement capabilities, and poor in school districts, which basically statistically perpetuated the situation, he said. In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act, protecting people looking to secure a mortgage, rent, or seek assistance from discrimination. Though now illegal, its not uncommon for San Antonio homeowners to find deeds with outdated language restricting minorities. In 2016, Maggie Rios, a small business owner, and her fiance, Fidel Simmons, a Barbados native and adviser to international students at Alamo Colleges, shared the October 18, 1948 deed attached to the Northeast Side property they were in the process of buying. "No lot, site, structure, or dwelling, with the exception of bona fide domestic servant's quarters shall be used or occupied by any person, or persons, other than members of the Caucasian or White Race," the now-void document said. That deed was binding until 1974, but the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968 and banned race-based discrimination in housing. Throughout the early 1900s, developers like B.G. Irish were credited for being a city builder responsible for developing neighborhoods like Beacon Hill and Alamo Heights after arriving in San Antonio from St. Louis with his partner H. E. Dickinson. Countless Bexar County deeds with B. G. Irish as the grantor include racist restrictions. In a 1918 deed for plats of land that were part of the "Queensboro Place Subdivision," restrictions said the land could not be sold or leased to "Mexicans or Negroes." An ad placed in the San Antonio Express-News a year earlier described the Queensboro subdivision and its surrounding Mahncke Park-area neighborhoods as the "winning side" of town for the proximity to the country club, parks, swimming, and golfing. Though no longer enforceable, racist deed language remains on records. A law passed in June 2021 now allows county clerks to remove discriminatory clauses. Express-News file photo Cracks in education In the 1950s, San Antonios school districts began consolidating. Areas that were able to raise more money off property taxes had a better chance of being invited to group up. Edgewood, which had a substandard housing stock, was left to fend for itself, becoming one of the poorest districts in the nation. The consolidation paired with the Gilmer-Aikin education laws, which had gone untouched since its 1949 inception, set the scene for a historic moment in Texas education. By the 1960s, redlinings effects on education became painfully clear. Cardenas, who taught in Edgewood before becoming superintendent in 1969 and later resigned to become a champion for school equity, recalled in his papers that teachers had no choice but to catch frogs for dissections, because the district could not afford to supply them. Labs werent equipped with much more than a few Bunsen burners, so students would use them to heat tortillas. Garza and the Herreras were classmates at Edgewood. Mario Compean met the Edgewood kids as the walkout plans developed. Compean, founder of Chicano-led political party La Raza Unida, was part of Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) at the time and offered support and legal counsel to the students and families involved in the walkout. MAYO also funneled grant money to the Edgewood Concerned Parents Association, the group that first filed suit in the district court in 1971, to open a small office, Compean said. All four said they never realized how disadvantaged they were until they were teenagers. They were punished for speaking Spanish, but didnt realize the far-reaching racism behind it. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com In science labs, water would freeze during the winter because it was so cold, Garza remembered. He recalled a time when the principal told one of his teachers to remove his jacket in front of the class to trick students into believing the biting temperatures werent so unbearable. Compean, who graduated from Edgewood a few years earlier, said a teacher refused to teach textbook material because he felt the content was too difficult for students to understand. Besides, all that mattered to his students was that they had stomachs full of tamales, Compean said his teacher told his class. If I would have listened to that every day he was saying that to us then I would have never made it out of high school, Compean added. But I had made up my mind that I was going to graduate from high school and go to college. The problem is, not all of the kids had that attitude, so those that didnt fell out of school really quickly. Compean said the fallout was noticeable by middle school. By the time I got to the sixth grade, almost all of the kids from my neighborhood that started with me had dropped out, he said. By the sixth grade. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com The Herreras memories echoed Garzas and Compeans. My history book had been signed by a friend who had gone to Vietnam 10 years earlier, Richard Herrera said. Diana Herrera said friends who attended University Interscholastic League tournaments hosted by different districts returned with a dispatch of the new resources and technology that they didn't have at their campuses, like electric typewriters. None of us knew it was bad because when you grow up like that, thats what you know, she said. Our parents told us Que te dan (what they give you), mijo, thats what you accept, dont be complaining, youre getting a free education, Richard Herrera said. I was taught to respect my elders and authority. So if they told us this, we thought it was solid and actually, it really wasnt. They lied to us. They lied to our parents. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com While the walkouts sparked a national conversation and are etched in the history of the Chicano movement, Diana Herrera said the dismissal of Edgewood students continued after 1968. She recalled a day early in her senior year when names of students were summoned to the cafeteria to complete paperwork for college admissions. She was confused because her name was never called. So I go to the counseling department and I said Im going to college, why am I not on the list, Diana Herrera asked. The office told me that I was going to marry Richard and have children and that I wasnt going to college. Diana Herrera said she insisted that she was going to continue her education. No youre not, the administration told her. Diana Herrera did end up marrying her high school sweetheart. She raised two children with Richard Herrera, but that was after she received her teaching degree from Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU). I drove myself from 34th Street (Edgewood High School) to 24th Street (OLLU), because thats what I knew, she said in describing the day she was excluded from the college process. I walked in by myself, did the paperwork by myself. No grants, no scholarships nothing. Richard and I paid off every single penny, interest rates and the whole bit, we paid off everything. Nothing was given to me. No one helped. No one assisted. Nothing. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com Years of being dismissed and neglected compounded with barriers of achieving a better life post-graduation. Some of the issues the students were fighting against included a lack of certified teachers, a need for college-ready curriculum, and crumbling facilities. On May 16, 1968, the students walked out against the disparities. Garza, Compean, and the Herreras recall the walkout day perfectly. Compean, now 81, was 25 at the time and was on standby to help. Garza, now 71, was 17. The Herreras were both 16. Garza said some teachers used their bodies to block the teens from leaving the classrooms. Other students were threatened that they wouldnt receive their diplomas. Garza said some teachers stood in solidarity with the students and followed them outside where they carried out their lesson plans in the street. The kids walked from the campus to the superintendent's office with their demands. The superintendent wouldnt come out. If he was there, we dont know, but he wouldnt come out and meet with us, Garza said. The police were also called on the hundreds of students who walked out. Garza said the police who responded were from the neighborhood and were facing similar discrimination in the department. They formed a protective line to guard the teenagers. The Herreras described the time in the 1960s as a walkout atmosphere influenced by the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., and the Vietnam turmoil. The couple pointed to the war as another way Edgewood was disproportionately affected. Fifty-five young men from the 16-square-mile community died in Vietnam. The couple said they werent drafted, they volunteered under the false pretenses that if they did, theyd be able to decide their role in the war. Instead, they fought on the frontlines. The Herreras said the dispatch of young men wasnt happening in wealthier districts where college was a choice. They had no choice. They were lied to by recruiters. They werent drafted, they were just picking you up, Richard Herrera said. We were preparing our guys to go to war, we werent preparing them for anything else. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com Richard and Diana Herrera, 1969 Edgewood High School yearbook photos. Madalyn Mendoza/MySA The deaths dont account for the mental effects Vietnam War veterans returned to Edgewood with. If youve seen what weve seen in our lives, youd be crying every day, but we just cant do that, Richard Herrera added. Students at Lanier faced similar issues. The schools mascot, the Voks (short for vocational), underscores the trade-focused tracts the students were set on. From December 9-14, 1968, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights met with San Antonio residents and students. It was the first meeting of its kind, designed to identify some of the major barriers encountered by Mexican Americans in education, economic stability, and equality. The nearly week-long commission resulted in a thousand pages of testimonies and exhibits from more than 70 witnesses, ranging from educators to students to Westside residents. Jose Vasquez, a Lanier student, told the commission that his campus didnt bring in doctors, lawyers, or the like to speak with kids and motivate them about their futures. Instead, criminals would be presented to the student body to scare the teen away from jail. He added that vocational trades like carpentry and plumbing were pushed on them since elementary. Edgar Lozano, another student from Lanier, testified and said not being able to integrate with peers who were white or teachers who looked like him created a sense of inferiority. You have never met this type of people, maybe only as your teacher, or your boss, or something. So consequently you have an idea that theyre always your boss, your supervisor, and they always dress better, nicer and they always tell you what to do, he told the commission. I wouldnt have met them right off in a position where they were right on top of me all the time, where they would tell me what to do. So the only picture I ever had of an anglo was a boss telling me what to do. Years later, when Dr. Cardenas published his Intercultural Development Research Association perspective, he recounted the same concept of teaching minority students to follow orders hed experienced in his years of education. They were more focused on having cheap labor than equalizing education, he wrote. Like their Edgewood counterparts, the Lanier students told the commission they were hit with belts on the mouth for speaking Spanish, were taught that their culture was bad, learned from teachers who were not certified, and knew nothing of scholarship opportunities. Lozano told the commission he felt he was falling behind in his studies and wouldnt be able to compete in college or get a high-paying job that would set him free from the cycle of poverty. Well god bless me, I dont want to dig holes, Lozano told the commission. I dont think Ill make it to college. I know Im not going to be a doctor or lawyer, thats for sure. The teenager, who was a junior at the time he went before the commission, had already written himself off thanks to the part of town he was born into. Like Diana Herrera, Irene Ramirez from Lanier told the committee the only option outside of high school for her was marriage and motherhood. Everybody assumes and they rarely emphasize education to the girls in my high school. I mean, they think that probably the June after you graduate you will probably get married, she said. DELCIA LOPEZ / EXPRESS-NEWS FILE PHOTO Edgewood in courts The issues came to a head in July 1968, when Demetrio Rodriguez, Martin Cantu, Reynaldo Castano, and Alberta Snid formed the Edgewood District Concerned Parents Association and filed suit against San Antonio Independent School District on behalf of their children, who they said were receiving a low-quality education. The state filing was the start of a landmark Supreme Court decision that would spark education equity conversations nationwide. Lawyer Arthur Gochman, representing the parents, argued at the state level that education was protected as a 14th Amendment right and was being violated. He also said Mexicans were treated as a suspect class. On December 23, 1971, the three-judge federal district court sided with the plaintiffs after giving the state time to work through the issues in the legislative session. The ruling found the school finance system unconstitutional. Texas appealed and the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court. Courtesy, Patty Rodriguez SCOTUS went against the district court on March 21, 1973. The majority held that education is not a fundamental right protected by the U.S. Constitution. In his dissenting opinion, Justice Thurgood Marshall called the courts ruling a retreat from our historic commitment to equality of educational opportunity. While SCOTUS did not uphold the decision, the San Antonio case set a precedent for public school funding. Immediately following the SCOTUS decision, Cardenas resigned as Edgewood superintendent to focus on pioneering an equitable education for Latinos. He formed Texans for Educational Excellence, now called the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), that year. Legal inertia continued until the 1980s, when Edgewood went back to court in a lawsuit filed by Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) on behalf of the district. From 1984 to 1989, back-and-forth between the plaintiffs and the state at times appeared to mirror the 1970s. Then on October 2, 1989, the Texas Supreme Court ultimately sided with the plaintiffs and required the state legislature to develop a more equitable plan by the 1990-1991 school year, more than 20 years after the original case. The litigation didnt end there. From the Texas Supreme Court decision to May 28, 1993 legislature reworked the school funding formula. The legislatures multi-step plan to remedy funding issues gave property-rich districts with local revenue that exceeded the equalized wealth level options to share their wealth. The district could merge tax bases with poorer districts, send money back to the state, or move some of their taxable property to another district. New funding and policies have been released and implemented since then, such as the $11.2 billion in federal money to help schools with learning recovery amid the pandemic, but Garza said public school finance in Texas remains inequitable. He, along with Compean and the Herreras have continued their work for equity. Garza and Compean worked mostly through the La Raza Unida Party. Garza said he was part of the push that led to the citys 1970s move to elect single member districts. The change followed the Voting Rights Act of 1975, in which the Justice Department found the citys previous annexations disenfranchised minorities. While there was local pushback and a fight to challenge the decision, the districts were approved in January 1977. Garza now works for Southwest Voters Registration Education Project. Compean currently heads Academia America, a Westside based non-profit he founded in 2008 which helps immigrants apply for naturalization. Participating in the walkout 54 years ago was the catalyst for both men, who have made a life of empowering oppressed Latino communities. They said the Edgewood education upheaval had to happen. It all had a purpose. We knew what we were doing, Garza said. We may have been young, but we knew what we were doing. Compean, who has spent more than 50 years galvanizing the Westside against inequities, said his work isnt piecemealing, but transformational change for the long term. Diana Herrera has represented teachers unions in the district and lends her voice and experience to hosting workshops and speaking at conventions. As an educator, she wishes more children would be taught about the fight for equal education in the 1960s. The power of a vote, the power of grouping together, the power of a goal, and the power of Edgewood little 16 square miles in Westside San Antonio it has history, she added. I dont give a darn if you go to Yale, Harvard, I dont care where you go, youre going to learn about Edgewood [but] our own children and our own community cannot learn about it. Compean and Garza shared similar frustrations. They admitted to feeling tired by the workload, but said the mission isnt complete. Its important for people to know, but not only to know, but to do something about it, Garza said. J. Scott Parish/San Antonio Express-News Current efforts The Economic Innovation Groups interactive maps of Distressed Communities show how longlasting San Antonios history of racist policies are. One hundred years or 86 years later depending on which disservice you want to start with the descendants of San Antonios marginalized people remain poor. The maps, which are built from the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey show, the 78207 area code, which encompasses the Westside, is 98.5 percent distressed. Nearly half of its residents do not have a high school diploma and 40 percent of adults are jobless. Edgewood fares a bit better, but is still 87.3 distressed. Alamo Heights maintains its history of affluence with a 35.9 percent score of comfortability where only 6 percent of residents do not have a high school diploma. While the EIG maps and the redlining maps have contrasting intents one evaluates the uneven experiences while the latter solidified the genesis of economic segregation they appear almost identical nearly 90 years later. Demetrio Rodriguezs daughter Patty Rodriguez was born after her father and the Edgewood Concerned Parents Association battled for equal education opportunities for their children in court. The learning conditions Alexander Rodriguez, the eldest son of Demetrio Rodriguez, experienced motivated the father to join the lawsuit. While the 1960s fight happened before her time, she still felt the unevenness when she went through the Edgewood system in the 1970s and 1980s. You dont really know youre poor until you grow up later and you realize Oh, I missed out on stuff, she said, echoing the generations before her. Courtesy, Patty Rodriguez Like Garza, Compean, and the Herreras, Patty Rodriguezs work has not lost focus on the Edgewood legacy. Patty Rodriguez has worked for the Edgewood School District for 27 years. Shes currently a dyslexia teacher for the district. Outside of the classroom, she advocates for equality and champions for Edgewood, whether it be speaking to the media or going before boards. Once I grew up and learned more about the case and what was happening, it just kind of drove me into that direction and I wanted to really come back to Edgewood after I graduated, she said. A position like hers would not be an available resource for children in the 1960s and was a missed opportunity for students like her brother Alexander, who she said might have benefited from having a dyslexia teacher. He just never had that opportunity to get that type of intervention or treatment that I do with my students now. Not to say that his job as a bus driver is menial is not important, but if that would have been taken care of sooner or dealt with better, who knows what he could have done, Patty Rodriguez added. Patty Rodriguez said working in Edgewood schools is the best way she can help her community. Courtesy, Patty Rodriguez Ive always just kind of stuck to being in the classroom, which is where I think I feel the most effective and can probably see the most change, she added. I might not be able to change things politically or funding wise, but I can at least change what a student learns and how a student learns. Though the 1990s changes in school funding worked to equalize wealth, school districts like Alamo Heights have proposed adjusting school funding formulas to make space for golden pennies, or funds that are unrecapturable. Alamo Heights has paid the state back $622 million since the start of the Robin Hood plan, according to San Antonio Express-News reports. Patty Rodriguez said she has witnessed strides in infrastructure improvements and the implementation of efforts like ASPIRE, an initiative which pairs school districts with universities to create academic programs and provide resources. Gus Garcia University School, powered by Texas A&M San Antonio, is an Edgewood school where ASPIRE has been in action since 2019. In October, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited Gus Garcia to promote the Biden administrations Build Back Better plan. He said the framework would create more funding for programs like ASPIRE, which he called powerful. Though grateful for the improvements, Patty Rodriguez said gaps remain in the district. We just dont have enough teachers. We dont have enough counselors, social workers, those types of support that are needed the most, she continued Thats where were lacking. Patty Rodriguez said the pandemic revealed the digital divide and lack of high-speed internet in historically redlined communities. She said there are still neighborhoods without sidewalks. She is frustrated with the blow back which follows proposed taxation methods to equalize education. She said her late father would be too. She recognizes that some homeowners want their taxes to benefit their schools, but offered the following hypothetical. In 20-30 years, when you are in a hospital or in a nursing home, these kids from these neighborhoods are going to be the ones taking care of you. Theyre going to be the RNs, the LVNs, the ones coming to your home to give you a shower because you can no longer walk, she said. Dont you want those types of people in those positions to have a better education? So that when it comes time for you, you can reap that benefit? I just dont see why its so hard for people to get behind this. While school funding policy is a state function, a local institution like the city-funded early childhood program Pre K 4 SA, spearheaded by Julian Castro, has worked to bridge the gap for minority and low income families and reinvest in these communities since opening in 2013. According to a 2019 impact study conducted by the University of Texas at San Antonio, the program, which includes labs or campuses on each side of the city, had pronounced effects on economically disadvantaged children and limited English proficiency students. The study followed the original cohort through elementary. Of the noticeable effects were higher reading and math scores, improved attendance and a decrease in the number of students that were enrolled in special education classes. The Heckman Equation, by Nobel Prize winning University of Chicago Economics Professor James Heckman, evaluates the investment of early education. It finds that holistic approaches to confronting socioeconomic and educational disparities have long-term effects including high school graduation rates, blood pressure, drug use, and employment and income. In his March 1 State of the Union address, President Joe Biden made a commitment to equitable education. Biden made provisions for early childhood education in his Build Back Better bill, but it has been inert for months. While it remains to be seen if programs like Pre K 4 SA will provide a blueprint for national concepts, Cardenas IDRA is working to make sure redlined areas have the educational resources they need. The IDRA has taken on the issue of digital redlining and expanded on the issues Patty Rodriguez introduced. Christina Munoz, a research analyst for IDRA, said there is a heavy correlation between historically redlined areas and the communities where connectivity lags or is nonexistent. Internet service providers just don't invest in those areas. It's not a huge profit margin. So unfortunately, those areas either have no access in terms of the infrastructure that's there, or it's very outdated, she said. We're talking copper wire versus fiber, which might be very prevalent in North San Antonio or those areas where it's a little bit more developed. Michelle Vega, chief technology strategist for IDRA, said redlining has tentacles that have wrapped up communities. The digital impact was recently revealed by the disconnect in learning, working, and receiving healthcare during the pandemic, but its been around since the inception of the internet. Munoz said Texas has stringent state policies that make the internet being a utility difficult and keeps hands bound. Community-driven initiatives like the city's Connected Beyond the Classroom, which works to provide internet access for 50 target neighborhoods in the city, help but are Band-Aid remedies, she said. Thomas Marshall, a policy communications strategist with IDRA, expects more action to follow the completion of state-mandated broadband maps, which will reveal which communities the services are not being extended to. Luis Silva, Vice President of AT&T South Texas, said residents who are 200 percent below the poverty level can sign up for a $30 monthly voucher to be used toward home internet or cell service. Silva said AT&T is committed to investing and strengthening its network in southern San Antonio. While Texas Broadband Development Office awaits the January 2023 completion of the maps, Christine Drennon, director of the urban studies program at Trinity University, said new issues are weighing heavy on already disadvantaged neighborhoods. Reflecting on the wrongs of the past is easy because it absolves people of responsibilities, she added. Its easy to look backwards and say, Well you were very bad people and you did this, but were very good people and were aware of what you did and we would never do it again, Drennon said. And then we move into these old neighborhoods and gentrify them. Drennon said the 2008 recession and the foreclosure crisis which followed hit the inner city of San Antonio hard. Some people were able to survive the foreclosure crisis much, much better than others and they took advantage of it, she said. They took advantage of the plethora of inner city housing becoming available and bought it all up. During the 1921 flood commemoration, Graciela Sanchez, executive director of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, hit back at the issue in her address to the crowd gathered at the Westsides Guadalupe Theater. You have to be able to stop it and say No more. We've dealt with it 100 years ago, when you didn't care about this neighborhood, you ignored us. You erased us. Now you see how important this land is, you see how important living downtown is. Now you want this land and you want these properties and you want to just be here because you're going to be close to downtown. No, we deserve to be here. We've been here, we've toiled and struggled, and we haven't gotten paid for it. We have died through these floods and we have died through these diseases. We have built this city on our sweat and our tears and you haven't paid us, but we're going to stay here because this is what we have built. Now as we improve this neighborhood, we deserve to stay here. Drennon said the mortgages of the inner city homes are favorable, meaning they could be manageable, but its the increase in taxes that kill homeowners and force them out of their homes. San Antonio has an affordable housing stock that could accommodate working class families, but the interest of developers will exacerbate it, Drennon said. The future really is in the housing stock that we have and taking care of it, instead of building a whole bunch of new apartments, she continued. We have the bones of a housing stock that really can accommodate almost all income levels. A lot of cities dont have that. But if we lose that, which I think is the fear right now, were going to have trouble. We are losing it like crazy to gentrification, but also to demolition on the Westside. Though inner city neighborhoods are facing the blight of gentrification, Drennon said the issue needs to matter to those living in developed and higher quality homes. Drennon offered a two-prong approach to why San Antonians living in more comfortable conditions should be concerned that the city remains economically segregated. One is ethical: If were not exposed to difference, we become extremely intolerant of it as adults, she said. The other looks at the price of poverty: When we tolerate such a large population in poverty or without wealth no home-ownership or equity in housing poverty itself becomes incredibly expensive with all of the social services that have to be really funded in order to try to address it, she added. Drennon said Austin, San Antonios I-35 neighbor which is currently facing a housing crisis, is an example of what the city could become if the problem goes unchecked. San Antonio is at an auspicious and historic opportunity for investment as city council approved the $1.2 billion bond in February. City leaders spent months leading up to the vote working with bond committees to decide how the money should be spent. In May, residents will vote on six propositions: affordable housing ($150 million), parks ($272 million), streets ($472 million), drainage ($170 million), public safety facilities ($78 million), and library and cultural facilities ($58 million). Cotrell, the former St. Marys University professor, is optimistic about local efforts to create a more equitable San Antonio, but said he cant be naive after years of unchanged statistics in employment, housing, and education. When we look at the socioeconomic statistics and the growth statistics for San Antonio over three or four census counts, so 30-40 years, we havent seen a terrific amount of change, he said. Im more optimistic that more youthful conversations are pervading the discussions, but it has not all been delivered yet. Similar to Drennon and Cotrell, Rodriguez is worried about the 50-year outlook of San Antonio. She pointed to the Westsides first bookstore, an initiative by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center funded through the 2012 city bond, is only months old. You would think after almost 50 years, somebody would have figured out what to do and got it done already. Or is it going to be another 50 years? Whats going to happen in the next 50 years?, she asked. Each year, the Texas Education Agency publishes the Texas Academic Performance Report. Due to the pandemic, the state waived accountability ratings for the 2020-2021 school year. The 2018-2019 report for Edgewood gave the district a C accountability rating. Though ratings were not issued for the pandemic years, student information for 2020-2021 shows 75.9 percent of Edgewood's 9,148 students were at-risk of dropping out. For the class of 2020, 83.9 percent of students received their diplomas. The high school dropout rate for that school year was 1.9 percent, the previous school year it was 3.6 percent. Alamo Heights received an A accountability rating for the 2018-2019 school year. The most-recent student information data shows of the district's 4,826 students, 24 percent were at-risk of dropping out. In 2020, 97.1 percent of high school students received their diplomas. The high school drop out rate for the school year was 0.1 percent, the previous year it was 0.3 percent. Rodriguez said her father would be upset at the lull in progress and clamoring for a remedy. Its just very frustrating and Im kind of glad that my dad is not around to see it, because with these last couple of legislative sessions, where theyve tossed up ideas and redid funding, its kind of seemed like theyre just kind of going around in a circle, she added. Its never actually gotten corrected or implemented properly. Its kind of like a Band-Aid or like a Here, shut up about it. A lawyer for Elon Musk invoked lyrics from rapper Eminem Tuesday in a legal filing seeking to restore the Tesla CEO's full control over his Twitter account. In 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission imposed a "consent decree" that requires the billionaire to seek legal approval before tweeting about the electric car company. That year, Musk tweeted that he was "considering taking Tesla private" and had "funding secured." The SEC fined Musk $20 million for the tweet, and the billionaire agreed to have some of his tweets preapproved by Tesla lawyers before posting. Now, however, Musk says he felt pressured into his social media agreement and is looking to be released from it, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. In a legal filing Tuesday, Musk's lawyer Alex Spiro quoted lyrics from Eminem's 2002 song "Without Me" to argue that the deal with the Commission violates Musk's First Amendment rights by "chilling" his free speech, calling it part of an "unrelenting" investigation of him and Tesla. In the filing, Spiro replaces "FCC" with "SEC." "The [SEC] won't let me be or let me be me so let me see/ They tried to shut me down," Spiro wrote. Eminem's lyrics refer to when the Federal Communications Commission once fined a radio station for playing an edited version of the rapper's 2000 hit "The Real Slim Shady." The fine was eventually revoked. "The First Amendment requires that agencies proceed with caution when constitutional rights are at stake, not seek to pursue any and all novel theories that broaden their authority at the cost of individual freedom," Spiro wrote. The filing also listed "Eminem, 'Without Me (2002)" under the "authorities" section of the brief. Musk also tweeted that he and Eminem "are basically identical [with] a few differences maybe." The filing follows on the heels of other recent allegations made by Musk against the SEC. In February the Tesla CEO accused the agency of harassment for opening an investigation into possible insider trader violations made by the billionaire in a November 2021 tweet. Investigators found that Musk's brother Kimbal had sold $108 million in Tesla shares the day before Musk posted a Twitter poll asking his followers if he should sell 10 percent of his Tesla holdings. Musk has since sold more than $116 billion of his shares in Tesla, according to Reuters. Musk is also seeking to quash parts of a SEC subpoena seeking information about whether he complied with the pre-approval requirement before issuing his November 2021 Twitter poll. Spiro argues that the SEC issued the subpoena in bad faith, and that the formal order "is not an open invitation for any fishing expedition the Commission may wish to pursue." In a legal filing last week, the SEC wrote "So long as Musk and Tesla use Musk's Twitter account to disclose information to investors, the SEC may legitimately investigate matters relating to Tesla's disclosure controls and procedures." When I recently traveled to Amazons facility in Bessemer, Alabama, I found many workers there bouncing with excitement in their determination to persuade a majority of their co-workers to vote yes for a union. The joy and enthusiasm I witnessed in Alabama cannot be imported from the outside. It can only come when workers take ownership of a campaign and want to control their future. Hundreds of Bessemers workers are publicly taking on one of the worlds most powerful companies speaking out on social media, holding informational meetings inside the fulfillment centers break rooms, and wearing pro-union T-shirts on the job. These are just some of the telltale signs that support for joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, or RWDSU, is real. The union committee in Bessemer is a vibrant group of mostly young, overwhelmingly Black workers who are ready to have a say over their working conditions. Whatever the result of the upcoming election April 6, the workers have come together and created what would, in almost any other country of the world, already be considered a union. In Europe, for example, not a single country requires that membership exceed 50% to establish bargaining between a company and a union, but the U.S. National Labor Review Board does. This is because, in many other countries, labor law recognizes what the majority of Americans believe: that unions are good for the country, for the economy and for working people. We know that work covered by collective bargaining is safer and better paid. But in the United States, the 50%-plus-one rule for bargaining, coupled with the brutality of corporate anti-union campaigning, prevents an overwhelming number of workers who want a union voice from having access to this fundamental right. Many U.S. workers are employed at will, meaning they are always at risk of unfair dismissal, without recourse. As a result, a classic union-busting campaign full of threats, intimidation and surveillance can more easily coerce pro-union workers to reject their union. Some workers can withstand this kind of pressure, but many others just dont want that much conflict with their boss. Its a big reason why support for unions is at a 55-year high, but the number of workers in unions is at a near all-time low. That 2021 vote captured the worlds attention and helped launch a wave of organizing in the United States that we are seeing bear fruit. Workers are organizing in new industries, at new companies, and at established companies including Starbucks, REI and the New York Times. While this is a good omen for the vote in Bessemer, the size of the 6,000-worker facility and the virulence of Amazons anti-union attack have put this campaign in a league of its own. In most of the Western world, this type of high-energy campaign would be an easy win. Here, it remains an uphill battle. But whatever the outcome of the vote, the workers have already achieved something remarkable: they built a movement in their workplace. They have created passion for change. They have built a union. And Amazon should recognize that. Christy Hoffman is general secretary of UNI Global Union. This column was produced for Progressive Perspectives, which is run by The Progressive magazine. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday appeared to show support for mandating the death penalty for those who kill police officer in a now-deleted tweet. The Republican leader tweeted the message "Cop killers deserve the death penalty" from his personal Twitter account after sharing a statement about the shooting death of Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Almendarez. Abbott deleted the tweet seconds after it was posted. The deleted message was sent out amid other tweets from the governor offering prayers for Almendarez's family and condemning those responsible for his death. Almendarez was shot confronting suspected car burglars at Joe V's Smart Shop in the 2900 block of FM 1960 on Thursday night. Two suspects have been arrested in relation to the shooting and one remains at large. The nation's housing market has been a cascading series of crises for the past several years, and renters are feeling the pain. With rents skyrocketing across the country, even in previously affordable Sun Belt cities, more people in the market for a reasonable amount of space at a reasonable monthly fee are feeling like they are running out of options. A new study from RentCafe tracked how much space $1,500 a month gets for renters in the 100 largest cities. (Apartments only in buildings and complexes with at least 50 units were included using Yardi Matrix data.) The clear winner? Wichita, KS. The Kansas city of nearly 400,000 was the only metro that promised more than a square foot per dollar. So $1,500 nets renters a 1,597-square-foot apartment, the equivalent of a four-bedroom house. Weve had a lot of people moving here from other coastal-type states because of the cost of living versus cost of housing, says Jeffrey Schnell, managing broker of Keller Williams Signature Partners in Wichita. People get here and are extremely shocked at how much space their money buys them. Joining Wichita on the most affordable side of the list were other cities in the country's big middle: Oklahoma City; El Paso, TX; Toledo, OH; and Memphis, TN. At the other end of the spectrum was Manhattan in New York City. A typical $1,500 rental would net just 262 square feet of living space. (You'd better sell the sectional.) Overall, the coasts were heavily represented in the bottom 20 metros for overall apartment space. Chicago was the only metro to buck the trend of relatively affordable Midwest cities, butstill offering more than double the amount of space as Manhattan, which landed in the worst metros for square footage alongside San Francisco and Washington, DC. The unprecedented spike in housing costs has been driven by an extreme surge in demand over the past year during a nationwide housing shortage. Vacancy rates on rentals are lower than theyve been in three decades, and thats driving up the cost of available rentals as seekers scrap for space. Millennials are renting longer. They want larger apartments, says Doug Ressler of RentCafe parent company Yardi. Cost of housing has gone up, and it forces millennials to rent longer duration. And if you have a family, youre looking for more square footage. That demand comes from a multitude of factors, including would-be homeowners waiting out the overheated housing market, the rebounding economy pushing more people back toward their jobs, and former homeowners selling during the upturn in prices to become renters. Some in-demand cities have seen as much as a 50% jump in rental prices in just the past year. All of this is exacerbated by a shortage of supply. Last year, the gap between households and new homes grew to 5.8 million. While a pandemic slowdown in new households might help builders catch up with demand, similarly pandemic-spurred kinks in the supply chain complicate matters. Anywhere between 4 [million] and 5 million houses are required in the next two years, says Ressler. We know that that amount of housing is not being built for either rentals or houses. The post Where Renters Can Score the Largest, Most Affordable Apartments Right Now appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. ZZ Top pulled into the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Wednesday evening for a rocking performance. The band has been together for over five decades and sold over 30 million records across 15 studio albums. The loss of long-time bassist Dusty Hill in 2021 did not stop the band as his spot o Wilkes Barre, PA (18701) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Rain likely. Low near 50F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Unionized staff at three newspapers in Floridathe Miami Herald, its Spanish-language sibling El Nuevo Herald, and the smaller Bradenton Heraldare refusing to work for one day Friday amid ongoing contract negotiations with their owner, McClatchy. The union has been engaged in more than two years of bargaining over demands including the introduction of paid parental leave and pay equality between Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald journalists. Joey Flechas, a city hall reporter at the Miami Herald and a union cochair, cited a fifteen-year veteran of El Nuevo Herald still earning $49,000 a yearwhile a ten-year employee at the English-language paper is earning $80,000. Its the same work, Flechas said. And its especially offensive in Miami, where our culture is deeply tied to the Hispanic diaspora and Spanish-speaking population. In October 2019, prompted by rounds of layoffs and buyouts, a majority of the combined newsroom of the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald (which totals about 100 people) voted to unionize with the NewsGuildCommunications Workers of America. Employees of the Bradenton Herald unionized in 2020 and are in the midst of negotiating their own, separate contract. They unionized to save their own publications and their jobs, said Jon Schleuss, president of the NewsGuild-CWA. The thing that always surprises me with these companies like McClatchy is how aggressive they are at fighting journalists. A McClatchy spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company, based in Sacramento, operates thirty daily newspapers, seventeen of which are unionized. It has owned the Miami Herald since 2006, when it purchased Knight Ridder, the papers previous owner. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Herald employees described todays action as a walkout, but they dont mean it literally. Theres nowhere to walk out of. In the summer of 2020, McClatchy gave up the lease at its physical newsroom in a Miami suburb, citing the covid-19 pandemic and cost-cutting measures. Just before contract negotiations began, in February 2020, McClatchy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection; Chatham Asset Management, a New York hedge fund, bought it for $312 million. During the virtual walkout today, the union bargaining committee and its supporters are gathering at a hotel conference room downtown. There they will talk to McClatchy (and their lawyers from Jones Day, a firm famed for fighting unions). Other union demands include experience-based salary floors, protections against outsourcing, and higher gas mileage reimbursement. Their current rate is 33 cents per mile, though the IRS standard mileage rate is now 58.5 cents per mile. Many union demands have been met by McClatchy since bargaining beganthey are just not extended to union employees. Last year, McClatchy implemented a company-wide parental leave policy, its first ever, but denied it to a new mother in the Miami Herald newsroom. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Caleb Pershan is a CJR fellow. Wall Streets watchdog on Wednesday unveiled a draft new rule to enhance blank-check company investor disclosures and to strip them of a legal protection critics argue has allowed the shell companies to issue overly optimistic earnings projections. The move by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is part of a broader crackdown on special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) after a frenzy of deals in 2020 and early 2021 sparked concerns that some investors are getting a raw deal. Wall Streets biggest gold rush of recent years, SPACs are shell companies that raise funds through a listing to acquire a private company and take it public, allowing the target to sidestep the stiffer regulatory scrutiny of a traditional initial public offering (IPO). The SEC proposal, which is subject to consultation, broadly aims to close that loophole by offering SPAC investors protections similar to those they would receive during the IPO process, the SEC said. Todays proposal, if adopted, would represent a sea change to the rules applicable to SPACs, John Ablan, a partner at law firm Mayer Brown who advises companies on IPOs and otherdeals, wrote in an email to Reuters. The SEC is clearly focused on creating incentives to undertake the same amount of due diligence that would be done in a traditional IPO. The rule would require SPACs to disclose more details about their sponsors, their compensation, conflicts of interest and share dilution. It would also enhance disclosures about the target takeover, known as the de-SPAC, more information, including the sponsors view on whether the deal is fair to investors and whether the proposed transaction has been vetted by third parties. Such disclosures would have to be issued at least 20 days prior to any solicited votes on the acquisition. Companies raising money from the public should provide full and fair disclosure at the time investors are making their crucial decisions to invest, SEC Chair Gary Gensler said. The rule would also strip SPACs of a liability safe harbor for forward-looking statements, such as earnings projections. The SEC has stepped up oversight of SPACs amid worries of inadequate disclosures and lofty revenue projections. Reuters reported last year that the SEC was considering new guidance to rein in SPACs growth projections. SPAC sponsors say the projections are important for investors, especially when targets are unprofitable startups, but investor advocates say they are frequently wildly optimistic or misleading but have been shielded by the legal safe harbor. The elimination of the statutory safe harbor will cause SPAC issuers and their advisers to be more cautious in including pro forma and other financial information with respect to a proposed business combination, said Morris DeFeo, a New York-based partner at law firm Herrick, Feinstein LLP. If SPACs do not meet certain conditions they may have to register as investment companies, subjecting them to a slew of other rules, the SEC said. Those conditions include: maintaining assets in certain forms, entering into a deal with a target within 18 months of the SPAC IPO, closing the transaction within 24 months and ensuring that the newly merged company engages primarily in the same business as the target. Gatekeepers who facilitate the deals, such as auditors, lawyers and underwriters, should also be held responsible for their work before and after the SPAC listing, Gensler added. The U.S. SPAC market experienced a wild ride in 2021, with an explosion in deals during the first half of the year that quickly cooled off in the second half. All told, 604 SPACs raised $144 billion in 2021, according to data from Renaissance Capital. SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Firefighters sought to get a handle Wednesday on a wildfire spreading near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, amid mandatory evacuations as winds whipped up ahead of a line of strong storms forecast to move in overnight. Authorities ordered evacuations in the Hatcher Mountain area of Wears Valley and Waldens Creek, and the resorts of Shagbark, Little Valley and Black Bear, with nearby residents also urged to leave, according to the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency. The fire, which was not contained, had expanded to about 250 acres (more than 100 hectares) as of Wednesday afternoon, and one person was injured, Sevier County and state forestry officials said. The fire was in what the state Agriculture Department described as steep and difficult terrain. A plume of smoke rose above the community not far from where 2016 wildfires ravaged the tourism town of Gatlinburg, killing 14 people and damaging or destroying about 2,500 buildings. The blaze began with a brush fire Wednesday morning. It burned a cabin in a rural area and threatened others, drawing a response from multiple agencies, WVLT-TV reported, citing the Sevier County Fire Department and the Tennessee Division of Forestry. The fire destroyed a vehicle and two buildings, according to the Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department. A shelter was established at the Pigeon Forge Community Center for those evacuated, authorities said. Warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds have increased the risk of fire danger, the emergency agency said. Severe storms that included at least two tornadoes injured several people, damaged homes and businesses and downed power lines in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas overnight before moving to the Deep South on Wednesday. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A retired San Jose Police officer was sentenced to three years in jail for cheating insurers and exploiting workers for his side security business, the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office said. Morgan Hill resident Robert Foster, 48, was convicted in January for felony fraud charges, including 173 acts of conspiring to commit $1.13 million in insurance fraud and $18 million in money laundering. The sentence announced by the Santa Clara County Superior Court on Tuesday requires Foster to also serve two years of mandatory supervision when he finishes his jail sentence, the district attorneys office said. Foster has already paid complete restitution of $1.13 million to Everest National Insurance and the Employment Development Department. There was also a general order of restitution for the purpose of paying exploited workers, the office said. No one is above accountability for illegally trying to make a profit on the backs (and injured bodies) of their workers, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. Foster founded Atlas Private Security with his wife, Mikaila Foster, 46, without the departments knowledge, the district attorneys office said. The company is now called Genesis Private Security. Prosecutors say the Fosters reduced their workers compensation insurance premiums and taxes by reporting inaccurate payroll, underreporting the number of employees, paying employees off the books and failing to report employee injuries, according to the district attorneys office. Investigators discovered that the Fosters hid millions of dollars of payroll through a complex subcontractor masking scheme. Employees were paid by a different security company, Defense Protection Group (DPG), which had no knowledge of the employees hours, wages, or schedules. Instead, DPG simply moved money from the Fosters firm to the employees so that the Fosters could avoid paying their fair share of taxes, workers compensation insurance, and overtime wages, the district attorneys office said. In one case, an off-the-books security guard suffered severe injuries during a crash while driving an Atlas security vehicle. Robert Foster responded to the guards $1 million medical bill by telling the insurance company that the guard was not an Atlas employee, the district attorneys office said. Investigators found records showing that the guard was driving an Atlas vehicle and wearing an Atlas uniform at the time of the collision. Foster retired from the San Jose Police Department after he was charged in July 2020. Mrs. Foster also pleaded no contest to the same insurance fraud and money laundering charges. She will be sentenced to one year in county jail and five years of probation on April 29, the office said. The California Department of Insurance, Employment Development Department, Department of Justice, and the Department of Labor assisted in the investigation. Claims Journal staff Clifford Chance advises CIFI on portfolio financing of 24 PMGD solar projects in Chile Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised Corporacion Interamericana para el Financiamiento de Infraestructura, S.A. (CIFI) as senior and subordinated lender, mandated lead arranger and administrative agent, in connection with the senior and subordinated loans of up to US$86.6 million to be extended to a subsidiary of Chile's oEnergy for the financing of a portfolio of 24 photovoltaic PMGD projects in the Republic of Chile. The renewable energy created by the projects will avoid an estimated total emission of 73,344 tons CO2eq/year to the atmosphere. The initial disbursement under the facility will finance two PMGD projects, Los Jotes and Las Bandurrias, located in the regions of Valparaiso and Maule. Each project will have a total installed capacity of 3 MWp, and additional projects will be added to the facility in due course. The portfolio consists of solar photovoltaic projects, which are small distributed generation projects that operate under Chiles Pequenos Medios de Generacion Distribuida program (PMGD). PMGD projects are entitled to be remunerated for their generation at a regulated stabilized price calculated by the Chilean National Energy Commission. The PMGD program was created by the Chilean government in 2005 to incentivize the development of distributed generation projects closer to the end users. CIFI is a non-banking financial entity based in Panama, which advises and finances infrastructure projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lead partner Jessica Springsteen commented, "We're pleased to work with CIFI on another transaction related to the PMGD program, which will continue to enable the production of renewable energy in Chile and across the region." Springsteen and counsel Alberto Haito led the transaction, with support from associates Greg Jehle and Mari Correa. Clifford Chance advises on many renewable energy transactions in Chile, including on PMGD projects. The firm previously advised CIFI on portfolio financing of PMGD solar projects in Chile as well as Reden Development Chile in connection with the portfolio financing of PMGD PV projects. A federal judge has decided that while COVID-19 can qualify as a disability, a Colorado Springs woman terminated from her job at the outset of the pandemic failed to establish her employer violated the Americans with Disabilities Act through its reaction to a COVID-19 diagnosis. Offer a personal message of sympathy... By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that below. Otherwise, you can create an account by clicking on the Log in button below, and then register to create your account. Boomtown 2022: How to live your best life in Columbia over 50 Columbia makes repeated appearances on lists ranking cities as good places to live. It is perhaps an even better place to mature and retire. A strong health care network, reasonable housing prices, a vibrant, engaged community and an appealing downtown help create an attractive location for all generations, but especially for those over 50. Read more stories. Read the e-Edition The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Reflecting on many roles of U.S. in Ukraine crisis: Imposing sanctions escalates divisions and confrontation 16:58, March 31, 2022 By Chen Zi ( People's Daily Online (Cartoon by Ma Hongliang) The U.S. and many European countries have launched expansive sanctions on Russia since Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics on Feb. 21, 2022. The sanctions include freezing assets that Russian companies hold in certain Western countries, cutting off Russian companies' access to U.S. dollars along with some other major currencies in international trade transactions, and even sanctions on Russian cats and dogs. The International Cat Federation announced sanctions on Russian cats. The federation, also known as the Federation Internationale Feline, or FIFe, said in a statement that "no cat bred in Russia may be imported and registered in any FIFe pedigree book outside Russia, regardless of which organization issued its pedigree," and added that no cat belonging to exhibitors living in Russia may be entered at any FIFe show outside Russia. Besides, the world's biggest dog show, Crufts, held in the U.K. from March 10 to 13 banned Russian dogs from participating in the event. Sanctions have never been an effective way to solve problems. Imposing sanctions can never guarantee peace and security, but will only escalate divisions and confrontation. Related: Reflecting on many roles of U.S. in Ukraine crisis: Spreading disinformation, fabricating rumors, stoking tensions Reflecting on many roles of U.S. in Ukraine crisis: Pouring fuel onto the fire while redirecting contradictions, making unfounded countercharges (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Open Stack's Yoga release biedt SmartNIC DPU's, lokale IP-netwerken en cloud-native compatibiliteitsverbeteringen voor meest gebruikte open source cloud-infrastructuursoftware De OpenStack-community heeft vandaag Yoga uitgebracht, de 25e versie van 's werelds meest gebruikte open source cloudinfrastructuursoftware. Highlights van Yoga zijn onder andere ondersteuning voor geavanceerde hardwarefuncties zoals SmartNIC DPU's, verbeterde integratie met cloud-native software zoals Kubernetes en Prometheus en vermindering van de technical debt voor het behoud van een stabiele en betrouwbare OpenStack core. "Na 25 releases blijft de wereldwijde OpenStack-community innoveren en groeien, door software te bouwen die nu op meer dan 25 miljoen compute cores draait," zegt Kendall Nelson, senior upstream developer advocate bij de OpenInfra Foundation. "Sinds 2012 heeft onze community meer dan 560.000 changes van meer dan 8.700 contributors samengevoegd." De belangrijkste highlights zijn: Hardware enablement extended, specifically for SmartNIC DPUs. Neutron adds support for a remote-managed VNIC type, enabling port binding to SmartNIC DPUs. In addition, Nova now offers support for network backends that leverage SmartNICs to offload the controlplane from the host server. This enables increased security by removing the control plane from the host server and reduced overhead by leveraging the CPU and RAM resources on modern SmartNIC DPUs. Local IP added to Neutron. This feature is primarily focused on high efficiency and performance of the networking data plane for very large-scale clouds, or clouds with high network throughput demands. Local IP is a virtual IP which can be shared across multiple ports or VMs, and guaranteed to only be reachable within the same physical server or node boundaries. Soft delete scheme offered in Manila. File system shares can now be soft-deleted into a recycle bin where they can stay for a configurable amount of time before being purged. While they are in the recycle bin, shares can be viewed and restored on demand. Cloud-native compatibility expanded for Prometheus and Kubernetes. -Prometheus integration: Octavia load balancers now support deep observability by adding listeners that expose a Prometheus exporter endpoint. The Octavia amphora provider exposes over 150 unique metrics. Kolla adds support for deploying Prometheus Libvirt exporter.-Kubernetes integration: Kuryr adds enhanced debugging capabilities by including Kubernetes events to resources managed by Kuryr. Tacker introduces several new features to its Kubernetes Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM), including using Docker private registry images or Helm charts to deploy Container Network Functio The IT Ukraine Association represents about 100 leading companies with 75,000 professional IT members between them in the country, which has become a near-shore haven for Western companies seeking skilled personnel, particularly relating to software development and engineering. Ukraines Office of Foreign Affairs says that more than 100 of the Fortune 500 outsource to the country, with IT export volume increasing 36% to US$6.8 billion in 2021, up from US$5 billion in 2020 and US$4.2 billion in 2019, according to the IT Ukraine Association. Separate studies have found that the IT industry grew from 0.06% of GDP in 2013 to 3.3% in 2018, with talented IT professionals emerging through universities and government schemes, such as the IT Creative Fund. Despite such progress, the IT Ukraine Associations executive director, Konstantin Vasyuk, is speaking to journalists online in a dimly-lit home from an undisclosed location, with air raid sirens audible in the background. As Russian military forces advance from the south and east of the country, and with the port town of Mariupol under a constant siege, hes worried about his safety, but seemingly not as much as his broadband connection. He spoke to Computerworld while his children were doing schoolwork online. [ Keep up on the latest thought leadership, insights, how-to, and analysis on IT through Computerworlds newsletters. ] Acting as a conduit to Ukrainian ICT businesses and their employees, Vasyuk says that the organisation and its members have remained resilient through a month of war. The Ukrainian ICT industry donated US$24 million to the army and humanitarian aid within the first 10 days of war, and he says most organisations can still deliver on IT projects, even as Ukraine-based employees joined the army or volunteered to bolster the countrys cybersecurity defences. The trade associations own research reveals that about 70% of IT professionals are still working in safe regions of Ukraine, with about 16% of the IT workforce, many of them women, stationed abroad. About 2% of IT professionals have joined the armed forces, while 5% have volunteered to assist with cybersecurity efforts and the support of critical national infrastructure. Maybe it will sound like a cliche, but it's that type of responsibility, reliability, and determination that drives us now, to continue working, said Vasyuk, in an interview organized by TechlinkUkraine. Secure networks and banking in Ukraine Internet access remains relatively unaffected by the Russian invasion so far, Vasyuk said. Fiber-optic networks are stable, while Elon Musks Starlink satellites connections are available on reserve channels, following a plea for help on Twitter from the countrys minister of digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov. The ongoing disruption in regions such as Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Kherson has hit the local economy, but Vasyuk maintains that core banking and payment services remain relatively unaffected. Some companies have had problems with the access to their accounts, but it's a very small percentage, he said, adding that Russian sanctions have hit some smaller businesses in regions under Russian military control. (The Donbas regions of Luhansk and Donetsk have been under separatist Russian control since 2014, so are not covered by his assessment.) Rozdoum CEOs story of defiance Since the onset of war on February 24, tech companies have looked to leave Ukraine. EPAM, one of the countrys biggest exporters, software development, and consultancy providers, reacted by supporting staff, halting services to Russia-based customers, and spending US$100 million on humanitarian aid. The company has also implemented BI dashboards to track employee safety, rented buses and developed a ridesharing app to help people cross borders, and helped those displaced by the war to find accommodation. Andrey Dekhtyar is the CEO of Rozdoum, a custom application developer and Atlassian partner with offices in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and Jersey City, New Jersey. His family has relocated to Europe and safer parts of Ukraine, but he returned to Kharkiv. He sees it as his moral obligation. It's my country, my home and I contribute in the way I can, he said, during a 20-minute interview in which continuous shelling from Russian forces could be heard in the background. Hes been busy, too, from influencing partners like Atlassian and Dell to stop business operations in Russia to buying second-hand cars out of his own pocket and giving them to the military. The day-to-day work continues, with no interruption of service, and he has actively encouraged staff to volunteer on the cyber frontline when they have the time. Business continuity planning has largely been in place since the start of the Russian conflict in 2014, and accelerated through COVID-19, with colleagues moved from workstations to laptops and mobile devices, and with offices temporarily closed. We still have 100% of our clients. None of them terminated their contracts, he said, adding that some prospective clients even paid ahead of time, to support the organizations finances. How global organizations and leaders can help Ukraine Vasyuk was keen to emphasize that the countrys IT industry remains in strong shape. The groups research shows that 85% of IT professionals are still working, with only about 5% of local ICT projects cancelled or postponed. Most clients, he said, understand the situation and have managed to mitigate risks through business continuity plans, to the point where there are no major changes [clients] can feel or see. Vasyuk said that most Ukrainian technology firms have a diversified landscape of partners inside and outside the country on whom they can rely in the event of further disruption. He encouraged new and existing clients to continue working with Ukrainian technology businesses, not only because they can continue to deliver effectively and affordably, but because the investment will prop up the economy and feed humanitarian aid. Its a theme that struck a chord when Computerworld spoke to Dekhtyar. The more money we can get, the more services we can provide. That will help our economy to survive. It seems like the war is being transported from the short war into the long war so its more and more going to be a war of economics. Dekhtyar also said that Ukraines industrial sector has been lost or damaged due to the shelling in the east of the country, so this places greater focus on an ICT industry that can work and is working. Vasyuk, meanwhile, senses an opportunity for local tech firms to pick up work following Russian sanctions and the reported brain drain of Russian talent leaving the country. It gives a chance to Ukrainian companies to have additional contracts from those companies who closed relations with Russian IT providers, he says, suggesting that US-based companies are seeking recommendations for service providers in the region. Dekhtyar said global and European IT-based leaders can help by pressuring local politicians to stop doing business in Russia and relocating staff, but was keen to emphasize that such support will have limited impact if employees taxes dont return to the local Ukrainian economy. Ultimately, both technology leaders are adamant that the country will prevail, propelled by its robust and resilient IT industry. We want foreigners to know that even though Ukraine is going through difficult times, that doesn't mean that Ukrainians should let their hands down and just sit it out, Vasyuk said. The IT Ukraine Association is looking to collaborate with partners on a jobs platform for displaced Ukrainians and can be contacted through its LinkedIn page. Rozdoum can be contacted at its website. In view of the problems with global supply chains, we took a cautious approach at times and ultimately managed to do pretty well in terms of sales. Thats how CEO Peter Fenkl describes the year 2021. The electric motor and fan manufacturer in Southern Germany generated sales of EUR 716 million (previous year: EUR 639); the number of employees worldwide rose to 4,700 (previous year: 4,300). Fenkl describes the earnings situation as more than difficult as the supply chain problems not only had an impact on delivery times but on pricing as well. Some suppliers had already increased prices so quickly towards the end of 2020 and then repeatedly in 2021 that we were unable to pass these on to the market on a 1:1 basis. Based on the experience in the first quarter, the manager knows that this situation will become more acute in the current year. I've never experienced anything like this before," says Fenkl, who has now been at the helm of the family business for more than 20 years. Ziehl-Abegg is regarded as a company with a high level of vertical integration. "We now want to expand this even further," says Fenkl. However, growth at the headquarters in Hohenlohe is problematical as there is a serious shortage in the availability of the necessary additional workers there. The intention therefore is to expand existing production facilities and establish new production sites. Additional production sites will bring us closer to our customers. The 11.9 percent growth in sales last year provides a good base for further growth. Ventilation systems were the sales driver in the year just past, contributing EUR 637 million to the overall result. The company CEO holds no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead. Work shifts are currently being repeatedly cancelled because of a lack of components how can you realistically plan and how are you supposed to satisfy your customers? he asks. Traditionally, the company does not provide any information on earnings. Ziehl-Abegg employs 2,600 people in Germany, 200 more than a year ago. The number of employees worldwide rose from 4,300 to 4,700. Since employees of the baby boom era in Germany are now increasingly reaching retirement age, this is having a direct impact on the available workforce potential. Companies must therefore openly target Generation Z, the post-millennials. explains Fenkl. We mustnt persist with old ways of thinking but instead take the wishes and needs of young people seriously. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. Dampier was obsessive about writing down all the weird creatures and plants he saw during his voyages. One scholar imagines Dampier "writing up his journal, describing a bunch of flowers, or a rare fish, in the intervals between looting a wine-shop or sacking a village." Meanwhile, he was sailing side by side with rapscallions who, at one point, plotted to eat him until they randomly ran into an "abundance of breadfruit" in Guam and were like "fine, we'll eat that instead (this time)." In 1697 Dampier published a book called A New Voyage Around the World, which retold his travels and discoveries while omitting the bloodier parts. The book turned him into a celebrity and he was invited to lead the UK's first scientific expedition of a bizarre land known as New Holland (later "Australia"), but, after a tumultuous return trip that included weeks marooned on an island, he was court-martialled and found guilty of "Hard and cruel usage of the lieutenant" for dumping one of his guys in a jail in Brazil. As a result, he had to give up part of his earnings for the two-year-long trip and was kicked from the Royal Navy, but at least he got another book out of the whole thing. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Dampier ended up circumnavigating the world two more times before his death in 1715 -- a year before Our Flag Means Death's Stede Bonnet joined the pirate life. It's a shame that the show can't add him as a character without compromising its historical accuracy, but if HBO Max ever wants to start a whole -verse of shows based on unlikely pirates, you know where to look for the first spin-off. Follow Maxwell Yezpitelok's heroic effort to read and comment on every '90s Superman comic at Superman86to99.tumblr.com. Top image: Wikimedia Commons, HBO The head of UKs GCHQ, Jeremy Fleming, has praised a new government unit tasked with countering Kremlin disinformation campaigns surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking at the Australian Nationwide University in Canberra yesterday, he also paid tribute to Ukrainian cybersecurity amid sustained intent from Russia to disrupt government and military systems. Dangerous disinformation war is being waged Russia wrote the hybrid warfare book. State media, online media and agents of influence are all used to obfuscate motivations and justify military actions, Fleming said. Their aim is to promulgate disinformation. To sow mistrust in the evidence and to amplify false narratives. Its also to make sure that the real picture of whats going on doesnt get exposed inside Russia. This is where the most dangerous disinformation war is being waged, Fleming added. We know Putins campaign is beset by problems low morale, logistical failures, and high Russian casualty numbers. Weve seen Putin lie to his own people in an attempt to hide military incompetence, and all of that means he seeks brutal control of the media and access to the internet, he seeks the closing down of opposition voices, and hes making heavy investment in their propaganda and covert agencies. In the UK, a new Government Information Cell has been working to identify and counter Kremlin disinformation targeted at UK and international audiences, Fleming said. It brings together expertise from across government to challenge false narratives. It deals in facts, not falsehoods; making sure that the truth is told well. Many of those truths come from intelligence, and it is a remarkable feature of this conflict just how much intelligence has been so quickly declassified to get ahead of Putins actions, he continued. In my view, intelligence is only worth collecting if we use it, so I unreservedly welcome this development. Aspects of Russia-Ukraine war playing out in cyberspace Fleming reflected upon commentary expressing surprise that the world is yet to see Russian deploy a major cyberattack as part of their campaign. However, that is not to say that we havent seen cyber in this conflict. We have and lots of it, he stated. The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has detected sustained intent from Russia to disrupt Ukrainian government and military systems, Fleming added. Weve seen what looks like some spillover of activity affecting surrounding countries, and weve certainly seen indications which suggest Russias cyber actors are looking for targets in the countries that oppose their actions. So just as we pay tribute to the Ukrainian militarys brave actions, we should pay tribute to Ukrainian cybersecurity too. We and other allies will continue to support them in shoring up their defences. In the UK, GCHQ is doing all it can to ensure sure that businesses and government urgently follow through on plans to improve basic levels of cyber resilience, Fleming said. He also commented upon the extent to which non-state actors are becoming involved in the conflict and impacting its outcome. Weve seen cyber hacking and ransomware groups pledging allegiance to both sides. Weve seen technology providers step up to make sure that Ukraine can stay connected, or to address disinformation. This is making the space very complicated, and in some ways, way beyond the control of governments, he said. Its another reminder of the interconnectedness of the World today, and as no single entity holds the whole solution, it highlights a need for global institutions effectively working in coalition. Gunn Memorial Library / Contributed photo WASHINGTON The Gunn Memorial Library and the Hickory Stick Bookshop will welcome author Johnathan Galassi to discuss his latest book, School Days in a conversation with Joseph Montebello, a longtime freelance writer for the Litchfield County Times. The program will be held at 6:30 p.m., April 21 on Zoom. According to a statement, Galassis new book lifts the cover on the dynamics of a 1960s private school in Connecticut and reveals a world of privilege and scholarship on the brink of revolution. Galassi weaves a story that poses fundamental questions about love and sex, friendship and rivalry, desire and power, and the age-old dance of benevolence and attraction between teacher and student. In this coming-of-age tale that navigates homosexual crushes and the politics of an elite community, the mysterious behavior of a brilliant classics teacher fascinates his students until charges against him begin to emerge. Capturing heady friendships and rivalries of boyhood, the pressures of growing up closeted, and the very sober realities of sex and sexual misconduct, School Days wades into the charged waters of privilege, legacy, and memory to deliver a deeply observed portrait. FAIRFIELD Fairfield is looking for a new head for the towns public schools after Superintendent Mike Cummings announced his resignation. Cummings notified the Board of Education of his resignation on Wednesday, and told the community at large on Thursday morning. His last day of employment in the district will be June 30, with plans to work part time in a different school system after that. I have decided to semi-retire and have accepted the part-time superintendency of Pomfret Community School in Pomfret, CT, he wrote in a prepared statement. I will begin there July 1, 2022. Cummings said serving the students of Fairfield had been an honor, adding he is appreciative of every parent who has reached out over the past seven years to offer advice and encouragement. There is a deep community commitment to the well-being of the students, he said of Fairfield. Cummings said he is at a point in his life where he needs to be more available to his family Whether they like it or not. In a statement, Christine Vitale, the chair of the Board of Education, said the board is grateful for Cummings thoughtful, caring and steadfast leadership through unprecedented times. He was tasked with the extremely difficult job of overseeing a school district of over 9,000 students during a two-year pandemic and has worked tirelessly to keep or schools safe and engaging places for teaching and learning, she said. We thank him for his dedication and service to the Fairfield Public Schools, wish him a happy and healthy semi-retirement and hope he enjoys some much deserved time with his family. Vitale said Cummings will be greatly missed by the school community. In the coming weeks, she said, the board will retain an executive search firm to assist in its search for the next superintendent. We will be providing updates on the search at our Board of Education meetings and look forward to engaging the community in the process, she said. Our hope is to have a new Superintendent in place early in the 2022-2023 school year. In a statement, Nick Aysseh, the vice chair of the Board of Education, said he has worked closely with Cummings over the last few years, and will miss his clear dedication to the work of the district. I am saddened that Mike is leaving right when we are starting to get back to the important work ahead which was put on hold with Covid since March of 2020, he said. That being said, I am confident our board and staff will continue what Mike has started. I cant think of a better scenario for Mike to semi-retire so, while Im sad to see him go a few years earlier than I thought ... I wish him the best on this new chapter. Aysseh said he is eager to start the process of finding the districts next superintendent, which ultimately is one of the most important school board responsibilities. Before joining Fairfield as director of elementary education in 2015, Cummings moved up through the ranks of Milford Public Schools, serving as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and interim superintendent. His leadership and commitment to education in Milford is memorialized in the Michael Cummings Above and Beyond Award, which is presented each year to the Milford Public Schools employee who shows exceptional contributions to the district. Cummings was hired in 2019 for the districts top spot, beating out 22 other applicants to replace former Superintendent Toni Jones. During his time in the job, he dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on schools as well as the discovery of contaminants at school facilities in light of the fill pile scandal. Cummingss contract was set to expire on June 30 of 2023. His salary in 2021 was $237,460. In a statement, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick thanked Cummings for his years of dedicated service to the community. Especially the last two, which were very trying and challenging for anyone in a leadership position during a global pandemic, she said. While we didnt always agree, we always respected each other, and worked together during a difficult time for our community. I wish Mike happiness and success in his future. Cummings said there is still work to do before his final day. There are 100 days before the end of June and much work to be done. I look forward to completing the budget process and finishing the next District Improvement Plan, he said. I believe FPS is well positioned for the challenges ahead. joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com With the daily positivity rate reaching nearly 4 percent Thursday, COVID-19 activity appears to be picking up steam in Connecticut, the latest figures show. When asked if she thought a surge was beginning in Connecticut, Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani said: Its starting. We had been in some sort of a plateau. We definitely see ourselves going up now, she said. Were seeing an uptick. Though Juthani said its difficult to predict how bad the surge might get in the near future, she expects it to be higher than where we were, but not as high as where we were this winter. The uptick in Connecticut comes amid growing concerns across the country over the BA.2 subvariant of omicron, which was responsible for the spike in cases in the winter. In parts of Europe and Asia, cases have been spiking, due in large part to the BA.2 subvariant, health officials have said. "The numbers seem to be picking up again, which is the effect of the BA.2 subvariant of omicron, said Pedro Mendes, who specializes in disease modeling at the University of Connecticut. BA.2 now comprises 72.6 percent of all tested COVID samples in New England, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yale researcher Nathan Grubaugh said Thursday that sequenced samples show BA.2 comprising 61 percent of COVID cases in Connecticut, though preliminary data suggests it might be as high as 87 percent. BA.2 is pushing cases higher, Grubaugh said, but at a fairly low rate. Data suggests that we are not in for a sharp increase in cases or a big wave (at least at the current rates), but it does show that the pandemic is not over, he said on Twitter. On Thursday, the state reported a positivity rate of 3.95 percent with 471 new infections found among 11,908 tests. Though overall cases appear to be increasing, hospitalizations fell by a net of 10 patients for a total of 88, which is the lowest number since July of last year. There have been an additional 32 deaths attributed to the coronavirus since last week for a total of 10,766 in Connecticut since the start of the pandemic. The seven-day average of new COVID cases in Connecticut was 510 on Thursday, according to state data. Thats an increase from the low on March 17, when there were an average of 400 new COVID cases each day. COVID cases among teachers staff in Connecticut schools have been on a slow, steady rise, hitting 206 this week, up from a recent low of 141 on Feb. 23. Cases among students, however, saw a slight decrease to 734 from 755 last week. The CDC this week authorized a fourth dose of either Moderna or Pfizers COVID vaccine for patients who are 50 and older and who received their third COVID vaccine dose at least four months ago. Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday announced that he would receive his second booster shot, which would be his fourth vaccine dose. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media FAIRFIELD Troopers are investigating after a man showed up at Bridgeport Hospital Friday morning and said he had been shot while driving through Fairfield on Interstate 95 that morning, according to Connecticut State Police. The man told police he had been driving in the northbound lane when he was struck. He then drove himself to the hospital, state police said. "Pokemon Go" will be releasing a special segment for April Fool's Day dubbed "2-Oh-22" so you won't be left behind on this occasion. However, the particular focus of Niantic this time will be Ditto, a symbol of prank for many people. 'Pokemon Go' April Fool's Event Brings Ditto According to a report by Dot Esports, this year's April Fools' 2-Oh-22 update will be introducing the ultimate prankster in the Pokemon world: Ditto. This copycat Pokemon might just be appealing not because of its visuals but because of its ability to be everything: from a Caterpie to a legendary Pokemon such as Rayquaza and Mewtwo. Sometimes, this Pokemon can catch you off-guard like what Niantic will do for the upcoming April Fool's event. You will notice that during this segment, Ditto is the only Pokemon who will frequently spawn in some areas. Special Research and Rewards Since the April Fool's update will revolve around Ditto and the Normal-type Pokemon, expect that all special research and rewards will be related to them. Take a look at this list. April Fool's 2-Oh-22 Page 1 Catch 10 Pokemon (Reward: 25 Poke Balls) Catch five Normal-type Pokemon (Reward: Five Potions) Make five throws (Reward: Five Nanab Berries) After finishing the tasks, you will get: Ditto Candy (x15) Stardust (x1000) Razz Berries (x5) April Fool's 2-Oh-22 Page 2 Catch 10 Pokemon (Reward: 15 Great Balls) Catch three of the Transform Pokemon (Reward: Five Super Potions) Transfer 10 Pokemon (Reward: Five Pinap Berries) Complete these researchers to receive: Ditto Candy (x15) 1,500 XP Silver Pinap Berry April Fool's 2-Oh-22 Page 3 To be announced soon. Related Article: 'Pokemon GO' Guide: Tips in Evolving Fomantis to Lurantis New 'Pokemon GO' Project? In other news, Pokemon GO Hub reported that Niantic announced its plans to create location edits for map quality improvement. "We wanted to let you know that we are embarking on a project to improve the location accuracy of up to 15K Wayspots in total, between several major cities. These Wayspots will typically be smaller objects and discrete places such as statues, sculptures, signage, murals, and entrance locations to help improve existing and future gameplay experiences that rely on good location accuracy. This will help improve future AR game experiences at these locations across Niantic games." With that, Niantic listed that the target cities include Tokyo and New York City (early April 2022), Seattle, San Francisco, London (late April 2022), Los Angeles, and other US cities (early May 2022). Niantic said that some users might experience some issues during this time. You can seek help from the company through its support channels if you have any concerns. You can also check the Wayfarer forum to keep in touch with its project. Meanwhile, GameNGuide wrote a short guide on how to fix the incense bug in "Pokemon GO" for several platforms. Read Also: 'Tiny Tina's Wonderlands' Guide: How to Find Lucky Dice in Weepwild Dankness This article is owned by GameNGuide Written by Joseph Henry BRIDGEPORT Police found a man shot in the lower leg on Louisiana Avenue Thursday afternoon, ac ording to city officials. The Bridgeport Emergency Communications Center received several calls reporting shots fired on Louisiana Avenue around 3:30 p.m., according to Scott Appleby, the director of the citys Office of Emergency Management. Police discovered the man, and he was taken to an area hospital. His injuries are not life threatening, Appleby said. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Bridgeport Police Department at 203-576-TIPS (8477). Last Friday the seventh pound of the Constitutional Committee to draft a constitution for Syria in line with the UN Res 2254. Syria's Future Party Ibrahim Qaftan was met by ANHA to shed light on the topic. Qaftan said: the Constitutional Committee discusses irrelevant issues, at the first it was Geneva and Sochi then Astana. This is illegitimate, not all Syrian are represented on the committee. Qaftan noted that the committee in question is influenced by Russia in the last period, Russia works solely on the Syrian file and referred the Geneva talks elsewhere. To the wonder of Qaftan no statement was released at the end of the seventh round as it was the case in the last six rounds the matter that implies failure between the ''Regime'' and ''opposition'' delegates, according to Qaftan. Qaftan questioned the talks undergoing in these rounds as they introduced nothing and all rounds were noted by differences between the two delegations. Responding to a question if the committee meets the aspirations of the Syrian people Qaftan said ''if it was so then why these rounds are not taking place on the Syrian soil as it is the case of North and East Syria and not by run and orchestrated by foreign powers''. Qaftan went on to say that Turkey interferes in the opposition and the Syrian regime is directed by Russia and Iran. In spite of all these matters we are determined that the United Nations resolutions be applied to the Syrian political solution''. ''the regime is determined to cling to the 2012 constitution and the opposition rejects that proper, a new one should be drafted, this committee introduced o progress regardless its legitimacy. They still differ in terms and vocabulary and details remain untouched yet'', Qaftan said. Qaftan says ''the Constitution Committee was born dead and in its current form does not represent all Syrians and it implies to prolong the Syrian crisis''. Qaftan called on all Syrian parts to take parts in the talks and to form a transition government to run the country then constitution to be discussed then elections and to fight terror'' all Syrian people ought to be aware of the inaction lies not in the constitution rather in its putting into action and what we wish it be run democratically not by the intelligence circles''. L..A ANHA According to a media story published on Sunday, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is unlikely to return to Buckingham Palace in London, preferring instead to remain at Windsor Castle in Berkshire. Since moving there for isolation during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the 95-year-old monarch has been based at the Castle, which was previously simply a weekend resort. Rather than the palace in central London, where she spent most of her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth now prefers it as her permanent house and principal official residence. Since 1837, Buckingham Palace has served as the official London home of British monarchs, is currently undergoing a 10-year, 369-million-pound renovation. The Queen had merely meant to relocate to another part of the palace while her apartments were being renovated. However, as her 96th birthday approaches on April 21, and after two years of working remotely from Windsor Castle, she is said to be more interested in staying on for a little longer. How Many Palaces Queen Elizabeth Calls Home? According to WMagazine, Balmoral isn't her only residence outside of England; she also owns a castle in Northern Ireland, which she reportedly planned to begin sharing with the country's Secretary of State. Discover all of the locations where the Queen has set up shop over her decades-long reign. 1. Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace is the centerpiece of the United Kingdom's constitutional monarchy, or HQ, according to the British royal industrial complex. It's where the Queen gave birth to Princes Charles and Andrew, and it's where she's had her weekly meetings with the Prime Minister for a long time. 2. Balmoral Castle Balmoral Castle, the Queen's private residence and favorite hideaway in the Scottish Highlands, is already well-known to fans of The Crown. 3. Windsor Castle The Queen's links to Windsor Castle, which is less than an hour outside of London from Buckingham Palace, extend back to when she and Princess Margaret fled from the Nazis during World War II, and she has since spent many a quiet weekend there, as well as a month in April known as Easter Court. 4 . Sandringham Estate You might have fooled us that the above photo of the Sandringham Estate's fac ade was a still from Downton Abbey's Highclere Castle if it hadn't been for the corgi gravestones in the foreground. The royals have an annual custom of spending Christmas at this rural residence in Norfolk, and Queen Elizabeth II in particular has a practice of traveling the 100 miles by rail from London. 5. Hillsborough Castle Hillsborough Castle is where the Queen resides whenever she visits Northern Island. This one, on the other hand, isn't particularly regal. It is shared by the 94-year-old king and the country's Secretary of Estate. 6. Palace of Holyroodhouse Queen Elizabeth II can spend one week of the summer in the luxury of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which has functioned as the official Scotland home of the British queen since the 16th century. It must be lovely if it was previously the residence of Mary, Queen of Scots, as per NDTV. Read Also: Major Diabetes Drug for Men Has Been Link to Rare Genital Defects Who Will Inherit Queen Elizabeth's Wealth? Queen Elizabeth may recover from her sickness, but given her elderly age, it's reasonable to anticipate the monarchy to alter in the coming years. If she lives to see her Platinum Jubilee in June, she will have reigned for 70 years. When Queen Elizabeth dies, her eldest son, Prince Charles, will be the next in line to the throne. The eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Philip Mountbatten, will succeed to the throne. He has been first in line for the throne succession, and he intends to succeed his mother if she dies. Queen Elizabeth has never shown any desire to abdicate the throne and has always appeared entirely committed to her role as monarch. When Queen Elizabeth dies, Prince Charles will likely inherit her money and assets. He is presently the owner and operator of the Duchy of Cornwall, a rural estate valued at $1.3 billion. Charles ascends to the throne, the Sovereign Grant will pass to him. Prince William, his son, is the next in line for the throne. William will inherit the Duchy of Cornwall from his father when he becomes King. Because each member of the line of succession inherits ownership or control of the next in line, Charles is likely to receive the majority of the estate. William will be the next in line to the throne, while his brother, Prince Harry, has mainly shied away from the royal family's perks, Market Realist reported. Related Article: Meghan Markle Fans Criticize Kate Middleton's Fashion Style, Label Duchess of Cambridge "DupliKATE" @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a wholly unjust action and will certainly be the impetus of decades of bloodshed and humanitarian crises. But whatever outrage we as American citizens feel does not justify our involvement in the conflict. We as students should continue our historical legacy of anti-war activism while advocating for a peaceful solution to conflict especially as those around us promote escalation. Students have always been the class adamantly against war from protesting the Vietnam to Iraq wars the loudest anti-war activism comes from college campuses. Further, we as students in 2022 find ourselves uniquely positioned to recognize the depravity of war as our generation grew up in an empire at war. Like many others of my generation, I was an infant for the 2001 United States invasion of Afghanistan and a toddler for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, insensible conflicts that lead to hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths. Wars that only now we can say we have outlived with the Biden administrations 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. We are not immune to propaganda and warmongering, as these wars were widely supported with over 70% approval for using military force in Iraq, and now over a decade later 48% believe the decision was wrong. We cannot let ourselves fall into the same trap as our parents; becoming complicit in a brutal war that solves nothing and causes more bloodshed. A complicity manufactured by the media establishment, which today bays for U.S. intervention to send weapons, establish no-fly zones and levy economic sanctions. There is no doubt that this invasion leaves an international quandary in the air a precedent that should not be left unchecked but the U.S. and NATO are not agents that can enforce those ideals, as their inclusion will only create more unjust bloodshed. Specifically, who are we as the U.S. to wag our finger at the invasion of a sovereign state? Weve invaded atleast 10 countries, tried to initiate regime change in 81 nations and on average drop 46 bombs a day. We as people can condemn the actions of foreign nations but must recognize our countrys involvement would only make things worse. Understand that acknowledging the historical context of American crimes does not validate Russian ones. However, simply believing this time will be different for no discernable reason or change in our institutions is blind to reality. Actions like sanctions and no fly zones will not bring peace, at best theyll result in more civilian deaths and at worst make nuclear annihilation more plausible. Russian citizens would be far more harmed by economic sanctions than any oligarch. If you want proof, look at Afghanistan, not only did U.S. intervention devastate the country for 20 years, but our sanctions continue to starve Afghan citizens, as the U.N. warns the coming famine could result in the deaths of a million children. The concept of a no-fly zone has also been promoted in the mass media but is nothing more than a pseudonym for war pushed by corporate interests. Such a policy would involve U.S. forces shooting down Russian aircraft and occupying Ukraine airspace, actions that would certainly be a declaration of war. I do not pretend to have a magic solution to this conflict because the truth is there is no correct solution, only a spectrum of bad and worse. As such, any escalation that risks nuclear war should be avoided at all costs. Because of this we must be literate to the same tactics used to make those before us complicit in disastrous wars. The sadness and hopelessness you feel is valid and a byproduct of the human efficacy contrasted with the imperial realities of the current system. Your ethics and morals are not compatible with our institutions because they never could be, so do not force your values on structures that can never uphold them just because there is no better option. The current reality is grim, yes, but there is always another way. There has to be when the alternative is nuclear war. With our current institutions the best we can do is offer absolute democratic condemnation, medical aid, asylum for refugees and forums for diplomatic talks. We must continue the anti-war legacy of student activism; advocating for peaceful resolution and helping those in need without creating more harm. A students place is on the front lines, the flag bearers of peaceful resolution, marching aware of historys pitfalls. A China-EU summit is unlikely to discuss Ukraine, according to diplomats, as China does not want to offend Putin. The EU want Chinese President Xi Jinping to take their side of the argument to have an ace against Vladimir Putin. Before this, US President Joe Biden talked to Xi and achieved nothing significant since China says the fighting is in no one's best interest, noted Al Jazeera. China-EU Summit China has so far declared that it "deeply regrets" the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, but has abstained from publicly condemning Russia, reported the Express UK. According to diplomats, despite the EU's eagerness for Ukraine to be the subject of debate, China's authorities just doesn't want to indulge Brussels on the subject. The summit also happens when tension between Brussels and Beijing are still raw. Recently, Lithuania had a run with China when consular ties got strained. Following unconfirmed reports the previous month that the April 1 summit could take place, the Union stated last Tuesday that the summit should take place via video link on Friday. Reports say that Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, will have separate meeting on the day in separate meeting with the Chinese president and his Prime Minister Li Keqiang. Summing up the video conference, the European Council officials still want to force Beijing to acknowledge their stand on Ukraine. Several points will be drawn up in the China-EU summit will be several to drawn an opinion. One of them is total support for Ukraine by many countries, a humanitarian crisis by alleged Russian aggression, abstaining from a judgement has been causing instability. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth? Both Russia and China have close in relations and even saying there will be no limits, ex-presidents Donald Trump said that Joe Biden helped foster this relationship. Western allies seek to for Xi to buckle down and drop Russia, but he'd rather do diplomacy to keep the west at a comfortable distance. Earlier when the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi remarked to Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that the conflict was unfortunate, and they are aware of the human cost as well. China Abstains in UN Vote It was pure disappointment from the US when many nations were not keen on condemning Russian, about 35 nations gave the US led move a thumbs down. China did not vote and the US and EU weren't pleased. When the UN voted to condemn Russia for the invasion, China was one of 35 nations that abstained. Brussels may sense that Beijing will not choose their side again and tell off the desperate Ukraine issue. Rumors of meet by the union leaders will follow. However, EU leaders may be set for a disaster meeting as Chinese officials are said to want to steer clear of the issue, cited Politico. But Beijing did not veto like Russia and supports support for Ukrainian freedom. The Asian superpower wants to be a mediator to end the conflict peacefully sooner it can be done. Earlier in March, Josep Borrell the top European Union foreign representative; insisted in the role of the Chinese as peace maker. Mr. Wang Yi was not all in with what the EU official wanted in the phone call for the meet on Friday. A China-EU summit in the offing on Friday will be a hard sell for Brussels who is not on steady footing either due the recent comment of ousting Putin spoken by Joe Biden. Related Article: Maduro Enters Military Pact With Russia, Disregards Biden's Desperate Attempt To Isolate Moscow @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. President Putin launched his unprovoked attack on Ukraine just over five weeks ago. Its already clear hes lost. He thought Russian forces would sweep everything before them and all of Ukraine would be occupied in a matter of days. Its right to exist as a sovereign nation (which he denies) would be quickly extinguished as he forced it into his vainglorious vision of a Greater Russia ruled from Moscow with, at best, a puppet government in Kyiv. Putins dream has turned into a nightmare. His war dead and wrecked armour litter the Ukrainian ground, leaving his hopes of overwhelming the country in tatters. He simply doesnt have the reserves or reinforcements to replace the massive scale of his losses. Russia is leaving the north en masse, discarding much equipment as it flees and even leaving behind trapped pockets of Russian troops, on which Ukrainian forces are advancing fast. A Ukrainian soldier is pictured checking the ammunition of a burnt Russian tank But defeat for President Putin is not quite the same as victory for President Zelensky. It is time for Britain and its Nato allies to give Ukraine and its formidable military the resources it needs to put victory beyond doubt. It is quite remarkable that we can already contemplate such a course of action. Two days after the Russian invasion began I wrote on those pages: As you read this, Russian forces could already have taken Kyiv . . . if not, its fall will be days if not hours away. I have never been so delighted to be so wrong. I had totally overestimated the fighting capabilities of the Russian military and hopelessly underestimated the resilience, training (by Britain, America, Canada) and bravery of the Ukrainian military. Its little comfort that nearly every Western military and intelligence expert (wrongly) was saying the same thing. It is of enormous comfort that not only has Ukraine stopped much of the Russian advance but in key areas, especially around Kyiv, it is mounting counterattacks and the invaders are in some retreat. So much so that the Ukrainian capital, as of this weekend, is now safe from Russian occupation. The Kremlin has recognised reality. Last Tuesday the Russian military announced it was fundamentally cutting back the forces it had deployed to take Kyiv. Some feared this was a ruse that theyd pull back only to regroup and return in greater strength and ferocity. In fact, they are in no condition to do that and the retreat in places is turning into a rout. Russia is leaving the north en masse, discarding much equipment as it flees and even leaving behind trapped pockets of Russian troops, on which Ukrainian forces are advancing fast. I had totally overestimated the fighting capabilities of the Russian military and hopelessly underestimated the resilience, training (by Britain, America, Canada) and bravery of the Ukrainian military. A Ukrainian soldier is seen looking at the wreckage of a Russian tank Heavy armour is being shipped out by flatbed railway trucks, which suggests theyre not going up the road for a short break. This is a momentous event for western Ukraine. It means there is now no prospect of Putin cajoling his fellow dictator in neighbouring Belarus, the thuggish Alexander Lukashenko, to send in his army in aid of the invasion: though there was probably little chance of that anyway since Western intelligence believes the Belarusian army would have mutinied if ordered to attack Ukraine. It could also mean a reprieve for the beautiful Ukrainian port of Odessa on the Black Sea. The Russians have been moving in on it, with some difficulty, to create a land corridor with Kyiv. But if you dont control the capital theres no point in a corridor to it. All of this explains why Ukrainians are beginning to see that victory not just a debilitating stalemate is possible. But there are still formidable obstacles before it can be declared. Above all, there is Russias growing grip on the Ukraine Black Sea coast from Crimea, which includes the bombed-out city of Mariupol. Then there are the disputed regions in eastern Ukraine, including Donbas, which Russia seized through its proxies and special forces eight years ago and from which it has been advancing. Together this amounts to a large swathe of Ukrainian land. Russia will not be easily dislodged from it and that is why Putins defeat is not yet Zelenskys victory. A huge chunk of the Ukrainian military is operating in the countrys eastern heartland, and as long as Russia holds these areas it risks being encircled. In the past three weeks alone, about $500 million of weapons have gone to Ukraine. But they are mainly defensive, like anti-tank missiles, which have been used by Ukraine forces trained by Britain and America in mobile insurgency. Now they want other weapons heavy armour, aircraft, artillery to dislodge Russian forces in the east holed up on their land. Ukrainians are realistic enough to know they cannot entirely dislodge the Russians from their country. But they think if they can achieve some gains and make life hell for the occupiers, Russia will be more accommodating when proper peace negotiations begin. The case for supplying Ukraine with more offensive weapons while implementing even tougher sanctions is strong. For a start, a clear defeat for a dictator who invaded another country on the basis of lies and deceit is likely to deter other dictators who are thinking of doing the same (yes, you, President Xi). A clear Ukrainian victory, bar some minor concessions to Russia for the sake of peace, would also allow Ukraine to escape Moscows baleful influence and look confidently towards Europe for its future. The freedom to begin the long road to membership of the European Union should be part of any peace deal, if that is what Ukraine wants. It would also mark the beginning of the end for Putin. What happens inside the Kremlin is always a guessing game. But Western intelligence is picking up a lot of friction. Its impossible to predict, says one Western intelligence source but these are the classic signs of an impending coup. Dissension has broken out at the highest levels of the Russian government. The military high command is furious that Putins so-called walk in the park has become an expensive and bloody quagmire. Rows are breaking out between political leaders, the generals and intelligence agencies over whos to blame and what to do. None of this is getting through to Putin, whose only regular contact is with his massive personal security detail. He has reportedly grown ever more paranoid, shouting at underlings, ranting about betrayals and pointing the finger at anyone he can find to blame for the mess. Its like Downfall, that German film about Hitler in his bunker, one source tells me. When the enemy is already reeling, that would seem like a good time to hit them harder. But some in the West are reluctant to give Ukraine the help it needs to press home its advantage. Germany and France fret that providing offensive weapons would have Putin rattling his nuclear sabre once more. But you dont win wars by allowing the enemys threats to determine your help to an ally, especially a brave and resolute one. Even President Biden, who has been generally robust throughout the crisis, is hesitating. There is strong bipartisan pressure on Capitol Hill to give Ukraine some offensive weaponry. But administration officials pushed back on this at a behind-closed-doors session with U.S. legislators this week. Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, still thinks that he will get the allies to send long-range artillery, which is on the Ukrainians heavy-weapons wish-list. Without meeting Ukraines request, the West is in danger of an historic lost opportunity. If Russia is forced to depart Ukraine without very much to show for it, it wont just be the start of a new Ukraine. It offers the chance of a fresh start in Russia, too. Its military will be unable to wage any form of conventional war for many years to come. Its economy will take a long time to recover. The whole sorry episode will be a terrible blow to national pride. By any measure that amounts to massive defeat and even with the Kremlin controlling the media, most Russians will soon realise it. President Zelensky has indicated hed settle for a neutral Ukraine that would not join Nato but be free to join the EU. Some kind of special status could be agreed for the disputed territories in the east. A Marshall Plan to reconstruct Ukraine could then begin, with Russia forced to chip in big-time. Crimea would stay Russian. A peaceful and prosperous Ukraine to its south could encourage Russia to aim for peace and prosperity, too. Europe might then be able to pull back on some of the extra defence spending its planning in the wake of the invasion. America could concentrate on the rising power of China rather than the declining power of Russia. Putin would be no more. Theres a lot to be said for victory. Send Ukraine the arms to achieve it. Say what you like about Prince Andrew, but he certainly has a type. This latest scandal, like so many over the years, involves an odd financial relationship with secretive but very wealthy foreigners. The mysterious Turkish duo battling it out in Londons High Court over, among other things, a 750,000 bank transfer (now repaid) to the Duke of York (plus other six-figure gifts to his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their daughters) might have been sourced from Central Casting in a TV docudrama about the shamed royals rackety life. Andrew has for years seemed unable to resist the lure of easy money, especially when it comes from parts of the world where taxes are minimal and power and wealth go hand-in-hand. His financial manoeuvres are almost always opaque. But when details emerge, they invariably end up tarnishing the royal brand. Take, to cite the most famous example, his disastrous friendship with the prolific sex offender and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who provided the Duke with endless free holidays, private jet rides and glamorous party invitations, along with a 15,000 cheque to help his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson clear her debts. Friends in rich places: Prince Andrew with Tory donor David Rowland at Ascot in 2006 Andrew solicited the final gift from the late financier in December 2010, three years after Epstein had been convicted of child sex offences. Days after the cheque was paid, Andrew travelled to New York, where he stayed at the paedophiles home, attended his celebrity dinner parties, and in a moment captured for posterity by a Press photographer took a chummy morning walk with him in Central Park. Take also the Dukes longstanding ties to politically-connected figures in the corrupt Central Asian dictatorship of Kazakhstan. In 2008 it emerged that hed sold his marital home, Sunninghill Park, to an old chum called Timur Kulibayev, then a son-in-law of the despotic president of Kazakhstan. The sum paid was 15million, some 3million over the previously quoted asking price, despite the fact that the vulgar property had been languishing on the market for years. It was later claimed that a second buyer had engaged in a bidding war for the property. Be that as it may, the building was subsequently demolished. Three years later, the Prince (who was then supposedly Britains roving trade ambassador) telephoned, then personally emailed, another Kazakh businessman called Kenges Rakishev (who had helped negotiate the sale of Sunninghill), on behalf of a Greek water company called EYDAP and a Swiss finance house called Aras Capital. Messages subsequently obtained by the Mail revealed that the firms wanted to bid for a 385million contract to build water and sewage networks in Astana and Almaty, respectively Kazakhstans capital and largest city, the first of which boasted Rakishevs father-in-law as mayor. Describing the consortium as we, and outlining what he called the water plan, the Prince then said his private secretary, Amanda Thirsk, would personally help to introduce the firms to senior Kazakh political figures. According to Greek executives involved in the bid, Andrew was to have been paid a commission of 1 per cent, or 3.85million, for helping broker a successful deal. But alas the arrangement collapsed. Then there are mysterious commercial ties to a Guernsey-based Tory donor named David Rowland, who once gave Sarah Ferguson 40,000 to help clear debts. Last November, leaked documents revealed the former scrap metal dealer, nicknamed Spotty, had in 2017 paid off a 1.5million bank loan for the Duke. His generosity was occasionally reciprocated. He was invited to Balmoral where he reportedly met the Queen and took tea with the Prince of Wales. Shortly after the 1.5million gift, Rowland enticed Andrew to the launch of a joint venture between one of his banks and a sovereign wealth fund in Abu Dhabi. Though he lives like a billionaire, Prince Andrew has never had any obvious source of major income, writes Guy Adams. Above at the thanksgiving service for the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey Behind these and other exotic capers lies a simple fact: Though he lives like a billionaire, maintaining endless staff, large households (packed, on the evidence of his ex-wifes YouTube videos, with fresh flowers) and spent years travelling the world, often via private jet, Prince Andrew has never had any obvious source of major income. Indeed, an acquaintance once described the Prince to be as being like a hot air balloon, saying: He seems to float serenely around, in very rarefied circles, without any visible means of support. No one has ever had a clue how he pays for it. Despite managing to acquire an extensive collection of watches including several Rolexes and Cartiers, a 12,000 gold Apple Watch and a 150,000 Patek Philippe and a small fleet of luxury cars, including a green Bentley, his only official income came via a small navy pension of about 20,000 annually, and the 249,000 annual stipend he received from the Queen before retiring from Royal duties. In fact, his only discernible source of cash has been the largesse of patrons, the most wealthy of whom were primarily made while travelling the world (often at the taxpayers expense) in the years during which he still had one official role. This saw him holidaying on yachts and regularly disappearing on what appeared to be business trips, perhaps to act as a fixer in similar deals to the Kazakh sewage bid. For example, there was a mysterious 48-hour jaunt in China in 2016, which the Palace vaguely described as having been paid for privately, and various strange trips to the Middle East. The purpose of these expeditions were never properly explained. Around the same time, he also established the now defunct Pitch@Palace initiative, part of which was structured as a company in which he was the sole beneficial owner. Yet for all the grift, and despite his outward wealth, the Duke never seems to achieved true financial stability, thanks partly to domestic costs (such as the 7.5million he spent renovating Royal Lodge, where he now lives, in the early 2000s), and partly to the mounting expense of his bruising legal battle with Jeffrey Epsteins victim Virginia Giuffre, which he settled (with no admission of liability) for a reported 12million a few months back. Even the purchase of his swanky Verbier holiday home, Chalet Helora, bought in 2014 for roughly 18million, wasnt all that it seemed. In 2020, I revealed that about 13million of its purchase price was raised via a mortgage, while the remaining 5million came via a loan from Isabelle de Rouvre, a French socialite who was the propertys previous owner. They secretly agreed that Andrew and his ex-wife would pay back 6.7million (representing the cash, plus interest) by the end of 2019. When the deadline came and went, with no money forthcoming, Miss de Rouvre launched a legal action in Switzerland to recover the loot. Now the chalet has been sold, and the Dukes financial transactions are once more being pored over in court. But with his reputation firmly in the mud, it remains to be seen whether the mysterious foreigners in his royal Rolodex will be quite so generous in future. A groom in Australia almost spent his wedding day in hospital after breaking his back in three places at a welcome party just days before he was to tie the knot. Stacey and Andrew Mouritz, 30, wed on May 22, 2021, in front of 106 guests at The Billi Resort in Broome, Western Australia after 11 years together. The couple, originally from Perth, decided on a destination north of the capital city and invited friends and family to arrive two days before the wedding. Stacey and Andrew Mouritz, 30, tied the knot on May 22, 2021, after 11 years together, celebrating with 106 guests at The Billi Resort in Broome, Western Australia Andrew immediately began moving after the accident but did mention that he was in a fair amount of pain, so they decided to take him to hospital 'All of our guests met up for a pre-wedding welcome party,' Stacey said of that fateful Thursday night. 'At the end of the night, a couple of the groomsmen, Andrew and I made our way back to the resort and after a long day... Andy wanted to have a "bombie contest" in the pool, but ended up falling backwards off of a water feature about 2.5m high off the ground.' Andrew immediately began moving after the accident but did mention that he was in a fair amount of pain, so they decided to take him to hospital. 'But Broome being a small town, we had to wait until the next morning for the x-ray technician to start work and for him to be scanned. Unfortunately being a small hospital we weren't able to get an MRI,' Stacey said. In fact, there were three stabilised fractures - which was confirmed after their wedding with an MRI - but Andrew wasn't about to miss the biggest day of his life 'Luckily, as the fracture was a stabilised fracture, the doctors were happy for him to move around (carefully) as long as he felt comfortable,' Stacey explained 'In the meantime they did some spine injury tests, and we just had to wait. That was the worst part, it was the longest night of our lives. 'The scans were sent to Perth for a spine specialist to review and the x-ray showed a stabilised fracture to his spine.' There were actually three stabilised fractures - which was confirmed after their wedding with an MRI - but Andrew wasn't about to miss the biggest day of his life. 'Luckily, as the fracture was a stabilised fracture, the doctors were happy for him to move around (carefully) as long as he felt comfortable,' Stacey explained. The couple's wedding day went off without a hitch and Andrew was able to enjoy standing by his bride's side pain-free 'Almost all of our family and friends made the trip up so we felt very lucky to be surrounded by all of our loved ones. We loved every bit of the day, but knowing Andy was okay, and sharing our vows is definitely at the top,' Stacey said 'Andrew was adamant that he was okay and wanted to be discharged so with the help of some pain medication, we left the hospital on Friday afternoon.' The couple's wedding day went off without a hitch and Andrew was able to enjoy standing by his bride's side pain-free. 'Almost all of our family and friends made the trip up so we felt very lucky to be surrounded by all of our loved ones. We loved every bit of the day, but knowing Andy was okay, and sharing our vows is definitely at the top,' Stacey said. 'In the few months after the accident we just had to try to rest Andrew as much as possible. He has no lasting damage, luckily, and isn't needing any pain management.' Drinking too much coffee can make you jittery, interfere with sleep and could increase the risk of diseases such as dementia and glaucoma, but as well as potential health risks, it can also wreak havoc with how you look too. Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, founder of The Aesthetics Clinic, which is based in London, Leeds and Manchester has revealed how caffeine in high doses can affect the face and make you look older. Speaking on behlaf of Lenstore, he said that caffeine in small doses, such as one to two cups of coffee a day can be very good for wellbeing, mood and energy levels, but any more than that and it starts having a 'detrimental effect' on our bodies. This could include blurred vision, muscle aches and insomnia, and a visible impact on your skin from dehydration. Experts has revealed exactly what happens to your face when you consume too much caffeine, with issues such as insomnia and muscle tremors Dry skin Caffeine, like alochol, is a diuretic and while you might find yourself 'gasping' for a cup to quench your thirst, it will leave you more dehydrated in the long run because it causes you to urinate more often. And of course dehydration is not a recipe for glowing, plump skin. Dr Ahmed also points out that in high doses caffeine causes vasoconstriction, which means it shrinks the blood vessels in the body. This can lead to the skin being a little more on the dry side. Physical symptoms that indicate you're drinking too much coffee HEADACHES A big issue with caffeine is that it can create a physical dependency, and withdrawal symptoms will begin within one of two days after your stop consuming it. These consist mainly of headaches, nausea and insomnia and typically affect one in two people. Headaches happen because caffeine narrows the blood vessels around your brain and when you stop taking it these vessels expand again and your pain will come back. Dr Ahmed says the 'vasoconstricting effects,' can lead to migraines, which are 'one of the most common types of headache' that people with a high caffeine intake experience. DIZZINESS The aesthetics doctor says that because of high blood pressure, often associated with caffeine, people can get headaches more frequently. These headaches don't always have to lead to migraines but can also make people feel 'quite lightheaded' and on the edge, which can 'affect breathing.' When the breath is compromised you are more at risk of hyperventilating, also making you feel more anxious. Like other stimulants such as tobacco, caffeine reduces blood flow to the brain, which will also cause sensations of dizziness and wooziness from the overconsumption of coffee. IRRITABILITY, CONFUSION & HALLUCINATIONS Caffeine can trigger a number of emotions, from irritability to anger and confusion. Both consuming it and having withdrawal from it can cause a number of reactions from finding it difficult to concentrate and even feeling depressed. Dr Ahmed says that irritability is very common with high levels of cortisol and caffeine. He goes on to explain that confusion or hallucinations will occur with extremely high levels of caffeine that borderline cause dysfunctions in your organs. Overconsumption of coffee can see the body become more stressed, and as a result of high adrenaline levels, can cause you to become confused or even hallucinate. Brain fog is also a common symptom people experience from the withdrawal of caffeine, and whilst it is experienced by many, it is still unhealthy and maybe a sign you need to cut back. If you are noticing that your mental health is being affected, it is important to speak to your GP. BLURRED VISION Excessive consumption of caffeine can see a sudden increase in your blood sugar levels, which can lead to blurred vision, eye spasms and potentially a burning or tingling sensation in your eye area. Drinking too much caffeine can also cause the eyes to tingle and burn, a sensation that's certainly not comfortable, especially during your workday. Research shows that there is a direct correlation between people who drink three or more cups of coffee per day and their chance for developing glaucoma. It is advised that you get regular eye exams to take care of your eye health. You can also talk to your optician or doctor about whether to limit caffeine based on your eye pressure. Advertisement If you have open sores or inflammation these can take longer to heal too. Hormone specialist Dr Sophie Shotter recommends drinking an extra glass of water for each cup of coffee you drink (including decaf) to make sure your skin doesn't dry out. Acne and breakouts and sagging skin caused by high stress levels Caffeine triggers the release of adrenaline, which is the 'fight or flight' hormone associated with increased energy. When we overdose on caffeine, these effects become heightened and can cause us to feel nervous, anxious, and jittery. High levels of caffeine boost adrenaline level, which increases your blood pressure and causes stress on the body. The aesthetics doctor says that the 'more caffeine you drink the more it puts your body in a state of stress' and as a response the kidneys produce cortisol, which is the stress hormone. Hormone specialist Dr Sophie Shotter says that there is a 'direct correlation' between cortisol production and the negative effects on the skin because cortisol increases oil production on the skin's surface - causing blocked pores and acne. She says that cortisol causes collagen breakdown in the skin, which could also accelerate sagging. Dry eyes So many of us use caffeine as a means to stay alert and awake - but what happens when we are SO awake that we can't actually get to sleep? Dr Ahmed says that by being more alert and stressed this will lead to reduced sleep and 'by definition' could lead to more anxiety. A third of people (33 percent) have admitted that caffeine makes it difficult for them to fall asleep at night. It's important to be conscious of the time you are having caffeine to ensure it doesn't interfere with your sleeping patterns and recovery, with research showing it can stay in your system for up to nine hours. Insomnia can lead to dry eyes, which if this is the case is important to lubricate with eye drops and avoid wearing contact lenses if possible until the symptom reduces. TWITCHING EYES Because it is a stimulant, too much of your favourite cuppa can cause your muscles to twitch or spasm. This can present itself in the form of an eye twitch or trembling hands. While this is often only a fleeting feeling, it may be a sign that you need to reduce your caffeine consumption. Dr Ahmed says that caffeine 'causes the muscles to become tighter and tenser.' He says that the tenser they are the more likely the muscle is to spasm. He compares this to getting a cramp - it's not a hard spasm but more along the lines of 'fine tremor like spasm.' HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Whilst caffeine overall does not appear to increase your risk of heart disease, it has been shown to raise your blood pressure according to several studies. Lenstore conducted a study, which showed that more than a quarter (26 percent) of respondents' heart rate increased after consuming caffeine. Dr Ahmed explains that by increasing your heart rate you also increase your blood pressure. He refers back to the fact that caffeine also makes kidneys produce cortisol, which also increases blood pressure. Therefore there your blood pressure could be effects by two different facts - both of which have the same cause. It is advised that you should carefully monitor your caffeine intake if you already suffer from high blood pressure, as high levels can put you at a greater risk of a heart attack or stroke. You may also see an impact on your skin, because high blood pressure can be a cause of psoriasis. Because of high blood pressure, often associated with caffeine, people can get headaches more frequently INCREASED EYE PROBLEMS Dr Ahmed says that with an increased caffeine intake having high blood pressure and high heart rate it can also lead to issues with vision such as double vision, tunnel vision and blurriness. This is because caffeine can affect the blood vessels in the eyes. He explains that high blood pressure can damage the tiny blood vessels that supply blood to the eyes, which as a result can cause a number of eye problems. This can include retinopathy, where your retina becomes damaged and can lead to blurred vision, bleeding in the eye and even complete sight loss in some severe cases. High blood pressure can also cause nerve damage, which can impact your ability to see, as well as a fluid buildup in the retina known as choroidopathy, which can impair your vision as well. Lenstore say that studies have revealed a connection between those consuming large amounts of caffeine each day and their risk of glaucoma (this is being seen as a risk for those with a genetic predisposition to higher eye pressure). Glaucoma can have a number of symptoms including red eye, eye pain, seeing rings around lights, blurred vision and blindness if left untreated. The Pentagon's fiscal year 2023 budget keeps hypersonic-speed attack weapons as a top development goal. According to documents disclosed to reporters on March 28, the Department of Defense requested $4.7 billion in research, development, test, and evaluation funds for multiple programs. On Monday, US President Joe Biden issued a US$5.8 trillion budget plan focused on addressing America's security and economic problems, with an eye toward Russia's war in Ukraine and the competitive challenges offered by China. US 2023 Budget Plan Includes Development of Hypersonic Weapons For the fiscal year 2023, the budget requests $813.3 billion in national security expenditure, with $773 billion going to the Pentagon - more than $30 billion more than Congress approved this year. A third of the Pentagon's budget would be spent on investment, such as weapons purchases and research. A total of $135 billion would be spent on improving military readiness, and the United States nuclear triad, which includes land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, bombers, and nuclear-armed submarines, would receive a $34.4 billion boost. A total of $60.4 billion is requested for the State Department and US Aid for International Development in the budget. Their top goals are $1.6 billion for Ukraine and $4 billion to strengthen US alliances and leadership to compete successfully with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Russia. For its manufacturing innovation and commercialization programs, the National Institute of Standards and Technology stands to collect US$372 million, South China Post reported In February, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hosted more than a dozen executives from the hypersonics industry as a demonstration of the Pentagon's commitment to speeding up the development of hypersonic weapons systems, which the department considers a technology priority as it tries to keep up with China and Russia. The executive roundtable was officially part of a series of engagements focusing on the Pentagon's priority technological development sectors, including hypersonics, that Heidi Shyu, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, highlighted in a Feb. 1 memo. She announced that she will craft a new national defense science and technology strategy, which will be influenced by the yet-to-be-released 2022 National Defense Strategy. She highlighted three groups of 14 technology areas and announced that she will craft a new national defense science and technology strategy. Shyu put hypersonics in the defense-specific category, stating that strategic competitors, such as China and Russia, have already deployed such capabilities and that the Pentagon "will develop leap-ahead and cost-effective technologies for our air, land, and sea operational forces." Shyu's 14 important technology sectors generally coincide with the 19 critical and emerging technologies listed by the National Science and Technology Council on February 7. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy produced the list, which was created to highlight advanced technologies that are important to US national security and to guide efforts to promote US technical leadership. Read Also: China Rapidly Ramps Up Military Forces as US Troops Held Over 100 Drills Near Beijing in 2021 US Aims a Five-Year Defense Plan This top-level drive for the Defense Department to refocus on hypersonic weapons systems comes even though officials admit there are still unanswered issues regarding the overall cost, mission, and necessary number of US hypersonic weapons, as per Arms Control. The Defense Department stated in its budget documents for 2023 that it intends to field hypersonic weapons within the five-year defense plan. By the fiscal year 2023, there would be a land-based hypersonic missile battery, hypersonic weapons onboard DDG 1000 destroyers by the fiscal year 2025, and a hypersonic cruise missile by the fiscal year 2027. The US Navy (USN) will spearhead the development of a common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB) for use on hypersonic weapon programs across the services, according to the Pentagon. The Alternate Re-Entry System, created by Sandia National Laboratories and the US Army, is the basis for the common glide vehicle. The US Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program will get $1.205 billion in 2023, down from USD1.374 billion in 2022 but still more than USD1.008 billion in 2021. The CPS program is developing a missile with the C-HGB and a 34.5 in a two-stage rocket that might be used to equip the US Navy's Virginia Payload Module and DDG 1000 ships, according to Janes. Related Article: South Korea's Cheolmae II Surface-to-Air Missile System Gets Upgrades for Better Performance After North Korea's Recent Launch @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A mother who was born without arms has revealed how she's adapted to looking after her toddler, using her feet to cook and clean. Belgian artist Sarah Talbi, from Brussels has learned to live without her arms since birth, and has shared a glimpse of how she cares for her three-year-old daughter Lilia, by using her feet to do things like washing and dressing her. To get Lilia out of her crib, Sarah has taught her daughter to put her arms around her neck and she uses her core strength to lift her out and place her on the floor. The mother-of-one cooks by sitting on top of a stool in front of her worktop, holding the knife with one foot and the vegetables with the others. But she told FEMAIL that she used to be really scared she would hurt her daughter when she was a newborn, because she was so 'disconcertingly fragile.' Belgian artist Sarah Talbi, from Brussels has learned to live without her arms since birth, and has shared a glimpse of how she cares for her three-year-old daughter Lilia Sarah has learned to use her chore strength and her feet in order to complete tasks around the home and look after Lilia, including dressing her for school Sarah admitted she never planned to speak about her personal life on her Youtube channel, where she discusses her art, but started doing so after some of her followers voiced questions about how she and her husband coped with Lilia. Now, the artist counts more than 274,000 followers on her channel who tune it to learn more about her art, but also her life. 'It's crazy and quiet incredible that so many people are subscribed to my Youtube channel,' she said. 'Today I find it interesting that disability is showcased and de-dramatised. The mother-of-one can chop vegetables and cook meals from scratch for her family using her feet 'I like to share, and show that my life is as normal as anyone else's. I think my followers understand that, all-in-all, my life and theirs are not so different,' she added. She said she's spoken about her disability with her daughter. 'My disability is not taboo and Lilia understands it very well. I am myself very surprised at how naturally she acts around my handicap, as if it is just a detail. 'She says, "Mum doesn't have arms, but she has feet" or "Some people have arms and some don't". Sarah said she has spoken of her disability with Lilia and that it is not 'taboo.' She added that her daughter sees no issue with the fact she does not have arms The artist admitted looking after her daughter has gotten easier over time. When Lilia was a newborn, she was afraid of hurting her 'She sees this are something different but nothing more,' the mother-of-one said. While she's faced some challenges, Sarah said her husband is a present dad who is there to share the load. 'First or all, I am not raising my daughter alone, she has a very good dad who is very involved,' she said. But Lilia's early days were a challenge for Sarah who had to figure out motherhood with a disability. 'The challenges were bigger during the first three months when a baby is disconcertingly fragile,' Sarah said. 'I was very scared of hurting my baby, so her dad took over a lot. People have complimented Sarah on her parenting and on her inspirational video, saying her love for her daughter can 'conquer all challenges' 'It was very difficult because as a mother, you want that direct link. I never have any issue asking for help when it comes to my disability, but asking for help when it comes to my baby was hard to bear,' she added. Sarah explained she was able to change Lilia's nappies using her toes, however, she relied on her husband to take her out of her crib until Lilia was old enough to cling to her neck. 'But on the other hand, it was her dad, and he also had the right to look after his baby. Over the years, it has become easier for Sarah to look after Lilia by herself. 'From the sixth months, Lilia went from newborn to baby, and things were easier around the house, though I still needed help with the pushchair,' she said. Sarah has demonstrated how she uses her feet to cook at home, holding a knife with one foot and the veggies with the others The mother-of-one has also shared in a video how she has learned how to work a pan on an electrical hob 'Now she's three, and I can look after her without any help. We can go out for strolls without anybody having to push the chair or other. It's real bliss,' she added. On her Youtube channel, Sarah has shared several videos where she is seen looking after her daughter. Lilia is able to get herself out of bed by holding herself up and hang on to her mother's shoulders while Sarah crouches and moves away from the bed. Sarah is very dexterous with her toes, and she is able to pick up knives herself, holding it between her big toe and her index toe. She is also able to use her foot to cook on a pan, holding the pan's handle with her toe and the spatula with the other. The mother also knows how to knead dough with her toes to make delicious pastries for her family. Sarah washes by herself, using her foot to scrub the soap, and has learned to apply makeup, including mascara, with her feet, and also demonstrated how she can put on her own bra. In order to do so, the mother-of-one closes the bra using her toes, then gets her head through it and uses her toe to drag it down her chest until it falls into position. In another video, the mother shows how she takes her daughter to the park. Lilia, who is old enough to walk, holds on to her mother's sleeve when they walk side by side. Sarah opens the park's door with her foot. If Lilia wants to go on the park's swings, Sarah is able to push her lightly with her knee or foot foot. Very little people have targeted or harassed Sarah online. 'I receive very little negative or harassing messages. I often think that mean people see in me the difficulties they themselves cannot overcome in their daily lives,' she said. 'I can't resent them,' she added. Speaking of what she hopes her channel can achieve, the mother-of-one said she wants to show: 'that's being different is not a problem and that we can all live the life we've decided to build for ourselves.' Until recently, Nicola Walker was one of those actors you would recognise immediately but not necessarily be able to put a name to. By nature, she is modest and unassuming, and the roles she takes reflect her demeanour nuanced characters whose understatement is the very thing that makes them stand out. But after her performance in the hugely popular crime drama series Unforgotten, in which she played inscrutable DCI Cassie Stuart, and her twice BAFTA-nominated portrayal of Yorkshire farmer Gillian in Sally Wainwrights Last Tango In Halifax, Nicola is now a bona fide primetime TV star. Pictured left to right: Nina, Hannah, Rose. The Split, a legal drama set in the high-end world of divorce returns for its final series She also features in The Split, a legal drama set in the cut-throat world of high-end divorce courts, which has been a hit over the last two electrifying series. Now returning to our screens, the highly anticipated farewell series promises to be the most explosive yet as Nicolas character, divorce lawyer Hannah Stern, faces the trauma of her own separation with her dream of having a good divorce left in tatters. The cult show, one of the most watched dramas on BBC iPlayer, follows the messy lives of three sisters Hannah, Nina (Annabel Scholey) and Rose (Fiona Button) and their formidable mother Ruth Defoe (Deborah Findlay) as they navigate bitter legal wrangles for their London divorce law firm Noble Hale Defoe. This final series is set ten months after Hannah and her husband Nathan (Stephen Mangan) called time on their seemingly rock solid marriage with the disclosure of Hannahs affair (Nathan also cheated via an extra-marital dating site). Now the two lawyers are negotiating their own split, but a shocking revelation raises the stakes and Hannah realises just how much she could lose. Hannah gets very involved with her clients and that makes her good at her job, says Nicola, whos married to fellow actor Barnaby Kay, with whom she has a 15-year-old son, Harry. Shes always talked about the potential for a good divorce, that it doesnt always have to be a fight. 'Our writer, Abi Morgan, is using a show about divorce to talk about love, and how complicated it is to commit to each other. The shows given me a peek behind the curtain of the divorce world, but I dont want to experience it in real life thank you very much. She admits she was out of her comfort zone playing sharp-dressing adulterous lawyer Hannah. The scripts are incredible but I thought, Theres no way Im going to get this job. 'Id never played that woman a woman so successful and seemingly so together. I was coming fromtrying to fix a tractor in an old mans shirt in Last Tango, so I gave them the names of five actresses who could do the role, she laughs. Its a good ending you wont be disappointed Then when I got the job, I found it daunting the slick wardrobe and the manicures. I found all of that difficult to begin with. 'It took until season two for me to start thinking, OK, Ive got Hannahs professional armour on. Thats her. It was weird after lockdown going back into these tailored clothes and high heels again. But thats a superpower I now have I dont know if anyone will want me to look like that again, but I can do it. 'Just dont take off the heels or youll never get them back on! As Hannah confronts her own separation, adding fuel to the fire is the return of her former lover Christie (Barry Atsma). This role gives people license to have strong opinions, say Nicola. Stephen Mangan (pictured) plays lawyer Nathan. This final series is set ten months after Hannah and her husband Nathan called time on their seemingly rock solid marriage with the disclosure of Hannahs affair One woman shouted from the other side of the train tracks, You shouldve done my divorce! I replied, Yes, I couldve got you a huge settlement. Others have shouted things like, I cant believe what Nathan did to you! This series is a very bumpy ride. Hannah has hit rock bottom so, for me, it was really interesting to play someone whos got to look at herself in the mirror before she leaves for work every day. 'And shes beginning to understand what being honest to everyone really means. It was fantastic actually, as I like playing people with ordinary human failings. 'When Im reading the script I think, Oh, what is she doing? Shes not always completely appealing and thats whats appealing about playing her. While Nicola, 51, admits she put off having children until her mid 30s as she was terrified of not being able to work again, Fiona Button, who plays youngest sister Rose, was able to bring her own daughter Fordy to work to play the part of a baby Rose was looking after in series one. I should have been a lawyer Had Annabel Scholey not made it as an actor, she could have become a lawyer. I did consider it briefly. At the beginning of series one, some of the cast and I met a top divorce lawyer in her office a big skyscraper with glass doors. She was in a pale pink twinset with immaculate blonde hair. 'She had two children and she looked very gentle but my God, you could tell that underneath she was cutthroat. 'She taught us how to speak more like lawyers and to look clients directly in the eye and that as soon as you come into the room, you turn on your clock and start making money. 'When I was filming as Nina in my beautiful corner office with a view of St Pauls, I did think, Oh my God, why didnt I do this instead of acting? Advertisement My daughter is about the same age as The Split, says Fiona, who married writer Henry Fleet in 2014. She was nine weeks old when I got the job, and I thought itd be great to bring her to work. But even though the production team were really supportive, I couldnt do two jobs at once act and be a mum. I couldnt perform a scene as Rose when Fordy kept looking into the camera, which youre not supposed to do. 'Normally, mothers whose babies are in the cast wouldnt be worried about that, but I was because I know its wrong. So it was actually a bit of a disaster! Unlike her sisters and mother, Rose doesnt work for the family law firm, but she has her own challenges. In the final series we see how, after her miscarriage, Rose and her husband have realised its not going to be possible for them to conceive naturally and, at the start of episode one, they make the decision to adopt, explains Fiona, 38. It was helpful being a mother to understand what Rose has been through in terms of fertility, and to understand that shes missing all the amazing things that being a mother has brought to me. But in true Rose fashion, shes having last minute doubts about adopting. Shes going through a pretty huge change where you see her true colours and she grows up. 'Perhaps shes the strongest of all three of them. She doesnt have the high-powered job and the fancy suits, but shes made of tough stuff. Annabel Scholeys character Nina is the wild child of the family, often late and up to no good both in and out of work. Shes definitely on a roller coaster, says Annabel, 38. Weve seen her at her worst. Weve seen her drinking heavily, shoplifting for the fun of it and dating clients while being a commitmentphobe. 'When she finally dedicated herself to Rex Pope, it was a step in the right direction, but that didnt happen. Then she realised she was pregnant. Im drawn to characters who have a crisis going on 'She stopped drinking and almost had an abortion, but then decided she couldnt do it. Shes in a more grown up place at the start of series three. I was auditioning for Rose, but when I read the script I just thought, Im not her. Im not 100 per cent Nina either but I love how she has all these difficulties and how shes an open book in many ways. 'Im always drawn to characters whove got some kind of crisis going on. I think you have to have a little bit in common in order to really get insight. 'In the final series, we see Nina trying to deal with being a high-flying lawyer and having a newborn baby. Its not often shown on TV, but its seriously difficult. I went back to work on The Split with my three-month-old baby, Marnie, whos now three years old. So I can understand that feeling of chaos as theres still an expectation, even in 2022, to try to look like nothing has changed. 'Youve got to look as if youre gliding like a swan when underneath youre paddling like mad. I can identify with that, but I dont have a drink problem thank goodness! 'Nina doesnt know whether she can be a good mother, so thats an interesting journey shes on. Without the likes of Annabel, Nicola and Fiona, we wouldnt be able to peek into the world of divorce law. Despite its acrimonious twists and turns, Nicola promises an ending that viewers will be satisfied with. Like everyone else over the last couple of years, Ive watched a lot of drama, and sometimes you find yourself thinking after the last 20 minutes, I dont know if that ending was fulfilling. I dont think youre going to be disappointed with the finale of The Split. Its a good one. The Luxembourg royal family has become the latest European monarchy to pledge to provide housing to Ukrainian refugees. Henri, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, 66, and his family will give up private property owned by the Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg to families fleeing the Russian invasion. The Dutch and Belgian royals have already vowed to help house refugees. Prince Charles is said to be considering the possibility of using Dumfries House, in Scotland, for accommodation. Henri, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, centre, and his family (pictured) will give up private property owned by the Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg to Ukrainian refugees Among the properties privately owned by the monarchy is the 11th century Fischbach Castle, pictured, which was bought by the royals in 1847 and was the private home of Grand Duke Henri and his family until his ascension in 2000. Luxembourg, which has a population of 632,275, has already provided refuge to 4,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war. Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel yesterday announced the royal family's intention. Among the properties privately owned by the monarchy is the 11th century Fischbach Castle, which was bought by the royals in 1847 and was the private home of Grand Duke Henri and his family until his ascension in 2000. It is understood to have recently been home to Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie. Meanwhile King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands have offered to provide housing for up to 30 Ukrainian refugees in 15th Century castle Het Oude Loo, which is located on the estate of Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Netherlands confirmed in March that apartments managed by the Royal Donation, which manages the royal family's property portfolio, would be used to home three families. Last year, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde housed some of those who lost their homes in flooding. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, pictured, have offered to provide housing for up to 30 Ukrainian refugees The Dutch royal family have set aside 15th Century castle Het Oude Loo, pictured, which is located on the estate of Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn In March it was reported that British royals are also considering plans to open some of their homes to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the horrors of war. Aides to the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William are understood to be examining a range of 'practical measures', including the possibility of jobs and training courses, as well as providing accommodation. Charles is said to be looking at finding spaces on his Dumfries House estate in Ayrshire as well as sites across his Duchy of Cornwall holdings, which include a number of holiday homes. The Queen's Balmoral estate on Royal Deeside and Sandringham in Norfolk, which are both private and not funded by the taxpayer, could also provide space in holiday-rental cottages and offer temporary tourism-related and hospitality jobs. Charles is said to be looking at finding spaces on his Dumfries House estate in Ayrshire as well as sites across his Duchy of Cornwall holdings, which include a number of holiday homes. Pictured, Prince Charles outside Dumfries House in Ayrshire A source told The Mail on Sunday: 'All the households are united in this the Queen, Charles and William with all three agreed that they should find a practical way to help Ukrainian refugees. 'It means looking at accommodation options in England, including the Duchy of Cornwall, where Charles has a lot of holiday homes, and Scotland, where he has Dumfries House and the Queen has her Balmoral estate.' The Queen, Charles and his wife Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have all donated to a coalition of 15 British charities working on the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine appeal. Charles and William have also spoken out in support of Ukrainians resisting Russian aggression, but it is understood they are keen to do more as Britons prepare to welcome refugees under the Government's Homes for Ukraine scheme. An insider at Dumfries House said the Prince's Foundation, a charity that manages the 2,000-acre estate, was actively looking at how it could help Ukrainians with work, courses and accommodation. A collection of the Queen's outfits are set to go on display at Balmoral Castle as part of an exhibition to mark the monarch's Platinum Jubilee. The clothing, which includes kilts as well as coats, hats, and dresses, will feature in the Life at Balmoral exhibition, which will be on show in the castle ballroom between 1st April 1 and 2nd August this year. Images launched ahead of the event show assistant curator Sarah Hoare adjusting some of the ensembles give a sneak peek of what will be on view, revealing that one of the Queen's trademark looks - a brightly coloured yellow frock coat and hat - will feature. The canary outfit was worn by the monarch in 2017, as she attended the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Racecourse. A selection of Her Majesty's outfits will be on view during an exhibition at Balmoral Castle that opens on April 1st, and marks the monarch's 70 years on the throne. Here she is pictured wearing one of the outfits at Epsom Racecourse in June 2017 One of the Queen's trademark brightly coloured frock coats and hat ensembles (far right) will be on show, alongside kilts and other outfits In addition to the clothing display, it will also feature a contemporary art installation - marking the first time modern art has been shown at the Castle. The installation, Salmon School, created by artist Joseph Rossano, consists of 250 mirrored glass forms, suspended in the air to look like a school of wild salmon. It aims to highlight the plight of wild salmon and the importance of salmon conversation, as climate change and biodiversity loss threaten their existence in the wild. Mr Rossano said: 'The Salmon School is an international collaborative performance project that contextualises the finality of a seemingly infinite resource. 'A synthesis of art and science, the Salmon School fosters environmental awareness, bringing together diverse communities for a greater good - cold, clean water. 'Embracing art's ability to disarm, to make something beautiful - a sculpture mimicking an ideal, a restored ecosystem - the project achieves measurable change through its actions and initiatives.' Assistant curator Sarah Hoare prepares the outfits ahead of the 'Life At Balmoral' exhibition, which will run from April 1st to August 2nd this year Final tweaks: assistant curator Sarah Hoare puts the last minute touches to one of the outfits on show at the event Balmoral Castle (pictured) in Aberdeenshire, and its 50,000 acre country estate, is much-beloved by the Queen who spends her Summers there First conceived and shown in the Pacific Northwest in the US, Salmon School was then shown at Cop26, the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November 2021. Salmon conservation work has been supported by the Queen, the Royal Family and the Balmoral Estate on the River Dee over the last 170 years. The Balmoral Estate works closely with the River Dee Trust to deliver practical salmon restoration to help protect the endangered fish. Most recently, across Deeside, the River Dee Trust and Dee District Salmon Fishery Board have introduced a One Million Trees campaign to plant riverbank trees, to help restore the Dee and save its salmon. The Castle Bathroom will host the Life at Balmoral exhibition, celebrating the Platinum Jubilee. A modern installation 'The Salmon School' (pictured) is part of the show First time: the exhibition marks the first time contemporary art, in the form of The Salmon School (pictured) created by artists Joseph Rossano (pictured) has been shown at Balmoral The artwork (pictured) aims to highlight the plight of wild salmon and the importance of salmon conversation Trees are said to have multiple benefits in helping wild salmon to thrive, including providing shade over the water, nourishment through leaves and insects, and helping to stabilise the riverbanks to prevent erosion. In the last five years, the Balmoral Estate has planted 300,000 trees along the River Dee. The work to protect wild salmon also includes using windblown trees to create large wooden structures in the rivers on the estate, to offer a variety of salmon habitats, which in turn give shelter from bad weather and trap nutrients. Small wooden dams have also been created in the estate's smaller streams to help river flows in times of flood and drought. A doctor has advised redheads to always tell their anesthesiologist if their color is natural or not, explaining that true redheads require more anesthesia to be sedated. Dr. Kunal Sood, 35, from Maryland, was inspired by TikTok user Kaela Gordon's viral video in which she used a filter to show what she would look like if she dyed her dark brown hair red. The anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist stitched the clip and turned it into an educational moment for his 1.3 million followers. 'If this not-so-shy girl ever required anesthesia, she should make sure to tell her anesthesiologist this is not her natural red hair color,' he said. 'This is because patients with naturally red hair require on average 20 percent more anesthesia.' Dr. Kunal Sood, 35, from Maryland, shared an educational TikTok video explaining why redheads should always tell their anesthesiologist if their color is natural or not The anesthesiologist was inspired by TikTok user Kaela Gordon's video in which she used a filter to show what she would look like with red hair 'If this not-so-shy girl ever required anesthesia, she should make sure to tell her anesthesiologist this is not her natural red hair color,' he said in his stitched clip Sood noted in the comments that doctors know to ask, explaining he was just sharing the information as a precaution. 'Even if we are not aware about red hair, we will be able to tell your anesthetic requirements based on your vital signs,' he wrote. '[But] knowing before helps [us] prepare.' Red hair is the rarest natural hair color in humans, occurring in less than two percent of the population. It is produced by a mutation in the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene, which controls the production of melanin. Melanocortin-1 receptors appear in the midbrain where pain perception is regulated, and there is evidence that people with naturally red hair perceive pain differently than others. Sood explained that 'patients with naturally red hair require on average 20% more anesthesia' to be sedated Ben Kim, a dentist in Texas, stitched Sood's video to add that redheads should also divulge their real hair color before undergoing dental procedures Kim's video has been viewed more than 1.1 million times and has received plenty of comments from surprised TikTokers Studies have shown that natural redheads need about 20 percent more anesthesia to be sedated, according to UCI Health. Ben Kim, a dentist in Texas, stitched Sood's video to add that redheads should also divulge their real hair color before undergoing dental procedures. 'Same thing with dentists you need to let us know,' he said. 'Thanks.' Many redheads have a fear of dentists because they also need more local topical anesthetics, such as lidocaine or Novocain, according to the American Dental Association. Kim's video has been viewed more than 1.1 million times and has received plenty of comments from surprised TikTokers. WHY DO REDHEADS NEED MORE ANESTHESIA TO BE SEDATED? Red hair is the rarest natural hair color in humans, occurring in less than two percent of the population. It is produced by a mutation in the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene, which controls the production of melanin. Melanocortin-1 receptors appear in the midbrain where pain perception is regulated, and there is evidence that people with naturally red hair perceive pain differently than others. Studies have shown that natural redheads need about 20 percent more anesthesia to be sedated. They require lower doses of pain-killing analgesics, such as opioids. They easily detect changes in hot and cold temperatures. They may be less sensitive to electric shock, needle pricks, and stinging pain on the skin. They also need more local topical anesthetics, such as lidocaine or Novocain, according to the American Dental Association. Source: UCI Health Advertisement 'WHY DO I KEEP FINDING OUT MEDICAL STUFF FROM TIKTOK AND NOT MY DAMN DOCTOR???' one person asked. 'Shouldn't the anesthesiologist be trained to ask this?' someone else asked. 'If they see red hair on someone they should know to ask.' 'Listen I'll color my hair just to get 20% more. I love couponing,' another joked. There were also some natural redheads who opened up about their own sedation horror stories. 'Is that why I woke up during wisdom teeth removal?' one TikToker asked, while another shared: 'I have natural red hair and they weren't probably informed... We both learned that day.' 'THIS IS SO TRUE! Im a nurse and every true red head ALWAYS need more anesthesia or pain relief,' someone else insisted. An outraged shopper has slammed Woolworths after claiming her online grocery order worth almost $200 was dumped outside her house and left unattended. Sydney mum-of-two Rea complained to the official Woolworths Facebook page, stating she couldn't believe what she found. Images posted online show several plastic bags filled with food simply waiting on the street outside the busy mum's house. Sydney mum-of-two Rea claims her Woolworths home delivery order was left on the street outside her home Images posted online show several plastic bags filled with food simply waiting to be collected. Shocked at what she found, Rea wrote 'anyone' walking by could've claimed the goods for themselves Shocked at what she found, Rea wrote 'anyone' walking by could've claimed the goods for themselves. 'I think your partner delivery driver service needs to be reconsidered or given appropriate training on how to deliver groceries to the front door,' she wrote. 'To say I'm annoyed is an understatement. Between a screaming baby, cooking dinner, cleaning and being lucky I hadn't left yet to pick my eldest son up from childcare, I find this. '$190 worth of shopping left in the middle of the footpath for anyone to just take.' In the comments Rea shared a second image along side the statement: 'There were double the amount of bags before I took the photo.' The claims shocked other customers online and many were left in disbelief. 'I'm sorry for laughing but this is an absolute joke. In the middle of the footpath for people to trip over. Are they okay?' one person wrote. A Woolworths spokesperson said the supermarket are investigating the incident. 'We pride ourselves on the service level of our home deliveries and we're disappointed to receive the customer's report,' the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'We've made contact with the customer and are working through an appropriate resolution.' Daily Mail Australia understand Woolworths deliver thousands of online orders to customers nationwide daily. It follows after84-year-old grandma, Doreen, was left embarrassed after her groceries were dumped in the rain 200 metres from her home It follows after an 84-year-old grandma has been left embarrassed and confused when her Woolworths delivery was left 200m from her home, in the pouring rain. By the time it was found it looked like it had been run over by a car, cans and bottles were flattened, chips crumpled and the bread was soggy. Sydney grandma Doreen usually heads to the supermarket with her carer, but they couldn't come this week so her daughter ordered her groceries online. They appeared to have been run over and had made a mess which the staff at the retirement village had to clean up The groceries were also left in the rain, making most of them unsalvageable The family use the service when they can't get shopping to the elderly woman any other way and it 'works most of the time'. But last week's delivery ended up on the other side of the woman's retirement village, in front of a garage and in the rain. Doreen's daughter Sam told FEMAIL the delivery was replaced after she complained to the supermarket giant but that it was 'beside the point'. 'Incidents like this push the price of groceries up for everyone,' she said. Not to mention the incident left the elderly woman very upset. 'She was upset but more upset that staff from the retirement village she lives in had to clean it all up,' she said. Sam posted photos on the retailer's Facebook page showing the damaged items and said the delivery driver 'hung up on her'. 'The driver did call but I could barely hear him and he kept saying unit 15 - I said to go the reception if he was lost but he hung up on me and about two minutes later I got a text saying they had been delivered,' she told FEMAIL. The grandma had no other way to get her groceries delivered as her carer couldn't help out this week In her Facebook post Sam said her mother's unit is 'clearly marked' so she couldn't understand how the driver had made such a big mistake. 'We had to clean up the mess and throw all bags away,' she said. The supermarket giant has replaced the damaged groceries and has launched an investigation into the claims. A Woolworths spokesperson said the delivery was 'disappointing' after issuing an apology for the incident. 'We pride ourselves on the service level of our home delivery option and we're disappointed to have missed the mark on this occasion,' the spokesperson told FEMAIL. 'We've been in contact with the customer to apologise and will be looking into this as a matter of urgency.' The four bags of shopping looked soaked and beyond repair by the time they were found on the opposite side of the retirement village Another shopper was left disappointed after the tubs they prepared for their order were ignored by the driver The daughter thanked Woolworths for the replacement groceries and said she was looking forward to learn the outcome of the supermarket's investigation. Other customers labelled the incident a 'disgrace' and felt for the woman. 'It's not like she can just pop out and grab more. Careless beyond words,' said one woman. Others shared their own delivery fails, including one family whole left tubs with ice packs on their veranda for the delivery. The driver put the bags next to the tubs on the verandah, prompting the customers to complain. Registered nurse and naturopath Madeline Calfas believes a top sheet is a necessity for good hygiene Millennials have all but ditched the idea of making their bed using a top sheet insisting the extra layer of linen is unnecessary and annoying. But six experts including a nurse and interior designers have revealed the benefits outweigh the risk of being 'wrapped up' in a loose fitting top sheet. Speaking with the team at Bed Threads each of the experts revealed they prefer to use a top sheet when making a bed insisting it improves hygiene, aesthetics and comfort. Interior designer Simone Haag likes to use a top sheet to add another splash of colour or appealing texture when styling a room. To her layering colours and textures in a room helps improve its overall aesthetic and make it more comfortable and pleasing to the eye. While registered nurse and naturopath Madeline Calfas believes the top sheet's importance lies in hygiene rather than being a stylistic choice. And unless you wash your doona cover weekly or fortnightly along with the rest of your bedding then a top sheet is a necessity, she explained. Experts have weighed in on the top sheet debate with all six agreeing it is worth adding the extra layer when you make the bed 'Are you able to remember the last time you actually washed your doona cover? The fact of the matter is that while we may wash our sheets on a weekly basis, we dont tend to wash our doonas anywhere near as frequently, which makes them a veritable treasure trove for bedbugs,' she said. 'On top of that, think of how much you might sweat, especially in the summer months. Not having a top sheet means your doona cover is going to absorb that sweat, rather than the top sheet.' Ashleigh Hogan, a Bed Threads customer service member, says she always uses a top sheet. Poll How do you make your bed? I always use a top sheet! I don't use a top sheet! I don't use sheets at all. How do you make your bed? I always use a top sheet! 520 votes I don't use a top sheet! 225 votes I don't use sheets at all. 15 votes Now share your opinion In summer she uses it in place of a heavier covering and in winter she enjoys the extra layer of warmth it offers. Professional organisers Emma Rosham and Michelle Rubi from Tidee both use a top sheet because they believe it adds an element of luxury and comfort to their bedrooms. But if you are trying to de-clutter and find yourself tangled in the sheets at night they say it isn't the end of the world to get rid of the extra layer. They are supportive of both options as long as their clients are choosing the options which offers them the best night sleep. Interior designer Emily MacAlpine says she understands why people prefer to sleep without a top sheet - but she never would. Simone Haag says she likes a top sheet because she finds layering colours and textures to be aesthetically pleasing She can't bear the thought of washing her doona cover every week and enjoys having the covers 'up around her face' when she sleeps. So the top sheet acts as a guard for her doona, which would otherwise be covered in dead skin cells, oil and bacteria and would need to be washed each week. 'On the flip side, I think not having a top sheet means your bed is effortlessly made in seconds and doesnt start to look seriously messy because you dont have a sheet to tuck in,' she said. The top-sheet debate appears to be the most fierce topic on conversation when it comes to bedroom styling, overtaking the age old question of when one should wash their bedding. Australians have revealed how often they wash their bed sheets in an eye-opening survey, with answers ranging from every two days to once a year. Consumer advocacy group CHOICE posed the question of how often was normal for each household to strip the beds on Facebook, asking its followers to 'be honest'. The results differed dramatically, with one woman saying she washes her sheets once a week but her mother insists that every second day is more appropriate. 'I do mine fortnightly. With a large family I'd be forever washing sheets otherwise (and there's already enough clothes keeping me busy),' said a mother. 'Twice a week! Anything less to me is gross with the amount of dead skin cells we shed,' said another. Consumer advocacy group CHOICE posed the question of how often was normal for each household to strip the beds on Facebook 'I have a king size bed and sleep on my own so I sleep on one side of the bed for a week then the other side for the second week before washing,' said one man. Others were less regimented with their washing schedule and made infrequent trips to the laundry room 'They were clean when I bought them. That's all they need,' said one man. According to CHOICE Australians should be washing their sheets once a week, including the pillowcases 'Once a year whether they need it or not,' said another. According to CHOICE Australians should be washing their sheets once a week, including the pillowcases. This prevents a build up of dust mites, which feed off dead skin cells, sweat and seminal fluid. A person sheds on average 1.5 grams of skin each day - and if that's not 'disgusting' enough, that amount of dead skin can feed one million dust mites, Good Housekeeping reported. How often should you be washing your sheets? According to CHOICE Australians should be washing their sheets once a week, including the pillowcases. This prevents a build up of dust mites, which feed off dead skin cells, sweat and seminal fluid. They should be washing on a 'warm' setting rather than cold to kill any germs that might have built up since your last wash. If you find your face is breaking out or you're waking up oilier than usual, wash your pillowcase twice a week. Advertisement Each month the team recommend rotating or flipping your mattress to avoid 'grooves' from forming where you sleep each night Poll How often do you wash your bed sheets? Twice a week Once a week Fortnightly Monthly Yearly How often do you wash your bed sheets? Twice a week 210 votes Once a week 3143 votes Fortnightly 2001 votes Monthly 775 votes Yearly 90 votes Now share your opinion 'Use a mattress protector or mattress topper to protect your mattress from sweat stains,' CHOICE suggested. 'This can pay dividends if you need to make a warranty claim, as excessive staining could see claims refused. Likewise pillow protectors can help keep your pillows at their best.' Each month the team recommend rotating or flipping your mattress to avoid 'grooves' from forming where you sleep each night. During this time it's also important to vacuum the mattress to get rid of dust mites that may live there. Each year should see you assess the mattress for comfortability, and if it's not providing the support you need, getting a new one. A 3-foot-2 woman who is expecting her second child with her 5-foot-9 non-binary spouse has opened up about the cruel comments they've received from online trolls mocking their relationship. Jade, 25, and her partner Todd, 24, from Ohio, defended their marriage on a recent episode of Truly's 'Love Don't Judge,' saying critics have claimed it's inappropriate for a little person to be with someone who is of average height. Todd, who uses they/them pronouns, has also been targeted for being non-binary after appearing in Jade's TikTok videos and live streams. Scroll down for video Jade, 25, and her non-binary partner Todd, 24, from Ohio, defended their marriage on a recent episode of Truly's 'Love Don't Judge.' She is 3-foot-2 while they are 5-foot-9 She explained that online trolls have claimed it's inappropriate for a little person to be with someone who is of average height while comparing her to a child Todd, who uses they/them pronouns, has also been targeted for being non-binary after appearing in Jade's TikTok videos and live streams 'They would get so many negative comments. It was insane,' Jade explained. 'People would be like, "Is that a man or a woman? That's the most androgynous person I've ever seen in my life."' The expectant mom added that many people have taken issue with their height difference because they associate being short with being childlike. Jade has chondrodysplasia, a collection of skeletal disorders characterized by dwarfism and abnormal body proportions. 'I've had people say things like, "I think it's inappropriate for anyone who's average height to be with a person who's small,' she said. 'They're saying like, "They should go to jail" as in comparing me to like a child.' Jade has chondrodysplasia, a collection of skeletal disorders characterized by dwarfism and abnormal body proportions The couple met on Facebook and married eight months later. Before they exchanged vows, they went to a thrift store to get 'cheap little rings' to exchange during their wedding The couple welcomed their son, Jarya, two years ago, and they have another baby on the way Todd believes the people who are attacking their marriage on social media are 'probably just not very happy with themselves.' The couple met on Facebook after Jade noticed Todd's 'long beautiful hair.' 'I had seen Todd's picture in my suggested friends list, and I was like, "Oh, they're kind of cute." I feel like after we met, it was meant to be,' she recalled. 'I was like, "Yes, this is my person."' Eight months into their relationship, they decided to get married. Before they exchanged vows, they went to a thrift store to get 'cheap little rings' to exchange during their wedding. Todd (pictured left as a child) did not identify as non-binary when they were first together. 'I've always kind of felt a little different,' they said 'I realized that maybe non-binary is something that really fit with me once I started learning about it,' Todd explained Jade said she was completely supportive of Todd, saying: 'I let them know that regardless of how you want to identify, I'm still here. I still love you' 'What was most important was that we were there together,' Jade said. Todd did not identify as non-binary when they were first together, but they knew they needed to be honest with Jade about their gender identity. 'I realized that maybe non-binary is something that really fit with me once I started learning about it,' they explained. Jade added that she was completely supportive, saying: 'I let them know that regardless of how you want to identify, I'm still here. I still love you. I think it might have brought us closer together, honestly.' The couple have a two-year-old son, Jarya, and they're excited to welcome their second child this spring. Todd believes the people who are attacking their marriage on social media are 'probably just not very happy with themselves' Jade is now 31 weeks pregnant with their second child, and they are excited to make their son a big brother 'I would say that it doesn't matter your gender, your height, your ability, disability. Love is love, you know?' Jade said Jade, who is now 31 weeks pregnant, sometimes has to use a wheelchair to get around, and she likes documenting her life on social media to give her followers insight into what it's like to live with a disability. However, the level of scrutiny Todd faced on her old accounts led them to shy away from social media. During the episode, Jade filmed a video revealing her partner, which she shared on TikTok. 'I'm excited we finally did it after all this talk of doing it and it's out there,' Todd said. 'I'm excited to see the growth that we get from it.' Despite the criticism they've faced, Jade believes 'love conquers all.' 'I would say that it doesn't matter your gender, your height, your ability, disability. Love is love, you know?' she said. Todd added: 'No matter what, we're gonna do what we want to do and what we think is good for our family.' Products featured in this Mail Best article are independently selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, MailOnline may earn an affiliate commission. Charlotte Tilbury has dropped a new Pillow Talk collection, and it's set to be your new makeup obsession. Following the success of the brand's wildly popular Pillow Talk range - one Pillow Talk product is sold every 10 seconds worldwide - Charlotte Tilbury has created Pillow Talk Party for 2022. The new collection contains everything you'll need to switch up your makeup mood from day to night, from an easy to use eyeshadow stick to emphasise your eyes to a palette packed with four colour-coded shades with prices starting from $37. Calling beauty fans: Charlotte Tilbury has expanded her award-winning, world-famous, Pillow Talk franchise with four new Pillow Talk Party products Famous faces: Supermodel Kate Moss who is the face of the new campaign alongside fellow models Twiggy Lawson and Jourdan Dunn And beauty fans will be able to get their hands on the new Pillow Talk Party products today with products available to buy on charlottetilbury.com. Australian beauty fanatics can also get their hands on the new products in store at MECCA. The Pillow Talk range has a number of celebrity fans, including supermodel Kate Moss who is the face of the new campaign alongside fellow models Twiggy Lawson and Jourdan Dunn. Charlotte Tilbury and Kate Moss' friendship started many moons ago when they were 19, and Kate is now the godmother to Charlotte's children. 'Darlings, in 2013, I launched my original nudey-pink Pillow Talk shade to flatter everyone!' Charlotte said in the official press release for her collection. 'And Darlings, now I have new Pillow Talk for you in 2022! I am revealing more Pillow Talk magic! Introducing my NEW! Pillow Talk Party products to make you feel and look even more amazing!' Model-approved: Charlotte Tilbury and Kate Moss' friendship started many moons ago when they were 19, and Kate is now the godmother to Charlotte's children New icons: The new collection contains everything you'll need to switch up your makeup mood from day to night, from an easy to use eyeshadow stick to emphasise your eyes to a palette packed with four colour-coded shades She added: 'I created these new innovations so that everyone, everywhere can dial up their look with easy-to-choose, easy-to-use beauty secrets that take you from day to date to disco!' The new Pillow Talk Party product line contains four products for you to play around with to create an array of party-ready looks. This includes the iconic Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! in a universally flattering shade of 'berry-brown' and Colour Chameleon in Pillow Talk for one and done bedazzling eye colour. The Pillow Talk story began with the now award-winning Pillow Talk Lip Cheat Liner, which launched in 2013 and is designed to mimic the natural colour of your lips for a fuller, wider looking pout Other standouts include an amplified take on the bestselling Pillow Talk Luxury Palette that houses four hues to create everyday, bold and dramatic looks for nights out and the brand new Pillow Talk Multi-Glow in Dream Light and Romance Light, two highlighting powders to create an instant luminosity. Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Party collection is available online here. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has been spotted wandering Brighton in Melbourne with her long-time best friend Amber Petty and another acquaintance after returning back to Australia to be with her family. The three friends appear relaxed as they chat on the corner in front of Brighton Schoolhouse down St Andrews Street - opposite where Princess Mary and Petty dined for lunch two days ago. The Danish royal opted for a comfortable, casual look wearing blue flared jeans, a white button-up shirt and the small textured-leather Gate shoulder bag from Loewe worth a $3,550. On Wednesday the 50-year-old graced Brighton's The Pantry with her presence as she dined on a light lunch before traipsing down the suburb's main shopping district for some retail therapy - leaving royal fans speechless. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has been spotted wandering Brighton, south-east of Melbourne, with her best friend Amber Petty and another acquaintance Her Royal Highness opted for a comfortable, casual look wearing blue jeans, a white button-up shirt and the small textured-leather Gate shoulder bag from Loewe worth a $3,550 The three friends appear relaxed as they chat on the corner in front of Brighton Schoolhouse down St Andrews Street The princess was first spotted in a cafe and filling up petrol beside Petty in Melbourne on Wednesday. Wearing Chanel ballet flats, a white blouse and high waisted white denim trousers she looked angelic according to onlookers, reports The Herald Sun, pausing to browse in HOSS, Carla Zampatti, Saba and Morrisson. One fan who was in Scanlan Theodore at the time the royal strode in said she walked out with a new designer suit. With only a small security detail and her bridesmaid Petty by her side the surprise visit went unnoticed by plenty of royal fans. On Thursday the friends reunited again, this time in Elwood, where they were seen behind the wheel of a red hatchback filling up the car with petrol With no security and just her bridesmaid Petty (pictured) by her side the surprise visit went unnoticed by plenty of royal fans Princess Mary was on the phone while her best friend Amber Petty drove them around On Thursday the friends reunited again, this time in Elwood, where they were seen behind the wheel of a red hatchback filling up the car with petrol. It is understood by the publication that Princess Mary will fly on to Tasmania, where she was born and raised, to see family before heading back to Denmark. She was last seen publicly at a media competition in Denmark on March 22, just over a week before her Melbourne jaunt. Her last known visit to Australia was in 2017 on another private family holiday. Petty, who has remained close to the royal, saw the beginning of her friend's fairytale romance with Prince Frederik. On March 22 the royal attended a media competition event with Mary Fonden Petty, who has remained close to the royal, saw the beginning of her friend's fairytale romance with Prince Frederik. Pictured in 2008 (right and left) Amber Petty (in bright pink) was a bridesmaid at Princess Mary's nuptials in 2004 In an interview Stellar Magazine in 2021 Petty revealed the Crown Prince and his wife were just like any other couple, but the 'surreal' experience of seeing her best friend fall in love with a prince changed the friendship. Petty tells the magazine: 'For a long time, one of my coping mechanisms with the surreal side of where that friendship went was simply to just anchor it down to the basic human elements of what it was, and is, which is actually just a story of two people falling in love and choosing to do life together.' In her book This Is Not A Love Song Petty discusses attending Princess Mary's wedding but warns that she is scant on details. 'I have tried to honour the reader by sharing some insights, real moments that I love, while also being mindful to honour the private us, and the private her,' she says. The Australian advertising executive, who remains close to Princess Mary, saw the beginning of her friend's fairytale romance with Frederik, 52, which she details in her new book, This Is Not A Love Song. Mary and Frederik are pictured in 2002 Petty tells the magazine: 'For a long time, one of my coping mechanisms with the surreal side of where that friendship went was simply to just anchor it down to the basic human elements of what it was, and is, which is actually just a story of two people falling in love and choosing to do life together.' Pictured in 2004 Petty confirms that Mary has read the book, but 'wouldn't want to say on record how she feels, but I will say she understands the purpose of the book and all relevant details to the overarching theme'. She goes on to call Mary her 'soulmate' and despite the women living in different countries - with Petty based in Australia - they remain close. 'Distance has always been hard, and not knowing when you'll see and hug the people you love again is perhaps harder than ever,' Petty tells Stellar. Love: Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary was 'just' Mary, a marketing manager at an advertisement company, when she met Crown Prince Frederik in a pub in Sydney during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The couple's engagement was made official in October 2003 Romantic: On May 14, 2004, Mary married her Prince in a lavish ceremony attended by royals - and media - from across the globe in Copenhagen Cathedral in the Danish capital 'But I've learnt that we just need to be patient and grateful that we are still alive and healthy, and future memories are still there to be had.' Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary was 'just' Mary, a marketing manager at an advertisement company, when she met Crown Prince Frederik in a pub in Sydney during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Mary, a daughter of two Scottish immigrants, has previously said she 'never dreamed of becoming a princess, I wanted to be a veterinarian,' and did not know who the man who introduced himself as 'Fred' was at first. Sweet: Mary, a daughter of two Scottish immigrants, has previously said she 'never dreamed of becoming a princess, I wanted to be a veterinarian,' and did not know who the man who introduced himself as 'Fred' was at first. Pictured in 2019 The couple embarked upon a long distance relationship, something which in the pre-smartphone app era was confined to emails, phone calls and letters. Despite being spotted together several times in both Denmark and Australia, and Mary moving to Europe in 2001, it was not until April 2003 that Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged their relationship. The couple's engagement was made official with, what else, a press conference in Copenhagen in October 2003. On May 14, 2004, Mary married her Prince in a lavish ceremony attended by royals - and media - from across the globe in Copenhagen Cathedral in the Danish capital. It was described as the ultimate happy fairytale ending with the prince marrying the beautiful commoner, and the guestlist included the Kings and Queens of Sweden, Norway, Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands as Prince Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. The Crown Prince couple are parents to Prince Christian, Princess Isabella and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine. Donald Trump aced the current president by six points in the latest US poll if the election happened soon. Democrats should be bothered by one of the most spectacular drops in voter satisfaction, but US President Joe Biden's act usually follows a perpetual low curve. Many Americans feel what is happening should stop, and the White House has not raised the polls even in the Ukraine conflict. Latest Poll Reveals That Trump Beats Biden A new poll conducted concerning the US election claimed that former Republican President Donald Trump would beat current President Biden easily by six points, reported the Express UK. This same poll by Harvard-CAPS Harris says that the Republicans would thrash Vice President Kamala Harris by an immense 11 points, stated the Diverse Bulletin. Harris would win over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis by two points based on a projected 2024 election. An NBC poll conducted last Sunday shows that President Biden has dipped to the worst level imaginable, and he got thrashed by low numbers in the survey. People were asked who to vote for: Trump or Biden in the 2024 election. The GOP ex-president got 47 percent, while the current POTUS dropped by 41 percent, as many as 12 percent were undecided. Democrats Are Losing Ground When asked if he's going to run, President Biden said he'll run in 2024 despite the low polls. But the Republican president would not confirm if he's running. Harris is supposed to run in 2024 after she won as the first black female VP. The Democrats have touted her, but recent events have occurred, making a run somewhat distant and not a match for Donald Trump. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth? The Daily Mail has remarked everything went downhill, and many don't like her; for example, the people in her office have left a sign of alleged divisiveness. Some have placed her in a hypothetical election against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as she was supposed to lead 40 to 38 percent over her opponent. Many would contest this based on the performance that the vice president has not aced on the border or Europe only went bust. Governor DeSantis, among the GOP, has locked horns with Joe Biden over COVID-19 matters. He openly criticized the administration and gained the support of the GOP and conservatives as a front-runner in a class above Harris. As the last straw to what the Democrats have been doing in its woke attack on Americans, he signed a bill in Florida to stop anything about sexual orientation and gender from kindergarten to the third grade. President Biden did not like it and posted on social media that gay youth should be accepted, and the bill was against them, per Twitter. Every student deserves to feel safe and welcome in the classroom. Our LGBTQI+ youth deserve to be affirmed and accepted just as they are. My Administration will continue to fight for dignity and opportunity for every student and family in Florida and around the country. President Biden (@POTUS) March 28, 2022 The GOP is championing parents' rights that have been stepped on by the Democrats who intervene in education. Based on the NBC poll that has shown the Republicans kicking the Dems all over, there is a good chance for total devastation of seats in Congress and the Senate during midterms. A total of 46 percent want the GOP to win in Congress, compared to 44 percent wanting Dems. The party of Biden is falling, and it is like a fast drop. Ex-US president Donald Trump and the six-point lead reveals that Americans don't want the current POTUS, whose performance has not been exemplary. Related Article: Biden Gets Worst Dip in Polls Revealing Americans Have No Confidence in His Administration @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A grandmother who spent $35,000 on IVF aged 51 has welcomed her seventh child. Kimberly Chasteen, 51, welcomed her seventh child, Tyrique Chasteen on St Patrick's Day, March 17 2022. The mother-of-seven and grandmother of five was only 16-years-old when she welcomed her first daughter Jessica, 35 in 1986, going on to have five more children: Kayla, 33, Richard, 31, Blake, 20, Briar, 19 and Balin, 17. Kimberly, from St Louis, Missouri, who used an egg and sperm donor, faced criticism from trolls after her second child, Kayla, took to TikTok to share her mother's pregnancy journey, with some commenting that her decision to have a child at 51 was unsafe. Kimberly, who is a nurse's assistant, said: 'When I read some of the horrible comments, it hurt my heart and I cried. Kimberly Chasteen, 51, from St Louis, Missouri, welcomed her seventh child, Tyrique Chasteen in hospital on St Patrick's Day, March 17, 2022 Grandmother Kimberly Chasteen, 51, with three of her older children Kayla, Briar and Jessica Kimberly, pictured in the hospital while pregnant, spent $35,000 on IVF, after finding a doctor who accepted her, due to her age 'Kayla said that she could take them down, but I told her that people are entitled to their own opinions and it's just ugliness and if they choose to be ugly that's on them. 'Some of them can be pretty gnarly and ugly, like I know there was one person who said that I was going to have fun chasing him around in a trailer. 'A comment came back to that saying, 'FYI she spent $35,000 I don't' think she lives in a trailer'.' Kimberly first tied her tubes at 20 after her first three children but reversed the operation at 30 to welcome three more kids. After Kimberley's second oldest (pictured) shared a video of her pregnancy to TikTok, Kimberly faced online trolls Kimberly's eldest children Kayla and Jessica. The mother-of-seven first tied her tubes at 20 after her first three children but reversed the operation at 30 to welcome three more kids Kimberly watching over Tyrique in the hospital. She underwent another tubal litigation at 34 only to reverse the operation in 2019 after meeting a younger man After this, the grandmother underwent another tubal litigation at 34 only to reverse the operation in 2019 after meeting a younger man. The relationship didn't work out, but, Kimberley still dreamt of having a seventh child and dedicated the next three years to falling pregnant. She said: 'I had a younger boyfriend, and we had talked about getting married and wanting to have a child together. 'That's why I decided to have the second reversal. Despite her relationship breaking down, Kimberley was adamant that she wanted to have another baby, and spent three years trying to conceive Tyrique Having separated from her ex-partner later, Kimberley still dreamt of having a seventh child and dedicated three years to falling pregnant. Pictured while pregnant with Tyrique 'The boyfriend became toxic but I didn't give up on the dream of having another child. 'It didn't stop because the relationship was over, I just continued the journey. 'It's been a really rough journey; I've spent about $35,000 and went through a lot. 'Trying to find a doctor who would even sign off on it for my age when was hard. Tyrique in Kimberly's arms. She's experienced a backlash online for giving birth at 51, but refuses to let people's opinions tear her down Kimberley's children are very close and don't look on Tyrique any differently because he's not their biological brother. L-R Jessica, Kimberly, and Kayla together 'It's not like just anyone would sign off on it, you have to go through a whole host of things. 'They have to do a complete health history on you to see if it's even possible for you to carry a child. 'They shut down my cycles several times before we actually got to the initial transfer because when there were red flags and if they see something they're not going to risk it.' After suffering a placenta abruption at 32 weeks, Kimberly's lucky charm Tyrique entered the world, with her six children excited to meet their new baby brother. Calling Tyrique her lucky charm, Kimberly said he's getting stronger every day and she's looking forwward to bringing him home from the hospital Kimberley feels very fortunate that her children all have each other and feels her family is blessed. Left to right: Richard, Kimberly, Jessica and Kayla together She said: 'My kids are very bonded and love each other very much, they won't say that Tyrique isn't their biological brother, they'll say, 'he's my brother'. 'They have a lot of love in their hearts and are really great kids, I'm very fortunate that they have each other. I'm blessed. 'He's growing every day and he's getting stronger every day, he's my little fighter, he's my lucky charm.' 'I'm looking forward to bringing him home.' A six-year-old leukaemia patient, who won hearts after a photo of her waving to her dad through the window during lockdown went viral, is now cancer-free. A photo of Mila Sneddon, from Falkirk, became one of the defining images of the pandemic, and she even charmed the Duchess of Cambridge who included the image in her Hold Still photography project, when she asked the public to submit their lockdown snaps. After a gruelling two year journey, Mila Sneddon left hospital on Thursday and she is now free from cancer. A sweet clip on ITV's Lorraine on Friday showed Mila ringing a bell to signal the end of her treatment before leaving the hospital beaming from ear-to-ear with her parents. Mila Sneddon, six, left hospital on Thursday after it was announced she is now cancer free after a gruelling two year journey with leukaemia Smiling while holding the hand of her dad, Scott, she was also cheered by her entire school as they gave her a surprise guard of honour to mark the special moment. After Mila was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November 2019, aged four, her parents decided the best way to keep their little girl safe was by not taking any risks and self-isolating in different houses. Lynda Sneddon stayed with her little girl while dad Scott lived separately, and shared a heartbreaking photo of Mila kissing her dad through the window. Scottish cancer patient won the nations hearts after a photo of her in isolation, while having treatment for leukaemia, went viral A sweet clip on ITV's Lorraine showed Mila ringing a bell to signal the end of her treatment before leaving the hospital beaming from ear-to-ear with her parents The photo went viral online and was spotted by the Duchess of Cambridge and was later one of the 100 images included in Kate's book Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 The photo went viral online and was spotted by the Duchess of Cambridge and was later one of the 100 images included in Kate's book Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020. Mila even met Kate Middleton twice last year after the royal spotted the photo of the little girl in lockdown. The Duchess went on to include the photo, known as 'Shielding Mila' in her book Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 and asked if she could meet Mila. After Mila was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November 2019, aged four Mila went on to meet the Duchess twice last year, first at Holyroodhouse in May where she also met Prince William And they had not one but two encounters last year, the first at Holyroodhouse in May and then again during the Duchess' Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in December. The little girl's mother said the Duchess had a 'gentle soul' and had made Mila feel comfortable during their meetings. 'Those moments made Mila feel really special and it was a good distraction from her treatment,' she said. 'Now shes recognised as the happy little girl who met Kate Middleton and not the poor little girl with cancer,' she added. She met Kate again during the Duchess' Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in December In May last year, Mila was welcomed by Kate for tea at Holyroodhouse, during her and Prince William's final day of their week-long visit to Scotland In May last year, Mila was welcomed by Kate for tea at Holyroodhouse, during her and Prince William's final day of their week-long visit to Scotland. '[Kate] had made a promise [to wear pink],' the youngster added, noting that the Duchess kept her word to don a pink outfit when meeting after their initial phone call.' At their first meeting at Holyroodhouse, the Duchess made good on a promise she made to wear pink, Mila's favourite colour, sporting a ME+EM's silk shirt dress with a floral face mask. She told the schoolgirl: 'Hi Mila, look at you. I want to give you a big squeezy cuddle, it's so nice to meet you in person.' At their first meeting at Holyroodhouse, the Duchess made good on a promise she made to wear pink, Mila's favourite colour, sporting a ME+EM's silk shirt dress with a floral face mask The Duchess of Cambridge has made upmarket designer Alessandra Rich her go-to for high profile engagements, after choosing the label for the royal tour and at the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service. Kate, 40, first wore the brand in November 2018 and has stepped out in the brand on at least seven occasions since, most recently when she joined the Royal Family at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday. Alessandra Rich, the woman behind the label, is an Italian-born designer based in London who says she is inspired by the 'polite rebels' of history, like Princess Diana. Dotty for Alessandra! The Duchess of Cambridge has made upmarket designer Alessandra Rich her go-to for high profile engagements, including Prince Philip's memorial service Splash of sunshine! The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in a sunny yellow Alessandra Rich creation to depart the Bahamas on Sunday night Tartan treat: In a pleated design for a visit to the V&A Museum in London in May 2019 It is perhaps then of little surprise that Kate often wins comparisons to the stylish princess when she steps out in one of Rich's frocks, including the yellow peplum creation she wore on the final day of the royal tour on Sunday. 'I'm drawn to history's polite rebels, such as Princess Diana, and I want to embody that spirit in the Alessandra Rich woman,' Rich once said. Describing her designs as 'modern with a twist', she added that her ideas often stem from French women in the movies she most admires - such as Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour. The Duchess of Cambridge first wore a 1,750 Alessandra Rich navy polka dot dress for a family photoshoot for Prince Charles' 70th birthday in November 2018. She rewore the same dress six months later on a visit to Bletchley Park. Gorgeous in green: In a nod to her hosts, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a green dress on a royal visit to Ireland in March 2020 Polka dot perfection! Kate looked stunning in a 1,750 Alessandra Rich dress at Bletchley Park Firm favourite: The same frock was first seen in photos taken to mark Prince Charles' 70th birthday in 2018 Diana's double! How Alessandra Rich's design lead to comparisons with the late princess Alessandra Rich, the woman behind the label, is an Italian-born designer based in London who says she is inspired by the 'polite rebels' of history, like Princess Diana. So it is perhaps then of little surprise that Kate often wins comparisons to the stylish princess when she steps out in one of Rich's frocks, including the yellow peplum creation she wore on the final day of the royal tour on Sunday. Strikingly similar: The Duchess of Cambridge in May 2019 and Diana in October 1985 Lookalike yellow: Kate in the Bahamas on Sunday and Diana in Australia in 1983 Advertisement The same frock was worn by Ivanka Trump and Meghan Markle's actress BFF Abigail Spencer, who donned the dress for the Sussexes' wedding in May 2018. Kate's younger sister Pippa wore a similar Alessandra Rich style for Prince Louis' christening in July 2018. In December 2019, Kate looked festive in a 1,455 red midi dress for a festive TV special with Mary Berry. Three months later, in her final royal tour before the pandemic, Kate opted for an 1,567 eighties-inspired green Alessandra Rich frock. In the last year, the designer has cropped up more frequently. Feeling festive! Kate in a 1,455 red midi dress for a festive TV special with Mary Berry in 2019 Print at the panto! The Duchess of Cambridge with children Louis and Charlotte at a pantomime in December 2021 Kate looked elegant in a pleated tartan design on an outing to the V&A in May 2021. In December, she wore Rich yet again when she took her children on a family outing to the pantomime. In the last week there have been two Rich outfits: the yellow worn to depart the Bahamas on Sunday night and the stylish navy polka dot on Tuesday. The yellow frock features a bow-detailed ruffled collar, puffed sleeves and a pleated peplum at the waist. The silk-jacquard gown was strikingly similar to a Jan Van Velden piece worn by Diana during her visit to Alice Springs School on her 1983 tour of Australia with Prince Charles. The Queen allowing Prince Andrew to escort her to Prince Philip's memorial service showed she 'believes he's innocent', and is still determined to 'make her own decisions', a royal expert has claimed. Speaking on True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat, Vanity Fair's Royal Editor Katie Nicholl, said the Queen knew what she was doing and deliberately wanted to show that she still 'makes the decisions'. The monarch has been scaling back her public appearances since the start of the year due to mobility issues, but as her biographer Robert Hardman recently noted, she is 'absolutely pin sharp as ever', and seemingly wants to make that clear. His prominent role on Tuesday came just weeks after agreeing a multi-million-pound settlement with his rape accuser Virginia Giuffre, whose claims he has always denied. He was stripped of his military honours and royal patronages, and told by Prince Charles he would be made to 'disappear' from public life following his final official outing for his father's memorial. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew arrive to attend a Service of Thanksgiving for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey in central London on March 29 Queen drives away in her car with her son Prince Andrew after attending a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip 'This was the Queen's way of showing two things; one, that the buck stops with her, and she makes the decisions, and secondly that she believes he's innocent. She made the point very, very clearly,' Katie said. 'But Charles and William were very aware of the perspective, of the optics of this. 'Unfortunately, this picture [of Prince Andrew escorting the Queen] has overtaken what should have been a memorial to a great man.' Katie added that Prince William and Prince Charles were totally against Prince Andrew escorting the Queen to the service. saying: 'They knew the result of this' It has been claimed the Queen and Prince Andrew have always been close, and recent developments and consequences in his life will no doubt have devastated her And the Queen's decision to allow Prince Andrew to escort her to the memorial service for her late husband was designed to show that she is still the main decision maker in the Royal Family. Elsewhere on the programme, Royal biographer and journalist Duncan Larcombe said how the display of resilience was to show 'we're not going to lock him in the cupboard'. He said: 'This is the first proper set piece royal event since Prince Andrew settled his case, and it's a way of getting it out of the way - you know, we're not going to lock him in a cupboard, he's at his father's memorial service and of course he'd be there'. The Royal family stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the ceremony of Trooping the Colour to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force, in London on June 9, 2018 'But I think that it was a very bold decision of the Queen. Let's not forget the guy she's standing next to is a pariah at the moment in this country.' It has been claimed Prince Andrew is the Queens favourite, and having always been a family man he maintained a good relationship with Sarah Ferguson when they divorced officially in 1996, for Eugenie and Beatrice. Now in his 60s it seems Prince Andrew ill-judged choices in life will go on to determine the future he will be forced to lead. For the last few months he has not been seen outside the Royal's Scottish Highlands estate. He stepped back from public duties in 2019 after his 'car-crash' Epstein interview on BBC's Newsnight and subsequently his military appointments were suspended. He has since lost a series of UK military titles, but most notably the most senior infantry regiment in the British army, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, which he had taken over from his father Prince Philip in 2017. A Channel 4 Dispatches programme revealed that over the course of 12 years, Epstein and Prince Andrew had met on ten separate occasions at Epsteins numerous properties. They were also photographed together in New York 2010, after Epstein had already served 13 months in custody for committing sexual offences with an underage girl. In November 2019, his official stepping down statement read: 'Circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my familys work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support. 'Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.' And adding: 'I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein.' Royal fans have discovered the detail showing that Prince Louis almost made it to the memorial service for Prince Philip on Tuesday. While his older siblings Prince George, eight, and Princess Charlotte, six, accompanied the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for the service at Westminster Abbey, Louis, who is turning four this month, remained at home. However, eagle-eyed fans have shared screenshots of the Court Circular on social media show, that show the Cambridges were considering bringing their youngest child to the memorial with them. Patricia Treble highlighted a sentence that said Louis would be attending with 'to be confirmed' in brackets after his name. Meanwhile, another noticed a clue in the seating arrangements, pointing out that there appeared to be an empty space on Prince William's left where a seat had been removed. The two oldest Cambridge children attended the Westminster Abbey service with the Duke of Cambridge, centre, left and the Duchess of Cambridge, right Royal fans said an empty spot on the right side of Prince William, suggested that a seat that might have been intended for Prince Louis was removed at the last minute 'Interesting nugget in the Court Circular,' Patricia shared on Twitter, alongside a screenshot of the Court Circular. The royal fan suggested Louis' young age might be the reason behind his absence. 'Sure, he turns four next month but that would have been a long service for such a young boy,' she added. The service at Westminster, which was attended by The Queen and 1,800 guests, including senior and extended members of the royal family, European royals and politicians, was 40 minutes-long. While his older siblings Prince George, eight, right, and Princess Charlotte, six, left, accompanied the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for the service at Westminster Abbey, Louis, who is turning four this month, remained at home (pictured during a family holiday to Jordan last summer) Royal fans caught that the Court Circular showed Louis' presence was 'to be confirmed' showing he could have attended the service While the other people in attendance were seated in row of five or six, the Cambridge row only counted four seats, and an empty space on the right side of Prince William suggested a fifth seat, intended for Prince Louis, might have been removed. Gert's royal, another fan's account, pointed out that children's names normally do not appear on Court Circulars. 'Children are not normally included when joining their parents on regular engagements, so this is the Cambridge Kids first CC entry for an official engagement,' they wrote. Some fans suggested that the young prince, left, was too small to attend the long service at the Abbey (pictured at a special pantomime performance at London's Palladium Theatre in December 2021) Although Louis' absence from the service was understandable, Prince Harry's and Meghan Markle's decision to stay away has caused controversy. Royal author and editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward, who penned Prince Philip Revealed, has told The Mirror the couple 'missed an opportunity' by not attending the service. She added they would have been aware of the optics of their decision not to attend, and that it would make them look 'petulant and rude.' 'Harry must have known it would look petulant and rude. And if he did not Meghan would have,' she said. The Duke of Sussex was slammed for staying at his $14million Californian mansion instead of attending the Westminster Abbey thanksgiving event, blaming his absence on a row over police protection despite a planned visit to the Netherlands in two weeks time or the Invictus Games Her Majesty stands to sing surrounded by her family with the Duke of York also on the front row. From left to right, front row: Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex, the Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and Viscount Severn. (Second row left to right) The Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, the Duchess of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, Isla Phillips, Savannah Phillips, Mia Tindall, Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall. Other notable attendees include Princess Beatrice; Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi; Princess Eugenie; Jack Brooksbank; David Armstrong-Jones; Margarita Armstrong-Jones; Richard, Duke of Gloucester; Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester; Edward, Duke of Kent Prince Harry, 37 and Meghan Markle, 40, were notable in their absence as the Queen, 95, senior royals, politicians, European royals and friends gathered in Westminster Abbey to pay tribute to Prince Philip. The couple, who live in Montecito, California with their son Archie, two, and nine-month-old daughter Lilibet, announced in March they would not come to the UK for the memorial. The Duke, 37, is pursuing a legal challenge against the Home Office after being told he would no longer be given the 'same degree' of personal protective security when visiting from the US, despite offering to pay for it himself. 'The wall of silence was as loud as if they had shouted from the abbey rafters. The normally verbose duke and duchess of Sussex said nothing.' The expert pointed out the couple, who have been vocal about royal milestones in the past, were noticeably quiet on Tuesday and refrained from addressing the event on their social media or through their spokesperson and did not send flowers to be displayed at the Abbey. A woman who travelled abroad for a series of risky cosmetic procedures has revealed she's now mistaken for being her children's sister after spending more than 30,000 on her youthful look. Stacey Marie Clarke, 32, who lives in Swansea, decided to overhaul her appearance after the breakdown of a long-term relationship in 2019. The mother-of-two explained that she was inspired to travel to Turkey for a Brazilian butt lift, cat eye surgery, a face lift and lip lift after seeing celebrity transformations on Instagram. Speaking to The Sun, Stacey said: 'People say I am unrecognisable but I don't care. The surgery has knocked years off and I'm often mistaken as my sons' teenage sister.' Stacey Marie Clarke, 32, (pictured) who lives in Swansea, has spent over 30,000 on plastic surgery since the breakdown of her long-term relationship Stacey, who is a professional photographer, claims that she didn't have a curvy figure while growing up or cheekbones. She explained that she became a mother-of-two by age 18 after falling pregnant at age 15 and her sons are now aged 15 and 16. The mother-of-two said she decided to go abroad to achieve a fresh look after seeing celebrities achieve their ideal look without paying the eye-watering prices charged in the UK. Katie Price and Chloe Ferry are among the stars who've been candid about going under the knife in Turkey. According to the Linda Cosmetic Surgery, a Brazilian butt lift to create the appearance of a perky, round bottom can cost up to 7,000 in the UK in comparison to less than 3,000 in Turkey. Stacey explained that she had a Brazilian butt lift, lip lift and liposuction on her arms, thighs and chin before returning to Turkey for more cosmetic work. Stacey, who claims to have been mistaken for her sons' sister, said she was inspired by celebrities on Instagram to travel to turkey. Pictured: Stacey in a throwback with her son, who is now aged 15 Stacey (pictured) said she decided to have a Brazilian butt lift and liposuction because she wanted a fresh look A number of women have spoken about having had complications after having cosmetic surgery abroad and some have even died as a result. Stacey admitted to being aware that the procedures were risky when she made the decision in 2019. Stacey said: 'Later that year I returned and underwent cut-price cat eye surgery, a face lift, a hair transplant and spent 15,000 on veneers. 'Within 12 months I'd had nine risky procedures and spent over 30k. Since then I've had Botox and filler top-ups.' The photographer, who boasts almost 1,000 followers on her Instagram account, has been inundated with messages from commenters praising her youthful looks. 'Absolutely flawless babes,' one person wrote, while another said: 'Gorgeous' and a third commented: 'Beautiful girl, inside & out' The Royal Family have shared the ninth photograph in their series of 70 snaps counting down to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend. Captured during a French state visit in 1960, the image shows the Queen and President Charles de Gaulle in a carnation-decorated box at the Royal Opera House after a special performance. The monarch is seen adorned in jewels and wearing a stunning tiara as Princess Margaret and the Queen's mother watch the interaction. The former French President's wife Madame Yvonne De Gaulle is also featured in the black and white photo talking to the Duke of Edinburgh. The Royal Family have shared a photo of the Queen and President Charles de Gaulle, taken in 1960, as part of their series counting down to the Platinum Jubilee Celebration Weekend Posting on Instagram, the photo was captioned explaining how the Queen's fluency in French has been beneficial in state visits Commenters have shared their admiration for the Queen's reign underneath the photo It has been some time since the Queen has been photographed attending a performance at the Royal Opera House, having joined Prince Philip at a gala performance of 'Our Extraordinary World' back in 2012. Today's photo of the 95-year-old Royal, was shared on Instagram as the latest in the series of photos to represent each year of her seven-decade reign ahead of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The caption reads: '1960: The Queen and President Charles de Gaulle are pictured in a carnation-decorated box at the Royal Opera House, following a special performance during a French State Visit. 'Her Majesty is fluent in French and often uses the language during Audiences and State Visits 'In 1960, the Beatles formed in Liverpool and performed their first concert in Hamburg, Germany. 'Over the next 70 days, as we countdown to the #PlatinumJubilee Celebration Weekend, well be sharing an image a day of The Queen each representing a year of Her Majestys 70-year long reign.' The photo series has been widely praised by commenters, with many leaving hearts under the images and showing admiration for the Queen's reign. It has been reported that during the French state visit in 1960, the Queen used her sense of humour to avoid a potentially awkward situation caused by language barrier The first photograph in the series depicted the Queen's coronation at Westminster Abbey, in 1953 and has been followed with photos of the monarch conducting several engagements including her reading of the Speech at the State Opening of Parliament. A royal author previously gave an insight into how the Queen's sense of humour saved her from a potentially awkward situation during the French state visit, which took place on April 4 and 5 in 1960. According to Adam Helliker, a cheeky quip was made during a lavish banquet while the Queen was hosting Charles de Gaulle the former French president - and his wife Madame Yvonne De Gaulle at Buckingham Palace. 'A guest asked Madame de Gaulle what she was most looking forward to in her retirement, which was imminent,' he said, speaking to Fabulous Digital. 'With great elaboration (as she didn't speak much English) she replied: 'A penis.' 'An awkward silence ensued for some time, until the Queen herself came to the rescue, and she said with a broad grin: "Ah, happiness."' The language barrier provided Prince Philip, with what was reported to be one of his favourite stories. The Queen made her first public appearance in months at the Duke of Edinburgh's Service of Thanksgiving earlier this week The Queen marked 70 years on the throne on February 6, 2022, making her the longest reigning monarch in British history, and weekend of celebrations will be held from 2nd to 5th June to commemorate the milestone. However, it's not clear to what extent the Queen will be able to take part in public celebrations, due to mobility issues which have curtailed her public appearances in recent weeks. The Queen made her first public appearance in months at the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service at Westminster Abbey earlier this week. She paid tribute to her late husband by wearing a sentimental brooch he gifted her in 1966. The piece, which is made of recycled rubies, free-form gold and diamonds was crafted by jeweller Andrew Grima and is one of the few modern pieces that were added to the Queen's collection during her reign. The monarch gave a further subtle nod to her beloved confidante by wearing a green outfit, as Prince Philip's livery colour in the armed forces was Edinburgh Green. A New York woman says she 'screamed and sobbed' when she learned that the gynecologist she had been seeing for nearly a decade was actually her biological father, having secretly used his own sperm to artificially inseminate her mother in 1985. Morgan Hellquist, 36, had been a patient of Dr. Morris Wortman in upstate New York for nine years, getting breast and pelvis exams by his hands, all the while clueless that she was his biological daughter. In January 1985, her mother, Jo Ann Levy, had also gone to Dr. Wortman for help getting pregnant, and was told that she was being inseminated with the sperm of an anonymous medical student. But when Hellquist got an Ancestry DNA test in 2016, she found multiple half-siblings on the platform and in 2021, they discovered the awful truth: that Dr. Wortman had surreptitiously fathered them all. Worse, says Hellquist, he knew he was her father while he was treating her as her gynecologist. 'He knew the whole time who he was and I didn't. He took away that choice for me,' Hellquist, who is now suing Wortman, said through tears on Good Morning America this morning. Morgan Hellquist, 36, has described the moment she discovered her gynecologist of nine years was actually her biological father, having secretly inseminated her mom with his sperm Dr. Morris Wortman gave Hellquist, from New York, breast and pelvic exams, and fitted her for an IUD; she has now slammed him for treating him while knowing he was her father Hellquist's mother, Jo An Levy, had also seen Wortman (pictured) in the '80s for artificial insemination, and was told the sperm belonged to a medical student Levy's husband Gary, who raised Hellquist, was rendered paraplegic when he was 20 after being hit by a drunk driver while on his motorcycle. The couple, who were high school sweethearts, went to Wortman asking for his help to start a family and paid $50, three times a month, for what they thought was stranger's sperm. They conceived Morgan in 1985. In 2012, when she was 26, Hellquist began seeing Wortman herself. Over the next nine years, he performed pelvic and breast exams on her and fitted her for an IUD all, she says, knowing that he was her biological father but keeping the secret from her. In 2016, Hellquist took an Ancestry DNA test and found David Berry, 37, a half-sibling on the site. Berry had been shocked to learn that the father who raised him was not, in fact, his biological father. Hellquist and Berry continued to find more half-siblings, watching as the number of relations grew. 'Then there was five of us. And we were all the same age,' Hellquist said. 'And six, and then seven. And it started to feel like, well if there's seven there might be 20. And if there's 20, there might be 100. And I started to feel terrified.' After Hellquist (left) took an Ancestry DNA test in 2016, she found multiple half siblings whose parents all used the same doctor, including David Berry, 37 (right) Berry (pictured as a child) had been shocked to learn that the father who raised him was not, in fact, his biological father Hellquist (left) and Berry (right) noticed a resemblance immediately. In 2021, they confirmed that Wortman had fathered them after getting the daughter he raised to take a DNA test 'I am the product of something that should have never happened with an unconscionable violation of ethics, at a minimum,' Berry said Eventually, Hellquist and Berry realized that they had both been conceived via artificial insemination performed by the same doctor, Wortman and got Wortman's daughter, whom he raised, to take a DNA test. That test confirmed that he had fathered them all. 'When we found out, there wasn't any need to tell [my mother]. I was screaming and sobbing at the top of my lungs,' Hellquist said. Unfortunately, what Wortman did isn't categorized as sexual assault under the law. Only seven states California, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, and Florida have fertility fraud laws on the books, so because the inseminations happened in New York, most of the people involved have no legal recourse. But Hellquist filed a lawsuit against Wortman in September for his continued treatment of her despite knowing he was her father, alleging medical malpractice, lack of informed consent, battery, fraud, negligence, and infliction of emotional distress. She is seeing unspecified damages. 'I do not have a fertility fraud case,' she told GMA. 'I have a case because he touched me without my consent.' Her half-siblings are also reeling from the discovery, with David Berry's mother Karen Berry insisting she never gave Wortman permission to use his own sperm. Hellquist is suing Wortman for medical malpractice, lack of informed consent, battery, fraud, negligence, and infliction of emotional distress Wortman has not commented on any of the allegations, but in legal filings, he claims Hellquist is lying and that he did not use his own sperm while treating her mother 'He had my permission to use a donor,' she said. 'Specifically, a medical student. He did not have my permission to use his own sperm for a donation.' David Berry spoke of having complicated feelings about his own existence. 'I am the product of something that should have never happened with an unconscionable violation of ethics, at a minimum,' he said. 'He's something I can't escape, because his DNA's in me. His DNA's in my son. I wrestle with that. The first time I held my son, that man was in the room with me.' However, Hellquist said the one silver lining has been discovering her half-siblings. 'David and my siblings are... it's not even bittersweet. It's that they're the shining glue that holds me together during all of this,' she said. Previously, Hellquist told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle that she nearly crashed her car when she learned that Wortman was her biological father, and how her own mother now blames it all on herself. 'My mom feels so violated. She said, "I feel like he raped me." She feels like all of it is her fault,' she said. In her lawsuit, she said that her family revered Wortman as a miracle worker after he helped her mother conceive. She was told when she eight that she was conceived with the help of a sperm donor because of her father's earlier accident. 'He knew the whole time who he was and I didn't. He took away that choice for me,' Hellquist (pictured in February) said 'My mom feels so violated. She said, "I feel like he raped me." She feels like all of it is her fault,' Hellquist said (her mother and father pictured) Carl Lore (pictured) also claims that Wortman used his own sperm instead of a donor's to father him 'He was all over the news when I was in my late teens. My mom would stop cooking dinner and say, "There he is,"' she said. In 2012, after having two kids of her own, Hellquist sought treatment from Wortman because she was unhappy with her own gynecologist. She started visiting him for ultrasounds examinations, breast exams, and pelvis exams, and was happy with the work until she became suspicious that he may have been involved in her conception. When she took a DNA test, she learned that she was 50% Ashkenazi Jewish. Over the following years, she connected with several half siblings, including Carl Lore. She eventually noticed that she and her half-siblings bore a resemblance to Wortman. At first, Hellquist played it down, convinced it was an impossibility that Wortman may be her father. In her suit, Hellquist said that Wortman even had his wife (pictured with her husband) come in an exam room once to see her She continued to see him for medical treatment and allowed him to fit her with an IUD, among other procedures. In her lawsuit, she claims he once told her she was a 'Jewish American Princess' after she complained of unusual mood swings. She says he also once showed her an antique 'theragun' and asked what she thought it was used for, then suggested women used them to masturbate. In her lawsuit, she claims he also told her she was a 'good kid,' and even had his own wife come in to the room to 'get a look' at her because they both knew he had fathered her in secret. Her lawyer Kathryn Bruns said: 'A physician owes a duty to his patient. In this instance, he had a duty to not treat her. He violated his ethical obligation as a physician.' Wortman has not commented on any of the allegations, but in legal filings, he claims Hellquiest is lying and that he did not use his own sperm while treating her mother. He is seeking a dismissal. A South Carolina woman who is in prison for kidnapping a baby from a hospital and raising her as her own will not see her 18-year prison sentence reduced after a judge rejected her request. In 1998, Gloria Williams kidnapped Kamiyah Mobley from a Jacksonville, Florida, hospital just hours after her biological mother, a then-16-year-old Shanara Mobley, gave birth to her. The crime wasn't discovered until 2017, and Williams subsequently pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. In December, she asked the judge to cut her time behind bars in half, citing good behavior and personal development. Kamiyah, now 23, supported her efforts, writing a letter in which she called Williams her mother and asked 'for the courts grace and mercy.' But according to the Atlanta Black Star, Duval County Circuit Judge Marianne Aho denied her motion, saying that it was filed too late, but even so, she 'did not find a basis to undo the original sentencing judges decision.' In 1998, Gloria Williams kidnapped Kamiyah Mobley from a Florida, hospital hours after she was born (pictured together). A judge has denied a request to reduce her 18-year jail sentence Williams' motion to reduce her sentence included a letter saying that she had completed character development and faith programs. She also said she wanted to become a certified peer facilitator. 'There are many things I have learned since coming to the Department of Corrections, but the overall lesson of my incarceration has been one of accountability,' she wrote. 'I know and understand now that there is a ripple effect, that the consequences of my actions are never mine to suffer alone. 'What I see happening is Kamiyah is bringing her biological family to South Carolina to introduce them and to spend time with my mother (her nana), her sisters, nieces and nephews,' she went on. 'Everyone is coming together to give Kamiyah the best of both worlds and to bring her life into fulfillment.' Kamiyah also wrote a letter to the judge, which was which was obtained by Actions News Jax. Kamiyah wrote a letter in support of Williams' bid for a reduced sentence. She said Williams raised her, provided for her needs, and loved her unconditionally, and she grew up well 'I am writing this letter in support of my mother, Gloria Williams,' Kamiyah wrote. 'I would like to make it clear that she is my mother. She raised me, and not only provided for my needs, but she loved me unconditionally. 'I had a well-rounded life; and I am an independent, college educated, and deeply spiritual person, because of all my mom gave me. I am fully aware of how our lives came to be, what they are, and how my mom came to be my mom. 'I have met my birth parents, and I am grateful to have me my birth parents, and I am grateful to have a 2nd family in my life especially to have siblings. 'I understand that none of this modifies the truth of the past, nor does it justify my moms actions in any way,' she continued, 'However, at the end of the day, I love my mother and I wholeheartedly support her! I ask for the courts grace and mercy, as I need my mother home.' The letter was included in Williams' motion to a judge to consider shortening her sentence in December. Williams was arrested in 2017 and pleaded guilty to kidnapping. In 2018, she was sentenced to 18 years in prison Williams' motion to reduce her sentence included a letter saying that she had completed character development and faith programs Williams pretended to be a nurse when she snatched Kamiyah, then just a few hours old, from the hospital Williams had worked at the medical records department at Joint Base Charleston and pretended to be a nurse when she took Kamiyah from the hospital in 1998. She had recently miscarried but kept it a secret, so her family always assumed that Kamiyah was her biological daughter. She raised her as Alexis Manigo in Walterboro, South Carolina, with her two sons, Antoine and Andre. She told Kamiyah her biological father was Charles Manigo, who worked at a car dealership, and that the pair had split before she was born. Kamiyah considered stepdad Wrenoskie Williams, a 55-year-old truck driver whom Williams married when Kamiyah was in middle school, more of a father figure. The deception finally began to unravel when Kamiyah applied for a restaurant job two years before Williams was arrested in 2017. When she demanded her social security number, Williams broke down and confessed to the abduction. Kamiyah pieced together the majority of her backstory by herself from Google. She once called her biological mother, but hung up when she heard her voice. 'I would like to make it clear that she is my mother. She raised me, and not only provided for my needs, but she loved me unconditionally,' Kamiyah said 'I had a well-rounded life; and I am an independent, college educated, and deeply spiritual person, because of all my mom gave me,' she went on 'At the end of the day, I love my mother and I wholeheartedly support her! I ask for the courts grace and mercy, as I need my mother home,' she wrote According to court documents, investigators finally cracked the case based on two tip offs: a friend who said Williams confessed to them, and an individual who claimed to have heard it from Kamiyah. In January 2017, police arrested Williams on charges of kidnapping and interference with custody. Kamiyah, then 19, was introduced to her biological mother, Shanara Mobley, and father, Craig Aiken, raced to South Carolina following Williams' arrest. Mobley was just 15 when she became pregnant with Kamiyah. Aiken was in jail when she gave birth on on July 10, 1998. Around eight hours later, Mobley remembers a woman wearing blue scrubs and surgical gloves coming into the room at Jacksonville's University Medical Centre. Still exhausted and groggy from giving birth, she assumed the kindly figure carrying away her 8 lb. 2.5 oz, infant was a nurse. Within hours, Mobley would be in front of national news cameras pleading hysterically for the return of her daughter. 'When they first handed Kamiyah to me I said "open your eyes so you can see how pretty your mama is." She smiled right back at me, it was the best feeling ever,' Mobley told DailyMail.com in 2018. Williams had recently suffered a miscarriage and passed off Kamiyah as her own 'I was groggy, I was a young girl getting my first epidural. Then this lady comes in, nicely spoken, intelligent woman. She befriended me. She seemed to be really nice and so kind but she was evil at the same time. She was a devil dressed up in sheep's clothing. 'I let her hold the baby and now that I look back on that day, she looked at the baby as if she was perfect. She looked at her like, yeah, this is the one.' It was Aiken's mother, Velma, who first realized something was wrong when she caught a glimpse of the 'nurse' picking up Mobley's baby bag on the way out. Suspicious family members alerted staff who raced around the hospital but couldn't find any trace of the newborn infant. Mobley recalled how investigators were so baffled by the disappearance they started accusing her of selling her own baby. 'Before Gloria came into my room she was in another lady's room but the girl's parents walked in there and the kidnapper immediately got up and walked out,' she revealed. 'She was deliberately targeting women my age maybe because she didn't think they would believe us. The detective punched my hospital bed and said, "What did you do with that baby!" They accused me of selling her or giving her away. 'I think they should be lenient. It's not like she took me and tortured me my whole life. She took care of me very well,' Kamiyah said 'They wanted me to confess to something I didn't do. I think they thought that way right up until the day she was found. 'People still say to this day that I sold her to Gloria. They would say that woman ain't gonna go to jail by herself, she's gonna snitch on Craig and Shanara. 'That's what the woman did to me for all these years. Not only did she steal my child, she had people thinking I was a liar.' As days became months and months became years, Mobley fell into a devastating depression, splitting up with Aiken, and contemplating suicide. Exacerbating her anguish were the constant rumors and accusations that she had somehow played a part in Kamiyah's disappearance. When they were finally reunited 19 years later, they 'embraced for five to ten minutes. No words can express how I felt,' said Mobley. But when DailyMail.com caught up with Kamiyah one year later, she admitted that she was torn between her true identity and her upbringing as Alexis Manigo. She went by different names on different occasions, spending weekends and holidays with Aiken but still living at her childhood home in Walterboro and calling Williams each week in jail. Kamiyah even issued a plea for leniency on her kidnapper's behalf, telling DailyMail.com: 'It's not like she tortured me.' Kamiyah, then 19, was introduced to her biological mother, Shanara Mobley (pictured), and father, Craig Aiken, raced to South Carolina following Williams' arrest She has built relationships with them but is still close with Williams and phones her in prison She has also had the opportunity to get to know her younger siblings Kamiyah has had plenty of special moments with Mobley but by 2018, Mobley had grown tired of being 'disrespected' by Kamiyah, who continued to have contact with Williams. 'When we first met we were inseparable. We talked every day. I felt she would just come on into our lives,' she said. 'I didn't know this kidnapper had such a hold on her. I can see that it's my child but I can also see traits from the kidnapper in her. She would defend the kidnapper to me. She blames me for everything. I think she blames me that this woman is sitting in jail. 'She's blocked now because I don't want to argue with her. I'm tired of being hurt. I'm not saying there's not a time that we can get closer but I really should not have to compete with that woman.' She even issued an ultimatum, insisting: 'I shouldn't have to compete with a kidnapper - she has to pick one of us.' 'It's like a tug of war between us. Whenever I feel I'm winning her back, boom, the other side pulls me down,' she said. 'Nobody acknowledges my pain. I feel like I'm being robbed all over again every time she reaches out to my daughter. 'Every phone call they share, every Mother's Day card Kamiyah sends her, it just makes the pain worse. I'm being rejected for a kidnapper, how do you think that feels?' The elusive 'G-Spot should actually be named the 'G-Zone', sexual health experts have claimed. Researchers say the term used to describe an erogenous area of the vagina that supposedly triggers intense orgasms when stimulated is 'misleading'. For years, it has been popularly described as being located a few inches inside the vagina on the upper walls of the organ. But experts now say no single spot exists and that five separate 'erotogenic' tissues perform the pleasure sensations ascribed to the G-Spot. These are the clitoral crura, the clitoral bulb, the peri-urethral glands, the urethra, and the anterior vaginal wall itself. The G-Spot is named after German gynecologist Ernst Grafenberg, who described the orgasm-producing area in the 1950s. Dr Grafenberg himself did not coin the term. G spot or G Zone? Sexual health experts have said the term G Spot is misleading as no singular area is responsible for all of its ascribed functions with five different regions of female anatomy playing a role in its functions What are the five areas of the 'G Zone' The clitoral crura These are two internal tissue structures which together form a V shape converging from the clitoris downwards. During sexual arousal the clitoral crura become engorged with blood, fulfilling the swelling and pleasure components of the G-Zone. The clitoral bulb This is internal tissue shaped like a bulb that flanks either side of the vaginal opening. During arousal the structures fill with blood increasing the pressure on other structures creating a pleasure sensation. This area also fulfills the swelling and pleasure components of the G-Zone. The 'prostate' (also called Skene's gland) This tissue is located near the female urethra, the opening through which urine passes. It plays a role in pleasure sensations and fluid ejaculation before and during orgasm. The urethra This is the hole that urine passes through and is located above the vagina. It has a role in the pleasure sensation part of the G Zone. The anterior vaginal wall This is the muscle tissue located on the upper wall of the vagina, the spot where the 'G spot' has been ascribed to. This tissue is involved with pleasure sensation. Advertisement But he was the first to scientifically describe an 'erotic zone' located 'on the anterior wall of the vagina along the course of the urethra'. The 'G-Spot' was named in his honour by Dr Frank Addiego and colleagues, who wrote about female ejaculation in the 1980s. Now Dr Irwin Goldstein, editor in chief of the Sexual Medicine Reviews journal, has called for a name change. Writing alongside two other executives at the publication, they claimed the 'correct term' should be the 'Grafenberg-Zone or G-Zone'. They came to this conclusion after re-analysing the original description of the area first described by Dr Grafenberg. 'Based on the description by Grafenberg of the anterior vaginal wall as containing a "distinct erotogenic zone", we believe that the subsequent use of the term "G-Spot", coined 31 years later by Addiego et al, to be misleading,' they wrote. They said Dr Grafenberg originally attributed three functions to the 'erotic zone' 'pleasurable sensations', 'swelling', and 'fluid ejaculation'. Since no single 'spot' is responsible for all the functions, they said it's likely that five separate tissues are involved. 'We suggest the current term "G-Spot" is misleading and therefore inappropriate,' the team wrote. 'The five erotogenic regions of the anterior vaginal wall be more accurately and appropriately termed the "Grafenberg Zone or G-Zone".' The authors of the editorial urge sexual health experts to consider this name change for future research. The science behind the G-Spot is contentious, with various studies claiming it does not exist because even researchers cannot find it. As recently as last year, Portuguese scientists failed to pinpoint its location, size or nature. They described the G-Spot as being akin to the lost city of Atlantis. Another hypothesis is that the G-Spot is simply a deep-lying inner part of the clitoris stimulated during sex. Some experts have claimed studies saying the G-Spot doesn't exist are discounting the experiences of women who claim to have one. Others argue a focus on the G-Spot, in terms of female sexual pleasure, could make those who struggle to orgasm from its stimulation feel 'inadequate or abnormal'. Xiong'an New Area marks fifth anniversary Xinhua) 07:57, April 01, 2022 An engineer expounds on the building information modeling (BIM) technology in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 29, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows the business service center in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows intelligent lampposts in Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Photo taken on March 30, 2022 shows the Yuerong Park in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Aerial photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows a view of Rongdong District in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Photo taken on March 18, 2022 shows a carbon emission supervision platform in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Photo taken on March 30, 2022 shows a ditch that can collect rainwater at a park in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Aerial photo taken on March 28, 2022 shows the Yuerong Park in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Aerial photo taken on March 28, 2022 shows a view of Baiyangdian Lake in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Luo Xuefeng) Photo taken on March 30, 2022 shows an underground logistics channel in Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Staff members inspect an underground pipeline system in Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 30, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) An electric vehicle gets charged up via a robot at a charging station in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 18, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Staff members work at the intelligent operations center in Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 29, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) In this aerial photo, workers pave a road in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 25, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Aerial photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows the Xiong'an Railway Station in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) A man tries a fitness facility in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 18, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows an intelligent vendor vehicle in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Aerial photo taken on March 28, 2022 shows the Yuerong Park in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Luo Xuefeng) Photo taken on March 29, 2022 shows a view of the intelligent operations center in Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Aerial photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows the Xiong'an Railway Station in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Photo taken on March 18, 2022 shows a wireless charging pile at a charging station in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Aerial photo taken on March 28, 2022 shows a traditional residence in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) The Russia-China meeting before the EU Council will have feedback when Beijing talks about relevant matters. Brussels wants to make Ukraine an issue that Chinese President Xi Jinping request other than it as a talking point. There is a lot of speculation about the significance of the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Two Superpowers To Collide With the West During the same week as the China-EU summit, Vladimir Putin and Russia improved their relationship with China, reported the Express UK. This week's meetings with China went ahead of an important EU summit on Friday, April 1. The conference demonstrated a solid united front between the two superpowers, which is sure to cause upset at the upcoming China - EU summit this week, noted Al Jazeera. This week, Lavrov went to Beijing to discuss with Wang Yi relevant matters in the face of EU sanctions. He promised to work in multi-polar and democratic world order if it could get the support of China regarding Ukraine. Stated that Moscow wished to work with Xi at a time when the world has been at a very critical juncture in the history of international relations. Wang accepted the remarks and later said that Moscow could count on their help. Efforts to avoid a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The Russia-China meeting affirmed collaboration and looks forward to good bilateral ties. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth? China did not vote in favor of pressing Russia to end its incursion on Ukraine at the United Nations last month but also refused to endorse the Kremlin's combat operations overtly. The allegations are likely to create a tense atmosphere during Friday's China-EU summit. Before the conference, Western officials warned China of the consequences if it stymies the progress of sanctions against Russia, noted Radio Free Europe. China has so far refrained from censuring Putin's wartime invasion and has preserved normal trade relations with Russia. Joe Biden Urges EU, NATO Last week, Joe Biden encouraged the EU and NATO to establish safeguards to prevent sanctions breaches by third parties. Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, said they would enforce consequences on China if they helped Russia. Diplomats from Germany and France have remarked that they hope to persuade Beijing to abstain from aiding Moscow. They do not wish to disparage China's current stance on Russia because it is not selling guns or directly supporting the fighting at this time. The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told the European Council on Foreign Relations last Tuesday; that they are not comparing China to Russia. He went on to say that it is not in their interests to sway Russia toward China to construct a powerful alliance of China and other like-minded nations, as well as a bloc of countries that do not share the democratic system. The US wants to take a hardline stance, which wants to take out China as its competition. Holding the Russia-China meeting before the Bloc makes a lot of difference for the Kremlin, as Brussels has nothing to expect from Beijing, with relations not at best. Related Article: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Disagrees With Bloc Members on Total EU Embargo, Calls To Cancel Russian Oil Ban @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement The number of Americans being admitted into the hospital with Covid has reached a pandemic low, as the virus continues to recede in the United States and many are starting to move back to 'normal' life after two years dominated by it. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that 16,760 Americans are hospitalized with Covid every day, setting a new pandemic low, an analysis by NBC finds. This marker is reached after weeks of declining Covid cases and deaths coming off of the record Omicron surge that struck the U.S., and much of the world, during the winter months. Combined with relatively high Covid vaccine and booster uptake among Americans, and the mild nature of the Omicron variant, the number of Americans needing more substantial treatment for Covid has sharply declined. As of Friday, America is averaging 31,000 Covid cases every day, a rate that has stayed steady over the past two weeks. Deaths from the virus are cratering just as hospitalizations are, falling 21 percent over the past week to 704 per day. This is the lowest daily death total since August. The number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 has reached the lowest point of the pandemic so far, an NBC analysis finds, with 16,760 people receiving treatment daily. This figure is likely inflated as many people who arrive at the hospital for treatment for another condition will test positive while present and be added to the total. Pictured: Medical workers prepare to treat Covid patients at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Boston, Massachusetts Covid hospitalizations are down nearly across the board in the U.S., with 49 of 50 states recording a decrease in patients admitted over the past two weeks. Connecticut, the lone outlier, has only recorded a three percent increase, and has a low rate of only four hospitalized patients for every 100,000 residents. West Virginia and Delaware are the only states in America recording at least ten Covid hospitalizations every day per every 100,000 residents, which is still a low rate. Actual figures could be even lower because hospitalizations are generally an unreliable metric. Studies have found that anywhere from 25 to 50 percent of recording COVID-19 hospitalizations are actually people who were receiving treatment for another condition but tested positive while present. The previous record low for hospitalizations was 16,808 in June, NBC reports. At the time, the U.S. was between Covid waves, with a devastating early 2021 surge completed and the Delta variant still having made little impact in America. Once the Delta variant did arrive, and become the dominant strain, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths started to boom in the U.S., ending a relatively peaceful period during the pandemic where many believed it would soon come to an end. There are early signs that the U.S. will not suffer the same fate this time around, though, and that recent lows recorded could decline even more over time. The BA.2 'stealth' variant was supposed to cause the next major outbreak in the U.S., just like it did across parts of Europe and Asia in recent months. It is now dominant in the U.S., with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting earlier this week that it makes up 55 percent of sequenced cases in America. Despite the variant's quick growth, moving from making up less than five percent of cases to becoming dominant in a matter of weeks, it has failed to make much of an impact on case numbers. Daily infections have hovered around the 30,000 mark throughout the second half of March, and now to start April. When the Delta variant started to rise in America, for comparison, it caused devastating surges across the Midwest before spreading nationwide and setting the country back in the fight against Covid. 'We see almost nothing at all associated with the transition to BA.2 prevalence,' Dr Jacob Lemieux, a instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School told the Harvard Gazette last month about the rising presence of BA.2 wand case numbers. The stealth variant, which earned the moniker from its ability to avoid detection through some sequencing methods, is believed to be the most infectious version of Covid yet - but is just as mild as the BA.1 version of Omicron that took over the world last last year. It first appeared in early 2022, and many feared it would cause massive surges across the world. While it did cause slight increases in cases in parts of Europe and Asia, it did not cause anywhere near as much damage as its predecessor. HOW TO KILL YOUR FAMILY by Bella Mackie (Borough Press 8.99, 368pp) HOW TO KILL YOUR FAMILY by Bella Mackie (Borough Press 8.99, 368pp) Theyre in the gossip magazines: self-made men, arrogantly flaunting their big watches, huge cars and vast yachts. They leave a trail of collateral damage: betrayed wives, mistresses, and, in the case of Grace Bernard, an illegitimate child whom her rag-trade mogul father, Jeremy Artemis, refuses to acknowledge, even after her beloved mother appeals to him on her deathbed. Artemis and his family live in a Hampstead mansion, not far from the tiny Camden attic where Grace grew up with her mother, Marie, a former model who was brutally dumped by Artemis when pregnant. Grace has inherited her mothers looks and her fathers single-mindedness, both of which are handy when it comes to revenge. Bella Mackies debut novel is by turns pitch-dark and laugh-out-loud funny, with an outrageous final twist. LOVE & DECEPTION by James Hanning (Corsair 12.99, 432pp) LOVE & DECEPTION by James Hanning (Corsair 12.99, 432pp) Decades after the collapse of the USSR, the names of the traitors Guy Burgess, Donald Maclean and Kim Philby remain notorious. While Burgess and Maclean fled to the Soviet Union in 1951, Philby was cleared of being a Soviet agent by the then Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan. Leaving his family in the UK, Philby took up a post as a journalist in Beirut in 1956, where he met Eleanor Brewer, wife of a New York Times correspondent. They spent the next seven years in a state of alcoholdrenched mutual devotion, until 1963 when Philby, on the verge of being exposed as a Soviet spy, vanished. Reappearing in Moscow, he urged Eleanor to join him, but he would eventually betray her, too. Hanning gives a fascinating account of Philbys life among the shady expats propping up the bars of Beiruts grand hotels. AN UGLY TRUTH by Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang (Bridge Street 10.99, 368pp) AN UGLY TRUTH by Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang (Bridge Street 10.99, 368pp) The title of this investigation by Pulitzer Prizewinning journalists echoes a memo sent by a senior Facebook executive, Andrew Bosworth. The ugly truth, he wrote, is that we believe in connecting people so deeply that anything that allows us to connect more people more often is de facto good. Frenkel and Kang focus on events involving Facebook between 2016 and 2020, a period encompassing Russian interference in the 2016 election, the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the role of Facebook in the U.S. Capitol attack. Attempts by employees to warn senior execs of problems were largely ignored. The ugly truth, the authors conclude, is that Facebooks massive gains have...come at the expense of consumer privacy and safety and the integrity of democratic systems. POGUEMAHONE by Patrick McCabe (Unbound 20, 624 pp) POGUEMAHONE by Patrick McCabe (Unbound 20, 624 pp) No one who read McCabes 1992 novel The Butcher Boy could forget its chilling depiction of a troubled schoolboy in 1960s Ireland. His latest, a dizzying verse novel 600 pages long, is equally likely to haunt the mind. It has so many layers that were never sure where we are, but very roughly speaking, it centres on Una, an Irish woman recalling life in a London squat during the 1970s. The story of how she fell for a poet and then caught him in flagrante is intercut with the painful tale of her mother, Dots, a call girl in 1950s Soho. All this and more unfolds in aspectral tornado of voices, which calls into question the status of the narrator, Dan, supposedly Unas brother but possibly also her son, and who may never even have been born. A difficult reading experience, to be sure, but a rich one, too, with a skinpricking ambience thats both gritty and ethereal. COMPANION PIECE by Ali Smith (Hamish Hamilton 16.99, 240 pp) COMPANION PIECE by Ali Smith (Hamish Hamilton 16.99, 240 pp) Smiths new book follows her recent seasonal quartet of novels penned in rapid response to contemporary events, from the Brexit vote (the backdrop to 2017s Autumn) to the first lockdown (the setting for Summer, published two years ago). Its told by a painter, Sandy, whose father is in hospital when she is called out of the blue by an old classmate, Martina, a museum worker complaining about her heavy-handed treatment by customs officials. Another thread set in medieval times follows a destitute girl who finds herself persecuted after joining a travelling band of players. The story unfolds in the chatty, pun-filled style that Smith has made her own, but its notably sleeker than her recent output, and better for it. As ever, the books pleasure lies in Smiths gift for giddying associative leaps, and the ease with which she deploys her lightly worn erudition in order to hymn the virtues of openhearted creativity. GLORY by NoViolet Bulawayo (Chatto 18.99, 416 pp) GLORY by NoViolet Bulawayo (Chatto 18.99, 416 pp) Zimbabwean writer Bulawayo made the Booker shortlist in 2013 with her debut We Need New Names, a coming-of-age story about a girl migrating to the United States. Her more ambitious new novel is a sprawling social panorama set in the fictional African state of Jidada, witnessed through the fall of one dictator and the rise of another. The twist is that its characters are all animals a nod to George Orwells Animal Farm that generates early intrigue, but soon comes to seem like a gimmick lending unity to a series of shapeless vignettes. Yes, Bulawayo captures the psychology of life in a failed state, to say nothing of the patronising attitudes encoded in that Western phrase; the president of the United States, none too subtly, is a Twitteraddicted baboon. As that suggests, though, Bulawayos animals are nothing more than humans in fancy dress, which adds to the oddly affectless feel of a novel that wastes its conceit. Holidaymakers jetting off to Europe this summer face charges of up to 2 a day to use their phones, as mobile networks reintroduce roaming charges. Britons have enjoyed unlimited use of their mobile phones when holidaying in Europe since 2017, when a European Union ruling forced networks to drop the charges. But since 2021, mobile networks have been allowed to reintroduce them after the UK left the EU. Some of the major networks have already done so, but others say they won't. Phoning home: Vodafone, EE, Three and Sky Mobile have re-introduced mobile roaming costs of up to 2 per day in EU countries after Brexit erased the old EU protections Most people opt to pay a roaming charge, as using your phone without one can cost around 2 a minute for a phone call and more than 7 per gigabyte of data. With some people travelling abroad for the first time since the pandemic this summer, This is Money explains the roaming charges on the main networks and how holidaymakers can keep their bills down. How much does it cost to use my mobile phone abroad? How much it costs to use your usual mobile data, texts and minutes, depends on the country you are visiting and your mobile phone provider. Currently, travellers in EU countries can expect to pay between 1 and 2 a day to use their phone as they would at home. The charges levied for countries outside of the EU were not affected by Brexit, and can be up to 6 a day. EE EE customers can use their minutes, texts and data allowances across 47 countries from 2 a day, or for 10 a month if they opt for the Roam Abroad add on. If your pay monthly contract started before July 7, 2021 then these new charges will not affect you. However, if your pay monthly plan started on or after July 7, 2021 then you will need to pay a daily charge for using your phone abroad, unless you use the Roam Abroad add on. Daily charge: EE customers travelling in up to 47 countries in Europe can use their mobile phone's minutes, texts and data allowances from 2 per day The Roam Abroad pass also includes an additional five countries outside of Europe: the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. For those travelling outside of the EU, EE has some of the more expensive roaming costs compared to other UK mobile providers. Making a call abroad can cost a whopping 1.88 per minute, while each 160 character text message will cost 62p - unless the customer signs up to a roaming package. They can use the World Select Text and Talk add on to get unlimited calls and texts for 6.26 per day when abroad, with the data add on allowing them to use 500mb of data for 6.27 per 24 hours of use. Holidaymakers should also be aware that they can be charged 1.88 per minute for receiving a voicemail, so they should turn voicemail off before travelling to avoid any unnecessary costs. Vodafone Vodafone has also reintroduced roaming charges for Britons in Europe. New and upgrading customers will pay up to 2 per day to use their monthly allowance of data, calls and texts when travelling to an EU country. Customers who signed up to a contract before 11 August 2021 will not be impacted by these changes. New and upgrading customers with Vodafone will pay up to 2 per day to use their monthly allowance of data, calls and texts when travelling to an EU country Holidaymakers using Vodafone will also be able to reduce the cost to 1 per day by purchasing a multi-day pass for either eight or 15 days. For Britons travelling further afield, Vodafone offers customers the option to use their data, minutes and texts from 6 a day. Three Customers on Three have a little bit more time to take advantage of free roaming before their charges take effect. Three will be applying a 2 daily charge to all new and upgrading Three customers, but customers who joined before October 2021 will only see the changes come into effect from May 23, 2022. The mobile provider limits the amount of data customers can use abroad to 12GB, and customers will be charged 3 per GB if they go over their limit. Three also introduced Go Roam which lets customers use their plan or add-on allowances in more than 70 destinations around the world at no extra cost. For 5 a day, customers can benefit from unlimited unrestricted data, and use their your phone outside of the EU. Three will be applying a 2 daily charge to all new and upgrading Three customers with a 12 GB data limit per month Sky Mobile Sky will start charging mobile users 2 a day for roaming in the European Union using inclusive minutes, texts and calls from 3 May. Any mobile data used will come out of customer's UK data plan, and if customers have unlimited calls and texts whilst they are roaming in Europe, calls and texts to standard European mobiles and landlines will be included. One perk is that customers can use any unused data from previous months that's automatically stored in their 'piggybank' to avoid extra costs, if they exceed the monthly allowance. BT Customers with BT won't need to worry about roaming charges in Europe, as its 'Roam Like Home' add on is still available to all customers at no extra cost. The pass lets them use minutes, texts and data allowances within certain zones without paying extra roaming charges. Customers travelling outside the EU can get 500MB of data for 6 a day with the Travel Data Pass. Tesco Mobile Some mobile network providers such as O2 and Tesco Mobile will continue to allow customers to use their mobile phone plans in Europe for no extra cost Tesco Mobile says it has no plans to reintroduce extra data roaming charges in EU countries, and will continue to allow customers to use its 'Home From Home' add on for no extra cost. For those travelling outside of the EU, calls will cost around 1.50 per minute, with 1 MB of data costing 5. Customers with Tesco who are setting off to non EU countries can implement a 40 spending cap to help keep costs lower. O2 As per Tesco Mobile, O2 says it has no plans to re-introduce roaming charges in Europe as they will be part of customers' monthly plans. O2 customers currently have a monthly data limit of 25GB and will be charged 3.50 for each GB after that when abroad. However, those who are travelling outside of Europe are recommended to get the O2 Travel Bolt On - which costs 4.99 a day in selected destinations outside Europe. Customers can pay a single, fixed daily rate which will give them 120 minutes, 120 texts and all the data they need. There is no upper usage limit on data, but customers are warned that data speeds might vary. What can I do to reduce the cost of my mobile phone charged when going on holiday? To keep the cost of your phone bill low when travelling abroad, the first thing you should do is contact your mobile provider to discuss your options, depending on where you are travelling to, and how long you plan to be abroad for. Some may have suitable options for add-on services, which can give you access to some, or even all of your data and call allowance when abroad for a fixed daily fee. Turning your phone on airplane mode, sticking to WIFI and setting up a mobile spending cap can help keep the cost of your phone bill down when travelling abroad this summer Those on networks such as EE, which don't currently provide packages for customers to use their regular allowance when abroad, should put in place a spending cap to limit the charges. EE currently offer a 0 per month spending cap option, which means that customers won't be charged for data, calls or texts that they accidently use or receive when travelling abroad. They should also look to pause their voicemail while away to reduce unnecessary costs. For those who have an 'unlocked' smart phone that can function with any sim card, it could be worth looking into buying a local, pay-as-you-go sim card on arrival at their destination. Some countries outside of the EU offer one-time, or monthly deals on local sim cards which offer data, calls and texts to numbers within that country. However, it is worth noting that you will not be able to use your own phone number with the additional sim. Finally, you should make sure to turn off your data roaming settings on your device, and set your phone to airplane mode throughout the course of your journey, using local wifi networks where possible to avoid any additional charges. Clothing retailer Quiz saw its share price skyrocket today after it upgraded its full-year forecasts to profitability for the first time in three years. Quiz shares climbed by an astounding 44.2 per cent to 15.5p on Friday, making it the largest riser on the AIM All-Shares Index by some distance - though these shares remain a long way below their peak. In its latest trading update, the fast-fashion chain revealed that the strong trading levels it witnessed over the Christmas period continued across its website, shops, and concessions into the opening three months of 2022. Partywear: Quiz has boosted its profit forecast following an improvement in gross margin caused by the group's decision to sell more occasionwear and dressy casualwear at full price This helped boost its like-for-like revenues to levels 'broadly consistent' with what the company generated prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, the Glasgow-based business is now predicting that overall revenues in the year to the end of March will jump ahead of expectations to around 78million. It also estimates earning an annual pre-tax profit of at least 500,000, which would be its first profit since 2019, after posting losses of 9.6million and 3.1million in the previous two years. Quiz attributed its earnings uptick to an improvement in gross margin caused by selling more occasionwear and dressy casualwear at full price as the popularity of foreign holidays and weddings recovered. Sales of partywear were significantly depressed for much of the last two years by lockdown restrictions limiting the size of wedding ceremonies and gatherings of Britons living in different houses. Demand rebounded significantly when these laws were relaxed, with revenues in the first half of the financial year and the two succeeding months more than doubling on the equivalent period in 2020. Outlook: Glasgow-based Quiz estimates earning an annual pre-tax profit of at least 500,000 and revenues of around 78million for the 2022 financial year Yet as the group reported in early January, its trade took a hit over the festive period from the end of certain third-party partnerships, which contributed to online revenues plummeting by 25 per cent in December. Orders were also badly affected that month by the emergence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus and the UK Government's subsequent introduction of 'Plan B' restrictions. More Quiz customers returned their purchases to the company's stores as many office Christmas parties were cancelled, new rules on entering large public venues were enacted, and Britons were advised to work from home. Nonetheless, the firm saw its revenue climb by 20 per cent to 8.8million in December, and sales have continued to grow even as other problems like soaring energy prices have arisen. 'Encouraged by the positive performance delivered during the year, which highlights the strength and awareness of the Quiz brand and the growing customer demand for its trademark dressy and occasionwear offering, the board is confident in the group's continued profitable revenue growth,' the retailer remarked. Founded in 1993 by Tarak Ramzan, Quiz has become known in recent years for its collaborations with major reality television stars from shows such as Love Island, The Only Way is Essex, and Geordie Shore. According to its website, the business started trading with three stores in Scotland before expanding since that time to over 150 shops and concessions across the UK and more than 60 franchise outlets across Asia and Europe. It raised more than 100million when it debuted at a share price of 161p on the London Stock Exchange in 2017, but the value of its shares started tanking the year afterwards when it issued the first of a series of profit warnings. Sir Martin Sorrell was offered some respite yesterday as S4 Capital bounced back following a dismal few days. The digital advertising and marketing company's shares jumped 3.4 per cent, or 10.4p, to 319.4p. The rally followed a 40 per cent slump in the previous two sessions after S4 said on Wednesday that its auditor PwC has refused to sign off its accounts, delaying its results for a second time. Concern: A cloud of uncertainty hangs over S4, which was set up by Sir Martin Sorrell (pictured) The stock is still down 32 per cent since then and 63 per cent since its peak of 870p in September. The rout has seen 85m wiped off the value of Sorrell's near-10 per cent holding in the past three days as the company's value has plummeted. A cloud of uncertainty now hangs over S4, which was set up by Sorrell, 77, after his departure from WPP. He ran WPP for 33 years, taking it from a 1m company in 1985 to having market capitalisation of more than 16billion when he left in 2018. S4 employs more than 7,500 people across 33 countries and reached the 1bi;;ion unicorn milestone in just over a year. The FTSE 100 inched up 0.3 per cent, or 22.22 points, to 7537.90 while the FTSE 250 was up 0.3 per cent, or 57.94 points, to 21,218.01. April 1 meant a pay boost for millions after the UK national living wage rose 6.6 per cent from 8.91 to 9.50. But it also came with a host of energy price and tax rises. Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Susannah Streeter said: 'People face the financial pain of higher energy costs, water rates, council bill and vehicle duty this month. 'Worries are mounting that we ain't seen nothing yet in terms of an energy shock.' Russia's largest steelmaker NLMK failed to publish its first financial statements for the year as its shares were suspended at 32 US cents. The FTSE 100's biggest riser was Reckitt Benckiser, which makes Durex condoms and Strepsils, as shares rose 3.1 per cent, or 178p, to 6010p. Analysts at Barclays set a target price of 9100p a share, up from a previous target of 8800p. Arch-rival Unilever, whose brands include Marmite and Ben and Jerry's, rose 1.5 per cent, or 53p, to 3508p. It was given a 4600p target price by Credit Suisse while Morgan Stanley, which was not so keen, cut its target from 4200p to 3800p. Both Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever were last month among a group of businesses with Russian operations that experts said 'have blood on their hands'. Mining giants Anglo American was up 2.4 per cent, or 97p, to 4069.5p while Rio Tinto gained 2.4 per cent, or 144p, to close at 6225p. This week Anglo American offloaded its remaining 8 per cent stake in the South African mining firm Thungela Resources while Rio Tinto bought the Rincon lithium project in Argentina for 630m. Fashion brand Next enjoyed a small bounce, adding 1.3 per cent, or 76p, to 6108p. But Homewares retailer Dunelm was down 1.3 per cent, or 14p, to 1077p. The FTSE 250-listed company yesterday appointed Karen Witts as its new chief financial officer. Witts, who held the same role at Kingfisher for seven years, will join Dunelm's board in June. Asset manager Sanne has posted significant growth, with turnover last year up 16.5 per cent to 203.7m. It follows a 1.5billion takeover from Apex Group in August after a battle of the suitors between Apex and Cinven, a private equity firm in London. The business reported a loss of 2.2m before tax in 2021, from a 20.5m profit the year before. Shares fell 1 per cent, or 9p, to 905p. Kwasi Kwarteng looks set to intervene in the Chinese takeover of Britain's leading semiconductor maker. The Business Secretary is under pressure to act after national security advisers appeared to back Newport Wafer Fab's sale. The deal continues to cause alarm among industry experts and politicians who are horrified an important UK manufacturer was sold to a Chinese firm without scrutiny especially as the world is battling a microchip shortage. The Mail understands Kwarteng is now looking at new powers to investigate the sale, which could even result in it being reversed. Under pressure: Kwasi Kwarteng looks set to intervene in the Chinese takeover of Britain's leading semiconductor maker It would be the first major test of the National Security and Investment Act's provision that allows ministers to call in takeovers of strategic companies after they have already gone through. And it comes as Kwarteng weighs up whether to approve a number of foreign deals, including the 2.6billion sale of Ultra Electronics to US private equity group Advent International and Viasat's 5.4billion bid for Inmarsat. The Government has typically taken a strong line on Chinese investment refusing to include Huawei in the 5G rollout. Dutch group Nexperia snapped up Newport Wafer Fab for 63million last year. But Nexperia is owned by Chinese electronics company Wingtech, whose shareholders include state-funded investors. Nexperia was already a major shareholder before the deal. Managers at Newport Wafer Fab begged the Government to intervene and Boris Johnson asked national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove to weigh up whether the deal was a threat. Lovegrove concluded it was not but Kwarteng can step in, with sources suggesting he may do so 'within months'. Newport Wafer Fab is the UK's biggest producer of microchips, an essential part of all electronic devices. But it does not focus on new or emerging products, instead producing technology that has been around for years. Newport Wafer Fab is the UK's biggest producer of microchips However, a source told the Mail the firm is strategically important, saying: 'The tech isn't that advanced. But we need to look at sovereign industrial capability.' A slew of industrial, aerospace and defence firms have been sold off in recent years, raising alarm bells in the military, Westminster, unions and workers. These include Cobham to Ultra's suitor Advent in a 4billion deal last year, which resulted in Cobham being split up and much of it sold off within 18 months. Although Newport Wafer Fab was in financial trouble, industry groups including a consortium led by former Imagination Technologies boss Ron Black were interested in buying it and pumping in new investment. Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said failing to oppose the deal was an 'error' and called on ministers to 'protect what's left of our semiconductor industry'. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it was 'ridiculous' not to intervene. And Ciaran Martin, the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre, said last year that the takeover was 'puzzling' and 'inconsistent' with the Government's stance on Beijing. Newport Wafer Fab had more than 400 staff in 2020 with a turnover of almost 50million before the pandemic. The Business Department said: 'The Government is considering the case and no decisions have been made.' Nexperia said: 'Nexperia has safeguarded Newport Wafer Fab's role within the UK's semiconductor industry and has been delivering on the plans to invest in the site to make it as successful as its Manchester Wafer Fab.' The parents of a talented medical student who was found dead in a bath filled with acid hadn't seen her for four months - because of a court order taken out against the boyfriend who has been charged with her alleged murder. Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal Arnima Hayat, 19, had been cut off from her parents because police had taken out an apprehended violence order (AVO) against her boyfriend Meraj Zafar, 20, after he allegedly threatened her father, Abu Hayat. Mr Zafar, a truck driver and Arnima's first boyfriend, will face Bankstown Local Court in Sydney this week charged with stalking and threatening physical harm against Arnima's father in October - four months before her horrific death in a North Parramatta apartment in Sydney's west. Arnima's grieving parents, Mr Hayat, 41, and Mahafuzer Akter, 39, revealed just days after their daughter's horrific death how their studious and loving daughter had become estranged from them since becoming romantically involved with Mr Zafar. An AVO against Meraj Zafar (right) taken out by police on behalf of the father of Arnima Hayat (above, left) meant the Hayats did not see their daughter in the four months before her horrific death In 2021, the a gifted second year medical student, had gone from treating her parents and younger sister to sushi and pies every week, to isolating herself from the family. In October, when Arnima's parents tried to stop her from moving in with Mr Zafar, there was a confrontation between him and her father, which saw the police called. But a distraught Mr Hayat told Daily Mail Australia the AVO, taken out on on October 9, had actually legally prohibited them from repairing their relationship with their daughter or remaining in contact. Mr Hayat said police had told him they could not do anything to intervene because Arnima and Meraj were a couple 'in love'. The orders on the AVO restrict Mr Zafar from assaulting or threatening Abu Hayat or anyone he has a domestic relationship with, or from stalking, harassing or intimidating him, recklessly destroying or damaging any property or harming an animal that belongs to him. Mr Zafar was also ordered not to approach or contact his girlfriend's father, or go within 200m of the Hayats' western Sydney home or his place of work. Three days after the AVO was taken out, Meraj Zafar and Arnima Hayat rented the North Parramatta flat where her remains would be found on January 30. Abu Hayat (above, at Arnima's funeral) had an encounter with Meraj Zafar before he and Arnima moved in to the flat where her body was found four months later in an acid bath Arnima (above with parents Mahafuzer and Abu) was a normal sociable teenager and loving daughter before she became romantically involved with truck drive Meraj Zafar Abu Hayat and Mahafuzer Aker (above) said their talented daughter took them out every week before she started going out with Meraj Zafar and then ceased all contact last October Arnima's uncle Abu Saleh said that the girl's younger sister (above, the sisters together) had found it hard to come to terms with the fact that 'Arnima is no more' Surrounded by friends, Arnima's mother Mahafuzer is overcome with grief at her daughter Arnima's gravesite during an emotional burial ceremony for the 19-year-old medical student Neighbours said they heard music being played in the ground floor flat where Arnima lived with Meraj and their pet cat. Arnima's parents do not believe reports that their daughter had married Meraj Zafar during the time she was estranged from them. Cut off from her parents, Arnima called relatives in the US 'sounding upset' in mid-January just two weeks before her death. She told her uncle that he (Zafar) drank alcohol, but she did not want to because she was studying medicine,' Mr Hayat said. 'She wanted to be a surgeon and save lives.' On Sunday, January 30, Mr Zafar reportedly rang his parents and his mother called police. NSW Fire and Rescue officers were forced to wear Hazmat suits to enter the bathroom where Arnima Hayat's remains were immersed in 100 litres of hydrochloric acid which had allegedly been bought at Bunnings in Northmead. Promising medical student Arnima Hayat withdrew from her family after becoming involved with Meraj Zafar (the couple, pictured) and moving into the flat where she later died The confrontation between the father of Arnima Hayat and her boyfriend Meraj Zafar happened just before the young couple moved into the North Parramatta flat (above) where her remains were found Mr Zafar handed himself in to Bankstown police station the following day and police seized his Mitsubishi Fuso tipper truck with the distinctive 'MAKKAC' number plate at Bunnings, Greenacre, for forensic examination. He did not appear in Bankstown Local Court on February 1 when his lawyer Mohamad Sakr did not apply for bail and said outside court he did not know if the accused would be applying for bail on behalf of Zafar at court this morning and it was formally refused by Magistrate Shane McAnulty. Mr Sakr said at the time he did not know if the accused would be applying for bail when the alleged murder charge was next mentioned at Parramatta Court on April 5. Mr Sakr said his client was 'distraught' at being in custody, and although he had spoken with him, he was unsure about 'whether he wishes to fight the charges'. It is unclear whether Abu Hayat will be required to appear at Mr Zafar's hearing on the stalking charged next week. Arnima Hayat's family moved to Australia from n 2009 when she was nine years old, and she had quickly assimilated into Australian life. Arnima learnt English quickly after moving to Australia aged 9, excelled at school and dreamed of being a surgeon, but began withdrawing from family and friends when she met Meraj Meraj Zafar is behind bars charged with Arnima's murder and will face court next week on a charge of allegedly stalking her father, Abu Hayat At Tempe High School where she excelled in maths, Arnima had been popular among her peers. Mr Hayat said his daughter had become an 'excellent' English speaker who had scored 97 in her HSC and wanted to become a surgeon. She was admitted to the faculty of medicine at the University of Western Sydney for which Mr Hayat paid his daughter's fees, and she got a part-time job working at Kmart in Marrickville Metro shopping centre as a salesperson, two days a week. Before meeting Mr Zafar, Arnima was a normal, sociable teenager who regularly told her family how much she loved them, Mr Hayat said Mr Zafar had convinced her to distance herself from her family. 'And everyone, her girlfriends too she stopped seeing,' he said, describing the confrontation with the 'big man' who had begun seeing his 'small, sweet, very pretty' daughter. Following their daughter's death, the Hayat family was forced to forego the traditional Bangladeshi funeral where family view their deceased loved one's face before laying her to rest in the ground. They said they would not be able to see their 'daughter's beautiful face' before laying her to rest - because the only part of the teenager's body not destroyed was one of her feet. 'I cannot see the last moment of my daughter's face,' Mr Hayat said. Police issued an alert for Meraj Zafar and his distinctive vehicle truck registration MAKKAC (above) after being called to the flat where Arnima's remains were in a bath of acid Members of the Bangladeshi community (above with Arnima's uncle Abu Saleh carrying her coffin) spoke of their pride in the young medical student's bright future which had lain ahead Instead, Arnima Hayat's remains were wrapped in blue cloth and a white shroud to be viewed and touched by her family members at the ritual farewell at Lakemba mosque. At Arnima's burial at Rookwood Cemetery, which Daily Mail Australia attended at the invitation of her family to serve as a record to honour her life, members of Sydney's Bangladeshi community spoke of their pride in the young medical student and the bright future which had lain ahead. Arnima's uncle Abu Saleh told around 60 mourners: 'We farewell our beautiful daughter, forever to live in our hearts. 'I ask everyone to keep her in your prayers. I hope she can get some peace.' Mr Saleh told Daily Mail Australia: 'Our family will miss Arnima always.' He said the teenager's eight-year-old sister was still struggling to take in the horrific death and 'was not believing that Arnima is no more'. New York City Mayor Eric Adams defended Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock during the Oscars, saying the 'King Richard' actor should keep his award because he was simply having a 'bad day.' 'Will Smith has been an amazing actor, humanitarian, he's a real leader,' Adams said responding to a question from the host. 'I think he had a bad day. I don't believe we should define his entire life [by the slap.]' Hollywood has been awash in hot takes on the slap from everyone from former L.A. Laker great Kareem Abdul Jabar to '40-year-old Virgin' director Judd Apartow. For his part, Adams doesn't condone the hit, but understands what motivated the actor. Smith said he slapped Rock for joking about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's close-cropped haircut. 'Jada, can't wait for GI Jane II,' Rock joked. Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, which causes hair loss. 'Sometimes when you're dealing with an illness in a loved one you become emotional and sometimes we have to think through our actions and not react through our passions,' said Adams. The mayor doesn't approve of what he did. 'Violence is never the answer,' Adams said. Best Actor award-winner Will Smith said that he slapped Chris Rock because he was defending his wife Oscar viewers were stunned when Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock because the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett Smith's buzzcut hairdo Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, which causes hair loss The mayor said that he had to bite his tongue when he was teased on TV. 'It's a painful moment. This is the life we're in. They did a skit on me on Saturday night Live. I had to laugh with it,' he told host Rosana Scotto. She asked if this means that Smith will have to forfeit his Best Actor Academy Award. 'I don't think he should,' Adams said. 'The worst day in our life should not be the description of our entire life. 'I have bad days. I don't want to be defined by 'Hey, Eric you did something inappropriate, let's forget everything you have done.' 'I don't think he should,' Adams said. 'The worst day in our life should not be the description of our entire life. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said when asked if Smith should lose his Oscar Adams went on Fox 5's Good Day New York on Wednesday where he defended Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock Folks on Twitter disagreed. Most thought that he should stick to running New York and fix the city's growing crime problem. 'Eric ADAMS needs to spend more time putting the pieces back to New York...#StayInYourLane,' Washington Times commentator Bruce LeVell said. Twitter poster Steve O'Hagan said that the mayor is just inviting more violence in the city. 'And Adams wonders why there are so many shootings in his city...A joke leads to a slap and then that will eventually lead to a shooting,' O'Hagan tweeted. 'But according to him that's ok it was just someone having a bad day.' Another poster wondered how the mayor would like whack across the mouth. 'I wonder if Mayor Adams would feel the same if he was slapped on the face for saying something a person disagreed with,' Cknyc mused. Crime in New York has put the city's economic recover on ice. New York City Police Department crime statistics show that felonies have risen nearly 60 percent last month compared to the same period a year ago. Advertisement Five NHS trusts in England carry out fewer C-sections than the Shrewsbury maternity unit at the centre of worst maternity scandal in British history, MailOnline can reveal. A devastating five-year inquiry into hundreds of baby deaths at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust ruled an obsession with 'normal births' contributed to the failings. The landmark 250-page report said the trust forced some women to have vaginal deliveries, often when a caesarean would have been a safer option, to keep surgery rates low. Health chiefs hailed the Shropshire trust for its extremely low C-section rates in the years before the probe began, with the major operation making up as few as 15 per cent of deliveries. Its figures have crept up over the past five years. NHS England's most up-to-date performance league table show it still ranks sixth bottom, however, with 26.2 per cent of births being C-sections. Hospitals in Suffolk, South Tyneside, Bradford, Lancashire and Cornwall all saw fewer than one quarter of babies delivered through caesareans in 2020/21. Official data reveals the average across the whole of England stood at 33.5 per cent. Maternity units were only told last month to stop pursuing 'normal births', with the country's most senior midwife instructing all sites to 'stop using total caesarean section rates as a means of performance management' because it was 'unsafe'. NHS bosses stress low C-section rates do not mean a maternity service is unsafe. Families of babies who died at the hands of the trust have also warned Shrewsbury is not an 'isolated case', and claimed it was likely others have also been pursuing high 'normal birth' levels. Independent reviews of maternity services are also underway in Nottingham and Kent. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said yesterday he was 'absolutely determined' to 'go after the people responsible'. He added: 'I want to make sure that we leave no stone unturned in finding the people responsible for this and making sure that they are held to account.' Donna Ockenden, the senior midwife who led the review, warned childbirth would not be safe in England until all her recommendations were implemented in full. Pictured above are the ten NHS Trusts with the lowest C-section rates over the year to March 2021, the latest available. There were five trusts that had lower C-section rates than Shrewsbury and Telford which is at the centre of the biggest maternity scandal in Britain. * = Official NHS data reports the rate at Royal Cornwall at 15 per cent, but the trust disputes these statistics The above shows the C-section rates at the five NHS trusts with lower rates than Shrewsbury and Telford in the year to March 2021, back to 2011. It shows these trusts have all been consistently below the England average. * = Royal Cornwall Hospitals have disputed the official NHS statistics for the year to March 2021, and say their rate is 25.6 per cent Pictured above is the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital at the scandal-hit Shrewsbury and Telford hospital NHS Foundation Trust. An investigation pointed to cases where mothers were forced to have a vaginal birth despite needing a C-section Donna Ockenden, chair of the Independent Review into Maternity Services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, presented her devastating report on Wednesday Separate monthly maternity statistics published by the NHS suggest up to two dozen trusts had a lower C-section rate than Shrewsbury. But the trusts argued the figures, although published by the NHS, were not reliable because of reporting delays in hospitals. Annual statistics showed Shrewsbury's C-section rate hovered around the 15 per cent mark in the decade running up to 2015, before the extent of the scandal came to light. But they rose above 20 per cent in 2018, just as the trust began to face pressure over its maternity services. Latest statistics show that in the year to March 2021 they reached 26 per cent. Minister reveals she was told she wasn't going to have a C-section A minister has revealed she was told not to have a C-section, despite enduring a 'very difficult' labour with her first child. International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan was asked today how she felt about yesterday's report which found some 201 babies and nine mothers could have survived at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust if they had got better care. She told Times Radio that with her first birth she was 'basically told I wasn't going to have a Caesarean section'. Ms Trevelyan, who has two children, said the inquiry, which found several mothers were made to have natural births when they could have been offered a C-section, 'reminded me that there has been for a long time a culture which says natural birth: good; Caesarean: bad'. 'And actually this report has highlighted that in too many cases difficult births can end in the most appalling tragedy, and honestly it makes me feel sick thinking that those situations have occurred,' she said. International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan (pictured earlier this month) has said she, like many of the women in the Ockenden was advised having a C-section Advertisement The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had the country's lowest C-section rate last year (15 per cent of all births). The trust disputes this figure, however, and says the true rate is closer to 25 per cent. It said that an incorrect number of births and C-sections were listed in the official NHS data. It was followed by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (21.5 per cent) and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (24.6 per cent). South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (24.9 per cent) and West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (25.1 per cent) also had rates below Shrewsbury. At the other end of the scale was Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London, where almost two in five births (39 per cent) were via C-section. The organisation was followed by Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University College London NHS Foundation Trust (both 39.5 per cent). In a letter sent to hospitals in England last month, the health service's chief midwife Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent and national clinical director for maternity Dr Matthew Jolly told all maternity services to 'stop using caesarean section rates as a means of performance management'. They said: 'We are concerned by the potential for services to pursue targets that may be clinically inappropriate and unsafe in individual cases.' The Royal College of Midwives formally abandoned its 'normal birth' campaign in 2017, after previously praising trusts for keeping these rates low. It now admits to 'regretting' that decision. In July last year a health committee report also recommended this should be scrapped, adding that it was 'deeply concerning' that maternity services had been penalised for having high rates in the past. Speaking yesterday, Mr Javid said he was 'appalled' by the conclusions of the Ockenden review, which probed up to 1,600 cases spanning largely between 2000 and 2019. One incident referred to the investigation dated back to the 1970s. He told reporters it was right the Government had accepted the report's recommendations 'to make sure this kind of thing never happens again'. 'But it's also right, and I'm absolutely determined to do this, that we make sure we go after the people responsible,' he said. 'Of course there were systemic failures, we must change systems, but there were also individual failures.' Richard Stanton, whose daughter, Kate, died in 2009 as a result of what he described as the trust's 'abhorrently poor care', warned the type of failures his family experienced were not limited to just one trust. He said: 'I dont think Shrewsbury and Telford is an isolated case. I think theyre an extreme case in terms of where they are in numbers. That doesnt mean this isnt happening anywhere else.' Health leaders have also warned that babies and mothers are being put at risk in England over a shortage of midwives. The number of midwives employed in the NHS in England has fallen to 26,901, according to figures published last month. This is down from 27,272 a year ago, with the Royal College of Midwives warning it adds to an existing shortage of 2,000 staff. Rhiannon Davies (left) embraces Kayleigh Griffiths yesterday following the release of the Ockenden report. Both women were instrumental in campaigning for an inquiry into poor maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust which led to then health secretary Jeremy Hunt ordering one in 2017 Shrewsbury bosses who are STILL profiting from NHS NHS bosses who oversaw the worst maternity care scandal in British history and who dismissed mothers' fears as 'scaremongering' are still profiting from jobs in the health service including one manager who lied on his CV to get the job. It has been revealed today that five former bosses in charge of the trust during the periods of poor care went on to enjoy further careers in healthcare, with four profiting from the NHS. One was even found to have lied on his CV, faking a University degree to get the 112,000 a year chief executive position. Many of them were allowed to leave the trust without sanction and walk into other lucrative jobs within the health service or work as consultants for private companies with multi-million pound contracts with the NHS. Ms Ockenden, who probed almost 1,600 incidents including one dating back to the 1970s, revealed staff were still expressing concerns about the trust. Further reviews of potentially substandard maternity care in Nottingham and East Kent are underway. Advertisement The devastating Ockenden report said an obsession with 'normal births' had contributed to the biggest maternity scandal in NHS history. Ms Ockenden blamed eight external bodies in part for allowing the litany of errors that resulted in 201 babies and nine mothers dying in avoidable circumstances. In one case the Care Quality Commission, which regulates the NHS in England, had even rated the maternity ward at the Trust as 'good'. The landmark 250-page report found the trust ignored the concerns of many parents and failed to learn from its own inadequate investigations. This led to babies being stillborn, dying shortly after birth or being left severely brain damaged. Some infants suffered skull fractures, broken bones or developed cerebral palsy after traumatic forceps deliveries. Others were starved of oxygen and had life-changing brain injuries. Staff were found to be frightened to speak out about errors due to the 'culture of undermining and bullying', while bosses ignored parents who raised concerns about how they were treated. There were issues with staffing, the management of patient safety, patient and family involvement in care and investigations, as well as the complaints processes. There are also investigations into maternity services underway at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the largest in England. It has been launched after it emerged incidents were not reported to NHS England or local health bosses, giving the impression that there were fewer errors happening on maternity wards compared to other areas. Maternity services at East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are also under investigation, which last year was fined 733,000 over serious failures that led to the death of baby Harry Richford. An NHS spokesperson said: 'The NHS has already reminded maternity services that caesarean section rates should not be used as a means of performance management. 'There is no "correct" number for c-sections each birth is different and it is important that every pregnant woman and her maternity team are able to discuss and assess the risks and benefits of each delivery method as part of a personalised care and support plan, to ensure the best possible outcome for mums and their babies.' A DHSC spokesperson said: 'The Ockenden report paints a tragic and harrowing picture of repeated failures in care over two decades at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Hospital Trust. 'The Health and Social Care Secretary has been clear that we will leave no stone unturned in addressing these systemic failures and pursuing the individuals responsible to make sure they are held to account. 'Its vital that across maternity services, NHS trusts focus on safe, personalised care, where the voice of the mother is heard throughout.' Timeline: How the Shrewsbury maternity scandal unfolded 2002 A parliamentary report highlights how Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SaTH) has one of the lowest caesarean rates in country, at just 10 per cent of births. 2007 A leading number of maternity organisations sign a 'normal birth consensus statement' discouraging medical interventions like caesareans where possible. At this time then health regulator, the Health Care Commission warns SaTH there were issues in how staff were monitoring foetal heart rates after incidents where babies were injured. 2009 Kate Stanton-Davies dies just hours after being born while under the care of Shrewsbury staff. Her parents begin to campaign for an investigation into what went wrong. 2013 Pictured: A file photo showing the entrance to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in Shropshire Shrewsbury's maternity services faced an internal investigation in 2013, but it concluded it was 'safe' and of 'good quality'. 2015 An inquiry into failings at Morecambe Bay NHS trust where 11 babies and one mother suffered avoidable deaths found a group of midwives' overzealous pursuit of natural childbirth had 'led at times to inappropriate and unsafe care'. It said the entire NHS should learn from the failings observed. 2016 Pippa Griffiths dies shortly after being born while being cared for by Shrewsbury staff. Her parents join forces with Kate Stanton-Davies's mother and father in calling for an investigation into maternity services at the trust. A birdseye view shows the sprawling Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in Shropshire on the outskirts of the town from above 2017 Then health secretary Jeremey Hunt orders an inquiry into the trust which will eventually be headed by midwife Donna Ockenden. The original scope of the inquiry encompasses just 23 cases. 2018 Former health secretary Matt Hancock said the Ockenden review is being expanded to include hundreds of cases. Also in this year the trust is rated inadequate for safety by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission. 2020 Pictured: A general view of The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, Shropshire, which is also part of the scandal-hit trust Ms Ockenden announces the investigation is now looking at cases involving 1,862 families and releases early recommendations ahead of the full report. 2021 The inquiry findings are delayed to 22 March 2022 due to an influx of new information from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust. The final report was originally due in December 2021. 2022 The report is delayed again this time by a few weeks due to 'parliamentary processes'. Today's final report detailing the harrowing scale of deaths and injuries among babies and women over two decades of the trust's care is published. Advertisement Midwives' missed chances to save baby Pippa from deadly infection: Pippa Griffiths could still be alive today had midwives realised she was suffering a deadly infection. The little girl was born at home in Shropshire in April 2016, but died just 31 hours later from a Group B Streptococcus infection. A coroner ruled her death was avoidable and blamed a string of unforgivable errors by midwives. The inquest heard medical staff missed a crucial opportunity to save Pippa when her mother Kayleigh rang a midwife with concerns about her baby's feeding. A second chance to save Pippa's life was missed when her mother rang hours later to report bloody mucus, a sign of a serious bacterial infection which could have been treated with urgent hospital treatment. Mrs Griffiths wipes her eyes as she holds the Ockenden report at The Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hotel in Shropshire The couple (pictured with their baby) lost Pippa a day after she was born in 2016 due to midwives failing to spot the serious infection Group B Strep - even though Kayleigh warned them Pippa was born at 8.34am and a midwife was supposed to have gone to the family home for a check-up later in the afternoon. But the inquest heard she failed to turn up. Pippa developed a purple rash later that night and eventually stopped breathing. Emergency services managed to get her breathing again, but she later died. The trust accepted that chances to save Pippa's life were missed. Following the conclusion of the inquest, Mrs Griffiths said: 'We've fought for her and fought for the truth and ultimately she could have been saved.' Mother said she'd lost fluid but was told she'd probably wet the bed... but had a stillbirth Charlotte Jackson raised concerns with staff that she had lost fluid and her baby's movement had reduced when she was 37 weeks pregnant. Workers told her she had likely just wet herself, but he son - Jacob Harris - was was stillborn in November 2018 at Telford hospital. The then 29-year-old from Bridgnorth got lawyers involved and the hospital trust admitted liability and agreed a settlement. She told the Shropshire Star: 'I was quite worried and upset. Jacob had always been a very active baby so when I noticed that his movements were reduced I had a gut feeling that something was not right. 'However, I was shocked when I was told that it was a one off and I'd probably wet the bed.' She later added: 'Giving birth to Jacob was absolutely horrific. It's almost impossible to put into words the emotion of it all, knowing your baby had already died.' Workers told her she had likely just wet herself, but he son - Jacob Harris - was was stillborn in November 2018 at Telford hospital. Pictured: The baby's grave Reverend said her son looked unwell after being born - but was dismissed by staff: The Rev Charlotte Cheshire, 44, from Newport, Shropshire, said her son Adam, now 11, looked unwell after his birth in 2011 but her concerns were dismissed by staff at the trust. When it was finally discovered he had Group B Strep infection, he was rushed to intensive care where he stayed for almost a month. Ms Cheshire, who is suing the trust, said her son has been left with multiple, severe health problems and should have received treatment much earlier. Ms Cheshire, who is suing the trust, said her son has been left with multiple, severe health problems and should have received treatment much earlier for Adam (pictured) The Rev Charlotte Cheshire, 44, from Newport, Shropshire, said her son Adam, now 11, looked unwell after his birth in 2011 but her concerns were dismissed by staff at the trust She said: 'What I'm ultimately hoping is that all of the families get some answers. 'And then, in our individual cases, about how it's possible for there to be such systemic failings over so many years, with seemingly either no-one noticing them, or potentially them being covered up. 'So I'm hoping first of all for answers, but secondly, I'm hoping, as a result of Ockenden, there are genuine learnings. 'Not the sort of, 'oh, we'll learn and get back to you', but genuine learnings to improve maternity safety - primarily first of all at Shrewsbury and Telford, but secondly across the country as a whole.' She added: 'I don't want any other family to have to go through what we've gone through.' Jack Stephen Burn died 11 hours after being trapped in the birth canal for four minutes. His mother Hayley Matthews (pictured) had been told that nothing was wrong with her pregnancy but later found out that Jack had been distressed for 20 minutes before delivery Baby boy died 11 hours after being trapped in birth canal for FOUR MINUTES: Jack Stephen Burn died 11 hours after being trapped in the birth canal for four minutes. His mother Hayley Matthews had been told nothing was wrong with her pregnancy but later found out Jack had been distressed for 20 minutes before delivery. He had also contracted group B streptococcus, the lethal infection carried by one in five women. Jack died in March 2015 at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, hours after another baby, Oliver Smale, died following similar complications. Oliver's death was later deemed avoidable. Although Jack's death was not deemed avoidable, it was later considered part of the investigation. Miss Matthews, from Chirbury, west Shropshire, previously said: 'We would have both been in the hospital at the same time and there are so many parallels between the two cases. 'As with this poor boy, Jack got his shoulder stuck during delivery. 'They just left his head hanging while they went off to get someone to do something about it.' A post mortem examination revealed that Jack had been starved of oxygen and had an infection on the lung and pneumonia caused by strep B. Miss Matthews is campaigning for routine screening of strep B, which is not NHS policy. She said: 'If I'd have been tested for strep B during my pregnancy they might have picked up on it and given me antibiotics at an earlier stage and this means that Jack might still be alive today.' Jack Stephen Burn (pictured) died 11 hours after being trapped in the birth canal for four minutes Rhiannon Davies had raised fears over reduced movement in the womb Staff ignored mother's warnings and said she was 'low-risk' despite daughter being born 'pale and floppy': Kate Stanton-Davies died six hours after she was born because midwives failed to spot tell-tale signs of her deteriorating health. Her mother Rhiannon Davies had raised fears over reduced movement in the womb, but was ignored by midwives who failed to properly monitor her pregnancy and wrongly deemed it low-risk. Kate, who had anaemia, was born pale and floppy at Ludlow Community Hospital in Shropshire in March 2009. She was airlifted to Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital but died. A report published in February 2016 concluded her death was avoidable and identified a litany of failings and shoddy record-keeping at the Shrewsbury and Telford trust. Two midwives were deemed responsible for the errors, which included changing Kate's observation notes after her death. Mrs Davies said: 'You would think losing Kate would be the worst event in my life but the continual need to revisit the trauma of that day as we fight to get the truth means my distress is ongoing. 'How many other baby deaths were avoidable, how many other investigations were not fit for purpose, how many other families have been betrayed, and how many other opportunities for learning have been lost?' Kate Stanton-Davies died six hours after she was born because midwives failed to spot tell-tale signs of her deteriorating health Katie Wilkins' baby girl died at Shrewsbury Hospital after midwives left her in a side room for 48 hours and failed to properly monitor her. Miss Wilkins pictured with partner Dave Jackson, 45 'My girl was still born after I was left in a side room': Katie Wilkins' baby girl died at Shrewsbury Hospital after midwives left her in a side room for 48 hours and failed to properly monitor her. Miss Wilkins was 15 days overdue when she arrived at the hospital to be induced in February 2013. There were no beds available on the busy labour ward and Miss Wilkins, 24, claims she was 'forgotten' in the room for two days and visited by staff just a handful of times. When a midwife did come to check on her progress they realised her baby's heartbeat could not be found. Maddie was delivered stillborn in the early hours of the following day. Hospital bosses later admitted the baby would have been born alive had they treated her in a more 'timely' manner. Miss Wilkins said: 'Maddie's death was recorded as unexplained but we know why she died because the midwives didn't do their jobs properly. 'I'd had a perfectly normal pregnancy and didn't expect any problems with the birth. But I was left for hours at a time. The hospital was very busy and I felt like they simply forgot about me. 'Giving birth to my stillborn daughter was heartbreaking. I should have been taking her home with me, but instead she had to stay at the hospital in a Moses basket. It was awful.' Maddie was delivered stillborn in the early hours of February 21. The results of a post-mortem examination said the 6lbs 14oz baby girl's death was unexplained. In a letter to Miss Wilkins, Cathy Smith, head of midwifery at the hospital, apologised and admitted: 'Had your induction occurred more timely, Maddison would likely to have been born alive.' She added that practices at the hospital had now changed. Miss Wilkins who has since had a son and daughter with her partner Dave Jackson, 45, is sceptical. She said: 'We were told that changes would be made and women would be properly monitored, but now it seems that never happened. The hospital think they can say sorry and we should move on, but we can't.' Staff told her she was not suffering an abruption despite severe pains... when she was Steph Hotchkiss from Telford started to suffer severe pains in September 2014 when she was nearly 31 weeks pregnant and asked if she was having an abruption. Staff told her she was not, but they were wrong and baby Sophiya passed away just 32 hours later. Steph told the Shropshire Star she still suffers flashbacks of the trauma, caused by a ruptured placenta. The then 28-year-old had similar issues when her son Kyan was born in 2013, and then had an emergency caesarian. But she said staff refused to listen to her during her daughter's birth, with her having told Royal Shrewsbury Hospital staff what she thought was happening. She said: 'I can't put into words how painful this is for us. It was just so frustrating not to be listened to when I had previously had a difficult pregnancy involving a similar thing.' Steph Hotchkiss from Telford started to suffer severe pains in September 2014 when she was nearly 31 weeks pregnant and asked if she was having an abruption Encouraged to give birth naturally before baby got stuck and had to have emergency caesarean Kamaljit Uppal was on the way to having her third child in 2003 but was told it would have to be delivered by caesarean because of how he was lying. But staff at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital encouraged her to give birth naturally and she went through 18 hours of labour. The baby got stuck and Kamaljit had to have an emergency caesarean. She said: 'I'm still coming out of my general anaesthetic and she said 'he's died' and that's it. They plonked the baby in my arms and said say goodbye. 'I didn't know how to say goodbye, I gave him a kiss and that was it. Once I came around a bit more they put me in a ward where there were babies.' Kamaljit Uppal was on the way to having her third child in 2003 but was told it would have to be delivered by caesarean because of how he was lying. Pictured: She still keeps the baby's unworn clothes Lost one of her twins during labour: Debbie Greenaway lost one of her twin babies during labour at the trust and said the report 'doesn't change what's happened for 20 years'. She told This Morning: 'To begin with, we thought it was just us, we had no idea until they started the report that exactly the same story has happened to so many people. 'There were so many similarities I wanted to tell my story and raise that awareness and give women a voice.' 'Consultants came and went, there was no communication, I didn't know what drugs I was being given or why, one consultant - I learnt afterwards was trying to take a foetal blood sample from John - which basically they cut his head to find his oxygen level, but they never explained what they were doing. I thought she was delivering them Debbie Greenaway lost one of her twin babies during labour at the trust and said the report 'doesn't change what's happened for 20 years' '[At the start of my pregnancy] a c-section delivery was straight away brushed off with 'we have the lowest caesarean rate in the country, we're proud of it, there's no reason for you not to have a natural birth'...' She had an emergency caesarean, with Debbie saying, 'When I woke up, all I remember was my husband handing me Daniel, I went, 'Where's John?' and again, another doctor I'd never seen before said, 'There's nothing we can do, we need to turn the life support off'... and before I could react to that he walked off and came back carrying John. 'And in my just come round state, I thought 'Oh I got that wrong, he's here, he's fine' and when he was handed to me I actually thought he was alive.' Following a post mortem, she said: 'All of the time frame was between me going in with two healthy babies with absolutely no issues and an awful long time from when he was brain damaged to delivery' We lost our only child at 4 days Katie Anson's son Kye died after just four days of life due to failures at the scandal-hit trust. The baby was starved of oxygen in birth at Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, in 2015, but a coroner later heard he may have lived if staff had acted differently. Miss Anson, 39, and partner Matthew Hall, 34, from the town, were unable to have another child due to unexplained infertility. Katie Anson and her partner Matthew Hall Kye died at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton. A 2016 inquest heard some heart rate recordings of the unborn baby had not been taken. Shrewsbury coroner John Ellery said his death 'could have been prevented'. The couple struggled to get pregnant for two years before Kye. They have just had their sixth failed attempt at IVF. Miss Anson said: 'To have had our only child taken away from us so tragically... makes it all the more difficult to swallow.' Tornado watches were posted for parts of eight states on Wednesday, including those areas still struggling from the devastation inflicted by a cluster of tornadoes the week before. Since early Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a tornado watch for parts of Arkansas, northern Louisiana, east Texas, and southeast Oklahoma. The NWS issued further tornado watches for Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana on Wednesday afternoon, ABC News reported. The tornado warnings are likely to last until Wednesday night. A tornado watch implies that tornadoes and strong thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch region. People in certain locations should be on the watch for potentially dangerous weather and listen for local authorities' announcements. Winds of up to 75 mph have been observed in some portions of the tornado-watch zone, which spans from New Orleans to Evansville, Indiana, and inch-sized hail has been reported in Oklahoma, according to the weather service. A large storm system is moving eastward out of the Rocky Mountains, with severe weather outbreaks likely to occur in the South and Midwest. Major cities such as Dallas, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Jackson, Mississippi, Memphis, Tennessee, and Mobile, Alabama are expected to experience severe weather. Heavy Damage to Infrastructures According to a local media report, a tornado struck Springdale, Arkansas, on Wednesday, causing extensive damage to an elementary school and wounding seven individuals, two of whom were critically injured. The damage done in Springdale indicated that the tornado that made landfall was a powerful EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, according to the NWS. As per the scale, EF-2 twisters can generate winds of more than 150 mph. Storms came through Oklahoma's Seminole County Tuesday night, creating 60 mph wind gusts and inch-sized hail, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a tornado warning. Meanwhile, CNN reported that the Tennessee fire grew to 1,000 acres due to strong winds. According to Perrin Anderson, the Assistant County Mayor in Sevier County, the Hatcher Mountain/Indigo Lane fire, which has been fanned by heavy winds, has spread to almost 1,000 acres and has destroyed 35 structures. The fire is about 30 miles southeast of Knoxville, and it is being fuelled by the wind from a weather system that recently ravaged the Southeast and Texas. At least one person was hurt and was flown to a nearby hospital by helicopter. That person's condition is uncertain as of present writing. Read Also: US, South Korea Claim North Korea Faked Test of Dangerous Missile; Expert Reveals Why Kim Jong-un Did It 7 People Injured, Including 2 in Critical Condition In northwestern Arkansas, at least seven people got injured when a tornado landed early Wednesday morning, which caused power interruptions and damage to infrastructures, according to local officials. According to an NWS team sent to Springdale, the tornado was found to be a "strong tornado" with a 2 rating on the enhanced Fujita scale. Weather Service meteorologist Robert Darby said the "nighttime" tornado could have a wind gust up to 135 miles per hour, which can be dangerous "when people are asleep and may not receive warnings," per The New York Times. Springdale Mayor Dough Sprouse reported that two were in critical condition among the seven individuals rushed to hospitals in the area. Related Article: Joe Manchin Rejects Billionaire's Tax Urging Everybody To Pay Fair Share; Bernie Sanders Slams Senator For Nixing President's Plan @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Police found five fetuses after raiding the home of a self-proclaimed 'anti-abortion activist' who was indicted the same day on federal charges alleging that she was part of a group of nine who blocked access to a Washington, D.C. reproductive health center in 2020. The Metropolitan Police Department said officers were responding to a tip about 'potential bio-hazard material' at the home of Lauren Handy, 28, in Southeast Washington on Wednesday when they located the five fetuses inside. Local WUSA9 captured the moment police searching the home walked out with red biohazard bags and coolers filled with evidence from the home's basement. Handy, a director of the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising group, was one of nine people charged in an indictment that was made public earlier Wednesday that accused the group of blocking access to the Washington Surgi-Clinic reproductive health center and streaming it on Facebook in October 2020. The station, which first reported the discovery, said Handy told a reporter that 'people will freak out when they hear' what detectives found inside her house. She did not respond to a messages seeking comment. The Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising groups said they would release a statement about the arrest on Tuesday. Anti-abortion activist Lauren Handy (center) was arrested on Wednesday outside her Washington D.C. apartment when Police found five fetuses inside her home Handy has been arrested numerous times since 2019 for unlawful demonstrations and blocking access to reproductive health clinics across the US Her Facebook page is filled with posts about entering reproductive health clinics or university labs to protest their use of fetal research or abortion services Handy, 28, serves as a director of the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising group. She and eight others had been charged with blocking access to the Washington Surgi-Clinic in 2020 Police on Thursday said the five fetuses appeared to have been aborted in accordance with D.C. law. 'There doesn't appear to be anything criminal about that except for how they got into that house,' said Ashan M. Benedict, DC Police Executive Assistant Chief of Police. In the indictment, prosecutors said Handy had called the Washington Surgi-Clinic pretending to be a prospective patient named 'Hazel Jenkins' and scheduling an appointment. Once there, on October 22, 2020, eight of the suspects pushed their way inside and began blocking the doors, according to the indictment. The indictment named the other eight suspects as: Jonathan Darnel, 40, of Virginia, Jay Smith, 32, of New York, Paula Harlow, 73, of Massachusetts, Jean Marshall, 72, of Massachusetts, John Hinshaw, 67, of New York, Heather Idoni, 61, of Michigan, William Goodman, 52, of Michigan, and Joan Bell, 73, of New Jersey. Five of them chained themselves together on chairs to block the treatment area as others blocked the employee entrance to stop other patients from coming inside, the indictment alleges. Another suspect blocked people from coming into the waiting room, prosecutors charge. Handy and the eight others were charged with conspiracy against rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. Along with the recent indictment, Handy also faces charges for resisting arrest at an abortion clinic in 2019. She's pictured protesting outside a Planned Parenthood clinic Handy had founded her own anti-abortion group, Mercy Mission, in 2017, and said she could 'no longer have a normal life knowing that babies were being systematically killed' The federal law, more commonly known as the FACE Act, prohibits physically obstructing or using the threat of force to intimidate or interfere with a person seeking reproductive health services. Handy and Goodman also face charges for resisting arrest at an abortion clinic in Michigan in 2019. Handy had previous run-ins with the law. A D.C. charter school filed a civil complaint against her for trespassing in December 2015. She was arrested for unlawful assembly outside the school earlier that year. In 2019, she was arrested for unlawful entry and blocking an entrance at several clinics. Handy had founded her own anti-abortion group, Mercy Mission, in 2017, telling EWTN, a Catholic television network, that she could 'no longer have a normal life knowing that babies were being systematically killed.' She said she dropped out of college to stand against abortion clinics. Smartly dressed in a navy print blouse and a chunky resin necklace: this is the child welfare boss whose social workers sent five of the traumatized Turpin children to live with an alleged pedophile. Charity Douglas, 50, has run the Riverside County Children's Services Division since September 2018 when her predecessor was forced out over an abuse case that saw a 13-year-old girl repeatedly raped and left pregnant by her mother's boyfriend. Douglas, who has worked for Riverside County since 2013 and earns a handsome $214,765 salary, is now facing questions after DailyMail.com revealed that the Turpin children were left in the care of Marcelino Olguin, 63, who has been charged with the sexual abuse of two of them and of physically and mentally torturing all five. Charity Douglas, 50, is the child welfare boss whose social workers sent five Turpin children to live with an alleged pedophile Police raided the Turpins' four-bedroom house in Perris, California in early 2018 and found many of the malnourished children shackled to their beds by chains, living in unimaginable filth Marcelino Olguin, 63, of Perris, California, has been charged with seven counts of committing a 'lewd and lascivious act on a child' and six of torture Olguin's wife Rosa, 58, and daughter Lennys, 37, have been hit with torture and false imprisonment charges for their alleged part in the abuse. All three pleaded not guilty when they appeared in court in Riverside, California, on Friday. The judge set the next hearing for June 6. Marcelino was freed on $200,000 bond, while the two women are each on $50,000 bond. According to court papers the family fostered four other children as well as the Turpins. One, a five-year-old girl was regularly left in soiled clothing and forced to stand for hours on end, charging documents say. The nine children remained with the Olguins until their arrest in March 2021. Asked to comment on the case, a spokesman for the Riverside Department of Public and Social Services said: 'Neither DPSS or Charity Douglas are commenting as an independent investigation by the Larson firm is ongoing.' That investigation into the county's handling of the Turpin case is headed by retired judge Stephen Larson. It was due to report on by the end of March but that date has now been pushed back to May 31. A colleague of Larson's has complained that his work has been hampered by lack of access to records. DailyMail.com revealed exclusively on Thursday that Olguin allegedly touched two of the Turpin girls, one of whom was under 14 at the time, on their buttocks and upper thighs more than 50 times . He 'told them they were sexy, recommended they not wear undershirts, said they had beautiful skin, forcibly kissed them and pulled a minor on top of him,' investigator Thomas Salisbury wrote. Now we can disclose that Douglas's beleaguered Children's Services Division is currently being sued over another case that saw a baby boy savagely beaten and left with serious head injuries after social workers sent him back to his abusive mother. Named in court papers as 'Demetrius L', the complaint says social workers had investigated his mother Lonnie Carranza 12 times over the abuse of her three older children in the five years before his birth but allowed the baby to live with her. Less than two months after he was born in April 2019, Demetrius was rushed to the hospital with seizures and vomiting. DailyMail.com spotted Douglas smartly dressed in a navy print blouse as she went to work in California Marcelino and Rosa Olguin are pictured at their arraignment for child abuse charges against multiple foster children in December Soon after the children were found in 2019, five of the siblings were placed in a foster care at Olguin's five-bedroom home in Perris, California A doctor who examined the baby said he was the victim of 'abusive head trauma, that this was not a one-time injury, and that he may suffer long-term developmental consequences.' Although Carranza was arrested in May 2020 social workers from the Children's Services Division decided to allow her unsupervised visits with Demetrius. Incredibly, despite noting that Demetrius was 'regressing' after the unsupervised visits, social workers decided to return him to Carranza's care permanently in June 2020. A month later, the baby was referred back to Douglas's department after sustaining 'a large lump on the side of his head'. Deon Austin Welch was sentenced to 230 years in prison for repeatedly raping his girlfriend's underage daughter Carranza claimed it happened after he got excited. And although a social worker noted he had a scratch on his cheek 'consistent with a fingernail' and was not walking or talking, the baby still wasn't taken away. Finally, in December 2020, Demetrius was rushed to hospital again this time with a life-threatening brain bleed that medics said was consistent with abuse. According to the lawsuit, which was filed in July 2021, despite knowing of Carranza's abusive behavior, social workers 'simply refused to do their jobs and instead looked for any opportunity to close their files and avoid taking meaningful action'. The lawsuit and the Turpin fiasco are the latest in a string of scandals involving the Children's Services Division which has paid out more than $30million in compensation claims since 2009. One of the most notorious cases was that of 'Jacqueline Doe' who was awarded $10m in November 2018 after suffering repeated rapes by her mother's boyfriend. Just 11 when the rapes began, Jacqueline was 13 when she became pregnant by Deon Austin Welch. The baby has since been adopted. Peverted Welch, 32, was convicted of multiple counts of rape in August 2019 and is now serving a 230-year sentence at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. According to the complaint in that case, social workers visited her home 20 times between 2003 and 2010 and knew the child was being abused but they not only failed to remove her, they also made Welch one of her designated caregivers. Douglas's predecessor left her job mainly due to this case. David and Louise Turpin - who are now serving life in prison - regularly beat and restrained their children, fed them just once a day, and only allowed them a shower once a year The Turpin family made headlines in 2018 after 13 siblings were rescued from their parents' 'house of horrors' in Perris, where they were forced to live under horrific, abusive conditions Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case of Bryce McIntosh, who has been charged with the 2019 murder of his eight-year-old son Noah The Children's Services Division has also faced intense criticism over its handling of a case which ended in the murder of eight-year-old Noah McIntosh despite social workers investigating the family 10 times in the 18 months before he died. Noah, who lived in Corona, California, was deemed to be 'in no immediate danger of serious harm' by social workers less than a year before he vanished on March 2 2019. Dad Bryce McIntosh, 35, was arrested 10 days later and charged with his murder in December 2020 along with a count of torture and another of willful child cruelty. Noah's body has never been found but prosecutors say McIntosh purchased long-cuffed gloves, bolt cutters, four gallons of muriatic acid, a 32-gallon trash can and several bottles of drain opener shortly in the days after his son vanished. Cops who searched an area where McIntosh's cellphone pinged also discovered a blood splattered plastic bag and a piece of paper with the words 'Noah M' written on it. McIntosh is due to appear in court late next month for a pre-trial conference. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted. Noah's mother Jillian Godrey, 39, was arrested the same day as her husband and has already pleaded guilty to two counts of child endangerment. She will be sentenced in October. The wife of a young dad who died in his sleep has slammed a One Nation Senator for claiming her beloved husband passed away as a result of complications from Covid vaccines. Daniel Perkins, 36, never woke up from a brief nap he intended to take before picking up his two sons from school on December 8, 2021. His wife Nikki and two eight-year-old sons Jordi and Logan, from Shellharbour on the NSW South Coast, remain in the dark about the cause of his sudden death. However, Queensland Senator Malcolm Roberts claimed in Parliament on Tuesday that Mr Perkins had died after receiving his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Nikki Perkins and her eight-year-old sons Jordi and Logan, still remain in the dark about the cause of the family man's sudden passing in December last year (pictured is the family) Queensland Senator Malcolm Roberts on Tuesday claimed Mr Perkins had died after receiving his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine (pictured is the politician in March, 2021) Mr Roberts said the very least that could be done for 'victims' of vaccines was to say their names, before listing Mr Perkins among a string of others. 'A 36-year-old healthy father ... died of a heart attack in his sleep following his second Pfizer injection'. The One Nation politician claimed injuries from Covid-19 vaccines were being 'hidden behind anonymous government data'. However, his heartbroken family have received no indication vaccines were the cause of his death and are still awaiting results from a postmortem. My husband is not a number in your statistics Mr Roberts Grieving wife Nikki Perkins Ms Perkins told Daily Mail Australia her heart 'skipped a beat' when she heard that her husband's name had been mentioned in parliament. The mother-of-two initially thought someone had mentioned him to honour the outpouring of care and support they had received from their local community. Mr Perkin's heartbroken family have received no indication Covid vaccines were the cause of his death and are still awaiting results from a postmortem 'But when I actually watched the speech that Senator Malcom Roberts gave ... I was in utter shock and disbelief that someone who has no idea who my husband was, his circumstances or beliefs, felt that they had any right to mention his name in such a way,' she said. Ms Perkins acknowledged that other names were mentioned by Mr Roberts and sent her sincere condolences to their families, saying she understood all too well what they were going through. She added that the circumstances of her late husband's passing are still with the Coroner who she trusted to thoroughly investigate his death. 'No matter the outcome this will not change the fact that he is no longer with us and we are all missing a huge part of our lives,' Ms Perkins said. 'My husband is not a number in your statistics Mr Roberts and neither is his name. 'It will not be used for your political stance on the Covid vaccination. Your speech with regards to my husbands name was untrue and written in poor taste.' Ms Perkins (pictured with her late husband Daniel) told Daily Mail Australia her heart 'skipped a beat' when she heard that her husbands name had been mentioned in parliament Ms Perkins said the senator didn't have the right to use the passing of her beloved husband for his own political benefit. 'Mr Roberts, I truly hope you reconsider the way you approach your speeches in the future and be more mindful of the names used, as you have made my week and the week of our loved ones even harder than it already was,' she said. Her husband had shown no signs of ill-health when he passed away in his sleep, although his family have been told he had an enlarged heart. Mr Perkins has been described as a dedicated family man, who was well-liked in his local community who rallied around the family following his shock death. A fundraiser has raised nearly $59,000 in donations that will be put towards building the best life possible for his two eight-year-old boys. 'Our boys are doing amazing even with the obvious missing in their world, they are surrounded by love and kindness,' the resilient mother said. Ms Perkins had been married to her partner, who she met in high school and shares two eight-year-old boys with, for over two decades before he tragically passed in December She had been married to her partner, who she met in high school, for over two decades before he tragically passed last December. 'My husband was an amazing man, funny, kind, loved by all who knew him. An amazing farther, whose boys were his world,' Ms Perkins said. 'An amazing son, who loved his family dearly. An amazing friend, who would bring a smile to your face not matter how bad your world might seem and my best friend who I was lucky enough to have in my life for 20 years.' Mr Roberts has been an outspoken critic of Covid vaccines and mandates throughout the pandemic and consistently voted against treating the vaccine rollout like a matter of urgency. In January, the One Nation senator compared the product information available for vaccines to the ingredients list on the back of potato chips. Mr Perkins has been described as an amazing man, funny, kind, and loved by all who knew him 'How is it that vaccine ingredients are not disclosed & yet a simple packet of potato crisps in supermarket MUST have the ingredients listed by LAW?' he tweeted. The politician claimed that what was inside a vaccine was being kept secret despite the law requiring manufacturers to publish these ingredients. Vaccine ingredient information is freely available on the Therapeutic Goods Administration website. Mr Roberts is currently spearheading a cross-party inquiry into the government's response to the pandemic, dubbed 'Covid Under Question'. Daily Mail Australia has contacted One Nation for comment. Advertisement Volodymyr Zelensky has fired two senior officials and branded them 'traitors' in a rare show of dissent among the ranks in Ukraine. The president accused the two generals, who worked for the national security service, of failing in their duty to protect the country. He also warned others they would be punished for similar behaviour. Zelensky said in a speech: 'Regarding antiheroes. Now, I do not have time to deal with all the traitors. But gradually they will all be punished. 'That is why the ex-chief of the Main Department of Internal Security of the Security Service of Ukraine Naumov Andriy Olehovych and the former head of the Office of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Kherson region Kryvoruchko Serhiy Oleksandrovych are no longer generals.' Volodymyr Zelensky has fired two senior officials and branded them 'traitors' in a rare show of dissent among the ranks in Ukraine Naumov Andriy Olehovych (pictured) the ex-chief of the Main Department of Internal Security of the Security Service, was fired Ukrainian servicemen patrol in a trench at the front line east of Kharkiv today after two top generals were fired by Zelensky The occasion marked the first time Zelensky has announced high-profile sackings of those involved in Ukraine's defence. He did not elaborate further on what led to the sacking of the two officials. General Roman Gavrilov (pictured), the deputy chief of Vladimir Putin's Rosgvardia force - or National Guard - was detained last month But he added: 'Those servicemen among senior officers who have not decided where their homeland is, who violate the military oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people as regards (to) the protection of our state, its freedom and independence, will inevitably be deprived of senior military ranks. 'Random generals don't belong here!' Last month, Russia fired one of its top generals after claims he had leaked information which compromised their invasion. General Roman Gavrilov, 45, the deputy chief of Vladimir Putin's Rosgvardia force - or National Guard - was detained amid claims he had 'squandered' much-needed fuel as Putin's invasion took another blow. News of his arrest by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) was reported by three trusted sources, according to investigative news website Bellingcat. Experts said it shows Putin may be looking for scapegoats to take the blame for the faltering war effort. Meanwhile, Zelensky said last night the situation in the south and the Donbas region remained extremely difficult and reiterated that Russia was building up forces near the besieged city of Mariupol. Zelensky, who often uses colourful imagery, said the Russians were so evil and so keen on destruction that they seemed to be from another world, 'monsters who burn and plunder, who attack and are bent on murder'. Russia says it is carrying out a 'special operation' to disarm and 'denazify' its neighbour. Moscow also denies Kyiv's accusations that Russian forces are targeting civilians. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had pushed back the Russians from Kyiv and Chernihiv - two cities Moscow had announced would no longer be the focus of attacks as they seek to secure the separatist Donbas and Luhansk regions in the south-east. As day broke in Belgorod, the oil facility was ablaze, with the fire allegedly sparked by Ukrainian missiles Two people were injured in the Belgorod facility blaze, the Russian governor said, but they were expected to survive The oil facility is only 25 miles from the border with Ukraine, and was ablaze on Friday morning 'There will be battles ahead. We still need to go down a very difficult path to get everything we want,' he said. 'The situation in the south and in the Donbas remains extremely difficult.' It comes as Russia today accused Ukrainian helicopters of attacking an oil facility inside Russia after flying 25 miles undetected past the border, amid claims the Kremlin could stage a 'false flag' attack to justify a further escalation of the war. Vyacheslav Gladkov said two of Ukraine's military helicopters struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Belgorod on Friday with S-8 rockets after crossing the border at low altitude in what would be the first air strike on Russian soil since WWII. The resulting blaze injured two workers at the depot run by energy giant Roseneft, while some areas in the city were being evacuated, said Gladkov, who was appointed by Vladimir Putin in 2020. Photos on social media appeared to show the oil facility in Belgorod ablaze in the early hours of Friday The governor of the Russian region of Belgorod announced the attack on the oil facility in the early hours of Friday. It is yet to be confirmed by Ukraine's government Firefighters try to tackle the huge blaze at the oil depot this morning as plumes of black smoke billow from the site Video shared on social media appeared to show the attack happening at 5.43am local time, followed by helicopters flying away from the blaze, although analysts have noted Russia uses the same time of helicopters as Ukraine. Ukraine's government is yet to confirm the incident but if true, it would be the second time Ukraine has ventured past the border since the invasion following the alleged long-range missile attack on Millerovo airbase last month, in the latest humiliation for Putin in his flailing campaign. But last week, an exiled Russian politician claimed the Kremlin is plotting a wave of attacks on its own cities in a false flag operation led by the FSB that it will blame on Ukraine to justify a general mobilisation of troops. Ilya Ponomarev, 46, said the Russian security service is preparing to target its own chemical and weapons factories in attacks that could see civilians die. It comes as Ukraine is making gains within its own borders, recapturing the two strategic villages of Sloboda and Lukashivka on a main supply route, while Putin is continuing to send units back to Belarus and to the Donbas where he is now concentrating his war effort. A man in his 90s has died and homes have been left without power after reports of a gas explosion in Manchester. Emergency services were called to Brownley Road in Wythenshawe at about 6.30pm on Thursday and the man was found dead inside a property, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said they were called out to reports of a fire at a domestic property. A number of houses were evacuated and several properties are without power. A man in his 90s has died and homes have been left without power after reports of a gas explosion in Manchester Emergency services were called to Brownley Road in Wythenshawe, Manchester at about 6.30pm and the man was found dead inside a property, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said Nearby roads have been closed and emergency services were at the scene on Thursday evening. GMP said it is carrying out investigations and officers are supporting the dead man's family. A fire service spokesman said: 'At around 6.30pm on 31 March, crews were called to reports of a fire at a domestic property on Brownley Road in Manchester. 'Four fire engines from Bolton North, Cheadle, Wythenshawe and Stockport stations, and the Technical Rescue Unit from Ashton attended. Emergency services at the scene after a man in his 90s has died and homes have been left without power after reports of a gas explosion in Wythenshawe 'Firefighters assessed the scene and are using breathing apparatus and hose reels to control the fire and make the scene safe. 'Crews are working with colleagues from Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service and are currently still on the scene.' GMP said the scene was made safe at about 8pm. A beef industry titan is among five dead after a helicopter crashed in regional Victoria while viewing a potential new business venture. Paul Troja, who is the chairman of Radfords Abattoir in Warragul, was killed when the helicopter he was riding in crashed at Mt Disappointment on Thursday. The 73-year-old Albert Park man was well known within the agricultural industry. Radfords is a family owned business operating out of the West Gippsland region. Mr Troja and three others were viewing an agricultural property in Ulupna on the Victorian border when their helicopter crashed, killing them all, The Herald Sun reported. A 32-year-old pilot also died in the tragedy. Paul Troja, who is the chairman of Radfords Abattoir in Warragul, was killed when the helicopter he was riding in crashed at Mt Disappointment on Thursday An Inverloch woman, 50 and two men from NSW, aged 59 and 70, have not yet been publicly identified. Avlaw Aviation consulting managing director Ron Bartsch said it was still too soon to determine the actual cause of the crash. Mr Bartsch said the helicopter flight operator Microflite had a near perfect safety record and there was only one possible explanation for the crash. 'The aircraft is a very common type of aircraft,' he told Channel Nine's Today on Friday. 'Six passenger aircraft, very reliable. Avlaw Aviation consulting managing director Ron Bartsch said it was still too soon to determine the actual cause of the crash at Mount Disappointment on Thursday A pilot and their four passengers, believed to be meat farmers, died after the aircraft crashed near the popular picnic grounds at Blair's Hut 'The company indeed has a very good safety record and is very well managed with new aircraft. 'Really at this stage, without speculating, weather is probably the main consideration at this stage.' Mount Disappointment recorded a high of 21C and winds of up to 36km/h. Controlled forestry burns were being carried out in the area while there was also low cloud coverage throughout the day. Mr Bartsch warned 'it may be some time' before investigators determined the exact cause of the crash. 'Unlike larger air transport aircraft, these aircrafts are not always fitted with blackboxes, flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder,' he said. 'I know the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is on the scene. Normally they will hand down a preliminary report in six to seven weeks.' The helicopter was one of two that left the Melbourne City Helipad on Thursday morning, flying in convoy over Mount Disappointment. Mr Bartsch said the other pilot was the best hope of understanding what happened to the doomed helicopter. A police helicopter and air ambulance were sent to search for the missing chopper but the terrain hampered their efforts until 11.45am on Thursday when the wreckage was finally located. The casualties included a 32-year-old man from Cheltenham, a 50-year-old woman from Inverloch, a 73-year-old man from Albert Park, and two men from New South Wales aged 59 and 70. Mr Bartsch warned 'it may be some time' before investigators determined the exact cause of the crash (pictured, a tree split in half near the crash site) A police helicopter, five Country Fire Authority vehicles and paramedics, including the air ambulance, were dispatched to the area on Thursday The helicopter was owned by Microflite Helicopter Services, a family-owned business based in Victoria that offers private flights and premium tours. Microflite executive general manager Rod Higgins said in a statement that the pilot operating the flight was 'highly respected'. 'The service had been travelling as part of a two-aircraft charter when it lost communication with the second aircraft just after 8am,' he said. Mr Higgins said the incident was reported to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority as per industry protocols. 'We will work with the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident,' he said. The helicopter had picked up the meat farmers from Melbourne City Helipad before reportedly heading north to purchase cattle. The second helicopter returned to Morrabbin Airport safely with all onboard accounted for and uninjured. Smoke (pictured) from controlled forestry burns in the area and low cloud cover hampered initial search efforts on Thursday Five Country Fire Authority vehicles, police and paramedics, including the air ambulance, were on scene at the crash site of the downed helicopter on Thursday. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is also investigating and has sent a team from its Canberra and Melbourne offices with expertise in helicopter operations and maintenance, and aerospace engineering, to the site. The experts will inspect the wreckage and site surrounds before retrieving any relevant components to take them to Canberra for further examination. The ATSB will also analyse any recorded data and conduct interviews with those who have knowledge of the flight. A preliminary report from the watchdog is expected in about six to eight weeks. A radio host has broken down while asking the parents of domestic violence victim Hannah Clarke about their emotional statements during the inquest into her death. Neil Breen fought back tears as he interviewed Sue and Lloyd Clarke on 4BC on Friday morning, telling them southeast Queenslanders 'almost can't deal with this case'. 'They've found it very difficult and we look at the pair of you... and we don't know, um, how you're still going?' Breen said through a cracking voice. 'Gone to pieces now, Breenie,' Lloyd Clarke responded. 'A lot of good support keeps us standing, keeps us getting up everyday it was something we had to do and we will never get over it, but weve got to keep moving and bring it to light and show people there are monsters out there.' Hannah Clarke and her three children Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey were set alight in her car in the Brisbane suburb of Camp Hill in February 2019 in an act of domestic violence that shocked Australia Sue and Lloyd Clarke speak to reporters as the coroner's inquest into the deaths of their daughter Hannah and three grandchildren Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey ended in Brisbane Radio host Neil Breen broke down on 4BC while interviewing domestic violence victim Hannah Clarke's parents Sue and Lloyd following the coroners inquest into the deaths of their daughter and three grandchildren Mrs Clarke said she agreed with the claim that Hannah was never safe from the moment she met Baxter. 'I think he was a monster, and every now and then monsters are born but I dont want this to make women frightened to leave,' she said. 'A lot of them can be stopped.' The Clarkes had just sat through a two-week coroner's inquest into the horrific circumstances surrounding the death of their daughter Hannah Clarke and three grandchildren, Aaliyah, six, Laianah, four, and Trey, three, after Hannah's ex-husband Rowan Baxter poured petrol on the family and set them alight at Camp Hill in Brisbane's south in February, 2020. Mr and Mrs Clarke had read emotional victim impact statements to the inquest on its final day. In his statement Mr Clarke said he and his wife were speaking for their daughter and their grandchildren 'to demand justice and demand change so that other families may be steered away from the path we have walked the last few years.' He posed a series of questions he believed Baxter's children and his daughter would have asked him about his vile crime. 'Why would you hurt us daddy? Why would you take away our futures with all the promise and possibility? Why would you take away our laughter and our games and our reading and singing and playing? Why didnt you love us like a father was supposed to?' Mr Clarke read. 'Hannah would ask him, 'why werent you a better man, a better father, a better husband? Why did you have to be such a coward and a bully? Why couldnt you leave us alone to live our lives? Why did you always have to have the last manipulative vindictive word? Hannah Clarke pictured with daughters Laianah and Aaliyah. Hannah's mother Sue said she could not pack up their toys more than two years after their tragic murders 'Why would you hurt us daddy? Why would you take away our futures with all the promise and possibility? Why didnt you love us like a father was supposed to?' Lloyd Clarke wrote in his victim impact statement about the questions Rowan Baxter's children would ask him, pictured with ex-wife Hannah Clarke and their children Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey In her statement Mrs Clarke lamented the fact every single female blood relative had been taken from her 'in an instant'. 'Not one day has passed without tears, there is no rest, no escape, every single day we spend in the shadow of that moment of what was done to our beautiful angels. We would give anything to be free of those memories and constant thoughts. 'Both of us have struggled with serious health issues, physical and mental.' Both parents had given up working and Mrs Clarke said she had been unable to touch the room at their house where granddaughters Aaliyah and Laianah stayed. 'Our house once filled with the noise and laughter and chaos of young children is now very quiet,' Mrs Clarke wrote in her statement about her grandchildren Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey (pictured) 'Our house once filled with the noise and laughter and chaos of young children is now very quiet,' Mrs Clarke's statement read. 'The girls room is as they left it that morning two years ago. I cant bring myself to pack up their toys. 'Holidays like Christmas and Mothers Day are almost unbearable. 'The hole in our family is gaping and will never be filled.' Victim impact statement by Sue Clarke, the mother of domestic violence victim, Hannah Just over two years ago, our lives changed forever. We will never be the same people we were before Hannah, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey were taken from us. There is not one part of our lives that has not been affected by their murders. What we have suffered cost us so much in every sense of the word. Emotionally, physically, financially, our grief is still continuing. We have trouble articulating the emotional and mental impacts of this crime. They are so overwhelming it seems impossible to find the words. Not one day has passed without tears, there is no rest, no escape, every single day we spend in the shadow of that moment of what was done to our beautiful angels. We would give anything to be free of those memories and constant thoughts. In an instant I had taken from me every single female blood relative. While of course I love all my boys, a mother and a grandmother needs her daughters and granddaughters to be complete. We will never again be complete. The father and daughter bond is different but equally special and Lloyd has lost his only daughter. Both of us have struggled with serious health issues, physical and mental. We have both spent innumerable hours with counselors and psychologists. We both have had to give up working. The bewildering and shocking nature of our loss meant we were not able to perform our jobs as we did before. Our son Nat and his family have also suffered the loss of a sister, a sister in law and aunt as well as nieces, a nephew and cousins. They have found themselves thrust into the media and public spotlight, just as we have, and this has been confronting and challenging for all of us. Our house once filled with the noise and laughter and chaos of young children is now very quiet. The girls room is as they left it that morning two years ago. I cant bring myself to pack up their toys. Holidays like Christmas and Mothers Day are almost unbearable. The hole in our family is gaping and will never be filled. We will never get to see the people the children will become. Trey didnt even get to go to school. We wont ever get to see them graduate, or marry or have children of their own. Our hearts break that they were never given the chance to grow, excel and be happy. Hannah, our beautiful girl had so much potential. She was regaining her sense of self and growing stronger. She had dreams of becoming a police officer and had commenced the process to join weeks before. She was a bright light in our lives and though she has been stolen from us, we will work every day to ensure that light never goes out. We have tried to salvage something positive from the ruins of so many lives through the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation and we will forever be grateful for the way Hannahs friends have rallied around us and the public has embraced the foundation. This inquest has been unthinkably confronting. Weve had to relive the worst day of our lives in excruciating detail and we have heard details that perhaps were kept from us up to this point. But it has been an important exercise. We will always have to live with what happened that day but we will not live in it. We have hope and a future. The love we have lost will never be forgotten. Hannah and the children are with us every day and in their names we will use everything we have learned from this inquest to keep the pressure for law reform and to keep the conversation going. We want everyone to be able to spot the danger signs in their relationships and their friendships and even in themselves. A better understanding of coercive control wont change what we have suffered. It wont bring back the love thats disappeared from our lives, it wont allow us to watch Hannah blossom into the strong, compassionate, successful woman she was determined to be. It wont help us see our grandchildren fulfil their potential.But we do hope that a community that stands up against coercive control will stop others suffering the same fate and we hope it will prevent other parents and families suffering as we have suffered and spending their lives pondering that bewildering, unanswerable question why. Advertisement Mrs Clarke told Breen she agreed with the summation of counsel assisting the coroner, Jacoba Brasch QC, who yesterday told the inquest that Hannah was 'the walking dead' because of Baxter's 'murderous intent'. His 'calculated premeditated murder' demonstrated he was 'evil', Ms Brasch told the inquest, and that Hannah's death 'was but a matter of time'. Counsel assisting the coroner, Jacoba Brasch QC, yesterday told the inquest that Hannah Clarke was 'the walking dead' because of Baxter's 'murderous intent'. Pictured: Hannah Clarke (left) argues with then-husband Rowan Baxter (in driver's seat) after they were pulled over for driving an unregistered vehicle in 2019 Mr Clarke told 4BC one of the lessons from his daughter's horrific death was that police officers and other domestic violence workers had 'insufficient training', particularly to recognise the coercive control Baxter exerted over Hannah in the lead-up to the murders. 'As a society we need to educate ourselves, look at the signs of coercive control,' he said. 'We need to put pressure on governments for more funding. we've found out in the past two weeks there's insfficuient training and resources for them... we need specialised training and yearly training, too. 'We need more professional people who know about domestic violence so junior officers and officers can check in with them when they see a red flag.' Mr Clarke said more temporary housing was need for woman at risk of domestic violence. During the course of the inquest examples of Baxter's controlling behaviour were detailed, including blaming Ms Clarke when they were pulled over by the police for driving an unregistered vehicle. In a call to a men's helpline the day before he murdered his family, Baxter claimed Ms Clarke was the one 'with the problem' and that he was only seeking help for his behaviour because he had been 'roped into it'. 'At 42 I didnt think I had to change, mate, but apparently I have to, because its going to help me out apparently,' Baxter told the support worker. 'Its almost like a game to put her in a better position for Family Court. And unfortunately, um, Ive been roped into it, and now this DVO, temporary ones hanging over my head...' he complained. Rowan Baxter is seen during a police interview when he was informed a police protection order had been taken out against him The inquest also heard from the psychologist who wrote a 'glowing' reference for Baxter after treating him over six sessions. Vivian Jarrett agreed Baxter was a high risk of harming others at the inquest but had nevertheless written him a favourable reference in the weeks before the murders. Dr Jarrett said she'd been aware Baxter might be trying to 'pull the wool' over her eyes during their six sessions from December 2019, to create good evidence for the family court in a bid to regain access to his children. But she did not detail those concerns in her notes. Instead, she wrote the reference and provided police a statement a day after the family's deaths saying Baxter was 'level headed' and 'low risk'. Chilling vision of Baxter buying a fuel jerry can, zip ties and a surface cleaner from a Brisbane Bunnings store two days before his attack on Ms Clarke and the children was also played at the inquest Chilling vision of Baxter buying a fuel jerry can, zip ties and a surface cleaner from a Brisbane Bunnings store two days before his attack on Ms Clarke and the children was also played at the inquest. The following morning he bought fuel from a Caltex service station, as well as lollies and three Kinder Surprises. That night he had a video call with his children where he sobbed the entire time. The inquest heard Baxter may have been planning to murder Ms Clarke before absconding with his children, but the plan went awry when she stopped the car with the children inside to ask neighbours for help after Baxter had jumped in the vehicle and ordered her to 'just drive'. America's coronavirus tsar, Dr. Anthony Fauci, silenced any discussion about COVID being caused by a lab leak - and not through animal-to-human transmission - after helping a controversial scientist get millions in federal funding to study bats, a Vanity Fair investigation has revealed. Analyzing more than 100,000 leaked documents, the magazine claimed that Fauci's approval of Peter Daszak helped his nonprofit, EcoHealth Alliance, an organization dedicated to shielding society from emerging infectious diseases, to develop the COVID-19 virus in a laboratory in China. They also claim researchers associated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, including Daszak, tried to hide evidence about the pandemics early spread as lab leak hypotheses began to emerge. While the report is not conclusive in how the pandemic was started, the magazine provides evidence that Daszak was aware the gain-of-function research his organization conducted was 'risky' and that he neglected to provide transparency about his projects to the U.S. government, as promised. Investigators allege U.S. government grants helped EcoHealth Alliance, an organization dedicated to shielding society from emerging infectious diseases, develop the COVID-19 virus in a laboratory in China The investigators also allege that Dr. Anthony Fauci (left) shutdown all coronavirus lab leak theories after being lauded by Peter Daszak (right), the father of gain-of-function research. They also claim researchers associated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, including Daszak, tried to hide evidence about the pandemics early spread as lab leak hypotheses began to emerge More than two years into the global pandemic, investigators are still trying to trace the origin of the COVID-19 virus that has killed more than 22 million people worldwide. Some allege that Fauci, whose agency in 2014 issued a $3.7million grant to EcoHealth Alliance, directly contributed to the pandemic spread by providing funds that were used to support gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). EcoHealth issued WIV nearly $600,000 in sub-awards before the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suspended the grant in July 2020 due its controversial work, Vanity Fair reported. The magazine - which reviewed more than 100,000 internal EcoHealth documents predating the pandemic, interviewed five former staff members and spoke to 33 other sources - claims that while the organization's paper trail doesn't specifically state where COVID came from, it shows how the nonprofit operated under 'murky grant agreements, flimsy oversight, and the pursuit of government funds for scientific advancement, in part by pitching research of steeply escalating risk.' There are multiple theories surrounding the berth of COVID with natural-origin proponents arguing the virus jumped from a bat host to an intermediate species and then infected humans. Others suspected a lab-related incident from the 'inadvertent exposure of a scientist during field research to the accidental release of a natural or manipulated strain during laboratory work,' the magazine claimed. There is reportedly a 'lack of concrete evidence' to support either theory, prompting journalists, scientists and other sleuths to place scrutiny on Daszak, EcoHealth, and WIV researchers for the work in the lab, as well as Fauci for indirectly supplying U.S. government funds to the facility. In June 2021, biologist Jesse D. Bloom - whom colleagues allege wanted to 'dig deep and discover the truth' about how COVID evolved - confronted Fauci by providing him with a preprint of a paper he was seeking to have peer reviewed and published. Bloom's paper, which was obtained by Vanity Fair, detailed how a early genomic sequences of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, had 'somehow vanished without a trace'. The biologist claims the genomic sequences were initially published in a Chinese paper but had since been deleted from NIH databases at the 'request of researchers in Wuhan'. Bloom, alleging the deleted genomic sequences could be 'key to tracking when the virus emerged and how it might have evolved,' believed the disappearance of the sequences 'raised the possibility' that the Chinese government was trying to cover-up evidence about the early spread of COVID. After receiving the preprint of Bloom's paper, Fauci and his boss, NIH director Francis Collins, allegedly organized a Zoom meeting with the biologist to discuss his findings. Four additional scientists, biologist Kristian Andersen and virologist Robert Garry, who were invited by the NIH, and biologists Sergei Pond and Rasmus Nielsen, who were invited by Bloom, attended the call. After he presented his research, Bloom claims Andersen interjected, claiming his preprint was 'deeply troubling.' Andersen reportedly told the research that NIH policy entitled the Chinese scientists to delete their sequences from the database if they wanted to so and that it was 'was unethical for Bloom to analyze them further. He also allegedly claimed 'there was nothing unusual about the early genomic sequences in Wuhan,' prompting a heated argument between Andersen and Nielsen. 'Fauci then weighed in, objecting to the preprints description of Chinese scientists surreptitiously deleting the sequences,' Vanity Fair stated, claiming the immunologist said: 'The word was loaded and the reason theyd asked for the deletions was unknown.' In June 2021, biologist Jesse D. Bloom (pictured) - whom colleagues allege wanted to 'dig deep and discover the truth' about how COVID evolved - confronted Fauci about deleted genomic sequences that could be 'key to tracking when the virus emerged and how it might have evolved'. Bloom believed the disappearance of the sequences 'raised the possibility' that the Chinese government was trying to cover-up evidence about the early spread of COVID Fauci and his boss, NIH director Francis Collins (pictured in May 2021) met with Bloom in an apparent effort to shut down the researcher's investigation As more scientists called for transparency about the origin of the virus, Daszak sought to 'present the lab-leak hypothesis as a groundless and destructive conspiracy theory'. Similarly, Fauci, Andersen, Garry and a small group of scientists reportedly held confidential discussions, dating back to February 2020, working to 'enshrine the natural-origin theory' despite the fact that 'several of them privately expressed that they felt a lab-related incident was likelier.' Around that time, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield allegedly urged Fauci to 'vigorously investigate' both hypotheses. 'We had to take the lab-leak hypothesis with extreme seriousness,' he told the magazine, adding: 'I personally felt it wasnt biologically plausible that [SARS CoV-2] went from bats to humans through an [intermediate] animal and became one of the most infectious viruses to humans.' Redfield claims after suggesting support for research into both theories he was then excluded from further discussions about the virus' origin. 'Their goal was to have a single narrative,' he said of Fauci and his team. Other researchers claim Daszak attempted to bury information about COVID's genesis, arguing he 'flatly refused to share progress reports from his contested research grant'. The EcoHealth president was even dismissed from a task force investigating the berth of the virus because of failed to disclose his knowledge on the subject. '[Daszak] and NIH have acted badly,' Columbia University economist Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, who dismissed Daszak from the task force, told Vanity Fair. 'There has been a lack of transparencyand there is a lot more to know and that can be known.' Sachs argued the NIH should support an 'independent scientific investigation' to examine the 'possible role' the NIH, EcoHealth, WIV and a partner laboratory at the University of North Carolina had in the pandemic. 'Both hypotheses are still very much with us [and] need to be investigated seriously and scientifically,' he stated. As more scientists called for transparency about the origin of the virus, Daszak sought to 'present the lab-leak hypothesis as a groundless and destructive conspiracy theory' Daszak has also been accused of being relentless in his pursuit of obtaining NIH grant money from Fauci for EcoHealth's research. He would invite Fauci to EcoHealth events that were described on invitations as 'educational' despite the fact that nonprofit officials referred to them as 'cultivation events' in which they should network with 'prospective federal funders'. The group would spend at approximately $8,000 on each 'cultivation' event. 'These kinds of events are common among many nongovernmental organizations and nonprofits, which depend upon both public and private donors for support,' Daszak told the magazine, defending the parties. Daszak also repeatedly lauded Fauci, requesting he serve as a 'panel speaker' at select EcoHealth events. In September 2013, Daszak reportedly emailed David Morens, Facui's senior adviser, seeking his participation on a panel. According to Vanity Fair, Morens replied: 'Write Tony directly, thanking him for meeting with you all recently and then inviting him to be a member of this Cosmos Club discussion. That way, it is personal and doesnt look "cooked" by us.' Although Fauci declined that invitation, along with several others, Daszak remained firm in his pursuit of the health leader and his federal funding. Morens, seemingly trying to help Daszak in his mission, told the EcoHealth leader in February 2016: 'Fauci normally says no to almost everything like this. Unless ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox are all there with cameras running. If he were asked to give THE main talk or the only talk that might increase the chances.' Per Morens' tip, Daszak invited Fauci to give a presentation on the Zika virus in March 2016, which he accepted, securing RSVPs among guest from an 'array of deep-pocketed federal agencies'. Similarly, Fauci, Andersen, Garry and a small group of scientists reportedly held confidential discussions, dating back to February 2020, working to 'enshrine the natural-origin theory' despite the fact that 'several of them privately expressed that they felt a lab-related incident was likelier' However, Daszak's persistence in bringing Fauci to his table, is not the only act to raise concern among scientific sleuths. His $3.7million grant was first met with alarms in May 2016, as it entered its third year. He had reportedly failed to provide the NIH with his year two annual progress report, as required by the organization. When the report finally arrived, it indicated scientists wanted to 'create an infectious clone of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)' despite the 'Obama administration imposed moratorium on new federal funding for research that could make influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses more virulent or transmissible'. Daszak's researchers alleged the 'SARS-like chimeras' from their gain-of-function experiment 'exempt from the moratorium, because the strains used had not previously been known to infect humans'. However, some researchers argued Daszak's experiment was still too risky, prompting him to offer the NIH a compromise. 'If any of the recombined strains showed 10 times greater growth than a natural virus, we will immediately: i) stop all experiments with the mutant, ii) inform our NIAID Program Officer and the UNC [Institutional Biosafety Committee] of these results and iii) participate in decision making trees to decide appropriate paths forward,"' he reportedly said, The mention of UNC 'brought a puzzled response' from the NIH who cited that Daszak's proposal indicated the research would be conducted at WIV in China. 'Can you clarify where the work with the chimeric viruses will actually be performed?' and NIH program officer reportedly wrote to Daszak. Nearly two weeks later, after a second request for clarification, Daszak responded: 'You are correct to identify a mistake in our letter. UNC has no oversight of the chimera work, all of which will be conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. 'We will clarify tonight with Prof. Zhengli Shi exactly who will be notified if we see enhanced replicationmy understanding is that I will be notified straight away, as [principal investigator], and that I can then notify you at NIAID. Apologies for the error!' In July the NIH accepted Daszak's terms under the agreement of 'mutual transparency' in which both parties would disclose 'concerning developments involving the lab-constructed viruses'. 'This is terrific! We are very happy to hear that our Gain of Function research funding pause has been lifted,' he replied to the NIH officer upon receipt of approval. In April 2020, when a reporter asked if the Chinese lab could be responsible for the pandemic, Fauci (pictured in January 2021) reportedly claimed a 'group of highly qualified evolutionary virologists' determined the virus was 'totally consistent with a jump of a species from an animal to a human' Daszak was under scrutiny again in April 2020 when theories about the origin of COVID surfaced. A reporter asked then-President Donald Trump during a COVID press briefing why the U.S. government would support a $3.7million grant to a Chinese lab. 'We will end that grant very quickly,' Trump replied, prompting a follow-up question, from another reporter, directed at Fauci about whether a lab could be responsibly for COVID. Fauci, answered, alleging a 'group of highly qualified evolutionary virologists' determined the virus was 'totally consistent with a jump of a species from an animal to a human.' The next day, Daszak reportedly emailed Fauci to thank him for 'publicly standing up and stating that the scientific evidence supports a natural origin for COVID-19 from a bat-to-human spillover, not a lab release from the Wuhan Institute of Virology'. Fauci reportedly thanked the scientist back. Australia will send Bushmasters to Ukraine following a request by the war-torn nation's president Volodymyr Zelensky. Scott Morrison confirmed he would ship up to four armoured vehicles in a presser on Friday morning to help Ukraine fend of Russian attacks. 'We are not just sending our prayers, we are sending our guns, ammunitions, humanitarian aid, all of this, our body armour, all of these things,' he said. 'We will send out armoured vehicles, Bushmasters as well and we will fly them over there in our C-17s to make sure they can be there to support.' Mr Zelensky addressed the Australian parliament on Thursday, warning Russian aggression posed a direct threat to Australia and asking for tanks. 'You have very good armoured vehicles, Bushmasters, that could help Ukraine substantially, and other pieces of equipment could strengthen our position in terms of armaments,' he told the parliament. 'If you have an opportunity to share these with us, we would be very grateful. In Ukraine, they will do much more for our common freedom and common security than staying parked on your land.' Australia will send Bushmasters (pitured) to Ukraine following a request by the war-torn nation's president Volodymyr Zelensky Volodymyr Zelensky received a standing ovation from the likes of Prime Minister Scott Morrison (front row) and the entire Parliament on Thursday evening Mr Dutton said Australia was reviewing the number of Bushmasters available and the logistics of sending them to Ukraine in the quantity needed, saying the government was 'pretty much open to whatever support we can'. 'The number they need obviously takes longer than what will be ideal. We have identified Bushmasters that we can send and we are going through the logistics of that now,' he told Sky News. 'We might only be able to upload three or four Bushmasters onto a C17 (military transport aircraft) at once. The other option is we can try and source something out of Germany or France or somewhere else in Europe.' The defence minister noted timelines did not allow for the usual process of sending the vehicles by ship. The federal government also announced a further $25 million in defensive military equipment for the besieged nation ahead of Mr Zelenskiy's address. The package includes tactical decoys, unmanned aerial and ground systems, rations and medical supplies. Mr Morrison used his opening remarks to the address to brand Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal. Defence Minister Peter Dutton told Sky News said Australia has identified armoured vehicles it could send to Ukraine - although there will be logistical issues getting them on the ground 'Ukraine and Australia are separated by half the earth. Our languages, accents, histories and cultures are different but we share an affinity for democracy or freedom,' Mr Morrison told the president and the parliament. 'Mr President, you have our praise. But you also have our weapons, our humanitarian aid, our sanctions against those who seek to deny your freedom.' Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese likened Russia's invasion to the devastation wrought by Hitler in World War II, saying Putin's aggression was prefaced by a 'poisonous, nationalistic lie'. 'As you stand up to this latest tyrant, you are showing us what true courage is,' Mr Albanese said. 'It is the courage that is embodied by you (President Zelenskiy). You are fighting for your country and your people.' Friends and family of Bruce Willis believe that a head injury he suffered on the set of the 2002 action movie Tears of the Sun could be the cause of the debilitating brain disease that has ended his career, but a special effects worker on the movie denied the claim. Family - including ex-wife Demi Moore, current wife Emma Heming and daughter Rumer Willis - announced on Wednesday that the 'Die Hard' actor was diagnosed with aphasia, a neuro-cognitive disorder that effects the sufferers ability to speak and understand language. As a result, Willis was 'stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.' An unnamed friend told The Sun that his family believes that the disability could be linked to a hit he took to the head on the action-rescue film. Willis sued the production company, Revolution Studio, and the action movie's special effects professional Joe Pancake in 2004, claiming he had suffered 'substantial mental and physical injuries' after he had been hit by a 'squib' - a special effects explosive meant to look like the impact of gunfire, during the October 2002 production. Pancake called Willis's injuries 'bullsh--' in an interview with DailyMail.com on Thursday. 'The judge laughed him out of court,' Pancake said. According to the special effects guy, Willis and three other actors were firing off hundreds of rounds of blanks from their automatic rifles and a 'hot shell casing' hit the actor in the forehead. Bruce Willis, 67, sued the production company for a 'mental' injury he claimed he suffered on the movie set of 'Tears of the Sun.' He's shown here playing the part of a battle-harden American soldier Willis, shown here with co-star Monica Bellucci, claimed that a special effects explosive hit him in the head during filming of the movie Willis's injury from an explosive hitting him in the head required medical attention, he claimed in a lawsuit In the film, Willis played the role of Lt. A.K. Waters, a battle-hardened combat soldier leading his troop on a mission to save a humanitarian doctor pinned down by rebels in the jungle of Nigeria. The suit claims that the actor endured 'extreme mental, physical and emotional pain and suffering' from his injuries. Lawyers for the Die Hard actor said in court papers that Willis 'was required to and did employ physicians and other medical personnel.' The suit was settled in August 2005, but it's unclear if any money exchanged hands. No one at Revolution Studio, which also made 'Hellboy' and 'Black Hawk Down,' was available comment. Pancake on Thursday denied that Willis was hit with a squib. 'In my 38 years of experience I know that they don't fly up and hit you in the head,' he said. 'He tried to blame my department. He dragged my name through the mud for two years. It was 'bullsh--.' After all his allegations they made him show his medical records and you know what the doctor prescribed him? Tylenol.' Special effects professional Joe Pancake denied that Willis was injured on the set, saying that the actor was merely struck in the head by a hot shell casing Pancake, pictured here, said that Willis's doctors prescribed Tylenol for his injures. He said the judge 'laughed it out of court' His family shared a statement on their social media pages announcing his diagnosis on Wednesday and saying he will be be 'stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him' Pancake said he enjoyed working with Willis. 'He was great to work with,' Pancake said. 'Me and him got along great until he named me in the suit. I wasn't even the special effect coordinator, but he remembered my name.' Though admittedly he has no medical background, Pancake said that a 20-year-old injury would not manifest itself now. 'I'm not a doctor and I know that' he said. Sources say acclaimed actor Bruce Willis, 67, has been having trouble on the sets of his recent movies, and was even pictured wearing an earpiece to feed him lines on the set of American Siege in 2020 Willis is perhaps best known for his role in the Die Hard series as John McClane Bruce Willis was a hit in the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction Willis became a major action star with his 1988 breakthrough film Die Hard Pancake said he thought Willis sued because his acting career was flagging at that time. 'It was a publicity stunt because he was washed up,' he said. 'He went from a $20-million-a-movie actor to nothing.' Willis's cognitive problems became an open secret in Hollywood, according to reports. 'It was becoming super obvious he was having trouble,' an unnamed source told PageSix. 'He could not act anymore.' As the Daily Mail exclusively reported, he was photographed in a scene in his new movie American Siege, which was filmed in 2020, wearing an earpiece. He also relied on an earpiece to be fed his lines in 2015 Broadway production of 'Misery,' OK Magazine reported. He was also reportedly struggling during the filming of M. Night Shyamalan's 2019 film Glass. His most recent films, like Cosmic Sun, have been panned by critics, and the actor has now won the award for 'worst films of 2021' at the Razzies 'While filming Glass, staffers worked around him by cutting and editing and having him overdub lines because he struggled to remember and/or deliver them,' they told the publication, according to the New Zealand Herald. 'In most scenes on Glass he's hooded, and they used stand-in and body doubles to replace him. On set, he wouldn't smile and was always chaperoned by an assistant to guide him while walking.' The source also said at the time that Willis had sold his New York property to spend more time with his wife and children in Los Angeles, and said that his wife, as well as ex-wife Demi Moore, were working together to take care of the famed actor. 'His wife Emma has helped Demi Moore and the children Bruce shares with his ex-wife to make truces because they know he's fading,' the unnamed source told the magazine in January 2021. 'Between Demi and Emma, the family has always ensured Bruce has the support and care he might need at any given time,' the insider said. They added, 'The good news is that although there is the real concern of dementia fears, it largely has not impacted his ability to work in Hollywood and in true super hero form he won't slow down because new technology like earpieces allows actors of his caliber not to skip a beat.' But in recent years, the New Zealand Herald reports, die hard fans of the actor have noticed he was taking more roles in straight-to-video releases. This year, Page Six reports, Willis was given his own category at the Razzies - a parody award show honoring the worst of cinematic under-achievements - for the 'worst movies of 2021' after he starred in eight critically-panned films. One of his films, Out of Death, earned a zero percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The parody awards show apologized to the actor following the announcement of his diagnosis on Wednesday, tweeting: 'The Razzies are truly sorry for #BruceWillis' diagnosed condition. 'Perhaps this explains why he wanted to go out with a bang in 2021. Our best wishes to Bruce and family.' United States President Joe Biden claimed on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had either fired or placed his advisers under house arrest over the country's performance in the Ukraine war. The Democrat made the remarks about Putin's confidants after he spoke about his plans to lower U.S. energy prices. Biden was asked about how misinformed the Russian president was regarding his military's condition in Ukraine. But Biden said that his comments were made without absolute "certainty." Vladimir Putin's Advisers Biden said that there were plenty of rumors and speculations that Putin was self-isolating but said that there was not much evidence to back up the claims. The U.S. president's remarks come after the release of U.S. and UK intelligence reports on Wednesday. The reports determined that Putin's advisers have lied to the Russian president regarding the performance of Moscow's military troops in Ukraine as the advances begin to stall. The recently declassified findings suggest that the Kremlin leader was now aware of the gap in information that was being given to him. However, there was still a lingering tension between Putin and his senior military officials, as per Politico. The situation comes as Biden noted that there was no evidence that showed Putin ordered the withdrawal of his troops from positions around Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv. The Democratic leader's remarks come after he said he was authorizing the U.S. to release one million barrels of oil per day for the next six months. Read Also: Russia Plans New World Order With China; Poll Reveals Growing Fears for Taiwan Invasion After West Fails To Deter Moscow The supply will be coming from the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve and will be distributed in an attempt to alleviate rising gas prices. The U.S. president's comments echo those made by Defense Department spokesman John Kirby. The latter said that Russian troop movements represented a "repositioning, not a real withdrawal." According to Yahoo News, Biden said that he was still skeptical of Putin's intentions in Ukraine and noted that the question of whether or not Russia was pulling back troops depended on how the situation was read. While the U.S. president said there was no evidence of Russian troops withdrawing, he noted the same can be said of Moscow beefing up its troops deployed in the Donbas area. Russia-Ukraine War During a press briefing, White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield was the one that suggested Putin's advisers were misleading him about the status of the war. She said that the Russian president's confidants were "too afraid to tell him the truth." Bedingfield noted that the situation showed Russia's war has been a strategic blunder that has left the country weaker in the long term and more isolated on the world stage. Moscow's troops have struggled to move forward in Ukraine amid stalwart defenses, supply shortages, morale problems, and limited directions from officials. Furthermore, Putin allegedly did not know that his troops were using and losing conscripted soldiers in the war. The official who cited previously classified information said that the situation showed a "clear breakdown in the flow of accurate information to the Russian president," Newsweek reported. Related Article: Russian Advisors Mislead Putin Over Fears of Ukraine War Performance, US Official Claims @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jailed drug kingpin Tony Mokbel has been rushed to hospital from prison after suffering chest pains. The 56-year-old, known as 'Fat Tony', was escorted from Barwon Prison, near Geelong in Melbourne's southeast, to the emergency room on Thursday night. The once-feared figure of Melbourne's underworld is serving a minimum 22 year year sentence for large-scale drug trafficking but continues to fight for his freedom. Jailed drug kingpin Tony Mokbel (pictured arriving at court in 2007) has been rushed to hospital after suffering chest pains The drug kingpin has a history of cardiac issues and in 2012 suffered a heart attack behind bars and taken to the secure unit of St Vincents for treatment. In 2019, the gangland identity was left clinging to life after he was bashed and stabbed with makeshift shivs in February 2019. Mokbel in December is fighting to walk free from jail off the back of the Lawyer X scandal. He continues to claim his convictions have been tainted by the notorious police informer and criminal lawyer Nicola Gobbo. Just over a year ago he had a 12 year conviction quashed after it was revealed Gobbo, a criminal defence lawyer, was acting as a police informant. Britain is sending 1.3billion of aid to countries which have failed to criticise Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine. Last month the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn the aggression and call for an immediate withdrawal. Of the 40 countries who either voted against the motion or abstained, 37 received development cash in 2021/22. Among those to abstain were China, handed 12.4million, and India and Pakistan, given 57.8million and 142.7million respectively. All three countries have been accused of being far too close to Vladimir Putin since he sent in his troops India has even set up a system to help Russia avoid the impact of Western sanctions. Millions have also been sent into Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria, even though their governments explicitly supported the invasion. Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen (pictured) said the Foreign Office needed to review the allocations 'as a matter of urgency, after it was revealed that Britain will send 1.3billion in aid to countries that didn't condemn Putin Britain will still send millions to India, China and Pakistan despite the countries not condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine Last night Tories demanded the Foreign Office, which now runs Britains aid programme, reviews its spending. Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said: Why on Earth would we want to be giving these countries aid, when they do not even vote to condemn the invasion of Ukraine? The whole point of taking aid into the Foreign Office was that our aid programme would align with our foreign policy objectives. The Foreign Office clearly need to review these allocations as a matter of urgency. Just four countries sided with Russia in the UN vote and all are recipients of British aid in 2021/22. Belarus received 80,000 and North Korea 15,000 to support postgraduate students willing to study in the UK. Eritrea got 680,000 towards this same scheme and a humanitarian response fund. Some 53.5millon went to those caught up in the Syrian conflict, despite the countrys president Bashar al-Assad praising Russias invasion as a correction of history and accusing the West of using dirty methods to support terrorist in Syria and Nazis in Ukraine. The result of the UN vote to condemn Vladimir Putin, in which five countries voted against and 34 abstained The 12.4million sent to China, which has said it understands Russias legitimate security concerns over the eastern expansion of Nato, includes funds towards the China Prosperity Fund programme. It aims to bring British and Chinese businesses together and help Chinas transition to an inclusive, sustainable and productive economy. Aid money also went towards tackling the illegal wildlife trade, reducing poverty, promoting offshore renewable energy, and reducing the number of pigs catching influenza. India, which gets 70 per cent of its arms from Russia, has remained studiously neutral in the war. Prime minister Narendra Modi has set up a mechanism to trade with Russia using rupees to avoid sanctions. Last year Britain gave the country 57.8million towards projects to explore the politics of hope, to ensure low-income migrants get services in newly-expanding towns, and the survival of local foods in the city of Rampur. Other schemes concern the establishment of creches and a study of the way poverty and gender affect access to services. Pakistan has also remained neutral and its prime minister, Imran Khan, hit out at the West over its fixation with Ukraine. Britain sent 142.7million to the country in 2021/22 for projects such as the privatisation of its largest commercial bank and a new online retailer. More than 150,000 was sent to Iran, a country that has blamed the war on Nato provocation. A spokesman for the Foreign Office said last night: We will be setting out aid allocations in due course. Patrick Demarchelier, the photographer who took some of the most captivating and memorable portraits of Princess Diana, has died aged 78. The Frenchman was contacted by the Princess of Wales in 1989 after she saw one of his images on the cover of Vogue. Their first shoot the following year produced the famous black and white photograph of Diana wearing a strapless dress and tiara. Afterwards the princess took the unusual step of asking Mr Demarchelier to become her personal portraitist the first non-British official photographer of the Royal Family. French photographer Patrick Demarchelier, who died aged 78, is seen at the Petit Palais in Paris in 2008 Demarchelier's and Princess Diana's first shoot the following year produced the famous black and white photograph of Diana wearing a strapless dress and tiara. (Pictured: A woman takes a picture of a photograph of Diana, Princess of Wales by Patrick Demarchelier 1990 during a press view of Vogue 100) Demarchelier took iconic photographs of Diana that graced the front of numerous magazines He once said of their relationship: We became friends. She was funny and kind but fundamentally she was a very simple woman who liked very simple things. The death of Mr Demarchelier, who lived in New York with his ex-model wife Mia, was confirmed on his Instagram account last night. He is survived by three sons Gustaf, Arthur and Victor and three grandchildren. The death of Mr Demarchelier, who lived in New York with his ex-model wife Mia, was confirmed on his Instagram account last night (Pictured: Anna Wintour and Patrick Demarchelier Chanel Show, Autumn Winter 2014, Paris Fashion Week) The Frenchman was contacted by the Princess of Wales in 1989 after she saw one of his images on the cover of Vogue. Pictured: One of Patrick Demarchelie's covers In a stellar career, Mr Demarchelier captured photos of celebrities including Madonna, Kate Moss and Beyonce. He appeared in films such as 2006s The Devil Wears Prada and his work often graced the pages of Vogue. In 2018, Mr Demarchelier was accused of sexually assaulting models and an assistant, which he denied. Magazine firm Conde Nast, which owns Vogue, suspended work with the photographer. Britain has warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to remain strong in the face of Russian aggression amid fears other allied leaders could push him to agree a rushed peace deal advantageous to Putin. Progress towards a ceasefire seemingly got started earlier this week when the Kremlin announced it would pull back some of its troops from Kyiv and Chernihiv as negotiations progressed in Turkey. But government officials are now concerned that US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz may encourage Zelensky to give up significant concessions to reach a peace deal as soon as possible. A senior government source told The Times yesterday that the aforementioned allied leaders appeared 'over-eager' to secure a peace deal, which could see Putin enjoy weaker sanctions and avoid persecution as a war criminal among other concessions, in return for an end to hostilities in Ukraine. 'Some of our allies may be too eager for [Zelensky] to settle,' the source said, before adding: 'Ukraine needs to be in the strongest possible position militarily before those talks can take place.' Zelensky meanwhile is said to have expressed worry to Boris Johnson over Russia's apparent scale-back of military activity in key regions and posited that Russia's negotiators may be feigning progress in peace talks to buy time for fighting forces to regroup and reposition. It comes after Russian forces withdrew from a series of positions around the Ukrainian capital, including Hostomel airbase which is thought to be a key strategic position, and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant which they had held since day one of the invasion. In his daily video address yesterday evening, Zelensky said the sight of Russian troops retreating was heartening for all Ukrainians, but appeared confident that Russia will simply refocus its military might after regrouping and urged his forces not to let up Britain has warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to remain strong in the face of Russian aggression amid fears other allied leaders could push him to agree a rushed peace deal advantageous to Putin. Boris Johnson told Zelensky that Putin is 'a liar and a bully' who would use negotiations to 'wear you down and force you to make concessions' A view shows residential houses destroyed by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the village of Hostomel, in Kyiv region, Ukraine March 31, 2022. Russian forces withdrew from a series of positions around the Ukrainian capital yesterday, including Hostomel airbase which is thought to be a key strategic position Ukrainian service members rest in the village of Hostomel amid Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv region, Ukraine March 31, 2022 A senior government source told The Times yesterday that the aforementioned allied leaders appeared 'over-eager' to secure a peace deal, which could see Putin enjoy weaker sanctions and avoid persecution as a war criminal among other concessions, in return for an end to hostilities in Ukraine In his daily video address yesterday evening, Zelensky said the sight of Russian troops retreating was heartening for all Ukrainians, but appeared confident that Russia will simply refocus its military might after regrouping and urged his forces not to let up. 'We know their intentions. We know what they are planning and what they are doing,' the Ukrainian leader said. 'We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us. 'We all want to win,' Zelensky added. 'But there will be battles ahead. We still have to go through a very difficult path ahead to get everything we are striving for. 'We endured much more than the enemy expected. They said three or five days. They thought that this would be enough for them to seize our entire state. And it's already 36. And we are standing. And we will continue to fight.' NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last night voiced his agreement with the assessment of Russia's tactics: 'According to our intelligence, Russian units are not withdrawing but repositioning. 'Russia is trying to regroup, resupply and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas region. At the same time, Russia maintains pressure on Kyiv and other cities. So we can expect additional offensive actions bringing even more suffering.' The Ukrainian President also said he spoke with European Council President Charles Michel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday, while his adviser spoke with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and advocated for more military and monetary support. Zelensky's mistrust of the Kremlin and rousing speech encouraging his countrymen to keep fighting comes after Boris Johnson told him not to back down. The Prime Minister told Zelensky that Putin is a 'liar and a bully' who would use talks to 'wear you down and force you to make concessions' during a phonecall just days ago. Johnson has said Western allies must intensify sanctions on Russia until all the Kremlin's forces withdraw entirely from Ukraine, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. But government officials appear to have questioned the resolve of other allied leaders to support the Ukrainian war effort. Zelensky himself previously criticised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on several occasions, saying that he was 'mistaken' in his handling of the situation. The Ukrainian president said Scholz's judgment was clouded by his country's reliance on Russian gas and his earlier refusal to allow even foreign country's to deliver German-supplied weapons to Ukraine's armed forces. He also accused French President Macron of being 'afraid' of his Russian counterpart. Macron has perhaps been the Western leader most willing to speak with Putin - the pair have shared frequent phonecalls in the weeks before and since the start of the invasion - but no common ground has yet been reached. A fresh round of peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates are set to begin today, though Zelensky has maintained that face-to-face negotiations with Putin may be the best way to bring about an end to the conflict. Ukrainian soldiers walk next to destroyed Russian tanks in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022 Local residents are seen in front of an apartment building destroyed during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 31, 2022 A woman walks past a residential area which was destroyed as a result of a rocket strike in Kyiv as Ukraine makes military gains in the region Russian forces appeared to leave the village of Hostomel and the nearby airbase on the outskirts of Kyiv after more than a month of fighting. The airbase - located a mere 12 miles from Kyiv city centre - played host to one of the biggest skirmishes so far in the early days of the invasion, and is thought to be a key strategic position for Russia's forces to occupy should they want to launch an all out assault on the Ukrainian capital. The land changed hands several times amid fierce fighting in late February and early March, before Russian forces ultimately overwhelmed the defenders and seized control. But after the nearby town of Irpin was retaken in a Ukrainian counter attack earlier this week, the Kremlin's troops today appeared to shut up shop. Further north, Russian soldiers also withdrew completely from the region around Chernobyl nuclear power plant in what appears to be another victory for the Ukrainian armed forces. The damaged wreckage of the world's largest plane is pictured after it was burnt during a Russian attack on Hostomel airbase in the early days of the invasion This close-up image of the plane shows the extent of the damage caused by the Russian attack But Ukrainian and US defence officials have speculated the troops are unlikely to be withdrawing from the conflict altogether, and warned that the Kremlin's soldiers were likely resupplying before being redeployed to other battle zones. A US defence official told The Telegraph: 'Just because they're going to put more energy there doesn't mean it's going to be easy for them. 'We have continued to see unit cohesion issues, command and control problems, problems with faulty leadership. 'We continue to believe that this is a repositioning. We certainly haven't seen any indications that any of these troops are going back home, or that they're being taken away from the fight forever.' Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom announced yesterday afternoon that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is now back under the control of Ukrainian forces for the first time since the war began on February 24. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meanwhile said the Russian forces which were in control of the Chernobyl nuclear plant have 'in writing, transferred control' of the facility to Ukrainian personnel. Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom has announced the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is now back under the control of Ukrainian forces for the first time since the war began on February 24 Though Russian soldiers seized control of Chernobyl soon after the Feb. 24 invasion, the plant's Ukrainian staff continued to oversee the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel and supervise the concrete-encased remains of the reactor that exploded in 1986, causing the world's worst nuclear accident The UN's nuclear watchdog added that it was in close consultations with Ukrainian authorities on sending a first assistance and support mission to Chernobyl in the next few days. Ukrainian authorities said that three convoys of Russian forces had left the site toward Belarus, with a small contingent of remaining troops preparing to leave. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said the Russian troops who dug trenches in the forest nearby the plant 'voluntarily received such doses of radiation that the consequences will be explained to them by doctors in special protective suits.' A Ukrainian official overseeing the exclusion zone around Chernobyl backed up Vereshchuk's claims, saying that several Russian soldiers were transported to Belarus to receive treatment for radiation poisoning. The Covid catch-up scheme for schools was dubbed shambolic yesterday after the firm running it was axed after less than a year. Randstad, a Dutch company, was originally awarded a 25million contract to run the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) for three years. It was supposed to arrange private tuition for the most disadvantaged pupils, whose education had suffered the most during the pandemic. But schools said many tutors either did not turn up or lacked expertise. Yesterday, the Department for Education (DfE) said that it would not be renewing Randstads contract in August, a year after it was appointed. The Department for Education (pictured) ended the contract to run the National Tutoring Programme with Randstad years early due to its 'shambolic' management Chris McGovern (pictured), of the Campaign for Real Education, said the new plan to give the schools more freedom to control the budget was a 'no-brainer' Instead, the cash will go directly to schools so that they can either employ their own tutors or use existing teachers. A total of 349million has been allocated for next year. The DfE said: This will simplify the system and give schools the freedom to decide how best to provide tutoring for their children. Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, added: Giving schools control of the budget for catch-up tutoring is an educational no-brainer. Its current management has been shambolic. As of December 12, pupils had started 52,000 courses with the official tuition partners, just 10 per cent of the firms target of 524,000 for the academic year. Robert Halfon (pictured), chairman of the Commons education committee, said that the Dutch firm's delivery of the programme over the past year was 'particularly alarming' Schools have said that the programme is a bureaucratic nightmare and that Randstads online tuition hub was dysfunctional. Last month the NTP removed its target of giving two thirds of its tutoring to children on the pupil premium, a key marker of deprivation. Robert Halfon, chairman of the Commons education committee, said: Randstads delivery of the national tutoring programme has been particularly alarming. I strongly welcome the measures. An incredible graduate has been celebrated after becoming the first Australian with Down syndrome to complete her university degree, as social media users reacted to her inspiring achievement. Rachel High, 44, pushed through the struggles of completing a degree, including interpreting academic language and dealing with being an adult student. 'When I first got into uni it was daunting, and I was nervous, a little bit scared, because I had no idea what to expect,' Rachel said. Her mother Miriam said that her daughter feel incredibly isolated at first because she had no mentor or someone to share university life with. She said Rachel would say she didn't like uni, no one spoke to her and she got to the point where she didn't want to continue. 'Young students aren't there to look after a middle-aged person with Down syndrome,' Miriam told ABC News. After ten years of tears, bad days and academic cognitive struggles, Rachel High (pictured) made the grade by possibly being the first with Down syndrome to graduate from university. She said it was also difficult for her daughter to cope with the demands of academic life, but she was able to get there in the end. 'We found ourselves going through a process of helping her translate, understand and then she was able to write the assignments,' Miriam said. Rachel got into the university through a foundation course and by participating in a pathway for those with disabilities. The ambitious student was then admitted into a Bachelor of Arts course, majoring in her beloved drama and screen studies, having grown up 'on the stage'. Her parents helped her buddy up with someone initially to beat the social blues, and then she was offered a mentor halfway through her degree by the university. Having those connections and meeting new people helped her get on board and start to enjoy student life. 'I made some friends through my mentors and their friends as well,' Rachel said. After 10 years of hard work and determination, she said it made her feel great to finally get to the end of a very long journey, after being handed her prized degree last year. Social media users on LinkedIn loved the 'good news' story and congratulated the graduate. 'Absolutely amazing, congratulations,' one user said, while another gushed, 'what an inspiring story and fabulous achievement'. One wrote that Rachel should put the degree in a frame next to her 'lovely' photo. 'It will be a reminder for you whenever you're feeling a bit overwhelmed that you have the determination, resilience and ability to not just achieve but to inspire others by what you do.' Professor Sally Robinson, who supervised Rachel's final research paper, said Rachel's story shows those with intellectual challenges can succeed in university. 'We need to raise our expectations,' she said. World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated each year on March 21, and aims to encourage those with the condition in the community. Alison Preston, who has a young Down syndrome toddler, told a Christian news site the day was an opportunity for a small global community to show 'how much we love our person who happens to have Down syndrome'. 'I think that my son's life speaks for itself as does our life as a family, and I'd invite anyone who really wonders whether someone with Down syndrome has a quality of life to spend an hour with our family, Ms Preston said. 'I'm not going to shy away from the challenges, but the essence of our lives is love and joy.' Ms Preston said she met with a Down syndrome community at the Werribee Zoo in Victoria to celebrate and 'it was a wonderful day of music and fun and being together'. Rachel's professor said those with intellectual disabilities can succeed at university: 'We need to raise our expectations' Australia's former chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth is leading calls for Victoria to end mask mandates for children and slammed public health and political leaders for perpetuating fears about Covid-19. In a message posted to Twitter on Friday, Dr Coatsworth wrote: 'Its time. #UnmaskOurKids. After sending the message, Dr Coatsworth faced an onslaught of support from parents calling for the mask mandates to end. However, he also faced criticism from several trolls who claimed he was 'misinformed.' Dr Coatsworth (pictured) and other health experts have said the mask rules for kids don't make sense One wrote: 'Nick, is this your idea of an April Fool's Day prank or are you once again unmasking how little you care about vulnerable people (including children)?' But Dr Coatsworth quickly fired back with a brutal message for political and public health leaders: 'I forgive the abusers in the comments section,' he wrote. 'Who I dont forgive is the leaders, both political and public health, that perpetuate the level of COVID fear that leads to this level of discourse. The community has a right to an accurate representation of risk.' While almost all mask rules were scrapped for adults at the beginning of March, primary school kids in Grades 3 to 6 are still forced to wear masks while at school. Prof Coatsworth said children are not at risk of becoming seriously ill themselves from Covid-19. 'Youre not actually protecting the kids themselves because its a very, very mild disease in children with or without the vaccine,' he said. 'It doesnt stop them from getting very sick because they dont get very sick. 'Yes theres lots of cases around. The people who are getting very sick with this are the very frail elderly in nursing homes. Or the people with severe underlying conditions. 'There is an overemphasis on the risks posed by Covid in a fully-vaccinated population and an overemphasis on the benefits of masking kids.' Prof Coatsworth explained how he spent a week working in a hospital recently and struggled with wearing a mask. 'I have trouble communicating with my patients (while wearing a mask),' he said. 'Its hard for them to hear me, its hard for them to know who I am, and if thats hard for me then I can only conclude that it would be detrimental to kids.' He said it would be reasonable for people over 70 to keep wearing masks until the Omicron wave subsides. When that happens, he says it should be time to stop counting daily cases. 'This needs to move beyond cases now. There needs to come a time when we need to stop counting the cases. Thatll probably be when the Omicron curve comes well and truly down.' Last month, Victorian chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton defended the decision saying it would 'put downward pressure on transmission'. Meanwhile, Premier Dan Andrews added the decision was made because vaccination rates in kids aged 5-11 were slow compared to the rest of the population. Most mask rules were lifted for adults in Victoria earlier in March but school kids still have to wear them five days a week (pictured: Port Melbourne College) Victorian Premier Dan Andrews (pictured) said it 'wasn't his job to interpret the advice' of the chief health officer despite introducing new laws to that effect 'You've got to draw the line somewhere... it's much harder to get a little kid in prep or (Grade) 1 and 2 to wear their mask than it is for kids who are a bit older,' Mr Andrews said, Deputy Premier James Merlino joined in too, saying his kids had 'gotten used' to wearing masks at school. Dr Nick Coatsworth retweeted a post from mental health advocacy group Shadow Pandemic in which they polled thousands of parents who had a very different view. 'Mr Merlino your job is to represent constituents... we polled 20,000 parents and teachers to ask if their kids mind being masked all day five days a week, you are well out of touch,' the group said. 'That's a ridiculous statement, they shouldn't be used to wearing masks,' one parent said. 'How absurd, of course they mind. My son's glasses are always fogging up because of the mask. And let's consider how much communication is being missed by covering up everyone's speech and facial expressions,' a second said. 'They can't see their friends or teachers smiling at them, and there's no scientific evidence behind it,' added a third. Dr Coatsworth retweeted a post of mental health advocacy group Shadow Pandemic (pictured) Some of the thousands of messages received from parents and teachers against the mask rules (pictured) The comments echo sentiments of respected medical experts who also disagreed with the mask rule for children. 'I continue to be definite. No masks for primary school students,' Dr Coatsworth himself previously said. Meanwhile infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon said the rule made no sense when masks are not required for adults. 'The biggest spreading events come from bars, pubs and clubs but they don't wear masks,' he said. 'It's good news that younger children are now exempt (from masks) but it really should be all primary school children.' Emma McBryde, James Cook University professor of infectious diseases modelling agreed saying she 'can see no genuine reason' for keeping the mask rules for kids. 'I would recommend they draw the line at no schoolchildren needing to wear masks anymore,' she told The Herald Sun. 'It's a silly measure to keep a small cohort of young children wearing masks. It almost feels as though they can't let go of control. To me, there's no genuine rationale of it.' While Werribee GP Joe Garra said the rule was 'illogical' because the risk of Omicron for children was extremely low and masks 'shouldn't be mandated for kids to protect adults'. The controversial mask rule will be reviewed at the end of the school term before the Easter holiday. NSW's 'soft' stay-at-home orders were more effective at controlling Covid outbreaks than Victoria's hard lockdown, a new graph indicates. The graph compares the Covid outbreak in the two states after Victoria introduced a hard lockdown and NSW enforced 'soft' restrictions in 2021. Euzebiusz Jamrozik, who is a bioethicist at UK-based Ethox Centre and a clinical fellow of the University of Melbourne Medical School, posted the results to Twitter. 'In 2021 Australia conducted a "natural experiment" on lockdowns for Covid 19,' Mr Jamrozik wrote. 'Victoria/VIC chose "hard and early" lockdown. New South Wales (NSW) used "soft and late" lockdown.' The graph compares the Covid outbreak in the two states after Victoria introduced a hard lockdown and NSW enforced 'soft' stay-at-home orders in 2021 Melbourne endured the longest lockdown in the world with the city spending a cumulative 262 days under stay-at-home orders since the pandemic began in 2020 (pictured, near-deserted Flinders Street Station in September) The graph depicts case numbers in Victoria overtaking NSW and reaching slightly above 1,000 new cases per 100,000 people. NSW case numbers rise gradually but the state manages to peak at a little over 700 new cases per 100,000. Melbourne endured the longest lockdown in the world with the city spending a cumulative 262 days under stay-at-home orders since the pandemic began in 2020. The last lockdown ended in October 2021 and finally allowed non-essential businesses to reopen and residents to finally leave their homes and travel beyond the 5km limit. Former premier Gladys Berejiklian tried a different approach to the hard lockdown and attempted to only enforce stay-at-home orders in suburbs hit by outbreaks. An outbreak in Avalon, on Sydney's northern beaches, prompted Ms Berejiklian to divide the area into the Northern and Southern zones during Christmas 2020. Residents were restricted from leaving their areas while greater travel freedoms were allowed for the other suburbs. The premier attempted to use the same approach when handling the Bondi cluster in June 2021. Former premier Gladys Berejiklian tried a different approach to the hard lockdown and attempted to only enforce stay-at-home orders in suburbs hit by outbreaks (pictured, mounted police patrol Bondi Beach in August) The outbreak spread to western Sydney and Ms Berejiklian was forced to call in the military and introduce a curfew (pictured, military and police personnel patrol Fairfield) The outbreak spread to western Sydney and Ms Berejiklian was forced to call in the military and introduce a curfew. The move sparked outrage as the strict measures weren't extended to the eastern suburbs and Ms Berejiklian was criticised for waiting too long to introduce a lockdown. The different approaches between the two states, and high vaccination rates, appear to have worked better for Victoria in the long run. The state has the second lowest seven day average across the country - while NSW has the third. The Northern Territory has the lowest with a rate of 7.6 per cent and is followed by Victoria that has 16.5 per cent. NSW comes in next with a positive rate of just 17.3 per cent. Queensland has the highest rate at 26.4 per cent, followed by South Australia with 21.7 per cent and Western Australia at 20.5 per cent. A male nurse has been charged with sexually assaulting a 25-year-old female patient who was recovering from heart surgery in hospital. The 42-year-old nurse allegedly assaulted the woman while she was recovering at Norwest Hospital in Bella Vista, in Sydney's north-west, last September. The nurse was charged with sexual intercourse without consent on March 11, but in the weeks since has been accused of two further sexual touching incidents. He is accused of groping a 67-year-old woman at Kingswood Hospital just weeks ago and a 21-year-old nursing student in December 2018. The man has twice been arrested in the past month and has been charged with sexual intercourse without consent and two separate counts of sexual touching The male nurse, who has worked at two hospitals in Sydney's west and north-west, was loaded into the back of a police van, video shows Police released video of the nurse being taken in custody for the second time in weeks on Friday morning. The video shows the handcuffed accused being calmly escorted by two plain clothes officers from a modern suburban home into the back of a waiting police van parked on the kerb. In a press statement, police said the older alleged victim had been awaiting heart surgery at the time the man allegedly touched him. The nursing student claimed she was assaulted during a shift. The arrest has shocked staff at the hospital. The man has been refused bail and will appear in Liverpool Court on Friday. Disney's former CEO has delivered an apparent rebuke to his successor for his handling of the 'Don't Say Gay' controversy, saying that to him the issue was a simple question 'about right and wrong'. Bob Iger, 71, handed over the reins of the company after 15 years at the helm in February 2021, with Bob Chapek, 61, taking over. Chapek has been criticized by Disney employees for his failure to publicly condemn a Florida education bill dubbed 'Don't Say Gay', which prevents teachers discussing sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. The bill, which Joe Biden called 'hateful' but which supporters say protects children, was signed into law by Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis, on Monday. Chapek initially resisted pressure to condemn the bill in the state - Disney employs 77,000 people in Florida. Iger, meanwhile, tweeted his criticism of the new legislation. On Thursday he told CNN+ that he thought it was a clear-cut issue. 'A lot of these issues are not necessarily political,' said Iger. 'It's about right and wrong.' Bob Iger on Thursday appeared to take a swipe at his successor as Disney CEO and his handling of the 'Don't Say Gay' bill controversy, insisting that the issue was 'about right and wrong' Chris Wallace asks @RobertIger about Disney weighing in on hot-button issues like the "Don't Say Gay" bill and the decision-making behind it. #WhosTalkingToChrisWallace pic.twitter.com/u20jYbl9gx CNN+ (@CNNplus) March 31, 2022 Iger (right) is seen with his successor Bob Chapek (left), who took over in February 2021 Iger was asked by host Chris Wallace whether he felt a 'vanilla' company like Disney, which is not known for being edgy or political, should weigh in on controversial social issues. 'I had to contend with this a lot,' said Iger. 'And the filter that I used to determine whether we should or should not weigh in, considered a few factors: What would its impact have on our employees, on our shareholders and our customers. 'And if any one of those three constituencies had deep interest in, or would be affected by, whatever the matter was at hand then it was something that I thought we should consider weighing in on.' Disney's tepid response to the controversial bill led to protests and worker walkouts Disney employees are seen protesting against the 'Don't Say Gay' bill on March 22 in California Iger, who has reportedly irritated Chapek with his continued high-profile, setting the two men at loggerheads, said business leaders needed to be courageous. He said that when dealing with right and wrong, or with something 'that does have a profound impact on your business,' he thinks one has to do 'what is right and not worry about the potential backlash to it.' What is the Parental Rights in Education bill? 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 February. DeSantis signed it into law on March 28 and it will come into effect on July 1. Advertisement Iger added: 'I think CEOs, you know one of the things that CEOs accept as a responsibility is that they're going to have to weigh in on issues, even if voicing an opinion on those issues potentially puts some of your business in danger.' On February 8, Biden spoke out against the bill, tweeting: 'I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are. I have your back, and my Administration will continue to fight for the protections and safety you deserve.' Several weeks later, on February 24, Iger tweeted: 'I'm with the President on this! If passed, this bill will put vulnerable, young LGBTQ people in jeopardy.' He told Wallace that he spoke out because he felt the bill was 'potentially harmful to kids'. 'So I happen to feel and I tweeted an opinion about this 'Don't Say Gay' bill in Florida,' Iger said. 'To me, it wasn't politics, it was what is right and what is wrong, and that just seemed wrong. 'It seemed potentially harmful to kids. 'And it seemed as though it would do exactly what it shouldn't do. And that is to foster compassion, and understanding and acceptance, and enable young kids who might be gay to feel more confident, more comfortable, more part of society, if it could be discussed freely, as opposed to kept in the closet.' Chapek has come under fire for his clumsy handling of the issue. On March 7 he released a memo telling staff that Disney hadn't released a statement sooner because 'they are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide and inflame.' He later apologized for the company's handling of the bill, saying Disney would pause all political donations in the state and increase support for advocacy groups working to combat similar legislation in other states. Disney employees staged a series of walkouts earlier in the month in protest at Chapek's failure to be more vocal on the issue. Iger's remarks threaten to drive an even greater wedge between him and his successor, whose contract only runs until February 2023. Chapek (left) and Iger (right) are pictured with the chief creative officer of Pixar, Pete Docter, on June 16 Iger was widely liked and appreciated in Hollywood, and admired in the industry for having presided over a series of intellectual property acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm which will likely go down in media history as three of the smartest deals ever. The media mogul, worth an estimated $690 million, was originally set to retire in the summer of 2018. The Board of Directors then extended Iger's contract until 2019, to oversee the acquisition of Fox and the launch of Disney+. His contract was extended even further until 2021, and Iger eventually stood aside in February of that year. He remained with the company as Executive Chairman until December 31, 2021 - a move that apparently irked his successor, with Iger saying that he stuck with the company because they needed him, due to the pandemic. 'A crisis of this magnitude, and its impact on Disney, would necessarily result in my actively helping Bob [Chapek] and the company contend with it, particularly since I ran the company for 15 years,' Iger told the New York Times. Chapek was furious, CNBC reported. Chapek (left) and Iger are pictured on September 30 at the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida 'Chapek was furious when he saw the story, according to three people familiar with the matter,' they reported. 'He had not expressed a need or desire for extra help. He wasn't looking for a white knight. 'Chapek felt he was essentially doing it again, leaving him as a hapless second banana, according to people familiar with his thoughts. 'Chapek was already reporting to Iger, the board's chairman, anyway.' It was also noted that, at a leaving party, Iger thanked his former colleagues while barely mentioning Chapek. 'It was extremely awkward,' said one of the guests. 'The tension was palpable.' With the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine in Europe, the world's spotlight is also on Russian President Vladimir Putin, as nations anticipate the end of the ongoing conflict that resulted in destruction, displacement, and disruptions. However, the Russian leader's family life is rarely mentioned in the news. Is he a family man? Does he have kids? Vladimir Putin's children have stayed away from public attention unlike the kids of other world leaders. In a past New York Times report, Putin said he believes that society has the right to be informed about the lives of public figures but there is a limitation to it. Despite gaining public attention for his strong leadership, he makes sure to keep his private life in the shadows. Vladimir Putin Children According to the report, President Putin has never publicly acknowledged the identity of his daughters. However, the media were still able to gathered information about Vladimir Putin's children. In 1983, as a young KGB agent, Putin met flight attendant Lyudmila Shkrebneva at a concert in St. Petersburg. The couple got married after around four months of being in a relationship, as per Today However, after almost 30 years of marriage, the two announced their divorce at a ballet held in Kremlin Palace. Read Also: Russia Plans New World Order With China; Poll Reveals Growing Fears for Taiwan Invasion After West Fails To Deter Moscow Putin and Shkrebneva share two daughters: Maria and Katerina. Maria Vladimirovna Putin (also known as Maria Vorontsova and Maria Faassen) is the eldest daughter of the Russian leader. She was born on April 28, 1985, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in Russia. Maria attended St. Petersburg State University and majored in biology. In 2011, she completed her medical studies at Moscow State University and went on to become a Ph.D. candidate at Moscow's Endocrinology Research Centre. According to a National World article, she works as Putin's genetic engineering adviser, with her specialty in pediatric growth disorders. She is married to Jorrit Faassen, a Dutch businessman. Putin's second daughter Katerina Tikhonova (also known as Yekaterina Vladimirovna Putina) was born on August 31, 1986. Like her sister, she studied at St. Petersburg State University and took up Asian studies. She furthered her studies at Moscow State University and specialized in Japan and also attained a master's degree in physics and math. With her function as deputy director of the Institute for Mathematical Research of Complex Systems at Moscow State University, Tikhonova appeared as a panelist during a session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in June 2021. Other Vladimir Putin Kids Putin reportedly has kids with her rumored girlfriend Alina Kabaeva, a former athlete and Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast. According to a Page Six report, the two have four children: two young boys and 7-year-old twin daughters, though they never confirmed them. Despite her high-profile status, Kabaeva has been largely absent from the public eye in recent years. Kabaeva and her young children have been reportedly hiding in Switzerland as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues. Sources say that Putin's kids with Kabaeva were born in Switzerland. They all have Swiss passports, and most likely Kabaeva holds one too. Related Article: Russian Advisors Mislead Putin Over Fears of Ukraine War Performance, US Official Claims @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Florida woman was awarded $5.25million after a jury found a Vermont doctor guilty of inseminating her with his own sperm instead of an anonymous donor. Cheryl Rousseau, 73, of Florida, will receive $5million in punitive damages and $250,000 in compensatory damages after the jury ruled Wednesday that Dr. John Coates III, 80, had impregnated her with his sperm in 1977 without her consent at Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin. Her husband, Peter, had an irreversible vasectomy and the pair wanted a child together after both having previous children from other marriages. She was artificially inseminated by Coates in March 1977. During the procedure, she was taken to a side room at the hospital and told to remove her clothing from the waist down while Coates went to an adjacent room for five minutes. When he returned, he injected her with the syringe he carried in and told her to close her legs for a few minutes. She went on to deliver her a baby in December of that year. The now-44-year-old daughter, Barbara, began the civil lawsuit against Coates in 2018 when she took a genealogy test to find out who was her real father. A jury awarded Cheryl Rousseau. 73, $5million in punitive damages and $250,000 in compensatory damages on Wednesday after they found Dr. John Coates III, 80, had impregnated her with his sperm in 1977 without her consent at Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin The family found out about Coates' doings after their daughter Barbara's son, then 15, started experiencing hip pain because of a genetic flaw. Barbara underwent DNA testing using Ancestry and 23 and Me and got linked back to Coates, who denied being the father. After additional DNA testing confirmed the results, Coates admitted to being the father One of the couple's lawyers, Jerry O'Neill said that Coates made it a point to remain close to Cheryl during her pregnancy, though he maintained a professional relationship. 'He made sure that he did the delivery of the child himself as opposed to someone else in his practice, he made certain he was there,' O'Neill said. 'It's fraud and it's a question of inserting genetic material in a woman, not of an anonymous donor but rather the physician who is engaging in the conduct itself.' She and her husband sued the doctor in 2018 for medical negligence, fraud, battery, and other charges after their daughter underwent DNA testing following the discovery that her son, then 15, was having pain in his hips, according to the Montpelier Bridge. The family discovered her son's pain was from a genetic flaw and Barbara set to find out other genetic vulnerabilities she should look out for using Ancestry.com and 23 and Me. She also had a University of California at Berkeley trained geneticist help her as well, according to the Vermont Digger. DNA testing matched her with Coates, not the medical student the Rousseaus' had chosen as the donor. They had made their pick based on someone that 'met specific characteristics,' which included long legs and reportedly resembled Peter, although they never met him. 'The promise of anonymity was extremely important to [Cheryl] since she did not want someone to know or follow her child. It would be a safety net for her and for her child,' the lawsuit stated. The paid $75 for the sperm donation. 'The Rousseaus had been led to believe that the person who was donating the genetic material was a medical student who Dr. Coates had cleared as a donor,' ONeill told the Vermont Digger in 2018. 'Coates' choice to insert his own genetic material into Rousseau in March of 1977 'was harmful, offensive and constituted a battery upon Plaintiff Cheryl Rousseau,' the lawsuit said. Coates initially denied under oath about being the father, but after additional DNA testing confirmed the results, he admitted to using his own sperm. The jury only deliberated for one day, stating that he caused Cheryl harm by not disclosing how he planned to use his sperm prior to the procedure. They also found that Coates broke the contract signed with the couple. Peter, however, was dismissed from the lawsuit for failing to prove damages. Legal documents (pictured) stated that the couple paid $75 for the sperm donation and choose an anonymous done that had 'long legs' because it resembled Peter Another of the family's lawyers, Celeste Laramie, said that jury's verdict sends a message: 'If you are a physician who even thinks for a moment about using your own sperm to impregnate a patient, stop. 'Without our clients courage in bringing this case and her persistence, that message would not have been heard,' she continued, according to NBC News. 'By this verdict, we hope that other patients will be spared from being deceived by their physicians in some of their most vulnerable moments.' Coates' lawyer, Peter Joslin, said they were 'surprised and disappointed with the verdict.' The now-retired doctor, whose license was revoked in February, also faces a second lawsuit after a Colorado woman accused of him of also artificially inseminated her in 1978. Coates had previously been charged with misconduct in 1996, but he was cleared of wrongdoing. New York Mayor Eric Adam's effort to clear the city streets and subways of the homeless is off to a rocky start after only five people were moved into shelters following his administration sweeping away 239 street encampments over a two-week period. A task force of city Parks, Sanitation, Police and Homeless Services departments began on March 18 rousting the homeless living under highways, bridges and on sidewalks and in subway stations after Adams warned that the spiking crime rate and plummeting quality of life was making the city a 'laughingstock.' The mayor shrugged off his low success average, saying he's in this for the long haul. Adams did not reveal how much the undertaking cost the city, but it required the the agencies to pay several hours of overtime. 'This is the first inning of a nine-inning game. I'm not concerned about striking out,' he told reporters. 'I'm not concerned about someone hitting our pitches. I'm concerned about the end of this game. And when this game is over, we're going to have a city far better than the dysfunctional city that we've witnessed for far too long.' Getting the homeless off the street and into shelters and city-supported housing is part of his two-pronged approach to bring the city's economy back from the pandemic doldrums. His second major goal is to lower the city's violent crime and petty theft problem. He started addressing the homeless issue in the subway at the beginning of the month, moving homeless men and women out of the trains and stations. That plan began with only 22 homeless people accepting city services, but the administration managed to grow that number to about 80 people per week. Mayor Eric Adams administration cleared 239 homeless encampments throughout the five boroughs over a two week period New York City has provided 350 of the promised 500 beds for homeless people living in the subways and on the streets An estimated 1,766 people live on city streets and in subways, according to a tally taken in the last quarter of 2021. Adams said that they identified 244 homeless encampments - under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, on West 23rd and West 24th streets in Manhattan and in Bushwick near the Morgan Avenue L train stop, among other places - at the beginning of the imitative and, so far, all but five have been cleared. Some homeless appear bent on rebuilding what the city tore down rather than taking advantage of the 350 shelter beds that the city opened up. Adams hopes to add 150 more beds, bringing the total to 500. Workers from the Department of Sanitation, accompanied by NYPD, cleared out the belongings of several homeless New Yorkers under the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in Williamsburg this morning pic.twitter.com/UQrdGQGqdB Karla (@KarlaCotePhoto) March 28, 2022 Many homeless shy away from shelters because they are often plagued by violence. Others avoid them because they don't allow excessive belongings to be brought or stored. Adams said that many distrust the system, a problem that he's trying to address. 'It's about treating people with the dignity that they respect,' he said. But critics questioned how that trust is being built when many of the possessions that have been accrued in the encampments was tossed into garbage trucks employed in the clean up. Several of those being forced to move complained to Gothamist that they had nowhere else to go, and intended to come back. A homeless person sleeps under a blanket while seated on a New York sidewalk A series of homeless encampments are set up under the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway, at Lorimer and Metropolitan Ave in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The camps are pictured here in May 2021 A homeless encampment is set up on the corner of Broadway and Myrtle Ave in Bushwick, Brooklyn in May 2021 Parker Wolf, 22, who had spent two years living at the site with his boyfriend, refused to go into a city shelter because he didn't want to be separated from his partner. 'Making us move doesn't make less homeless people,' he said. 'We're going to be in a different place.' Heriberto Medina, too tired to dismantle his camp, lost his tent and was left with a bicycle, two backpacks stuffed with clothes and a small white stool. Rodriguez is pictured carting away whatever of his possessions he can manage Rodriguez is seen on Monday sifting through the remnants of his belongings Michael Rodriguez, who has been living under a raised section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway for the past two years, assesses which of his belongings he can salvage A tent is pulled apart on Monday, to be taken to a waiting garbage truck City workers are seen on Monday clearing a tent encampment from Brooklyn, beneath the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Williamsburg. The tactic was announced by Mayor Eric Adams on Friday 'So now my living space is gone,' he said. 'There's no other options, but to look for another place.' He said the homeless were scapegoats for the city's problems. 'The mayor says the crime rate is going up. Let's target the homeless again, like they usually do. They always target the homeless. The homeless, the homeless,' he told the website. 'Every day the homeless, the homeless, the homeless and instead of helping us they kick us while we're already down.' But Adams argued that letting them live under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is dysfunctional. 'I'm not abandoning anyone,' he said. 'I'm not believing that dignity is living in a cardboard box without a shower, without a toilet. It's terrible living conditions.' He showed photos of one site under the expressway where city workers counted 500 discarded hypodermic needles for injecting drugs. Those homeless who choose not to enter the city's shelter system and insist on rebuilding their ad hoc housing could be forced into institutions, Adams said. 'There's going to be a small number, I believe, when this is over, that for whatever reason, they'd rather be on the street,' he said that he would employ Kendra's Law, a civil commitment law, named after a woman killed by a mentally ill homeless who pushed her in front of a train. Crime continues to be linked with the homeless issue after several homeless men were accused of killing women in the city. Deloitte analyst Michelle Go was fatally struck by a subway train in January after Martial Simon, a mentally ill homeless man allegedly pushed her in front of a train. The next month a homeless man named Assamad Nash followed Christina Yuna Lee into her Chinatown apartment building and allegedly stabbed her to death. Over the weekend he warned that the city's reputation is taking a hit because of the crime and homeless problems. 'The most important city on the globe has become the laughingstock of the globe. And the dysfunctionality of our city has cascaded throughout the entire country,' he said. A young child under five years old has tragically died with Covid, as health officials urge Australians to get vaccinated. The South Australian child was suffering from underlying health issues which contributed to her passing and will not officially be counted as a 'Covid death'. The state recorded a further 5134 new cases on Friday with 169 patients needing to be hospitalised and seven in intensive care. South Australia's Chief Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier (pictured) sadly announced a child under five years old has died with Covid The South Australian child had with underlying health issues which contributed to her death and will not officially be counted as a 'Covid death' (stock image) The child was one of two deaths in the past 24 hours with a women in her 80s also dying after being diagnosed. Chief Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said the child was suffering from severe health problems was on a palliative care pathway when diagnosed with the virus. 'When you have underlying health problems, it does make you more susceptible,' she said. 'What we can do as a community is we can get ourselves vaccinated. 'It does not only protect us but it protects those people who are vulnerable in our community - unfortunately the child was too young to have been vaccinated.' Prof Spurrier has sent her condolences to the grief-stricken family. South Australia (Adelaide pictured) recorded a further 5134 new cases on Friday with 169 patients needing to be hospitalised and seven in intensive care. Pictured: A COVID-19 testing station is pictured in Adelaide on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 The child is thought to have contracted Covid outside the hospital before testing positive after arriving at the Emergency Department for other health issues. Members of her family are all fully vaccinated. More than 92 per cent of the population over 16 in South Australia have now received two doses. About 57 per cent of children aged 5-12 have also been double jabbed. At the moment, there are no Covid vaccinations approved for children aged under five. More than 92 per cent of the population in South Australia over 16 in South Australia have now received two doses Prof Spurrier reminded residents to wear a mask when socialising indoors amid the surge in cases across Australia. She also warned anyone feeling ill to get tested immediately. 'If you have any symptoms at all, please go and get tested as there are other colds beginning to go around,' she said. 'If you have symptoms, even if you are a desperate Port or Crows fan, give your tickets (to tonight's Showdown) to somebody else and watch it from home.' By Olivia Day for Daily Mail Australia Friday, October 15 Cleo along with her mother Ellie Smith, her partner Jake Gliddon and her little sister Isla Mae arrive at the Blowholes campsite around 6:30pm. They had a 'quiet' night and arrived at sunset. Saturday, October 16 1:30am: Parents' last sighting of Cleo in the tent she shared with her parents and baby sister when the four-year-old asks for some water. 6.23am: Ellie calls 000 to report her eldest daughter missing as she continues to search the camp ground. 6.30am: The first two officers are dispatched from Carnarvon police station. They travel to Blowholes as a matter of priority, with sirens and lights. 6.41am: A second police car with another two officers is sent to Blowholes, also with lights and sirens. 7.10am: The first police car arrives. The second is only minutes behind. 7.26am: Police on the scene establish a protected forensic area which is taped off to the public, surrounding the family tent where Cleo was last seen. 7.33am: A drone operator is called upon to search from the skies. 7.44am: A third police car is dispatched to the Blowholes. 8am: Family and friends of Cleo's parents begin to arrive to help with the ground search. Another group of detectives briefly searches Cleo's home to make sure she's not there. They then head to Blowholes and begin stopping cars coming into and leaving the area. 8.09am: A helicopter from a local company arrived at the scene and started searching as police request an SES team attend the Blowholes search. 8.24am: Police air-wing and volunteer marine searchers are called in to assist with the search. 8.34am: Roadblocks are set up at the entrance of Blowholes as detectives gather the names, registration details and addresses of people coming and going. Police search cars. 9.25am: Nine SES personel arrive at the Blowholes to assist with the search. Investigators, bounty hunters and officers from the Australian Federal Police have spent two-and-a-half weeks searching for missing four-year-old Cleo (pictured) 9.30am: Detectives sit down with a distressed Ellie and remain by her side for the rest of the day while other search crews hunt for Cleo. 11am: Homicide detectives from the Major Crime Division are called and begin travelling from Perth to assist with the search. 1pm: More homicide detectives and search experts are flown in from Perth. 3pm: Officers and search experts arrive in Carnarvon to offer their expertise. Sunday, October 17 Ms Smith takes to social media to plead for help finding her missing daughter. A Facebook post uploaded at 1:45am on Sunday which said: 'It's been over 24 hours since I last seen the sparkle in my little girl's eyes. 'Please help me find her! 'If you hear or see anything at all please call the police!' Police suggest Cleo may have been abducted. Monday, October 18 Police release an image of the red and grey sleeping bag missing from Cleo's tent. Cleo's biological father is interviewed by police in Mandurah and is asked to provide a statement, which he does so willingly. WA Police with the help of SES members, volunteers and aircraft continue the land hunt for Cleo, with officers searching nearby shacks and vehicles in the area. Tuesday, October 19 Cleo's mother Ellie Smith and her partner Jake Gliddon front the media for the first time and describe the terrifying moment they realised the little girl was missing. Ms Smith says her four-year-old would never have left the tent by herself. Police release new images of Cleo and the pink and blue one-piece she was wearing the night she went missing to aid the investigation. Investigators urge anyone who was at the campsite or in the vicinity on October 15 to get in contact with police. Wednesday, October 20 Police reveal the zip of the family tent, which was found hanging wide open by her mother at 6am on Saturday morning, was too high for Cleo to reach. Officers say they 'haven't ruled out' reports from campers who heard the sound of screeching tyres in the early hours of Saturday morning. Deputy Police Commissioner Daryl Gaunt confirms officers are investigating the whereabouts of 20 registered sex offenders in the Carnarvon area. Thursday, October 21 The WA Government offers a $1million reward for information that leads to Cleo's location announced by WA Premier Mark McGowan. 'All Western Australians' thoughts are with Cleo's family during what is an unimaginably difficult time,' Mr McGowan said. 'We're all praying for a positive outcome.' The speed of the reward being issued - within days of her disappearance - was unprecedented. Pictured: Police are seen examining rubbish left near the Blowholes campsite in remote WA Monday, October 25 WA Police confirm Cleo was definitely at the camp site - on CCTV footage on a camera installed inside a beach shack just 20 metres from the family tent she disappeared from. Tuesday, October 26 Forensic officers and detectives spent much of the day at her home in Carnarvon, 900km north of Perth, on Tuesday and left with two bags of evidence. Although investigators had been to the home before, this was the first time they thoroughly searched inside with a forensics team. Acting WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the search of the family home was 'standard practice' and did not indicate they were suspects in Cleo's disappearance. Wednesday, October 27 WA Police forensics officers return to the Blowholes campground and are seen collecting soil samples from a number of campfires near shacks in the area. The federal government announce Australian Federal Police officers had been drafted in to support forensic and intelligence efforts. Friday, October 29 Police return to the Blowholes camp to analyse the area with drones. Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde returns to the Blowholes campsite to join the search for Cleo as the search hit the two-week mark. He confirms national and international agencies are engaged in the search for Cleo. Sunday, October 31 Detectives go door-knocking at a number of homes along the North West Coastal Highway in the North Plantations, 5km from Cleo's hometown on Sunday. Monday, November 1 Detectives sort through mounds of rubbish from roadside bins located hundreds of kilometres away from the campsite she vanished from. The material was transported to Perth, where forensic officers and recruits sorted through hundreds of bags in search of items that may have helped them find Cleo. Officers issue a plea for dash cam and CCTV footage from within a 1000km radius of where the four-year-old disappeared. Police renew an appeal for more businesses in Carnarvon to provide footage and go door to door in an industrial area on the outskirts of the town. Her elated mother, Ellie, (pictured, with Cleo, her partner and younger daughter) broke her silence the morning Cleo was found, sharing a series of love heart emojis on Instagram Wednesday, November 3 After two-and-a-half weeks of searching Cleo Smith is found alive and well in the early hours of November 3. WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed just before 7am AEST that little Cleo is alive and well and had been reunited with her relieved parents. 'One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?' he said. 'She said: 'My name is Cleo'.' Ellie Smith posted to social media: 'Our family is whole again'. Police arrest Carnarvon man Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, and take him in for questioning. On October 19, Ellie Smith (pictured) and her partner Jake Gliddon fronted the media for the first time and begged the public to report any information 'big or small' Thursday, November 4 Kelly is charged with multiple offences including forcibly taking a child under 16 and appears in Carnarvon Magistrate's Court barefoot and wearing a black T-shirt. Friday, November 5 Terence Kelly is flown to Perth and taken to Casuarina prison. Monday, January 24, 2022 Kelly pleads guilty via AVL from prison to kidnapping Cleo Smith and is ordered to appear in Perth District Court in March. A young mother was living in fear after receiving chilling death threats just hours before she was allegedly stabbed to death by another man. Mackenzie Anderson, 21, died on the front grass of her Mayfield home, in suburban Newcastle, on Friday night after she was allegedly stabbed more than 20 times. Daily Mail Australia can reveal that in the days and hours before her horrific death on March 25, Ms Anderson had shown friends messages from a former friend - unrelated to the man charged with her murder - who was threatening to kill her and her toddler son. A distraught friend of the dead mother said Ms Anderson was genuinely living in fear right up until she died. 'We received calls from Mackenzie saying she was scared and very stressed... This was the same night [she died],' one friend recalled. Ms Anderson sent follow up messages saying the person 'is looking for my son and me... and is going to shoot us'. 'He's got a gun, I've seen it,' she said. Mackenzie Anderson was living in constant fear after allegedly receiving threatening messages about 'ending her life' in the days and hours before she was fatally stabbed In a separate message, Ms Anderson told her friends she would do whatever it took to protect her little boy from harm. Chillingly, at around 10pm on that Friday night, police allege Tyrone Thompson, 22, who had been in an on-and-off relationship with the single mother, fatally stabbed her. Thompson has been charged with Ms Anderson's murder. There is no suggestion he was the person sending threats to Ms Anderson. Friends said Ms Anderson and Thompson were in the early stages of rekindling their relationship after she separated from him months earlier. Ms Anderson said she'd do whatever it took to protect her beloved little boy from harm A young mother was living in fear after receiving chilling death threats just hours before she was allegedly stabbed to death by another man Many of Ms Anderson's friends warned her to 'focus on herself and her son', but she told them she was in love. Thompson had only been released from jail 16 days earlier for alleged domestic violence offences. On the day of Ms Anderson's death, it's understood she spent several hours drinking and socialising with Thompson even though there was an Apprehended Violence Order in place between the pair. He is reported to have left the home but returned some hours later, entering Ms Anderson's unit 'without her permission'. Ms Anderson called cops to notify them that Thompson was breaching the AVO, but tragically, by the time they arrived - only minutes later - she had allegedly been stabbed 20 times and died at the scene. Her two-year-old son was found nearby, unharmed but drenched in her blood. Police said Thompson was still at the scene and had cuts and damage to his hands. Mackenzie Anderson's mother Tabitha has paid tribute to the 21-year-old after she was found unresponsive outside her unit in Newcastle about 10.40pm on Friday Daily Mail Australia can reveal Ms Anderson spent much of Friday, March 25 fearing for her safety and 'genuinely feared' somebody was out to get her The boy's godmother revealed he is being cared for by family and getting lots of cuddles. 'He is safe,' Alice McEvoy said. 'He's asking for mumma but he's safe and getting lots of cuddles.' Ms Anderson's mother Tabitha Acret, a dental hygienist in Newcastle, posted on Instagram about her daughter's tragic death and the 'sad new reality' the family faced. 'We tragically lost our beautiful little girl,' Ms Acret said. On Sunday afternoon he was formally charged with murder, enter with intent and breaching an apprehended domestic violence order On the day of Ms Anderson's death, it's understood she spent several hours drinking and socialising with Thompson 'No parent should have to bury a child and this is sadly our new reality... It's been an overwhelming sadness that is in our hearts at the moment.' The grieving mother said she hopes her daughter's memory will 'become a blessing' to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved the 'bubbly, feisty' 21-year-old. A police source told Daily Mail Australia Ms Anderson was clinging to life when officers arrived. 'She was still breathing,' the source said. She lost her fight for life within minutes of police arriving and was declared dead at the scene. One traumatised friend said she was 'holding out to make sure her baby was going to be okay'. 'He was her world. She was such a great mama and that little boy changed everything for her.' Thompson and Ms Anderson had previously been in a romantic relationship, but separated late last year. He was not the father of her child. On Sunday afternoon he was formally charged with murder, enter with intent and breaching an apprehended domestic violence order. He spent several nights in hospital for a busted up hand which he suffered during the alleged attack, but was released into custody on Monday morning. Thompson briefly appeared via video link before Newcastle Local Court on Monday. He did not enter a plea, nor did he apply for bail. It was formally refused. A fuming Qantas customer has revealed how she spent an absurd eight hours on hold waiting to speak with the airline. Wannabe traveller Katrina told Radio 2GB's Ben Fordham she spent eight and a half hours on hold with Qantas. A screenshot of a phone log shows she spent eight hours and 39 minutes on the call - with the frustrated flyer joking the bulk of the call was in the last nine minutes. Would-be traveller Katrina said she spent more than eight hours with Qantas hold music playing Ben Fordham's (pictured) show featured anecdotes from numerous disgruntled Qantas customers who complained about wait times that went for multiple hours 'I took the call to a meeting, I took the call to an eatery,' Katrina said. 'It was a two-hour meeting and we had the music playing in the background the whole time.' The complaint joins a chorus of unhappy customers as Qantas cops heat for wait times and fees. 'These wait times are not acceptable, and we apologise to customers who have waited so long to get through to us,' said a Qantas spokesperson. Qantas has apologised and says they are working on the issue but many customers are still reporting call centre wait times of over an hour Earlier this week Fordham's show featured disgruntled Qantas customers who were upset with what they saw as a decrease in service quality after the pandemic. On Tuesday, customers unleashed on the airline's 'terrible' customer service with one passenger claiming he was forced to wait more than six hours on the phone to resolve a simple query. Another traveller said they were charged $800 to change flights, while one claimed they were bizarrely put through to a customer service agent in South Africa after several hours on hold. A third woman woman said one of her parents' connecting flights was changed to the day before their first flight arrived, forcing them to endure a ridiculous five-day layover before resuming their trip. The discussion kicked off when a listener named Todd called in claiming he was on hold with Qantas for six hours and 31 minutes. Todd claimed that after complaining about his six-hour wait, he was told to ring another number to sort out his booking - which ended up being the same line he was already on. Pictured is a screenshot of one Qantas customer's call to customer service after waiting more than five hours to get through Another listener, who wanted to get a credit for a cancelled flight due to Covid, said he had enough time to leave his phone at home and go for a walk during the lengthy wait. 'I waited for two and a half hours, but I left the phone on the kitchen table and took the dog for a walk,' he told 2GB. When someone finally picked up he was told he had to speak to Flight Centre instead of Qantas. One man said his wife was told to cough up a whopping $800 to change her flight home to Sydney from New Zealand after she caught Covid and had to reschedule. Another disgruntled caller, Catherine Rae, told Daily Mail Australia her parent's multi-stop flight back from the UK to Perth last month was incorrectly rescheduled. Frustrated Qantas customers have claimed they were put on hold for more than six hours while trying to resolve rescheduled and cancelled flights (pictured, passengers at Sydney Airport) 'Before they even left they were told their flight from Darwin to Perth was rescheduled to the day before they even arrived into Darwin,' Ms Rae said. 'I spent three hours on hold to get it sorted so their flights would be the next day.' Then her parents were forced to make a long five-day layover in Darwin as the airline once again rescheduled their flights. 'Which was five days not spent with family,' Ms Rae added. Ms Rae is also expecting her 67-year-old mother-in-law to fly in from the UK via a similar route, but her Qantas flight from Heathrow was cancelled, before she had to spend the night at another airport. Her mother-in-law, who is hard of hearing, was then supposed to fly the next day at 11am, before the flight was changed to 8pm later that day. Her flights were then rerouted with a lengthy trip added from Darwin to Melbourne before she arrives in Perth, with significant wait times at each airport. 'This has caused her considerable stress and upset and she has been in tears with no one to really get answers from,' Ms Rae said. 'I wonder how many other people are frustrated by the terrible communication and customer service from Qantas. 'You would think with them spending all this money on adverts and having two years of grounded flights they'd want to get their service right and retain customers where they can.' A Qantas spokesperson said the wait times were unacceptable and apologised to customers who were affected by the delays. They said the 'complex' nature of customer queries due to the pandemic have caused them to be 'on average taking 50 per cent longer to resolve'. One disgruntled customer told 2GB he 'waited for two and a half hours, but I left the phone on the kitchen table and took the dog for a walk', before resuming the call (pictured, passengers at Sydney Airport) 'Given the volume and the increased complexity of customer queries, it will take some time for call wait times to normalise,' the spokesperson said. 'No airline's contact centres were designed to be able to manage the record number of calls and complexity of Covid-related queries, which continue to impact customer wait times as people re-book travel that's been delayed for the past two years. 'We're also seeing a fresh wave of calls with every change to a border somewhere in the world, as Covid restrictions are wound back, which often occur at no notice.' They also said they have hired 'hundreds' of new call centre recruits and continue to do so each month. A prosecutor urged jurors Friday to convict four men in a plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, saying they were anti-government extremists 'filled with rage' and intent on touching off a civil war in the final weeks of the polarizing 2020 general election. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler summed up the evidence on the 15th day of trial, tracing the group's secretly recorded words as well as testimony from agents, an extraordinary informant and two star witnesses who pleaded guilty. Defense attorneys, meanwhile, panned the government's case; one said the men were turned into 'terrorists' by rogue agents. Kessler started his closing remarks by saying there are boundaries when it comes to scorn for people in power. 'If you don't like your elected representatives, you can vote them out at the ballot box. That's what makes this country great,' Kessler told the jury. 'What we can't do is kidnap them, kill them or blow them up. That's also what makes America great.' Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are charged with conspiracy to kidnap. Three of them also face weapons-related charges. Clockwise from top left: Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are charged with conspiracy to kidnap. Three of them also face weapons-related charges The men were arrested in October 2020 amid talk of raising $4,000 for an explosive that could blow up a bridge and stymie police responding to a kidnapping, according to trial evidence. Fox twice traveled to northern Michigan to scout the area; one of those trips included Croft and undercover agents. Kessler said the group's motive was to spark the 'boogaloo,' a reference to a U.S. civil war, by kidnapping Whitmer. 'That's what bound these defendants together. ... They were filled with rage,' the prosecutor said. 'They were paranoid because they knew what they were doing was illegal and were afraid of getting caught.' The four men deny any scheme to abduct Whitmer from her vacation home, though they clearly were livid with the government and with restrictions imposed by the governor during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ty Garbin, who pleaded guilty and testified against the men, said the goal was to get Whitmer before the election and create enough chaos to stop Joe Biden from winning the presidency. Witness Ty Garbin is seen in a courtroom sketch from the trial for four men accused in a plot to kill Governor Gretchen Whitmer Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a news conference in a file photo Federal prosecutors have showed jurors private chats from the group of four, including one where Harris, nicknamed as Beaker, suggests 'just cap her' referring to Whitmer Kessler took the jury back through events in summer and fall 2020: a national meeting of militias in Ohio, training in Wisconsin and Michigan, and a September night excursion to see the governors property on Birch Lake and inspect the bridge. The men had constructed a crude 'shoot house' in Luther, Michigan, to replicate Whitmers home and practiced going in and out with guns, according to evidence. Approximately 10 FBI agents were in the rural area that weekend. The investigation began when Army veteran Dan Chappel joined a militia, the Wolverine Watchmen, to maintain his firearm skills. Chappel testified that he was alarmed when he started hearing talk about attacking police and agreed to become an FBI informant. 'Thank God for Dan Chappel. ... He went back at great personal risk,' Kessler told the jury. But jurors got a different view from the defense. Fox's attorney, Christopher Gibbons, hammered away at Chappel, who was paid by the government and talked to Fox almost daily for months, recording their conversations. He said Fox was a hapless man living in the basement of a Grand Rapids-area vacuum shop, smoking marijuana whenever possible and totally incapable of leading the wild plot. 'The plan was utter nonsense. It wasn't real to Adam Fox. He was LARPing,' Gibbons said, using an acronym for live action role playing. 'Adam Fox is usually impaired. He's just playing his game. ... A person cannot accidentally enter into a conspiracy.' Gibbons accused the government of 'radicalization.' A video of the four men training for the kidnapping scheme at Luther, Michigan, is being used against the conspirators Evidence, including, these drawings were pointing towards the suggestion that Harris was fully invested in plans to kidnap Michigan's governor, although he claims that he was not part of an evening to ride to Elk Rapids, to scout Whitmer's second home and a nearby bridge on the same weekend they went for training. The group also had plans to blow up a bridge nearby 'Inviting citizens that they think are susceptible to a theater where they are given full senses of who and what they are, and somebody rattles the chains, somebody beats the drum and gets them all worked up,' Gibbons said. 'That's unacceptable in America,' he said. 'That's not how it works. They don't make terrorists so we can arrest them.' Lawyers for Harris and Caserta emphasized that neither man went to Elk Rapids with Croft and Fox to surveil Whitmer's home during the training weekend in Luther. Julia Kelly said Garbin and Kaleb Franks, who both testified against the group, are 'liars,' though they pleaded guilty and are facing prison. The defense used a big screen to complement closing remarks. Some jurors smiled when attorney Michael Hills showed a cartoon bobblehead dog to note that Caserta supposedly nodded in agreement to the kidnapping plan but wasn't recorded as saying he was in. Whitmer, a Democrat, rarely talks publicly about the plot, though she referred to 'surprises' during her term that seemed like 'something out of fiction' when she filed for reelection on March 17. 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. Whitmer has said Trump was complicit in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Advertisement The Kremlin has threatened to walk out of peace talks after accusing Ukrainian helicopters of attacking an oil facility inside Russia. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said two of Ukraine's military helicopters flew 25 miles undetected past the Russian border at low altitude to Belgorod where they fired S-8 rockets at a Roseneft depot, causing a huge fireball to break out which firefighters are still tackling. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'Of course, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of negotiations.' But there have been fears that Russia would stage a false flag attack on itself to justify an escalation of the war or to back out of peace talks. Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said: 'I can neither confirm nor reject the claim that Ukraine was involved in this simply because I do not possess all the military information.' Gladkov, who was appointed by Vladimir Putin in 2020. said the air strike, which would be the first on Russian soil since WWII, injured two workers and parts of the city have been evacuated. Video shared on social media appeared to show the attack happening at 5.43am local time, followed by helicopters flying away from the blaze, although analysts have noted Russia uses the same time of helicopters as Ukraine. Ukraine's government is yet to confirm the incident but if true, it would be the second time Ukraine has ventured past the border since the invasion following the alleged long-range missile attack on Millerovo airbase last month, in the latest humiliation for Putin in his flailing campaign. But last week, an exiled Russian politician claimed the Kremlin is plotting a wave of attacks on its own cities in a false flag operation led by the FSB that it will blame on Ukraine to justify a general mobilisation of troops. Ilya Ponomarev, 46, said the Russian security service is preparing to target its own chemical and weapons factories in attacks that could see civilians die. It comes as Ukraine is making gains within its own borders, recapturing the two strategic villages of Sloboda and Lukashivka on a main supply route, while Putin is continuing to send units back to Belarus and to the Donbas where he is now concentrating his war effort. As day broke in Belgorod, the oil facility was ablaze, with the fire allegedly sparked by Ukrainian missiles Two people were injured in the Belgorod facility blaze, the Russian governor said, but they were expected to survive The oil facility is only 25 miles from the border with Ukraine, and was ablaze on Friday morning There have been fears that Russia would stage a false flag attack on itself to justify an escalation of the war or to back out of peace talks Firefighters try to tackle the huge blaze at the oil depot this morning as plumes of black smoke billow from the site Volodymyr Zelensky warned last night that although Russia is still yet to capture a major city after five weeks of war, Ukraine still faces a difficult challenge. 'There will be battles ahead. We still need to go down a very difficult path to get everything we want,' he said. 'The situation in the south and in the Donbas remains extremely difficult.' On Tuesday, similar footage emerged of a huge explosion in Belgorod, at the site of a suspected arms depot. The depot was initially believed to have been hit by a Ukrainian missile. However, analysts later concluded that the blast was likely due to human error, rather than a deliberate attack. Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov claimed that the depot was destroyed by an OTR-21 Tochka-U ballistic missile fired by the Ukrainian 19th missile brigade, but his report was not confirmed by Ukrainian officials. Gladkov, the regional governor, confirmed reports of the explosion and said that no Russian citizens were hurt, but refused to shed any light on the reason for the blast. 'Explosions were heard on the territory of Belgorod and the Belgorod region,' Gladkov said. 'The incident took place near the village of Krasniy Oktyabr. The head of the village is in direct contact with me and has given me all the information. There are no casualties or injuries among the residents.' 'I'll post the reason for this later,' he added. However, Russian news agency TASS reported that four Russian military personnel were injured and said preliminary reports suggested the explosion was caused by a Ukrainian missile. 'The shell hit the territory of a temporary military camp in the Belgorod region. Four servicemen were injured,' an emergency services source told TASS. Photos on social media appeared to show the oil facility in Belgorod ablaze in the early hours of Friday Europe has just a MONTH of gas supplies left before Putin's threat to turn off gas bites Europe has just a month of gas supplies left before Vladimir Putin's threat to turn off the pipelines if foreign buyers refuse to pay in roubles will start to bite. European leaders can continue paying in euros or dollars for another month because payments for gas delivered to Europe in April is not due until the end of the month on some contracts and on others, not until early May. The rouble soared back to its pre-war level last night, trading at 82.75 to the dollar, as it continues to recover after falling to historic lows when the West applied sanctions after President Putin sent his army into Ukraine on February 24 The revelation comes as the rouble soared back to its pre-war level last night, trading at 82.75 roubles to the dollar, following the Russian President's latest attempt to 'blackmail' states reliant on Moscow's energy in what has been seen as a bid to shore up the currency. Russia has been hit by sweeping sanctions on its economy and trade since the start of Putin's war in Ukraine, pushing the rouble to historic lows, but measures by EU governments have not targeted oil and gas contracts with Moscow because many member states are heavily reliant on the Kremlin's supplies. Europe is heavily reliant on Russia for its energy needs, with around 40% of its gas coming from the country. If Moscow decides to turn off the taps it could trigger supply shortages, factory closures and crippling energy costs across the region. Europe's continued purchase of oil and gas, which costs the EU around 266million a day, severely undermines Western sanctions on Russia as the purchases hand Moscow a wodge of foreign money with which the Kremlin can bolster the economy and currency, as well as fund the faltering war next door. But Putin's latest demands of gas payments in roubles are an attempt to force the West to evade their own sanctions on the Russian economy as buyers have to convert foreign currency into roubles, which are only available through the sanctioned central bank. European companies and governments yesterday remained adamant they would continue to settle their contracts in euros or dollars and rejected the demands as a breach of existing agreements. Advertisement It comes as British military intelligence said today Ukrainian forces have retaken the villages of Sloboda and Lukashivka to the south of Chernihiv and located along main supply routes between the city and Kyiv. 'Ukraine has also continued to make successful but limited counter attacks to the east and north east of Kyiv,' Britain's Ministry of Defence said. Chernihiv and Kyiv have been subjected to continued air and missile strikes despite Russian claims of reducing activity in these areas, the ministry added. Elsewhere, Russian troops left the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early on Friday morning after returning control to the Ukrainians, authorities said, and eastern parts of the country braced for renewed attacks - and Russians blocked another aid mission to the besieged port city of Mariupol. Ukraine's state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received 'significant doses' of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. But there was no independent confirmation of that. The exchange of control happened amid growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were just a military tactic to build up forces for new powerful attacks in the southeast. A new round of talks between the countries was scheduled for Friday, five weeks into a conflict that has left thousands dead and driven four million Ukrainians from the country. 'We know their intentions,' Zelensky said in his nightly video address to the nation. 'We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us.' 'There will be battles ahead,' he added. Following a plea from Zelensky when he addressed Australian Parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that his country would send mine-resistant armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. He said Friday the four-wheel drive 'Bushmaster' vehicles, specifically requested by Zelensky, would be flown in to Europe but did not say how many would be delivered or when. 'We're not just sending our prayers, we are sending our guns, we're sending our munitions, we're sending our humanitarian aid, we're sending all of this, our body armor, all of these things and we're going to be sending our armored vehicles, our Bushmasters, as well,' Morrison said. In the encircled strategic port city of Mariupol, Russian forces blocked a convoy of 45 buses attempting to evacuate people after the Russian military agreed to a limited cease-fire in the area. Only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars, according to the Ukrainian government. Russian forces also seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies in a dozen buses that were trying to make it to Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. The city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. Tens of thousands have managed to get out in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing the population from a prewar 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 by last week, but other relief efforts have been thwarted by continued Russian attacks. As Western officials search for clues about what Russia's next move might be, a top British intelligence official said demoralized Russian soldiers in Ukraine are refusing to carry out orders and sabotaging their equipment and had accidentally shot down their own aircraft. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Putin is being misinformed by his advisers about how badly the war is going because they are afraid to tell him the truth. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the U.S. is wrong and that 'neither the State Department nor the Pentagon possesses the real information about what is happening in the Kremlin.' Russian forces seize 14 TONNES of food and medical supplies bound for besieged Mariupol - and BLOCK convoy of 45 buses attempting to evacuate civilians despite ceasefire By Chris Jewers for MailOnline Russian forces have seized 14 tonnes of supplies destined for the besieged city of Mariupol, where thousands of desperate Ukrainians are dangerously low on food, water and other vital supplies. A group of 45 buses, travelling with the Red Cross convoy carrying aid to the city, was stopped in the town of Berdyansk in Russian-held territory. Vladimir Putin's troops looted the supplies being carried by the buses, reports said. The Russian intervention came despite Moscow agreeing to a ceasefire from 10am local time yesterday to open a humanitarian corridor. The buses were to be used to evacuate citizens from the city which has been all-but razed by Russian shelling. Around of 15 of the buses were able to return to Zaporizhzhia, found 120 miles north-west of Mariupol, with some civilians on-board. It was unclear whether the remaining 30 would be allowed to proceed. Few humanitarian buses have managed to get people out of the city, but many have escaped in their cars or even on foot often under fire. The Ukrainian government said only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars in the last day. The city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. Kyiv has said that at least 5,000 people have been killed in the city, but that number could be as high as 20,000, according to one Ukrainian official. Tens of thousands have managed to get out in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing the population from a pre-war 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 by last week, but other relief efforts have been thwarted by continued Russian attacks. Russian forces have seized 14 tonnes of food and medical supplies destined for the besieged city of Mariupol, Kyiv has said. Pictured: Evacuees from Mariupol region arrive at reception centre, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, March 31, 2022 Two young boys are seen on an evacuation bus that arrived at reception centre in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, March 31, 2022, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues Ukraine's deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that Russian forces seized 14 tonnes of supplies, while the deputy mayor of Mariupol said that the city remained closed for anyone trying to enter and was 'dangerous' for those trying to leave. Petro Andryushchenko said Russian forces had since Thursday been preventing even the smallest amount of humanitarian supplies reaching trapped residents, making clear a planned 'humanitarian corridor' had not been opened. 'The city remains closed to entry and very dangerous to exit with personal transport,' he said on the Telegram messaging app. 'In addition, since yesterday the occupiers have categorically not allowed any humanitarian aid - even in small quantities - into the city.' The Mariupol mayor said this week that as many as 170,000 residents were trapped there with no power and dwindling supplies. There have been suggestions that due to a lack of connectivity, many of those still in the city are not even aware of the evacuation attempts, or where meeting points are. Since Mariupol has been under siege following Putin's invasion on February 24, repeated attempts to organise safe corridors have failed, with each side blaming the other. Russia denies attacking civilians in its assault on Ukraine, despite evidence. The governor of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine said separately that he hoped five safe corridors would be opened on Friday to towns and cities in his region. Refugees from Mariupol have told horror stories of bodies lining the streets and families forced to kill their dogs for food. There have also been reports of Russian soldiers raping women and killing in the city. Vladimir Putin has made clear the siege and bombing will continue after the humanitarian operation, insisting that the bombardment will only stop once all Ukrainian troops surrender. Evacuees from Mariupol region arrive at reception centre, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, March 31, 2022 Local residents cook food outside an apartment building damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 30, 2022 Late last night, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia is consolidating and preparing 'powerful strikes' in the country's east and south, including besieged Mariupol. 'This is part of their tactics,' said Zelensky in a now-customary address to the nation. 'We know that they are moving away from the areas where we are beating them to focus on others that are very important... where it can be difficult for us,' he said. In particular, he warned, the situation in the country's south and east was 'very difficult'. 'In Donbas and Mariupol, in the Kharkiv direction, the Russian army is accumulating the potential for attacks, powerful attacks,' he said. Military experts believe that Moscow is ditching efforts to advance simultaneously along multiple axes in the north, east and south, after struggling to overcome stronger-than-expected Ukrainian resistance. Instead it wants to establish a long-sought land link between Crimea, which Moscow occupied in 2014, and the two Russian-backed Donbas separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. Mariupol is the main remaining obstacle to that ambition, and Russian forces have encircled and relentlessly bombarded the city to try to capture it. Instead, it has been reduced to rubble by indiscriminate Russian shelling with tens of thousands of civilians trapped inside with little food, water or medicine. Previous attempts to evacuate residents have collapsed, though some have made the dangerous dash to freedom alone, but on Friday Russia says it will allow a humanitarian corridor organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC's Ukraine delegation said on Twitter it was in nearby Zaporizhzhia, where buses from the encircled city are meant to arrive. 'We hope to be able to facilitate safe passage for civilians desperately wanting to flee Mariupol. We are also here with two trucks of assistance, hoping that we can also get assistance in,' the organisation's Lucile Marbeau said in a video. 'In these trucks there is food, medicine, relief items, for those civilians who decide to stay,' she added. Local residents carry supplies while walking past an apartment building damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 31, 2022 Local resident Pavel, 42, stands next to the grave of his friend Igor, who was killed by shelling while they were riding together in a car during Ukraine-Russia conflict, in a residential area in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 30, 2022 Earlier this week, Mariupol's mayor said more than 20,000 of the city's residents had been taken 'against their will' to Russia, where their identity documents were confiscated and before they were moved 'to Russian cities far away.' The office said on Wednesday that: 'More than 70 people, women and medical personnel from maternity hospital No. 2 from the left bank district were taken by force by the occupiers.' In recent days, France, Greece and Turkey have been trying to organise a mass evacuation of civilians from Mariupol, but talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Putin ended Tuesday without a deal. The proposal was rejected by the Russian leader, who said 'nationalists' in the city must surrender before the 'difficult humanitarian situation' is resolved, effectively scuppering the proposed relief mission. Kyiv said on Wednesday Russian forces struck a Red Cross facility in Mariupol. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned shelling of the city would only end when Ukrainian troops in the city surrender. 'In Mariupol, the occupiers aimed at the building of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),' Ukrainian ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said in a statement, adding the building 'marked with a red cross on a white background' was targeted by aircraft and artillery. Drone footage taken over the city shows the devastating trail of destruction wrought by Putin Homes, administrative buildings and cultural landmarks have all been shelled in the brutal campaign Thousands of people have died in Mariupol since the city was subjected to horrific bombardment, and the theatre has been completely destroyed (pictured) BEFORE: A satellite image shows home and buildings in Mariupol in June last year before the Russian invasion AFTER: A photo taken on Tuesday shows the scale of devastation on the port city wrought by Putin's army Russian forces struck a Red Cross facility in Mariupol but no staff were inside after it was evacuated An ICRC spokeswoman confirmed that images circulating across social media of a destroyed building were warehouses belonging to the organisation in Mariupol. They showed a building with huge holes in the roof - and a red cross. 'We do not have a team on the ground so we have no other information, including on potential casualties or damage,' the spokeswoman said, adding that all aid stored there had been distributed. The attack came a day after the ICRC urged Ukraine and Russia to agree on the delivery of aid and safe evacuation of civilians from the city Meanwhile, Russia has moved about 20 percent of its troops from around Kyiv but its strikes have continued and troops are likely 'going to be repositioned, probably into Belarus, to be refitted and resupplied and used elsewhere in Ukraine,' said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. Russian troops have also pulled back from the Chernobyl nuclear plant after weeks of occupation, but have taken a number of captive Ukrainian servicemen with them, according to officials in Kyiv. And in a sign that the war could be expanding in scope, a Russian official said Friday that Ukrainian helicopters had carried out a strike on a fuel depot in the Russian town of Belgorod, some 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the border with Ukraine. Western intelligence has claimed Putin's advisors may be 'afraid to tell him the truth' and US President Joe Biden has suggested some advisors may even have been placed under house arrest, though he cautioned 'there's a lot of speculation.' A former elite soldier who testified that Ben Roberts-Smith punched him in the face and staged a mock execution of a prisoner is a liar and a fantasist trying to justify his own failures, the war hero's lawyer has told a court. The man - codenamed Person 10 - gave evidence over two days in a defamation lawsuit launched by Mr Roberts-Smith over articles claiming he committed war crimes and bullied colleagues. Mr Roberts-Smith denies the allegations, published by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times, which they are defending as true. Mr Roberts-Smith (pictured leaving court on March 23) is suing newspapers over allegations he committed war crimes in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012 and bullied his colleagues A former elite soldier has told the Federal Court that Mr Roberts-Smith, his patrol commander, (pictured in Afghanistan) punched him in the face in front of colleagues in 2012 Person 10 has told the Federal Court that Mr Roberts-Smith, his patrol commander, punched him in the face in front of colleagues after a 2012 mission in Afghanistan's Chora Valley. The junior trooper admits he had mistakenly fired in the direction of a woman and child, but contests the accusation he also panicked and began spraying bullets in the direction of nearby colleagues is 'simply false'. The newspapers Mr Roberts-Smith is suing for defamation allege the accusation was made to distract from the fact the mission the decorated war hero had planned was a failure and nearly fatal. After the incident, Person 10 says Mr Roberts-Smith phoned him warning he would 'f*** you up' if he complained about the punch. He also threatened to report Person 10 to the International Criminal Court for firing at the woman and child if he did not submit an incident report that matched his, he told the court. Pictured is Ben Roberts-Smith and his ex-wife Emma at a reception to celebrate military and civilian heroes in London in May, 2013 Mr Roberts-Smith's barrister, Arthur Moses, argued the punch was a response to Person 10 giggling when the Victoria Cross recipient questioned him about the serious incident, and said both of the subsequent threats were made up. Person 10 was soon moved to another patrol, where he slumped into a depression and his performance in the defence force plummeted. Upon returning to Australia he was removed from the regiment, and was soon medically discharged from the defence force. Person 10 has told the court Mr Roberts-Smith also ordered him to mock execute a colleague pretending to be an Afghan prisoner - bound and on his knees - at a pre-deployment training exercise. That was also false evidence, Mr Moses suggested. The man, codenamed Person 10 told the court Mr Roberts-Smith (pictured leaving court on March 24) also ordered him to mock execute a colleague pretending to be an Afghan prisoner Person 10 admitted he knew the man pretending to be the prisoner could not recall the alleged incident, but denied he called him to see if he would support the 'false testimony'. 'This story is a fantasy that you've concocted... in order to besmirch the reputation of Mr Roberts-Smith you feel you had to come here to back it up... or you'd be exposed as a liar and a fantasist,' Mr Moses said. 'Incorrect,' Person 10 replied. He was lying in his evidence because he was embarrassed about his performance as a soldier and refused to take responsibility for it, Mr Moses said. Person 10 had an alcohol problem at the time, lacked maturity and tactical skills, Mr Moses said, referencing performance reports and an incident in Kabul when he was so drunk he took a woman's phone and took photos of his penis. Ben Roberts-Smith's barrister Arthur Moses (right) has claimed the man who accused his client of punching him in the face as a 'liar, a fantasist and a failed SAS trooper' And Person 10 still refuses to take responsibility for his actions, Mr Moses argued, pointing to his insistence he did not make an error during the Chora Valley mission. 'You've never come to grips with the fact that you are a failed SASR soldier.' 'I have Mr Moses, I've moved on,' Person 10 replied who told the court he accepted responsibility for mistakes and poor performance. 'I hold nothing against Mr Roberts-Smith,' he said on Thursday. The trial continues on Monday. Taxpayers have already been slugged more than $2.5billion for Australia pulling out of a submarine deal early with the French government, with the figure likely to rise even higher. Defence officials told a Senate estimates hearing $2.56billion was spent to the end of February as part of the negotiation of termination costs with Naval Group and Lockheed Martin. The French submarine deal was controversially scrapped last year in favour of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS security pact. Australia's decision to pull out of the previous submarine deal caused diplomatic tensions The officials said they expected to deal with the remaining termination costs through its existing allocation of funds, which is just under $5billion. A settlement with Lockheed Martin is expected to be finalised in a few weeks, while officials would not reveal the figure of what Naval Group expected from negotiations. However, the Federal government has denied the large taxpayer bill was an embarrassment. Finance Minister Simon Birmingham told reporters in Canberra on Friday it would have been irresponsible for Australia to continue with the previous submarine deal with France. 'It's a situation where it would have been reckless to proceed with building submarines, when we had a better, technologically superior, option that could be pursued,' he said. 'You could wish that we had more information and the availability of nuclear-powered submarines at an earlier time - we didn't have that technology available to us.' Finance Minister Simon Birmingham (pictured) said it would have been reckless to continue with the French sub deal Australia's decision to pull out of the previous submarine deal caused diplomatic tensions with French President Emmanuel Macron, who accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of misleading the French government. Senator Birmingham said it had been a difficult, but necessary decision to scrap the French deal. 'We knew there were serious consequences from changing course from the diesel-powered submarines to the nuclear-powered submarines,' he said. 'But we were willing to make those difficult decisions, not because they were easy this year or next year, but because they are necessary for the decades to come.' Australia is set to finalise a location for a new nuclear submarine base along the east coast in a matter of months, with the decision to be made after the federal election. It is expected Australia's nuclear submarines will be operational by 2040. Ukrainian officials claim that Russian troops who took control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant have begun fleeing from the area amid possible "acute radiation sickness" among soldiers. The remarks were made by the state enterprise overseeing Ukraine's nuclear power plants, Energoatom, on Thursday. In the company's statement published on Telegram, it said that the occupiers of the Chernobyl plant and other facilities in the Exclusion Zone marched two columns toward the Ukrainian border with the Republic of Belarus. Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant The nuclear power plant is the area where an explosion on Apr. 26, 1986, ripped through the No. 4 reactors at Chernobyl. The resulting blast killed 30 people instantaneously and countless others lost their lives from radiation symptoms in the years that followed. During the first week of Russia's war against Ukraine that began on Feb. 24, Moscow's military took control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and nearby territory. The troops announced on Thursday that they planned to leave the area and give back control of the plant to Ukrainian personnel, said Energoatom, as per CNN. Russian troops were known to have dug trenches in a contaminated Red Forest near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The process is thought to be the primary reason for the soldiers suffering radiation-related health issues and is reportedly being treated in a special medical facility in Gomel, Belarus. Read Also: Ukraine Blames Russia for Chernobyl Power Cut, Warns of Potential Nuclear Discharge The Red Forest got its name from the thousands of pine trees in the area that had turned red at the time of the 1986 nuclear disaster. Authorities consider the area to be highly toxic, enough that even highly-specialized Chernobyl workers are not allowed to enter the zone. According to Yahoo News, Energoatom said that it was no surprise for the Russian troops who dug trenches in the Red Forest to have received significant doses of radiation and developed symptoms. They argued that the first sign of illness would have shown up very quickly. Acute Radiation Sickness However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that it was not able to confirm the claims by Energoatom and was seeking an independent assessment. Ukrainian deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk also said that Russian troops in the Red Forest were exposed to radiation. There have been reports that claim the affected Russian soldiers were being transferred to Belarus via tanks driving through the "dead zone" near the Chernobyl plant, kicking up radioactive dust. Furthermore, Moscow's forces also retreated from the nearby town of Slavutych, where workers at the nuclear power plant live, said Energoatom. After Russian troops took control of the Chernobyl power plant on Feb. 24, Ukrainian staff were the ones who continued to oversee the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel and supervised the concrete-encased remains of the No. 4 reactor. The situation comes as Ukrainian officials repeatedly express safety concerns regarding the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. They demanded that Russian troops withdraw from the area as their presence prevented the rotation of personnel for a time. Russia's defense ministry did not answer questions related to the claims of the Ukrainian officials, The Guardian reported. Related Article: Russia Seizes Chernobyl: Why is the Controversial Nuclear Plant Crucial to Moscow's Invasion of Ukraine @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A male nurse accused of raping a young woman as she recovered from heart surgery and groping two others has been released on bail. Ali Khamis Moh'd was arrested on March 11 and charged with assaulting the woman at Norwest Private Hospital, in Sydney's north-west, in September last year. The 42-year-old was arrested again on Friday and accused of sexually touching a 67-year-old woman who was awaiting heart surgery at Nepean Hospital in March. Police also allege he groped a 21-year-old nursing student at the same hospital in December 2018. He was granted bail in Liverpool Local Court on Friday after $50,000 surety was deposited on his behalf. The man has twice been arrested in the past month and has been charged with sexual intercourse without consent and two separate counts of sexual touching The male nurse, who has worked at two hospitals in Sydney's west and north-west, was loaded into the back of a police van, video shows According to court documents seen by Daily Mail Australia, Moh'd is banned from contacting the alleged victims and all employees from each hospital. He had to surrender his passport and is also not allowed to leave NSW, or go within 1km of an international point of departure. Moh'd is also required to report to Macquarie Fields Police Station three times per week. Moh'd will face one charge of sexual intercourse without consent in Parramatta Local Court on May 19. He will front Liverpool Local Court on April 22 for two counts of aggravated - sexually touch another person, and aggravated - incite another to sexually touch them, and sexually touch another person without consent. The nurse is accused of raping a woman, 25, at a Bella Vista Hospital last September Police released video of the nurse being taken in custody for the second time in weeks on Friday morning. The video shows the handcuffed accused being calmly escorted by two plain clothes officers from a modern suburban home into the back of a waiting police van parked on the kerb. In a press statement, police said the older alleged victim had been awaiting heart surgery at the time the man allegedly touched him. The nursing student claimed she was assaulted during a shift. The arrest has shocked staff at the hospital. The pilot involved in a devastating helicopter crash which left five people dead has been remembered as 'remarkable' and 'highly respected'. Dean Neal died when the helicopter he was flying crashed at Mt Disappointment, in regional Victoria, on Thursday afternoon. The 32-year-old had four passengers, including Radfords Abattoir chairman Paul Troja, in his care. All five were killed in the tragedy. Mr Neal was a 'conscientious, professional pilot [who] always put the safety and wellbeing of his passengers in the highest of his priorities', his devastated family said in a statement on Friday afternoon. 'Our broken hearts go to the family's and friends of those who were flying with him,' they said. Dean Neal died when the helicopter he was flying crashed at Mt Disappointment, in regional Victoria, on Thursday afternoon The 32-year-old had four passengers, including Radfords Abattoir chairman Paul Troja, in his care 'Your unspeakable loss is understood by us all. We know Dean would have done anything in his power to deliver his passengers safely to their destination.' Mr Neal was working for Microflite Helicopter Services, a family-owned business based in Victoria that offers private flights and premium tours. Microflite executive general manager Rod Higgins said in a statement the pilot was 'highly respected'. 'The service had been travelling as part of a two-aircraft charter when it lost communication with the second aircraft just after 8am,' he said. He flew everywhere from Ayers Rock to Hamilton Island and has been a qualified pilot since 2016. Mr Neal was trained to provide specialist bushfire support from the skies and patrolled beaches on behalf of Surf Life Saving Victoria. He also flew news crews covering some of the nation's biggest stories. Paul Troja, who is the chairman of Radfords Abattoir in Warragul, was also killed when the helicopter crashed. Paul Troja, who is the chairman of Radfords Abattoir in Warragul, was killed when the helicopter he was riding in crashed at Mt Disappointment on Thursday Mr Neal was trained to provide specialist bushfire support from the skies and patrolled beaches on behalf of Surf Life Saving Victoria Mr Neal was working for Microflite Helicopter Services, a family-owned business based in Victoria that offers private flights and premium tours The 73-year-old Albert Park man was well known within the agricultural industry. Radfords is a family owned business operating out of the West Gippsland region. Mr Troja and three others were viewing an agricultural property in Ulupna on the Victorian border when their helicopter crashed, killing them all, The Herald Sun reported. An Inverloch woman, 50 and two men from NSW, aged 59 and 70, have not yet been publicly identified. Avlaw Aviation consulting managing director Ron Bartsch said it was still too soon to determine the actual cause of the crash. Mr Bartsch said the helicopter flight operator Microflite had a near perfect safety record and there was only one possible explanation for the crash. 'The aircraft is a very common type of aircraft,' he told Channel Nine's Today on Friday. 'Six passenger aircraft, very reliable. Avlaw Aviation consulting managing director Ron Bartsch said it was still too soon to determine the actual cause of the crash at Mount Disappointment on Thursday A pilot and their four passengers, believed to be meat farmers, died after the aircraft crashed near the popular picnic grounds at Blair's Hut 'The company indeed has a very good safety record and is very well managed with new aircraft. 'Really at this stage, without speculating, weather is probably the main consideration at this stage.' Mount Disappointment recorded a high of 21C and winds of up to 36km/h. Controlled forestry burns were being carried out in the area while there was also low cloud coverage throughout the day. Mr Bartsch warned 'it may be some time' before investigators determined the exact cause of the crash. 'Unlike larger air transport aircraft, these aircrafts are not always fitted with blackboxes, flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder,' he said. 'I know the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is on the scene. Normally they will hand down a preliminary report in six to seven weeks.' The helicopter was one of two that left the Melbourne City Helipad on Thursday morning, flying in convoy over Mount Disappointment. Mr Bartsch said the other pilot was the best hope of understanding what happened to the doomed helicopter. A police helicopter and air ambulance were sent to search for the missing chopper but the terrain hampered their efforts until 11.45am on Thursday when the wreckage was finally located. Mr Bartsch warned 'it may be some time' before investigators determined the exact cause of the crash (pictured, a tree split in half near the crash site) A police helicopter, five Country Fire Authority vehicles and paramedics, including the air ambulance, were dispatched to the area on Thursday Mr Higgins said the incident was reported to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority as per industry protocols. 'We will work with the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident,' he said. The helicopter had picked up the meat farmers from Melbourne City Helipad before reportedly heading north to purchase cattle. The second helicopter returned to Morrabbin Airport safely with all onboard accounted for and uninjured. Smoke (pictured) from controlled forestry burns in the area and low cloud cover hampered initial search efforts on Thursday Five Country Fire Authority vehicles, police and paramedics, including the air ambulance, were on scene at the crash site of the downed helicopter on Thursday. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is also investigating and has sent a team from its Canberra and Melbourne offices with expertise in helicopter operations and maintenance, and aerospace engineering, to the site. The experts will inspect the wreckage and site surrounds before retrieving any relevant components to take them to Canberra for further examination. The ATSB will also analyse any recorded data and conduct interviews with those who have knowledge of the flight. A preliminary report from the watchdog is expected in about six to eight weeks. Russian troops left the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early this morning, authorities said, as eastern parts of the country brace for renewed attacks with Kremlin troops blocking another aid mission to the besieged port city of Mariupol. State power company Energoatom claimed control of the power station - which Russia had held since day one of the invasion - was handed back to Ukrainian forces after soldiers were subjected to 'significant doses' of radiation from digging trenches in the forest of the exclusion zone. It comes as Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian withdrawals from the north and centre of Ukraine are being used as a cover for troops to regroup and step up attacks in the south east. In Mariupol (pictured), Russian forces blocked a convoy of 45 buses attempting to evacuate people after the Russian military agreed to a limited ceasefire In his nightly address to the country, the Ukrainian president said: 'We know their intentions. 'We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us.' 'There will be battles ahead.' A new round of talks between the countries was scheduled today, five weeks into the conflict that has left thousands dead and driven four million Ukrainians from the country. In Mariupol, Russian forces blocked a convoy of 45 buses attempting to evacuate people after the Russian military agreed to a limited ceasefire. Only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars, according to the Ukrainian government. Russian forces also seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies in a dozen buses that were trying to make it to Mariupol, deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. The city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. Tens of thousands have managed to get out in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing the population from a pre-war 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 by last week, but other relief efforts have been thwarted by continued Russian attacks. Meanwhile in a Telegram post, Energoatom said that Russian troops which captured the Chernobyl power plant 'panicked at the first sign of illness' and left after an alleged riot 'broke out among the military'. It added: 'There is also evidence that a column of Russian soldiers who are besieging the town of Slavutych is currently being formed to move towards Belarus.' Energoatom gave no details on the condition of the soldiers it said were exposed to radiation and did not say how many were affected. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin, and the IAEA said it had not been able to confirm the reports of Russian troops receiving high doses. Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russian withdrawals from the north and centre are being used as a cover for troops to regroup and step up attacks. Pictured, residents in Mariupol Yemelianenko said the Kremlin's men had fallen ill because they failed to follow 'rules for dealing' with the plant and the surrounding Red Forest (pictured in a stock photo) However, claims yesterday also came that Russian troops who were stationed at Chernobyl are being treated for radiation sickness in Belarus. Yaroslav Yemelianenko, an employee at the Ukrainian state agency overseeing the exclusion zone on Wednesday said that 'another batch of Russians' had been taken to the 'Belarusian Radiation Medicine Center in Gomel' for treatment. It comes after the nuclear power plant's workers said Russian soldiers' lack of anti-radiation gear when they seized the Chernobyl site last month was 'suicidal'. At least seven busloads of Russian soldiers had arrived at the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre for Radiation Medicine and Human Ecology in Gomel this week, according to a Belarusian news Telegram channel. Yemelianenko said the Kremlin's men had fallen ill because they failed to follow 'rules for dealing' with the Chernobyl nuclear plant and the surrounding highly toxic zone known as the Red Forest. He said: 'With minimal intelligence in command or soldiers, these consequences could have been avoided.' The Kremlin's forces occupied the Chernobyl station in the first days of the invasion last month and for a time prevented staff maintaining facilities there from leaving or being spelled off by other workers. State power company Energoatom claimed control of the power station - which Russia had held since day one of the invasion - was handed back to Ukrainian forces Early this week, Russia said they would significantly scale back military operations in areas around Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv to increase trust between the two sides and help negotiations. But in the Kyiv suburbs, regional governor Oleksandr Palviuk yesterday said on social media that Russian forces shelled Irpin and Makariv and that there were battles around Hostomel. Mr Pavliuk added there were Ukrainian counterattacks and some Russian withdrawals around the suburb of Brovary to the east. Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said intelligence indicates Russia is not scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead trying to regroup, resupply its forces and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas. He said: 'Russia has repeatedly lied about its intentions...we can expect additional offensive actions bringing even more suffering.' In the past few days the Kremlin said that its 'main goal' now is gaining control of the Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including Mariupol. The top rebel leader in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, issued an order to set up a 'local administration' in Mariupol, Russian state agency TASS reports. It added that Pushilin apparently handed the instructions to Mariupol city administration to ensure its approval. With talks set to resume between Ukraine and Russia via video, there seemed little faith that the two sides would resolve the conflict any time soon. Russian president Vladimir Putin said that conditions were not yet 'ripe' for a ceasefire and that he was not ready for a meeting with Zelensky until negotiators do more work, Italian prime minister Mario Draghi said after a telephone conversation with the Russian leader. Britain is planning to supply Ukraine with 'kamikaze' drones as the West steps up military support for the country to combat the Russian invasion. The UK is planning to send single-use 'loiter' weapons similar to the US Switchblade UAV, essentially a flying bomb which is remotely deliberately crashed into targets. Anti-aircraft and anti-ship systems that would be able to target ships in the Black Sea could also be sent. The move comes as Western leaders agreed to up their military support for Kyiv to include armoured vehicles and heavy artillery. The Ministry of Defence said that a conference of 35 nations arranged by the UK had 'committed to widening its package of military support for Ukraine and explored new ways of sustaining the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the longer term'. The UK is planning to send single-use 'loiter' weapons similar to the US Switchblade UAV (pictured), essentially a flying bomb which is is remotely crashed into targets. Australia to supply Ukraine with armoured vehicles - Morrison Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today that his country will be sending armored Bushmaster vehicles to Ukraine to help in its war against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy specifically asked for them during a video appeal to Australian MPs for more aid. Zelenskyy addressed the Australian Parliament on Thursday and asked for the Australian-manufactured four-wheel-drive vehicles (above). Morrison told reporters the vehicles will be flown over on Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport planes, but he didn't specify how many Bushmaster vehicles would be sent or when. 'We're not just sending our prayers, we are sending our guns, we're sending our munitions, we're sending our humanitarian aid, we're sending all of this, our body armor, all of these things and we're going to be sending our armored vehicles, our Bushmasters as well,' Morrison said. Advertisement Britain has already sent thousands of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine. But Nato nations continue to rebuff pleas from Ukrainian president Volodomir Zelensky for tanks and fighter aircraft. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace last night told Sky News: 'There will be more lethal aid going into Ukraine as a result of today. Ukraine needs longer-range artillery and that's because of what the Russian army has been doing, which is now digging in and starting to pound these cities with artillery. 'The best counter to that is other long-range artillery, so [Ukraine will] be looking for and getting more long-range artillery, ammunition predominantly. 'They are also looking for armoured vehicles of some types not tanks necessarily, but certainly protective vehicles, and more anti-air [weapons]. All of this will be forthcoming as a result of this conference.' It came amid further suggests that the February invasion is faltering. Mr Wallace claimed Vladimir Putin 'is now a man in a cage he built himself'. As the Russian war against Ukraine entered day 37, the Defence Secretary said Russia's president no longer bore the 'force' he used to. In an interview with Sky News, he said: 'President Putin is not the force he used to be. He is now a man in a cage he built himself. 'His army is exhausted, he has suffered significant losses. The reputation of this great army of Russia has been trashed. 'He has not only got to live with the consequences of what he is doing to Ukraine, but he has also got to live with the consequences of what he has done to his own army. 'We have seen it before. It always gets worse. It goes for more civilian attacks, more civilian areas.' Britain has warned president Zelensky to remain strong in the face of Russian aggression amid fears other allied leaders could push him to agree a rushed peace deal advantageous to Putin. Progress towards a ceasefire seemingly got started earlier this week when the Kremlin announced it would pull back some of its troops from Kyiv and Chernihiv as negotiations progressed in Turkey. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace last night told Sky News: 'There will be more lethal aid going into Ukraine as a result of today. But government officials are now concerned that US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz may encourage Zelensky to give up significant concessions to reach a peace deal as soon as possible. A senior government source told The Times yesterday that the aforementioned allied leaders appeared 'over-eager' to secure a peace deal, which could see Putin enjoy weaker sanctions and avoid persecution as a war criminal among other concessions, in return for an end to hostilities in Ukraine. 'Some of our allies may be too eager for [Zelensky] to settle,' the source said, before adding: 'Ukraine needs to be in the strongest possible position militarily before those talks can take place.' Zelensky meanwhile is said to have expressed worry to Boris Johnson over Russia's apparent scale-back of military activity in key regions and posited that Russia's negotiators may be feigning progress in peace talks to buy time for fighting forces to regroup and reposition. It comes after Russian forces withdrew from a series of positions around the Ukrainian capital, including Hostomel airbase which is thought to be a key strategic position, and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant which they had held since day one of the invasion. Dozens of Britons have caught Covid four times since the start of the pandemic, new data suggests. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed 74 people have tested positive four times since the start of April 2020. Additionally, more than 8,700 people are thought to have been infected three times, and almost 800,000 Britons have caught the virus twice. The latest figures on Covid reinfections come as England woke up to the next stage of its post-pandemic era, with free testing for the virus axed from today onwards. From now on only NHS workers, care home staff and vulnerable patients will be eligible for free swabs under No10's 'Living With Covid' strategy, with hundreds of testing sites to be dismantled. While Covid cases have declined over the past week, several top experts have urged people not to think of the pandemic as being over. This graph shows the number of laboratory confirmed Covid reinfections recorded in the UK (the blue bars) in comparison to the number of first infections (the red line). It demonstrates that the majority of reinfections occurred during the Omicron surge around the end of last year although they have been on the rise since the end of February Student nurse Mea Walton is one of just a few Britons who has caught Covid four times Mea Walton: the nursing student who caught Covid four times Nursing student Mea Walton is one of the unlucky people to have caught the virus numerous times since 2020. The Guardian reported how she first caught Covid back in September 2020 shortly before leaving home for university. Working in a pub at the time, Ms Walton said she got infected when no-one in her family or friends directly knew of someone having the virus. 'This was the point where everyone knew someone who knew someone who knew someone who had Covid,' she said. 'But no one knew someone that had Covid.' Her first infection was confirmed by a PCR test after she started to feel a bit rundown and was persuaded to get checked by her mother. Ms Walton's second infection came at the end of January 2021 after both her parents caught Covid. She took a PCR test shortly before starting her nursing placement which came back positive. The third positive came after a family friend fell ill in Brussels in February last year with Ms Walton travelling to help out. She tested positive on a PCR test shortly after. Ms Walton's fourth, and hopefully final, infection occurred in January this year. The now 20-year-old was about to take a flight to Los Angeles in the US when a pre-departure PCR came back positive. 'I thought, surely, I could never get it again,' she said. Ms Walton had two vaccine doses by the time of her fourth positive test. Advertisement UKHSA defines a Covid reinfection as testing positive for Covid 90 days after first testing positive. For a possible reinfection to be categorised as confirmed it requires the sequencing of a test at each time of infection and for later virus samples to be genetically distinct from those sequenced earlier. Covid reinfections occur as a result of someone who previously had the virus not having enough immunity when they next encounter the virus. This could be because a new variant emerges that antibodies from a previous Covid infection are less effective against, which occurred when the Omicron variant supplanted Delta at the end of 2021. Time also plays a role, with antibodies against Covid highest after recovering from an infection or getting a vaccine, but these levels are known to reduce over time which why Britons have been urged to get a booster jab. While antibodies do recede over time other parts of the body's immune system, such as T-cells, maintain a degree of protection for longer. This means that while people who have been vaccinated or infected previously can still catch Covid, they are less likely to become severely ill as a result. According to UKHSA data the majority of Britain's Covid reinfections occurred during the Omicron wave at the end of 2021 and start of 2022. Yet there has been a recent rise in reinfections this month, thought to be triggered by England's 'Freedom Day' and the emergence of an even more infectious strain of Omicron, called BA.2. The UKHSA report which only covers reinfections in England highlights how this figure could increase as more data comes in. It also highlights that monitoring reinfections will be reviewed in light of changes to Covid data collection from today. As of April 1, only a select few people such as healthcare workers and the clinically vulnerable will be eligible for free tests under the Government's 'Living With Covid' strategy for England. Free testing will remain in place for April in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and until the summer in Wales. Covid tests will still be available for the public to buy on the high street, with prices starting at 1.89 per test from LloydsPharmacy. Lateral flows cost 2 each from Boots and 1.99 at Superdrug. The move to a post-pandemic era came as scientific experts issued a series of warnings that the threat is not over. Covid scare-mongering returns! Experts issue warnings on the eve of the final measure being lifted in England Another variant could take the world by storm, one of the country's top scientists warned today on the eve of the final Covid measure being lifted in England. Sir Patrick Vallance said the 'room for this virus to evolve remains very large' and the world 'could be taken by surprise again with a variant that escapes immunity'. No10's chief scientific adviser also insisted the current wave 'is not over and we have got very high infection rates at the moment'. His comments come as other top scientists today warned the health service is under severe pressure and Britons should continue to wear masks to limit the spread of the virus, the day before free Covid tests for all is scrapped. Meanwhile, Sir Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, told a conference today: 'The waves are still occurring.' He added they will 'certainly' continue. And Dame Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), called for the nation to keep wearing face masks because infection rates are so high. She said that Britons should be 'very sensible and take precautions in periods of high prevalence as we have now'. Advertisement No10's chief scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance warned another variant of the virus could take the world by storm. He said that 'room for this virus to evolve remains very large' and the world 'could be taken by surprise again with a variant that escapes immunity'. Sir Patrick also insisted the current wave 'is not over and we have got very high infection rates at the moment'. Meanwhile, Sir Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, told a conference today: 'The waves are still occurring.' Adding they will 'certainly' continue. And Dame Jenny Harries, head of the UKHSA, called for the nation to keep wearing face masks because infection rates are so high. She said that Britons should be 'very sensible and take precautions in periods of high prevalence as we have now'. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid yesterday insisted people must 'learn to live with Covid' and that it is 'right' that free tests are only given to those who need them the most. The most recent data shows that a recent resurgence of the virus is fading following meteoric rise in cases in the attributed to ministers dropping restrictions on 'Freedom Day' in February and the more infectious Omicron strain. A total of 2,220 people were admitted to hospital with Covid as of March 27, the latest data available and up 12.2 per cent on the previous week. However, the milder Omicron strains and wider immunity means around half of Covid patients in hospital are not primarily being treated for the virus. Covid positive patients still put pressure on NHS services however as staff need to quarantine patients with the virus away from others. Deaths have also risen week-on-week, with 192 recorded today, up 16.4 per cent compared to last Thursday. Hospitlisations and deaths due to the virus lag behind case data due to the time it takes for someone to fall ill with the Covid to require hospital care or die from the virus. In terms of Covid vaccines the UK recorded 30,000 more people had received one today. Over half of these (16,723) were booster jabs, with some 12,500 people getting there second dose and 5,500 their first. It means a total of 38.8million people have had at least three Covid jabs, about 67.5 per cent of the eligible population. Free Covid tests officially ended for millions of people today as England ushered in the next stage of the post-pandemic era. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said now was the 'right' time to withdraw the universal testing offer and 'focus resources' on those who need it most. He told the nation: 'We are one of the most open and free countries in the world now, and that's because of decisions that we've taken as a country.' The Government website for ordering tests today displayed a message saying free Covid tests are now only available for certain groups. Most people will now have to purchase the swabs from high street stores, where they are available for about 2 each. Yesterday NHS Test and Trace workers were pictured taking down the around 500 testing sites in the country. England has ended its offer of free swabs under its plans to 'live with' the virus and following pressure from the Treasury over the bill which ministers claimed cost 2billion in January at the height of the Omicron wave. Scotland will end its offer next month, while Wales is to stop handing out the swabs this summer. Pictured above are NHS Test and Trace workers clearing away a drive through Covid testing site in Milton, Cambridge, yesterday. The free testing offer in England ended today Pictured above is Covid testing workers clearing away a swabbing site in Milton, Cambridge, yesterday For those trying to order a Covid test, the above message now appears on the Government website. The free testing offer ended yesterday High street pharmacists today continued their war of prices ahead of free lateral tests being scrapped from next week. Graphic shows: Different price options at Boots, Superdrug and LloydsPharmacy Carers UK and the Alzheimer's Society are among those who have criticised the move, with the latter saying it 'risks gambling' with the lives of people living with dementia in care homes. The Alzheimer's Society has been campaigning to keep lateral flow tests free for all people visiting loved ones in care settings. James White, head of public affairs and campaigns at the charity, said: 'With the end of Covid rules, people may well assume infections are dwindling. Who will still get FREE Covid tests? Free lateral flow tests will be scrapped for everyone except NHS workers, care home staff and vulnerable patients from Friday in England. It will only continue in settings where infection can spread rapidly while prevalence is high. FREE SYMPTOMATIC TESTING WILL STILL BE GIVEN TO: Patients in hospital, where a PCR test is required for their care and to provide access to treatments and to support ongoing clinical surveillance for new variants; People who are eligible for community Covid treatments because they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill; People living or working in some high-risk settings. For example, staff in adult social care services such as homecare organisations and care homes. Advertisement 'But the reality is that cases have been soaring which means scrapping all isolation rules and ending free tests is a dangerous gamble. 'It poses an unnecessary risk for people living with dementia being exposed to infected people not isolating in the community, but also from untested people visiting care homes whilst infected. 'It's a relief to see a small number of those giving close personal care receive free tests for care home visits, but this doesn't go nearly far enough to allow everyone to visit safely and provide families with the reassurance needed.' He said the Alzheimer's Society's helpline has heard from families concerned about paying for tests to visit loved ones when the cost of living is rising. Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: 'Having borne the brunt of the pandemic and gone to extraordinary lengths to protect their relatives, unpaid carers are now being asked to pay in order to protect those they care for who are at risk of Covid.' Asked on Thursday if it was the right time to end free Covid testing, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) chief executive Dr Dame Jenny Harries said the UK must be prepared for the pandemic to 'remain unpredictable'. She said: 'The pandemic takes its own course and it will remain unpredictable to a large extent for the next say 18 months to two years, I think is general consensus, and we will have to be continuously alert to monitor those rates and to respond appropriately to any new variants. 'But as with other respiratory viruses such as flu... at some point we have to come to terms with that.' People should continue to take precautions, she said, adding that she will continue to wear a mask in shops and on public transport. The Government has set out the groups who are still eligible for free testing when they have symptoms of the virus. These include some hospital patients, some people at high risk of severe Covid, and some who live or work in 'high-risk settings' including some NHS and social care units or prisons. Those who are positive, or have symptoms, are being urged to stay at home. Russian forces have seized 14 tonnes of supplies destined for the besieged city of Mariupol, where thousands of desperate Ukrainians are dangerously low on food, water and other vital supplies. A group of 45 buses, travelling with the Red Cross convoy carrying aid to the city, was stopped in the town of Berdyansk in Russian-held territory. Vladimir Putin's troops looted the supplies being carried by the buses, reports said. The Russian intervention came despite Moscow agreeing to a ceasefire from 10am local time yesterday to open a humanitarian corridor. The buses were to be used to evacuate citizens from the city which has been all-but razed by Russian shelling. Around of 15 of the buses were able to return to Zaporizhzhia, found 120 miles north-west of Mariupol, with some civilians on-board. It was unclear whether the remaining 30 would be allowed to proceed. Few humanitarian buses have managed to get people out of the city, but many have escaped in their cars or even on foot often under fire. The Ukrainian government said only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars in the last day. The city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. Kyiv has said that at least 5,000 people have been killed in the city, but that number could be as high as 20,000, according to one Ukrainian official. Tens of thousands have managed to get out in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing the population from a pre-war 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 by last week, but other relief efforts have been thwarted by continued Russian attacks. Russian forces have seized 14 tonnes of food and medical supplies destined for the besieged city of Mariupol, Kyiv has said. Pictured: Evacuees from Mariupol region arrive at reception centre, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, March 31, 2022 Two young boys are seen on an evacuation bus that arrived at reception centre in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, March 31, 2022, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues Ukraine's deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that Russian forces seized 14 tonnes of supplies, while the deputy mayor of Mariupol said that the city remained closed for anyone trying to enter and was 'dangerous' for those trying to leave. Petro Andryushchenko said Russian forces had since Thursday been preventing even the smallest amount of humanitarian supplies reaching trapped residents, making clear a planned 'humanitarian corridor' had not been opened. 'The city remains closed to entry and very dangerous to exit with personal transport,' he said on the Telegram messaging app. 'In addition, since yesterday the occupiers have categorically not allowed any humanitarian aid - even in small quantities - into the city.' The Mariupol mayor said this week that as many as 170,000 residents were trapped there with no power and dwindling supplies. There have been suggestions that due to a lack of connectivity, many of those still in the city are not even aware of the evacuation attempts, or where meeting points are. Since Mariupol has been under siege following Putin's invasion on February 24, repeated attempts to organise safe corridors have failed, with each side blaming the other. Russia denies attacking civilians in its assault on Ukraine, despite evidence. The governor of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine said separately that he hoped five safe corridors would be opened on Friday to towns and cities in his region. Refugees from Mariupol have told horror stories of bodies lining the streets and families forced to kill their dogs for food. There have also been reports of Russian soldiers raping women and killing in the city. Vladimir Putin has made clear the siege and bombing will continue after the humanitarian operation, insisting that the bombardment will only stop once all Ukrainian troops surrender. Evacuees from Mariupol region arrive at reception centre, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, March 31, 2022 Local residents cook food outside an apartment building damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 30, 2022 Late last night, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia is consolidating and preparing 'powerful strikes' in the country's east and south, including besieged Mariupol. 'This is part of their tactics,' said Zelensky in a now-customary address to the nation. 'We know that they are moving away from the areas where we are beating them to focus on others that are very important... where it can be difficult for us,' he said. In particular, he warned, the situation in the country's south and east was 'very difficult'. 'In Donbas and Mariupol, in the Kharkiv direction, the Russian army is accumulating the potential for attacks, powerful attacks,' he said. Military experts believe that Moscow is ditching efforts to advance simultaneously along multiple axes in the north, east and south, after struggling to overcome stronger-than-expected Ukrainian resistance. Instead it wants to establish a long-sought land link between Crimea, which Moscow occupied in 2014, and the two Russian-backed Donbas separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. Mariupol is the main remaining obstacle to that ambition, and Russian forces have encircled and relentlessly bombarded the city to try to capture it. Instead, it has been reduced to rubble by indiscriminate Russian shelling with tens of thousands of civilians trapped inside with little food, water or medicine. Previous attempts to evacuate residents have collapsed, though some have made the dangerous dash to freedom alone, but on Friday Russia says it will allow a humanitarian corridor organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC's Ukraine delegation said on Twitter it was in nearby Zaporizhzhia, where buses from the encircled city are meant to arrive. 'We hope to be able to facilitate safe passage for civilians desperately wanting to flee Mariupol. We are also here with two trucks of assistance, hoping that we can also get assistance in,' the organisation's Lucile Marbeau said in a video. 'In these trucks there is food, medicine, relief items, for those civilians who decide to stay,' she added. Local residents carry supplies while walking past an apartment building damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 31, 2022 Local resident Pavel, 42, stands next to the grave of his friend Igor, who was killed by shelling while they were riding together in a car during Ukraine-Russia conflict, in a residential area in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 30, 2022 Earlier this week, Mariupol's mayor said more than 20,000 of the city's residents had been taken 'against their will' to Russia, where their identity documents were confiscated and before they were moved 'to Russian cities far away.' The office said on Wednesday that: 'More than 70 people, women and medical personnel from maternity hospital No. 2 from the left bank district were taken by force by the occupiers.' In recent days, France, Greece and Turkey have been trying to organise a mass evacuation of civilians from Mariupol, but talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Putin ended Tuesday without a deal. The proposal was rejected by the Russian leader, who said 'nationalists' in the city must surrender before the 'difficult humanitarian situation' is resolved, effectively scuppering the proposed relief mission. Kyiv said on Wednesday Russian forces struck a Red Cross facility in Mariupol. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned shelling of the city would only end when Ukrainian troops in the city surrender. 'In Mariupol, the occupiers aimed at the building of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),' Ukrainian ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said in a statement, adding the building 'marked with a red cross on a white background' was targeted by aircraft and artillery. Drone footage taken over the city shows the devastating trail of destruction wrought by Putin Homes, administrative buildings and cultural landmarks have all been shelled in the brutal campaign Thousands of people have died in Mariupol since the city was subjected to horrific bombardment, and the theatre has been completely destroyed (pictured) BEFORE: A satellite image shows home and buildings in Mariupol in June last year before the Russian invasion AFTER: A photo taken on Tuesday shows the scale of devastation on the port city wrought by Putin's army Russian forces struck a Red Cross facility in Mariupol but no staff were inside after it was evacuated An ICRC spokeswoman confirmed that images circulating across social media of a destroyed building were warehouses belonging to the organisation in Mariupol. They showed a building with huge holes in the roof - and a red cross. 'We do not have a team on the ground so we have no other information, including on potential casualties or damage,' the spokeswoman said, adding that all aid stored there had been distributed. The attack came a day after the ICRC urged Ukraine and Russia to agree on the delivery of aid and safe evacuation of civilians from the city Meanwhile, Russia has moved about 20 percent of its troops from around Kyiv but its strikes have continued and troops are likely 'going to be repositioned, probably into Belarus, to be refitted and resupplied and used elsewhere in Ukraine,' said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. Russian troops have also pulled back from the Chernobyl nuclear plant after weeks of occupation, but have taken a number of captive Ukrainian servicemen with them, according to officials in Kyiv. And in a sign that the war could be expanding in scope, a Russian official said Friday that Ukrainian helicopters had carried out a strike on a fuel depot in the Russian town of Belgorod, some 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the border with Ukraine. Western intelligence has claimed Putin's advisors may be 'afraid to tell him the truth' and US President Joe Biden has suggested some advisors may even have been placed under house arrest, though he cautioned 'there's a lot of speculation.' Advertisement Londoners face one of the coldest April nights on record tonight as temperatures fall to -3C (27F) ahead of a chilly weekend - with the Arctic blast in Britain showing no signs of ending after further snow fell today. The lowest ever temperature for Heathrow Airport, which is one of the capital's main weather stations, in April is -3.1C (26.4F) in records going back 73 years to 1949. The all-time low was -12.8C (9F) set in January 1962. And the mercury is expected to fall to around -3C (27F) at Heathrow tonight with a similar low also expected tomorrow night. Daytime temperatures are only expected to get to 9C (48F) tomorrow and 11C (52F) on Sunday. It comes after temperatures last night fell to -8C (17.6F) at Tulloch Bridge in the Scottish Highlands; while Sennybridge in Powys, Wales, fell to -6.7C (19.9F); and England's low was -4.8C (23.4F) at Bridgefoot in Cumbria. The Met Office has also imposed a weather warning for ice covering much of the east coast of England from midnight tonight until 10am tomorrow, running from the Scottish border down to the bottom of Lincolnshire. Londoners face one of the coldest April nights on record tonight as temperatures fall to -3C (27F) ahead of a chilly weekend - with the Arctic blast in Britain showing no signs of ending after further snow fell today. Above, dog walkers are caught in a sudden snow shower in Bushy Park, south-west London, today A dusting of snow across Rothwell in Northamptonshire this morning as wintry weather continues to affect Britain Alison Baldwin tweeted this photo of snow in East Kent this morning, saying: 'Surprise spring snow and not a joke' The Met Office has also imposed a weather warning for ice covering much of the east coast of England from midnight tonight until 10am tomorrow, running from the Scottish border down to the bottom of Lincolnshire. (Pictured, Bushy Park in south-west London today) Snow on rooftoops across Rothwell in Northamptonshire this morning as temperatures plunge below zero in many places A dusting of snow across Rothwell in Northamptonshire this morning as wintry weather impacts much of the UK today Snow falls on the Kent Downs near the village of Brabourne as showers hit parts of the South for the second day in a row Snow is seen coverings the hills on the Kent Downs near the village of Brabourne as temperatures plummet this afternoon Forecasters said snow and hail showers could lead to icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths tomorrow morning which might cause injuries from slips and falls in addition to possible travel disruption. Wintry showers are expected to continue overnight tonight and into the start of the weekend tomorrow, with some accumulations of snow also possible, particularly across hillier areas of North East England. The Met Office has imposed an ice warning for much of the east coast in England from midnight until 10am tomorrow Up to 1.2in (3cm) of snow could fall mainly above 650ft (200m) in parts of Northumberland and the North York Moors. The Met Office said the 'odd covering is possible to lower levels but this is likely to be short lived'. Earlier, the Met Office warned drivers to 'take care' if travelling across the far South East of England after snow fell in Kent amid expectations for up to 0.8in (2cm) over higher ground along with sleet and rain. Forecasters said 'wind-borne snow and sleet' affected visibility on roads during the morning rush-hour, adding to the difficult driving conditions and delays were seen on the busy M20 towards Folkestone in Kent. Strong winds were also causing problems along the east coast of England today, with gusts of 53mph recorded in Kent at Manston, 46mph in Norfolk at Weybourne and 38mph in Lincolnshire at Donna Nook. Another Met Office weather warning had also been imposed this morning for snow and ice in eastern coastal areas of Suffolk, Essex and Kent amid concerns that frosty surfaces could cause injuries from slips and falls, as well as travel disruption. There was also a Met Office warning for ice in place for eastern Scotland, North East England and eastern parts of the East Midlands this morning, which came with an alert for up to 2in (5cm) of snow. Huge waves engulf Seaburn promenade in South Tyneside during stormy sea conditions today as the weekend approaches A person is seen standing near huge waves engulfing Seaburn promenade in South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, on Friday Lorries, cars and vans are driven through wintry conditions on the M20 near Folkestone in Kent this morning Lorries, cars and vans are driven through wintry conditions on the M20 near Folkestone in Kent this morning Four walkers are pictured in Highgate, North London, as cold and snowy conditions hit the capital this afternoon A woman wraps up and holds her hood while walking against the snow in Highgate, North London, this afternoon A man braces himself against the cold conditions in north London this afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to reach highs of only 7C (45F) and 8C (46F) today and tomorrow, increasing to 9C (48F) and 10C (50F) on Sunday The Met Office said accumulations of snow were possible, particularly across eastern Scotland and hillier areas of North East England. Forecasters expect up to 2in (5cm) could fall on high ground in Scotland, Northumberland and the North York Moors above 1,000ft (300m), while up to 1.2in (3cm) could fall on ground above 650ft (200m). Temperatures last night fell to -8C (17.6F) in the Highlands The mercury dropped below freezing overnight across much of the UK, with temperatures forecast to reach highs of only 7C (45F) and 8C (46F) today and tomorrow, increasing to 9C (48F) and 10C (50F) on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Environment Agency issued a flood warning and two flood alerts for areas along the River Thames. Flooding is 'expected' at Coalhouse Point on the river in Essex, and is 'possible' in the areas between Putney Bridge and Teddington Weir in west London. There was a separate alert for Trowlock Island near Teddington. A separate Environment Agency flood alert was also imposed along the Essex coast from Clacton to St Peters Flat, including Jaywick, Brightlingsea, Mersea Island, Heybridge, Maldon and the Colne and Blackwater estuaries. This said car parks and roads could be flooded - and that Clacton Promenade, Lee-over-Sands and Brightlingsea seafronts may see some wave overtopping. People were warned to 'take care on coastal roads and footpaths'. The Environment Agency said flooding is 'possible' in the areas between Putney Bridge and Teddington Weir in West London Another Environment Agency flood alert was also imposed today along the Essex coast from Clacton to St Peters Flat, including Jaywick, Brightlingsea, Mersea Island, Heybridge, Maldon and the Colne and Blackwater estuaries Rain showers broken by intermittent patches of wintry sunshine are forecast for much of the UK today. Sunny spells with cloud are predicted for England, Scotland and Wales tomorrow, then a largely cloudy day on Sunday. Met Office meteorologist Matty Box said there is a 'cold air mass' over the UK, adding: 'There is an ice warning out at the moment. If there's any melting and refreezing overnight then there's an ice risk.' Discussing today's weather, he added: 'It will be concentrated and there will be snow showers. It will be eastern and northern areas of the UK that are more likely to see any showers of rain, sleet or snow.' He added: 'Showers will become less frequent, but still with the chance of some wintry showers in the east coast and the North Sea coast in particular through Saturday. There should be a fair amount of sunshine as well.' Children who test positive for Covid should self-isolate at home for three days instead of five, according to updated guidance. The latest rule change comes amid concerns that pupils are missing too much school time as a result of Covid. The Department for Education's 'Living With Covid' guidance stated yesterday that under-18s should remain at home for three days 'to balance the risk of transmission with continued disruption to education', The Telegraph reports. The guidance stated: 'Following expert advice, we now know that Covid presents a low risk of serious illness to most children and young people, and most of those who are fully vaccinated. 'Due to high immunity in society, a greater understanding of the virus and improved access to treatments, we can now focus on how we live with Covid.' School pupils who test positive for Covid should now self-isolate at home for three days instead of five, according to the Department for Education Adults with Covid remain advised to self-isolate for five days, due to greater transmissibility, although this is not a legal requirement. A UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) spokesman said: 'There is some evidence that children have a shorter duration of illness compared to adults. 'And this guidance balances the risk of transmission with continued disruption to education.' From today, routine testing will no longer be expected in all education and children's social care settings. This is part of the government's plan to remove remaining restrictions on society while 'protecting the most vulnerable' from Covid. Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UKHSA, said: 'As we learn to live with Covid, we are focusing our testing provision on those at higher risk of serious outcomes from the virus, while encouraging people to keep following simple steps to help keep themselves and others safe.' Despite the non-requirement for testing in all schools, the DfE stated it expects pupils and staff in education settings to routinely test themselves for Covid. Reports have emerged of entire year groups in schools forced to learn from home for the day after staff tested positive for Covid. Moorside High School in Werrington, Staffordshire, told its year 7 and 8 pupils to stay at home on Monday and switch to remote learning because of staffing shortages due to coronavirus, the Stoke Sentinel reports. And yesterday, Longworth High School, in Tyldesley, Wigan, told its Year 8 and 9 pupils to 'remain at home with immediate effect', according to the Manchester Evening Chronicle. Headteacher Paul Davies said the situation was 'unprecedented' with 16 teaching staff and four non-teaching staff absent and they had no option but to impose remote learning for the affected year groups. What IS the evidence behind advising children to isolate for THREE days? Under new guidance children in England only have to try to isolate from others for three days after testing positive for Covid. Previous guidance made no distinction between adults and children, advising a standard five days of isolation, following a positive test, for both. But now parents are being advised that children only need to isolate for just three days as long as they are 'well' and 'do not have a high temperature' after this point. The full guidance reads: 'Children and young people tend to be infectious to others for less time than adults.' 'If they're well and do not have a temperature after three days, there's a much lower risk that they'll pass on Covid to others.' The Government did not publish the exact reasoning or evidence for the change. However, Oxford University research published in August last year found 98 per cent of virus transmission occurs within the first five days of symptoms. Infected persons were found to be most infectious just before and after their symptoms, with levels gradually receding. Virus transmission was found to drop off almost entirely after day five. This research prompted experts and commentators to call for a slashing of then seven day Covid isolation period which crippled the country at the end of last year. It followed on from University of St Andrews' researchers who found in November 2020 that the vast majority of Covid transmission happens during the first few days that someone is ill. Another UK study, published in August last year in the The Lancet of over 250,000 British children found the median length of Covid illness in under-18s was six days. However, this is not reflective of how long children are infectious for. A UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) spokesman said: 'There is some evidence that children have a shorter duration of illness compared to adults. 'And this guidance balances the risk of transmission with continued disruption to education.' Advertisement Outbreak testing will be available for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities and the staff working with them, where advised by the local health protection team. This is to counteract the risk of closure due to staff absence. Free Covid tests officially ended for millions of people today as England ushered in the next stage of the post-pandemic era. The Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it was now right to 'focus resources' on those people who still most needed testing, including hospital patients and those at a high risk of severe Covid. Most people will now need to shop on the high street for paid-for tests available for 2 per swab. Mr Javid said: 'We are one of the most open and free countries in the world now, and that's because of decisions that we've taken as a country... 'And it is right also as we learn to live with Covid that we withdraw free testing - universally... if it's not needed any more, but we focus those resources on the people that need it most. 'And that's what we're doing.' The Government did not publish the exact reasoning or evidence for the change. However, Oxford University research published in August last year found 98 per cent of virus transmission occurs within the first five days of symptoms. Infected persons were found to be most infectious just before and after their symptoms, with levels gradually receding. Virus transmission was found to drop off almost entirely after day five. This research prompted experts and commentators to call for a slashing of then seven day Covid isolation period which crippled the country at the end of last year. It followed on from University of St Andrews' researchers who found in November 2020 that the vast majority of Covid transmission happens during the first few days that someone is ill. Another UK study, published in August last year in the The Lancet of over 250,000 British children found the median length of Covid illness in under-18s was six days. However, this is not reflective of how long children are infectious for. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist from the University of Reading, said the move was 'policy, not science'. He told MailOnline: 'Most people infected are likely to be able to transmit virus from a day or so before symptoms to a day or two after symptoms. 'It's true that children have less symptoms generally and may show them for a shorter time but that does not necessarily mean they are less able to transmit virus as any reduction in virus load can be offset by behaviour. 'Every parent of school age kids knows that once a virus is brought into the house others will get it however careful they are to avoid it.' Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, said: 'Where is the evidence base for reducing the isolation period to three days? 'This raises further concerns that, along with the removal of all restrictions and with the testing regime being wound down, we are living with a false sense of security that the pandemic is over. That is far from the case.' A study published last year in the The Lancet of over 250,000 British children found the median length of Covid illness in under-18s was six days Covid infection levels have hit a record high across the UK as free Covid-19 testing for millions in England comes to an end. Some 4.9 million people in the UK are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week ending March 26, up from 4.3 million in the previous week, the Office for National Statistics said. The ONS data shows one in 13 people in England are estimated to have had Covid during that week, up from one in 16 the week before, and in Wales the figure is one in 14 people, up from one in 16 the week before. Both are record highs. From Friday, people in England need to turn to the high street for tests if they want them. Kara Steel, senior statistician for the ONS Covid-19 infection survey, said: 'Infection levels remain high, with the highest levels recorded in our survey seen in England and Wales and notable increases among older age groups. 'The rapid rise continues to be fuelled by the growth of the Omicron BA.2 variant across the UK.' An official review has found that White House phone records for January 6 are complete - after it was revealed that there was a seven-hour gap in call logs. Mystery had surrounded the gap in records on the day the US Capitol was breached by a mob of Donald Trump's supporters. But an official review of the White House switchboard records and presidential daily diary turned over by the National Archives to the House select committee investigating the infamous day, found that they were complete, with no missing pages from the call log. According to CNN sources, the gap may be explained by the former president's habit of having staff place calls for him while in the Oval Office. The former president would often opt to have his staff use landlines or cell phones to make calls for him, which would not be recorded in the White House switchboard records, insiders told CNN. Meanwhile sources also told Axios that Trump's executive assistant Molly Michael was absent for most of Jan 6 for personal reasons - with her duties normally including keeping a note of his calls. The seven hour gap shown by documents given to the House committee investigating that January 6 riots has been explained by Donald Trump's propensity to have staff place calls for him while in the Oval Office, which would then not show up on swtichboard call logs as presidential calls The committee is investigating the events that led to hundreds of Trump supporters marching on the U.S. Capitol and storming its corridors. There was suspicion that Trump had been using back channels to avoid scrutiny of his communications on the day At least 800 people have been charged in connection with the events of Jan. 6, 2021, which House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urged Trump to 'call off' Trump spent the morning of January 6 making calls through the switchboard from the White House residence, which were recorded in the logs. He then moved to the Oval Office, where staff placed his calls. Sources state that thus the fact that certain calls did not show up on the call log is not unusual. Calls made to then-Vice President Mike Pence, among other publicly reported calls not recorded in the phone logs - including to Sen. Mike Lee and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy - have been corroborated by multiple sources who were with Trump and Pence. The call to McCarthy last year was another publicly reported call that did not show up on the call logs, in which House Minority Leader said he urged the president to call off his supporters and accept defeat. 'I was very clear with the president when I called him,' he told CBS at the time. 'This has to stop, and he has to go to the American public and tell them to stop this.' Initial reports had indicated that there was a gap in the phone records of more than seven hours between 11:17am to 6:54pm - a period of 457 minutes - on January 6, fuelling speculation that Trump had used back channels and 'burner phones' to avoid scrutiny over his communication with supporters and allies. President Donald Trump made several calls on the morning of January 6 and in the evening when in the White House residence, which were recorded by White House switchboard, but when he moved to the Oval Office there was a seven and a half hour gap in telephone activity, explained by the fact that staff placed calls for him When Trump denied all knowledge of what a burner phone even is, Bolton, who penned a tell-all about his time in the White House, says he and Trump had discussed them before The former president denied these accusations in a statement on Monday, stating that he had 'no idea what a burner phone is, to the best of my knowledge I have never even heard the term.' Former Donald Trump national security advisor John Bolton refuted the ex-president's claim that he doesn't know what a 'burner phone' is, however, saying the two had 'several discussions' in the past about 'how people have used burner phones to avoid having their calls scrutinized.' A Trump spokesperson said that phone records were not controlled by the former president and that he naturally assumed all communications were logged that day as standard. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked two top-ranking Ukrainian generals for being "traitors" and "antiheroes" who failed to protect the country amid the Russian attacks. The Ukrainian leader announced his decision in his nightly address on Thursday night posted on social media, CNN reported. Zelensky said that a decision was made regarding "antiheroes" and he has no time to deal with all the "traitors" who will be "punished" gradually. He was referring to the former chief of the Main Department of Internal Security of the Security Service of Ukraine, Naumov Andriy Olehovych, and the ex-head of the Office of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Kherson region, Kryvoruchko Serhiy Oleksandrovych. Zelensky ousted them from their posts. However, Zelensky did not provide further details about the dismissal of the generals. Zelensky blasted the former army officials for violating the "military oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people" as regards the protection of the freedom and independence of the country. "Random generals don't belong here!" he said. Ukraine Braces for More Battles Against Russian 'Monsters' The Ukrainian President also called the Russians "monsters" who plunder, attack, and "are bent on murder". Zelensky mentioned that the situation in the south and Donbas is still quite bad and warned that there will be "more battles" that lie ahead in Donnas and the beleaguered southern port city of Mariupol, per The Independent. Last month, Russia removed one of its senior generals after allegations that he divulged intelligence that jeopardized their invasion, The Daily Mail reported. General Roman Gavrilov, the deputy leader of Vladimir Putin's Rosgvardia force - or National Guard - was jailed over allegations that he squandered much-needed fuel as Putin's invasion suffered another setback. According to the investigative news website Bellingcat, news of his imprisonment by the Russian Federation's Federal Security Service (FSB) was reported by three reliable sources. Analysts claim it demonstrates Putin's search for fall guys to blame for Russia's weakening military effort in its war with Ukraine. Read Also: Biden Claims Putin Has 'Fired' or Placed Advisers Under 'House Arrest' Over Situation in Ukraine Russian Forces Reopen Evacuation Corridor Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry announced the re-opening of the evacuation corridor from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia on Friday, as requested by the leaders of France and Germany, per a CNN report. In a statement, the ministry indicated that "at the personal requests" of French President Emmanuel Marcon and German Federal Chancellor Olaf. Scholz to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian military will reopen the corridor from 10:00 (Moscow time) on April 1, 2022. The intermediate point is in Berdiansk. Russia's defense ministry also proposed to conduct the operation "with the direct participation of representatives of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross to ensure "successful implementation". Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, called for an end to the conflict and urged the international community to continue to support the millions of people who have been affected by the war in Ukraine. According to the UNHCR's website, more than 10.5 million people, or almost a quarter of the population, have been displaced in the country and abroad as refugees. In total, 13 million people in the country are projected to be in desperate need of humanitarian help. Related Article: Germany: Economy Minister Warns "Poorer" State for Germans Because of Russia-Ukraine War @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A transgender father of two awaiting gender reassignment surgery has been jailed in a male prison for three years after being exposed as a paedophile. Britnee Aitken, 47, will have her treatment delayed after two girls said she molested them ten years ago when she identified as a truck recovery driver called Marcus. One of the victims, then six, said she targeted them under the guise of offering to play board games. They said she poked her genitals through a letter box when they knocked at the front door. At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Aitken appeared in the dock wearing a low cut woman's blouse and sporting makeup and long red hair. She was referred to as 'she' and 'her' during the hearing that saw her convicted of three charges of sexual assault and one of exposure. She was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for life. She denied any wrongdoing. The Ministry of Justice told MailOnline she will go to a men's prison. Britnee Aitken (pictured arriving at court), 47, will have her treatment delayed after two girls said she molested them ten years ago when she identified as a truck recovery driver called Marcus They said she poked her genitals through a letter box when they knocked at the front door The sexual offences occurred after Aitken, from Rochdale, went public about a bizarre legal battle over a 30 fine imposed by police in 2008 for playing her Riverdance CD too loudly inside her car. Identifying at the time as Marcus she had refused to pay the fine, and in the months after she was pestered by demand letters and received six visits from bailiffs to her home and the debt eventually rose to 270 because of administration costs. She said the bailiffs demanded entry at 7.30am and shouted threats through the letterbox while she was inside with her then girlfriend and their two sons. In 2008 a judge quashed the fine on appeal. The court heard the offences against the girls occurred between July and September 2012 when they visited his home. Mr Ben Berkson prosecuting said: 'The defendant was then known as Marcus Aitken and the girls were five or six years old at the time.' In a statement one of the victims said: 'I suffer flashbacks due to the abuse and I get angry when I contemplate and think about what this person did to me. 'What happened has affected my ability to form and maintain relationships with friends and family and the abuse has caused me to struggle with anxiety and anger management. I am concerned about these things will impact my life going forward.' Aitken who was charged in 2020 had no previous convictions but had accepted a caution in 2012 for having an illicit 'upskirt' video of another little girl aged seven Aitken who was charged in 2020 had no previous convictions but had accepted a caution in 2012 for having an illicit 'upskirt' video of another little girl aged seven. In mitigation defence counsel Adam Roxborough said: 'These offences occurred over a short period ten years ago and there is no suggestion of any repeat offending since. 'During that time Miss Aitken has maintained a good work ethic as a recovery truck driver and led a decent life. 'She has fragile mental health and given her sexuality, she has suffered abuse on a regular basis. It is for her a daily issue. 'That, she hopes, would come to an end to an extent when she is able to have gender reassignment surgery and her plans for that were moving ahead for this year. Of course any custodial sentence would put that progress back considerably. 'She has to be punished but the question is whether that punishment should effectively cause such damage to her notwithstanding the damage she has caused to others. 'She still does not recognised her guilt but a sentence of imprisonment could be suspended. It must be a difficult life for her to lead at the moment..' In mitigation defence counsel Adam Roxborough said: 'These offences occurred over a short period ten years ago and there is no suggestion of any repeat offending since' Sentencing Judge John Edwards told Aitken: 'I bear in mind the difficulties you may encounter in a custodial environment but this offending was sustained, predatory and very distressing for these girls. 'It has had a significant emotional impact on one of them, she being vulnerable and impressionable courtesy of her age. 'You presented as an almost avuncular figure, happy on the surface to indulge those children with games, when your true motives were more sinister. 'You crossed a very clear boundary in order to indulge your attractions. Your caution plainly displays an interest in young children.' Aitken was also ordered to abide by a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will bar her from 'loitering' near schools or children's play areas. Police officers are not being sent out to over half of anti-social behaviour incidents that are being reported, official figures have shown. FOI data from the Liberal Democrats reveal that there were 3.6million reports of anti-social behaviour to police forces from 2019 to 2021. Two million, or 55.2 percent, were not attended to by officers. Only covering 34 forces, the FOI request underestimates the real scale of the problem across the UK - and it also only covers reported incidents. Victims' groups have warned that persistent anti-social behaviour can escalate into making people's lives 'living nightmares', and Liberal Democrats have accused the government of being 'soft on crime'. Anti-social behaviour can include threats of violence, abusive or insulting behaviour, noise, graffiti, vandalism or drunkenness - and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said the Tory government has het this behaviour 'run rampant' after years of failing to 'give police forces the officers or resources to tackle this scourge properly'. Former victims' commissioner Baroness Newlove, whose husband and father-of-three Garry was beaten to death outside their home in Warrington in 2007, said she is 'outraged' by these statistics. 'Police have the powers and there are remedies that can be applied,' she said. 'That's two million offences where officers are not attending. Why?' Crime survey data reveals that 19 million people, that is 37 per cent of adults in the UK, say they have experienced or witnessed anti-social behaviour. FOI data from the Liberal Democrats reveal that there were 3.6million reports of anti-social behaviour to police forces from 2019 to 2021. Two million, or 44.8 percent, were not attended to by officers (file photo) Only 14 of the 34 forces in the FOI had an officer attend half or more of the incidents they recorded, the figures show. Humberside was the worst with 28.5 percent, Bedfordshire with 30 percent, Hertfordshire, 30.4 percent, Cambridgeshire, 32.3 percent, and Avon and Somerset Police, 32.7 percent. Forces with the most reports of anti-social behaviour in the three-year period were the Metropolitan Police, 1,006,063, Lancashire, 219,087, British Transport Police, 157,176, Northumbria, 154,443, and West Yorkshire, 138,349. Baroness Newlove, a Conservative peer, told The Telegraph: 'These are people suffering. It is something that can have a devastating effect on their lives. 'It is like a rippling effect that will explode. Are we waiting for another Fiona Pilkington or Gary Newlove?' Newlove was made a peer in 2010 following her campaign work on youth crime. She also served as the Victim's Commissioner from 2012 to 2019. Her late husband Mr Newlove's tragic death stunned the nation and became a symbol for 'Broken Britain' after he was killed by underage youths who ran rampant in the family's neighbourhood in Warrington, Cheshire. A year after moving into the area, the couple reported that gangs of youths were drinking and smoking drugs, and increasingly each weekend was being disturbed by anti-social behaviour. Their family car had been vandalised four times, but police asked them to just record it as it was 'only criminal damage'. After confronting the youths for damaging his wife's car after the family heard glass breaking, Garry was beaten and died from his injuries three days after, having never regained consciousness, leaving behind his wife and three children. Former victims' commissioner Baroness Newlove, pictured, whose husband and father-of-three Garry was beaten to death outside their home in Warrington in 2007, said she is 'outraged' by these statistics Dame Vera Baird, the victims commissioner, said: 'Anti-social behaviour is not low-level crime. It can make victims lives a living nightmare, causing stress, misery and despair. 'It can also often be the precursor to serious violence, such as knife crime and gang activity, so it is important that it is taken seriously by the agencies responding to it.' Funding for police forces in England and Wales has increased since 2016 after years of cuts, Home Office data shows. Police funding for English and Welsh forces has increased since 2016, and in March, the government said it would be allocating 150million towards police and local authorities over the next three years in aid of curbing crime and anti-social behaviour. Another case cited by Baroness Newlove is Fiona Pilkington, 38, who killed herself and her severely disabled daughter Francesca, 18, also in 2007, after experiencing years of torment by youths nearby their home in Barwell, Leicestershire. Dame Vera Baird, the victims commissioner, said: 'Anti-social behaviour is not low-level crime. It can make victims lives a living nightmare, causing stress, misery and despair' The family suffered 10 years of abuse, including fires lit outside their home, youths urinating on their fence, eggs and stones thrown at their home, bullying, verbal abuse and more. Fiona made 21 calls to police in a bid to stop the gang abusing her daughter Francesca, but they failed to act. She had even written to her local MP. Four police officers later faced misconduct proceedings for failing to help the family before their tragic deaths. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey added of the latest statistics: 'Priti Patel can try to sound tough on crime, but the facts speak for themselves. 'The Conservatives are soft on crime and they are letting our communities down. 'Too many people feel unsafe just walking down their own streets, because the Conservatives have let anti-social behaviour run rampant. For years this government has failed to give police forces the officers or resources to tackle this scourge properly.' Data from the Ministry of Justice reveal that victims are waiting, on average, for 233 days from their case being referred to crown court to the jury giving up a verdict - this is up 157 days, 50 percent longer, than the previous year. A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs' Council said: 'In a period of unprecedented demand police must often prioritise their resources towards the cases of greatest risk and harm in the first instance. 'Each case will be individually assessed when a report comes to the control room. In some cases there may not be enough evidence, intelligence or reports of vulnerability for police to act on immediately.' MailOnline has requested a comment from the Home Office. Chocolate lovers have been warned to ignore a convincing scam offering a free Easter basket as it is linked to a data harvesting operation inside Russia. The offer, which is being shared on Whatsapp, contains a link to a Russian URL which has since been taken down. Victims were asked to 'Join the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt' with the offer of up to 5,000 free gifts. Entrants were asked to click on a link which asked for personal information such as passwords. Chocolate fans were warned against clicking on this Russian-hosted link which had been circulated by fraudsters offering free Cadbury Easter baskets Action Fraud is investigating the suspicious link after being alerted by Cadburys who urged customers to ignore the bogus offer Cadburys warned their customers to avoid clicking on the link which was looking for personal information that could be used in fraud Cadburys confirmed they are aware of the criminals using the firm's name and warned customers against clicking on the social media link. A spokesman for Cadbury's parent company Mondelez said: 'We've been made aware of circulating posts on social media, claiming to offer consumers a free Easter Chocolate basket. 'We can confirm that this has not been generated by us and would urge consumers not to interact or share personal information through the post. 'Customer security is our priority and we're working with the relevant organisations to ensure this is resolved.' According to Action Fraud, who are based at the City of London Police: 'Cyber criminals use fake messages as bait to lure you into clicking on the links within their scam email or text message, or to give away sensitive information (such as bank details). 'These messages may look like the real thing but are malicious. Once clicked, you may be sent to a dodgy website which could download viruses onto your computer, or steal your passwords.' Action Fraud said people should 'take a moment' to think before entering personal information onto a website. According to their experts: 'It is okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.' If someone thinks they have been hit by a fraud, they should contact their bank immediately to block all payments and report the matter to Action Fraud, or call 0300 123 2040. Merseyside Police has also issued a public warning about the scam, urging people to avoid clicking on the link contained in the message as it was an attempt to 'gain access to your personal details'. The message appears to be a type of phishing scam, where criminals create messages that look genuine in order to trick consumers into clicking a link to a bogus website where viruses could be installed on their device, or having them hand over personal information which can be used to gain access to financial information or online bank accounts. Cyber security experts have warned that an offer appears 'too good to be true' it is probably a scam Cybersecurity experts have reported a notable increase in this type of scam in the last two years, with criminals using the uncertainty of the pandemic to try to scam people by posing as government departments, the NHS and delivery services - sending emails and text messages claiming to be related to the vaccine rollout, contact tracing and parcel deliveries during lockdown. Security experts also warn that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it often is. Earlier this week, Jeremy Fleming, head of the UK's GCHQ electronic spy agency warned the Kremlin is hunting for cyber targets in the UK and other western countries. Speaking in Canberra, Australia, Mr Fleming warned that Russia was searching for targets among countries opposing their war in Ukraine. GCHQ's Jeremy Fleming, pictured, warned that Russian cyber criminals were seeking targets in the west as a result of the Kremlin's ongoing war in Ukraine He said GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre has picked up signs of 'sustained intent' by Russia to disrupt Ukrainian government and military systems. 'Weve seen what looks like some spillover of activity affecting surrounding countries,' Fleming said. 'And weve certainly seen indicators which suggest Russias cyber actors are looking for targets in the countries that oppose their actions.' He provided no further details. He said the U.K. and other Western allies will continue to support Ukraine in beefing up its cybersecurity defenses. In the United States, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI's cyber division warned Russian hackers have been scanning the systems of energy companies and other critical infrastructure ahead of a potential attack. Advertisement Will Smith faces a two-week fight to save his career as the Academy mulls taking away his Oscar - with the star planning to 'beg for forgiveness' in a letter to awards bosses. The Best Actor winner is set for a 'D-Day' hearing with the Academy on April 18 where he will find out 'if he still has an Oscar - and a career', an insider said. Smith will also call Oscars chiefs 'in the next 24 hours' to plead his case - before the showdown panel later this month. Will Smith's Oscar - and career - reportedly 'hang in the balance' as he prepares to face an Academy hearing on April 18 One Oscars attendee said Smith's dancing at the Vanity Fair after-party (pictured) didn't help his cause. 'That doesn't exactly say, "I'm sorry for what I've done and I'm ashamed". It's more, "I don't care".' Smith apologized for the slap 24 hours later. As evidenced by her unamused expression, Pinkett Smith did not appreciate the joke - though she did laugh after the slap 'Things are hanging in the balance. He will write an official letter to apologize, and effectively beg for their forgiveness', the source close to the actor told The Sun. 'April 18 is D-Day, though he will find out if he still has an Oscar, and quite possibly, a career', they continued. The actor's other projects in the can, including Bad Boys 4 and Apple slavery drama Emancipation, are now up in the air as studio heads refuse to 'pick sides too early'. Smith added insult to injury by defending the slap in his Best Actor speech and dancing with his family at the Vanity Fair after party. One Oscars attendee told the paper: 'That doesnt exactly say, "Im sorry for what Ive done and Im ashamed". Its more, "I dont care".' The dramatic development follows the revelation that Chris Rock refused to have Will Smith arrested. Oscars producer Will Packer said Rock was asked if he wanted Smith removed and pinched for battery. Packer says cops told Rock: 'We will go get him, we are prepared to get him right now. You can press charges. We can arrest him', according to Good Morning America. But Rock batted down the offer and replied: 'No, I'm fine. No, no, no', Packer said. Academy governor Whoopi Goldberg insisted that Smith was asked to leave, but there were fears he was 'manic' and would make a scene if security tried to physically escort him out. 'I think that he was asked to leave,' said Goldberg on The View. 'Picture -- they come back from back from break, now if [Smith] is in some sort of state and he's struggling and you're trying to get him out the door and it's still on camera.' She added that Oscar producers and organizers even considered the possibility that Smith was having 'a manic moment, because that's not what he's known for, smacking people and stuff.' Goldberg was not present at the Oscars and stressed that she was not speaking on behalf of the Academy's board of directors. Chris Rock declined to press charges, but the LAPD confirmed Sunday he can still ask for a full police investigation to take place. Meanwhile Smith now faces formal disciplinary proceedings with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). He could face 'suspension, expulsion or other sanctions' by AMPAS - including having his Oscar taken away. The Academy wrote Wednesday: 'Consistent with the Academys Standards of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith is being provided at least 15 days notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions, and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response.' Packer's interview, which will air Friday at 7am on ABC, comes as insiders claimed Rock, 57, was never asked if Smith should be removed from the ceremony after the attack. 'No one ever asked Chris if Will should leave. They never consulted him. It was the Oscars producer Will Packer who made the final decision to let Will stay,' an insider told The New York Post. The witnesses claim Packer walked up to the actor and said: 'We do not want you to leave.' Other insiders echoed the claim, alleging the producer was 'the key' to Smith being permitted to stay for the remainder of the show. 'Packer walked out into the orchestra and conferred with Smith,' two witnesses confirmed to Variety. 'Packer said that he and the production "officially" wanted Smith to stay for the remainder of the show, according to one of the witnesses.' Chris Rock briefly addressed last weekend's Oscars slap during a show at Boston's Wilbur Theater Wednesday night Dressed all in white, Rock took to the stage at the Wilbur and asked: 'So, how was your weekend?' He largely skirted the slap Rock struck a sincere tone as he said he would address the Will Smith incident when he's finished 'processing' it Tickets for Rock's Boston shows have now been spotted selling for thousands of dollars on resale sites such as StubHub Despite these allegations, Packer told GMA that he did not directly speak with Smith at the Oscars. Reports also claimed Oscars president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson asked the Men in Black actor to leave the ceremony after the emotional outburst. But sources who allegedly witnessed discussions amongst Academy leaders claim there was never any attempt to remove Smith from the ceremony. Officials were reportedly split on whether to remove the star and a consensus was never reached, TMZ reported. Smith met with Oscars bosses on Tuesday to discuss the fallout from the attack, Variety reported. People familiar with the meeting claim Rubin and Hudson talked to Smith on Zoom for roughly 30 minutes. One source alleged Smith apologized to the Academy leaders for his actions and expressed he was aware that there would be consequences. Chris Rock was stunned after Smith came onstage and slapped him for making a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum also attempted to justify why he snapped at Rock's joke towards wife Jada Pinkett Smith, the insider claimed. However, attendees at Wednesday's emergency meeting of the Academys Board of Governors told the magazine they did not recall Rubin or Hudson mentioning the alleged discussion with Smith. The disciplinary actions could include a possible year-long ban from the Oscars, which would also prevent Smith being nominated for awards. The 53-year-old marched onto the Oscars stage on Sunday and hit presenter Rock after the comedian told a joke about Pinkett Smith. Rock's wisecrack was targeted at Pinkett Smith's buzzcut, a style she has embraced in wake of her alopecia diagnosis. 'Jada, I love you. "G.I. Jane 2," can't wait to see it,' Rock said to Pinkett Smith, whose close-shaven head looked similar to Demi Moore's in the 1997 movie, during his presentation of the award for best documentary. A source close to Packer (pictured backstage with Venus Williams) denied he encouraged Smith to remain in the audience Packer was thought to have told Smith 'We don't want you to leave', but he has since said the decision was down to Rock Whether Rock was aware that Pinkett Smith suffered from a hair-loss condition is still unknown, but Smith reacted with the smack and an angry warning 'to keep my wife's name out your f***ing mouth!' Shortly after, Smith was announced as the winner of the best actor award and went up to collect his statuette to a standing ovation from many of his peers. In his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - whose members vote for the awards, and who stages the ceremony - but stopped short of apologizing to Rock. Smith initially laughed off the attack, writing on Instagram Sunday evening: 'You can't invite people from Philly or Baltimore nowhere!!' Yet as the gravity of the situation became clear, Smith then posted a public apology to Instagram 24 hours after the ceremony, saying he was sorry to Rock. He said his behavior was 'unacceptable and inexcusable' and left him 'embarrassed'. 'I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,' he wrote. 'I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.' Pinkett Smith's first public comment came in an Instagram post Tuesday in which she said: 'This is a season for healing and I'm here for it.' A careless driver was found guilty of causing the death of a beloved university student when his car ploughed into her as she crossed a busy road. Daniel Shepherd, 36, was behind the wheel of his Audi A5 when he hit 26-year-old student Chloe Hufton who was using a pedestrian crossing in Kedlestone Road, Derby. Ms Hufton, who was an English Master's student who aspired to become a teacher, was flung up into the air when she was struck and died at the scene. Following the crash Shepherd, of Larch Close, Allestree, was arrested and charged over the tragedy. Police also found a knife inside a cuddly toy when they searched his car at the scene. Jurors deliberated for almost five hours before finding Shepherd guilty during a three-day trial at Derby Crown Court. He will be sentenced in May. Members of Chloe's family gasped in delight and cried in the public gallery as the jury's foreman read out their verdict of guilty to causing death by careless driving. Daniel Shepherd, 36, (above) was behind the wheel of his Audi A5 when he hit 26-year-old student Chloe Hufton who was using a pedestrian crossing in Kedlestone Road, Derby Ms Hufton, (above) who was an English Master's student who aspired to become a teacher, was flung up into the air when she was struck and died at the scene Dan Bishop, prosecuting, told the trial how the incident happened at 6.20pm, on November 30, 2018. He said Shepherd was travelling towards Allestree when he struck Chloe as she walked over a pedestrian crossing on a red signal. The prosecutor said she struck the windscreen and was thrown in the air. Shepherd told the jury that Chloe 'ran out in front of the car' and he did not have time to stop before hitting her He said if he had have seen her he would have stopped. The defendant blew a negative reading for alcohol, he was not speeding and there were no faults on the vehicle. Recorder Simon King presided over the trial. He adjourned sentence to Friday, May 6, so that a pre-sentence report can be prepared by the probation service. He told Shepherd: 'The jury has convicted you after a trial of causing death by careless driving and you need to be sentenced for that and sentenced for the other matter you have just pleaded guilty to (possession of a bladed article). 'You need to understand all options are open when I come to sentence you including sending you to prison.' Tributes were left on Kedleston Road for beloved university student Chole Hufton Ms Hufton's family gasped and cheered in court as the verdict of causing death by careless driving was read out by jurors. Pictured: Chloe Hufton before her death He handed the defendant unconditional bail until that date. On the day of the incident, Kedleston Road was closed for more than seven hours following the crash so collision investigators could examine the scene. Chloe's funeral took place at Markeaton Crematorium on New Year's Eve, 2018 when her body was taken to the service from the university's Kedleston Road campus in a rainbow-coloured carriage pulled by four white horses. Ahead of the service, Chloe's parents said they were living in a 'special kind of hell' as they tried to come to terms with their loss. They said Chloe 'had a passion for life and for making others' lives better'. Speaking at the time her mother, Rachel Liffen said she and her husband were enduring 'indescribable' pain. She said: 'The light in my life has gone out. She had a passion for life and for making others lives better. Talking with her friends it's clear to see she inspired and motivated all around her. 'Chloe has three younger sisters who are all devastated by the loss. She was their big sister, the wise one, the one they all wanted to be like. Chloe's dad and I are in so much pain it's indescribable. I don't think words have been invented for this special kind of hell.' Chloe's partner, Kimberley Reilly, has also paid tribute to the university student. She said: 'I feel so sorry for Chloe having her life taken so soon. She is the most beautiful girl in the world and she gave me the happiest days of my life. 'I'm sorry we didn't get to fulfil all our plans and goals together. She's left a void no one can fill. I love her and miss her every day.' Lucy Peace, of Long Eaton, who met Chloe through studying at the University of Derby, said: 'When we finished our foundation year and went to a ceremony for our certificates Chloe was the loudest one cheering for us. We were laughing when we were getting the award. At the time of her death, Professor Kathryn Mitchell, vice-chancellor of the University of Derby, said: We are devastated by the loss of Chloe. In a statement, Prof Mitchell said: Chloe will be greatly missed by staff and students. She was very popular and an energetic, knowledgeable and witty contributor to discussion; she loved the challenge of new ideas and would often be the first to grasp a complex concept and run with it. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to her family and friends as they begin to come to terms with this tragic event.' Russian twin brothers have been killed on the same day while fighting in Ukraine in the latest in a string of heavy losses suffered by Moscow. Sergeants Alexei and Anton Vorobyov, both 29, were killed fighting side by side on March 12, three weeks after Moscow's forces invaded Ukraine on February 24. The Vorobyovs were signalmen of the 150th Rifle Division, a World War-era unit that was reformed in 2013. It was one of several Russian units to take heavy casualties in the first weeks of the war. The brothers, who both leave behind partners, one of whom is pregnant, were laid to rest in coffins draped with Russian flags in Novocherkassk on Tuesday in one of hundreds of funerals taking place across Russia. 'Anton would say to me that he loved the service,' Anastasia Novikova, a childhood friend, told the Moscow Times. 'I have many memories about Anton, and all of them are good memories. We never had a single fight in 19 years.' Moscow's men have suffered heavy losses in the five week war and NATO estimates between 7,000 and 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the fighting. Ukraine claims as many as 17,000 have been killed. Meanwhile Putin this week ordered 134,500 more conscripts aged 18 to 27 to join his army as part of the annual spring military draft, which runs from April 1 to July 15. It comes as Ukrainian forces retook Hostomel air base on the outskirts of the capital on Thursday, where fierce fighting raged on the first days of the war, as Russia continues to pull back some of its forces. Alexei (left) and Anton (right) Vorobyov, both 29, were killed fighting side by side three weeks after Moscow's forces invaded Ukraine on February 24 In one of hundreds of funerals taking place across Russia, the brothers were laid to rest in coffins draped with Russian flags in Novocherkassk on Tuesday Russia has also lost at least eight colonels and several other high ranking officers - including brigade commander Colonel Yuri Medvedev was run down with a tank by his own mutinous troops. Colonel Nikolay Ovcharenko, chief of the Western Military District engineer troops, was killed in an ambush that left a total of 18 Russians dead by a pontoon bridge over the Siverskyi Donets River. Colonel Alexei Sharov, commander of the 810th Guards Separate Order of Zhukov Brigade in the Russian Marines, was killed in Mariupol last week. Colonel Sergei Sukharev, of the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Regiment from Kostroma, was 'liquidated' according to Ukraine in fighting earlier this month. '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 Andrei Zakharov was killed in an ambush near Kyiv in the opening days of the war, while Colonel Konstantin Zizevsky who led air assault troops died in the south of Ukraine. Colonel Nikolay Ovcharenko (left), chief of the Western Military District engineer troops, was killed in an ambush, while Colonel Alexei Sharov (right), commander of the 810th Guards Separate Order of Zhukov Brigade in the Russian Marines, was killed in Mariupol last week Pictured: A still grab from a video allegedly showing Russian Colonel Yuri Medvedev being stretchered into a hospital after suffering severe injuries to his legs Colonel Sergei Sukharev (pictured), of the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Regiment from Kostroma, was 'liquidated' according to Ukraine in fighting earlier this month Igor Zharov (left) was buried in Kirzhach town, Vladimir region, and was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage. Colonel Dmitry Dormidontov (right) was hit by an enemy mine Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Dormidontov was killed last week as his funeral was held in Russia today Kyiv said it had 'eliminated' Colonel Denis Kurilo (pictured), commander of the 200th separate motorised rifle brigade, in fighting near Kharkiv Elsewhere, Russian troops left the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early on Friday morning after returning control to the Ukrainians, authorities said. Ukraine's state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received 'significant doses' of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. But there was no independent confirmation of that. The exchange of control happened amid growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country. Russia is also pulling back some of its forces in the northern Ukrainian regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv, the two regions' governors said on Friday. Russia said during negotiations on Tuesday that it would scale down operations in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. Fighting has continued in both regions and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said Russian forces are not withdrawing but regrouping. 'We are observing the movement of joint (Russian) vehicle columns of various quantities,' the Kyiv region's governor, Oleksandr Pavlyuk, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Pavlyuk said some of the troops were heading towards the border with Belarus, a Russian ally. He said Russian forces had left the village of Hostomel, which is next to an important airport, but were digging in at the town of Bucha. It comes after a video emerged on Wednesday of a group of young Russian soldiers conscripted to fight on the frontlines in Ukraine complaining that they've been 'thrown into the s**t'. In footage taken in the back of a military vehicle, one complains: 'Know the truth! The Russian Ministry of Defence has no idea about us, or what we're doing here. 'We've been thrown into the s**t!' Another adds: 'Our rifles are from the 1940s! They don't f***ing fire! They're sending f***ing ordinary students into war', according to The Times. One boy soldier (left), 18, is seen wielding an AK-47 rifle first issued to Soviet soldiers in 1947 The soldiers, who were reportedly members of the 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, filmed themselves in the back of a lorry near Sumy, close to the border with Russia. One - wearing a Russian army helmet too big for his head - points to himself and says, 'I'm 18 years old.' He then holds up his AK-47 machine gun - first issued to Soviet soldiers in 1947 - and complains, 'We've been given automatic rifles to take on Grads, artillery, mortar shells. We're asking you to spread this.' One quarter of Russia's army is made up of conscripts aged 18-27, disproportionately from poorer backgrounds where families are unable to obtain legal letters or doctors' notes excusing their sons from battle. The issue of conscripts' involvement in the war is highly sensitive. On March 9, the defence ministry acknowledged that some had been sent to Ukraine after Putin had denied this on various occasions, saying only professional soldiers and officers had been sent in. Putin's spokesman said at the time that the president had ordered military prosecutors to investigate and punish the officials responsible for disobeying his instructions to exclude conscripts. President Vladimir Putin has ordered 134,500 more conscripts to join his army as Russia's forces continue to struggle to make significant gains in Ukraine. Pictured: A Ukrainian soldier takes a selfie next to a destroyed Russian tank in the Sumy region, Ukraine, 30 March 2022 Ukrainian soldiers carry a body of a civilian killed by the Russian forces over the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, on Thursday New conscripts are often tortured and even raped as part of brutal initiations dating back hundreds of years. The army's culture of hazing (known as 'dedovshchina') involves using physical and psychological abuse to 'toughen' young recruits. In 2019 alone there were 51,000 recorded cases of human rights violations among young Russian conscripts - and 9,890 sexual assaults, according to Moscow's defence ministry. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what it called a special military operation to demilitarise and 'denazify' the country. The war has killed thousands of people and uprooted millions. The new president of the National Union of Students has come under fire for having a slogan used by Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in her Twitter bio. Shaima Dallali had 'death for the sake of Allah is our most exalted wish' promoted at the top of her page. The City University activist had the sentence - which experts said is not in the Quran and is associated with the two groups - written in Arabic next to #Tunisia. Some experts blasted the use of the quote and warned she will discredit every campaign the NUS touches. But others claimed it is meant to mean 'acts of self-sacrifice for the cause of justice' and was not to be considered controversial. Meanwhile security sources said the phrase could be seen as 'the Muslim equivalent of being champagne socialists at university'. It comes after Dallali apologised after a fierce backlash over 'anti-semitic' social media posts including an ancient Islamic battle cry relating to a massacre of Jews. Jewish students yesterday raised concerns after historic tweets emerged referencing the killing of Jews in the 628 Battle of Khaybar. Shaima Dallali had 'death for the sake of Allah is our most exalted wish' promoted at the top of her page The City University activist had the sentence - which experts said is not in the Quran and is associated with the two groups - written in Arabic next to #Tunisia Some experts blasted the use of the quote and warned she will discredit every campaign the NUS touches Who and what is the Muslim Brotherhood? The Muslim Brotherhood was first established in Britain more than 50 years ago, the Government review which concluded in summer 2014 said. For the first years of its existence, the group was not politically active but during the late 1980s and early 1990s the group changed tactics - driven by key issues such as Iraq and Palestine. It has dominated other groups in Britain, including the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB). By mid-2014, the Brotherhood was a range of 'loosely associated' groups but had no single leader in Britain. Many of the groups have raised money for the Brotherhood and a 'complex network' of charities have sprung up around them. In 2003, the UK charity Interpal was designated a terrorist organisation by the US treasury on the basis of links to Hamas. The review found: 'The most senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood permanently resident in the UK told the review team that he coordinated some Muslim Brotherhood international activity, but not Muslim Brotherhood activity in this country.' MB used to be considered the largest political force in Egypt, with up to 2.5million members. It was first founded there in 1928 but spread abroad to other Muslim countries as well as the West. it launched it political party in 2011 after the Egyptian Revolution and won almost half the seats the next year. Advertisement But Dallali was in hot water today over the quote in Arabic in the bio of an account under @tunisianrose as its handle - despite her also appearing to have one under @ShaimaDallali. The rest of the the message was in English, saying: 'One day, I'm going to pray in Al-Aqsa.' The account has since been deleted. The think tank Policy Exchange spotted Dallali's Twitter bio and warned she was tarnishing the NUS's reputation. Head of its security and terrorism unit Dr Paul Stott said: 'It is hard to know whether to laugh or cry that a student activist, opposed to Government counter-extremism policies, used an online slogan on her social media profile that is taken from the Muslim Brotherhood, and means ''death for the sake of Allah is our most exalted wish''. 'Her leadership of the National Union of Students will discredit every campaign the NUS touches. 'This is bad news for all students, with a Union president that seems to have supported some groups that have serious questions hanging over them. 'Student politics seems to be lurching down a dangerous path - and all of us exposed to extremism and prejudice need to seriously question what's going on here.' A security source told MailOnline the phrase may have been used by a naive student jumping on a bandwagon at university. They said: 'With these student politics controversies, some students go through a Muslim equivalent of being a champagne socialist at university making radical pronouncements about conflicts in far away places that they will never actually take part in. 'Within this, Islamic and jihadist figures from organisations like Hamas can be venerated like Che Guevara figures as freedom fighters. 'In the social media era this is something that can come back to haunt them because of social media posts being under the spotlight.'' The phrase 'death for the sake of God is our most exalted wish' came up in the US Congress subcommittee on National Security in 2018. Officials, which included leading politicians from across the House of Representatives, were talking about the threat of the Muslim Brotherhood globally. Meanwhile the Israel Defense Forces also noted the use of the phrase by Hamas and said it was taken from its charter dating back to 1998. It quoted a translation by Yale University, saying: 'Allah is its target, the Prophet is its model, the Koran its constitution: Jihad is its path and death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes.' But Oxford Professor Usaama al-Azami, who lectures in Islamic studies, explained how the phrase can mean 'acts of self-sacrifice for the cause of justice'. He told MailOnline: 'I would emphasise that when Muslims or Muslim organisations speak of dying for the sake of God, this is a reference to dying to uphold justice and human dignity. 'Not every instance of an individual Muslim or Muslim organisation's behaviour may conform to such a declared norm. 'Muslims are just as susceptible to failing to uphold their own standards as anyone else. 'But a good way to understand this would be to compare it to the Ukraine crisis. The Ukrainians take great pride in their commitment to upholding justice and human dignity.' He continued: 'In the UK, the notion of dying 'for King (or Queen) and country' is recognised as an expression of valour. 'This is the context in which such statements as the MB's must be understood. 'Certainly, the notion of dying for a just cause and to protect human dignity can be found within the teachings of Islam's sacred texts of the Qur'an and Prophetic tradition. 'Properly understood, this is the intent behind the statements of Islamic groups like the MB.' He added: 'MB is not comparable to groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda which consider the MB to be heretical apostates and therefore legitimate targets for their terrorism. 'To consider such tiny terrorist groups (relative to the nearly two billion Muslims around the globe who reject their tactics) to be representative of Islam is equivalent to considering the KKK or Adolf Hitler to be representative of Western civilisation as a whole.' Dallali was yesterday slammed by Jewish communities over a 2012 tweet, in which she wrote: 'Khaybar Khaybar O Jews Muhammad's army will return #Gaza.' She apologised for the 'wrong' and 'unacceptable' post this week, which has since been deleted, saying the tweet was made as a teenager. Dallali, who is currently president of the City University Student Union, has also been accused of writing that she was raising money for Cage during Ramadan in 2020. Cage's research director called Jihadi John - a terrorist who allegedly beheaded western hostages in Syria - a beautiful young man who was 'kind and gentle'. The group denies it supports terrorists and says its goal is to 'simply ensure that the pursuit of justice is carried out fairly'. The Jewish Chronicle yesterday claimed Dallali had 'sung the praises of a Jew-hating cleric'. It said she labelled Waseem Yousef a 'dirty Zionist' after he said Hamas was launching rockets from between residents' homes and was making a 'graveyard' for children in Gaza. It also said she praised Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who was expelled from the UK, US, France and Germany, for being a 'moral compass for the Muslim community at large'. The NUS was also slammed by Jewish student groups earlier this month after it invited controversial rapper Lowkey to appear at its conference for students. The rapper, real name Kareem Dennis, expressed support for former Labour MP Chris Williamson, who was suspended from the party in 2019 for anti-Semitism. He also backed Professor David Miller, a former sociology lecturer at Bristol University, who was sacked after alleged antisemitic comments. In an online interview with the anti-Israel activist Asa Winstanley, Lowkey claimed mainstream media had 'weaponised the Jewish heritage of [Volodymyr] Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, to try to stave off these genuine inquiries into the nature of the groups fighting in Ukraine...' Lowkey (pictured performing on stage) pulled out of his scheduled appearance as a guest at the annual NUS conference, with the union later releasing a lengthy statement in which it acknowledged the 'strong response' to his announcement Lowkey pulled out of his scheduled appearance, with the NUS later releasing a lengthy statement in which it acknowledged the 'strong response'. It also apologised to students 'hurt by some of the things they've read about NUS' during the fallout. Reacting to a tweet announcing Dallali's election victory, the Union of Jewish Students said a number of students had reached out citing concerns. It said: 'Jewish students have spoken to us and raised their concerns over much of the messaging Dallali has put out on her social media in the past attacking the Jewish community, UJS, and supporting speakers with extremely challenging views. 'We hope that she will come to the table, work with UJS and understand how to support Jewish students. 'There have been many bridges broken between the NUS and Jewish students over the past weeks. 'We call on Shaima and her team to join us in rebuilding those bridges to ensure that NUS becomes a space Jewish students once more feel welcomed into, rather than sidelined and excluded.' In a tweet on Tuesday, she said: 'My hands are outstretched to all students and staff that work in our movement, including Jewish students, and would love to arrange a meeting once I'm in office. 'I stand ready to listen to the concerns of all students on how we can make our movement inclusive and open to all.' And addressing the tweet on the Battle of Khayber on March 23, she added: 'Earlier today, I was made aware of a tweet I posted 10 years ago. During Israel's assault on Gaza in 2012. I reference the battle of Khayber, in which Muslim and Jewish armies fought. 'I was wrong to see the Palestine conflict as one between Muslims and Jews. This reference made as a teenager was unacceptable, and I sincerely & unreservedly apologise.' A spokesman for the NUS yesterday said it was aware of the allegations and said Dallali has been receiving racist abuse. A statement added: 'We are so sorry to any students, particularly Jewish students, who have been hurt by what they've read in the lead up to conference. 'We will be reviewing what more the NUS can do in the future to ensure Jewish students feel welcome in our spaces and to improve relations with Jewish students.' In its statement confirming the withdrawal of Lowkey from its annual conference last week, the NUS said: 'Lowkey was due to speak at our Liberation Conference on 30 March in Liverpool but has taken the decision to pull out. 'This matter has received some social media and press coverage and is connected to some deeply complex issues that are much much bigger than NUS and our events. In the midst of this coverage, our first concerns always lie with students. 'Since we promoted Lowkey as a speaker, there has been a strong response to some of his recent actions and associations. 'Like with most issues discussed on social media or the press, there is a mix of facts, opinions and misinformation in circulation. 'We are horrified to know that some students in our community, particularly Jewish students, may now be wondering if they will be fully comfortable at our upcoming events. 'We're very sorry to any students who are hurt by some of the things they've read about NUS in the last few days.' The NUS released a new statement by Dallali today saying: 'I am immensely proud and humbled to have been elected NUS National President. I am committed to standing up for all students in this role, when I take office in July. 'My hands are outstretched to all students that work in our movement, including Jewish students, and I have already expressed my willingness to arrange a meeting once I take office. 'I welcome accountability and scrutiny of myself, the spaces around us, the structures that confine us and the very education system we find ourselves in. 'This is precisely why I chose to run for this position. I stand ready to listen to the concerns of all students on how we can make our movement inclusive and open to all. 'Fighting injustice has been at the core of the student movement for 100 years, something that I know all too well having already received racist abuse online within hours of being elected. 'It shouldn't be the case that Black and Brown women simply have to accept this as a fact of taking up space in the public life. 'That Black and Brown women have been elected to lead the student movement in the past few years should be something to celebrate, especially as the NUS celebrates its centenary. 'The current President, Larissa Kennedy, who has boldly led the NUS during the fallout from the pandemic, is in office until July and should be given the space to finish her two-year tenure. 'However, the pre-emptive scrutiny of Muslim women is symptomatic of the nature of Gendered Islamophobia. 'Individuals and groups will go out of their way to seek to criminalise Muslim women in leadership, without acceptance for any space for growth and change. 'The reality is that we can all introspect and reflect on our viewpoints. This is not just something we apply to Muslim women, which points to the importance of one of my priorities as President: decolonisation. 'I want to be able to understand history, political structures and figures in history and today who have been idolised to the point where they are exempt from scrutiny and accountability. 'Students in the UK and internationally face challenges in the here and now, and when I take office in July I'd like to focus on campaigning for a free, liberated, democratised and decolonised Education, with a focus on supporting students during the parallel cost of living & student mental health crises.' Five weeks into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky spends most of his days hunkered in the bunker, but makes a point not to stay locked in for more than 'three or four days' so he can see the reality of the situation for himself, reports say. The Ukrainian president appears to have been sleeping for a mere 'two hours a day' for the past month as his war-torn country continues to deal with the Kremlin's forces advancing. His family were last known to be in hiding somewhere in Ukraine to escape opposition forces as he fears his wife and children to be top targets on assassination lists. Last week it was reported that Zelensky gave his first interview to Russian media - which state media regulator Roskomnadzor is banning from being broadcast - since the beginning of the invasion, with five journalists across various channels promising to publish the unedited transcript of what was said. One of the interviewers included Vladimir Soloviev. Mikhail Zigar of Kommersant was also there, along with two journalists whose outlets are banned in Russia - Ivan Kolpakov from Meduza and Tikhon Dzyadko of Dozhd TV. Last week it was reported that Zelensky gave his first interview to Russian media - which state media regulator Roskomnadzor is banning from broadcast - since the invasion began It is not known if Zelensky is able to see his family - wife Olena, 44, daughter Oleksandra, 17, and son Kyrylo, 9 (all pictured together in 2019) 'I'm giving you this explanation instead of a yes or a no because that's the direction my thoughts are going, forgive me, my day has been a bit of a mess, I didn't sleep well last night,' Zelensky said in the middle of answering a question, as he discussed the growing cultural isolation threatening to face Russia and the devastating consequences of Mariupol. Alexander Morozov, political scientist and member of the Boris Nemtsov Center for Russian Studies (Charles University, Prague), called the interview a 'spectacular event'. In a Facebook post Mr Morozov said: 'It's obvious Zelensky for 30 days has been sleeping for two hours a night, but he decided to come out and speak in the midst of severe insomnia - of which he spoke about in the middle of the interview. 'God give him the strength. It's hard to handle such a 30-day stress. And it's even harder to remain open, not to go to the bare rhetoric of hate. 'And yet continues to speak in the language of "human norm", openness, pain, sincerity.' The Ukrainian president appears to have been sleeping 'two hours a day' for the past month as his war-torn country continues Of Mariupol, Zelensky told interviewers that he makes a point of speaking with Ukrainian troops who have decided to stay there despite catastrophic scenes, according to a transcript published by Meduza. He said: 'Our troops are inside [Mariupol]. This is part of the reason there's chaos on the information front. 'Because the Russian troops have gotten in everywhere they can. But there are some parts of the city they haven't reached, because our guys are there, and they've refused to obey the Russians' calls to leave. 'In addition, these guys' families have reached out to me. I've spoken with these guys. I talk to them - well, at least once every two days, I really try to find time for it, it's important to me. 'I tell them I understand everything, guys, and we'll definitely be backBut if you feel that you need to be [there] and you feel that it's the right thing, and that you can survive, then do it.' He outlined the consequences of the conflict on Ukraine, calling remnants of thriving cities 'scorched earth'. Zelensky said: 'Mariupol is gone. Its just gone. Volnovakha is just gone. The cities around Kyiv and Kyiv region our smaller townsthe kinds you have too, I thinkAll of those towns that surround the capital cities - as a rule, theyre small towns. 'But a lot of people live there, people have their summer homes, and the local population lives there, too. 'That doesnt exist anymore. Scorched earth. Just scorched earth. Completely. 'Youve probably seen the photographs, but you havent seen everything. We cant even show all this. Its impossible to show, because its impossible even to show our population what it looks like. 'There are no buildings. In Volnovakha, theres nothing at all no streets, no buildings. Nothing at all.' In an interview with the Economist, speaking to a reporter in his bunker this week, Zelensky implored the importance of leaving the 'fortress' as often as he can, seemingly alluding to a contrast with Vladimir Putin who has been bunkered down 'for more like two decades'. He said: 'If I don't go out even for three or four days, and only stay in my office, I won't know what's going on in the world.' The interview suggested that the day-to-day actions in the bunker, facilitated by Zelensky and his 'pop-up' war government, seem 'chaotic'. His bunker, blocked off by metallic gates, is surrounded by snipers and fitted with air-defence systems, the Economist reports. Early in March he famously said, from the presidential palace in Kyiv: 'I am here, I am not hiding, and I am not afraid of anyone. 'We are all in our places working, where we should be. My team is in Kyiv with me. 'We are all fighting, we are all contributing to our victory which will surely happen.' The Ukrainian president is tireless in his calling to action of the international community and nearly every day drives dialogues with various nations as well as updating his own people in a nightly address. Just yesterday, thanks to his pleas, Australia's famed Bushmaster military vehicles will be shipped to Ukraine. Five weeks into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Zelensky spends most of his days hunkered in the bunker, but makes a point not to stay locked in for more than 'three or four days' Zelensky specifically requested the Bushmasters during a historic address to Federal Parliament when he appealed for further international aid. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed on Friday that the armoured, high-tech, vehicles will be sent to help Ukraine fend of Russia's invasion. It is not known if Zelensky is able to see his family - wife Olena, 44, daughter Oleksandra, 17, and son Kyrylo, 9 - but in a recent CNN interview it's suggested the Ukrainian leader is able to speak to them, albeit it is unclear how often. He in March told Fareed Zakaria: 'My children know, for sure, what is happening. And I don't know whether it's good or bad. I have not explained anything to my children. 'They have said to me that war is raging in Ukraine, and at our home we have the same freedom of speech as we have in our country. And they know what we are fighting for. They understand all of that. 'The first two days, we did not talk about it at all, and my family - and they did not ask questions. 'They were thinking about it themselves, of what is happening. They are proud of Ukraine, very proud. And they entertain a sincere hope in our victory.' Russian forces have seized 14 tonnes of supplies destined for the besieged city of Mariupol (pictured) Olena Zelenska has been very vocal on social media, sharing images of mass graves and the destruction currently unfolding in Ukraine, calling on the West to step in and end what she described as a 'genocide' She told ABC News that she fears for her husband, who has reportedly survived 'more than a dozen' assassination attempts since the invasion began in February. At the beginning of the invasion, Zelensky admitted he is 'target number one' for Russian assassins in Kyiv - and that his daughter and son, are 'number two'. 'As every woman in Ukraine, now I fear for my husband,' Zelenska wrote. 'Every morning before I call him, I pray everything goes well. I also know how strong and enduring he is. 'He is able to withstand anything, especially when he defends people and things that he loves.' The city of Mariupol, pictured, has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war His bunker, blocked off by metallic gates, is surrounded by snipers and fitted with air-defence systems, the Economist reports It comes as Russian forces have seized 14 tonnes of supplies destined for the besieged city of Mariupol, where thousands of desperate Ukrainians are dangerously low on food, water and other vital supplies. Few humanitarian buses have managed to get people out of the city, but many have escaped in their cars or even on foot often under fire. The Ukrainian government said only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars in the last day. The city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. Kyiv has said that at least 5,000 people have been killed in the city, but that number could be as high as 20,000, according to one Ukrainian official. Tens of thousands have managed to get out in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing the population from a pre-war 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 by last week, but other relief efforts have been thwarted by continued Russian attacks. Zelensky in his latest address warned that 'there will be battles ahead' as he claimed Russian withdrawals from the north and centre of Ukraine are being used as a cover for troops to regroup and step up attacks in the south east. 'We know their intentions,' he added. 'We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us.' Advertisement Sainsbury's is driving its customers round the bend with a 'ludicrous' new car park layout that has been likened to the 'Driving School track from Legoland'. It comes after an elaborate hairpin bend was installed at the entrance to the supermarket's branch in Christchurch, Dorset. The two-way track is said to have caused several near misses as drivers are forced to swing their vehicles around its tight bends. The position of two speed humps in both lanes is also causing drivers to go through the middle of them, risking head-on collisions, motorists claim. Customers say the freshly tarmacked black track and white lines make the car park appear like the Driving School found at the Legoland theme park in Windsor, Berkshire. An elaborate hairpin bend (pictured) was installed at the entrance to the Sainsbury's branch in Christchurch, Dorset The two-way track is said to have caused several near misses as drivers are forced to swing their vehicles around its tight bends A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: 'Feedback is important to us and we can reassure our Christchurch Superstore customers that works in our car park will be completed soon and improve the flow of traffic.' (Pictured: Aerial view of Sainsbury's in Christchurch) The position of two speed humps in both lanes is also causing drivers to go through the middle of them, risking head-on collisions, customers say Customers say the freshly tarmacked black track and white lines make the car park appear like the Driving School found at the Legoland theme park in Windsor, Berkshire The new entrance joins from a mini-roundabout and from above the whole layout looks like a huge question mark, which is apt as it has left a lot of customers scratching their heads Others have compared the layout to a real-life version of the computer car racing game Super Mario. The new entrance joins from a mini-roundabout and from above the whole layout looks like a huge question mark, which is apt as it has left a lot of customers scratching their heads. Many have taken to social media to complain about the design. Samantha Blackmore-Wells said: 'It's too narrow for most cars to pass each other safely. My last car was a people carrier and I would have had to shop elsewhere. 'When I approach the Sainsbury's roundabout to enter their new 'hairpin' car park entrance/exit, I actually feel my stress levels raising. 'My heart beats faster, I get hot, I feel anxious, then usually mutter under my breath 'whose was this stupid ridiculous idea; what a total idiot' Simon Elvery said: 'The architect/designer of Sainsburys new entrance should return his payment for designing the most ludicrously stupid car park I've seen.' Ruth Brewer posted: 'It makes you feel travel sick with so many twists and turns.' Kevin Clarke said: 'The new road layout looks like the Driving School track at Leogland and is like playing Super Mario when driving around it. ' A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: 'Feedback is important to us and we can reassure our Christchurch Superstore customers that works in our car park will be completed soon and improve the flow of traffic.' It comes after motorists blasted a 'bizarre' and 'dangerous' oval-shaped roundabout made up of concentric circles on a busy town centre road on the Isle of Man, installed last summer. Drone pictures of the new feature showed three rings in the middle of a junction with the same number of roads connecting from different angles. Locals in the Isle of Man's capital Douglas slammed the idea, which was part of a 25million project, claiming it 'makes no sense' and is 'impossible to work out'. But the IoM government said the junction should be used like 'any other roundabout' and assured 'motorists will soon get used to them'. Drone pictures of the newly-opened roundabout show three rings in the middle of a junction with the same number of roads connecting from different angles Locals in the Isle of Man's capital town Douglas have slammed the idea, claiming it 'makes no sense' and is 'impossible to work out' Islander Craig Goffin, who took the pictures, said: 'This new roundabout is completely and utterly bizarre. It makes no sense to me, why not just put a regular roundabout in there? It's just confusing for everyone.' He added: 'I'm worried that there will be accidents there because for some people it will be impossible to work out. 'They'll pull up to it and not know what all these lines mean or where to go. It's not the kind of roundabout anyone is familiar with. People seem a bit panicked about it.' Thousands of people took to social media to criticise the plan after pictures emerged online. Julie Charlton posted on Facebook: 'It's bloody dangerous. I'm at a loss as to who thought this was a good idea, you can see the gradient from certain angles and not from others. 'This design is for pages in a 'mind puzzle' book... shocking!' June Webster added: 'My seven-year-old grandson said if they put a H in the middle it could be a helipad.' Alan Desmond posted: 'A totally logical design - if you were on mind bending drugs, that is. Reminds me of one of those puzzles where you have to guide the little ball bearing to the centre. Other than that, it looks truly atrocious.' The IoM government says the junction should be approached like 'any other roundabout' and assure that 'motorists will soon get used to them' The Isle of Man government are keen to point out the design was subject to planning approval and that images of it were shared on an official site beforehand Mr Goffin, a 52-year-old IT service manager, also pointed out that one of the roundabout's exits and entrances is only feet away from a zebra crossing. Mr Goffin said: 'When the weather is nice and there are lots of people crossing there will be queues going around the roundabout. The whole thing seems poorly thought out.' He added: 'It seems silly to say but we need some instruction on how to use this thing.' The Isle of Man government were keen to point out the design was subject to planning approval and images of it were shared on an official site beforehand. A spokesman said: 'The installation of the two roundel junctions on Douglas Promenade are a small part of the 25million pound refurbishment scheme to improve the gateway to the Isle of Man's capital, Douglas, due to complete at the end of August 2021. 'The second roundel will be installed at the junction of Church Road Marina by 15 July 2021.' They added: 'The design philosophy behind the refurbishment of the promenade is to create a low-speed environment that promotes inclusivity for all users including pedestrians, cyclists, horse trams and vehicles. 'The roundels form just one aspect of this philosophy and help raise a driver's awareness of the slow speed environment, making the junction more conspicuous and enhancing the driving experience and safety.' In a statement, they added: 'The Department of Infrastructure would like to reassure motorists that the two roundels being installed... are to be driven in the same way as any other roundabout. 'Roundels are designed not to have a traditional central island or a white-domed marking due to the nature of their design. 'They also act as a form of traffic calming, with both roundels sited within the 20mph speed limit for Douglas Promenade.' Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker said: 'Roundels are part of modern highway design, having been used in the UK for a number of years. I feel, once the overall area is complete, motorists will soon get used to them.' The convicted murderer of a 16-year-old girl died in prison after taking the illegal drug Spice, an inquest has heard. Nicholas Rose, 37, was found dead in bed in his cell in HMP Guys Marsh, near Shaftesbury, Dorset, on May 19, 2019. The scaffolder was jailed for life in 2005 for the murder of 16-year-old Charlotte Pinkney in Devon after she spurned his sexual advances. Charlotte vanished in the early hours of February 28, 2004. Nicholas Rose, left, murdered Charlotte Pinkney, pictured right, in Devon in the early hours of February 28, 2004. The 16-year-old victim's body has never been recovered Rose was found dead in his cell at HMP Guys Marsh in Dorset on May 19, 2019. He had been transferred to the Category C unit two years earlier She had been to a house party, which Rose had also attended, and left in a car. She was reported missing on March 4 and six days later a murder investigation was launched when her handbag was found in undergrowth near Ilfracombe. After almost a month of intensive searches, police arrested Rose. In February 2005 he went on trial at Exeter Crown Court, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Charlotte's body was never found and Rose always maintained his innocence. A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman said Rose was transferred to HMP Guys Marsh in 2017. It states that Rose had a known history of substance misuse in prison from October 2016, but was thought to have been clean for over a year before he died. Rose was sentenced to life in prison by Exeter Crown Court, pictured, following the 2004 murder of Charlotte Pinkney, 16 At 12.15pm on May 19, 2019, a prison officer was doing a routine roll call of the Jubilee Unit when he discovered Rose dead in his cell. The prison incident log and records from the ambulance service showed that the emergency call was received at 12.17pm and an ambulance was dispatched at 12.20pm, arriving at Guys Marsh six minutes later. The report said that Rose was the sixth prisoner to die at HMP Guys Marsh in the two-year period since May 2017. Charlotte, pictured, attended a house party on the night she vanished. Rose was seen by witnesses at the same event Of the previous deaths, one was from natural causes, three were psychoactive substances (PS) related and one was a self-inflicted death in which PS played a part. It added: 'Psychoactive substances (formerly known as 'new psychoactive substances' or 'legal highs') are a serious problem across the prison estate. They are difficult to detect and can affect people in a number of ways including increasing heart rate, raising blood pressure, reducing blood supply to the heart and vomiting. 'Mr Rose had a history of substance misuse in prison but appeared to have been abstinent for over a year before he died. He was regarded as a role model by staff and prisoners and supported other prisoners with substance misuse issues. 'His death was a great shock to all at Guys Marsh and is another sad example of the dangers of psychoactive substances.' A post mortem examination found that Rose died from airway obstruction due to aspiration of vomit as a result of PS intoxication. Assistant coroner for Dorset, Brendan Allen, stated that prior to his death Rose ingested spice and concluded that he died by misadventure. The four-day inquest took place at Bournemouth Town Hall between March 21-24. Today, Finnair, Atlantic Joint Business (AJB) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) launched the inaugural flight with direct flights from DFW to Helsinki, Finland (HEL). The route will be operated four times a week providing more flight options and convenient connections. The new hub-to-hub service between DFW and HEL will help to link Finnairs network throughout Scandinavia and alliance partner American Airlines extensive network from DFW. As international travel demand picks up, Finnair is pleased to provide customers with our Dallas Fort Worth to Helsinki route launch, said Caroline Borawski, General Manager, North America at Finnair. The added access to Europe, Scandinavia, Baltics and beyond is meeting both essential and aspirational travel needs and shows the important investment and commitment Finnair is making in North America. We are thrilled about this new service. It strengthens DFW Airports European route options for our customers and further solidifies our commitment to continued growth on the international stage, said John Ackerman, Executive Vice President of Global Strategy and Development, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Partnerships mean more routes and more service for our customers around the world, said Anmol Bhargava, Americans vice president of alliances. American welcomes our Atlantic Joint Business and oneworld partner, Finnair, to Dallas Fort Worth as their new DFW-Helsinki flight provides more options for customers to reach Finland and the Nordic region, Baltics, and Russia. In addition to the new flights through DFW, Finnair operates direct flights to Helsinki from Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. During the winter season, Finnair is also flying to Stockholm, Sweden, from Los Angeles, New York and Miami. Finnairs extensive European network from Helsinki delivers smooth connections to more than 70 European cities, including double daily flights to cities like Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Vienna, Zurich, Gdansk and Milan, and even more daily frequencies to Paris, London, Berlin, Warsaw, Brussels, Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as the Scandinavian and Baltic cities. To support the ramp up of Finnairs traffic and ensure smooth and fast transfers at HEL, the airport opened new arrival and departure halls in December 2021 and will be opening new security control and check-in areas in May 2022. The DFW HEL flights are available to book now. The best rates and flight offers can be found on Finnairs website and mobile application. Please visit www.finnair.com for more information and find images from the inaugural flight at https://dfw.to/FinnairDFW. Keir Starmer defended his political attack on Rishi Sunak's millionaire wife today, insisting the Chancellor must 'come clean' over whether she has profited investments linked to Russia. Mr Sunak last night launched an astonishing defence of Akshata Murthy, likening himself to the actor Will Smith, who slapped Chris Rock for insulting his wife at the Oscars. The Chancellor complained that his spouse was not 'fair game' after questions were raised about her 0.91 per cent stake in Infosys, a company founded by her father, which continues to operate in Russia. But Sir Keir insisted it was right to ask questions about her financial affairs. The Ministerial Code states that ministers must declare all financial interests that could lead to a conflict, including 'the Minister's spouse or partner and close family'. The UK has sanctions in place on Russian oligarchs and businesses and Mr Sunak has personally urged firms not to do business with Moscow. Sir Keir told Sky News he agreed with the 'general argument' that families should not be dragged into politics, but said it was also in the public interest to know whether Rishi Sunak's wife was benefiting from Russia-related interests. He said: 'So far as the Chancellor's wife is concerned, there's just a fundamental principle, is their household benefiting from money made in Russia when the Government has put in place sanctions? Mr Sunak last night launched an astonishing defence of Akshata Murthy, likening himself to the actor Will smith, who slapped Chris Rock for insulting his wife at the Oscars Mr Sunak suggested his experience was similar to Will Smith - who dramatically slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars for joking about his alopecia-suffering wife's bald head (pictured) 'That is in the public interest for us to have an answer to - I'm not attacking their family but I do want to know if the Chancellor's household is benefiting from money from a company that's investing in Russia when the Government is saying quite rightly that nobody should be doing that.' In an interview with BBC Newscast, Mr Sunak suggested his experience was similar to Will Smith - who dramatically slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars for joking about his alopecia-suffering wife's bald head. He joked: 'Someone said, 'Joe Root, Will Smith, and me - not the best of weekends for any of us'. 'But I feel, on reflection, both Will Smith and me having our wives attacked - at least I didn't get up and slap anybody, which is good.' Mr Sunak added: 'You know, I think it's totally fine for people to take shots at me. It's fair game. I'm the one sitting here and that's what I signed up for. 'Actually, it's very upsetting and, I think, wrong for people to try and come at my wife, and you know, beyond that actually, with regard to my father-in-law, for whom I have nothing but enormous pride and admiration for everything that he's achieved, and no amount of attempted smearing is going to make me change that because he's wonderful and has achieved a huge amount, as I said, I'm enormously proud of him.' Ms Murthy has a stake believed to be worth 490million in technology giant Infosys. The firm, which is owned by her father, NR Narayana Murthy, has an office in Moscow. But as it is Indian-owned it is not subject to UK sanctions. Delhi has so far refused to follow the West's example and hit Putin's war machine economically and businesses continue to trade there. Ms Murty herself runs fashion label Akshata Designs and is also a director of a venture capital firm founded by her father in 2010. The couple have two daughters and live in a magnificent Georgian manor house in the small village of Kirby Sigston, just outside Northallerton in North Yorkshire. Mr Sunak is a multi-millionaire in his own right thanks to his investment career. A livestock technology entrepreneur posted a haunting Facebook message shortly before she was killed in Victoria's Mount Disappointment helicopter crash with a work colleague. Linda Woodford, the 50-year-old founder and chief executive of AXIchain, was one of five people killed in the Thursday morning chopper tragedy in a state forest north-east of Melbourne. Her last Facebook post had the chilling message with a wink emoji: 'The transport to work today ... a little different.' She had been the Melbourne-based chief executive of agriculture trading firm AXIchain since 2018 and for the past decade had also been the director of Kaizen Consulting, a blockchain technology company. In another twist, her family was already dealing with the loss of her sister-in-law shortly before this tragedy in rugged bushland during a trip to inspect land. She was killed along with a work colleague Ian Perry, helicopter pilot Dean Neal, 32, and Radfords Abattoir chairman Paul Troja, 73. Scroll down for video An agriculture technology entrepreneur whose company was 'transforming' meat processing has been named as one of the five victims in Victoria's Mt Disappointment helicopter crash. Linda Woodford, the 50-year-old founder and chief executive of AXIchain, was killed in the Friday morning chopper tragedy in a state forest north-east of Melbourne Her last Facebook post had the chilling message with a wink emoji: 'The transport to work today ... a little different Her friend Martin Gibson posted a tribute to her, alongside the haunting social media post put up shortly before the crash. 'Yesterday my lovely friend of 25 years Linda Woodford posted pics of her taking a helicopter to work from downtown Melbourne,' he said. 'It was yet another proud moment for me, having watched her build a fantastic, innovative and world-leading blockchain company. 'Her success came after relentless work and picking herself up after many failures. 'Sadly her flight ended in a crash into Mount Disappointment in Victoria, and it claimed the lives of all five people on board, including Linda's.' Mr Gibson remembered has a 'beautiful, fun-loving and genuinely compassionate soul'. 'Such a loss, and such a shame for this to happen just as all her hard work was really paying off, and as her family are still dealing with the loss of her sister-in-law, whose children she had treated like her own,' he said. 'She packed a lot into her half century, and she'll leave a big hole in so many people's lives, including mine.' Her friend Martin Gibson posted a tribute to Linda Woodford (pictured), alongside the haunting social media post put up shortly before the crash Mr Gibson remembered his friend as a 'beautiful, fun-loving and genuinely compassionate soul' Another friend Miriam van Heusden, the founder of the Maralytics marketing group, said she was 'devastated beyond words'. 'We lost someone that was truly amazing yesterday, Linda Woodford, lifetime best friend of my sister and founder of Axichain, died in the horror helicopter crash in regional Victoria,' she said on Facebook. Ms Woodford's company AXIchain had developed technology to buy, sell and keep track of livestock. Her brother Dougal told Nine News the family had 'never felt emotional pain like this'. AXIchain released a statement late on Friday night confirming Ms Woodford had died in the crash along with AXIchain consultant Ian Perry. 'Linda and Ian were involved in a fatal helicopter accident yesterday while visiting clients in rural Victoria,' it said on Facebook. 'Linda was a driven visionary and an eternal optimist and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. 'Ian was a respected member of the agricultural industry and a committed family man and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.' Dean Neal, 32, had four passengers on board, including Radfords Abattoir chairman Paul Troja, in his care Mr Neal was a 'conscientious, professional pilot [who] always put the safety and wellbeing of his passengers in the highest of his priorities', his devastated family said in a statement on Friday afternoon The pilot involved in a devastating helicopter crash has been remembered as 'remarkable' and 'highly respected'. Dean Neal, 32, had four passengers on board. His father Rodney Neal read out a statement on Friday afternoon describing his son as a 'conscientious, professional pilot [who] always put the safety and wellbeing of his passengers in the highest of his priorities'. 'Our broken hearts go to the family's and friends of those who were flying with him,' he said. 'Your unspeakable loss is understood by us all. We know Dean would have done anything in his power to deliver his passengers safely to their destination.' Mr Neal was working for Microflite Helicopter Services, a family-owned business based in Victoria that offers private flights and premium tours Mr Neal was working for Microflite Helicopter Services, a family-owned business based in Victoria that offers private flights and premium tours. Microflite executive general manager Rod Higgins said in a statement the pilot was 'highly respected'. 'The service had been travelling as part of a two-aircraft charter when it lost communication with the second aircraft just after 8am,' he said. He flew everywhere from Uluru in the Northern Territory to Hamilton Island in Queensland and has been a qualified pilot since 2016. Mr Neal was trained to provide specialist bushfire support from the skies and patrolled beaches on behalf of Surf Life Saving Victoria. He also flew news crews covering some of the nation's biggest stories. Paul Troja, the chairman of Radfords Abattoir in Warragul, was also killed when the helicopter crashed. Paul Troja, the chairman of Radfords Abattoir in Warragul, was killed when the helicopter he was riding in crashed at Mt Disappointment on Thursday Mr Neal was trained to provide specialist bushfire support from the skies and patrolled beaches on behalf of Surf Life Saving Victoria Mr Neal flew everywhere from Uluru in the Northern Territory to Hamilton Island in Queensland and has been a qualified pilot since 2016 The 73-year-old Albert Park man was well known within the agricultural industry. Radfords is a family owned business operating out of the West Gippsland region. Mr Troja and three others were viewing an agricultural property in Ulupna on the Victorian border when their helicopter crashed, killing them all, The Herald Sun reported. Avlaw Aviation consulting managing director Ron Bartsch said it was still too soon to determine the actual cause of the crash. Mr Bartsch said the helicopter flight operator Microflite had a near perfect safety record and there was only one possible explanation for the crash. 'The aircraft is a very common type of aircraft,' he told Channel Nine's Today on Friday. 'Six passenger aircraft, very reliable. Avlaw Aviation consulting managing director Ron Bartsch said it was still too soon to determine the actual cause of the crash at Mount Disappointment on Thursday A pilot and their four passengers, believed to be meat farmers, died after the aircraft crashed near the popular picnic grounds at Blair's Hut 'The company indeed has a very good safety record and is very well managed with new aircraft. 'Really at this stage, without speculating, weather is probably the main consideration at this stage.' Mount Disappointment recorded a high of 21C and winds of up to 36km/h. Controlled forestry burns were being carried out in the area while there was also low cloud coverage throughout the day. Mr Bartsch warned 'it may be some time' before investigators determined the exact cause of the crash. 'Unlike larger air transport aircraft, these aircrafts are not always fitted with blackboxes, flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder,' he said. 'I know the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is on the scene. Normally they will hand down a preliminary report in six to seven weeks.' The helicopter was one of two that left the Melbourne City Helipad on Thursday morning, flying in convoy over Mount Disappointment. Ambulance Victoria received a report of an incident at 9.35am that morning. Mr Bartsch said the other pilot was the best hope of understanding what happened to the doomed helicopter. A police helicopter and air ambulance were sent to search for the missing chopper but the terrain hampered their efforts until 11.45am on Thursday when the wreckage was finally located. Mr Bartsch warned 'it may be some time' before investigators determined the exact cause of the crash (pictured, a tree split in half near the crash site) A police helicopter, five Country Fire Authority vehicles and paramedics, including the air ambulance, were dispatched to the area on Thursday Mr Higgins said the incident was reported to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority as per industry protocols. 'We will work with the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident,' he said. The helicopter had picked up the meat farmers from Melbourne City Helipad before reportedly heading north to purchase cattle. The second helicopter returned to Morrabbin Airport safely with all onboard accounted for and uninjured. Smoke (pictured) from controlled forestry burns in the area and low cloud cover hampered initial search efforts on Thursday Five Country Fire Authority vehicles, police and paramedics, including the air ambulance, were on scene at the crash site of the downed helicopter on Thursday. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is also investigating and has sent a team from its Canberra and Melbourne offices with expertise in helicopter operations and maintenance, and aerospace engineering, to the site. The experts will inspect the wreckage and site surrounds before retrieving any relevant components to take them to Canberra for further examination. The ATSB will also analyse any recorded data and conduct interviews with those who have knowledge of the flight. A preliminary report from the watchdog is expected in about six to eight weeks. A senior fire chief who went to bed after hearing about the Manchester Arena bombing has been sacked following an internal investigation. Dave Keelan has been dismissed from his role as the Assistant County Fire Officer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS). It comes after the 130,000-a-year fire chief, who has been suspended since December, faced a disciplinary hearing following 'internal complaint'. His suspension came a week after a report concluded GMFRS remains unprepared to respond effectively to a terrorist attack, four years after the Arena bombing. It also came months after he apologised for the service's 'woeful' response to the 2017 Manchester terror attack, which killed 22 people and injured more than 1,000 others. However it is not believed that the dismissal is related to the Manchester Arena bombing. GMFRS would not specify details of the complaint or what it related to when asked by MailOnline. In a statement today a Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'GMFRS can confirm that following an investigation and disciplinary hearing, a senior member of staff has been dismissed from the organisation with immediate effect. 'This decision is subject to a right of appeal and therefore it wouldn't be appropriate to comment further at this stage.' Dave Keelan has been dismissed from his role as the Assistant County Fire Officer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS). It comes after the 130,000-a-year fire chief, who has been suspended since December, faced a disciplinary hearing following 'internal complaint' The inquiry heard that the first fire fighters entered the scene, pictured, at 12.49am on May 23, more than two hours after the bomb detonated Keelan, who until his suspension was in charge of the service's Operations team, had been under fire over the service's - and his own personal response - to the Manchester Arena bombing. Twenty-two people died and 1,017 people, mostly children, were injured, when Islamist terror attacker Salman Abedi detonated a suicide bomb at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017. GMFRS meanwhile came in for criticism after it was revealed that 'risk averse' fire bosses failed to send rescuers to the scene for more than two hours. Keelan himself issued a grovelling apology to the inquiry after it was revealed he had gone back to bed after hearing about the attack. He told the inquiry in July last year: 'I wanted to say to those who have lost loved ones, to all those who were injured and to those that were affected ... I apologise for our woeful and unacceptable response to that incident. 'We let you down when you needed us the most.' Mr Keelan had earlier told the inquiry hat he had been off duty when he returned home from dinner and saw events unfolding on the television. After several phone calls and messages with colleagues, he then went to bed - but not to sleep, he said. Mr Keelan said he was aware that, 'in essence' only, the chief fire officer, Peter O'Reilly, was on rota in a leadership role. He told the hearing: 'I knew at some point, either throughout that evening or into the early hours of the next day, I would have to take over the strategic responsibility for the organisation so I needed to make sure I was in a capable manner to do so. 'I didn't sleep, I rested. But I was occupied and conscious with other things at the time.' Paul Greaney QC, counsel to the inquiry, asked: 'So, insofar as any criticism has been levelled at you through other witnesses for the fact that you took some rest, that is a criticism that you would wholeheartedly reject?' Mr Keelan replied: 'Yes, sir. I needed to be ready for what I might I have to do later on that morning.' The inquiry heard how fire service commanders were so 'risk averse' they failed to send rescuers to the scene of the Manchester Arena bombing for more than two hours. Keelan himself issued a grovelling apology to the inquiry after it was revealed he had gone back to bed after hearing about the 2017 terror attack The inquiry has previously heard no-one from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service attended the Arena until more than two hours after the explosion Casualties had to be carried from the scene of the bombing on makeshift stretchers made from advertising hoardings and crowd control barriers because firefighters were held back at a fire station three miles away. An expert also concluded that there was no one in charge of the fire service response to the attack for an hour and 20 minutes after the blast. Meanwhile, Matthew Hall, a former deputy assistant commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, told the inquiry in October that Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) was 'risk averse rather than risk aware,' he said. He had also concluded that the approach of North West Fire Control (NWFC) to risk was 'not appropriate'. Mr Keelan agreed the fire service 'absolutely did' fail to fulfil that purpose on the night of May 22, 2017. But he went on to detail a raft of changes implemented by GMFRS after the atrocity - saying a single 'tri-service' control room - for police, the fire service and the ambulance service - instead of the current North West Fire Control in Warrington would be the 'gold standard' for Greater Manchester in the future. Keelan's hearing took place this week, heard by the Deputy Chief Fire Officer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Ben Norman. Mr Keelan has the right to appeal and should he choose to do so that would be held in mid April before Chief Fire Officer, Dave Russell. The decision to proceed to a full disciplinary hearing followed an investigation by a senior officer from the Tyne and Weir Fire Service who was commissioned by GMFRS to carry out an inquiry. Based at fire service HQ in Pendlebury, Mr Keelan was until recently responsible for Operations. This includes being in charge of fire engines, kit, and operational policy and procedure including the service's plans to deal with a terrorism attack, and multi-agency working at incident. His old job is now called Director of Service Support, but includes broadly the same responsibilities. In December a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has suspended a senior member of staff following an internal complaint. 'A full investigation is currently underway - it would not be appropriate to disclose further details at this time.' The 22 victims of the terror attack during the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena in May 2017. (top row left to right) Off-duty police officer Elaine McIver, 43, Saffie Roussos, 8, Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, Eilidh MacLeod, 14, (second row left to right) Nell Jones, 14, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, 15, Megan Hurley, 15, Georgina Callander, 18, (third row left to right), Chloe Rutherford,17, Liam Curry, 19, Courtney Boyle, 19, and Philip Tron, 32, (fourth row left to right) John Atkinson, 26, Martyn Hett, 29, Kelly Brewster, 32, Angelika Klis, 39, (fifth row left to right) Marcin Klis, 42, Michelle Kiss, 45, Alison Howe, 45, and Lisa Lees, 43 (fifth row left to right) Wendy Fawell, 50 and Jane Tweddle, 51 At his home in south Manchester, Mr Keelan, when asked last year if he would like to comment about his suspension, said: 'Not at the moment'. His suspension came a week a after a new report concluded Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service remains unprepared to respond effectively to a terrorist attack, four years after the Arena bombing. The organisation also needs to do more to protect the public, according to government inspectors. But the county's fire chief and deputy mayor have hit back insisting the service does have the capability to respond to a terrorist strike. Mr Keelan, according to the service's website, has overall responsibility for operational activity, and is responsible for operational policy and training, operational support, resilience and contingency planning and operational assurance and performance. Since he joined GMFRS he has worked as Head of Prevention, Head of Operational Training, as a borough manager and led a team investigating the tragic death of firefighter Stephen Hunt at an operational incident in Oldham Street Manchester in July 2013. He represents GMFRS on the Greater Manchester Resilience Forum, is the Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) North West Operations Resilience Committee and represents the North West on the National NFCC Operations Coordination Committee. The cost of living crisis will deepen for many households as energy bills are skyrocketing due to an increase in the price cap to almost 2,000. However, higher energy prices are not the only way households and businesses are set to feel the pinch. From the start of the month, a raft of tax rises and reductions in state pandemic support will increase costs for businesses and, ultimately, lead to higher prices for their customers. MailOnline readers have described how they will cope, including reducing mortgage payments, raiding savings and even growing their own food to make ends meet. Social media is awash with people reacting with shock to the cost of energy after a price explosion overnight Samantha Joseph, 49 Mrs Joseph, from Pitsea in Essex was astonished to receive this bill advising her that from today her annual electricity is set to rise by 1,193.31. The 49-year-old was sent a text message from her supplier Eon telling her that as of today, her estimated annual bill would rise from 2844.68 for the year ending yesterday, to 4037.99 for the year to 2023. Sam, who lives with son Tyler, 11, told MailOnline: Youd think from the amount theyre charging that we live in a mansion but theres just the two of us in a small terraced house and we are careful with our electricity use and use a smart meter as it is. The rise was so big it was shocking and I dont know how Im going to cope. Im not working currently after a bereavement and bills were already difficult. I had to get help from my mum recently to avoid getting into debt - and now this. Its a kick in the teeth. Ive now had to tell my sons that we need to save money on what weve been doing and thats going to mean turning the heating off and using much less hot water. But its hard to explain that to them especially when its snowing like it did yesterday. This just feels hard to cope with to be honest. How can they justify this? Her most recent monthly bill came in at 425.84. Winston Carrington, 70 The Manchester pensioner says he cannot pay his bills and pay for food. He said: 'I'm going to grow, and I'm going to fill my freezer this year with my own produce. I'm going to have to. I can't go away this year again, not because of Covid or anything. I just can't afford to go away. 'The state pension that we're getting at the moment does not cover what I need'. Sedra Badea, 32 Hospitality worker Sedra says her family can't cover their costs any more. She said: 'My hours fluctuate weekly and so my wage varies each month. I find that this can make it difficult to manage my money, and some months I don't have enough to cover my outgoings and have to dip into savings. 'The rise in living costs is worrying. At the moment, it's just me and my partner that we have to pay for but with bills and potentially rent all increasing, our money has to stretch even further. 'Months where we haven't worked many hours, or haven't been able to top it up with overtime, creates a perfect storm and we will really notice the difference. We're lucky that we have a bit of money in savings'. Jenny Blythe, 35 Ms Blythe, founder Storm in a Teacup Gifts, in North London, has warned she and others face a mental health crisis. She said: 'When I started my business seven years ago, I knew that it would be hard work and that I would face challenges. 'The impact the current crisis has had on my mental health is exponential. Having to decide whether to pay an invoice for marketing services or to stock my business or my gas bill was never something I thought I would do. 'I'd like to think I'm resilient, but I struggle now to plan ahead. My customers keep me going but it breaks my heart knowing that they're struggling too. It's time Sunak stepped up'. Vic Paterson, 47 The hypnotherapist and from Spalding, Lincolnshire, says extra layers of clothes are needed because she can't afford the heating. She said: 'I'm getting a 150 a month rise here and that's with already being in credit with the company. 'Our house is a cold house at the best of times, and I work from home, so rather than having the heating on its jumpers and an electric blanket. 'I'm going to watch the heating with this draughty house that has no double glazing with high ceilings'. Natalie Quail, 31 Natalie is CEO of oral care brand SmileTime in central London with warehouse in Wembley. She said: 'Our London based warehouse costs for heating are rapidly increasing after today as well as personal costs for heating our five-bedroom house in the countryside! Feeling it from both a personal and professional standpoint. 'We are from South America and like to keep warm. But we'll be keeping heating on a timer and switching heating off in the summer months. For our business we are looking at trying to do something similar but will have to negotiate that with the landlord (a company) as they have a say in how that's all managed'. Amber Leach, 40 The businesswoman from Plymouth, Devon, says they will have to reduce their mortgage payments to make ends meet, She said: 'We have a large four bed house plus an Airbnb in the basement apartment and it is very cold down there, so we need to have the heating on most of the time. 'The rise is going to cripple us financially. We have readjusted our finances and made our mortgage payments smaller to help with the monthly costs. We have also been saving the last few months Ive been paying extra into our energy suppliers'. Police are searching for two black sedans that drove away at high speeds Eleven bullets were fired into the car; sources say the family was not the intended targets and that the shooter was looking for a similar car They stopped to eat the Boston Market food they had picked up when the gunshots started His cousin Jenna Ellis, 20, was also shot but is expected to survive, while another relative, an eight-year-old girl, was unharmed Kade Lewin, 12, was sitting in a car with two relatives eating food when the bullets hit and killed him on Thursday night A 12-year-old boy who was shot dead while sitting in a parked car with family members in Brooklyn is being remembered for his love of video games, and for being a kind and quiet kid. Kade Lewin, 12, was shot in the head and chest with multiple bullets after he and two relatives pulled over to eat their Boston Market on East 56th Street and Linden Boulevard in East Flatbush at around 7:45 p.m. on Thursday. He was pronounced dead at the scene after the shooter fired 11 bullets into the Toyota Corolla. His cousin Jenna Ellis, 20, who was sitting in the driver's seat, was hit in the upper leg and right cheek. She was rushed to Kings County Hospital where she is expected to survive, but remains in critical condition. She had recently gotten her license and was driving Lewin's mother's car. Lewin and Ellis were reportedly very close and saw each other frequently. A younger female relative, eight, was sitting in the back seat and was uninjured. She said she was eating and looking at her phone when the violence begun. The little boy is now being remembered by the community as kind and quiet, and for his love of video games. The boy's barber, who also works with Lewin's mother at Faith Beauty Salon, said he was heartbroken to learn of the boy's passing. 'Ive been cutting his hair for the last three years. He was here three weeks ago,' the unidentified barber, 52, told the New York Post. 'He is a nice little boy intelligent, always well-groomed.' The barber also said little Lewin used to wear his hair in a mohawk. Another salon worker said: 'He is always right there with her good son, good boy. Its still bothering me. Its a kid. I have a 10-year-old boy They played Fortnite together online.' Both the female salon worker and the barber said they were fed up with gun violence. Kade Lewin, 12, was fatally shot in the head as he sat eating Boston Market in a parked car with two family members on Thursday night on East 56th Street and Linden Boulevard in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, around 7.45pm The child was shot in the head and chest. His cousin Jenna Ellis, 20, was shot in the cheek and upper leg while an and an eight-year-old girl was left uninjured. Ellis was taken to the Kings County Hospital and remains in critical condition She told the New York Post: 'The gun violence is too much. Its sad, you know, its sad. Its unreal. Only God can stop it. Who else?' The barber agreed, stating: 'That has to stop. Nobody is benefiting from it except Mr. Smith & Wesson the ones who make the gun. I saw a lot of police last night. I said its better to see a million police than one gunman.' The police called Lewin's killing 'senseless,' and said the boy and his 'church-going' family were not the intended targets of the shooting. 'Once again I'm standing here before you to brief you on another senseless shooting, this time a shooting involving the death of a 12-year-old child,' NYPD Assistant Chief Mike Kemper, commanding officer of Brooklyn South, said during a Thursday night press conference from the scene. Investigators believe the family was not targeted. A source told the New York Daily News that the gunman was targeting someone who drives a similar make and model car. Immediately after the shooting, two black sedans were reported to have fled the scene at high speeds. The NY Post reported a witness as saying: 'I heard eight shots and I would say within 20 seconds of the shots, I saw a car on the corner facing East New York Avenue and they almost got into an accident with oncoming traffic.' Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the force will use 'every possible resource' to find the shooter. 'We have a number of leads that we intend to follow up on [Friday] and when we have some information we will make sure we will put it out. 'We cannot lose sight of the fact that there are people being hurt in our streets. Theres violence affecting our communities, and it has to stop,' she added. Lewin's mother Suzette is hoping an arrest will be made soon and for justice to be brought for her son. 'Just justice,' she told the New York Daily News. 'Justice for my baby.' Investigators (pictured) do not believe the family was targeted and a source said the shooter was looking for a similar car A family friend recalled the moment he heard the news and called Suzette, telling the New York Daily News: 'Somebody called and asked if I heard what happened. They said: "Suzettes son got shot." I went home and tried to call her [to] tell her I heard what happened and she said: "They just killed my son like that." He was just a quiet kid and it hit me hard.' New York City Mayor Eric Adams was at the scene to decry the latest senseless death from gun violence in streets flooded with firearms and a 'revolving door system' of criminality, incarceration and bail. 'We've taken 48 guns off the street of this precinct this year, and 100 last year,' the mayor said. Adams had previously said that the Big Apple has become 'a laughingstock' in need of a 'wartime general' to tackle the ongoing problem amid its skyrocketing crime rates. Felony assaults and shootings have seen a rises of around 18 percent year over year, while rape and robbery have jumped 33 percent and 44 percent respectively, with murder holding steady and being the only crime not to see an increase. Overall crime in New York has risen a massive 47.7 percent from this time last year. Overall crime in the city is up more than 45 percent since the same period last year New York City workers said they were fed up with the rise in crime and homelessness in the city, according to a recent poll of more than 9,000 employees. Of those polled, 84 percent said conditions in the city have worsened in the last two years About 40 percent of those working in Manhattan wanted to move away due to rising crime (left) while 48 percent of those working in the other four boroughs agreed (right) In one of a number of examples of violent crime in recent weeks in New York, 40-year-old Deloitte executive Michelle Go was killed when a homeless ex-con pushed her in front of an oncoming train. The senseless murder by Simon Martial, 61, came before family members said the schizophrenic man should be kept in a mental hospital. A scientist who was pushed down a staircase and hit repeatedly with a hammer blamed bail reforms for the 'wave of horrors' inflicted on New York in recent weeks. Nina Rothschild, 58, said she still struggles to walk, is weary of strangers on the street and has no immediate plans to resume using New York City's crime-plagued subway system. Suspect William Blount, 57, was arrested days after the February 24 attack and charged with attempted murder, robbery and assault. It follows half a dozen prior arrests including charges of robbery and criminal possession of a controlled substance, prompting some to ask why Blount was out free in the first place. Adams said he wants to see changes in bail reform laws and other criminal justice measures, claiming they will bring down crime rates in the city and reduce gun violence. In February, Adams outlined his plans for city bail laws, which often allow for suspects to roam the streets sometimes within hours of an arrest. 'Let's remove the cash bail system, because one should not be able to get out of jail just because you can pay bail. Let's take that away. Judges should look at the case in front of them and say, 'This person has two gun arrests, and he's continually saying to the people of the city that I don't care about the safety of you,' the mayor said. 'That judge should have the right to make the discretion that this person just be held.' About 74 percent of respondents said that safety has gotten worse in the city since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, with 82 percent saying homelessness has also worsened In light of the rampant crime wave enveloping the city, New Yorkers working in Manhattan are so fed up that 40 percent said they want to leave the Empire State - with eight out of 10 people saying the Big Apple has gone to hell, according to a recent poll. The Morning Consult poll, conducted for Partnership for New York, surveyed 9,386 adults working in New York City from February 17 to March 11, with many voicing their frustration over the soaring crime and homelessness that has gripped the streets and subways. According to the poll, 74 percent of respondents said that safety has gotten worse in the city since the start of the pandemic lockdowns in March 2020, with 82 percent saying homelessness has also worsened. Overall, 84 percent of respondents said conditions in the city have gotten worse over the past two years, with more than half agreeing that conditions have greatly deteriorated. Advertisement Oscars producer Will Packer has spoken out about how Will Smith's slap of Chris Rock threw Sunday's ceremony into chaos, saying that Rock's composure rescued the show. 'It was like somebody poured concrete in that room,' Packer told Good Morning America of the moment Smith stunned the world by storming on stage and smacking Rock over an ad-libbed joke about the actor's wife. 'It sucked the life out of that room and it never came back,' he recalled, saying that the audience was left wondering, 'Is this real? How am I supposed to react?' Asked whether Rock saved the show with his composed reaction, Packer responded: 'I think he did. He certainly saved what was left of that night.' 'Because Chris handled the moment with such grace and aplomb, it allowed the show to go on,' said Packer. Following conflicting accounts about the aftermath of the slap, Packer also confirmed that Academy officials had indeed asked Smith to leave the ceremony, and were considering removing him physically, an option that Packer says he successfully lobbied against. Packer said that his co-producer Shayla Cowan informed him that Academy officials 'were about to physically remove Will Smith.' 'I had not been a part of those conversations, and so I immediately went to the Academy leadership that was on site and I said, 'Chris Rock does not want that. Rock has made it clear that he does not want to make a bad situation worse',' said Packer. 'I was advocating what Rock wanted in that time, which was not to physically remove Will Smith at that time. Because as it has now been explained to me, that was the only option,' he said. 'There was a conversation, that I was not a part of, to ask him to voluntarily leave.' However, a source close to Rock told TMZ denied that the comedian was ever asked about removing Smith from the theater. 'Chris told Packer 'I'm not pressing charges. All I want to do is leave.' He was never asked if he wanted Will removed. This is the Academy covering itself.' Oscars producer Will Packer has spoken out about how Will Smith's slap of Chris Rock threw Sunday's ceremony into chaos, saying that Rock's composure rescued the show Chris Rock (seen Thursday night) saved the Oscars with his composed reaction to being slapped, Packer says Rock, seen on Thursday, has been performing to sold-out crowds in Boston, but has not spoke at length about the incident Will Smith is battling to save his career after he slapped Chris Rock (pictured) during the Oscars on Sunday night. The actor is reportedly writing to the Academy to plead his case ahead of his upcoming hearing on April 18 Smith was widely expected to win the Best Actor award, which he did. Packer says that Smith's failure to use his acceptance speech to apologize to Rock was a missed opportunity. 'I think many of us were hoping that he would go on that stage and make it better,' said Packer. 'It couldn't have been made right in that moment, because of what happened.' 'But I think that we were hoping that he would make it better, that he would stand on that stage and say that what just happened minutes ago was absolutely and completely wrong. 'Chris Rock, I'm so sorry please forgive me.' That's what I was hoping,' said Packer. 'I felt like he was going to win, and I was hoping if he stayed, he'd have said that,' said Packer. Instead, Smith delivered a speech that was defiant, casting himself as a proud protector of his family, while apologizing to the Academy and his fellow nominees, but not to Rock. Packer also said police told Rock they would remove Smith from the audience and arrest him for battery. 'We will go get him, we are prepared to get him right now,' the cops said to Rock, Packer recalled. 'You can press charges. We can arrest him.' Packer claimed Rock was dismissive towards police, but he encouraged the comedian to hear them out before making a decision. 'They were laying out the options, and as they were talking, Chris was being very dismissive of those options. He was like, 'No, I'm fine.' He was like, 'No, no, no,'' the producer said. Ultimately, Rock declined to press charges, however police said in a statement Sunday 'if the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.' EXCLUSIVE: #Oscars producer Will Packer tells Good Morning America about the frenetic aftermath of actor Will Smith slapping host Chris Rock live on stage on Hollywoods biggest night. https://t.co/AeoYcGkM32 pic.twitter.com/8z35t8TPFw Good Morning America (@GMA) April 1, 2022 Los Angeles police were prepared to arrest Will Smith after he slapped Chris Rock during the Academy Awards on Sunday night, but didn't at the request of the comedian, Oscars producer Will Packer claims Packer said that Rock 'handled the moment with such grace and aplomb' and salvaged what was left of the show However, Smith - who was presented with his first Academy Award after the onstage attack - will face 'disciplinary proceedings' with Oscars officials that could result in suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions. 'Consistent with the Academy's Standards of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith is being provided at least 15 days' notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions, and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response,' the Academy said in a statement Wednesday. A source close to the actor confirmed to The Sun that Smith and his lawyers are writing to the Academy to plead his case ahead of his upcoming hearing on April 18. 'Things are hanging in the balance. He will write an official letter to apologize, and effectively beg for their forgiveness,' the source said. 'He is also expected to hold a call with show bosses in the next 24 hours. April 18 is D-Day, though he will find out if he still has an Oscar, and quite possibly, a career.' Packer's interview comes as insiders claimed Rock, 57, was never asked if Smith should be removed from the ceremony after the attack. 'No one ever asked Chris if Will should leave. They never consulted him. It was the Oscars producer Will Packer who made the final decision to let Will stay,' an insider told The New York Post. The witnesses claim Packer walked up to the actor and said: 'We do not want you to leave.' Other insiders echoed the claim, alleging the producer was 'the key' to Smith being permitted to stay for the remainder of the show. 'Packer walked out into the orchestra and conferred with Smith,' two witnesses confirmed to Variety. 'Packer said that he and the production 'officially' wanted Smith to stay for the remainder of the show, according to one of the witnesses.' Despite the allegations, Packer told GMA he he did not directly speak with Smith at the Oscars. Reports also initially claimed that Oscars president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson asked the Independence Day actor to leave the ceremony after the emotional outburst. But sources who allegedly witnessed discussions amongst Academy leaders claim there was never any attempt to remove Smith from the ceremony. Officials were reportedly split on whether or not to remove the star and although there were many heated discussions during commercial breaks, a consensus was never reached, TMZ reported. Chris Rock briefly addressed this weekend's Oscars slap during a show at Boston's Wilbur Theatre on Wednesday before moving on to his regular set News of potential disciplinary action against Smith comes as insiders revealed Rock (pictured in Boston on Wednesday) was never asked if the actor should be removed from the ceremony after the attack Smith met with Oscars leaders on Tuesday to discuss the fallout from the attack, Variety reported. People familiar with the meeting claim Rubin and Hudson talked to Smith on Zoom for roughly 30 minutes. One source alleged Smith apologized to the Academy leaders for his actions and expressed he was aware that there would be consequences. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum also attempted to justify why he snapped at Rock's joke towards his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, the insider claimed. However, attendees at Wednesday's emergency meeting of the Academy's Board of Governors told the magazine they did not recall Rubin or Hudson mentioning the alleged discussion with Smith. Following the emergency board meeting, the Academy announced Smith had violated the group's code of conduct and faced 'suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions.' The disciplinary actions could include a possible year-long ban from the Oscars, which would prevent Smith from being nominated for awards. 'They really feel they have to be seen to act,' an insider said of the Academy, according to The Sun. 'It's no wonder Will is seeking legal advice he's likely to need all the help he can get to avoid sanctions.' Sources familiar with the situation also claim the fate of his upcoming projects, including the Apple-funded slave escape drama Emancipation, remains in question. 'Production executives and studio chiefs do not want to be seen picking a side too early,' the insider said, noting that Smith is expected to return for a fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise although no start date has been set yet. In fact, sources the claim Academy never asked the actor to vacate the premise, despite many leaders feeling he should. Insiders allege the decision to let Smith stay was ultimately made by producer Will Packer (pictured backstage during Sunday's Oscars ceremony) who reportedly walked up to the actor and said: 'We do not want you to leave' A source close to Packer (pictured backstage with Venus Williams) has denied that he encouraged Smith to remain in the audience The Academy's statement in full The Board of Governors today initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy's Standards of Conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy. Consistent with the Academy's Standards of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith is being provided at least 15 days' notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response. At the next board meeting on April 18, the Academy may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct. Mr. Smith's actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television. Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event. Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated. While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently. Advertisement The 53-year-old actor marched onto the Oscars stage on Sunday and hit Rock, after the comedian told a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock's wisecrack was targeted at Pinkett Smith's buzzcut, a style she has embraced in wake of her alopecia diagnosis. 'Jada, I love you. 'G.I. Jane 2,' can't wait to see it,' Rock said to Pinkett Smith, whose close-shaven head looked similar to Demi Moore's in the 1997 movie, during his presentation of the award for best documentary. Whether Rock was aware that Pinkett Smith suffered from a hair-loss condition is unknown, but Smith reacted with the smack and an angry warning 'to keep my wife's name out your f***ing mouth!' Shortly after, Smith was announced as the winner of the best actor award and went up to collect his statuette to a standing ovation from many of his peers. In his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - whose members vote for the awards, and who stages the ceremony - but stopped short of apologizing to Rock. Smith initially laughed off the attack, writing on Instagram on Sunday evening: 'You can't invite people from Philly or Baltimore nowhere!!' Yet as the gravity of the situation became clear, Smith then posted a public apology to Instagram 24 hours after the ceremony, saying he wanted to say sorry formally to Rock. He said his behavior was 'unacceptable and inexcusable' and left him 'embarrassed'. 'I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,' he wrote. 'I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.' Pinkett Smith's first public comment came in an Instagram post Tuesday in which she said: 'This is a season for healing and I'm here for it.' Chris Rock looks shocked during the Oscars Sunday after Smith came onstage and slapped him for making a remark about Jada Pinkett Smith's haircut As evidenced by her unamused expression, Pinkett Smith did not appreciate the joke On Wednesday, the Academy announced it had launched 'disciplinary procedures' against Smith and alleged he ignored their request for him to leave his seat. They also apologized to Rock. Two sources told TMZ Rubin and Hudson were 'furious' at Smith, and there was plenty of 'yelling' and 'heated conversations' backstage with his reps after the incident. One source said the Academy officials were 'apoplectic.' 'The Board of Governors today initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy's Standards of Conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy,' their statement said. 'Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, [but] we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.' Smith will receive 15 days notice of a vote as well as an opportunity to be heard by written response. At the next board meeting - scheduled for April 18 - the Academy may take action that could include 'suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.' Chris Rock stopped his fans from cursing out Will Smith during his comedy show in Boston Thursday night Smith brushed off a tumultuous night by partying to celebrate the greatest achievement of his career: Best Actor at the Oscars Initial reports claimed Dawn Hudson (left), the CEO of the Academy, asked Smith to leave, along with David Rubin, the president (right). However, people who witnessed discussions amongst Academy leaders claim there was never any attempt to remove Smith from the ceremony Rock, who held a show in Boston on Thursday, stopped his fans from cursing out Smith. 'F**k Will Smith!' a fan shouted, likely in an attempt to show support for Rock. 'No, no, no, no, no...' the comedian replied, according to People, putting an end to the verbal attacks. The night before, during his first public appearance since being slapped, Rock was also met with 'Will Smith' chants from the audience, however he did not engage with them. The comedian did briefly address the slap during the show, noting that he still needs time to 'process' the assault. The comic took to the stage at the Wilbur Theatre and asked: 'How was your weekend?' The rhetorical question got a big laugh from the crowd, which occasionally heckled the Emmy-winning comedian about Smith's on-screen strike. But Rock warned those at the sold-out venue that the show would go on as planned. 'I don't have like a bunch of s*** to say about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I had like a whole show I wrote before... this weekend...' he said to more laughs. 'And I'm still kind of processing what happened. 'So at some time I'll talk about that s***... and it'll be serious. It'll be funny,' he said before an audience member shouted, 'F*** Will!' 'I'm gonna tell some jokes,' Rock concluded, before later clarifying to the crowd: 'I haven't talked to anyone, despite what you heard,' referencing rumors that Rock and Smith had made amends. But some of the 3,000 fans in the audience - who paid up to $1,000 per ticket - are disappointed that the stand-up comedian avoided the topic on everyone's mind. 'We want our money back, I didn't pay $400 to see nothing,' one person told Fox News. Advertisement Downing Street officials who attended a boozy leaving do while indoor events were banned due to Covid have begun receiving 50 fines over the lockdown-busting party. The first fixed penalty noticed from police probing the Partygate saga arrived via email to those found to have broken the law. They relate to a party in June 2020, understood to be a leaving do for an aide, Hannah Young, who was leaving Downing Street for a Government role in the US. No ministers are believed to have been in attendance. The Sue Gray report said the boozy send-off took place in the Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall at a time when gatherings indoors were not allowed. Among those reported to have attended the 'raucous' gathering was Sir Mark Sedwill, the former cabinet Secretary. He is said to have 'briefly attended' the event where wine was being served. But the FT reported today that he is not among those who have been fined. It comes as Boris Johnson continues to stubbornly refused to admit that lockdown laws were broken in Downing Street despite Partygate police admitting they were handing out 20 fines in an initial tranche. In a toe-curling appearance before the Commons Liaison Committee on Wednesday, the PM repeatedly blanked questions about whether the rules had been breached. Under fire from senior MPs, he insisted: 'I been very clear I won't give a running commentary on an ongoing investigation.' Labour leader and former director of public prosecutions Sir Keir Starmer said the fines mean 'we now know there was widespread criminality'. According to ITV and Sky News they relate a party in June 2020, understood to be a leaving do for an aide, Hannah Young, who was leaving Downing Street for a Government role in the US. It comes as Boris Johnson (pictured with Ms Young in New York) continues to stubbornly refused to admit that lockdown laws were broken in Downing Street despite Partygate police admitting they were handing out 20 fines in an initial tranche. The Sue Gray report said the booze send-off took place in the Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall at a time when gatherings indoors were not allowed. Labour leader and former director of public prosecutions Sir Keir Starmer said the fines mean 'we now know there was widespread criminality'. Policing Minister Kit Malthouse this morning appeared to back the view of two Cabinet colleagues in stating that the issuing of partygate fines is evidence that police believe the law was broken in Number 10 Among those reported to have attended the 'raucous' gathering was Sir Mark Sedwill, the former cabinet Secretary. He is said to have 'briefly attended' the event where wine was being served. But the FT reported today that he is not among those who have been fined. Pictured: Boris Johnson and staff pictured with wine in Downing Street garden in May 2020 - although this incident is not believed to be under investigation by police Hannah Young: Sporty football fan who swapped SW1 for NYC Hannah Young is the UK diplomat whose leaving party has led to the first Partygate fines being handed out. Raised in Watford she is the acting consul general in New York, a posting she took up in 2020. The move across the Atlantic was the reason for the gathering at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall on June 18, 2020, as outlined in the Sue Gray report. On her social media she described herself as a 'working mum with a Watford FC passion'. Raised in the town she is a career civil servant and diplomat who spent three years in Afghanistan during the conflict, working with its police force. She worked at the former Department for Exiting the EU, as a senior advisor in the Prime Ministers Delivery Unit and in Cabinet Office roles on migration and intelligence policy before becoming a No10 adviser on home affairs policy. It is this last role she was leaving when the party took place. After arriving in New York she gave a sports-themed interview to a local website about her love of football. 'When I went to university in London I joined the womens football team and one of my proudest moments was playing a match at the same training ground as Watford FC, the club I support,' she said, 'I liked the sense of being part of a team and the feeling and reward - of being able to contribute to something bigger than myself.' Advertisement The Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday that investigators were referring 20 notices to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which is responsible for issuing the penalties. They made it clear that more fines may be issued as inquiries continue. And the Tory policing minister this morning appeared to back the view of two Cabinet colleagues in stating that the issuing of partygate fines is evidence that police believe the law was broken in Number 10. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab and International Trade Secretary Anne Marie Trevelyan both accepted this week that coronavirus rules had been breached. And speaking earlier, Kit Malthouse said it is fair to say a fixed-penalty notice (FPN) signals police feel an unlawful act has been committed. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Malthouse said: 'A fixed-penalty notice means police have a reasonable belief that you've broken the law - you still have a right to challenge it if you want. 'Having said that, the police practice is not routinely to release the names of those who receive fixed penalties, and I don't see why that rule should be waived for those people who may or may not be in receipt of it in Downing Street.' Mr Malthouse, who attends Cabinet, said he has not personally received a fine in relation to the Scotland Yard probe, and he would declare it if he did. The close ally of Boris Johnson acknowledged that while police do not routinely name those who are issued with fines, the situation is 'different' for politicians. 'If I got a fixed-penalty notice, I would tell you,' he told LBC. It comes after Mr Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, said Government ministers will 'inevitably' have to disclose it if they are fined. No 10 has so far only promised to confirm if Mr Johnson or Cabinet Secretary Simon Case are given a fixed-penalty notice. Mr Malthouse was asked on LBC whether, as someone who has known the Prime Minister for two decades and who previously served as one of his deputy mayors in London, Mr Johnson is likely to confirm if he received a fine. Mr Malthouse replied: 'It is a hypothetical question, but I think if he did, he probably would, yes.' Officers involved with Operation Hillman, which is examining whether Covid restrictions were broken in Downing Street and across Whitehall, sent formal questionnaires to approximately 50 people as they look into the details of alleged Covid rule-breaking. Cabinet Office official Sue Gray carried out a probe into claims of lockdown breaches at the top of Government but has only published an interim report while she waits for the police investigation to be completed. Out of 16 events Ms Gray reviewed, police are investigating 12 of them, including as many as six that the Prime Minister is reported to have attended. Question Time audience openly mocks Tory MP Maria Caulfield for claiming Boris Johnson 'genuinely didn't believe there was wrongdoing' over Partygate A Conservative MP was openly mocked by the audience on Question Time last night after she claimed that Boris Johnson 'genuinely didn't believe there was wrongdoing' over Partygate. Maria Caulfield, 48, the Tory MP for Lewes, was asked if the Prime Minister misled Parliament over parties at No 10 during lockdown and whether he should resign. In response, she said: 'He genuinely did not believe that there was any wrongdoing.' Her words triggered laughter from the crowd, which drowned out the rest of her answer. Victoria Derbyshire, stepping in for Fiona Bruce as host, asked the MP: 'When people laugh when you say he said he didn't believe he was at a party, what does that make you think? Ms Caulfield responded: 'As I've said, I fully understand the anger and frustration. Ms Derbyshire shot back: 'That was laughter, that was ridicule. They don't believe him.' The MP went on to say: 'I think misleading Parliament, you have to be found guilty of that, it has to be a deliberate misleading, not inadvertently. 'I think Boris Johnson has been very clear that there were wrongdoings around the partygate situation. 'He has apologised for that, he has made changes already to Number 10 and can I just say, as someone who did work on Covid wards during the pandemic no one is more angry about the events that took place in Number 10, because while many of us were working on the wards, we were not having social gatherings after work, so I fully understand the anger, the frustration at what has happened.' Advertisement Mr Johnson is believed to have attended as many as six of the parties being investigating by the Metropolitan Police. One such party was allegedly organised by Carrie Johnson in the official Downing Street residence on November 13, 2020. Another was the 'bring your own booze' garden which took place during the first lockdown in May 2020. During his appearance at the Liaison Committee on Wednesday, the PM told senior MPs he was 'sure you would know' if he had been fined as part of this week's FPNs. Opposition leader Sir Keir has called for the Prime Minister's wife, Carrie Johnson, to be named if she receives a monetary penalty in relation to the review of claims of lockdown parties in Downing Street. Sir Keir told Sky News he agrees with the 'general argument' that families of MPs should not be dragged into political rows. But he added: 'There's a huge difference between the situation of the wife of the Prime Minister breaking the rules made by the Prime Minister and any other situation.' When asked if he agrees Mrs Johnson should publicly declare any possible punishment, Mr Malthouse said that is a matter for her. Sir Keir, speaking later during a visit to Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, said it is 'very important' that the country knows which senior staff receive fines. 'I'm not so concerned about some junior members of staff, but I am concerned about those in and around the Prime Minister who made the rules and then allowed the rules to be broken in their own workplaces, in Downing Street,' he said. 'In Downing Street, of all places, there was widespread criminality and breaking of the rules that applied to everybody else.' Downing Street has committed to revealing if either Mr Johnson or Cabinet Secretary Simon Case received a fine as part of the investigation. Mr Johnson - who is waiting to find out whether he personally will get a fixed penalty notice - also suggested when confronted by MPs that he will not speak about the issue until after a report by top civil servant Sue Gray is published, rather than when the police conclude their probe. During the Wednesday hearing, SNP MP Pete Wishart asked Mr Johnson to accept that 'there has been criminality committed'. He replied: 'I have been, I hope, very frank with the House about where I think we have gone wrong and the things that I regret, that I apologise for. 'But there is an ongoing investigation... I am going to camp pretty firmly on my position.' Making clear he had not yet received a fine, Mr Johnson said: 'I have been several times to the House to talk about this and to explain and to apologise and to set out the things that we are doing to change the way things run in No 10. 'But what I also said repeatedly... I won't give a running commentary on an investigation that is under way.' He said he understood that people would be 'naturally curious' about the situation but 'it would be wrong of me to deviate from that'. Mr Johnson added: 'I think you are going to have to hold your horses and wait until the conclusion of the investigation, when there will be a lot more clarity.' And on Tuesday the PM delivered a string of jokes about Tory efforts to oust him over Partygate as he hosted a lavish team-building dinner. The PM entertained his MPs for a meal at a luxury central London hotel hours after Scotland Yard announced the first 20 fines for Partygate lockdown breaches were coming. Mr Johnson is said to have quipped that no-confidence letters are 'elastic they go in and you can pull them out'. He also admitted he is 'more popular in parts of Kyiv than in parts of Kensington' but vowed to 'turn it round'. The premier's improved position after the Ukraine crisis erupted was underlined by the warm reception he received from the massed ranks of Tory MPs. But as they arrived Conservatives were heckled by bereaved families of Covid victims shouting 'off to another party are we?' Timeline: The Downing Street parties being probed by the police Boris Johnson has received a questionnaire from police investigating allegations of lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street. The Prime Minister may have attended as many as six events that are being looked into by police, according to reports. A 'bring your own booze party' attended by Mr Johnson during the first Covid lockdown and a gathering to mark his birthday are among 12 parties being investigated. Further details have since been reported, suggesting the Conservative Party leader was seen heading to a party in his No 11 residence on the night his former senior aide Dominic Cummings departed, and that he briefly attended a leaving do for one of his former defence advisers. The 12 parties being investigated by the Metropolitan Police are: - May 20 2020: Bring Your Own Booze party: A leaked email from the Prime Minister's principal private secretary Martin Reynolds showed No 10 staff were invited to 'bring your own booze' to an event in the Downing Street garden. Mr Johnson has admitted he was there for 25 minutes, but said he thought it was a 'work event' to thank staff for their efforts during the pandemic. - June 18 2020: Cabinet Office leaving do: Senior civil servant Sue Gray's interim report said a gathering in the 70 Whitehall building was held to mark the departure of a No 10 private secretary. The event had not previously been disclosed but The Telegraph said the official in question is former home affairs policy adviser Hannah Young, who left Downing Street to take up the role of deputy consul general in New York. The newspaper said it understood about 20 people attended, with alcohol consumed. - June 19 2020: Boris Johnson's 56th birthday: Downing Street has admitted staff 'gathered briefly' in the Cabinet Room in what was reportedly a surprise get-together for the Prime Minister organised by his now wife Carrie. The PA news agency was told Lulu Lytle, the interior designer behind lavish renovations of the Downing Street flat, briefly attended while undertaking work there. However, No 10 has denied a report that, later the same evening, family and friends were hosted upstairs to celebrate the occasion. - November 13 2020: Downing Street flat do: Mrs Johnson reportedly hosted parties in the official flat over No 11 where she and Mr Johnson live, including one event on November 13, the night of Dominic Cummings' acrimonious departure. A spokesman for the Prime Minister's wife called the claim 'total nonsense'. But reports have since suggested that the Prime Minister was seen heading up to the flat on the night in question, with the Mail On Sunday stating that Abba songs, including The Winner Takes It All, were heard coming from the residence. Mr Cummings, former de facto chief-of-staff at No 10, has alleged there are photographs of parties held at the flat during lockdown and said he has spoken to people who heard music coming from the Johnsons' accommodation on the night he exited Downing Street. - November 13 2020: Leaving party for senior aide: According to reports at the time, Mr Johnson gave a leaving speech for Lee Cain, his departing director of communications and a close ally of Mr Cummings. - December 17 2020: Cabinet Office 'Christmas party': The Cabinet Secretary Simon Case removed himself from the inquiry into Whitehall parties - to be replaced by Ms Gray - after reports emerged of a gathering in the Cabinet Office. It was reported the do had been organised by a private secretary in Mr Case's team, and that it was included in digital calendars as: 'Christmas party!' and included an online quiz. The Cabinet Office said Mr Case played no part in the event 'but walked through the team's office on the way to his own'. - December 17 2020: Leaving drinks for former Covid Taskforce head: The former director-general of the Government's Covid Taskforce Kate Josephs said she was 'truly sorry' over leaving drinks held in the Cabinet Office. - December 17 2020: No 10 leaving do: A leaving do was held for a departing Downing Street official. The Telegraph reported that the staff member in question is Captain Steve Higham, then one of Mr Johnson's private secretaries, who advised on defence and national security issues. The Mirror, which first reported the event before the police investigation began, said Mr Johnson was only there 'for a few minutes'. Capt Higham became Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in July 2021. - December 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party: Officials and advisers reportedly made speeches, enjoyed a cheese board, drank together and exchanged Secret Santa gifts, although the Prime Minister is not thought to have attended. Mr Johnson's spokeswoman Allegra Stratton resigned after video emerged of her joking about a 'fictional party' at a mock press conference. - January 14 2021: More Downing Street leaving drinks: A gathering was held in No 10 to mark the departure of two private secretaries. Reports have suggested the Prime Minister attended the leaving event, which was for a senior civil servant in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, according to The Telegraph. The other official's identity is so far unknown. - April 16 2021: Leaving drinks on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral: The night before the Queen sat alone at the funeral of her husband of almost 70 years, in compliance with Covid rules at the time, two leaving dos were reportedly held in No 10. Downing Street apologised to Buckingham Palace after reported details emerged of boozy drinks parties, including one for outgoing communications director James Slack. Events not subject to police investigation: - May 15 2020: Cheese and wine in the No 10 garden: A photograph emerged of a number of groups gathered in the No 10 garden, including Mr Johnson, Mrs Johnson, Mr Cummings and Mr Reynolds sitting together on the terrace. - November 27 2020: Another special adviser leaves: Mr Johnson reportedly gave a leaving speech at a gathering for Cleo Watson, another ally of Mr Cummings. - December 10 2020: Department for Education Christmas drinks: Then education secretary Gavin Williamson reportedly threw a party and delivered a short speech at his department's Whitehall headquarters. - December 15 2020: An online Christmas quiz in No 10: The Prime Minister appeared on contestants' screens at the quiz but insisted he broke no rules. Advertisement Keir Starmer says Carrie Johnson MUST be named if she is fined over Partygate probe (but insists families shouldn't be dragged into politics when asked about his own wife) Keir Starmer has today defended his calls for Boris Johnson's wife Carrie to be named if she receives a 'Partygate' fine. The Labour leader yesterday demanded the public be told if The Prime Minister's wife receives a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) as part of Scotland Yard's probe into alleged Downing Street parties during the Covid pandemic. His comments came after the Met Police revealed this week they had issued the first batch of 'Partygate' fines relating to the alleged Covid rule breaches. But the force said it would not be naming the recipients of the 20 fines - citing its usual policy of not naming those handed Fixed Penalty Notices. No 10 has proactively said it will reveal whether the Prime Minister or the cabinet secretary, Simon Case, have received a fine. However Sir Keir said Downing Street should also reveal if Mrs Johnson, who is alleged to have organised at least one of the 'parties', is among those fined. Today Sir Keir said he agreed the families of politicians should 'not be brought into political arguments. But he defended his party's decision to scrutinise the wife of the Prime Minister in this particular instance. Asked on Sky News if, by calling for Mrs Johnson to be named if among the list of fines handed out for Partygate that the public was entitled to know if his own wife would need to disclose future parking fines, Sir Keir said: 'There's a huge difference between the situation of the wife of the Prime Minister breaking the rules made by the Prime Minister and any other situation. 'I'm not focusing on Carrie here. I actually do agree with the general argument that the families of politicians shouldn't be dragged in.' Sir Keir Starmer has today defended Labour's public scrutiny of the wives of Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, after calling for Carrie Johnson to be named if she receives a 'Partygate' fine The Labour leader yesterday demanded the public must be told if Mrs Johnson (pictured) receives a Fixed Penalty Notice as part of the Met Police's ongoing probe into alleged parties at Downing Street during the Covid pandemic Yesterday Sir Keir said Mrs Johnson (pictured here with Boris Johnson at the 2019 Tory party conference) should be named by No 10 if she receives a fine. 'If Carrie Johnson gets a fixed-penalty notice, then of course it should be made public,' he told broadcasters on Thursday It comes after Labour chiefs urged Rishi Sunak to answer questions about his wife Akshata Murthy's 0.91 per cent stake in Infosys - a consultancy firm her father founded - over claims the company is still operating in Russia. Yesterday, in a rare intervention regarding his private life, the Chancellor hit back over the criticism of his wife's family business, describing Labour's claims as 'very upsetting' and saying it was 'wrong for people to try and come at my wife'. Asked about Labour's comments about Mr Sunak's wife, Sir Keir replied: 'Well Rishi Sunak's wife, again, I do agree with the general proposition that family members shouldn't be brought into political argument. 'But so far as the Chancellor's wife is concerned, this is just a fundamental question of principle here, which is 'Is her household benefiting from money made in Russia when the Government has put in place sanctions?'. That is in the public interest to have an answer. 'I'm not attacking their family, I don't agree with that way of doing politics. But what I do want to know is, is the Chancellor's household benefitting from money from a company that has invested in Russia, when the Government, quite rightly, that nobody should be doing that and sanctions should be doing that? 'We should, particularly in the dreadful situation in Ukraine, frankly, be doing every thing we can, not only to make life more difficult in Russia but to cripple their ability to function. 'It's not a personal attack, I don't agree with that, but I would have though the Chancellor would want to come clean on this and say actually 'I can be very very clear that my household doesn't benefit from money made in Russia'. 'It would actually benefit his wife if he just answered that question.' It comes as one of Mr Johnson's ministers yesterday said the Prime Minister would probably declare whether he had been issued with a fine as a result of the police probe into alleged Downing Street parties, one of his ministers has said. Kit Malthouse, who served as a deputy mayor of London when Boris Johnson was in City Hall, was asked, as someone who knows the Prime Minister well, whether he was likely to confirm if he had received a fine. The crime and policing minister told LBC: 'It is a hypothetical question, but I think if he did, he probably would, yes.' Asked whether the Mr Johnson's wife, Carrie, was likely to do the same, Mr Malthouse replied: 'You'd have to ask her.' Mr Malthouse said he felt the situation on FPNs was different for elected officials than it was for others being investigated as part of the partygate allegations. 'From a personal point of view as a politician, I think I'm in a different situation - if I got a Fixed Penalty Notice, I would tell you,' he added. However he said that he did not see a reason to break from the routine practice that those issued with fixed penalty notices are not named by officers. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the Home Office minister said: 'A fixed penalty notice means police have a reasonable belief that you've broken the law - you still have a right to challenge it if you want. 'Having said that, the police practice is not routinely to release the names of those who receive fixed penalties, and I don't see why that rule should be waived for those people who may or may not be in receipt of it in Downing Street.' It comes as Sir Keir yesterday called for it to be made public if Mrs Johnson receives a fine over 'Partygate'. The call for scrutiny came after Labour chiefs urged Rishi Sunak to answer questions about his wife Akshata Murthy's (pictured here with the Chancellor) minority stake in Infosys - a consultancy firm her father founded - over claims the firm is still operating in Russia Kit Malthouse (pictured), who served as a deputy mayor of London when Boris Johnson was in City Hall, was asked, as someone who knows the Prime Minister well, whether he was likely to confirm if he had received a fine The Metropolitan police announced this week that it would issue 20 fixed-penalty notices as a result of its investigation into 12 gatherings held in Downing Street while Covid restrictions were in place. But the force controversially said it would not name those involved - in line with its usual policy over Fixed Penalty Notices. No 10 has proactively said it will reveal whether the prime minister or the cabinet secretary, Simon Case, have received fines. But it has suggested other individuals will not be named. Carrie Johnson is alleged to have held one of the 'parties' in the Downing Street flat. It is also alleged that the organised a birthday gathering for the Prime Minister, in which it was claimed he was 'ambushed by cake'. Yesterday Sir Keir said Mrs Johnson should be named by No 10 if she receives a fine. 'If Carrie Johnson gets a fixed-penalty notice, then of course it should be made public,' he told broadcasters on Thursday. 'My focus is on the prime minister because he is the one who sets the culture, he is the one who oversaw this criminality at his home and his office, he is the one that came to parliament and said all rules were complied with, which is clearly not the case.' Mr Johnson is under increasing pressure after he stubbornly refused to admit that lockdown laws were broken in Downing Street despite the Met handing out 20 fines earlier this week. In a toe-curling appearance before the Commons Liaison Committee, the PM repeatedly blanked questions about whether the rules had been breached. Under fire from senior MPs, he insisted: 'I been very clear I won't give a running commentary on an ongoing investigation.' Mr Johnson - who is waiting to find out whether he personally will get a fixed penalty notice - also suggested that he will not speak about the issue until after a report by top civil servant Sue Gray is published, rather than when the police conclude their probe. Downing Street stuck doggedly to the same stance when pressed by journalists yesterday, despite acknowledging the 'facts are not in dispute'. 'We have been clear that mistakes were made, the Prime Minister believes it is right to respond once the full facts are known, once the investigation has concluded.' However, Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan admitted that police issuing a first batch of 20 fines meant lockdown laws had been broken. The comments, in a round of interviews yesterday morning, echoed the views voiced by Dominic Raab but came despite the PM stubbornly refusing to concede the point. Ms Trevelyan told Sky News: 'I think if you or I get a fine, we hopefully pay it and move on from there. And I hope, and I assume, that those who have been fined by the police will pay their fines and that will be the punishment that they have accepted.' Pressed on whether 20 fines being issued meant there were 20 instances the law being broken, she said: 'Well, that's right. They've broken the regulations that were set in the Covid Act, and police deem that that was what they did and therefore they've been fined accordingly.' Asked why the PM would not say this, she said: 'Because, as I say, he wants to wait until the whole process of the police review has been done.' Scotland Yard announced on Tuesday that is issuing the first tranche of fixed penalty notices to people who attended 'Partygate' events. But the force warned that its investigation still has some distance to run, saying there is a 'significant' amount of material yet to be assessed. Mr Johnson was not among the initial group fined, and police say individuals will not be named - as well as ruling out disclosing which events they attended. The government has promised to reveal if the PM or Cabinet Secretary Simon Case are issued with penalties. Keir Starmer said that the public should be told if Carrie Johnson is issued a fine . Speaking to broadcasters in Bury, the Labour Party leader said: 'If Carrie Johnson gets a fixed penalty notice, then of course it should be made public. 'My focus is on the Prime Minister because he is the one who sets the culture, he is the one who oversaw this criminality at his home and his office, he is the one that came to Parliament and said all rules were complied with, which is clearly not the case. 'So I do think Carrie Johnson should be named if she gets a penalty notice, but my focus is laser-like on the Prime Minister.' The first FPNs are thought to be 'clear-cut' cases where people are not denying allegations. The PM is said to have been at six of the 12 events under investigation and has received a legal questionnaire - equivalent to being interviewed under caution - but he has rejected claims he broke rules. During the Liaison Committee hearing, SNP MP Pete Wishart asked Mr Johnson to accept that 'there has been criminality committed'. He replied: 'I have been, I hope, very frank with the House about where I think we have gone wrong and the things that I regret, that I apologise for. 'But there is an ongoing investigation... I am going to camp pretty firmly on my position.' Making clear he had not yet received a fine, Mr Johnson said: 'I have been several times to the House to talk about this and to explain and to apologise and to set out the things that we are doing to change the way things run in No 10. 'But what I also said repeatedly... I won't give a running commentary on an investigation that is under way.' He said he understood that people would be 'naturally curious' about the situation but 'it would be wrong of me to deviate from that'. Mr Johnson added: 'I think you are going to have to hold your horses and wait until the conclusion of the investigation, when there will be a lot more clarity.' White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain called it 'disgusting' that former President Donald Trump called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to release information about Hunter Biden's business dealings in Russia. 'We have Vladimir Putin who, every day we wake up and see him dropping bombs on hospitals, on schools, on children,' Klain said Thursday night on MSNBC. 'And we have the former president, who thinks that's a great person to try to engage in a political scheme with.' Klain said the White House was 'grateful' that most Republicans on Capitol Hill are in lock step with the administration and Congressional Democrats on providing aid to the Ukrainians amid Putin's assault. 'But if Donald Trump thinks that some kind of crackpot scheme, conducted in conjunction with Vladimir Putin, can serve his political interest, that will fail as it has failed ever time - it says a lot about who Donald Trump is and how much he cares about our country's security,' Klain added. 'It's obviously disgusting,' President Joe Biden's chief of staff scoffed. White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain called it 'disgusting' that former President Donald Trump called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to release information about Hunter Biden's business dealings in Russia Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Russian President Vladimir Putin should release information about a Russian business deal of Hunter Biden's. 'I think we should know that answer,' Trump told Just The News Speaking to Just The News Tuesday, Trump pointed to a 2020 Senate report that said the wife of the former mayor of Moscow, oligarch Yelena Baturina, gave millions to a company co-founded by Hunter Biden. 'She gave him $3.5 million so now I would think Putin would know the answer to that. I think he should release it,' the ex-president said. 'I think we should know that answer.' The demand was similar to one Trump made of Putin during the 2016 election cycle to get dirt on his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton. The White House Thursday said it stood the president's comments when he said in 2020 there had been nothing unethical in his son's foreign business dealings and that he never made money from China, following fresh reporting about how Hunter Biden profited from his famous father. This week it emerged that Chinese company CEFC China Energy paid $4.8 million to entities controlled by Hunter and his uncle James five years ago. Although the Washington Post did not allege that Biden was personally involved, it reported that Hunter Biden used his father's influence and contacts to secure the payments. Biden defended his son when challenged by Trump about his foreign business dealings in the final presidential debate in 2020. And White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said officials stood by his assessment that nothing was unethical and Hunter did not make money from China. 'We absolutely stand by the president's comment,' she said when asked by a reporter during the daily briefing. She also declined to answer other questions about Hunter's business dealings and whether officials were considering a pardon for the president's son. 'As you know, I don't speak for Hunter Biden,' she said. 'So there's not more I can say on that.' Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said the White House stood by Joe Biden's 2020 comments when he said Hunter Biden had not made money from China, despite a new report saying he made millions of dollars from a Chinese energy firm 'My son has not made money from ... China,' said Biden before directing his comments at Trump, during the 2020 debate. 'The only guy who has made money from China was this guy' Hunter Biden's business dealings were a frequent attack line for Trump and his supporters during the election campaign. A trove of emails found on Hunter's abandoned laptop provided fuel for their attacks, and the Washington Post is among the news organizations that have confirmed their authenticity in recent weeks - a year after the DailyMail.com began reporting on the contents. Trump demanded that Biden address the emails, and details of the lucrative business deals they outlines. 'Nothing was unethical,' said Biden about his son's role on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma - despite lacking experience in the industry. In an another exchange he addressed allegations about Chinese deals. 'My son has not made money from ... China,' said Biden before directing his comments at Trump. 'The only guy who has made money from China was this guy.' The Washington Post story said documents - previously reported by DailyMail.com - showed that Hunter was paid a $1 million retainer in 2017 to represent his business partner Patrick Ho, a partner of CEFC, who was being prosecuted by the US government. And it suggested another email suggested the president himself could have been involved in Hunter's business dealings with the Chinese. Hunter Biden is currently the subject of a federal investigation into his foreign business dealings, including his time serving on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma In September 2017 Hunter was planning to open a new office for his multi-million-dollar joint venture with CEFC at the House of Sweden, a Georgetown building home to the Swedish embassy. He wrote to a building manager: 'please have keys made available for new office mates: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Jim Biden, Gongwen Dong (Chairman Ye CEFC emissary).' Biden Foundation board member Jeffrey Peck told the Post: 'There was never any thought like zero thought or consideration given to that building.' The House of Sweden said they made the keys but Hunter never picked them up. The Post's admission, hot on the heels of that of the New York Times, coincides with an apparent growing momentum in Hunter's federal prosecution over reported tax fraud, money laundering and illegal foreign lobbying allegations. The New York Times reported that material from the laptop is part of the FBI's evidence in the case. Bedingfield on Thursday dismissed a question about whether the White House would use its pardon powers to get Hunter of the hook. 'That's not a hypothetical I'm gonna entertain, she said. 'I don't have anything to add from this podium.' A mother-of-three from Las Vegas has been accused of repeatedly trying to smother her newborn baby daughter with a blanket because she thought the infant, whom she delivered in the toilet at her relatives home, was 'probably evil.' Ashely Hollingsworth, 22, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of attempted murder and child abuse. According to records, police responded to MountainView Hospital on Sunday morning for a report of a baby girl who had been dropped off at the facility by her mother. The baby's father told police that Hollingsworth gave birth in the bathroom of a Las Vegas home on Saturday night, and her family then transported the mother and child to the hospital, but the new mom refused to go inside and ran away, despite bleeding profusely. Ashley Hollingsworth, 22, has been charged with attempted murder and child abuse for allegedly trying to smother her newborn baby daughter with a blanket. Hollingsworth is seen in her booking photo with what police described as self-inflicted injuries to her face Hollingsworths aunt and uncle told detectives that they discovered her newborn baby in the toilet in their guest bathroom, reported Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to the woman's uncle, on the way to the hospital, he heard the infant stop crying and found Hollingsworth pressing a blanket to her daughter's face. He said she tried to smother the baby twice before he took the child away from Hollingsworth. When they arrived at MountainView Hospital, Hollingsworth fled, but she was found two hours later in the vicinity with a large wound on her head and blood on her pants. She told police that she was 'beat up by a rock,' but they concluded that the injuries were self-inflicted. In her booking photo, the 22-year-old woman appeared with two massive purple bruises around her eyes and swelling on her face. Hollingsworth was taken to University Medical Center for treatment and was questioned by the police again on Tuesday, telling them that she had two older children under age 5 who lived in California with their father. Hollingsworth has an unspecified medical condition but said she has not been taking her medication during her latest pregnancy. Hollingsworth and her baby were taken to MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas on Sunday morning, but the mom refused to go inside and ran away During the interview with the police, Hollingsworth 'continuously talked about prophecies and other religious ideations,' and said she believed her baby was 'probably evil.' 'After seeing the baby's eyes, smelling what she described as an abnormal scent, and the baby grunting at her, Ashely decided to wrap the blanket around the baby's head,' the report stated, according to News10. As of Friday, Hollingsworth remained jailed without bail pending her arraignment on April 4. MPs are to stage an inquiry examining the UK's efforts over the years to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori from their detention in Iran. The Foreign Affairs Committee said it would review evidence of how their cases were handled by British officials as part of a wider investigation into 'state level hostage situations'. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 43, who was detained for six years, and Mr Ashoori, who was held for almost five, were released last month after the UK agreed to settle a historic 400 million debt dating back to the 1970s. Following their return both have been critical of the failure of the Foreign Office (FCDO) to secure their freedom sooner. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (centre) criticised the delays in her case in a press conference with her husband Richard (left) and MP Tulip Siddiq (right) after her release Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori arriving at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, on March 17 What will evidence will the inquiry examine? The inquiry is set to ask the following questions: What were the merits and mistakes made in the approach of the FCDO to the handling of the Iranian hostage situation and any other similar situations in recent years? Does the Government's approach provide an effective deterrent to state-based hostage situations? What efforts is the Government taking, or should take, to secure international agreement on deterring and handling state-based hostage taking? Advertisement In a press conference with her husband Richard after her release last month, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe took issue with the Government's handling of her case and said: 'How many Foreign Secretaries is it going to take for someone to get out? Five? 'It should have been one of them eventually. So now, here we are. What happened now should have happened six years ago. It shouldn't have taken six years. And I think we have gone through a lot, it has been a tough journey.' Since arriving back in the UK, both Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori's families have stayed in government safe houses along with their families. Announcing the inquiry today, Foreign Affair Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat MP said: 'Nazanin and Anoosheh's homecoming is wonderful news, but long overdue. After years of imprisonment, in extremely difficult circumstances, Nazanin and Anoosheh are right to ask for answers.' He said that it was also important to look at the wider issues raised by Iran's use of the detainees as leverage in the debt negotiations. 'Iran is not the only country engaging in state hostage taking,' he said. 'The tactic is fast becoming a tool of choice for authoritarian states and recent high-profile cases have highlighted the challenges governments face when securing the release of hostages held captive by states. Foreign Affair Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat MP said: 'After years of imprisonment, in extremely difficult circumstances, Nazanin and Anoosheh are right to ask for answers' The announcement of the inquiry was welcomed by Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's local MP, Tulip Siddiq, who was involved in the campaign for her release 'This inquiry will examine the support provided by the FCDO to hostages in recent cases, as well as take a look at the broader picture and ask how the Government can clamp down on the practice internationally.' The announcement of the inquiry was welcomed by Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's local MP, Tulip Siddiq, who was involved in the campaign for her release. 'While in Iran, Nazanin was blindfolded, handcuffed, interrogated and subjected to solitary confinement, sleep deprivation and torture,' she said. 'The Government has serious questions to answer about why this was allowed to happen to an innocent British citizen, who was caught as a pawn in a political dispute between two countries. The inquiry will discuss the approach taken by the UK Government in securing the release of the detainees in Iran, and other similar situations. It will also aim to assess the likely impact the FCDO's approach may have on deterring other states from using this tactic and will consider options for multilateral action to further deter such behaviour. NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei returns to Earth after 355 days at the International Space Station. Vande Hei also set a new record for the longest single spaceflight by an American astronaut. The NASA astronaut lived in the space station for 355 consecutive days. The astronaut landed in Kazakhstan on March 30 and was transported by NASA to Houston Texas at NASA's Johnson Space Center on Thursday. Russia's spacecraft, the Soyuz rocket, transported Vande Hei and two other Russian cosmonauts, Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov to Earth on Wednesday. The astronauts were taken to a medical tent after arriving in Kazakhstan and then flown by helicopter to Karaganda, the capital of the country's southwestern region. Vande Hei was flown to Houston, Texas in a NASA jet from that point on. The record-breaker will have more time to recover, in accordance with NASA procedures, now that he has returned home after a mission that lasted nearly a year. NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei NASA's Johnson Space Center took to Twitter to welcome and congratulate the arrival of Mark Vande Hei. Mark Vande Hei is home! @Astro_Sabot returned back to Houston this morning, with his loved ones and fellow @NASA_Astronauts there to greet him. He landed back on Earth yesterday after spending 355 days orbiting the Earth. Mark Vande Hei is home! @Astro_Sabot returned back to Houston this morning, with his loved ones and fellow @NASA_Astronauts there to greet him. He landed back on Earth yesterday after spending 355 days orbiting the Earth. pic.twitter.com/HQfLJ3WgDR NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) March 31, 2022 NASA also tweeted, "He contributed to hundreds of science experiments that benefit life on Earth and will help shape future deep space missions". US Vice President Kamala Harris also replied to the post and congratulated Vande Hei. Congratulations on your historic journey and 355 days in space. Welcome home, @Astro_Sabot! Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) March 30, 2022 As reported by Space.com, the previous title holder for the longest spaceflight was U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly with his 340-day stay in the International Space Station from 2015 to 2016; Vande Hei breaks that record by spending 355 days in the ISS. However, Russian cosmonaut Valery Polyakov, who spent nearly 438 continuous days on the Soviet-Russian Mir space station between 1994 and 1995, holds the record for the longest single spaceflight of nearly 438 continuous days. Read Also: NASA Announces Earendel: The Farthest Star Ever Captured by Hubble NASA and Roscosmos: U.S. Sanctions NASA and Roscosmos were reportedly caught in the middle of a strained working relationship due to the U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia by U.S. President Joe Biden. President Biden imposed a plethora of sanctions on Russia after it declared a specialized military operation in Ukraine. As a retaliation for the heated geopolitical conflict, Roscosmos Director-General Dmitry Rogozin also threatened to put Russia's space relations with the U.S. to an end. Roscosmos's Rogozin also threatened the U.S. to leave Mark Vande Hei in the ISS since the scheduled return to Earth was with two other Russian cosmonauts in the Russian rocket Soyuz. Numerous people were enraged with the statement of the Director-General of Roscosmos. However, NASA later clarified that despite the ongoing turmoil in Eastern Europe, Mark Vande Hei will be coming home aboard the Soyuz. The relationship between NASA and Roscosmos remains the same. Related Article: NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei Sets Record With the Longest Spaceflight: Here's More of His Contribution A Met Police officer has admitted possessing extreme child pornography and filming a woman undressing on his mobile phone in the changing rooms at Primark. In the latest of a string of disturbing incidents involving sexual misconduct by officers in the London force, PC Swaleh Chaudhry, 36, appeared in court today where he pleaded guilty to the upskirting. The court was told the police officer was arrested on Wednesday after a woman at a Primark shop in Wandsworth heard a rustling sound in the cubicle next door to hers as she tried on clothing. Prosecutor Hussain Suleman said: 'She looked underneath and saw there was a gap and a black mobile phone with its camera up. She began to scream and said 'are you recording me' She heard a response and he said no.' Mr Suleman said the woman alerted her boyfriend who called security. Chaudhry was held by security officers until police arrived and he was arrested. It was then discovered that Chaudhry had a cache of other upskirting videos in his possession. He also had child and bestiality porn. The police officer was arrested on Wednesday after a woman at a Primark shop in Wandsworth heard a rustling sound in the cubicle next door to hers as she tried on clothing His home in Wimbledon was searched and police found 50-100 moving and still indecent images of children at category A, the most serious kind. They also found thousands of category B and C images and pornography involving sex with animals. The images were found on numerous devices in a box on his bedroom shelf, including four USB sticks, two Nokia mobile phones, two storage devices, two laptops and two iPhones. The 36-year-old faced a total of five charges when he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court this morning following his arrest at a Primark store in Wandsworth, south west London on March 30. Prosecutor Hussain Suleman told the court Chaudhry could face further charges as electronic devices and mobile phones found in his home have yet to be examined and are suspected of containing more indecent images. Chaudhry showed no emotion as his stood in the dock as the prosecutor described the images found at his home as 'disturbing.' The prosecutor told deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikran that the 'investigation is ongoing and police are examining footage.' He added: There is a concern as there are a number of exhibits not yet examined.' He added that police were investigating if images had been stored remotely in 'the cloud' Chaudhry, who had his hair tied in a 'man bun' and wore a yellow and black bomber jacket, was flanked by two prison officers in the dock. He entered a guilty plea to the five charges - voyeurism, three charges of making indecent images of a child and one charge of possession of extreme pornography, Deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram, who was sitting remotely, told Chaudhry that he would be sent to Kingston Crown Court for sentencing. The 36-year-old faced a total of five charges when he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court this morning following his arrest at a Primark store in Wandsworth, South West London on March 30 Applying for bail defence barrister Robert Morris said Chaudhry was of previous good character and had accepted responsibility for the images. He said they had been downloaded between 2012 and 2014 and added he was 'keen' to seek help for his voyeurism. Objecting to bail Mr Suleman said Chaudhry was considered ' a high risk to the public'. Deputy Chief Magistrate Ikran told Chaudhry that he would be remanded in custody until a date had been set for sentencing. He said:' I take into account the nature of offending you have accepted and have grounds to believe you would interfere or obstruct the course of justice. As a police officer would know how to obstruct the police in securing the same.' The Met Police's Directorate of Professional Standards is aware of the charges and a referral has been made to the Independent Office of Police conduct. A Thai hotel firm has won a bitter battle for control of the renowned restaurant group behind fine-dining favourites The Wolseley and The Delaunay in London. Minor International have secured control of Corbin & King (C&K) with a multi-million bid, beating an offer from Jeremy King - who co-founded the group with business partner Chris Corbin. Minor was already a majority shareholder. But following a length saga, which saw the company plunged into administration, and after a hotly contested auction on Friday, the Thai firm will now take control. It is understood Minor paid more than 60million as part of the deal sealed on Friday morning at the auction, which was held by the administrators. The founders, Mr King, 67, and Mr Corbin, 68, had sold a controlling stake in the company four years ago. But they had since fallen out with the Thai firm over Corbin & King's plans following the pandemic. A Thai hotel firm has won a bitter battle for control of a renowned restaurant group behind fine-dining favourites The Wolseley (pictured) and The Delaunay in London Minor International is believed to have secured control of Corbin & King with a multi-million bid, beating an offer from Jeremy King - who co-founded the group with Chris Corbin. The group also own The Wolseley in Piccadilly Minor International is believed to have secured control of Corbin & King with a multi-million bid, beating an offer from Jeremy King - who co-founded the group with Chris Corbin In January, the hotel giant forced Corbin & King, which also owns Brasserie Zedel and other restaurants, into administration. The company founders described the move at the time as a 'power play' and claimed there was 'absolutely no need' for it to enter insolvency. On Friday morning, Mr King emailed customers to confirm he lost out in the auction process. 'We took part in the auction to try and buy the business and assets of Corbin & King that we didn't already own, including of course all the restaurants,' he wrote. 'Regrettably, that attempt failed and Minor Hotel Group was the successful bidder, buying the entire business.' Mr King said he therefore no longer has a stake in the company but remains as an employee for the time being. However he is now expected to step down from Corbin & King. Dillip Rajakarier, group chief executive of Minor International, said: 'We are delighted that our offer was accepted and we can now look forward to building on the existing strong foundations to drive growth in the UK and internationally.' A spokesperson said: 'We wish them success in their future endeavours and have no doubt that the outstanding Corbin & King team will build upon their legacy, taking it to new heights as we invest significantly in the company's and our employees' future growth.' In January, the hotel giant forced Corbin & King, which also owns Brasserie Zedel and other restaurants, into administration. Pictured: Waiters at The Delauney in London Corbin and King met in the 1970s when they worked at the famous Langan's Brasserie and Joe Allen's respectively. Pictured: An interior view of the The Wolseley restaurant in London Paris Hilton and boyfriend Doug Reinhardt pictured leaving the Wolseley restaurant after dining with Guy Pelly and friends Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Ros Morgan, (CEO Heart of London BID) visit The Wolseley cafe-restaurant, during a walkabout in Piccadilly last year Daisy Lowe seen enjoying a lunch with friends at The Wolseley in October 2020 Kate Moss seen leaving The Wolseley restaurant in November 2012 Minor's spokesperson said the firm had 'the utmost respect for what they have achieved in the London restaurant business (and indeed) their continued involvement in the business was a critical factor in deciding to make our original investment'. 'However, as time passed it became clear that Mr King had significantly different views on the appropriate strategy for the business,' the spokesperson said. Corbin and King met in the 1970s when they worked at the famous Langan's Brasserie and Joe Allen's respectively. They bought Le Caprice and turned it into a star-studded hangout where Princess Diana was a regular. They then opened showbusiness haunt The Ivy, before working their magic on fish restaurant J Sheekey. Their restaurants became known for the three 'C's: cuisine, celebrity and chic. They opened London's first successful grand cafe The Wolseley in a grade II-listed vintage car showroom-turned-bank in 2003. The establishment has since become a popular haunt with celebrities, including Kate Moss, Emma Watson and the Beckhams, who are said to be regulars while Katy Perry, Madonna and Jake Gyllenhaal reportedly like to visit when they are in town. Late artist Lucian Freud was a regular at the restaurant, and he even persuaded King to sit for a portrait. California Gov. Gavin Newsom's attempt to mock conservative states' book bans misfired after Twitter users pointed out that his photo-op posing with a stack of banned titles included To Kill a Mockingbird - which has been banned in a progressive district in his own Democrat state for its use of the N-word. 'Reading some banned books to figure out what these states are so afraid of,' Newsom tweeted on Thursday, sharing a picture which included the iconic novel, banned in one district in The Golden State. In the picture, Newsom appeared to be reading Beloved by Toni Morrison while George Orwell's 1984, Art Spiegelman's Maus, and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee were on a table. The Democrat governor seemed to be taking a jab at conservative states' attempts to keep controversial books out of schools. Beloved became a divisive issue in last years' Virginia Governor's race between Glenn Youngkin and Democrat Terry McAuliffe, as Youngkin sided with parents who criticized the book's bestiality, infanticide and violence descriptions. McAuliffe, who lost the race, enraged parents after he rejected a bill seeking to ban the book in public schools in the state while he was in office. In Tennessee, the McMinn County Board of Education voted unanimously earlier this year to remove the Holocaust graphic novel Maus from its eighth-grade curriculum, citing a drawing of a nude woman, eight swear words and its 'not wise or healthy' content. Orwell's 1984 was challenged by school boards in GOP-led Florida in the 80s over claims that it promoted sexually explicit and pro-communist language. Meanwhile, To Kill a Mockingbird has been banned in a California progressive district precisely due to accusations of racism and its repeated use of the N-word. Twitter users highlighted the irony in Newsom's post Thursday. 'Wasn't "To Kill a Mockingbird" banned from CALIFORNIA schools?,' one user commented, while another tweeted: 'Strange take, Gavin.' Others poked fun at the fact that Newsom, who has a master's in public policy from Harvard, hasn't read 1984 - a book typically assigned to high schoolers in the ninth and tenth grade. 'Its a good baseline to not elect a governor who hasnt read 1984 and puts it third on his reading list for a photo op,' former legal adviser to Trump Jenna Ellis wrote. The Burbank Unified School District banned To Kill a Mockingbird in 2020, after a black mother complained that her daughter had been called n***** by a white classmate who learned the work from the book. Also in California, The Bluest Eye - a novel that narrates the life of a black teenager who is raped and impregnated by her father - was briefly banned in the Joint Unified School District in Colton following parents' complaints about the novel's graphic violence. 'Reading some banned books to figure out what these states are so afraid of,' the Democrat tweeted on Thursday Twitter users highlighted the irony in Newsom's post, noting that a district in his own state had banned To Kill a Mockingbird Others poked fun at the fact that Newsom, who has a master's in public policy from Harvard, hasn't read 1984 - a book typically assigned to high schoolers in the ninth and tenth grade Newsom's comment comes on the heels of a rise in book bans, both in progressive and conservative school districts, with backlash from anti-ban organizations. According to the American Library Association and the National Coalition Against Censorship, book bans have reached levels not seen in decades. Despite Newsom's remarks on Thursday that book bans are primarily happening in conservative states in the US, politicized bans have also spread to progressive states in America. To Kill a Mockingbird was banned by the Burbank Unified School District after parents raised concern that it encouraged white students to call black peers the N-word. The novel, published in 1960, is a classic of modern literature, its reputation further enhanced by the Oscar-winning film that followed shortly afterwards. It follows the story of a white lawyer in a small town in Alabama, who agrees to defend a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. In 2020, a black mother claimed her daughter was left traumatized after a white classmate approached her and called her n****er because he had learned it while reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Opponents of the ban argued that censorship was not the solution and it would further distort conversations about race. 'We must remember, that in many cases, and especially for young white children, To Kill A Mockingbird might be their first exposure to the idea that racism exists beyond a world of newscasts, and they may be completely unaware of how deeply it can seep into the fabric of everyday lives,' author Harper Lee's nephew, Edwin Conner, wrote for the Mail on Sunday in 2021. In the picture, Newsom appeared to be reading Beloved by Toni Morrison while George Orwell's 1984, Art Spiegelman's Maus, and To Kill a Mockingbird were on a table To Kill a Mockingbird has been banned in a California progressive district precisely due to accusations of racism and its repeated use of the N-word To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, is a classic of modern literature, its reputation further enhanced by the Oscar-winning film that followed shortly afterwards. It follows the story of a white lawyer in a small town in Alabama, who agrees to defend a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman The Burbank school district also banned Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, Theodore Taylor's The Cay and Mildred D. Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - also over claims of racism. In Tennessee, the McMinn County Board of Education voted 10-0 to remove 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman from the curriculum in January, despite educators arguing that the graphic novel is an 'anchor text' in English language arts instruction and the centerpiece of a months-long study of the Holocaust. Published in 1991, Maus is inspired by the story of Spiegelman's parents, Vladek and Anja, who survived the Holocaust after being shipped to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. The graphic novel depicts Nazis as cats and Jewish people as mice. The board heard from instructional supervisors and other school officials who defended the use of the book in class but were unanimously overruled. The McMinn County school board in Tennessee voted in February to remove 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman from the eighth grade curriculum over eight swear words and nudity Spiegelman, 73, called the ban 'Orwellian' in an interview with CNBC, saying that he learned about it a day before Holocaust Remembrance Day. The House of Representatives in the Volunteer State has also held meetings to discuss a bill that would prohibit 'the possession of obscene material by a local education agency; a public school, including a public charter school if the obscene material is harmful to minors and possessed on public school premises.' However, the initiative fails to provide a specific guide of what's considered 'obscene.' In February, The Wentzville School Board in St Louis, Missouri, voted in favor of a review committee's recommendation to retain Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye,' which it had previously banned because of its explicit descriptions of sex, violence, rape and incest. The committee said that banning the book 'would infringe on the rights of parents and students to decide for themselves if they want to read this work of literature.' The book is currently not part of the district curriculum. Daniel Brice, the board's vice president, said the district should 'tighten its policies' regarding some books, but he noted that parents already had the right to request that certain titles not be available to their children. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri then sued the school district on behalf of two students. 'This is welcome news, but the fact remains that six books are still banned. And Wentzville's policies still make it easy for any community member to force any book from the shelves even when they shamelessly target books by and about communities of color, LGBTQ people and other marginalized groups,' Anthony Rothert, director of integrated advocacy of ACLU of Missouri, said of the news. In 2020, Pennsylvania's Central York School District's all-white board banned 40 books including I am Rosa Parks and Malala Yousafzai's autobiography, as well documentaries like I Am Not Your Negro and multimedia resources like CNN's Sesame Street town hall on racism. 'That resource list has some bad ideas in some books that I definitely not want in our district,' said Vickie Guth, the treasurer of the board said in 2021. In 2020, Pennsylvania's Central York School District's all-white board banned 40 books including I am Rosa Parks and Malala Yousafzai's autobiography, as well documentaries like I Am Not Your Negro and multimedia resources like CNN's Sesame Street town hall on racism All of the books and articles in the list by the Central York School District have been authored by people of color or are about race, but the board said that the decision was based on the 'content of the resources, not the author or topic' PROGRESSIVE BOOK BANS The Burbank Unified School District banned To Kill a Mockingbird in 2020, after a black mother complained that her daughter had been called n***** by a white classmate who learned the work from the book The Burbank school district also banned Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, Theodore Taylor's The Cay and Mildred D. Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - also over claims of racism. Also in California, The Bluest Eye - a novel that narrates the life of a black teenager who is raped by her father - was briefly banned in the Joint Unified School District in Colton following parents' complaints about the novel's graphic violence Advertisement Some parents backed the decision, saying they feared the racial focus of the books would harm their kids. 'I don't want my daughter growing up feeling guilty because she's white,' said a Central York parent. But students were furious and protested the ban which they say is disruptive to their education and stopped them from learning inclusively. 'I don't think that a board that lacks diversity is the appropriate authority to determine what qualifies as appropriate material to address race in this community,' one parent agreed. All of the books and articles in the list have been authored by people of color or are about race, but the board said that the decision was based on the 'content of the resources, not the author or topic.' The move has left many teachers facing a daily battle, caught in between their students and their employers. 'I have to, now, with this resource ban, think twice about whether or not I should or could use a James Baldwin quote as an opening for my class,' teacher Ben Hodge told CNN. They said they are at a loss of what they can and cannot teach and feel constantly worried they'll receive backlash from the parents. Also in 2020, the Anchorage School District banned five books from its high school English classes after deeming them to be 'controversial'. Schools in the city's of Wasilla and Palmer, with populations of around 6,000 each, have banned Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison; Catch-22 by Joseph Heller; The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou; and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. A Jewish property millionaire has been jailed for 18 months after refusing to grant his wife a religious divorce following their separation. Alan Moher, 57, and Caroline Moher, who have three children together, separated in 2016 after 21 years together and divorced in the family court. However, Moher did not give her a 'Get' - a document that formally recognises the end of marriage in the orthodox Jewish faith. This meant she was unable to remarry, have more children or enter into a relationship with another man. Ms Moher brought a private prosecution for a charge of controlling or coercive behaviour between January 2016 and January last year in what was described as 'a landmark case' by her lawyers. Moher, from Salford, was due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court last February but changed his plea to guilty. Alan Moher has been jailed for 18 months after refusing to grant his wife a religious divorce following their separation Caroline Moher brought a private prosecution for a charge of controlling or coercive behaviour between January 2016 and January last year in what was described as 'a landmark case' by her lawyers Anthony Metzer QC, prosecuting, said Moher prevented his wife from remarrying by withholding the Get. He told the court Moher offered his wife 700,000 in the civil divorce with the Get or 780,000 without it. Mr Metzer told the court that in August 2015 Ms Moher was 'so worn down' by the 'psychological and emotional abuse' she had suffered that she attempted suicide. The court heard that in the process of the attempted suicide, Ms Moher texted her husband to tell him what she had done. 'He replied: "What colour do you want your gravestone"?' Mr Metzer said. On January 22, 2016, the day that Moher received a letter from Ms Moher's solicitor telling him about the divorce proceedings, he told his wife to 'p*** off', and 'curl up and die'. The next day, he grabbed her, put his hands around her throat, spat at her face and threatened to kill her. What is a Get? A Get is a divorce document in Jewish religious law, which must be presented by a husband to his wife to give effect to their divorce. The text of the Get states 'You are hereby permitted to all men', which means that the woman is no longer married and that the laws of adultery no longer apply. It also returns to the wife the legal rights that a husband holds in regard to her in a Jewish marriage. Jewish law dictates the Get must be given of the husband's free-will and be physically accepted by the wife. It must be specific and cannot include blanks to be filled in later, while it cannot be written on any surface which could be erased. A wife can sue for divorce in rabbinical court, which can compel a husband to grant the separation through financial penalties and even forcing the husband to spend a night in an unmarked grave. Jewish law states that coercion will invalidate a Get except in 'extreme circumstances'. Advertisement The next month, Moher refused to let his wife back into her car after she dropped off their youngest daughter, and acted violent and aggressively forcing her to seek refuge in a nearby pub. Police were called in April that year after Moher tried to kick his wife's door down to force his way into her home. The court also heard Moher had a previous public order conviction after threatening Ms Moher following a family court hearing in Manchester. 'He shouted abuse at her and told her she was going to get what was coming to her,' Mr Metzer said. A victim impact statement from Ms Moher was read to the court. It read: 'Imagine being put into a straitjacket, gagged, your hands and feet are tied. 'You are blindfolded. You are in a cold, dark place. Your only weapon is that you are able to hear. You are dependent on your captor to set you free. That's how I feel still being married to Alan.' Jeffrey Israel, defending, said: 'My client is a 57-year-old man and aside from a single public order incident I would ask the court to treat him as a man of previous good character.' The court heard that Mr Moher was entitled to have 10 per cent taken off his sentence due to his guilty plea on the first day of the trial. Mr Israel asked the court that it be taken into account that the timing of his client's plea took place after the CPS made a late indication that it would not be taking over the case. He told the court that his client had asked the CPS if they would take over the case from the private prosecution on February 11 2021. Moher admitted one count of coercive control and was jailed for 18 months and also ordered to pay 11,000 towards the prosecution's costs 'It was not until a week or two before the trial that a response was received by the defendant indicating that he would not interfere and that the private prosecution was to continue,' he said. 'So I would ask that you take that into account.' He asked that the judge also take into account that his client has autism and ADHD. Judge Martin Beddoe said: 'You sought to manipulate and control her all in the knowledge that it would substantially impact her mental health and in some respects also impact her physical health.' Moher was ordered to pay 11,000 towards the prosecution's costs. He admitted one count of coercive control and was jailed for 18 months. Moher, from Salford, was due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court (pictured) last February but changed his plea to guilty The couple separated in 2016 and a decree nisi was granted by the family court the same year, but the divorce proceedings were not finalised until 2019. They remain married under orthodox Jewish law. After the sentencing, Ms Moher addressed the press outside court. She said: 'My hope is that this case sends clear messages to abusers and their victims. 'To those who have emotionally coerced and controlled, physically hurt, and dehumanised their spouses - the law will not allow you to get away with your crimes. 'To those victims out there - you are not alone, and justice and humanity are on your side. 'I urge you not to stay silent, but to fight for your freedom.' A Delta flight had to make an emergency landing after the aircraft's cockpit windshield was totally shattered while 30,000 feet in the air. The pilots of Delta Air Lines flight 760 flying from from Salt Lake City to Washington, D.C. decided to bring their jet down in Denver after the cockpit windshield shattered 90 minutes into their flight. The crew announced the diversion and asked that the aircraft's 198 passengers remain calm until they landed. 'They kept coming on saying for everyone to stay calm, to be calm, and we were calm so being told to stay calm while we were calm made us feel a little panicky,' passenger Rachel Wright told KUTV. Passenger Dr. Kirk Knowlton, snapped a picture of the Delta Airlines B757-232's windshield and tweeted that the crew announced that the windscreen appeared to crack spontaneously The pilots of Delta Air Lines flight 760 flying decided to bring their jet down in Denver after the cockpit windshield shattered 90 minutes into their flight Shortly after the announcement the plane landed safely in Denver International Airport and as passengers disembarked they were able to see the full extent of the windshield's damage, which was totally cracked but didn't fall from its frame. Commercial airline pilots said jetliner windshields can be two inches thick, with several layered panes of glass, the station reported, AP reported. In a statement, Delta called the incident 'a maintenance issue mid-flight.' 'Out of an abundance of caution, the flight crew diverted into Denver and the plane landed routinely. Our team worked quickly to accommodate customers on a new plane, and we sincerely apologize for the delay and inconvenience to their travel plans,' the airline statement said. DailyMail.com reached out to the airline for more information as to what caused the windshield damage. But Dr. Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, tells DailyMail.com that cockpit windshield cracks are rare and happen for a multitude of reasons, including excessive heat exposure. 'Cockpit windshield cracks rarely occur,' he told dailyMail.com in an emailed statement. 'The Delta pilots made a wise choice to divert out of abundance of caution. Windshields are designed and manufactured to withstand high pressure. They have two layers, and in the event of a failure, such as a crack, the airplane can safely maneuver to land.' 'The investigation into the crack will determine what are the likely factors, including possible excessive heat exposure,' Shahidi added. Passenger Dr. Kirk Knowlton snapped a picture of the Delta Airlines Boeing 757-232's windshield and tweeted that the crew announced that the windscreen appeared to crack spontaneously. 'Apparently it was spontaneous. Fortunately, we landed safely and are about to get back in air. We are grateful for safe flights,' the doctor tweeted. Despite the scare, fellow passenger Wright said she is glad everything played out the way it did. 'I'm really good at playing what-if? And so, my mind goes to kind of what could have happened, worst case scenario and Im grateful,' Wright said. 'It could have been really bad, it could have gone very differently.' After landing, passengers boarded a new plane in Denver and continued on to Washington. Wright praised Delta for bringing the jet down safely, and said the airline was very accommodating. 'I've never been more grateful to spend an extra three hours in an airport,' Wright said. People online also shared praise for the pilots who remained calm under pressure and got everyone on the ground safely. 'Heroic might not be the appropriate word for the pilots who safely landed the cockpit-windshield-shattered Delta jet,' one person tweeted. 'I'll use a thank you. And congratulations on getting everyone on the ground safe.' The U.S. Navy plans to name a ship after late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in honor of her advocacy for women's rights and gender equality. 'She is a historic figure who vigorously advocated for women's rights and gender equality,' Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said in a statement on Thursday. 'She is instrumental to why we now have women of all backgrounds, experiences and talents serving within our ranks, side by side with their male Sailor and Marine counterparts,' Del Toro added. The future USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be a John Lewis-class replenishment oiler ship. Pictured: A photo from the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company Builder's Trial of USNS John Lewis The U.S. Navy plans to name a ship after late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (pictured) in honor of her advocacy for women's rights and gender equality Del Toro cited Ginsburg's work issuing the majority opinion for United States v. Virginia, a landmark 1996 case that struck down Virginia Military Institute's male-only admissions policy. Ginsburg became a heroine to the American left after overcoming entrenched sexism in the legal profession to ascend to the U.S. Supreme Court, where she championed gender equality and other liberal causes during 27 years on the bench. In 1993, she became the second woman ever to sit on the nation's highest court, after the late President Ronald Reagan appointed the late Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in 1981. Ginsburg died on Sept. 18, 2020, at age 87 of complications from pancreatic cancer. Her death, less than two months before the 2020 presidential election, allowed former President Donald Trump to appoint a third conservative Supreme Court justice in just four years. He named Justice Amy Coney Barrett to take Ginsburg's place, tilting the balance of the court 6-3 toward conservatives. The future USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212) will be a John Lewis-class replenishment oiler (T-AO) ship, a class of vessel named after late civil rights leader, Rep. John Lewis, a Democrat from Georgia. Ginsburg's ship will mark the eighth named after civil and human rights figures, which besides Lewis include Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and gay rights advocate Harvey Milk. The oilers transfer fuel to the Navy's operating carrier strike groups and can hold 162,000 barrels of oil. A tube driver who says he suffers from 'unprompted bouts of rudeness' after banging his head at work is suing London Underground for up to 1 million. Sean Matthews, 62, from Yalding, near Maidstone, Kent hit his head on metal steps when he was thrown out of a turnstile at Stratford Market Depot and he says the injury has left him prone to rude outbursts and 'laughing inappropriately.' He is now suing London Underground at the High Court for up to 1m compensation, claiming to have sustained multiple injuries, including brain damage. He says his symptoms have left him socially isolated and unable to work and he blames the accident on the turnstile being faulty. However, the company denies liability and says the revolving gate was working properly with Mr Matthew to blame for not taking enough care. Tube driver Sean Matthews is claiming 1 ,million damages for head injury after fall at work He says his symptoms have left him socially isolated and unable to work and he blames the accident on the turnstile being faulty He hit his head on metal steps when he was thrown out of a turnstile at Stratford Market Depot and he says the injury has left him prone to rude outbursts and 'laughing inappropriately' Outlining the claim in documents filed at the court, Mr Matthews' barrister Jeremy Crowther said the fall happened after he had finished a shift on February 26, 2019. He had parked his train at the depot and was on his way to catch a train back to Stratford when he had to pass through a security turnstile. 'He entered the turnstile and began pushing the gate in a clockwise direction,' says the barrister. 'The gate began ratcheting around - as it was supposed to - but instead of locking when the claimant was in a position to leave the turnstile, it suddenly and without warning continued to rotate. 'This caused the section of gate immediately behind the claimant to knock into the back of his left foot, causing him to lose his balance and stumble forwards. 'As he fell he struck his head on one of the metal steps of the bridge that was immediately in front of him.' Mr Matthews sustained a fracture to his forearm, soft tissue injury to his knee and damaged teeth, requiring crown replacement, said his barrister. 'Most significantly, he sustained a brain injury, causing a variety of neurological symptoms including headaches, dizziness, impaired memory and speech problems,' Mr Crowther continued. 'He suffers from behavioural, cognitive and emotional symptoms...He has become disinhibited, prone to laughing inappropriately and unprompted bouts of rudeness. 'He has become very socially isolated and is unable to work.' Mr Crowther claims that the accident occurred because the turnstile did not lock into place to allow Mr Matthews to exit, instead continuing to turn and crashing into him. Fault logs showed that the turnstile had been reported as 'defective' previously due to it 'spinning freely' when inspected. Mr Matthews sustained a fracture to his forearm, soft tissue injury to his knee and damaged teeth, requiring crown replacement, said his barrister Outlining the claim in documents filed at the court, Mr Matthews' barrister Jeremy Crowther said the fall happened after he had finished a shift on February 26, 2019 Fault logs showed that the turnstile had been reported as 'defective' previously due to it 'spinning freely' when inspected 'The accident wouldn't have happened if the claimant had been aware the turnstile gate was turning freely when he entered it, as in these circumstances he would have made sure it had stopped rotating before exiting,' says his barrister. 'The accident occurred because the gate initially ratcheted correctly, but then suddenly failed when the claimant was walking out of the turnstile. 'The turnstile should have been deactivated no later than 16th February 2019, rather than left in a malfunctioning state.' In its written defence to the claim - which has not yet reached court - London Underground barrister John Brown denies liability. He said the turnstile was always set up to be 'free-flowing' when exiting the depot and only locked into place when being used to enter. 'As the turnstile was free flowing upon exit, it is denied that it was supposed to lock when the claimant was in a position to leave the turnstile,' he says. 'It is therefore further denied that the turnstile 'suddenly and without warning' continued to rotate as alleged. 'At the time of the claimant's accident, upon exit the turnstile was in proper working order. 'Any issue with the turnstile having an intermittent fault in failing to lock related only to its use when entering the depot and therefore has no causative relevance to the claimant's accident.' The case will be set down for a trial of Mr Matthews' date at a later date. Los Angeles has just launched a guaranteed income program that will select 1,000 residents to earn $1,000 over three years. On Thursday dozens of residents lined up in South Los Angeles to apply for the 'Breathe: LA County's Guaranteed Income Program'- California's latest Universal Basic Income program. The no strings-attached program will provide $1,000 to 1,000 Los Angeles residents every month for three calendar years through a debit card provided by the County. In order to qualify for the program L.A residents must be at least 18-years-old, have a household income below $56,000 for a single person or $96,000 for a family of four, and have been financially affected by the pandemic. Applicants must also live in a neighborhood where the median household income is not higher than the countys. Dozens of residents lined up in South L.A to apply for the 'Breathe: LA County's Guaranteed Income Program'- the state's latest Universal Basic Income program The program will provide $1,000 to 1,000 Los Angeles residents every month for three calendar years through a debit card provided by the County To qualify for the program applicants must live in a neighborhood where the median household income is not higher than the countys Application for the program, which launched on Thursday, will be open until April 13. This is the latest such program in California, last year LA county launched BIG:LEAP, will provided $1,000 in cash to 3,200 households and Compton and Long Beach also launched similar programs over the last year. At the time, Mayor Eric Garcetti called it 'the largest guaranteed basic income program anywhere in the United States of America.' A version of the UBI program, which was popularized by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, has gained more attention after the pandemic idled millions of workers. Cities across the country are trying out pilot guaranteed income programs as researchers hope the results give them a fuller picture of what happens when a range of people are sent payments that guarantee a basic living. Last October Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced the launch of a $31 million universal basic income pilot that would give $500 a month to low income families. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Holly Mitchell (pictured) said the program is an attempt to figure out how to reduce systemic poverty by providing people with a minimal income To qualify residents must be at least 18, have a household income below $56,000 for a single person or $96,000 for a family of four In New York City, a pilot program giving payments of $1,250 to as many as 40 homeless people between 18 and 24 for two years - with no strings attached, was announced during the summer. Recipients can request how they want their money, such as in incremental payments or upfront as cash, and have no limits as to how they could spend it. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Holly Mitchell, who formally opened the application period at Thursday's launch event told CBS Los Angeles the program is an attempt to figure out how to reduce systemic poverty by providing people with a minimal income to take care of their families. 'We all know what we have experienced these last two years, a dual pandemic, both public health and economic, and quite frankly, it has hit communities the hardest who were already suffering and having challenges making ends meet month to month,' Mitchell said. Mitchell said funding for the program comes from the government and a number of foundations and it will be overseen by the L.A. County Poverty Alleviation Initiative and a research team from the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research who will study what long-term impacts the additional income has on residents' economic wellbeing. Since 2019, around 40 mayors have either started to consider or successfully launched guaranteed income programs. But critics warn of a possible downside, people relying on fixed income can become discouraged of joining the workforce. In October, the National Federation of Independent Business reported more than half of small businesses are having trouble filling up jobs. A New York mobster who worked as a hitman for La Cosa Nostra, killing three people and attempting to murder two others, has escaped from federal custody after recently being moved to a halfway house, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Dominic Taddeo, a hitman from a Rochester-area crime family, escaped on March 28 after going to an approved medical appointment, according to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Taddeo, 64, had been jailed at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex, a medium-security lockup in Wildwater, Florida before being transferred to a residential halfway house, also in Florida, in February. He was scheduled to be released in just a year's time. Taddeo was known as a hitman-for-hire and killed three men - Nicholas Mastrodonato, Gerald Pelusio, and Dino Tortatice - in 1982 and 1983. He twice failed in knocking off Rochester mob captain Thomas Marotta, including in an April 1983 shooting when he hit Marotta with half a dozen shots. He hit him again three times just six months later, yet Marotta survived both attempts. Dominic Taddeo, a hitman from a Rochester-area crime family, escaped on March 28 after going to an approved medical appointment. Taddeo was known as a hitman-for-hire and killed three men - Nicholas Mastrodonato, Gerald Pelusio, and Dino Tortatice - in 1982 and 1983 before being arrested in 1987 Taddeo twice failed in knocking off Rochester mob captain Thomas Marotta (pictured left), including in a April 1983 shooting when he hit Marotta with half a dozen shots. He hit him again three times just six months later, yet Marotta survived both attempts A federal judge in western New York denied Taddeo's request for compassionate release last year, rejecting his claim that health problems including hypertension and obesity put him at risk for serious complications from COVID-19. In that denial, U.S. District Judge Frank Geraci Jr. wrote: 'Taddeo's prior convictions are for crimes including assault, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and, most notably, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) conspiracy arising from his employment and association with Rochester's organized crime family.' Prosecutors said medical records did not show that Taddeo was particularly unhealthy. A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson did not immediately return a call from DailyMail.com seeking information about the circumstances of Taddeo's escape. A federal judge in western New York denied Taddeo's request for compassionate release last year, rejecting his claim that health problems including hypertension and obesity put him at risk for serious complications from COVID-19. Pictured: Taddeo in 1990 when he was sentenced to 17 years in prison on weapons and bail jumping charges Taddeo, 64, had been jailed at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex, a medium-security lockup in Wildwater, Florida before being transferred to a residential halfway house, also in Florida, in February. He was scheduled to be released in just a year's time. Pictured: Taddeo pictured in March 15, 1989 after he was arrested on a weapons charge The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported that Taddeo had previously escaped and led police on a two-year long manhunt after he was let out on bail in 1987. Taddeo lived under more than two dozen aliases while staying in various spots across the east coast and Midwest. Taddeo was caught in 1989 while attempting to visit his brother in Cleveland based off a tip from an informant. When brought back to Rochester, he was described as 'small, balding' and unrecognizable from the mob hitman he was in the 80s. Taddeo pleaded guilty in 1992 to racketeering charges that included the killings of three men during mob wars in the 1980s. He was sentenced to 54 years in prison by Judge Michael Telesca. His records show a clean record in prison, adding that he's taken up educational extracurriculars. The 1980s were a time when heavy battles between the mafia and New York public officials were waged, most famously then-US Attorney Rudy Giuliani, according to the Museum of Law Enforcement and Organized Crime. The former Mayor of New York targeted the Mafia throughout that decade and brought down some of the biggest mob bosses in the city, including Francesco Gambino and the head of the Gambino crime family, Paul Castellano Mob boss John Gotti (pictured left) was also eventually taken down by the state of New York The 1980s, when Taddao worked as a mob hitman, were a time when heavy battles between the mafia and New York public officials were waged, most famously then-US Attorney Rudy Giuliani, according to the Museum of Law Enforcement and Organized Crime. By the 1970s, the Sicilian mafia, or Cosa Nostra, had become a highly lucrative business organization which centered around cigarette smuggling and heroin. The main five families form 'The Commission,' which to this day is believed to govern organized crime in the US and Canada. Mafia bosses on the island negotiated arrangements with crime syndicates in Naples to establish a monopoly over the tobacco trade. Giuliani was one of the most visible lawyers involved with the Mafia Commission Trial that spanned from February 1985 to November 1986 and led to the indictments of 11 major organized crime figures. The former Mayor of New York targeted the Mafia throughout that decade and brought down some of the biggest mob bosses in the city, including Francesco Gambino and the head of the Gambino crime family, Paul Castellano. Giuliani got the motivation to go after La Cosa Nostra because his father, an Italian immigrant hated that his Brooklyn neighborhood had been overrun and blighted by organized crime. Giuliani made it his top priority to take down the American Mafia's Five Families - Bonanno, Colombo, Genovese, Lucchese and Gambino. But federal law enforcement and prosecutors made them prime targets in the 1970s and 80s while gang hits were still going on around the city. Giuliani made it his top priority to take down the American Mafia's Five Families - Bonanno, Colombo, Genovese, Lucchese and Gambino Federal law enforcement and prosecutors made the mafia prime targets in the 1970s and 80s while gang hits were still going on around the city Reputed Cosa Nostra mafia boss Paul Castellano By 1984, 350 FBI agents and 100 New York Police detectives were investigating the Mob. At the time, an estimated 1,000 'made' men and 5,000 Mob associates lived in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and elsewhere. A court in Italy even heard that the Sicilian mafia ordered the assassination of Giuliani. 'Boss of all bosses' Salvatore 'Toto' Riina, allegedly planned the hit when Giuliani was a state prosecutor in the 1980s. The plot was revealed in evidence from supergrass Rosario Naimo, at a trial in Sicily in which representatives of the Italian state are accused of signing a peace treaty with the mafia in the 1990s. Giuliani has previously claimed that there was a price on his head during the 1990s, when he was mayor. An accused Lone Wolf bikie has jetted off to Bali for a luxury holiday just weeks after being cleared of a double murder. Garry Brush, 33, shared a selfie from his business class flight to Indonesia after he was released from custody. 'Time to clear the head,' he captioned alongside a photo uploaded to Instagram. Alleged Lone Wolfe bikie Garry Brush, 33, (pictured) has jetted off to Bali for a luxury holiday just weeks after being cleared of a double-murder Brush was one of three alleged Lone Wolf bikies charged with the shooting double-murder of former Comanchero gang member Shane Ross and his Monstr clothing business partner Cameron Martin. The men were shot dead at a Tallebudgera park on the Gold Coast in October 2019. In March, Brush and along with two other men, was cleared of murder after the court found insufficient evidence to take the trio to trial. Brush shared an idyllic sunset image from W Bali, a luxury resort in the coastal region of Seminyak to his Instagram (pictured) Days after his murder discharge Brush created an Instagram account, sharing selfies, photos with family and his luxury trip to Bali. In one post Brush shared an idyllic sunset image from W Bali, a luxury resort at Seminyak beach. Another post showed off a fresh leg tattoo, while Brush's most recent upload showed him smiling onboard a yacht. In February, Southport Magistrates Court was told he left for a two-month holiday to Bali days after police approached him for questioning over the murders, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported. The alleged Lone Wolf Bikie shared snaps from business class as he jetted off to Bali this week Brush (pictured) was cleared of murder on March 11 and created an Instagram page days later Brush had allegedly attended Ross's funeral, where he sat with friends of the bikie turned Monstr clothing founder. His defence team argued there was 'simply no proof' that Brush had set out to harm or kill Ross and Martin when attempting to have the case thrown out of court. The bid was successful and Brush was cleared of murder on March 11. The Director of Public Prosecutions will review the committal ruling, The Gold Coast Bulletin revealed on Friday. Police will prepare a report for the coroner. Officials of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition team will visit Hybe, the agency of K-pop sensation BTS, this weekend, its spokesperson said Friday, amid speculation the panel could discuss the issue of military service exemptions for the boy band. Presidential transition committee chief Ahn Cheol-soo and members of the social, welfare and culture subcommittee plan to visit Hybe, Saturday, according to a transition team spokesperson, Shin Yong-hyun. "This visit is aimed at listening to opinions from the field with regard to the development of K-culture," Shin said. "We will listen to opinions on various factors that impede the industry's development." Shin added the issue of granting favors to superb entertainers, like BTS, regarding military service could be discussed during the transition team's meeting with Hybe officials. "We will first listen, rather than ask," she said. All able-bodied Korean men must serve in the military for about two years. But global award-winning athletes and classical musicians have been granted a waiver in recognition of their role in promoting the country's image abroad. A bill that would allow prominent male pop celebrities to substitute their mandatory active-duty service for other alternate programs has been pending at the National Assembly. (Yonhap) Hundreds of dogs including 262 puppies were saved when a 'truck from hell' taking them to slaughterhouses and traders was stopped by police. The starving, dehydrated puppies were set to be sold as pets on China's thriving dog market, with adult dogs expected to be turned into dog meat and eaten. Activists in Anhui, eastern China spotted the van and alerted police, who confiscated the dogs and took them to a local animal shelter for urgent treatment. The vehicle, which activists described as the 'truck from hell' was filmed shortly before it was pulled over - and its 282 dogs confiscated by police. They were rushed to vets for treatment Activists surround the truck on the highway, where it was pulled over without official papers The truck had travelled 1,000 miles before it was stopped by police. Its driver didn't have the documents required to legally transport live animals across provincial borders Apple (pictured) suffered a skin condition causing hair loss. He sadly died after the rescue Hundreds of tightly caged pups were forced to undergo a grueling 10,000-mile road journey Vshine volunteer Leng (pictured) said he never expected there to be so many puppies onboard They had already travelled 1,000 miles from Guizhou to Huainan - and 12 puppies had died along the way. Police confiscated the dogs when the driver was unable to present official papers. It's not clear whether the driver was taken into custody. Since the rescue, a further 18 dogs have died from highly contagious diseases parvovirus and distemper. Many surviving puppies are suffering from dehydration, starvation and heart disease. One of the puppies, who lead volunteer Teng named Apple, suffered a skin condition causing distinct hair loss on his tiny forehead. Teng promised to adopt Apple if he survived - but, after hours of emergency treatment, the adorable pup sadly died. Many of the adorable pups were piled on top of each other in tiny boxes, striking images show Although hundreds of dogs and puppies were saved, 12 were already dead and more have died Volunteers at a local animal shelter were able to save many stricken dogs, but not all survived Teng said: 'I knew it was going to be bad because there were so many dogs crammed inside, but I hadnt expected there to be so many tiny puppies. 'I noticed little Apple right away because he had lost so much fur, and my heart just melted. 'I wanted to do everything I could to make it up to him so that he could forget his horrible ordeal, but his suffering had just been too much. Im so sad for all the ones like Apple who didnt make it. Humane Society International's Chinese partner Vshine led the rescue effort and will rehouse the surviving dogs at their shelter, which receives funding from HSI. The global charity's China specialist Dr Peter Li said: 'This sad story is all too common in China, where hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats evert month endure appalling suffering like this in order to make profit for the meat and pet trades. 'The condition of these dogs was so terrible that its likely many more would have died before they reached their intended destination, and sickly puppies would probably have been sold for meat just like the adult dogs. The Yulin Dog Meat Festival, where thousands are killed each year, is still legal despite outcry 'Thank goodness for the Chinese animal activists and police who saved so many lives.' Although some Chinese cities have banned the consumption of dog and cat meat, it remains legal in many parts of the country. In 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said dogs are pets, not 'livestock' - yet more than a quarter of the Chinese population still regularly eats dog, HSI said. This is far from the first time such a rescue has been completed. Last July, 68 animals were saved on their way to slaughter at the Dog Meat Festival in Yulin, China. Security cameras at a store in Brazil captured the adorable moment a neighborhood dog-turned-shoplifter was seen picking out toys from the shelves - and sneaking out the shop before the owner could notice. Thor, which appears to be a mutt, was seen casually walking into the Coroados store last Saturday, unnoticed by customers or staff. The four-legged bandit passed by the store's cosmetics and children's clothing to get to his favorite section; the plush toys. Security cameras show Thor picking out a new teddy bear, before sneaking past the cashier and making his getaway out the door. A Brazilian neighborhood dog known as Thor was caught twice in span of four days stealing teddy bears from a cosmetic and children's store Thor strolls paces around behind a clothing rack moments after he grabbed the teddy bear, Saturday, ready to make a run for it with his stolen toy The store owner, Damaris Rodrigues, told Brazilian news outlet G1, that they had often seen the dog passing by the shop bit they hadn't realized the pooch was a regular. The stolen teddy bear was recovered but that didn't stop Thor who continued his shoplifting spree on Wednesday. Rodrigues was chatting to a customer at the cash register when the dog entered and picked out another toy. But this time he was caught red-pawed. A customer spotted the naughty pet trying to make an escape with his stolen goods and alerted the owner who managed to take back the bear. The whereabouts of the Thor's owner are unknown, according to G1. Thor returned Wednesday and was stopped by the store owner as he tried to flee with another teddy bear Two Democratic senators are urging President Joe Biden to initiate a new five-year plan to increase oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in an effort to trim rising gas prices amid concerns over global supply. They made their pitch in a letter a day after Biden announced his own efforts, including releasing 1 million barrels a day out of the strategic petroleum reserve over the next six months. 'Americans are facing record-level gasoline prices every day when they commute to work, drive their children to school and buy groceries and medicine,' the senators wrote. 'The additional disruptions in the oil market caused by Russia's illegal war in Ukraine could drive prices up even further.' Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) wrote President Biden asking for a new plan for Gulf of Mexico oil drilling Manchin is a key Democratic centrist. Kelly is up for reelection this year. 'We support your decision to coordinate a release of crude oil from the emergency reserves of International Energy Agency members but believe more must be done to provide relief to Americans facing rising costs for everything from gas to groceries,' the wrote, in a letter obtained by Fox News. They call for a new 'five-year plan' to 'establish a schedule of gas sales' in the Gulf. They mention five Gulf states: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and west Florida. They say the plan should be 'flexible' and allow for the 'protection of marine life and the environment' a nod to the environmental controversy over leaking wells and spills such as the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., joined Manchin on the letter to Biden The senators are seeking a new five-year plan for Gulf oil drilling Florida is currently subject to an offshore drilling moratorium, which local leaders back in support of the state's beaches and tourism industry. There are already thousands of drilling operations in the Gulf, which accounts for about 15 per cent of U.S. crude production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Biden also announced plans Thursday meant to accelerate the switch to electric vehicle, as he blamed gas price hikes on the pandemic and Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. He also announced he is using wartime Defense Production Act powers to accelerate the switch to electric cars by producing materials needed for high-capacity batteries. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced new fuel economy standards that will require new vehicles to get an average of 40 miles per gallon, reversing a Trump administration rollback. Advertisement Criminal and civil investigations were launched today into the decision by P&O Ferries to sack nearly 800 workers following mass criticism of the company for making the seafarers redundant without notice. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said this afternoon that the Insolvency Service has started 'formal criminal and civil investigations' and that he will be 'follow this matter closely' along with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. The probe comes after P&O Ferries admitted to breaking the law in the manner in which it terminated staff on March 17 to hire cheaper agency workers, a move that has caused a major backlash from politicians and workers. P&O Ferries chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite told a joint hearing of the Commons' business and transport committees that his company broke the law by not consulting with trade unions before sacking workers. The Insolvency Service said: 'Following its inquiries, the Insolvency Service has commenced formal criminal and civil investigations into the circumstances surrounding the recent redundancies made by P&O Ferries.' Two P&O ferries remain at the Port of Dover in Kent today after the sacking of 800 seafarers by the company without notice Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (left) has already asked the Insolvency Service to consider disqualifying P&O Ferries chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite (right), describing his behaviour as 'outrageous' The Inspector General of the Insolvency Service confirmed the investigations in a letter to the Business Secretary. In the letter, dated April 1 and posted on Twitter by Kwasi Kwarteng, Dean Beale wrote: 'As you know, on 17 March 2022, a total of 786 employees were dismissed across three companies under the P&O Ferries banner. 'In your letter you asked the Insolvency Service to undertake an urgent and thorough enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the redundancies made by P&O Ferries, to determine whether the law has been complied with and consider prompt and appropriate action where it has not. The Inspector General of the Insolvency Service confirmed the investigations in a letter to the Business Secretary today 'Following its enquiries, I can confirm that the Insolvency Service has initiated both formal criminal and civil investigations into the circumstances surrounding the recent redundancies made by P&O Ferries. 'We will publish a short statement today confirming the above position and as you will appreciate, whilst these investigations are being progressed. It would not be appropriate for me to make further comment at this time. I will provide a further update in due course.' Mr Kwarteng tweeted: 'Following my letter to the Insolvency Service last week, formal criminal and civil investigations into P&O Ferries have now commenced. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and I will continue to follow this matter closely as the investigations progress.' And Mr Shapps tweeted: 'The Insolvency Service has reviewed P&O Ferries' actions and placed it under criminal investigation for its actions. Peter Hebblethwaite stood before MPs and admitted to breaking the law, and his actions must now be scrutinised.' He later said in a statement: 'I welcome the Insolvency Service's decision to put P&O Ferries under criminal investigation. Union leaders protest against the dismissal of P&O workers at the terminal in Cairnryan, Dumfries and Galloway, on March 23 Two P&O ferries remain at the Port of Dover in Kent today as freight lorries queue to check-in 'I have called for the P&O chief executive to step down after he shamelessly told Parliament he had knowingly broken the law, and it is right the company is held to account for its actions. 'The nine-point plan I announced this week will strengthen seafarers' employment rights, and my department will fully co-operate with the review to ensure maritime workers are protected from anything like this happening again.' Mr Shapps has already asked the Insolvency Service to consider disqualifying Mr Hebblethwaite, describing his behaviour as 'outrageous'. And P&O Ferries rejected a request from the Government to rehire the employees it had fired, saying that doing so would cause the company to collapse. Mr Hebblethwaite insisted the company would not have survived without taking the action it did. He told MPs the average pay of the agency crew is 5.50 per hour. That is below the UK's minimum wage but Mr Hebblethwaite said this is permitted under international maritime laws. Mr Shapps, whose officials have detained two of P&O operated ferries citing safety concerns since the job cuts, has also said a package of measures would be introduced to block ferry groups seeking to pay workers less than the minimum wage. They included plans to create 'minimum wage corridors' on ferry routes between the UK and other countries. He also urged UK ports to refuse access to boats carrying seafarers paid below the minimum wage. Rail, Maritime and Transport union general secretary Mick Lynch said today: 'There are clear grounds to detain P&O's ships whilst criminal and civil investigations are completed. 'Justice must be delivered for our members in the face of continued corporate hostility.' P&O Ferries is owned by Dubai-based logistics group DP World. The Insolvency Service is a UK Government agency whose remit includes tackling misconduct and 'sharp practice' by company directors. When the family of missing 18-year-old Nevada woman Naomi Irion faced her accused kidnapper in court for the first time this week, they appeared consumed with grief, because they already knew that deputies had found a body, it has now been revealed. Ex-convict Troy Driver, 41, made his initial court appearance on Wednesday to answer to a charge of first-degree kidnapping and had his bail kept at $750,000. He remained behind bars as of Friday. So far, no one has been charged in connection with Irion's death, which has been officially ruled a homicide. In a joint statement released on Thursday, the Churchill County and the Lyon County sheriffs offices said that Irion's 'exact cause of death is known however cannot be released at this time as the circumstances around that event if released would compromise the ongoing investigation.' Meanwhile, Irion's older brother, Casey Valley, has pointed a finger of blame at law enforcement officials for allegedly bungling the initial missing person investigation and publicly accused an unnamed Lyon County sheriff's deputy of dragging his feet for 24 hours. 'I cannot stress enough how important the handling of this case was in the beginning for my sister's life,' Valley wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. Scroll down for video When the family of missing 18-year-old Naomi Irion were pictured in court during the initial appearance of her alleged kidnapper, Troy Driver, on Wednesday, they already knew that a body likely belonging to her had been found The body of Naomi Irion, 18, pictured, was found at a gravesite in Churchill County, Nevada, on Tuesday - 17 days after she disappeared Troy Driver, 41, was officially charged with Irion's kidnapping - but not with her death - on Wednesday This map shows the location in Churchill County, Nevada, where Irion's body was found in a gravesite on Tuesday, more than two wees after her disappearance Naomi Irons left her house on in her blue sedan at 5am on March 12 (image 1); she was then seen buying snacks at a nearby gas station (image 2); shortly after, she drove to a Walmart parking lot where she waited for her work bus to take her to her job at a Panasonic factory. While there, the suspect approached her car, got into the driver's seat and drove away (image 3). Irion's abandoned car was found on March 15 in a nearby industrial park (image 4). Police said on Thursday, March 30, that they have found her remains 60 miles away (image 5) Irion was abducted from a Walmart parking lot in Fernley, Nevada, on the morning of March 12. Authorities acting on a tip discovered her body on Tuesday in a gravesite located in the area of Coal Canyon Road in Churchill County, less than 70 miles from where she was last seen alive. Speaking to KOLO-TV this week, Irion's family, including her brother, sister and mother, said that a short time before Driver was due in court, a deputy came over to their house, telling them that a body had been recovered. 'They didnt know it was her,' Valley said. 'We knew they had a body, and they wouldnt come to me unless they thought it was [Naomi].' Following the hearing, Valley appeared before news cameras outside the courthouse and made a brief statement about the family's quest to bring Naomi home, never letting on that he knew by then that his sister was most likely dead. A couple of hours later, a deputy and a chaplain showed up at the family's home to confirm that the body found in Churchill County belonged to Naomi. Diana Irion, Naomis mother, tearfully described the moment she learned of her daughter's death as 'the worst thing in my life.' (L to R) Casey Valley, Naomi's brother, Diana Irion, her mother, and Tamara Cartwright, her sister, described how a deputy and a chaplain arrived at their home on Wednesday and confirmed that the body was that of Naomi Diana Irion (left) and her daughter Tamara (right) both said they were preparing themselves for the tragic outcome, which did not come as a surprise Both Naomi's mother and sister said that the heartbreaking outcome of the search did not come as a surprise to them. 'I tried to stay positive,' Diana said. 'But I read crime novels, I watch crime TV, I know the statistics. Im a mathematician, and statistics are my thing. I looked it up. I suspected we wouldnt find her alive.' The family plan to attend Driver's future court appearances and support the prosecution until there is justice for Naomi, but her mother said she will not utter the suspect's name. 'I will say my daughters name, Naomi Christine Irion, 18 years old,' she said. 'Lets make Naomi famous, lets not make an animal that murdered her famous.' As of Friday, Driver has not been charged with causing Naomi Irion's death. He is due back in court on April 5. Naomi's brother took to Facebook on Thursday and directed his anger at the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, claiming that a deputy waited three hours to return his call about his missing sister on March 13. 'He filed no missing persons report until 3/14 at around 9pm AFTER I WENT AND FOUND THAT [surveillance] FOOTAGE MYSELF,' Valley alleged. 'Naomis car wasnt found until 36 hours after I made the initial call, and it was UNDER A HALF A MILE AWAY, IN CLEAR VIEW OF THE INTERSTATE. 'I cannot stress enough how important the handling of this case was in the beginning for my sisters life. 'If this deputy had followed the lyon county Sherrifs [sic] office procedure (as he is sworn to do), a BOLO (be on the look out) and a missing persons report would have been filed as soon as I had called on that Sunday. But he didnt. Because he didnt #trustthefamily.' In response to a request for a comment on Valley's allegations, a spokesperson for the Lyon County Sheriff's Office released a statement to DailyMail.com, defending the actions of the responding deputy. 'The Lyon County Sheriffs Office is aware of the comments made by Mr. Casey Valley regarding the first hours of this investigation,' Sgt Brett Willey wrote. 'The circumstances of the initial call for service were investigated by the responding Deputy. 'The original call for service was a Suspicious Circumstances call, and was not classified as a missing person until Mr. Valley contacted the Lyon County Sheriffs Office a second time. On the second call for service, the responding Deputy was able to obtain additional information which began a missing person investigation. 'At this time, we cannot release any further information about the investigation. This is an on-going investigation, and we continue to stay in close contact with Naomi Irions family. The Lyon County Sheriffs Office continues our support for Naomis family, her friends, and the community.' Valley had previously held out hope that Irion was still alive, even writing on his Facebook page Tuesday that his family doesn't 'have any reason to believe that Naomi is not alive.' He also told Fox News Digital just a few hours before the sheriff's departments announced her body had been found: 'I've been assured that there is no reason to believe Naomi has been harmed or is not alive, so we still have hope in our family.' Irion was kidnapped from a Walmart in Fernley, Nevada, on March 12, when surveillance footage showed a man waiting in the parking lot for her. Hundreds of volunteers had joined in searches across the vast desert area around Fernley over the past two weeks looking for Irion, with groups forming online to share any clues about her disappearance, until the Churchill County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday night that they had positively identified her body. Valley, left, had organized search efforts across rural Nevada for Irion after she disappeared In a Facebook post Wednesday night, Valley called for justice in Irion's murder Irion, the daughter of a U.S. State Department staffer, was last seen around 5:25 a.m. on March 12 in her car in a Walmart parking lot in Fernley, about 30 miles east of Reno. In a criminal complaint filed Wednesday morning, prosecutors alleged Driver - who was apprehended last Friday in connection to her disappearance - 'did abduct Naomi Irion and did hold or detain her for the purpose of committing sexual assault and/or for the purpose of killing her.' He made his initial court appearance Wednesday, via video conference from Lyon County Jail, before Canal Township Justice Court Judge Lori Matheus ruled that his bail will remain at $750,000. If Driver is able to post bail, he will be required to wear a GPS monitor as a condition of his release. He also must stay away from Fernley, Nevada, where Irion's kidnapping took place. DailyMail.com reached out to his attorney, Mario Walther, for comment. Valley, meanwhile, said after the hearing that the family was 'all in shock' that any bail had been set. Judge Lori Matheus ordered he remain held on a $750,000 bail Surveillance footage from the morning of Irion's disappearance showed her sitting in the driver's seat while she waited for a company shuttle to take her to her job at Panasonic. A man wearing a hoodie - believed to be Driver - was filmed approaching her vehicle after circling the area. 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 suspect in the driver's seat. The pair then drove out of the lot with the man behind the wheel. Her abandoned car was found on March 15 near a paint manufacturing facility in an industrial park along Interstate 80 less than a mile away from the Walmart store. Valley said earlier his sister usually catches a bus from the Walmart lot to work at a Reno-area Panasonic facility. He contacted family members and authorities after she failed to arrive at work and didn't return home that weekend. Irion's family claimed the teen went on a date with an unknown man the day before she vanished and had previously complained about being sexually harassed at work. Panasonic knew about the harassment and had handled it 'internally,' according to her brother. Before authorities announced that her body had been identified, Valley told reporters Wednesday that the family appreciated the support from the community and praised efforts by sheriff's deputies and federal agents to find his sister. 'Lyon County and the FBI are working very hard,' he said. 'I wish there was more and everybody does.' But following the court hearing Wednesday night, investigators with the Churchill County and Lyon County sheriff's departments announced they had found Irion's body at a gravesite in an undisclosed area of Churchill County. Irion was seen in surveillance footage buying snacks at a gas station convenience store on her way to a her factory job before she disappeared on March 12 Surveillance footage also showed a hooded suspect apparently waiting outside of the Walmart parking lot in Fernley, Nevada for Irion that morning They said they found the body Tuesday night at around 9 p.m. after receiving a tip that led them to the rugged mountains located about 150 miles from where she was abducted in Fernley. 'No further information can be released at this time as this is still an open and active investigation,' the sheriff's office said Wednesday after officials announced Irion had been found. Her body was transported to the Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy, which confirmed identification. 'We would like to extend our sympathy and condolences to the Irion family and thank all the volunteers for their hard work in trying to find Naomi and bring closure to the family,' the law enforcement offices wrote in a press release. They did not provide any additional information about her apparent murder, citing an ongoing investigation. Soon, Facebook posts poured in from residents throughout rural Nevada who wished to share their condolences with the family. On one page dedicated to finding her, creator Rocky Pastorino said he is 'extremely proud of how our community came together to find a person we all fell in love with without knowing Naomi.' But, he added: 'My heart breaks for the Irion family and I personally know exactly how they feel. 'We lost a great woman to a senseless act, and may Naomi Christine Irion rest in peace.' Another woman, Naomi Owaseye also posted: 'I'm very sorry things ended this way and I'm sending my deepest condolence to her family. 'She might be gone physically, but her memories will continue to live with the people she knew, and the people who have come to know her.' Alecia Douthit also wrote that Irion's family had been on her mind, noting: 'I didn't know you or your family, but you've touched so many hearts and you will never be forgotten. 'You deserved so much better, and I'm so sorry you had to see the ugliest parts of our world.' Following the news of her death, local residents shared their sympathies on Facebook pages dedicated to finding her Irion's family has previously told DailyMail.com that the 18-year-old was exploring life as a free, young American woman after growing up in sheltered communities in Russia, Germany and South Africa - a result of her father's job with the State Department. She moved to America last year to live with Valley, an Apple employee who served in the Navy as a nuclear machinist from 2009 to 2016. She wanted to learn how to drive, get a job, go on dates and attend community college. Fernley, where she was living with her brother, is a safe area where the residents are stunned by what has happened. 'She really wanted to experience life in America being an American kid. Most kids get to learn how to drive a car and go on dates and get some freedom but in the diplomatic community overseas, you can't have that. You can't learn how to drive a car. You can't really go on dates safely. 'You have to be secure and there's a lot of security that keeps us safe. She hadn't experienced life without that yet. 'She really wanted to explore herself as a free American young woman and what that looked like for her.' 'She was so excited to move back to America,' her mother, Diana, told DailyMail.com on Tuesday after flying in to Nevada from South Africa, where she still lives with her husband, Herve Irion, and their three Ukrainian-born adopted sons. Until this year, Irion had never driven nor gone on dates freely. She was meeting people 'online' and at work, just like other teenagers and adults, her family said. She was excited about having a car, a job in the Panasonic factory in Reno, where she was making friends. Her plan was to use her brother's safe home as a launchpad for her own life, saving up enough money from her job at Panasonic to afford her own place, and enrolling in community college. DailyMail.com has reached out to Valley about the recent discovery of his sister's remains, and what that means for his family. Irion's family had told DailyMail.com that the 18-year-old was exploring life as a free, young American woman after growing up in sheltered communities Driver, meanwhile, is a convicted felon who previously served 12 years in California state prison for his role in a methamphetamine dealer's murder Driver, meanwhile, is a convicted felon who previously served 12 years in California state prison for his role in a methamphetamine dealer's murder. Criminal records show he was convicted in 1997 of accessory to a murder after the fact in relation to the killing of 19-year-old Paul Steven Rodriguez. The Ukiah Daily Journal reported that in April of that year, Rodriguez, who was a methamphetamine dealer from Willits, California, was shot in the head by his 17-year-old girlfriend, Alissa Marie Moore. Driver, who was 17 years old at the time, and 19-year-old Carl Herbert Dulinksy helped Moore dispose of Rodriguez' body and hide his torched car in a nearby forest. The trio of suspects were arrested after the victim's remains were discovered two weeks after the killing. Four months later, Driver pleaded guilty to the accessory charge related to the murder. He also admitted to robbing a convenience store and a service station, and to breaking into a hardware store. Driver was sentenced to 15 years in state prison but was released after 12 years. His rap sheet in California also includes convictions on charges of second-degree robbery and burglary. A 'much-loved' baby girl died from head trauma after being savagely attacked by her family's pet dog, an inquest has heard. 'Beautiful' Bella-Rae Birch was just 17 months old when the American Bully XL mauled her to death at her home in Blackbrook, St Helen's on March 21. The dog had been bought by her father 'for buttons' just one week earlier and was 'humanely destroyed' following the shocking attack, Merseyside Police said. Well-wishers have been placing flowers and tributes outside the home after neighbours reported seeing her mother Treysharn Bates 'crying hysterically' in the moments after the incident. Bella-Rae's mother today vowed she will 'never be forgotten' as the family thanked the community for their support - after a GoFundMe for her daughter's funeral surpassed 5,000. Police and the ambulance service had been called to the home at 3.49pm after a report that a child had been 'seriously injured.' Bella-Rae Birch, pictured, was mauled to death by an American Bully dog which had been recently bought by her father Ryan Bella Rae, pictured with her parents, Ryan, left, and Tresham Bates, right, died after being attacked by the dog at her home in St Helen's, Merseyside, on March 21 Neighbours previously told MailOnline that Bella-Rae's father Ryan Birch allegedly bought the dog a brown American XL Bully breed from a friend a week ago, and 'was intending to stud it out for puppies for 2,000 each' (stock image) Despite medical treatment, Bella-Rae was declared dead at Alder Hey Children's Hospital at 4.45pm the same day. A post-mortem examination ruled the cause of death as 'head trauma.' Tests confirmed that the animal involved was an American Bully XL, a legal breed not subject to any prohibitions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The only four breeds it is illegal to own without a court exemption in the UK are American Pitbull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brazileiros. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 also criminalises cross-breeds of the four illegal types meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'. Staffordshire Bull Terriers look similar to Pitbull Terriers, but they are legal and common pets. People across St Helens and the wider community sent messages of support and expressed their shock after Bella-Rae's death. Her mother has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her daughter's funeral, which currently stands at 5,550. Merseyside Police giving a press conference outside the home of the dog attack on March 22, 2022 The family issued a tribute to Bella-Rae through Merseyside police, saying: 'As a family we would like to thank the community for their support. 'We would ask that we are now allowed some space and time to try and come to terms with the tragic loss of our much-loved Bella-Rae. 'She will be sadly missed but never forgotten.' Earlier this week, a vigil and balloon release was held in St Helens town centre in memory of the toddler. Neighbours in Blackbrook spoke of their shock in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Joanne Matthews, 53, said: 'She was such a beautiful little girl, toddling about. 'I'd see the family in passing, just to say hello, and they were always very pleasant.' Ms Matthews said she saw an ambulance outside the house in Bidston Avenue before around 10 police vehicles arrived. She said: 'I saw them bring the dog out. I couldn't tell what breed it was but from the back it looked like a Staffordshire bull terrier or pit bull.' Leaving flowers outside the family home, one eyewitness who was close to tears told MailOnline: 'It's awful. I went over to help. I don't want to go into what happened but all I will say is that they were doting family. They doted on that little girl. They were always out together.' Merseyside Police confirmed the killer dog was not on the banned breed list (Pictured: Aerial view of home) Another neighbour said: 'You see it on the news, but when it happens on your doorstep it's devastating for the whole community. 'It's just heartbreaking. The brother of the little girl is in my boy's class at school. My dad ran over and tried to perform CPR, he's really devastated. He's still in shock and won't speak.' One resident said: 'We pulled up from school and heard screaming. I just ran over to try to help and started CPR until the paramedics took over.' Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she got home from the shops at about 4.30pm, when the area was busy with police. She said: 'The mum was on the field at the front of the house crying. She was hysterical. 'It is usually very quiet here and safe for children, but when you hear something like this has happened it is so distressing.' Detective Inspector Lisa Milligan said at the time: 'This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the child's family at this devastating time. 'The little girl's parents and wider family are absolutely devastated and our specialist Family Liaison Officers are providing them with support at this horrendous time.' Prince Andrew will use his central role at Westminster Abbey as a springboard to support his mother at a Platinum Jubilee service at St Paul's Cathedral in June and is not bothered if 'public opinion is against him', it was claimed today. The Duke of York is said to have been 'emboldened' by the Queen's decision to travel with him from Windsor and to let him walk her to and from her seat on Tuesday at an event watched by millions. It came amid reports of a rift between palace aides over the decision and explosive claims that senior members of the Royal Family only found out the night before. The Duke of York is said to be determined to be at the service at St Paul's on June 3, viewing it as a tribute to his mother in the same way Tuesday's service was a tribute to his father Prince Philip. The shamed royal is also disinterested in 'the weight of public opinion' against him, according to The Sun, especially after the Queen is reported to have overruled Prince Charles and Prince William to allow her disgraced son to escort her. 'While he accepts that he no longer has a fully participatory role as a core member of the firm, there will be family events where he will want to be present,' an insider said. Prince Andrew accompanied the Queen to and from Windsor in a decision by his mother said to have emboldened him to do more The Queen held onto Andrew's elbow with her left hand and had a walking stick in her right at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday. He is said to be emboldened to support her again at the Platinum Jubilee The Queen goes to take her seat as Andrew goes towards his for Prince Philip's service at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday The Queen is pictured on the left, and Prince Andrew on the right during the service of thanksgiving for Philip on Tuesday Andrew is trying to become a replacement for Prince Philip as the Queen's unofficial adviser and confidante, it has been claimed. The Duke of York is to be the most regular visitor to the Queen at Windsor Castle. He has no official royal duties left and lives just three miles away at his seven-bedroom Royal Lodge home. But royal aides have no involvement in discussions between the Queen and her so-called 'favourite son' after he was effectively kicked out of the Royal Family by the Queen in January, reported the Daily Telegraph. And their recent conversations would have come at a time when Prince William was out of the country with Kate Middleton on a royal tour in the Caribbean last week, while Prince Charles was on tour in Ireland with Camilla. During March, before Tuesday's service, Andrew has been pictured driving or horse riding in Windsor nine times - on March 28, 26, 25, 24, 22, 21, 15, 14 and 8 - but it is not known whether he saw the Queen on all of these days. The Queen clearly still values Andrew as a family member - and there are concerns within royal circles that he could use his role at Tuesday's memorial to put in an appearance over the Platinum Jubilee weekend this June. While Prince Charles and Prince William feel Andrew should play no part in any royal events, speculation is now mounting that the Queen could invite him to the service at St Paul's Cathedral on June 3 to mark her jubilee. His appearance walking down the aisle with her at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday was a surprise to many including Royal Family members who only found out when it was happening, according to the Telegraph. One insider claimed: 'They didn't know until it happened. The plan changed.' The idea that he was positioning himself as her 'plus one' - and that this only emerged last minute - has been denied by sources close to Andrew. The Duke of York's presence at the service had been known for weeks in advance, but his central role was only revealed hours earlier by royal expert Robert Jobson who said Andrew 'may play a prominent role than we think' Prince Andrew watches as his mother the Queen gets into a car following the service at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday The Queen and Prince Andrew leave by car after attending the service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip on Tuesday Andrew goes horse riding at Windsor Great Park in Berkshire on Monday, one day before the service for Prince Philip Prince Andrew drives into Windsor Castle in his Range Rover covered in Saharan dust earlier this month on March 22 The disgraced royal, who just weeks ago paid millions out of court to settle a civil sex assault case with a woman he said he had never met, accompanied the Queen almost the whole way to her seat in a shock move on Tuesday. Andrew had been banished from royal life, first bowing out of royal duties in 2019 after his disastrous BBC Newsnight appearance over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Sophie takes on Philip's role as Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers The Countess of Wessex has taken over the Duke of Edinburgh's former role as Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (Reme). Sophie was appointed by the Queen, who is head of the Armed Forces, with the decision announced yesterday - the day after Philip's memorial service. Sophie, Countess of Wessex receives members of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (Reme) in her new role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps, at Buckingham Palace yesterday The countess was said to be extremely honoured to be following in her father-in-law's footsteps. Philip held the honorary title for more than 50 years, becoming Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps in 1969. The countess was among members of the royal family who gathered with the monarch in Philip's memory at the service of thanksgiving for his life on Tuesday, 11 months after his Covid-restricted funeral. Formed in 1942, the Reme is responsible for maintaining all the equipment the British Army operates from tanks and helicopters to weapons and communications equipment. The Royal Family said on Twitter how the Corps combined the duke's 'enduring support of the Forces, and keen interest in engineering'. Sophie held an audience with the Reme Master General Lieutenant General Paul Jaques and Colonel Jason Phillips yesterday to formally receive the title. Advertisement This January, he was stripped of his honorary military titles and patronages by the Queen, and forced to relinquish using his HRH style amid his legal battle. Virginia Giuffre was suing him for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein. At the time, Buckingham Palace said: 'The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.' On Tuesday, Andrew was front and centre of Philip's official memorial service, with his mother holding onto his elbow as they made their way via the shortest route into the Abbey to remember Philip. If the Jubilee service of thanksgiving in St Paul's Cathedral on June 3 is considered to be a family occasion, Andrew could be among the congregation, alongside other non-working royals. Royal expert Joe Little, of Majesty magazine, suggested: 'I think he will be there. Although the Queen is head of state, she is also head of the family as well and in that capacity all her children should be with her.' He added the royal family may take stock following the media's response to Andrew's role at Philip's service. Mr Little said: 'It is a hard one to predict. It will depend on how the royal family react to some of the newspapers' front pages today. Of course, they're not known to react in the way that you think they might.' Mr Little added: 'It's two months away. Nobody would have predicted what would happen yesterday because Andrew was in the order of service to arrive with other members of the family and his daughters at the West Door. This was obviously an 11th hour change.' The Palace declined to comment on who would attend the St Paul's service, with a spokesman saying: 'Our position hasn't changed since our statement in January.' Among the headlines in yesterday's papers were 'Royals' 'dismay' at Andrew role in Philip service'', 'The pain... & the stain' and 'Royal fallout over Queen's ultimate act of love'. Clarence House declined to comment on whether the Prince of Wales was supportive of the decision for Andrew to walk alongside her, and Kensington Palace has yet to comment on where the Duke of Cambridge stands on the issue. The pre-printed order of service set out the royal family's arrival sequence, with Andrew due to appear at the main entrance with his daughters and their husbands and walk with them to his seat. Even after the arrangements changed with Andrew travelling from Windsor to London in a car with the Queen, he was then expected to process from Poets' Corner behind the monarch while she walked alongside the Dean of Westminster, rather than the duke being at his mother's side. The Queen, Prince Philip and Andrew watch a Royal Air Force flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony on July 10, 2015 The Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Andrew arrive together in an open top carriage for Royal Ascot on June 21, 2001 The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew (left) and Prince Edward (right) in the grounds of Balmoral when Andrew was a child Andrew remains in the line of succession, and is also still a Counsellor of State. In the event the Queen cannot undertake her official duties as sovereign on a temporary basis due to illness or absence abroad, two or more Counsellors of State are appointed by Letters Patent to act in her place. The role of Counsellor of State is undertaken by any spouse of the monarch and the next four adults in the line of succession, currently Charles, William, Harry and Andrew. Concern over the arrangements, which could only be changed with legislation, has been raised in recent weeks after Charles got Covid and William was away in Dubai at the same time. Advertisement This is the moment Ukrainian forces were greeted with a heroes' welcome and told 'we waited for you' by locals as they liberated a village outside Chernihiv. Footage posted online purports to show a Ukrainian brigade equipped with a tank and several rocket-propelled grenade launchers marching through a small village outside the northern city. Residents were videoed lining the streets, waving Ukrainian insignia and appeared to offer the troops sweets as they cheered the soldiers into the agricultural town - the latest of 30 towns retaken in recent days in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, where Russia has pulled back some of its troops. Ukrainian soldiers on Friday liberated the suburban town of Irpin and the Hostomel air base on the outskirts of Kyiv while also regaining control of the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early on Friday morning. The exchange of control happened amid growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country. The Russian military in the northeast continued to block and shell Chernihiv and Kharkiv on Friday and Ukraine's general staff said its forces were bracing for an all-out assault in the country's east. In the southeast of the country the Russians are trying to seize the cities of Popasna, Rubizhne and Mariupol in order to expand the territory of separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, according to the Ukrainian military. This is the moment Ukrainian forces were greeted with a heroes' welcome and told 'we waited for you' by locals as they liberated a town outside of Chernihiv Footage posted online purports to show a Ukrainian brigade equipped with a tank and several rocket-propelled grenade launchers marching through a small village Residents were videoed lining the streets, waving Ukrainian insignia and appeared to offer the troops sweets as they cheered the soldiers into the agricultural town Ukrainian soldiers have liberated the suburban town of Irpin and the Hostomel air base on the outskirts of Kyiv while also regaining control of the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early on Friday morning. Above, rescuers evacuate an elderly woman from Irpin today Anatoliy Vodopiyts, 68, holds his grandson's hand after he was evacuated from Irpin. Russia said during negotiations on Tuesday that it would scale down operations in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions Above, rescuers in Irpin on Friday. There are growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country Russian troops left the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early on Friday morning after returning control to the Ukrainians, authorities said. Ukraine's state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received 'significant doses' of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. But there was no independent confirmation of that. Announcing the exchange on Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the Russians behaved irresponsibly at the site during the more than four weeks that they controlled it, preventing staff at the plant from performing their full duties and digging trenches in contaminated areas. Kuleba told a news conference in Warsaw that the Russian government had exposed its soldiers to radiation, endangering their health. The exchange of control happened amid growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country. President Vladimir Putin has ordered 134,500 more conscripts to join his army as Russia's forces continue to struggle to make significant gains in Ukraine. Pictured: A Ukrainian soldier takes a selfie next to a destroyed Russian tank in the Sumy region, Ukraine, 30 March 2022 Ukrainian soldiers carry a body of a civilian killed by the Russian forces over the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, on Thursday Russia is also pulling back some of its forces in the northern Ukrainian regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv, the two regions' governors said on Friday. Russia said during negotiations on Tuesday that it would scale down operations in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. Fighting has continued in both regions and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said Russian forces are not withdrawing but regrouping. 'We are observing the movement of joint (Russian) vehicle columns of various quantities,' the Kyiv region's governor, Oleksandr Pavlyuk, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Pavlyuk said some of the troops were heading towards the border with Belarus, a Russian ally. He said Russian forces had left the village of Hostomel, which is next to an important airport, but were digging in at the town of Bucha. Moscow's men have suffered heavy losses in the five week war and NATO estimates between 7,000 and 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the fighting. Ukraine claims as many as 17,000 have been killed. Putin this week ordered 134,500 more conscripts aged 18 to 27 to join his army as part of the annual spring military draft, which runs from April 1 to July 15. A car which was damaged during the shelling, amid Russia's invasion on Ukraine is pictured at the house courtyard, in Irpin Ukraine March 31, 2022 Pictured: Windows that were broken during the shelling amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, are pictured in Irpin, Ukraine March 31, 2022. Emergency service members carry the body of a civilian killed by Russian shelling, in Irpin, Ukraine March 31, 2022 Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin heckled his Republican colleagues over statements made by GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn as he argued for the federal legalization of marijuana on the House floor Friday. 'I concede our party is not for the kind of cocaine-fueled orgies that a freshman Republican representative bragged about this week,' the Maryland Democrat said. 'But we do understand that their marijuana prohibition laws don't work for our people.' Cawthorn said in an interview with Warrior Poet Society that Washington, D.C. is like Netflix's House of Cards in that he's witnessed 'sexual perversion' and cocaine use. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin heckled his Republican colleagues over statements made by GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn as he argued for the federal legalization of marijuana on the House floor Friday Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn is under fire for saying that Washington, D.C. is like Netflix's House of Cards in that he's witnessed 'sexual perversion' and cocaine use 'The sexual perversion that goes on in Washington ... being kind of a young guy in Washington where the average age is probably 60 or 70, I look at all these people - a lot of them who I've looked up to throughout my life ... then all of a sudden you get invited to like, "well hey we're going to have kind of a sexual get together at one of our homes. You should come," like, what did you just ask me to come to? And then you realize they're asking you to come to an orgy,' the North Carolina Republican said. 'There's some of the people that are leading the movement to try and remove addiction in our country and then you watch them doing, you know, a key bump of cocaine in front of you and it's like wow, this is wild,' Cawthorn added. Cawthorn reportedly walked back the comments when he conversed with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy - who received a number of complaints from Congressional Republicans. However, former President Donald Trump's longtime political adviser Roger Stone jumped into the conversation and said Cawthorn didn't actually play take-backsies. Raskin brought up the controversy as he argued in favor of an amendment to the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act that dealt with federal government security clearances. The Maryland Democrat noted that 'ten of millions' of people are being cut off from federal employment over smoking pot. 'That is plainly stupid wrong and unfair,' Raskin said. Raskin's amendment failed. The MORE Act decriminalizes possession, distribution and manufacture of cannabis - and no longer classifies it as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Lawmakers are voting on three amendments, including Raskin's, and also a Republican motion to recommit, which would add fentanyl to the list of Schedule I drugs, before casting votes on the bill. Republicans took to the House floor to call the bill half-baked. 'It's been obvious for years that at some point marijuana was going to me formally legalized. What's deeply and truly disturbing, however, about this bill is its failure to address the clear consequences of legalization,' warned Rep. Cliff Bentz, an Oregon Republican. Cawthorn wasn't on hand for the votes, having Rep. Matt Gaetz - who's under investigation for sex trafficking - vote for him by proxy. A multi-millionaire investment banker and his estranged wife have locked horns in a dramatic court battle after he was cleared of assault. Clive Standish and Anna Standish are fighting it out in the High Court over money following their bitter divorce row at their 11million estate. They were both at a private hearing in the Family Division in London today as a judge opened proceedings. Mr Standish was previously accused of attacking Mrs Standish, who was in the process of divorcing him, by trying to barge down a door she was behind. Mrs Standish, who threatened to 'get him out' of their 83-acre home in Basingstoke, had claimed her husband tried to punch her during the dispute. But a District Judge threw out the case in May, saying the breakdown of the marriage had led to 'emotion interfering with reality'. He ruled accounts of the incident were 'exaggerated' and the 'sad circumstances' of the divorce had led to her memory being 'distorted'. Clive Standish (pictured) and Anna Standish are fighting it out in the High Court over money following their bitter divorce row at their 11million estate Mr Standish (pictured) was previously accused of attacking Mrs Standish, who was in the process of divorcing him, by trying to barge down a door she was behind Moundsmere Manor is set in 83 acres (above) near the village of Preston Candover, was built in 1908 but the original manor dates back even further. It was once owned by Henry VIII and formed part of the wedding gifts for two of his wives Stately home owned by King Henry VIII... what is Moundsmere Manor? The current Moundsmere Manor in Hampshire was built in 1908 by the Edwardian architect Sir Reginald Blomfield for Wilfred Buckley, an English merchant returning to the UK having made his fortune in America. The red brick Grade II listed building is now owned by Mr Standish after it went on the market in 2010 for 10.95million. The 15-bedroom stately home was previously owned by Tory life peer Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay. The original manor dates back even further, having been once owned by Henry VIII and formed part of the wedding gifts for two of his wives - Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard. In 1543 it was exchanged by King Henry as part of a deal with Winchester College. Advertisement Mr Justice Moor, who oversaw a preliminary hearing today, said both could be named in media reports but other detail could not be disclosed. Mr Standish was alleged to have snooped through his wife's emails and tracked her via GPS after he believed she was having an 'inappropriate relationship'. After she filed for divorce, he confronted her because she said she would 'get him out' of their stately home of Moundsmere Manor, Hampshire. The court heard Mr Standish came into the courtyard of his estate last March complaining about the 'bloody' divorce and calling his wife a gold digger. He was then accused of raising his fist at a bystander who intervened, although the judge ruled last year this was not meant in an aggressive manner. After his wife went back indoors, the 68-year-old followed her and was accused of 'barging' down a door she had tried to lock behind her. Appearing before Aldershot Magistrates Court previously, Mrs Standish told the court the pair first met in 1996, and after living together in Switzerland and Australia they returned to the UK in 2011. The court heard in 2019 his wife had filed for divorce, but remained at the 11m Moundsmere mansion, which sits in 83 acres near the village of Preston Candover. Mrs Standish told the court the relationship had its 'ups and downs'. She said: 'Clive constantly opened my emails, was constantly going in my computer, constantly went in my car and checked my sat nav. He was in my personal space and went through my drawers.' In March 2020 Mrs Standish alleged her husband 'came out very angry, shouting loudly at me straight away' while she was in the courtyard of the house. She said: 'I asked him what he had been doing all day and he said 'thinking about this bloody divorce' and called me a gold digger, he was so angry.' She told the court she went inside the house and tried to lock Mr Standish outside, but he started ramming the door to get it open. A bystander speaking in evidence said: 'He [Mr Standish] came out screaming... he was saying that she was a gold digger and saying horrible stuff in an angry voice. In court, Mr Standish denied two charges, one of assault by beating of his wife and one of common assault of the bystander. He told the court there were issues in his marriage as far back as 2013, when he began to suspect 'Anna was conducting an inappropriate relationship with a particular man'. Despite this, they got through a rough patch and when he learned of divorce proceedings he said he was 'surprised'. On March 15, 2020, Mr Standish said he went into the courtyard when the bystander confronted him. District Judge Timothy Pattinson, found Mr Standish not guilty at Aldershot Magistrates' Court (above), saying the 'very sad' circumstances of the divorce had led to a 'distortion' of events He said: 'I raised my hand about shoulder height and [she] stopped dead in her tracks. 'Anna saw this immediately and grasped my hand with both arms. She said I was going to hit her. I said I most certainly was not. 'I made absolutely no attempt to swing a punch whatsoever. I immediately followed them towards the door.' He went on: 'Anna was closing it and I stopped her from closing it. I didn't push particularly hard.' He said this was when he called her a gold digger, because he claimed she said 'I'm going to get you out of Moundsmere'. District Judge Timothy Pattinson, found Mr Standish not guilty of both charges saying the 'very sad' circumstances of the divorce had led to a 'distortion' of events. As a result, he said the prosecution had not proved their case and acquitted Mr Standish of all charges. Giving the reasons for his finding, Judge Pattinson said: 'I find that on neither charge can I be satisfied so that I am sure that the prosecution have proved their case. The former Chief Financial Officer at UBS, Clive Standish (pictured in 2006) earned a slice of a 45million payout when he left the Swiss bank 'My reasons are primarily because of what I find to be exaggeration by, and unreliability of, the evidence of both Anna and [the other witnesses]... Essentially, because of emotion that has interfered with reality. '[That] is different from saying either Anna or [the other witnesses] has deliberately come to court to tell lies - I'm not saying that. 'I just feel this very, very sad situation has led to a distortion of what actually happened.' Mr Standish started his professional career with N M Rothschild & Sons Ltd in London. In 1998, Standish was appointed Chairman and CEO for the Asia Pacific arm of global investment banking firm UBS AG. In 2003 he moved to the bank's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland as Group Chief Financial Officer of UBS AG until 2007 when he retired in the wake of huge sub prime losses at the bank. In 2008 it emerged on his departure he shared a pay-out of almost 45million with the Swiss giant's former chief executive and head of investment banking. The current Moundsmere Manor was built in 1908 by the Edwardian architect Sir Reginald Blomfield for Wilfred Buckley, an English merchant returning to the UK having made his fortune in America. The red brick Grade II listed building is now owned by Mr Standish after it went on the market in 2010 for 10.95million. The 15-bedroom stately home was previously owned by Tory life peer Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay. The original manor dates back even further, having been once owned by Henry VIII and formed part of the wedding gifts for two of his wives - Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard. In 1543 it was exchanged by King Henry as part of a deal with Winchester College. Korea Development Bank (KDB) Chairman Lee Dong-gull speaks during a press conference at KDB's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul in January. Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo Korea Development Bank (KDB) Chairman Lee Dong-gull is finding himself increasingly exposed to unfavorable circumstances in completing his term through September 2023, with a dispute over the appointment of a new CEO of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) adding to uncertainty concerning his future. The state-run KDB is the main creditor of debt-ridden DSME, with a controlling stake of 55.7 percent. The DSME CEO dispute comes as the latest in a series of rows between the outgoing and incoming administrations of President Moon Jae-in and President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol in picking the next chiefs and other senior figures of government-affiliated entities outside Cheong Wa Dae and the Cabinet. The conflicts have involved the leadership of the Bank of Korea and the Board of Audit and Inspection. Yoon's presidential transition committee was displeased with Moon for trying to exercise his rights until the last minute in order to fill in the posts without consulting Yoon sufficiently. In addition, Lee, a Moon loyalist, has been targeted by Yoon's transition committee after Park Doo-sun, a longtime friend of the president's young brother, was appointed CEO of DSME for a three-year term, Thursday. KDB and DSME explained Park's appointment was not politically motivated, and that the decision was made independently by the shipbuilder's emergency committee aimed at normalizing its management, with KDB injecting trillions of won of taxpayer money over the years. The transition committee, however, suspects Moon may have influenced the decision. It also suspects Lee was behind KDB's failure to comply with its repeated requests addressed to financial regulators to manage DSME accordingly. In its requests, the transition committee urged government-affiliated entities to refrain from reshuffles of top personnel for the time being as part of the preparations for a smooth transition of power. "It remains uncertain why KDB did not notify DSME of our requests," Won Il-hee, deputy spokesperson of the presidential transition committee, said during a press briefing, Thursday. Calling the appointment of the new DSME CEO an "irrational decision," Won went onto say any responsible figures are possibly in breach of the law due to an abuse of power. Won did not specifically point his finger at Lee. However, he brought up the career history of the KDB chairman in what is seen as a bid to underline Lee's relationship with the President and implicitly hint at Lee's possible involvement in the DSME CEO appointment decision. Lee remains the sole KDB chairman under Moon's five-year presidency, beginning his first three-year term in 2017 and being reappointed for another three years in September 2020. A progressive-minded economist, he was vice chairman of the Financial Services Commission in the early years of the 2003-08 Roh Moon-hyun administration. Moon was also Roh's chief of staff. Lee was criticized in September 2020 for lacking political neutrality. He then proposed a toast hoping for the liberal government to remain in power for the next 20 years, during a ceremony to mark the publication of then-ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Hae-chan's autobiography. The KDB chairman has been an outspoken critic of Yoon's plan to relocate KDB's Seoul headquarters to Busan, in the name of balanced regional development, calling it "a plan to regress, not progress." His remarks fueled speculation that the incoming Yoon administration may put him on the list of chiefs of state-run institutions to be forced out regardless of their remaining terms. KDB's botched sales of DSME in January and SsangYong Motor, a debt-ridden carmaker also under the bank's control, in late March, are considered as possible excuses for the incoming government to sack Lee. "Yoon will not ditch Lee abruptly because it will only worsen the political divide," said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University. "Still, it is fair game for Yoon to bring up differing policy directions between him and Lee and let him quit voluntarily." Hundreds of battle-hardened Syrian mercenaries are signing up to join Russian forces on the promise of earning $1,000-a-month, as Moscow continues to struggle to make significant gains in its war in Ukraine. Syrian fighters have gained years of experience fighting in their country's civil war, which has all but crushed both ISIS and the rebel resistance, but left the economy in tatters. But now those who honed their skills during President Bashar al-Assad's brutal 11-year-war cannot find work at home. Instead, they are choosing to become mercenaries, fighting for foreign countries in order to earn a living. The first group of at least 300 of Syrian fighters has already arrived in Russia to begin military training - and to return the favour to Moscow for helping Al-Assad in the civil war, the New York Times reports. And with Syrian an economic basket case, many more are expected to follow. Hundreds of Jihad-hardened Syrian mercenaries are signing up to fight with Russian forces on the promise of earning $1,000-a-month. Pictured: Syrian soldiers hold up a white 'Z' that has become a pro-Russian symbol since the invasion of Ukraine began Recruiters in Syria are reportedly offering mercenaries between $1,000 to $2,000 to join Vladimir Putin's forces invading of Ukraine. They are said to have drawn up a long list of thousands of willing candidates. The newspaper reports that they will first be vetted by Syrian security services and then sent on their way to the Russians. While some are thankful to Russia for its assistance in the civil war - most just need the money. Applicants to fight in Ukraine must be between 20 and 45 years old and 110 and 200 pounds, one source in Syria told the New York Times. Those with military experience go to the front of the line, but all must be screened. The group of 300 that has already arrived in Russia is reportedly from the Syrian Army's elite 25th Division - also known as the Tiger Forces. They have previous experience fighting with Russians. The source said that when Syrians heard Russia was looking for 16,000 mercenaries to go to Ukraine, there was a rush to sign up. He said that the Russians have offered $1,200-per-week with a bonus of $3,000 upon their return. Their families have also been promised a one-off sum of $2,800 and $800-a-month should the mercenary be killed in combat when fighting for Russia. Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, gestures while speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. Many of those who honed their skills during President Bashar al-Assad's brutal 11-year-war cannot find work at home, and are instead willing to offer their services to Putin to earn a living fighting abroad But Bassam Alahmad - the head of Syrians for Truth and Justice - told the New York Times that the practice was a form of predatory recruitment by Russia. Moscow, he said, was targeting the most desperate in Syria who are being told they will be given up non-combat roles, when in reality they could be signing their lives away only to be killed in a foreign country. 'Some people don't mind fighting, but there are groups that are definitely taking advantage of people's needs,' Mr. Alahmad told the American newspaper. 'The result is the same: People are paying this price. People are participating in wars that aren't theirs.' In the aftermath of the civil war, Syria has become an exporter of mercenaries, with fighters from the country already selling their services in Azerbaijan, Libya and the Central African Republic. And while Syrian fighters may have years of experience fighting in their own country, they will now find themselves facing a Ukrainian army that is just as battle-hardened, fighting on their own land to defend their country. Ukrainian military member takes selfies next to a destroyed Russian tank, near the railway station where the Russian forces were stationed, in recaptured by the Ukrainian army Trostyanets town, in Sumy region, Ukraine, 30 March 2022 Many Ukrainian soldiers have been fighting against Russia or pro-Russian troops since 2014, when the war in the eastern Donbas region broke out. In the eight years since fighting in the region began, an estimated 14,000 people have been killed. Experts say that the resistance put up by Kyiv's forces has taken Moscow by complete surprise, with the Kremlin expecting a swift invasion by its large armies would quickly overthrow Ukraine's democratically elected government. The opposite has been true. Despite their inferior numbers, Ukrainian troops have proven to be more capable and effective than Russia's, which have suffered devastating losses. One NATO estimate puts Russian losses as high as 15,000. In addition to the troops from Syria arriving as reinforcements, Moscow is expected to soon be deploying more mercenaries from the feared Wagner group. The director of Britain's intelligence agency GCHQ Jeremy Fleming said yesterday that the group was 'taking it up a gear' after being active in the country since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. 'The group works as a shadow branch of the Russian military, providing implausible deniability for riskier operations,' he said. The United States and the European Union consider the Wagner Group - which was also deployed to Syria to help Assad's forces quell the rebels - to be a surrogate of the Russian military. The Kremlin denies it even exists. In addition to the troops from Syria, Moscow is also expected to soon be deploying more mercenaries from the feared Wagner group (pictured, file photo) Wagner is 'looking at relocating forces from other conflicts and recruiting new fighters to bolster numbers. These soldiers are likely to be used as cannon fodder to try to limit Russian military losses,' he said. U.K. officials said a day earlier that they expected Wagner to send up to 1,000 mercenaries to take part in combat operations in Ukraine after the regular Russian military suffered heavy losses. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in the past that Wagner and other private groups neither represent the Russian state nor are paid by it, though he says they have a right to operate provided they do not break Russian law. The European Union imposed sanctions on Wagner last year, accusing it of fuelling violence, looting natural resources and destabilising countries around the world. An officer in the German army reserve has been charged with being a Russian spy after allegedly passing information to Vladimir Putin's intelligence services for six years. 'Ralph G' is suspected of passing on to his Russian handlers the 'personal data of high ranking members of the Bundeswehr' and figures from the business world, 'including contact details'. He is also accused of leaking information on a variety of sensitive areas for the Federal Republic of Germany, including the German military's reserves, 'civil defence', the impact of sanctions on Russia in 2014, and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project between Russia and Germany, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement. Ralph G had been 'in contact with a Russian intelligence service through various people since October 2014 at the latest', prosecutors said. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a concert marking Russian Security Service Officer Day, in Moscow, accompanied by his spy chiefs Alexander Bortnikov, left, and Sergey Naryshkin, right, 19 December 2019 Leopard 2 main battle tanks of the German Bundeswehr accompanied by a Puma armored personnel carrier during training on December 6, 2018 in Munster, Germany. Reserve officer 'Ralph G' is accused of passing on 'personal data of high ranking members of the Bundeswehr' Terminal facilities for where the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipline between Russia and Germany makes landfall in Lubmin, Germany, pictured March 7, 2021 Until March 2020, the suspect is said to have passed Russian spies 'documents and information on numerous occasions', relating both to the army reserve and business. Alongside his role in the reserve, the suspect "belonged to several German business committees" thanks to his civilian profession. 'In return for his services, the accused received invitations to events organised by the Russian government agencies,' prosecutors said. Ralph G. is the latest in a string of suspected Russian spies uncovered on German soil. Russian scientist Ilnur Nagaev is currently standing trial accused of spying for Moscow while working at a German university. Nagaev, who was stopped by authorities last year, is accused of having shared information about Europe's Ariane space rocket programme with Russia's foreign intelligence service SVR. In October 2021, a German man was handed a two-year suspended sentence for passing on floor plans of parliament buildings to Russian secret services while employed by a security company. Last August, a former employee of the British embassy in Berlin was arrested on suspicion of having passed on documents to Russian intelligence. The administration of President Joe Biden announced Thursday it will deport illegal immigrants immediately after they cross the border - amid panic of a 'mass migrant event' after the CDC said it would lift Title 42 after two years. The announcement that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could end Title 42 - which allowed the government to expel or ban migrants due to the Covid pandemic, effectively shutting down the asylum process - by May 23 has left the US bracing for a tidal wave of immigrants. On Thursday, White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield reassured Americans that undocumented immigration was still an illegal act. 'To be clear, people who cross the border without legal authorization will be placed immediately in deportation procedures and, if they cannot certify their stay in the United States, they will be returned quickly to their countries,' Bedingfield said. Title 42 was put into place by President Donald Trump in March 2020 and provided the U.S. Border Patrol the authority to immediately turn migrants who are stopped unlawfully crossing the United States-Mexico border without the opportunity to apply for refuge in the U.S. More than 1.6 million migrants - mostly single adults and family units - have been expelled under Trump and Biden. U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Del Rio Sector in Texas stopped 187 migrants who unlawfully crossed from Mexico on March 27. The White House said Thursday that migrants will be immediately deported from the U.S. whether Title 42 is extended or removed. The CDC is expected to remove the Trump-era measure May 23 U.S. Border Patrol Tucson Sector agents on this week stopped 13 migrants after they illegally crossed the United States-Mexico border. The latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection report showed 838,685 migrant encounters along the 1,954-mile southwestern border region since October 1, 2021, the beginning of fiscal year 2022. The smuggling of migrants was disrupted by U.S. Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector this week when officers discovered a southern California stash house with 17 individuals. Three smugglers were arrested However, under the Biden administration, unaccompanied boys and girls under 18 who were smuggled from Mexico to the United States remain exempt from being expelled under Title 42. Bedingfield said the removal or extension of Title 42 is 'a decision' that the CDC has to make, adding that the White House was ready 'any contingency', including the rise of asylum seekers along southwestern border region. She added that the administration's goal will be 'to process migrants in a safe and orderly manner' and cautioned that anyone who crosses the United States-Mexico border without legal documents will be removed. 'Obviously, trying to enter the United States illegally has consequences and no one would have to take this dangerous decision,' Bedingfield said. Since Biden took office in January 2021, CBP has encountered more than 2.2 million migrants and the border and that number could as much as triple with the end of Title 42 U.S. Border Patrol agents with the Del Rio Sector pulled over a truck and discovered dozens of migrants being smuggled on March 25 The warning comes as some Democrats sided with Republicans in arguing that the administration doesn't have a substitute plan to stop the massive arrival of migrants who are expected at the border if the Trump-era health measure used to expel unlawful border is pulled back. Senator Joe Manchin told reporters on Thursday that the administration should drop plans to scrap the Trump-era policy. Reports emerged Wednesday that the Biden administration plans to finally end Title 42 in late May after months of pressure from immigration advocacy groups to end what they claim is an inhumane policy. CDC is expected to end policy on May 23 giving immigration agencies less than two months to prepare for a possible tripling of migration at the southern border. New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassen tweeted Wednesday: 'I am concerned that there is not a sufficient plan in place to address the steep increase in border crossings that could result from this reported decision.' 'This preemptive repeal threatens border security at a time when the administration should be focused on strengthening it,' she added. Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas also warned Wednesday that repealing Title 42 will lead to a large wave of migrants at the border. 'If Title 42 expires, as the border patrol has told me, they expect a tsunami of humanity to come across border and the border patrol has said they will lose control entirely,' Senator Cornyn said at a news conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection report showed 838,685 migrant encounters along the 1,954-mile southwestern border region since October 1, 2021, the beginning of fiscal year 2022. The totals are on pace to surpass the 1,734,686 interdictions for fiscal year 2021. Moderate Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema said Wednesday that she and fellow Arizona Senator Mark Kelly spoke with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about not ending Title 42 until there are other safeguards in place at the border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reported 838,685 encounters along the 1,954-mile southwestern border region since October 1, 2021, the beginning of fiscal year 2022. The totals are on pace to surpass the 1,734,686 interdictions for fiscal year 2021 U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Three Points Station encountered a group of 54 migrants west of Tucson, near the border gate in San Miguel, Arizona, on or about February 20. Many in the group were unaccompanied children from Central America - the youngest was just five years old U.S. Border Patrol's Del Rio Sector agents found five migrant minor children alone near the Rio Grande shore in Texas on February 24. Under the administration of President Joe Biden, boys and girls under the 18 who cross the border unaccompanied are exempt from being expelled under Title 42 On February 14, border patrol agents in Uvalde, Texas, encountered a group of migrants trapped in rail cars. Among those rescued was a Honduran couple and their 17-month-old baby son 'We spoke with the @DHSgov Secretary about the administration's Title 42 contingency plans following our letter to the President urging him not to end Title 42 without a comprehensive plan to support border communities,' Sinema tweeted Wednesday of her and Kelly's meeting. She said in a statement following the meeting of her border state constituents and illegal border crossers: 'Ending Title 42 without a comprehensive plan in place puts at risk the health and safety of migrants and Arizona communities.' Sinema is chairwoman of the Senate Subcommittee on Border Management. 'There is still not an adequate plan or sufficient coordination to end Title 42 without further straining our law enforcement, border communities, and nonprofits providing humanitarian assistance to migrants,' junior Arizona Senator Kelly said in a statement on the meeting with DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to discuss the Administration's Title 42 contingency plan. 'We'll continue to push the Biden administration for the resources and support Arizona needs amid this crisis at our southern border,' Kelly added. A consultant anaesthetist at London's Royal Free Hospital who tried to meet a seven-year-old girl for sex was today jailed for more than two years. Mark Carrington, 49, (pictured) from Radlett, Hertfordshire, was caught in an undercover police operation Mark Carrington, 49, from Radlett, Hertfordshire, was caught in an undercover police operation. North West Regional Organised Crime Unit's operation saw an undercover officer using a fictional identity engage with Carrington online. Carrington agreed to meet another fictional person on the agreement that they would sexually abuse a seven-year-old girl together. The 49-year-old was arrested on Wednesday 26 January this year by officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary's Child Online Safeguarding Team in Finchley, London. Carrington was working as a consultant anaesthetist at the Royal Free in London when he was arrested. He was suspended and the police investigation found no evidence of the offences being linked to Carrington's job role. The 49-year-old was today sentenced at St Alban's Crown Court after he previously pleaded guilty to arranging the commission of a child sexual offence and three charges of downloading indecent photographs of children. He was also issued with a sexual harm prevention order and will have to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years. Detective Sergeant Jim Miller, of the Child Online Safeguarding Team, said: 'Carrington's actions showed he is a serious danger to children as he believed he had arranged a meeting in which he would carry out the sexual abuse of a child. 'What is additionally concerning is that Carrington occupied a great position of trust in his medical role and although he knew what he was doing was utterly wrong, he carried on. 'Our goal will always be to safeguard children from predators and ensure those who choose to commit these crimes are charged, convicted and jailed so they cannot present a danger to anyone else. 'I would like to thank the officers from the NWROCU for their guidance and support in what was a partnership approach to capturing an online predator. I would also like to give mention to the team at the Royal Free Hospital, who fully cooperated with the police investigation throughout.' The 49-year-old was today sentenced at St Alban's Crown Court after he previously pleaded guilty to arranging the commission of a child sexual offence and three charges of downloading indecent photographs of children. Pictured: The Royal Free Hospital Detective Chief Inspector Andy Buckthorpe, of the NWROCU, who worked with Det. Sgt. Miller on the investigation, added: 'We welcome the sentencing of Mark Carrington and hope that the public feel safer in the knowledge that this sexual predator, who was a significant risk to children, is now behind bars. 'Here at the NWROCU, we work with UK forces, agencies and CEOP (the Child Exploitation Online Protection centre), as well as agencies in other countries which share our desire and determination to protect children from depraved and dangerous offenders such as Carrington. 'Law enforcement operates across the internet and we will use every tactic and technological advancement available to ensure people cannot and do not get away with the terrible crimes they have committed.' Police have arrested a man accused of raping a British holidaymaker after offering her a lift back to her hotel from the Majorcan party resort of Magaluf. The Spanish suspect allegedly forced himself on the 27-year-old tourist after stopping in a car park and locking the car doors. The unnamed 34-year-old is now due in court where an investigating judge will decide whether to remand him in custody pending an ongoing criminal probe or release him on bail. Magaluf on Spanish island Mallorca is a popular tourist resort for Brits (file picture) Detectives have not revealed what led them to the man. The National Police investigation which resulted in the arrest was led by a specialist unit called UFAM. which specialises in dealing with crimes that include violence against women. A spokesman for the force, confirming the arrest, said: 'Police in Palma have arrested a Spanish man on suspicion of a sex attack on a tourist. 'The incident he was held over occurred in the early hours of September 8 last year when a holidaymaker ended up alone in a bar area of Magaluf and was left having to return to her hotel in Palma with no means of transport. 'At that moment a man approached her and they began talking and she told him what had happened at which point he offered to accompany her to her hotel. 'On the way the suspected sex attacker parked up in a car park and then locked the vehicle and pushed the tourist against the seat before forcing himself on her. 'She subsequently managed to get out of the car and fled and moments later got into a taxi that took her to her hotel. 'When officers were informed about what had happened, the National Polices UFAM unit began an investigation with the little information it had, managing to obtain more details little by little. 'The Traffic Department in the Balearic Islands also helped out and months later a suspect was identified. 'He was arrested on Wednesday.' Well-placed sources confirmed the holidaymaker was from the UK. It was not immediately clear when the suspect would appear in court for his remand hearing, which will take place behind closed doors. In Spain, only trials take place in public. The episode triggered fresh criticism of the Biden administration for failing to unite the world against Putin But he got a warm welcome and a meeting with PM Narendra Modi He arrived a day after U.S. and British officials pressed India not to undermine sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday hailed India as a friend that was not taking a 'one-sided view' on the Ukraine war, during a visit to New Delhi that critics said showed how the Biden administration was failing to unite the world against Moscow. India is under intense pressure to back away from Vladimir Putin and stem its purchases of Russian oil, for fear it is undermining Western sanctions. This week, President Joe Biden's Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh - one of the chief architects of sanctions against Russia - and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss were in New Delhi with fresh pleas for help. They were followed by Lavrov who met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi - a nicety not afforded the other visitors. Russia is the biggest supplier of defence equipment to India and Lavrov said the two countries would use a rupee- to-rouble mechanism to trade oil and military hardware. That comes despite Singh delivering a warning to India that it would expose itself to 'great risk' if it increased its purchases of Indian oil, according to Reuters. Brett Bruen, who was director of global engagement in the Obama White House, said it illustrated a deep problem for Biden's coalition. 'The Biden administration's trumpeting of their diplomatic successes has rubbed a lot of countries and leaders the wrong way, because they seem to have a very Eurocentric worldview and that's not going to help when we need India and China and the Gulf nations on our side,' he said. 'So how do we engage them in terms that are both respectful and relevant?' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and said he hoped Russia could avoid sanctions pressure with help from friends like India Lavrov's warm welcome in New Delhi came hours after President Joe Biden's Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh, and architect of his sanctions, visited with a warning to India not to increase its purchases of Russian oil which were helping keep Moscow afloat British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also visited India this week as part of a push to wean India away from relying on Russia for defense equipment He said the administration was in danger of believing its own rhetoric about N.A.T.O. and Western unity - forgetting that it could alienate other nations that were reluctant to fall in behind American leadership. 'We've got to have the East and the centre with us as well,' he said. For example, Biden's diplomats heralded votes at the United Nations General Assembly that condemned Russia's invasion. 'Today, the world has spoken with a clear, united voice,' said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, after 141 nations backed the resolution last month. 'Together, the vast majority of the world has condemned Russia's unprovoked, unjustified, unconscionable war.' But skeptics of Biden's approach point out that nations that abstained include the populous and the influential - such as India, South Africa and China. 'The U.N. General Assembly votes have been hailed as a tremendous illustration of Putin's isolation in the world,' said a senior European diplomat. 'But when you look at the numbers it suggests that half the world is actually hedging its bets or is reluctant to fall in line with Biden.' Above, rescuers in Irpin on Friday. There are growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country President Vladimir Putin has ordered 134,500 more conscripts to join his army as Russia's forces continue to struggle to make significant gains in Ukraine. Pictured: A Ukrainian soldier takes a selfie next to a destroyed Russian tank in the Sumy region, Ukraine, 30 March 2022 Service members of pro-Russian troops sit atop of an armoured vehicle, which moves along a street in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Add up the populations of the 35 abstainers and the four countries that voted with Russia, and Moscow looks a lot less isolated. A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council played down the idea that the meetings in India suggested Biden's strategy was failing. 'We feel very confident about the strength of the U.S.-India partnership,' said Saloni Sharmi. 'The close consultations we had in New Delhi over the past couple of days are a testament to that partnership.' She added that they built on Biden's Quad meeting this month, which included the leaders of Japan and Australia as well as India. Both the U.S. and the U.K. indicated that the wanted to help ease India away from Russia, rather than issuing threats. British officials said they wanted to strengthen defense ties while a U.S. official told DailyMail.com: 'The U.S. stands ready to support India to mitigate the impact of Russias war against Ukraine on energy prices, food prices, and other commodities and goods India needs.' Even so analysts said there was other evidence of the flaw in Biden's approach this week. He announced the release of 180 million barrels of oil from U.S. strategic reserves in part because Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had proved impervious to requests to pump more oil in order to bring prices down. Relations between the two Gulf states and Washington have frozen over since Biden won the 2020 election with a promise to turn Saudi Arabia into a 'pariah state' because of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. At the same time, Biden has pushed ahead with negotiations to return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, potentially lifting some sanctions on a state accused of backing terrorist groups and developing long-range ballistic missiles, much to horror of Washington's allies in the region. The United Nations General Assembly voted 141 to five to condemn Russian actions in Ukraine. But 35 countries abstained, representing almost half the world's population, and illustrating that much of the planet is not signed up to isolating Vladimir Putin Rich Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Vandenberg Coalition advisory board member, said Biden had 'bungled' relations with what should be crucial partners. 'We should be standing with traditional oil-producing allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, not sending them into the arms of Russia and China by empowering their mortal enemies in Tehran,' he said. More importantly, Biden had failed to realise that many nations - from Israel to India - had difficult diplomatic relations with Russia that made it hard for them to turn away from Moscow. 'From the Russian perspective they are not isolated, they are not a pariah, they are still reaping most of their energy revenue,' he said. 'They are not just muddling through but they are moving ahead with fear of the consequences of U.S. or European sanctions. 'They have hubs established in different countries to help them evade the pressure.' The answer, he said, was the use of secondary financial sanctions, which would effectively impose penalties on foreign firms or entities that chose to trade with Russia. 'I think there are plenty of countries out there that would welcome that,' said Goldberg, adding that it would give foreign governments a face saving way out by allowing to say they had been forced to stop dealing with Moscow. An Afghan-American Naval reservist and his brother were released by the Taliban on Friday after months of negotiations by the Biden administration. Safi Rauf and his brother Anees Khalil were taken prisoner in December as they worked to help people flee Afghanistan's hardline rulers. They founded the Human First Coalition, which worked with the Digital Dunkirk movement to rescue those at risk of Taliban persecution. 'On December 18, 2021, my brother Anees Khalil and I were engaged in humanitarian aid work in Afghanistan when we were taken into the Talibans captivity and were subsequently held by them for the last 105 days,' Rauf said in a statement published by his organisation. 'Our understanding is that this exceptionally unfortunate situation arose due to a misunderstanding; we did nothing wrong.' And he thanked everyone who worked 'tirelessly' to secure their freedom. The State Department announced Friday that Naval reservist Safi Rauf and his brother Anees Khalil had been released by the Taliban after spending 105 days in Taliban custody Rauf and his brothers founded the Human First Coalition to help desperate Afghans flee the country's hardline rulers and the chaotic departure of US troops in Afghanistan last year Rauf was born in a refugee camp in Pakistan before reaching the US. He served with U.S. special forces in Afghanistan before enlisting in the US Navy reserves Their release was confirmed by the State Department, which said they had been 'unjustly detained. Spokesman Ned Price said they were now in Qatar en route to the United States. 'We are grateful for the efforts of all those who worked to secure their release, but more work remains,' he said. 'Unjustly holding Americans captive is always unacceptable, and we will not stop until every American who is being unjustly held against their will is able to hug their families once again.' The Taliban seized Kabul in August last year, upending President Joe Biden's hopes of an orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops. It led to a frantic mission to evacuate U.S. citizens and Afghans who worked with American forces. That work continues, to both free Westerners in Taliban custody and to help vulnerable Afghans flee the country. They include Mark Frerichs, a fifty-nine-year-old civil engineer and Navy veteran, who was abducted in Kabul in 2020. In February a British journalist Andrew North was released along with another journalist and Afghan citizens after being detained while they did work for the United Nations. Mark Frerichs has been held by the Taliban since 2020. His captors say they are willing to negotiate Frerichs's release and want to swap him for an Afghan druglord held in US prison Frerichs has been held by the Taliban for almost two years since being abducted in Kabul Another British man, former cameraman Peter Jouvenal, was seized in Kabul at the end of last year and remains in custody. Kidnappings have long been a tactic of the Taliban, used as a tool to spread fear and to generate income from ransoms. Last year, Afghanistan's rulers made clear how they planned to use the tactic again. They have been pressing to swap Frerichs for an Afghan drug lord serving a life sentence in a U.S. In his statement, Rauf said he and his brother would keep working for Afghans. 'At this time, we are looking forward to reuniting with our family and loved ones and ultimately, I hope we can continue to advocate for and seek ways to serve the Afghan people in this critical time of need in Afghanistan,' he said. His organization was involved in aiding the escape of the Afghan translator who helped rescue Joe Biden from a remote valley in Afghanistan in 2008. Aman Khalili who assisted US troops who rescue Biden after his helicopter made an emergency landing during a snow storm back when he was a US senator visiting the country made it out after a harrowing journey involving multiple safe houses, Taliban checkpoints, and tense moments where he nearly turned back. 'It was as clandestine as it gets,' Rauf told DailyMail.com at the time. A cruel man and woman have been jailed for a total of 14 years after they made two young boys stand for hours in 'stress positions' and denied them both food. Darren Paisley, 39, and Serena Sibson-Bartram, 34, were arrested after one of the boy's schools raised concerns for their welfare in May 2018. A police and social services investigation found the pair had subjected the youngsters to a horrific campaign of abuse over four years. It involved them mistreating the boys, including denying them food and forcing them to stand in stress positions for hours. Paisley and Sibson-Bartram, of Telford, Shropshire, were charged with four counts of child neglect and were found guilty following a trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court. Paisley was jailed for seven-and-a-half-years while Sibson-Bartram was caged for six-and-a half years at the same court today. A third defendant Samantha Paisley, 35, of Telford, pleaded guilty to child neglect and had her sentencing adjourned. Darren Paisley (left), 39, and Serena Sibson-Bartram (right), 34, were arrested after one of the boy's schools raised concerns for their welfare in May 2018 Detective Constable Vicky Fisher, of West Mercia Police, said: 'This was a very distressing case for many people involved. 'Thankfully, by working with Telford and Wrekin Children's Services, we were able to remove the boys from harm. 'The defendants showed no remorse for their tremendously cruel crimes against innocent young boys they were supposed to care and protect. Paisley and Sibson-Bartram, of Telford, Shropshire, were charged with four counts of child neglect and were found guilty following a trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court (pictured) 'We hope these sentences provide closure and allows everyone involved, especially the two boys, to take their lives forward. 'We are incredibly grateful to the many witnesses who came forward to provide evidence and we commend their bravery in helping achieve justice for the boys. 'We are especially thankful for the school who raised their concerns and urge anyone who has any worries at all about the welfare of a child to please get in touch.' Advertisement Britain's daily Covid cases have now fallen for five days in a row, despite warnings that the virus is more rife than ever. Government dashboard data showed another 69,811 infections were logged in the last 24 hours, which was down nine per cent on last Friday. Deaths continued to rise, however, with 191 recorded today up 11 per cent on the same time last week. Another 2,509 hospitalisations with the virus were also recorded on March 28, the latest date available, up 12 per cent in a week and the most since late December at the height of the Omicron wave. But both are lagging indicators, because of the time it takes for someone who catches the virus to fall seriously ill. The drop-off in cases follows from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimating that 4.1million people had the virus on any given day in England last week, the equivalent to one in 13 being infected. The figure is the highest ever recorded topping the previous peak of 3.7m at the height of the Omicron wave in January. It is also 18 per cent higher than last week. In the most Covid-ridden towns of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, one in nine people were projected to have the virus in the week to March 26. And infections have soared to pandemic highs in all over-35s. Britain's outbreak as a whole is also bigger than ever, with 4.9m now thought to be infected up from 4.3m last week. Statisticians said England's surge was being driven by the more transmissible version of Omicron, scientifically named BA. Although, ministers admit that ditching the final Covid restrictions last month also fueled the uptick. Despite the mass testing project warning that cases show no signs of slowing yet, top scientists are hopeful that the worst may be over. Official numbers reliant on people getting tested, as opposed to random swabbing have been falling for a week, bolstering hopes that the virus was running out of steam. Hospitalisations are still ticking upwards, but official figures suggest about half of admissions are now 'incidental' when someone is admitted to hospital for something else such as a fall but then tests positive for Covid. NHS intensive care rates have barely budged, despite cases continuing to soar. The record-breaking cases were revealed on the day England entered a 'new era' of the pandemic, with millions no longer able to get free Covid swabs to check whether they have the virus for the first time in a year. Experts today argued the timing of the end of free testing 'couldn't really be worse', and that the country would now have to rely on the public 'doing the right thing' and getting tested when unwell. A chorus of gloomy Government advisers yesterday issued a string of new warnings about the pressure on the health service. But ministers have insisted it is the 'right' moment to scrap the mass-testing regime, which cost No10 up to 2bn-a-month. Only the most vulnerable and health care workers are still able to get free swabs. The ONS survey is seen as the gold-standard for tracking the pandemic by ministers because it relies on more than 100,000 random swabs, meaning it can reach groups which would normally avoid getting tested. From today it has become England's main method for monitoring Covid outbreaks, with the universal testing offer coming to an end. But it lags about a week behind the situation on the ground. Free Covid testing ends for millions in England Free Covid tests officially ended for millions of people today as England ushered in the next stage of the post-pandemic era. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said now was the 'right' time to withdraw the universal testing offer and 'focus resources' on those who need it most. He told the nation: 'We are one of the most open and free countries in the world now, and that's because of decisions that we've taken as a country.' The Government website for ordering tests today displayed a message saying free Covid tests are now only available for certain groups. Most people will now have to purchase the swabs from high street stores, where they are available for about 2 each. Yesterday NHS Test and Trace workers were pictured taking down the around 500 testing sites in the country. England has ended its offer of free swabs under its plans to 'live with' the virus and following pressure from the Treasury over the bill which ministers claimed cost 2billion in January at the height of the Omicron wave. Scotland will end its offer next month, while Wales is to stop handing out the swabs this summer. Advertisement Yesterday NHS Test and Trace workers were pictured dismantling swabbing sites as the around 500 across the country begin to come down. Results from the ONS survey also revealed infections have hit a record-high in Wales, where one in 14 people now have the virus (212,000 cases last week). Scotland recorded the highest infection rate in the country with one in 12 having Covid (451,000), but this was down five per cent on last week's record. Northern Ireland saw its cases rise 13 per cent to one in 15 being infected (123,000). In England, all legal Covid requirements came to an end in February, although guidance to wear face coverings in crowded places and isolate when suffering symptoms or testing positive is still in place. The same approach is in place in Northern Ireland. And guidance is similar in Wales, after laws to wear masks and isolate after testing positive were scrapped on Monday. But people are still told to wear masks in health and social care settings. But rules are stricter in Scotland, where laws set out that individuals must wear masks in shops, hospitality venues and on public transport. And infected people are still required to isolate for at least seven days. Kara Steel, senior statistician for the ONS Covid survey, said: 'Infection levels remain high, with the highest levels recorded in our survey seen in England and Wales and notable increases among older age groups. 'The rapid rise continues to be fuelled by the growth of the Omicron BA.2 variant across the UK. 'We continue to closely monitor the data and remain thankful to all of our participants for their contribution.' ONS statistics showed cases rose across all regions of England last week and among over-25s. They reached record levels among over-50s, who are most vulnerable to the virus. But in a sign the wave may be slowing cases plateaued among the under-25s, who have had the highest infection rates throughout much of the pandemic. The figures from the UK Health Security Agency differ from the ONS in that they are based on the number of positive tests reported nationally, and that they are released every day rather than every week. But they are a potential early signal that the current wave may already be slowing down. So much for living with Covid! A QUARTER of people in England are still working from home One in four Britons are still working from home despite WFH guidance being ditched two months ago, official data shows. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 26 per cent of people across the UK either worked from home for all or part of last week. One in 10 were still exclusively doing their job from home, while 14 per cent travelled to work some days. The poll suggests roughly 7.7million of the 29.7m workers in the UK are still operating from home at least part of the time, despite No10 trumpeting a massive back to work drive. Britons were temporarily advised to pivot back to remote working in December when the Omicron wave surged across the country. It led to a third of employees working remotely. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted work from home guidance, Covid passes and face mask rules in England in January as part of the 'living with' the virus strategy. Today marked the next step of the blueprint, with access to free virus tests now over for millions of people in England. Advertisement Yesterday the UK recorded 74,720 Covid cases, which was down almost a quarter in a week. But the number of swabs carried out also fell slightly, while the positivity rate the proportion of swabs that picked up the virus remained flat. Sir Patrick, the Government's chief scientific adviser, yesterday told MPs earlier today that 'infections are beginning to turn so we may be quite close to, or at, the peak and it may start coming down shortly'. But other top scientists today warned the health service is under severe pressure and Britons should continue to wear masks to limit the spread of the virus, the day before free Covid tests for all is scrapped. Sir Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, told a conference: 'The waves are still occurring.' He added they will 'certainly' continue. And Dame Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), called for the nation to keep wearing face masks because infection rates are so high. She said that Britons should be 'very sensible and take precautions in periods of high prevalence as we have now'. The record high ONS case rates come as the universal testing offer is dropped in England after it cost 2billion-a-month to run in January. Professor Tim Spector from King's College London, who runs the Zoe Covid tracking app, said the timing of the end of free testing 'couldnt really be worse'. He warned England was now in a situation of 'having to rely on the public to actually do the right thing and get these tests themselves when they get sick'. He told Times Radio that 'if were not having free testing, lets have a clear policy on how you would know that youre infected, and therefore you can self-isolate. 'To do that, the Government needs to admit that the symptoms of Covid have changed in the last two years, and that 80 per cent of people now present with cold-like symptoms. 'And there should be a public health campaign to say at the moment, when your chances of having Covid are greater than a coldtest if you can afford it (and) even if you cant assume youve got Covid.' Scotland is not ending its free testing offer until next month, while in Wales the swabs will be offered until July. There are no plans yet to end mass testing in Northern Ireland. The ZOE Symptom study app estimated there were 349,000 new Covid cases every day over the week to 29 March. This was up seven per cent on the previous week, and suggested one in 15 people in the UK currently has Covid. Professor Spector said cases were continuing to soar to 'all time highs' but that the slowing in the rate of increase was a promising sign. Seventy-four Britons have had Covid FOUR times Dozens of Britons have caught Covid four times since the start of the pandemic, new data suggests. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed 74 people have tested positive four times since the start of April 2020. Additionally, more than 8,700 people are thought to have been infected three times, and almost 800,000 Britons have caught the virus twice. The latest figures on Covid reinfections come as England woke up to the next stage of its post-pandemic era, with free testing for the virus axed from today onwards. From now on only NHS workers, care home staff and vulnerable patients will be eligible for free swabs under No10's 'Living With Covid' strategy, with hundreds of testing sites to be dismantled. While Covid cases have declined over the past week, several top experts have urged people not to think of the pandemic as being over. Advertisement On Thursday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said people must 'learn to live with Covid' as campaigners criticised the end of free testing. He told reporters: 'We are one of the most open and free countries in the world now, and thats because of decisions that weve taken as a country and it is right also as we learn to live with Covid that we withdraw free testing universally if its not needed any more, but we focus those resources on the people that need it most. And thats what were doing.' But Carers UK and the Alzheimers Society criticised the move, with the latter saying it 'risks gambling' with the lives of people living with dementia. The Alzheimers Society has been campaigning to keep lateral flow tests free for all people visiting loved ones in care homes. While free testing ends in England, it will continue during April in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and until the summer in Wales. The most recent data shows there were 15,632 people in hospital in England with Covid-19 as of Wednesday, up 18 per cent week on week and the highest since January 19. It comes as official data showed one in four Britons are still working from home despite WFH guidance being ditched two months ago. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 26 per cent of people across the UK either worked from home for all or part of last week. One in 10 were still exclusively doing their job from home, while 14 per cent travelled to work some days. The poll suggests roughly 7.7million of the 29.7m workers in the UK are still operating from home at least part of the time, despite No10 trumpeting a massive back to work drive. Britons were temporarily advised to pivot back to remote working in December when the Omicron wave surged across the country. It led to a third of employees working remotely. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted work from home guidance, Covid passes and face mask rules in England in January as part of the 'living with' the virus strategy. A woman who was just days away from celebrating her 100th birthday died after waiting nine hours for an ambulance with a broken hip and bleeding on the brain, her family claims. The pensioner, who fell and fractured her hip on September 16, 2021, was reportedly on the floor of her Monmouthshire home between 11.20pm and 8.15am the following day before being taken to hospital by paramedics. Her family claims she spent hours in a 'cold' ambulance outside The Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran before she was eventually admitted into A&E and given a bed at 3.15pm on September 17, 2021. The following Saturday, the 99-year-old tragically died from her injuries. The Welsh Ambulance Service sent condolences to the family of the woman and said it has been hit by 'very high demand' for ambulances as it faces 'extensive hospital handover delays' causing some patients to wait hours in 'agony'. Another of those to suffer from ambulance delays was Emlyn Roberts, 69, who was left 'moaning in agony' on the ground of Colwyn Bay town centre, North Wales, after he tripped and suffered 'serious injuries'. Members of the public phoned an ambulance for him immediately but he had to wait 10 hours for one to show up. And it is not just in Wales that problems have been reported. New figures show more than a quarter of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals in England last week waited at least 30 minutes to be handed over to A&E departments - the highest level since the start of winter. A woman who was just days away from celebrating her 100th birthday died after waiting nine hours for an ambulance with a broken hip and bleeding on the brain, her family claims (stock image) Her family claims she spent hours in a 'cold' ambulance outside The Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran before she was eventually admitted into A&E and given a bed at 3.15pm on September 17, 2021 The heartbroken daughter of the 99-year-old woman who died days after waiting nine hours for an ambulance said this should never have happened in a 21st-century healthcare system. She said: 'While I cannot fault the care given by the medical staff, as they were unaware of the scale of the problem, how is it possible to spend that much of the taxpayers' money on a state-of-the-art hospital and not factor in facilities to take sick people inside for comfort and dignity? 'There is no problem with the quality or quantity of the ambulance service but they are unable to do their job. 'How soul-destroying and boring would it be to spend all your shift waiting outside a hospital when they could be saving the lives of others? My mother worked hard and paid tax until the day she died - do you think she deserved the treatment she got?' The daughter, who wished to remain anonymous, said that she found it incredibly difficult to get hold of anyone at The Grange once she found out her elderly mother had been admitted. The Grange University Hospital, where the pensioner was taken, cost 350m to build and opened its doors for the first time in November 2020, four months ahead of schedule She added: 'In that shiny new hospital there is a phone system that's not fit for purpose as every department I needed to contact didn't answer. 'I had to physically go up [to the hospital] to find out what was happening after I was informed she had been admitted. 'A&E have direct lines to the ward and the department dealing with death certificates but nobody answers. 'Put yourself in the family's shoes - how would you feel if it was your loved one? 'There must be some highly-paid person that's very incompetent and needs to start earning their salary and sort the mess out. I think the Covid-19 excuse has worn a bit thin now as that is a small part of the hospital.' Doctors say patients are 'dying in ambulances' because of A&E overcrowding Medics at three Welsh hospitals warned in November last year that patients are dying in ambulances while waiting for treatment due to shocking overcrowding in emergency departments. The doctors referenced an incident over the summer where a patient died in an ambulance after waiting two hours for treatment outside a hospital. According to WalesOnline the doctors made their concerns known in two letters sent to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which manages the Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Wrexham Maelor hospitals. One letter was sent in December 2020 and the other in June 2021. They wrote that while Covid had exacerbated the hospitals' overcrowding problems, the issue predates the pandemic. Responding to the mergence of the letters, which were revealed by an freedom of Information request, the Board said they understood the pressure staff were under and it was working to improve staff numbers and improve patient flow in emergency departments. Advertisement The elderly woman's ordeal was highlighted by Peter Fox MS, of the Welsh Conservatives, during Plenary at the Senedd on Tuesday, March 22. He said: 'It's completely regrettable that I have to inform the chamber of yet another heartbreaking story of a constituent who has been let down by issues at the hospital. This particular story involves a constituent's 99-year-old mother who has since sadly passed away. 'She waited over eight hours for an ambulance to arrive with a broken hip. She then was forced to wait outside the hospital in a cold ambulance for a number of hours. 'Her daughter, meanwhile, tried phoning the hospital to find out what had happened yet every department that she needed to contact didn't answer. 'I want to make clear that this is not a fault of staff, doctors, and nurses but a lack of adequate structures in place which need to finally be addressed by both the health board and the Welsh Government. 'The government and the health board need to get a grip because people deserve better. We shouldn't have to keep constantly raising these issues in the chamber and finding nothing is being done about it and no improvement.' Sonia Thompson, assistant director of operations at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: 'We would like to extend our deepest condolences to this patient's family and we are deeply sorry to hear about their experience, which we understand would have been distressing. 'The NHS is experiencing sustained and significant pressures, which have been well-documented. As an ambulance service we will always respond to the sickest patients first; patients whose condition is less serious may wait longer for our help, potentially be many hours in times of extreme demand. 'We would invite the patient's family to contact us directly via our Putting Things Right team so we can better understand their experience.' The Welsh Ambulance Service has enlisted the help of 235 Armed Forces personnel from the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force who joined the service in October. However their voluntary support was withdrawn on March 29. Chief executive of the ambulance service, Jason Killens, added: 'This was the third occasion that we had enlisted military support through the pandemic in what was always a time-limited agreement to bolster our capacity during the busy winter period. 'We're extremely proud and grateful for military support but long-term it is not the role of the military to compensate for the complex and long-standing issues in the NHS. 'We've been making preparations over many months for the withdrawal of the military in order to lessen the impact on patients, which has included the recruitment of 100 emergency medical technicians who will become operational in May. This will bring the total growth in new frontline posts to over 260 in the last 24 months. 'We're also doubling the size of the control room's clinical support desk which means that we can assess more patients - up to 15 per cent - over the phone, which negates the need to send an ambulance. 'Despite the growth in our workforce the reality is that some patients will still wait longer than we would like in the coming weeks while pressures remain across the wider NHS urgent and emergency care system that inhibit our ability to respond.' The Grange University Hospital, where the pensioner was taken, cost 350m to build and opened its doors for the first time in November 2020, four months ahead of schedule. Emlyn Roberts, 69, had tripped and broken his hip and back while walking in the town centre of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, at approximately 12.30pm on March 29. (Pictured: Mr Roberts covered with blankets while waiting for ambulance) Members of the public phoned an ambulance for him immediately but he had to wait 10 hours for one to show up (Pictured: the road in which Mr Roberts fell) It centralised many critical care and specialist services, including A&E, previously provided at the Royal Gwent Hospital and Nevill Hall Hospital. However, the emergency department has experienced a number of major issues since it opened. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which runs the hospital, declared a 'black alert' on Tuesday, March 29 - the highest level of pressure - and told people to stay away from A&E unless they had a life-threatening illness or injury. The Grange has also had one of Wales' worst emergency department waiting times in February with nearly half (44.3 per cent) of patients spending more than the target time of four hours in A&E before being admitted, transferred, or discharged. Aneurin Bevan UHB said its services remain incredibly busy with people being asked to avoid The Grange University Hospital unless their illness or injury is life-threatening. A spokesman added: 'We have very few beds available across our hospitals to accommodate patients requiring admission. 'The current situation is being caused by: record numbers of very poorly patients needing hospital care; the difficulty in discharging patients from our hospitals due to staff shortages in health and social care; high staff sickness absences due to Covid; and the widespread knock-on effects of the Covid pandemic, such as the deterioration of people's health. 'If you have a less serious injury then please visit one of our minor injury units in Newport, Abergavenny, or Ystrad Mynach. 'If you have a loved one in hospital who is deemed medically fit to be discharged please consider taking them home and caring for them. 'If your loved one is medically fit to be discharged then hospital is not the best place for them to be - they will recover better at home. 'If your loved one is medically fit for discharge our staff will contact you to discuss the next steps.' U.S. faces funding shortages amid efforts to contain COVID-19 spread Xinhua) 08:08, April 01, 2022 People visit the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 29, 2022. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 80 million this day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The federal government is running out of funds to provide Americans with COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments. NEW YORK, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Funding shortages have posed challenges to the Joe Biden administration in its over-one-year-old battle against COVID-19, while various efforts are being patched up to stem the virus's spread amid a common belief the pandemic might be riding on its ending phase with falling cases and deaths. The U.S. federal government is running out of funds to provide Americans, especially those who are uninsured, with COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments, as the country's progress achieved over the last two years in the fight against COVID-19 is now threatened by Congress's failure to fund the continuing coronavirus response effort, reported The New York Times on Thursday. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled a new strategic plan on Wednesday that lays out a path toward ending the global emergency of COVID-19. In its third strategic preparedness and response plan on COVID-19, the WHO acknowledged the pandemic remains an acute global crisis but charted a path to end the global emergency if key measures are implemented rapidly. File photo taken on Jan. 15, 2021 shows a resident receiving a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, the United States. (Xinhua) SECOND BOOSTER The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a second COVID-19 booster shot for people aged 50 and older, but several public health experts said younger, healthier members of that group don't necessarily need a fourth shot as soon as they become eligible. "This is one of those where I don't think anyone needs to race," Richard Besser, former acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told NBC's "TODAY" show on Wednesday. "This is one of those things where people should think thoughtfully." The FDA's authorization, announced on Tuesday and promptly followed by new CDC guidance, allows anyone 50 and older to seek a fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine at least four months after their initial booster. Immunocompromised people, for whom a three-shot regimen is considered the primary vaccination series, can seek a second booster as well. People wait in line at a COVID-19 testing site in New York, the United States, March 28, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) TREATMENT ONLINE As the coronavirus pandemic moves into what the White House hopes is a "new normal," the Biden administration has introduced covid.gov, a federal website meant to help Americans who are infected with the virus find the treatment they need quickly and at no cost. "This website is part of our effort - our continued and ongoing effort - to make sure that people have what they need to deal with COVID as we move into potentially the next phase of this disease," the White House said on Wednesday. This new phase, aimed at helping the United States transition to "living with the virus," has four main goals: protecting against and treating COVID-19, preparing for new variants, avoiding shutdowns and fighting the virus abroad, according to the White House announcement. File photo taken on March 9, 2020 shows police standing guard near the Grand Princess cruise ship docking at the Port of Oakland, the United States. The Grand Princess cruise ship that carried thousands of people, including 21 coronavirus patients, docked at the Port of Oakland after being held off at sea for days. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) FREE CRUISES The CDC dropped cruise voyages from its list of coronavirus travel health notices on Wednesday, the latest barrier to fall for an industry seeking a semblance of pre-pandemic norms. Cruise lines still require passengers to be vaccinated and test negative before boarding. The CDC issues its notices "to alert travelers and other audiences to health threats around the world," ranking destinations between Levels 1 and 4 based on the number and trajectory of new cases. It had included notices for cruise ships since March 2020, when cruise lines stopped sailing from U.S. waters for more than a year. "CDC's decision to remove the travel health notice for cruise travel was based on the current state of the pandemic and overall decreases in COVID-19 cases onboard cruise ships over the past several weeks," The Washington Post quoted CDC spokesman David Daigle as saying in an email. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) By Yi Whan-woo The Korean Financial Industry Union, a labor group representing workers at private and public banks nationwide, issued a statement, Friday, protesting President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's pledge to move Korea Development Bank (KDB) from Seoul to Busan. The union claimed that the possible relocation could seriously impact the efficiency of KDB's operations and cause inconvenience to corporate customers, decrease government support concentrated on Seoul-headquartered financial entities and trigger the departure of skilled workers. The union delivered the statement to the presidential transition committee after holding a press conference near the committee's office in central Seoul. "The relocation is being pursued in a hasty manner with sufficient explanation to convince the involved parties," union leader Park Hong-bae said, calling on Yoon to scrap the plan immediately. He said he agrees with Yoon on the need for balanced regional development, but argued that relocating KDB will not help at all in reaching that goal. Park went to say the relocations of state-run companies and public institutions in the past proved to be ineffective in bolstering regional economies. He especially warned that moving KDB to Busan will prompt Seoul to lose its competence as an emerging international financial hub and make it difficult for Korea to nurture finance as a growth engine. "The union therefore asks the incoming government to be prudent and thoughtful in its policy concerning KDB," Park added. Yoon's pledge is in accordance with Busan's vision to become a financial hub of Northeast Asia. The southeastern port city, however, is believed to have been unsuccessful in attracting foreign financial firms. The relocation plan has been unnerving employees of KDB as well as those at Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) and Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK), which are also state-run lenders, because Yoon hinted at moving more financial institutions outside of Seoul. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki refused to confirm reports Friday that she is expected to leave the White House next month and is already in talks with one of the nation's top liberal cable networks for her next gig. The normally unflappable spokeswoman appeared flustered at times as she sought to bat away questions about the propriety of negotiating with a network even while steering the White House media operation. 'I have done -- have taken the ethics legal requirements, to the highest, very seriously, in any discussions in any considerations of any future employment, just as any White House official would, and I've taken steps beyond that to ensure there's no conflicts,' she said. NBC's White House correspondent Kristen Welker asked Psaki to explain 'how is this ethical to have these conversations with media outlets' while holding down her job. 'Well, there are a range of stringent ethical and legal requirements that are imposed on everybody in this administration and many administrations past about any conversations you're having with future employers. That is true of any industry you're working in. And I have abided by those, and tried to take steps to go beyond that as well.' White House Press Secretary fielded repeated questions Friday about whether it was ethical for her to negotiate for a position with MSNBC while holding her current job. She declined to confirm she was leaving to join the network She said anyone in such a position would have conversations with the White House Office of Legal Counsel, although she stopped short of saying that she herself had done so in this case. Through all the ethical nuance, she declined to say she was leaving, despite the reports. 'You can't get rid of me yet,' she said implying that there was no done-deal. Psaki anticipating a grilling during her first time back at the White House podium after a bout of covid-19, Psaki even reached for arguments that might butter up her interlocutors, mentioning that she had tried to answer their questions and even called on people in the back of the room. 'I have nothing to confirm about my length of public service or planned service, or anything about consideration about next plans. I'm very happy to be standing with all of you here today after it felt like a never ending endless time in my basement quarantining away from my family,' she said. 'You can't get rid of me yet,' Psaki told reporters An offer you can't recuse: Psaki said she had 'taken steps to recuse myself,' without specifying from what NBC's Kristen Welker grilled Psaki on her reported new gig with her own network 'Believe it or not, I missed you a lot. And my focus every day continues to be speaking on behalf of the President answering your questions, as tough as they may be at many times, as difficult as they may be to answer at many times, and I hope that I meet my own bar of treating everybody with fairness and being equitable,' she said. 'I have always gone over and above the stringent ethical and legal requirements of the Biden administration,' she said. 'I have received rigorous ethics counseling, including or as it relates to any future employment,' she said. 'I've complied with all ethics requirements and gone beyond and taken steps to recuse myself from decisions as appropriate,' she continued. Psaki has been President Joe Biden's main mouthpiece for more than a year. She stayed off her planned trip to Brussels and Warsaw with the president last week after she revealed she tested positive for COVID-19. Axios reported Friday that she is 'in exclusive talks with MSNBC to join the network after she leaves the White House around May.' That would put her departure beyond the original one year she said she signed on for when she took the high-profile position. The report includes multiple passages suggesting Psaki was checking ethical boxes during her search even though she appears poised to go to a top media outlet that commands a seat in the front row of the White House briefing room she presides over. Her show would be on NBC's streaming platform, Peacock. Psaki, a former Obama administration official, had an on-air gig at CNN before she joined the Biden White House. She did not have a role in his campaign. The talks were done 'in close consultation with the White House counsel's office,' according to the report. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is in 'exclusive' talks with MSNBC about hosting a show, and is expected to leave her post in May Psaki has served since the start of the administration Filling in: White House communications director Kate Bedingfield briefed reporters this week, after Psaki and her deputy Karine Jean-Pierre each tested positive for COVID-19 White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre accompanied Biden on his most recent trip Pentagon spokesman John Kirby has been fielding questions about tough subjects such as Ukraine's requests for MiG fighters. He previously served as State Department spokesman, a job Psaki once held Trailblazer: Donald Trump's final press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, landed a gig on Fox News. She acknowledged her own 'employment agreement' in her termination financial disclosure report Psaki served as a CNN commentator before Biden took office. The network was reportedly pursuing her for a role on its own streaming platform A separate report in The Hill also cited the White House lawyers, and mentioned that 'no contracts have been signed yet.' Psaki has young children and twice tested positive for the coronavirus during her tenure. Puck reported in February that she was also being courted by CNN, which launched its own streaming service CNN+ this week. Communications Director Kate Bedingfield has been briefing reporters this week. Psaki's deputy, Karine Jean-Pierre, also tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from Biden's trip, where she filled in for Psaki and conducted a single in-flight briefing. Trump press secretary Kayleigh McEnany jumped to Fox after President Donald Trump left office. She revealed her own 'employment agreement' in her termination financial disclosure report. During her tenure Psaki has tried to brief nearly every business day, and sought to turn down the temperature in the briefing room after Trump's repeated attacks on what he called 'fake news.' She sometimes delivered sharp answers when tangling with Fox correspondent Peter Doocy. MSNBC declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com. Symone Sanders, who served as the top spokeswoman for Vice President Kamala Harris, got her own show on MSNBC. It debuts next month. Workers at an Amazon facility in New York City have voted to unionize, making it the online retailer's first U.S. facility to organize. Employees at the fulfillment center known as JFK8 voted 2,654 to 2,131 in support of the Amazon Labor Union, according to a count by the National Labor Relations Board. The number of employees eligible to participate in the vote was 8,325, the NLRB said at the conclusion of the count. The center is now poised to become the first and only Amazon warehouse among the 110 in the states to unionize. The company employs roughly 1.3 million workers across the country, and is on pace to surpass Walmart as the largest private employer in the U.S. within a year or two. Since its founding in 1994, Amazon has successfully rebuffed labor organizers. Union organizer Christian Smalls celebrates the momentous win on Friday Union members embrace following the victory. The Staten Island facility is set to become the first and only Amazon warehouse among the 110 in the states to unionize Amazon did not immediately answer a request for comment. A victory for organized labor at the second-largest U.S. private employer is a historic first for the retailing behemoth in the United States and a milestone for labor advocates, who for years have considered Amazon's labor practices a threat to workers. Geebah Sando, a package sorter who voted for the union after working more than two years at JFK8, said he was thrilled. 'With the union together, we are united,' he said, adding that the labor group could help workers advocate for better pay, break and vacation time. Union organizer Christian Smalls, dressed all in Amazon Labor Union red, popped a bottle of champagne and was met with cheers after the union movement's win. 'We want to thank Jeff Bezos for going to space because while he was up there we were organizing a union,' Smalls said, taking a jab at the Amazon CEO. Union organizer Christian Smalls, dressed all in Amazon Labor Union red, popped a bottle of champagne and was met with cheers after the union movement's win Employees at the fulfillment center known as JFK8 voted 2,654 to 2,131 in support of the Amazon Labor Union Smalls was a manager at the facility before he was fired in 2020 for breaking social distancing rules, which he claims was retaliation for him protesting Amazon's safety measures during the beginning of the pandemic, CNBC reported. Many doubted Smalls when he announced plans to unionize JFK8 last year, but he set up a tent outside the warehouse, while supporters in the building touted how a union could demand higher wages, safer conditions and job security. The situation is far different from last year when Alabama workers sided with Amazon by a more than 2-to-1 margin against unionizing. Amazon, whose profits and revenues have skyrocketed during the pandemic, campaigned hard to convince workers that a union will only suck money from their paycheck with little benefit. The jubilant scene after union members get the voting results to unionize Since its founding in 1994, Amazon has successfully rebuffed labor organizers After being fired Christian Smalls stood with fellow demonstrators during a protest outside of a Staten island Amazon warehouse in May 2020 Spokeswoman Rachael Lighty says the company already offers them what unions want: benefits, career growth and pay that starts at $15 an hour. She adds that the organizers dont represent the majority of Amazon employees' views. Amazon put up other signs throughout the Bessemer warehouse, including one that reads Unions Cant. We Can! and BHM1 - We win as one. Vote no! Many younger workers, lacking experience with unions and knowledge of labor history, were never persuaded of the benefits of organizing, warehouse leadership said. Some cited Amazon's above-average wages, and better working conditions overall than other local employers. Amazon offers at least $15.30 an hour, more than twice the federal minimum wage, which applies in Alabama. Some workers cited fear that voting for a union would mean a constant battle with management they would rather do without. Were you targeted by The Tyre Extinguishers? Get in touch at Jessica.Warren@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Environmental activists claim to have deflated tyres on nearly 2,000 SUVs in the past four weeks. The Tyre Extinguishers said its supporters have taken action in cities across Britain in an attempt to 'make it impossible' to own the vehicles in urban areas. It describes SUVs as 'a climate disaster', 'dangerous' and 'unnecessary'. SUVs feature elements of standard cars but are larger and have off-road capabilities such as high ground clearance. Petrol and diesel-powered models are generally less fuel efficient than cars. The Tyre Extinguishers describes itself as 'leaderless' and encourages people to take action by reading instructions on how to deflate tyres on its website. People can also print off leaflets to leave on the windscreen of affected vehicles to inform drivers what has happened. Activists are urged to avoid SUVs 'clearly used' by people with disabilities or by tradespersons. As a multiple sclerosis sufferer, Kate Basker never quite knows when or how the condition will affect her. Its shocking to find out that someone has decided were fair game just because of the car we drive, not knowing anything about us, the 33-year-old from Bristol said Rob Derkin spotted that three tyres on his Volkswagen T-Roc were flat when he left to take his daughter to college. After unscrewing the valve caps, he discovered dried legumes pushing down the pin to let air out A new eco mob calling themselves Tyre Extinguishers claim they targeted almost 2,000 SUVs across the UK in the last month, and let air out of the tyres in a bid to have them banned from roads Is deflating someone's tyre a crime in the UK? Legal experts say that although prosecution is unlikely, the activists could actually be committing a criminal offence. Laura Baumanis, a criminal defence solicitor at legal defence firm Olliers, told MailOnline: 'Whilst it is extremely rare for someone to be prosecuted for letting the air out of a tyre, technically, it could be classed as criminal damage. 'For this offence to be satisfied, any damage caused does not have to be permanent, but is made out by virtue of the fact that steps need to be taken, ordinarily at expense to the owner, for the item to be in a working condition again.' Meanwhile, Matthew Nash, tutor at The University of Law, said if the driver failed to notice the flat tyre and drove away, more serious charges could be brought it they crashed. He said: 'Letting out air from someone's tyres is clear criminal damage. 'Although technically the tyre is not 'damaged', if you do something to someone else's property and they need to do something to restore it, that is Criminal Damage within the meaning of the Criminal Damage Act. 'It is possible that if they let the air out of someone's types so as to cause an accident, there could be more serious charges depending on the resulting damage or injury. 'It is also possible that there could be other offences if this were done to many cars at the same time.' Three police forces have confirmed they are investigating multiple reports of criminal damage in Brighton, Liverpool and Cambridge. Advertisement The group, which first took action on March 7, said in a statement: 'So far, the Tyre Extinguishers have disarmed nearly 2,000 SUVs in the UK, in Brighton, London, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bristol and Edinburgh, in repeated actions. 'Plans are being made to launch the Tyre Extinguishers leaflet in four other languages as interest grows internationally.' Earlier this week, Sussex Police issued CCTV footage showing two people it wants to trace in connection with tyres being deflated in Brighton. Marion Walker, a spokeswoman for the Tyre Extinguishers, said: 'Unless a bobby is posted beside every SUV in the country 24 hours a day, we don't expect anyone to be apprehended. 'Better to break the law than allow these killer vehicles to continue to be used on our streets.' Some of the SUVs that have had their tyres let down were electric and hybrids. One electric 4x4 owner who was targeted earlier this month said that he went to great lengths to research the environmental impact of his vehicle before purchasing it. William Lowe, from Cambridge, told MailOnline: 'I was just leaving the house ... ironically to attend a sustainability and waste reduction meeting when I noticed the tyres on my electric 4x4 had been deflated and I found their leaflet on my windscreen. 'I was lucky enough that I had the means to reinflate the tyre at my house so it was only a mild inconvenience which set me back on my day but nevertheless it was very frustrating. 'We use it for its intended purpose as we have to visit a farm at least twice a week which would otherwise be impossible for a normal car. 'This is by far the car with the lowest carbon footprint. We were very conscious about that. We've been responsible and went to great lengths to research the environmental impact it's not like I just purchased the cheapest option. 'It definitely seemed like the group are using a blunt tool to tackle what is actually a complex problem.' Mr Lowe, who runs a family-owned gin distillery and owns a Land Rover e-SUV, said he agrees that environmental challenges need tackling but that this is the wrong way to go about it. Pictured: William Lowe's tyre, muddy from its use on a farm, was reduced from 50psi to 7psi 'They even targeted our hybrid car!' Iren Brown and her husband Nick woke up to find all four tyres on the family's part-electric Toyota Rav 4 had been deflated by activists. Mr Brown, 64, from Brighton, had to cancel a hospital appointment. Mrs Brown, 43, said: 'The Toyota is a hybrid electric car which we bought because we were being mindful of the environmental impact our previous diesel car was having. 'But these activists have not taken that into consideration. 'I'm so angry because everyone is behind their cause but their tactics are indiscriminate and scattershot.' The mother-of-two, a kitchen designer, added: 'Nick is quite a serious diabetic and we may have need to access a vehicle in an emergency. 'Their actions could have been dangerous.' Advertisement He added: 'I'm obviously sympathetic to their cause. The environmental situation is dire and needs answering but it's a complex and nuanced situation that minor acts of vandalism show no signs of improving. 'This is an important cause but they seem aligned with Extinction Rebellion who are uniquely placed to rally people against the cause they're trying to unite people behind.' Earlier this month, a pregnant Bristol woman with multiple sclerosis had her car targeted. Kate Basker, 33, never quite knows when or how the condition will affect her. Most of the time Im really high-functioning and I walk as much as I can, she said. But there are other days when I wake up and I can experience extreme fatigue, my body doesnt move, my brain doesnt function and I start to lose feeling in my legs and in my left arm. At that point I can barely get out of bed, let alone walk anywhere. Which is why I need a car. 'If I need to go somewhere, my husband needs to drive me and I never know when those days are going to happen. On Tuesday, March 8, she was alerted by a neighbour to a flat tyre on her Jaguar F-Pace. The leaflet left under the windscreen wipers made it clear it was not an accidental puncture. On bad days I certainly cant walk the ten minutes to a bus stop then wait the 30 minutes for a bus that may or may not come because Bristol transport is terrible, Mrs Basker said. Im all in favour of action to combat climate change. But skulking around at night and damaging peoples property is not the way to raise awareness. 'I feel weve been subjected to bullying, intimidating behaviour. Its shocking to find out that someone has decided were fair game just because of the car we drive, not knowing anything about us. In Brighton, one man had three tyres on his Volkswagen T-Roc let out earlier this month. Rob Derkin, 58, discovered dried legumes in the cap, which are being used to push down on the pin in the centre of the valve. Its ridiculous that they targeted this car because it has a 1-litre engine and low emissions, the music composer said. I specifically chose it because of its low emissions. All this campaign serves to do is make people angry and reinforces the image of activists. It reeks of student idealism its so Brighton that a lentil was involved. The group papered targeted vehicles with this lengthy leaflet (pictured), lecturing drivers on why they should get rid of their 'gas guzzling SUVs' and use public transport instead One woman affected posted a photograph of her electric Mercedes-Benz EQC on Twitter as she urged the group to 'think before you act'. She wrote: 'You let down my tyres and I didn't notice until I started driving with my three children in my car. My car is fully electric. 'We also had a child that required to be at the hospital for an appointment in the city. Thankfully we had a second car.' The leaflets left on vehicles make little mention of those who have chosen to drive electric vehicles bar one line at the end which reads: 'Driving a hybrid or electric? These are still polluting, dangerous and cause congestion.' Chris Genner, from Brighton, also drives an electric SUV and wrote a complaint to the Tyre Extinguishers. He told MailOnline he intends to review CCTV and hand any evidence over to the police. He added: 'I was surprised but more so disappointed as whilst my vehicle may look like an SUV, it is an electric version which I purposely chose - and paid more for - for its environmental benefits.' Last year, one of the UK's most popular selling cars was a Kia Sportage SUV, according to Auto Express. SUVs emit 25 per cent more carbon dioxide on average than a medium-sized car, and have jumped in popularity in the UK from nearly seven per cent of private cars sold in the UK in 2009 to more than 21 per cent in 2018, according to the UK energy Research Centre. Globally, the number of SUVs has increased from less than 50 million in 2010 to around 320 million last year equivalent to the total car fleet of Europe. Because of their size, on average, SUVs consume around a quarter more energy than medium-sized cars. A 2019 study by the International Energy Agency found that they rank among the top contributors to energy-related carbon dioxide emissions growth over the past decade cancelling out the reductions from people switching to electric cars. Because of their size, they are also said to be more dangerous when involved in an accident. Were you hit by The Tyre Extinguishers? Email Jessica.Warren@mailonline.co.uk An off-duty Texas deputy was shot and killed after exiting a Houston grocery store with his wife on Thursday night and discovering armed men trying to steal the catalytic converter from the couple's truck. The deadly shootout, which also left two of the three suspects wounded, took place outside Joe V's Smart Shop in the 2900 block of FM 1960 at 8.40pm. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated that 51-year-old Deputy Darren Almendarez and his wife were out shopping for groceries in preparation for a cookout to celebrate his sister's birthday on Friday when the violence erupted. Almendarez's wife noticed a trio of suspects trying to pry the catalytic converter - an exhaust emission control device made of precious metals - off their parked vehicle. Gonzalez told his wife to run as he confronted the thieves, one of whom pulled out a gun and opened fire, fatally shooting the deputy. Scroll down for video Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Almendarez, 51, was shot and killed in front of his wife, whom he reportedly saved, after stopping a theft in progress on Thursday A grieving family member is seen kissing Almendarez's casket en route to the medical examiner's office late Thursday night Almendarez and his wife walked out of a grocery store on FM 1960 and spotted three men allegedly trying to steal the catalytic converter from their truck Almendarez told his wife to run while he confronted the suspects, one of whom allegedly pulled out a gun and opened fire, striking the deputy Despite being mortally wounded, Almendarez returned fire and shot two of the three suspects. Their bullet-riddled car is seen outside a hospital 'He told his wife to run, to get away from danger as he put himself in harm's way to protect the rest of the community and to try and stop a crime,' the sheriff said during a press conference. Despite being mortally wounded, Almendarez, a 23-year veteran on the force, was able to return fire, striking two of the men. The third suspect fled the scene and remained at large as of Friday, reported ABC13. The wounded suspects drove themselves to a hospital, where one was listed in a critical condition and the other in a stable condition. Almendarez was rushed to HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest, where he later succumbed to his injuries. 'At a personal level and as sheriff, that's evil. We've got evil individuals that are out there,' Gonzalez said of the shooting. He added: 'we lost another hero in our community. We're tired of crime in this community,' reported Fox26. Almendarez had been on the force for 23 years and was assigned to the auto theft division Almendarez was described as a loving husband and father. He is pictured with a family member above Almendarez (left and right) had gone to the grocery store to buy provisions for a cookout that he planned to host on Friday to celebrate his sister's birthday Gonzalez said that Almendarez was a 'warrior' and a 'survivor' who worked low-paying jobs in the fast-food industry and experienced homelessness as a young man, before embarking on a successful career in law enforcement, reported Click2Houston. Almendarez was assigned to the auto theft division of the sheriff's office. He is survived by his wife and children. Gonzalez said that Almendarez spent the final hours leading up to his brutal death cleaning the house in preparation for his sister's birthday party that was planned for Friday, according to KHOU11. 'He was very happy,' the sheriff added. Family and friends have been expressing their condolences and sharing their memories of the fallen deputy on Facebook. 'Whenever and wherever he was, he just exuded a special light which illuminated even the darkest and most dangerous of places,' Rex Evans wrote. Texas Gov Greg Abbott released a statement on Friday, mourning Almendarez's death Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner released a statement on Friday, decrying the 'unacceptable' act of violence against a law enforcement officer. 'It is a terrible day when a family trip to a grocery store ends in violence and loss of life,' he stated. 'Deputy Almendarez will be remembered as a loyal public servant who died while protecting his wife. Governor Greg Abbott promised to provide all the necessary resources to bring those responsible for Almendarez's death to justice. 'Deputy Darren Almendarez lost his life while answering the call to serve and protect his fellow Texans, and this tragedy is a heartbreaking reminder of the sacrifices our law enforcement officers make both on and off duty,' the Republican governor stated. Apple employees are just a little over a week from their mandatory return-to-office date, but some say they plan to quit in protest because they 'don't want to deal with the commute' or 'sit around for eight hours a day.' All US staff will have to return to the office at least one day a week starting April 11, according to a memo sent by Apple CEO Tim Cook in March. By May 23, employees will be required to be in the office at least three days a week. But some employees say they'd rather quit than return to the office, the New York Post reported. 'I don't give a single f*** about ever coming back to work here,' an employee ranted on anonymous corporate message board Blind this week. 'It was a great resume boost but its not for me,' the worker added. Several Apple employees expressed their frustration about the new policy, and many commenters supported them, saying 'yeah, f*** Apple.' 'I'm going to go in to say hello and meet everyone since I haven't since I started and then sending in my resignation when I get home,' the same employee wrote. 'I already know I won't be able to deal with the commute and sitting around for 8 hours.' Other Apple workers complained about what they believe is Apple's unfair policy, which they pointed out is stricter than other tech companies, including Google, Amazon and Meta. One employee wrote that they were already in the final stages of interviews with other companies due to Apple's new policy. Another said, 'Totally bummed and looking into full remote jobs now.' An employee who has only been at Apple for one year sought advice on the forum, asking 'Will it burn bridges if I leave only after 1 year for another remote job?' Apple employees are just a little over a week from their mandatory return-to-office date but some say they plan to quit rather than deal with the commute or sitting around for 8 hours Several Apple employees expressed their frustration about the new policy on the anonymous corporate message board Blind, and commenters supported them, saying 'yeah, f*** Apple' An Apple employee posted to the anonymous corporate message board Blind this week joining several who said they were going to quit as soon as they returned to office on April 11 All US staff for Apple will have to return to the office at least one day a week starting April 11, and three days a week by May 23 THE PERKS OF WORKING AT APPLE An onsite wellness center at the headquarters in California has access to doctors, chiropractors, and mental wellness practitioners Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and sick days for new hires is between 15 to 20 days per year Senior employees get between 20 to 30 days vacation days a year New mothers receive four weeks of paid leave before giving birth and 14 weeks of maternity leave afterward Fathers and non-birth parents are able to take six weeks of paid leave Employees are provided free, exclusive shuttle service if they live in Cupertino, Apples California HQ The company also provides a $100 stipend for employees to use towards other transport costs Apple gives a $300 gym credit per month to put towards their personal physical health and wellness A company stock purchase plan, with available stock grants that allow employees to buy discounted stock A university which is an on-campus training center where they can take online classes and finance seminars Apple also offers to reimburse for tuition costs up to $5,250 Employees are offered a 50 percent 401(k) match for up to six percent of their total salary Employees receive significant discounts on Apple products An on-site Cafe Mac offers healthy home-cooked-style meals at low subsidized costs - and FREE apples The Beer Bash is a regular event for Apple employees with free drinks, food, and often - celebrity cameos Advertisement Apple employees are be required to go in to the office on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, while Wednesdays and Fridays will be 'flexible.' Employees will also be allowed to work fully remotely for up to four weeks per year. While Google is also asking employees to come into the office three days week, the company is giving some the option of switching offices or working remotely forever. Meta is also letting employees work remotely, from anywhere, although some Meta employees who move away from a bigger city may face pay cuts. Amazon had initially planned to order employees into the office three days a week, but is now leaving the decision up to each team. Twitter, which in October 2020 announced their staff could work from home permanently, has had staff returning gradually, if they wished. Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged in his memo that not all employees would be happy to come back. 'For many of you, I know that returning to the office represents a long-awaited milestone and a positive sign that we can engage more fully with the colleagues who play such an important role in our lives,' Cook said. 'For others, it may also be an unsettling change.' Apple's office perks range from an on-site gym to a weekly 'beer bash' but on the message board Blind, some employees said perks are just a distraction tool. 'In-office perks are a tool companies use to distract you from the fact that you're selling a majority of your waking hours to a soulless corporation,' one employee said in response to the Apple worker threatening to quit. 'Demand to work remotely and if it's not approved, quit and tell them why.' Apple employees are also offered free shuttle service for those based in Apples California HQ, $100 stipend toward other transportation costs, a wellness center, a $300 gym credit, an onsite Cafe Mac that offers healthy home-cooked-style meals, an espresso bar, free apples and a beer bash with free drinks, food, and often - celebrity cameos. Apple has been attempting to bring employees back to office since June last year, but had postponed the move several times as COVID-19 cases rose through autumn and the winter of 2021 thanks to the Delta and Omicron variants. Apple, whose global headquarters is in Cupertino, California, joins a wave of technology and finance companies that have begun mandating a return to office as COVID cases ease. Google from April 4 will require employees back about three days a week in some of its U.S., U.K. and Asia Pacific offices, its first step to end policies that allowed remote work because of COVID concerns. Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said in a tweet last month that the company is ready to fully open up business travel and all its offices around the world, however, said it would be the employees' choice on where they work. Twitter was one of the first in the tech business to urge employees to work remotely when coronavirus first emerged in the US in mid-March 2020. An aerial view of Apple Park is seen in Cupertino, California, United States Apple employees will be required to work from the office at least one day per week by April 11, CEO Tim Cook said in an internal memo on Friday Apple, on the other hand, has pushed hard to get staff to return to the office, and the company believes in-person collaboration is key to its success. The company's push to force workers back into the office has drawn backlash from some employees, 'Over the last year we often felt not just unheard, but at times actively ignored,' Apple employees wrote in a letter to CEO Tim Cook last summer. Apple has cited the fact that it produces hardware as the reason why staff must return to the office, and says in-person collaboration yields better results. Facebook, also facing pressure from employees, last summer said that all employees would be able to request a permanent remote status. Annie Dean, who was head of remote work for Facebook earlier in the pandemic and is now vice president of 'team anywhere' at software developer Atlassian Corp, told the Wall Street Journal that bosses who force staffers back to offices in rigid ways will lose credibility with their workforces. 'Our sense of place has been permanently disrupted,' she said. 'That's just not going to be the way that we go forward.' Stroke and heart attack sufferers across England are having to wait 70 minutes as ambulance services hit 'breaking point'. Response times for category two ambulance calls which also covers sepsis and burn victims should be no longer than 18 minutes under current NHS rules. But this week they took more than three times longer, leaked figures show. In the worst-affected regions, response times were around two hours. And nationally paramedics took more than 10 minutes to show up to category one calls those with life-threatening conditions, such as cardiac arrest compared to the seven-minute deadline. NHS bosses blame the waits on high demand, handover delays and rising Covid-related absences. MPs have warned ambulance services are at 'breaking point' and, in extreme cases, patients 'dying when they might have been saved'. Elderly Britons have told of waiting in agony for up to 14 hours for an ambulance. Average response times for category two ambulance calls in England which also covers sepsis and burn victims hit 70 minutes this week. NHS graph shows average response per month up to February Emlyn Roberts, 69, had tripped and broken his hip and back while walking in the town centre of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, at approximately 12.30pm on March 29. (Pictured: Mr Roberts covered with blankets while waiting for ambulance) Another pensioner, 93, who suffered a suspected broken hip at Christ Church in Bath, Somerset, on March 25, had to be tended by the vicar - because his ambulance did not show up for 12 hours The figures, seen by the Health Service Journal (HSJ), show that average response times for category two calls hit 70 minutes in England this week. GP practices are training receptionists to do blood tests 'Lots' of GP practices in London are training their receptionists to perform blood tests, a family doctor said. Sir Sam Everington, a GP in Tower Hamlets, said the move could help tackle staff shortages. He told GP news website Pulse lots of practices have recruited their receptionists as phlebotomists - staff who take blood samples. And 'a lot of' receptionists at his own practice are now performing the vital checks, Sir Everington said. He said the staff members provide a 'fertile recruitment ground' because they have 'amazing' clinical skills. The move could also increase levels of trust among patients towards receptionists, who have to gather symptom information, Sir Everington noted. It will also make receptionists feel more 'part of the clinical team', he said. Sir Everington told the website: What it symbolises is the importance of the clinical team going forward. That will be the saviour of GPs from the pressure of their work the wider team. There isnt a hidden supply of GPs out there in the next few years. It takes 10 years to train GPs so actually help is going to come from a wider team base. Advertisement NHS sources told the HSJ that more than 50 per cent of ambulance trusts this week recorded average category two responses of over an hour. And patients in the South West were forced to wait for two hours in recent days, when paramedics should show up within 18 minutes for 90 per cent of category two callouts. In February, it took ambulances an average of eight minutes and 51 seconds to respond to category one calls and 42 minutes and seven seconds for category two calls. NHS sources pointed to record demand, handover delays and high levels of Covid-related absences. Latest NHS ambulance data shows that of the around 80,000 ambulances arriving at A&E in the last seven days, 15 per cent faced handover delays of 30 to 60 minutes, while 12 per cent took more than an hour. The handover is supposed to be completed within 15 minutes. And the number of medics off work due to the virus has been on the rise for more than a month. An average of 28,000 staff off work every day last week due to Covid accounting for around 40 per cent of all absences. The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) last month estimated more than 3,000 patients suffered 'severe harm' in February due to handover delays, while around 30,000 suffered 'potential harm'. The Liberal Democrats last month said ambulance services are at 'breaking point'. They said: 'Record long ambulance waits are leaving vulnerable patients stuck in queues outside hospitals for hours without the treatment they need. 'People are being left scared, panicked and with worsening symptoms, and in extreme cases dying when they might have been saved.' An NHS spokesperson said: 'NHS staff remain under significant pressure as they deal with increasing numbers of Covid, emergency and elective patients while the number of staff off sick due to Covid has almost doubled in the last three weeks. 'Hospitals, ambulance trusts and social care providers are working closely together to see patients as quickly as possible through a number of initiatives, including ensuring patients leave hospital as soon as they are fit to do so.' It comes as Emlyn Roberts, a 69-year-old pensioner, was left waiting for 10 hours for an ambulance after falling on the pavement in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. Members of the public called 999 around 12:30pm on March 29, but were told to expect delays. An ambulance finally arrived around 11pm. His sister-in-law, Lynn Robers, said: 'He was left for ten hours lying on the concrete, you can forgive a couple of hours, even a few hours if necessary, but ten hours is just not acceptable.' Another pensioner who suffered a suspected broken hip at Christ Church in Bath, Somerset, on March 25, had to be tended by the vicar because his ambulance did not show up for 12 hours. The man told reporters that he was in 'exquisite' pain lying crumpled on the floor when he fell. The elderly man was left waiting on paramedics until the following morning, with his wife sitting next to him on the floor, holding his hand the entire time. Scotland Yard apologised and said the incident 'should never have happened' Now officers in Hackney and Tower Hamlets will need prior permission from a police inspector before strip-searching a child Officers in two London boroughs will need prior permission from a police inspector before any child can be strip-searched, as part of new measures following the Child Q scandal. The Metropolitan Police said it is introducing a pilot across Hackney and Tower Hamlets where an inspector will need to give approval before a strip-search takes place. This will ensure 'appropriate oversight of such an intrusive intervention', Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said. Officers in two London boroughs will need prior permission from a police inspector before any child can be strip-searched, as part of new measures following the Child Q scandal. Pictured: Protesters hold a solidarity rally for Child Q outside Hackney Town Hall The Metropolitan Police said it is introducing a pilot across Hackney and Tower Hamlets where an inspector will need to give approval before a strip-search takes place The pilot is to be trialled in the two north-east London boroughs before the force considers expanding it across the capital. The measure is in addition to existing requirements, that a conversation with a supervisor should take place and an 'appropriate adult' be present. The case of Child Q a 15-year-old black schoolgirl who was strip searched by police while on her period after being wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis has drawn outrage from the public and politicians. The search, by female Metropolitan Police officers, took place in 2020 without another adult present and in the knowledge that she was menstruating, a safeguarding report found. The case of Child Q a 15-year-old black schoolgirl who was strip searched by police while on her period after being wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis has drawn outrage from the public and politicians 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 The Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review, conducted by City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership (CHSCP), concluded the strip-search should never have happened, was unjustified and racism 'was likely to have been an influencing factor'. Three police officers have been investigated for misconduct by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is finalising its report. Scotland Yard has apologised and said the incident 'should never have happened'. In a letter to the Mayor of Hackney, Mr Taylor said the force has been 'deeply affected by the depth of feeling generated by this incident and understand that we need to do something different to address these ongoing concerns'. He said: 'I recognise that the events surrounding Child Q have, understandably, generated high emotion and anger and I want to listen and respond to communities to build trust where it has been lost.' He said the force has not been 'waiting for reports to be written' and has requested a review of the protocol for officers working in schools. And he said Police Encounter Panels have been set up in the boroughs to review and scrutinise incidents of community concern as quickly as possible after the event. It has also committed to ensure that 'adultification' training is delivered to all frontline officers in the boroughs, he said. It is highly likely that adultification where black children are perceived as older was a factor in the Child Q case, the safeguarding review found. Mark Carroll, the chief executive of Hackney Council, replied to Mr Taylor on Friday confirming that the council accepted the Review Panel's finding that Child Q was 'wholly failed'. He wrote: 'As you recognise, Child Q should have been treated with dignity and respect. 'She should have been treated as the child she is: her rights as a child safeguarded; and her position as a child protected by the adults around her that day. 'It is clear that she was wholly failed, and together we must make sure that this is never allowed to happen again. 'Hackney Council accepts the Review Panel's finding that this appalling and humiliating experience was 'likely influenced' by racism.' Australia will sign an historic trade deal with India on Saturday following years of negotiations between the two nations. The deal will see tariffs eliminated on more than 85 per cent of Australian goods exported to India, currently worth more than $12 billion a year. Meanwhile, 96 per cent of Indian goods entering Australia will be duty-free. The deal will be signed by Trade Minister Dan Tehan and his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal in a virtual ceremony. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the deal would help to secure more opportunities for Australian producers with the country's seventh-largest trading partner. 'This agreement opens a big door into the world's fastest growing major economy for Australian farmers, manufacturers, producers and so many more,' Mr Morrison said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured speaking with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during a virtual summit in 2022) said Australia's new deal with India would help secure more opportunities for producers with the country's seventh-largest trading partner 'By unlocking the huge market of around 1.4 billion consumers in India, we are strengthening the economy and growing jobs right here at home.' Two-way trade between Australia and India is currently valued at more than $24 billion, the agreement is expected to boost the value of Australian exports to India to at least $45 billion by 2035. Negotiations on the Australian-India economic cooperation and trade agreement had been ongoing for more than a decade, with the first round of talks between the countries taking place in 2011. As part of the deal, tariffs on products such as sheep meat and wool will be eliminated straight away, while tariffs for products like avocados, onions, nuts and fruits will be phased out over the next seven years. Tariffs on wine will also be be reduced, while the resources sector will see tariffs on products like coal and metallic ores eliminated on entry. 'This is great news for lobster fishers in Tasmania, wine producers in South Australia, macadamia farmers in Queensland, critical minerals miners in Western Australia,' Mr Morrison said. 'This agreement has been built on our strong security partnership and our joint efforts in the Quad, which has created the opportunity for our economic relationship to advance to a new level.' The trade deal is also set to benefit the education and tourism sectors. Trade Minister Dan Tehan (pictured) said tariffs would be eliminated on more than 85 per cent of Australian good exported to India, currently worth more than $12 billion a year. Both countries will recognise professional qualifications, licensing and registration procedures. Australian services suppliers across more than 30 sectors will be assured to receive the best treatment by India in relation to any other trade deal India enters into. Indian residents will also have new access to working holidays in Australia, having 1000 places set aside, with the federal government having two years to implement the measure. Trade Minister Dan Tehan said the deal would strengthen the relationship between the two countries. 'It will create new opportunities for jobs and businesses in both countries, while laying the foundations for a full free trade agreement,' Mr Tehan said. 'This agreement will turbocharge our close, long-standing and highly complementary economic relationship in areas such as critical minerals, professional services, education and tourism.' Move comes as a blow to any unvaccinated Brits hoping to visit Spain during the Easter holidays Only people who are fully vaccinated or can show proof of recovery can enter Spain has extended its Covid entry requirements until the end of the month - meaning it will affect Easter holidaymakers from the UK. Until April 30, only fully vaccinated Brits or those who can show proof of recovery from Covid can enter the country. The Spanish Ministry of Health also required all travellers from an EU/EEA risk country need to fill out the Health Control Form. 'If you come from a country at risk in relation to COVID-19, you must present a certificate or document proving vaccination, diagnostic test for active infection or recovery from COVID-19,' a statement of the ministry read. Spain has extended its Covid entry requirements until the end of the month - meaning it will affect Easter holidaymakers from Britain Spain, one of the most popular holiday destination among Brits, was expected to relax the entry requirement at the end of March in a boost for Easter holiday travel. But officials chose instead to extend the rules until the end of this month, which will come as a blow to anyone who now can't go away. There are different rules for teens, as they don't need to be vaccinated to enter Spain. Earlier this month Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, announced the end of all remaining coronavirus travel rules. Passenger locator forms and Covid tests were both scrapped on March 18. Spain meanwhile is one of several European holiday destinations that has placed an expiration date on vaccines. Until April 30, only fully vaccinated Brits or those who can show proof of recovery from Covid can enter the country. To enter, you must be able to prove you were fully vaccinated against Covid within the last 270 days. If you received your second dose more than nine months ago, you must have had a booster jab to be allowed in. Tourism officials said they expect international arrivals to reach 80 per cent of pre-pandemic volumes this year, as northern Europeans shrug off concerns over the Ukraine conflict and return en masse for Easter, a senior tourism official said on Friday. 'Easter isn't showing any direct impact from uncertainty caused by the conflict,' Secretary of State for Tourism Fernando Valdes said, adding that he was confident the industry would bounce back from the drop caused by the Omicron coronavirus variant in late 2021 and early 2022. Spain is also one of several European holiday destinations that has placed an expiration date on vaccines. To enter, you must be able to prove you were fully vaccinated against Covid within the last 270 days Any future hit from the war to Spanish tourism would depend on its duration and intensity, he told a news conference. Bookings for the long Easter weekend have already reached 90 per cent of 2019 levels, according to data from market-intelligence firm ForwardKeys he showed at the news conference. Reservations from Denmark and Sweden were nearly 40 per cent higher than over the same period before the pandemic, while the number is 26 per cent higher for Germans and 13 per cent for Britons, the data showed. The number of tourists from the United States is around 26 per cent lower than in 2019. The Balearic and Canary Islands are among the fastest recovering destinations, with Ibiza and Tenerife registering more Easter bookings than before COVID, the ForwardKeys data showed. The tech firm part-owned by Rishi Sunak's millionaire wife is to close its Russian office. Infosys is closing its Moscow office after facing pressure to end operations in the country amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The company, in which Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murthy owns shares worth more than 400m, is trying to find replacement roles abroad for staff employed in Moscow. The company, in which Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murthy owns shares worth more than 400m, is trying to find replacement roles for staff employed in Moscow. Pictured: Mr Sunak with his wife Tech giant Infoysys is one of India's largest companies and has a presence in about 50 countries. It set up an engineering centre in Moscow in 2016 where it is thought that up to 100 people were employed. Despite many global IT firms suspending operations in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, Infosys had kept what it has described as a 'small team' there until now, according to the BBC. But in a recent statement, the company had said: 'We do not have any active business relationships with local Russian enterprises.' The company, which has offices in London, Edinburgh and Nottinghamshire, announced last year that it was hiring 1,000 extra staff in the UK. Mr Sunak and his wife Ms Murthy had faced questions over her shares in the firm, founded by her father NR Narayana Murthy (pictured with Vladimir Putin in 2004) Mr Sunak and his wife Ms Murthy had faced questions over her shares in the firm, founded by her father NR Narayana Murthy. Labour and the Liberal Democrats had both called for Mr Sunak to answer questions over the issue. In the Commons on Thursday, a Labour shadow minister was forced to withdraw a claim that Mr Sunak was 'hypocritical' because of his family's shares in the company. But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'So far as the Chancellor's wife is concerned, there's just a fundamental principle, is their household benefiting from money made in Russia when the Government has put in place sanctions?' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'So far as the Chancellor's wife is concerned, there's just a fundamental principle, is their household benefiting from money made in Russia when the Government has put in place sanctions?' However, last night Mr Sunak launched a defence of Akshata Murthy, likening himself to the actor Will Smith, who slapped Chris Rock for insulting his wife at the Oscars. He said that his wife was not 'fair game' and said the criticism of his wife had been 'very upsetting' following questions about her 0.91 per cent stake in Infosys. Sir Keir has however insisted that it was right to ask questions about her financial affairs. The Ministerial Code states that ministers must declare all financial interests that could lead to a conflict, including 'the Minister's spouse or partner and close family'. In an interview with BBC Newscast, Mr Sunak suggested his experience was similar to Will Smith - who dramatically slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars for joking about his alopecia-suffering wife's bald head. He joked: 'Someone said, 'Joe Root, Will Smith, and me - not the best of weekends for any of us'. But last night Mr Sunak launched a defence of Akshata Murthy, likening himself to the actor Will Smith, who slapped Chris Rock for insulting his wife at the Oscars. He said that his wife was not 'fair game' and said the criticism of his wife had been 'very upsetting' following questions about her 0.91 per cent stake in Infosys 'But I feel, on reflection, both Will Smith and me having our wives attacked - at least I didn't get up and slap anybody, which is good.' Mr Sunak added: 'You know, I think it's totally fine for people to take shots at me. It's fair game. I'm the one sitting here and that's what I signed up for. 'Actually, it's very upsetting and, I think, wrong for people to try and come at my wife, and you know, beyond that actually, with regard to my father-in-law, for whom I have nothing but enormous pride and admiration for everything that he's achieved, and no amount of attempted smearing is going to make me change that because he's wonderful and has achieved a huge amount, as I said, I'm enormously proud of him.' In an interview with BBC Newscast, Mr Sunak suggested his experience was similar to Will Smith - who dramatically slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars for joking about his alopecia-suffering wife's bald head. Pictured: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the Oscars Previously, Mr Sunak had refused to answer questions about his wife's involvement in the company. Asked on Sky News whether his family was going against advice given to companies over connections with Russia, he said: 'I'm an elected politician, and I'm here to talk to you about what I'm responsible for. My wife is not.' He said he had 'nothing to do with that company'. Ms Murthy runs fashion label Akshata Designs and is also a director of a venture capital firm founded by her father in 2010. The couple have two daughters and live in a magnificent Georgian manor house in the small village of Kirby Sigston, just outside Northallerton in North Yorkshire. Mr Sunak is a multi-millionaire in his own right thanks to his investment career. A signboard of the Financial Services Commission in Seoul / Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung A special investigative body launched by Korea's financial watchdog is straining securities firms on fears that they may become a target of the new inspection team. According to the Financial Services Commission (FSC), its newly-launched Special Judicial Police started its operation on Thursday to step up an investigation into any illegal acts in the local capital market. The team consists of seven officials from the FSC and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). The launch of the team is aimed at protecting investors' rights and maintaining fairness in the capital market, according to the FSC. The watchdog decided to launch the special investigative team as more retail investors have jumped into the stock market after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Back in July 2019, the FSS established a similar inspection team to look into any unfair trading acts in the capital market, such as stock manipulation. The dual monitoring system by the FSS and FSC comes as pressure to the local securities industry amid fears that the regulators may carry out further investigation into a set of recent scandals surrounding the mis-selling of risky fund products operated by Lime Asset Management and Optimus Asset Management. In September 2019, the FSS' Special Judicial Police team launched an investigation into Hana Financial Investment after one of its researchers allegedly reaped undue profits by engaging in unfair stock trading before releasing a research report on a certain company. This was the first investigation launched by the team. As legal disputes on the fund fiasco have not come to an end, the securities industry is paying close attention as to which company will become the first target of the FSC's judicial police team. "Securities firms will have to keep paying sharp attention to the launch of the new investigative authority at a time when they are still suffering from the aftermath of the fund fiasco controversy," a financial industry source said. But chances are, the team might launch its first investigation into Edison EV, an affiliate of Edison Motors. Edison EV's stock trading is suspended after its auditor rejected offering an opinion on the firm's financial statement on Tuesday. A Red Cross team sent to help 170,000 stranded civilians in Mariupol has been 'forced to turn around'. The Ukrainian port city has been under Russian bombardment for weeks and officials were holding their breath that a ceasefire from 10am local time yesterday would last for the planned evacuation today. The Red Cross said a team sent to help evacuate thousands of civilians from Mariupol on Friday had been forced to turn around but would try again on Saturday. A man walks past a burnt armoured personnel carrier near buildings destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Service members of pro-Russian troops sit atop of an armoured vehicle, which moves along a street in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Local resident Marina Sidorenko, 83, shows an apartment building burnt-out in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 A bus carries internally displaced people from Mariupol and Berdiansk to a refugee centre in Zaporizhia, Ukraine, Friday, April 1 Russia agreed a ceasefire from 10am local time yesterday and officials were holding their breath that it will last for the planned evacuation today. Evacuees from the region are pictured above yesterday A view shows the building of a theatre destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Local residents are seen in front of an apartment building destroyed during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 31 A view shows a road and buildings damaged in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 People walk along a street near residential buildings heavily damaged in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 A boy looks at a destroyed Russian tank after recent battles in Bucha, close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 1 A man rides a bicycle near residential buildings destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said its team of three cars and nine staff that had been heading to the besieged Ukrainian port city had been forced to turn back 'after arrangements and conditions made it impossible to proceed'. The team 'did not reach Mariupol or facilitate the safe passage of civilians today,' the ICRC said in a statement, adding that they had returned to Zaporizhzhia, more than 120 miles away. The ICRC said: 'They will try again on Saturday to facilitate the safe passage of civilians from Mariupol.' Men walk past a car damaged in the course of the war, in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Marina Sidorenko, 83, and other local residents sit around a fire on the territory of a church in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Local resident Marina Sidorenko, 83, shows her apartment in a multi-storey building burnt-out in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Local resident and pensioner Valentina Popyi, 75, who seeks refuge in a children's home damaged in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict, speaks with neighbours in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Local resident and accountant Tatyana Velichko, 60, who seeks refuge in a children's home damaged in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict, cooks food in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 A close up of the extensive damage to the Mariupol theatre and nearby buildings The aftermath of the airstrike on the Mariupol Drama Theatre, in Mariupol southern Ukraine It stressed that 'for the operation to succeed, it is critical that the parties respect the agreements and provide the necessary conditions and security guarantees.' The ICRC had planned for its team to lead a convoy out of the city, which has been under intense Russian bombardment for weeks. Previous attempts to evacuate residents have collapsed, though some have made the dangerous dash to freedom alone. An estimated 170,000 people remain trapped in the southeastern city, with many left in the cold without food. A total of 6,266 people were evacuated from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors on Friday, a senior government official said. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president's office, said in an online post that 3,071 people had left the besieged city of Mariupol. Russian forces have seized 14 tonnes of food and medical supplies destined for the besieged city of Mariupol, Kyiv has said. Pictured: Evacuees from Mariupol region arrive at reception centre, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, March 31, 2022 Two young boys are seen on an evacuation bus that arrived at reception centre in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, March 31, 2022, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues Local residents cook food outside an apartment building damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 30, 2022 Local residents carry supplies while walking past an apartment building damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 31, 2022 ICRC spokesman Ewan Watson had warned earlier Friday that it was not certain the evacuations would be able to go ahead as planned. 'If and when it does happen, the ICRC role as a neutral intermediary will be to lead the convoy out from Mariupol to another city in Ukraine,' he told reporters in Geneva. 'We're unable to confirm which city at the moment. This is something the parties must agree to.' The ICRC would use their vehicles as a humanitarian protection marker to remind all sides of the non-military nature of the operation, he said. Local resident Pavel, 42, stands next to the grave of his friend Igor, who was killed by shelling while they were riding together in a car during Ukraine-Russia conflict, in a residential area in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 30, 2022 Drone footage taken over the city shows the devastating trail of destruction wrought by Putin Homes, administrative buildings and cultural landmarks have all been shelled in the brutal campaign Thousands of people have died in Mariupol since the city was subjected to horrific bombardment, and the theatre has been completely destroyed (pictured) BEFORE: A satellite image shows home and buildings in Mariupol in June last year before the Russian invasion AFTER: A photo taken on Tuesday shows the scale of devastation on the port city wrought by Putin's army The plan on Friday had been for a total of 54 buses, and many more civilian vehicles, containing thousands of people seeking to flee the city, to take part in the convoy, Mr Watson said. They were due to deliver essential supplies last night to families who have been hiding in basements for weeks under relentless bombing with no access to running water, power or fresh food. The city was home to 450,000 people before war broke out, of which 140,000 managed to flee before the Russian siege began in February. It is feared 5,000 civilians have been killed and thousands more 'abducted' to Russian cities. No official humanitarian buses have so far managed to get people out, but many have escaped in their cars or even on foot often under fire. Russian forces struck a Red Cross facility in Mariupol but no staff were inside after it was evacuated The refugees have told horror stories of bodies lining the streets and families forced to kill their dogs for food. Vladimir Putin has made clear the bombing will continue after the humanitarian operation, insisting that the bombardment will only stop once all Ukrainian troops surrender. Much of the urban landscape has now been reduced to rubble, with tens of thousands of civilians trapped inside with little food, water or medicine. The city would give Moscow access to a warm sea port and allow his forces to consolidate their gains in east Ukraine. Mr Watson added: 'To start leading civilians out at the top of that convoy, we will need to have assurances that the route we are taking is safe. 'We are running out of adjectives to describe the horrors that residents in Mariupol have suffered. The situation is horrendous and deteriorating. 'It's now a humanitarian imperative that people be allowed to leave and aid supplies be allowed in.' However, the ICRC said it had not received permission to bring aid into Mariupol on Friday to help civilians still surviving in the city. The organisation had two trucks filled with food, medicine and relief items but they remained behind in Zaporizhzhia. 'Time is running out for the people of Mariupol. They are desperately in need of assistance,' said Watson. A college professor sparked outrage online after a student claimed that she called the police on two classmates who were only two minutes late to her English lecture at Georgia State University. In a now-viral TikTok video with more than 135,000 likes, GSU student Bria Blake, 20, claimed tenured English assistant professor Clarissa Gray called campus police on two students named Taylor and Kamryn. Gray resorted to the extreme measure after the students arrived two minutes late to her class in the Perimeter College building at GSU, according to the video. 'Calling the police on two students for being two minutes late to class is extremely unreasonable and dangerous,' Blake says. Blake, who says she witnessed the bizarre incident, said police threatened to charge Taylor and Kamryn with trespassing when they refused to leave the classroom. 'When the professors asked them to leave, Taylor responded and said, ''We paid to be here.'' The professor responded ''Okay'' and left the room... She returned with two armed police officers,' Blake claims in the video posted on Wednesday. Blake went on to say that a female officer grabbed Taylor's belongings and attempted to physically remove her from the classroom, leaving the students 'terrified.' A GSU spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the university has launched an investigation into the incident and that Gray is no longer teaching in-person classes this semester. She will keep teaching an asynchronous online class. The university did not name the students involved due to privacy issues. In a now-viral TikTok video with more than 135,000 likes, GSU student Bria Blake claimed tenured English assistant professor Clarissa Gray called campus police on two students named Taylor and Kamryn According to the video, Gray resorted to the extreme measure after the students arrived two minutes late to her class in the Perimeter College building at GSU In the video, Blake said that the classroom door had remained open and it was not until the students were in their seats that Gray asked them to leave, allegedly in retaliation for something that had occurred earlier in the semester. Taylor agreed to leave after the female officer refused to give back her belongings. She then headed to the advisement center to file a complaint and was reportedly directed to the office of Department Head Deborah Mason. 'She [Mason] told Taylor that her only two options were to either stay in an environment she didn't feel safe in, or take an F,' Blake said. Blake went on to claim that she and Taylor were informed by the student life department that it was not the first time the police had been called on a student 'for something irrational.' DailyMail.com reached out to GSU officials to confirm whether there had been prior, similar incidents involving Gray but they said that information was not available. Georgia State University said it was investigating the situation. 'We are looking into this matter and how it was handled by the faculty member. 'The provost and police chief are planning to meet with the affected students. The professor is no longer teaching in-person classes this semester,' a spokesperson told DailyMail.com. 'Campus police arrived after being called by the faculty member and de-escalated the situation between the students and faculty member. Clearly, no crime had been committed so there were no arrests.' The university confirmed to DailyMail.com that Gray, an associate professor of English at GSU's Perimeter College, has tenure and will teach an asynchronous online class at least until the remainder of the semester. GSU has policies against disruptive behavior, but only mentions police assistance in situations where students pose an immediate threat to the safety of themselves, the professors, or other students. TikTok users have responded with outrage after Blake accused Gray of 'weaponizing police against black people,' while being a black woman herself. Another user said that the late policy was included in Gray's syllabus and claimed to be present at the time of the incident, adding that the students 'had left voluntarily' TikTok users responded with outrage after Blake accused Gray of 'weaponizing police against black people,' while being a black woman herself. 'Stuff like this cannot keep happening to black youth in America,' Blake said. 'Stop weaponizing the police against black people.' According to Blake, Taylor and Kamryn were 'terrified of what could happen to them' after the ordeal. She also said that Taylor and Kamryn are both still processing the incident and havent made a decision on whether or not to take legal action. 'This is horrendous! What the hell is wrong with everyone around those students? I wonder if any other student stood up for them at all,' one user commented. Another user said that the late policy was included in Gray's syllabus and claimed to be present at the time of the incident, adding that the students 'had left voluntarily.' 'I was in this class, they were asked to leave for being late which is IN HER SYLLABUS. They left willingly and came back,' Abigail Carragher claimed. Blake rebutted that no one should call the police for 'a minor incident,' and added that nobody stood up for the students. On Friday, Gray had more than 140 negative reviews, with many bringing up the alleged incident in the comments Meanwhile, Gray's ratings on RateMyProfessor.com, a page widely used by university students to rate their instructors, have tanked 'So many leaving out this professor is black. [Don't] believe everything you read or watch,' one of the very few positive reviews read 'This professor is not an equal opportunity professor. Even when you pay for your own education she feels she has the right to dictate if she will teach you. She does not deserve to be a professor for higher learning,' a negative reviewer claimed It is unclear if the reviews were left by actual students who have taken Gray's class or by people who have flooded her profile with negative comments after Blake's video became viral 'Irrational, Unhappy, A very bitter and vile human,' one reviewer wrote Meanwhile, Gray's ratings on RateMyProfessor.com, a page widely used by university students to rate their instructors, have tanked. On Friday, Gray had more than 140 negative reviews, with many bringing up the alleged incident in the comments. 'So many leaving out this professor is black. [Don't] believe everything you read or watch,' one of the very few positive reviews read. 'This professor is not an equal opportunity professor. Even when you pay for your own education she feels she has the right to dictate if she will teach you. She does not deserve to be a professor for higher learning,' a negative reviewer claimed. It is unclear if the reviews were left by actual students who have taken Gray's class or by people who have flooded her profile with negative comments after Blake's video became viral. DailyMail.com has reached out to Blake and Gray for comment. Local mine worker Troy Driver, 41, has been charged with the kidnapping and murder of Naomi Irion A convicted criminal who was arrested after the abduction of an 18-year-old girl in Nevada has now been charged with her murder. Naomi Irion was snatched on March 12 at 5pm, while waiting for a shuttle bus outside a Walmart in Fernley, Nevada. Her body was found on March 30, 150 miles away across the county line in Churchill County. Local mine worker Troy Driver, 41, was arrested on March 25 initially charged with her abduction. On Friday Driver was charged with her murder. He is currently being held in Lyon County Jail in Yerington, Nevada. Driver was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a 1997 murder and several other violent crimes in California, according to court records. Driver pleaded guilty to three charges of second-degree robbery, four firearms charges, one charge of second-degree burglary and one charge of accessory to murder after the fact. The accessory to murder charge stemmed from a 1997 case where Driver, then 17, helped dispose of the body of a methamphetamine dealer shot and killed by his girlfriend. Driver will next be in court on April 5. The body of Naomi Irion, 18, was found at a gravesite on Tuesday - 17 days after she disappeared Troy Driver, 41, made his initial court appearance from a Nevada jail on Wednesday via Zoom. His bail was kept at $750,000 Casey Valley, Irion's brother, has criticized police for their handling of her case Valley, pictured at a press conference on Friday, said he was furious that the police did not act quicker to try and find her Naomi Irons left her house on in her blue sedan at 5am on March 12 (image 1); she was then seen buying snacks at a nearby gas station (image 2); shortly after, she drove to a Walmart parking lot where she waited for her work bus to take her to her job at a Panasonic factory. While there, the suspect approached her car, got into the driver's seat and drove away (image 3). Irion's abandoned car was found on March 15 in a nearby industrial park (image 4). Police said on Thursday, March 30, that they have found her remains 60 miles away (image 5) His charging comes as Irion's brother slammed police for allegedly failing to act on her missing person report last month. Casey Valley, 32, claimed Lyon County Sheriff's deputies failed to follow procedure and did not file a report on her disappearance until 9pm two days later. Irion lived with Valley and his girlfriend Nikki, having moved in August 2021 from South Africa - where her parents still live. Her father Herve works for the State Department. Valley was coordinating the search for his sister, until her body was found on March 30 In an angry Facebook post, Valley, who was coordinating the massive search for his sister until her body was found, said that he had to collect crucial surveillance camera footage himself and that police took '36 hours' to find Naomi's car even though, he said it was half a mile away and 'in clear view of the interstate'. 'I called in Naomi as a missing person Sunday 3/13 at approximately 9:30pm,' Valley wrote. 'The deputy never came, he only called me at 11:23pm. He filed no missing persons report until 3/14 at around 9pm AFTER I WENT AND FOUND THAT FOOTAGE MYSELF,' the irate, grieving brother added, putting his last words in all capital letters. 'Naomi's car wasn't found until 36 hours after I made the initial call, and it was UNDER A HALF A MILE AWAY, IN CLEAR VIEW OF THE INTERSTATE. 'I cannot stress enough how important the handling of this case was in the beginning for my sisters life. 'If this deputy had followed the Lyon County Sheriff's office procedure (as he is sworn to do), a BOLO (be on the look out) and a missing persons report would have been filed as soon as I had called on that Sunday. 'But he didn't. Because he didn't #trustthefamily,' he added using a Twitter hashtag employed during the hunt for his sister. Irion grew up in Russia, Germany and South Africa thanks to her father, who works for the State Department. She moved to Nevada to live with her brother a year ago Naomi Irion's brother Casey Valley, 32, has slammed Lyon County Sheriff's deputies and claims they failed to follow procedure Valley wrote in an angry Facebook post that deputies did not file a report on Naomi's March 12 disappearance until 9pm two days later Naomi's body was not the first to be buried along the mostly dirt-surfaced 80-mile Coal Canyon Road, with a rusting metal cross marking an anonymous grave near the desert mountain range in the center of the county Spent shotgun shells are seen along the side of Coal Canyon Road in rural Churchill County, Nevada DailyMail.com asked Lyon County Sheriff's office for comment, but they did not immediately respond. Valley's angry comments come after Churchill County Sheriff's Department announced they are investigating Naomi's death as a homicide. 'The Churchill County Sheriff's Office along with the Lyon County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of Naomi Irion as a homicide,' the department said in a statement on Thursday. 'The exact cause of death is known. 'However it cannot be released at this time as the circumstances around that event if released would compromise the ongoing investigation. 'The gravesite where the body of Naomi Irion was found and recovered was located in the area of Coal Canyon Road within Churchill County.' The 'gravesite' is in a desolate desert area in the north of the County, off highway 80 and near a state prison, Lovelock Correctional Center. Valley said his family are organizing concealed carry weapons classes for young women in Naomi's name. 'I hope and pray this makes people in general everywhere realize this can happen to anyone,' he said. 'Lock your doors, take measures to defend yourself.' Valley said that the suspect could have other victims besides Irion. 'I don't believe this was the suspect's first time, by the way he allegedly did this,' he said. Giving advice to other families with missing loved ones, he said: 'You have to push. You can't give up. You have to find that love in your heart for that missing person and project that out into the world. Do everything you can.' But he added that he does not believe 'any family member should have to be a detective,' and admonished police forces to stick to their rules and do their jobs when missing persons cases are reported. The grieving brother became emotional when he recalled the final hours on Sunday March 13 before he realized Naomi was missing. Valley, left, had organized search efforts across rural Nevada for Irion after she disappeared Naomi's mother Diana Irion consoles her son Casey Valley, during the hunt for his sister 'We were sat at the kitchen table waiting for her to come home, waiting to show her the trees we had planted,' he said. He said he and his family are now 'anxiously waiting' for news on her cause of death but added that the cause was 'not obvious' from her remains. The brother paid tribute to Irion, describing her as a 'loving, compassionate, independent-minded, stubborn 18-year-old woman.' He said she 'cared a lot about women's rights, LGBT rights and Black Lives Matter.' 'She was a very passionate advocate, at least on social media,' he said. 'She had a huge heart, and couldn't bear the idea of anyone suffering.' He said his campaign to get police to take missing persons cases seriously from the beginning will now be his 'life's work'. Irion's body was not the first to be buried along the mostly dirt-surfaced 80-mile Coal Canyon Road, with a rusting metal cross marking an anonymous grave near the desert mountain range in the center of the county. A nearby area was littered with shotgun shells, and road signs in the remote area were pockmarked with bullet holes. A man resembling Driver allegedly followed another woman to the same Walmart parking lot a month earlier. The woman, who asked not to be named, told YouTube show Gray Hughes Investigates that she was walking her dogs near Highway 80 outside of Fernley on February 9 when she noticed a car pull up next to hers. 'I was up there and I noticed a car parked. I thought that's not really an area a car should park because it's off the road in the dirt,' she said. 'They showed up after I got up there, after I had parked. I noticed the car got closer to mine and parked pretty close. My wallet was in there and my tablet. Casey Valley and other members of Irion family are pictured at suspect Troy Driver's court appearance on Wednesday Irion was seen in surveillance footage buying snacks at a gas station convenience store on her way to a her factory job before she disappeared on March 12 Surveillance footage showed a hooded suspect apparently waiting outside of the Walmart parking lot in Fernley, Nevada for Irion that morning 'I started walking down and the car takes off. On the other side of the bridge he was parked. I drive past and then they get right on my butt. He goes in front of me and then pulls over like he's waiting for me again. 'I felt like he was waiting for me,' she added. 'He followed me. If I didn't have the dogs, he probably could have tried something. After the male driver followed her to Fernley Walmart she videoed him in his car. She said she also reported the incident to police. 'This car's been following me and I need somebody to look up the license plate and figure out who the f*** they are and why the f*** they've been following me,' the woman said in the video. The woman told Channel 8 KOLO News that she believes the man in the car was Driver. 'I was following one of Naomi's pages. Once they posted his face up there I was like holy crap that's him, that is definitely him,' she said. West Mercia Police has confirmed the three dogs seized after the death of a two-year-old boy have been confirmed as rottweilers. Officers removed the 'out-of-control' dogs to secure kennels after the child sustained serious injuries at his home in Egdon, Worcestershire, on Monday. The boy, who went into cardiac arrest, was treated at Worcestershire Royal Hospital before being transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital, where he died on Wednesday. The West Mercia force said in a statement issued on Friday: 'At this time we cannot confirm how many dogs were involved in the incident but three rottweiler dogs have been removed from the property. 'They are being looked after and securely housed. 'The boy's family will not be releasing a statement or tribute at this time and request that their privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time.' The boy was injured by two out-of-control dogs at an address in Egdon today. He remains in critical condition at Worcestershire Royal Hospital What is the Dangerous Dogs Act? WHAT IS THE DANGEROUS DOGS ACT? The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans or restricts certain types of dogs and makes it an offence to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control. It was introduced 30 years ago by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker 'to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs' after a string of attacks. WHICH DOGS ARE BANNED IN THE UK? It is illegal to own four breeds of dogs without an exemption from a court. They are: American Pitbull Terriers; Japanese tosas Dogo Argentinos; Fila Brazileiro The law also criminalises cross-breeds of the above four types of dog - meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'. Staffordshire Bull Terriers look similar to Pitbull Terriers, but they're legal and common pets. WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A DOG ATTACK? You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed. If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined. If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with 'malicious wounding'. And if you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine. WHY IS THE ACT CONTROVERSIAL? Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association have protested against the ban, insisting there is no scientific evidence that all individuals of a breed are dangerous. However, Met Police data suggests that in incidents involving 'dangerously out of control dogs', banned breeds account for about a fifth of offences. Advertisement Officers responded to a report of a child in cardiac arrest at approximately 11.20am on Monday and quickly established that he had suffered injuries as a result of being bitten by a dog at the address. After the attack, family attempted to take the boy to hospital themselves, but stopped at Worcester Countryside Centre on the advice of the ambulance service. He was taken from there to Worcestershire Royal Hospital by ambulance, before being transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital. One neighbour claimed: 'I've seen the owners of the cottage before, they have Rottweilers. 'You can hear them barking from the fields. I used to see them walking the dogs, one time they got out onto the main road. 'It's all secluded so you don't really see anyone, everyone is kind of hidden away. 'I walk my dog here a lot because of the route and you can hear the dogs barking, lots of barks.' A resident, who walks his own dog nearby, said: 'Everyone keeps themselves pretty private around here and no one asks many questions. 'I think people are a bit intimidated by the family with those dogs. We call them 'the beasts' because they are always making such a racket. 'My wife refuses to walk our dog anywhere near there in case they get out. Everyone is so sad for the little lad who died. It's an absolute tragedy.' West Mercia Police Superintendent Rebecca Love, local policing commander for South Worcestershire, said: 'We have been informed this morning that the young boy who was injured in an incident on Monday in Egdon, Worcestershire has sadly passed away. 'Officers responded to a report of a 2-year-old child in cardiac arrest at approximately 11.20am on Monday 28 March. 'It was quickly established the child had suffered injuries as a result of being bitten by a dog at the address in Worcestershire. 'The child was transferred from Worcestershire Royal Hospital to Birmingham Children's Hospital, and despite medical treatment, he has died as a result of his injuries. 'This is a truly tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time. 'Three dogs have been removed from the property and are currently being housed securely. I am unable to confirm the breed of the dogs at this time, but we do not believe they are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. 'An investigation continues, and I would ask for your respect for the family's privacy at this very distressing time.' The wealth of America's top 1 percent, an elite group including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffet, hit a record $45.9 trillion last year, more than that of the bottom 90 percent combined. The top 1 percent added $6.5 trillion to their net worth last year as stocks and financial markets soared, according to the Federal Reserve's latest report on household wealth. Meanwhile, the bottom 90 percent of the country added just $5.3 trillion in net worth, taking their collective assets to just $43 trillion, the report reveals. To be considered part of the top 1 percent of wealth, a household would need to have a net worth of more than $11 million -- compared to the US median net worth of $122,000. The top 1 percent added $6.5 trillion to their net worth last year, reaching a collective wealth of $45.9 trillion, according to new data The elite group includes the richest Americans such as Elon Musk (left) and Jeff Bezos (right) who gained $277 billion and $4.5 billion respectively last year 'The numbers are astounding,' Edward Wolff, professor of economics at New York University, told CNBC of the latest wealth figures. 'The pandemic wealth boom certainly ranks at or near the top of all the wealth booms over the last 40 years.' The data show that at the end of 2021, the top 1 percent of Americans owed 32.2 percent of the nation's wealth, an all-time high. In 1989, the first year of the data set, the same group owned just 23.5 percent of the country's assets. Likewise, the share of wealth owned by the bottom 90 percent of Americans has steadily declined, from 39.1 percent in 1989 to 30.2 percent at the end of last year. The wealth of the bottom half of the country stood at a pitiful 2.6 percent of the total at the end of 2021, and the top 1 percent owned a staggering 12 times more collective assets than the entire bottom half combined. A chart showing the share of total wealth by household wealth percentile shows that the top 1% has been steadily increasing its share of all wealth since 1989, the first year measured The latest data come as President Joe Biden proposes a 'Billionaire Minimum Income Tax' The proposed tax would see households worth more than $100 million pay at least 20 percent in taxes on both income and 'unrealized gains'- the increase in an unsold investments value. In 2021, the world's 10 richest people added about $402 billion to their collective net worth. Nine of the 10 were Americans. Tesla CEO Elon Musk added $121 billion to his fortune, the largest in the world at $277 billion as the year ended, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who started the year in the top spot, sank to number two, adding a mere $4.54 billion to his net worth, which stood at $195 billion. Elsewhere on the top-10 billionaires list, Microsoft founder Bill Gates added $7.13 billion to his fortune, the fourth largest in the world at $139 billion. The world's ten richest people added $402 billion to their collective net worth in 2021, making it a banner year for the ultra-wealthy. Nine of the 10 were Americans Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin added $47.4 billion and $45.1 billion to their net worths respectively. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg gained $24.3 billion for the year, bringing his total to $128 billion, though his fortunes have declined as Facebook stock is down 9 percent since a whistleblower leaked damaging documents this fall. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gained $41.2 billion in 2021, and Warren Buffett added $21.4 billion. Larry Ellison, the executive chairman of Oracle, added $28.8 billion to his wealth. For most of the world's wealthiest, the vast majority of their net worth is in stock, and their gains have been driven by booming markets. Advertisement Chris Rock showed up solo at a movie theater in Boston on Thursday, just days after being smacked in the face by actor Will Smith onstage during the Academy Awards. The comedian, 57, was spotted at the AMC Boston Common in Massachusetts, TMZ reported, where he strolled in, got some popcorn, a hotdog and a water, and then headed off to see a movie - though, it is not known which one. But not before fan Gerard Cole stopped Rock and asked him to pose for a photo, which the comedian happily obliged while balancing an armload of movie snacks. Chris Rock posed with fan Gerard Cole at the AMC Boston Common in Boston, Massachusetts, just days after being slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars Rock made the solo trip to the movie theater a day after his first standup comedy show at the Wilbur - his first public appearance since Sunday's jaw-dropping Oscars telecast. In an interview with Good Morning America on Friday, Oscars producer Will Packer confirmed, after conflicting reports, that Academy officials had asked Smith to leave the ceremony, and were considering removing him physically, an option that Packer says he successfully lobbied against. Packer said that his co-producer Shayla Cowan informed him that Academy officials 'were about to physically remove Will Smith.' 'I had not been a part of those conversations, and so I immediately went to the Academy leadership that was on site and I said, "Chris Rock does not want that. Rock has made it clear that he does not want to make a bad situation worse",' said Packer. 'I was advocating what Rock wanted in that time, which was not to physically remove Will Smith at that time. Because as it has now been explained to me, that was the only option,' he said. 'There was a conversation, that I was not a part of, to ask him to voluntarily leave.' However, a source close to Rock told TMZ denied that the comedian was ever asked about removing Smith from the theater. 'Chris told Packer 'I'm not pressing charges. All I want to do is leave.' He was never asked if he wanted Will removed. This is the Academy covering itself.' Los Angeles police were prepared to arrest Will Smith after he slapped Chris Rock during the Academy Awards on Sunday night, but didn't at the request of the comedian, Oscars producer Will Packer claims Packer also said police told Rock they would remove Smith from the audience and arrest him for battery. 'We will go get him, we are prepared to get him right now,' the cops said to Rock, Packer recalled. 'You can press charges. We can arrest him.' Packer claimed Rock was dismissive towards police, but he encouraged the comedian to hear them out before making a decision. 'They were laying out the options, and as they were talking, Chris was being very dismissive of those options. He was like, "No, I'm fine." He was like, "No, no, no,"' the producer said. Ultimately, Rock declined to press charges, however police said in a statement Sunday 'if the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.' Rock, seen on Thursday, has been performing to sold-out crowds in Boston, but has not spoke at length about the incident However, Smith - who was presented with his first Academy Award after the onstage attack - will face 'disciplinary proceedings' with Oscars officials that could result in suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions. 'Consistent with the Academy's Standards of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith is being provided at least 15 days' notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions, and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response,' the Academy said in a statement Wednesday. A source close to the actor confirmed to The Sun that Smith and his lawyers are writing to the Academy to plead his case ahead of his upcoming hearing on April 18. 'Things are hanging in the balance. He will write an official letter to apologize, and effectively beg for their forgiveness,' the source said. 'He is also expected to hold a call with show bosses in the next 24 hours. April 18 is D-Day, though he will find out if he still has an Oscar, and quite possibly, a career.' Packer's interview comes as insiders claimed Rock, 57, was never asked if Smith should be removed from the ceremony after the attack. 'No one ever asked Chris if Will should leave. They never consulted him. It was the Oscars producer Will Packer who made the final decision to let Will stay,' an insider told The New York Post. The witnesses claim Packer walked up to the actor and said: 'We do not want you to leave.' Other insiders echoed the claim, alleging the producer was 'the key' to Smith being permitted to stay for the remainder of the show. 'Packer walked out into the orchestra and conferred with Smith,' two witnesses confirmed to Variety. 'Packer said that he and the production 'officially' wanted Smith to stay for the remainder of the show, according to one of the witnesses.' Despite the allegations, Packer told GMA he he did not directly speak with Smith at the Oscars. Reports also initially claimed that Oscars president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson asked the Independence Day actor to leave the ceremony after the emotional outburst. But sources who allegedly witnessed discussions amongst Academy leaders claim there was never any attempt to remove Smith from the ceremony. Officials were reportedly split on whether or not to remove the star and although there were many heated discussions during commercial breaks, a consensus was never reached, TMZ reported. During both of Rock's shows on Wednesday and Thursday, the usually unabashed comic refused to go into any detail about the 'Slap Heard Round the World.' After being met with 'Will Smith' chants from the audience, the comedian did briefly address the slap during the show, noting that he still needs time to 'process' the assault. He also told the crowd: 'I haven't talked to anyone, despite what you heard,' referencing rumors that Rock and Smith had made amends. But come Thursday night, Rock had to stop his fans from cursing out Smith. 'F**k Will Smith!' a fan shouted, likely in an attempt to show support for Rock. 'No, no, no, no, no...' the comedian replied, according to People, putting an end to the verbal attacks. Chris Rock stopped his fans from cursing out Will Smith during his comedy show in Boston Thursday night The comic, 57, took to the stage at the Wilbur Theatre on Wednesday and asked: 'How was your weekend?' The rhetorical question got a big laugh from the crowd, which occasionally heckled the Emmy-winning comedian about Will Smith's on-screen strike. But Rock warned those at the sold-out venue that the show would go on as planned. 'I don't have like a bunch of s*** to say about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I had like a whole show I wrote before... this weekend...' he said to more laughs. 'And I'm still kind of processing what happened. 'So at some time I'll talk about that s***... and it'll be serious. It'll be funny,' he said before an audience member shouted, 'F*** Will!' 'I'm gonna tell some jokes,' Rock concluded, later revealing that he hasn't spoken to 'anyone' since the incident, alluding to reports that he and Smith have reconciled. But some of the 3,000 fans in the audience - who paid up to $1,000 per ticket - are disappointed that the stand-up comedian avoided the topic on everyone's mind. 'We want our money back, I didn't pay $400 to see nothing,' one person told Fox News. Many expressed support for the South Carolina-born comedian, saying that Smith was out of order when he marched onto stage and hit Rock for joking about his wife's alopecia. Above, Rock arrives at the Wilbur Theatre on Wednesday The 53-year-old actor marched onto the Oscars stage on Sunday and hit Rock, after the comedian told a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock's wisecrack was targeted at Pinkett Smith's buzzcut, a style she has embraced in wake of her alopecia diagnosis. 'Jada, I love you. "G.I. Jane 2," can't wait to see it,' Rock said to Pinkett Smith, whose close-shaven head looked similar to Demi Moore's in the 1997 movie, during his presentation of the award for best documentary. Whether Rock was aware that Pinkett Smith suffered from a hair-loss condition is unknown, but Smith reacted with the smack and an angry warning 'to keep my wife's name out your f***ing mouth!' Shortly after, Smith was announced as the winner of the best actor award and went up to collect his statuette to a standing ovation from many of his peers. In his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - whose members vote for the awards, and who stages the ceremony - but stopped short of apologizing to Rock. Smith marched onto the Oscars stage on Sunday and hit Rock, after the comedian told a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock's wisecrack was targeted at Pinkett Smith's buzzcut, a style she has embraced in wake of her alopecia diagnosis As evidenced by her unamused expression, Pinkett Smith did not appreciate the joke The Academy's statement in full The Board of Governors today initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy's Standards of Conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy. Consistent with the Academy's Standards of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith is being provided at least 15 days' notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response. At the next board meeting on April 18, the Academy may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct. Mr. Smith's actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television. Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event. Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated. While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently. Advertisement Smith initially laughed off the attack, writing on Instagram on Sunday evening: 'You can't invite people from Philly or Baltimore nowhere!!' Yet as the gravity of the situation became clear, Smith then posted a public apology to Instagram 24 hours after the ceremony, saying he wanted to say sorry formally to Rock. He said his behavior was 'unacceptable and inexcusable' and left him 'embarrassed'. 'I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,' he wrote. 'I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.' Pinkett Smith's first public comment came in an Instagram post Tuesday in which she said: 'This is a season for healing and I'm here for it.' Smith met with Oscars leaders on Tuesday to discuss the fallout from the attack, Variety reported. People familiar with the meeting claim Rubin and Hudson talked to Smith on Zoom for roughly 30 minutes. One source alleged Smith apologized to the Academy leaders for his actions and expressed he was aware that there would be consequences. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum also attempted to justify why he snapped at Rock's joke towards his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, the insider claimed. However, attendees at Wednesday's emergency meeting of the Academys Board of Governors told the magazine they did not recall Rubin or Hudson mentioning the alleged discussion with Smith. Following the emergency board meeting, the Academy announced Smith had violated the groups code of conduct and faced 'suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions.' The disciplinary actions could include a possible year-long ban from the Oscars, which would prevent Smith from being nominated for awards. 'They really feel they have to be seen to act,' an insider said of the Academy, according to The Sun. 'It's no wonder Will is seeking legal advice he's likely to need all the help he can get to avoid sanctions.' At the next board meeting - scheduled for April 18 - the Academy may take action that could include 'suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.' Sources familiar with the situation also claim the fate of his upcoming projects, including the Apple-funded slave escape drama Emancipation, remains in question. 'Production executives and studio chiefs do not want to be seen picking a side too early,' the insider said, noting that Smith is expected to return for a fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise although no start date has been set yet. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is going back on his promise to lift his mask mandate for children under the age of five because of an uptick in Covid-19 cases, despite a recent ruling by a Staten Island judge that it can't be enforced. It's a complete reversal from just 10 days ago, when Adams promised he would unmask the city's toddlers on April 4. Adams and new New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan made the announcement at a press briefing Friday, where they said the rising levels of the virus would make it irresponsible to go forward with the plan. 'That's why we are recommending to wait a little bit longer to make masks optional for this age group,' Vasan said. Adams and Vasan would not give a new date for the city to consider lifting the mandate. Staten Island Supreme Court judge Ralph Porzio ruled Friday that the mask mandate was unenforceable because it's 'arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.' Adams said that his administration will file an appeal, leaving parents and children in the balance over what the rules are when they return to school Monday. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is going back on his promise to lift his mask mandate for children under the age of five Adams and new New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan (pictured) made the announcement at a press briefing Friday Staten Island Supreme Court judge (pictured) Ralph Porzio ruled Friday that the mask mandate was unenforceable because it's 'arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable' The mandate for children under five years old has become a flashpoint of parental ire in recent weeks, with several fiery protests outside City Hall garnering hundreds of attendees. Parents and officials were outraged by the announcement. Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin, currently staging a campaign for governor of the state, tweeted his anger. 'Unmask our toddlers! NYC should not appeal this judge's ruling or keep this unscientific, abusive mandate! All remaining COVID mandates must end TODAY!' Daniela Jampel, a founding member of #keepNYCschoolsopen, wrote: 'I am frankly stunned that [Vasan] and [Adams] is keeping the toddler mask mandate. Cases are rising so we are keeping masks on toddlers and only toddlers? NYC parents, join me in refusing the mask your toddler on Monday. The law is on our side.' Eric R. Olson said: 'If there was any doubt the NYC toddler mask mandate is a gov't power trip, just look at how [Adams] decided not to lift it just because a judge ruled against it.' 'Adams voters better not be whining about how far behind kids are in 10-15 years because it's your own decisions and preferences like this one that will lead to more inequality,' wrote Troy M. Olson. New York state dropped school mask requirements on March 2, while the city dropped its mandate on March 7 - which made masks optional for schoolchildren ages 5 and over. But even as their older peers were allowed to unmask, the requirements for children under age five remained, angering many parents. 'Our schools have been among the safest places for our children since the beginning of the pandemic,' Adams said, contradicting his earlier statements on the need for masks due to uncertainty over children's safety in school settings. 'I've said it before: I'm with New York City parents and New Yorkers can trust this administration to continue to make the proper public health decisions to keep our kids safe,' Adams insisted. Children in kindergarten through the end of high school were allowed to remove masks on March 7 A speaker leads a protest of about 100 parents and children in front of New York City Hall against the city's mask mandate for children under five years old There has been ongoing pressure from city parents for Adams to lift the mandate and free their children of masks. Over 100 parents and their children rallied at New York City Hall just weeks ago to demand Adams 'unmask our toddlers' - just days after Vasan sparked outrage by announcing that children aged five and under should wear face masks indefinitely. 'I think it's indefinite at this point,' Dr. Ashwin Vasan said when asked about how long the policy would remain in place. 'People who have tried to predict what's going to happen in the future in this pandemic have repeatedly found egg on their face, as they say, and I'm not going to do that here today.' Parents responded by chanting slogans like 'My kid my choice' and 'Follow the science,' along with dozens of signs declaring 'Unmask our toddlers!' Adams was out celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Manhattan when he was confronted directly by the parent of a toddler affected by the city's mandate, an incident whose aftermath was caught on viral video. The footage shows the newly minted NYC mayor chastising the father, saying, 'Talk to me, don't yell.' 'You send the wrong message to your daughter,' Adams added. 'I got this. They'll be unmasked.' He also struck a similar tone when asked just minutes later by a group of mothers about the policy. 'You want to be the mayor or you want me to be the mayor?' he asked. He said previously that the policy is necessary for younger kids because they aren't yet eligible for vaccines - and maintained that history would vindicate his recent decisions on virus safety. He added that the decision to wait an extra month to unmask children under five was to allow 'sufficient time' to evaluate COVID data and 'make sound decisions for our youngest New Yorkers.' 'Let's be clear this is unprecedented territory right now if anybody is telling you they know what's going to happen, what COVID is going to put in the future for all of us, they're lying,' Adams said. And despite his previous comments just days earlier, Vasan also appeared to change his tune at the briefing on Tuesday. 'Less risk means more choices,' Vasan said - though it's unclear what data he was citing to show the recent drop in risk. Multiple studies have shown Covid does not present a serious risk for children - with data from from American Academy of Pediatrics showing children accounted for about 19 percent of all COVID cases, though less than 0.26% of those cases resulted in death. Eric Adams is filmed telling a NYC dad to stop yelling in front of his daughter after being confronted about when under-5s would be unmasked in the city Maria Kubak, 36, is pictured confronting Adams about her son, who suffers from a speech phobia. He replied by telling the mom that he too is a father - even though his son is now 26 and unaffected by the face-covering mandate 'With BA.2, we're not seeing it causes more severe illness in any age group,' Vasan said in a recent press conference. 'At this point, we're very concerned about the effects of long-term COVID in everyone.' Hospitalizations of pediatric COVID patients are also rare. 'Hospitalizations have consistently remained higher for this age range, but they're still considerably low,' Vasan said, adding that kids 2-4 are able to mask, and are really the 'target age range when people talk about kids wearing masks under the age of five.' Vasan, a primary care physician with twenty years in the medical field, epidemiologist and public health expert, has been tasked to address pandemic management and recovery. He also works on chronic disease prevention, 'health equity' and mental health. A study from October found that around half of pediatric COVID cases are asymptomatic, and that was before the more mild Omicron variant became dominant in the U.S. A study in February, found the Pfizer vaccine was only 12% effective at preventing Omicron in five- to 11- year-olds. The main argument in favor of vaccinating children is to prevent them from spreading the virus but researchers from University of Berlin found, on average, children release less COVID particles into the air. Experts believe people who release lower amounts of aerosol particles when speaking have smaller viral loads, which also means they do not spread the virus at the same level. A January study showed masks make it 20% more difficult for children to recognize faces and, in turn, could affect their ability to socialize and make friends, a fear that is echoed by parents worldwide. More than 160 of the most violent criminals are on the streets despite posing an imminent risk to the public, shocking figures obtained by the Daily Mail reveal. The number is set to soar in the next 12 months as more than 40 high-risk criminals who are currently behind bars come up for automatic release or potential parole. Experts fear it will place the probation service under huge strain as it tries to keep tabs on growing numbers of dangerous offenders in the community. Currently, 164 freed offenders are classed as critical public protection cases. It means the Ministry of Justice has assessed they pose a very high risk of serious harm, and the likelihood of a sexual or violent offence is imminent when the offender is in the community. This week Justice Secretary Dominic Raab announced plans to reform the parole system Twelve of the offenders currently under supervision were convicted of terrorist offences. In a further revelation, 474 prisoners in England and Wales are included in a secret list of the worst of the worst offenders. The so-called noteworthy cases list, kept by the MoJ, is reserved for the truly infamous, who the public would not wish to ever be released at all, sources said. Of the 474 now in prison, 14 are scheduled to be automatically released within a year and a further 27 are due to receive a parole hearing, potentially pushing the critical cases list closer to 200. Offenders on the critical list are subject to far higher levels of community monitoring, which could include lie detector tests and satellite-enabled electronic tags. In extreme cases, they are kept under round-the-clock surveillance. 'Critical' cases have been described as a colossal drain on resources by MoJ sources. Above, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab arriving in Downing Street, London Cases which fall into the critical category are considered so serious that ministers are informed in advance of plans to release them. MoJ sources described the cases as a colossal drain on resources. It is understood that Tracey Connelly, the mother of Baby P, is on the MoJs list of 474 noteworthy inmates. Earlier this week, the Parole Board announced that she would be freed from jail, 13 years after she was jailed indefinitely for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter. Another name on the list is believed to be paedophile Colin Blanchard, who is due for a parole hearing in May. Blanchard received an indeterminate sentence in 2011 after persuading several women including nursery worker Vanessa George to take and send sick photos of child abuse. This week Justice Secretary Dominic Raab announced plans to reform the parole system to give ministers a veto over Parole Board decisions. However, the changes are not expected to come into force for at least 18 months. A Probation Service spokesman said these offenders are subject to tight supervision upon release and can be quickly jailed again if they breach their licence conditions. But they added: We are looking at reforms to ensure the public is better protected from the worst offenders. Larry Ray, 62, is accused of running a sex cult out of his daughter Talia's dorm at the elite liberal arts college in Bronxville, New York The prosecution in the Sarah Lawrence College 'sex cult' case has rested after three weeks of often harrowing testimony and two moments of drama when defendant Larry Ray, 62, suffered apparent seizures and had to be stretchered from the court. The government closed its case with testimony from Maritza Rosario, the mother of three siblings who each testified as alleged cult members and victims. Felicia, 39, told the court how she regarded herself as Ray's 'wife' only recently realizing their relationship was a sham. Yalitza, 32, testified that her relationship with Ray 'tore her world apart' and led to her mental breakdown. Their brother Santos, 30, told of violent physical abuse, coercion and extortion to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. All three attempted suicide during their association with Ray and his 'cult.' Today, testifying through an interpreter, their mother told how her children became changed and 'distant,' and how she gave them more than $150,000 in cash between 2012 and 2014 before losing all contact with them for the next seven years. The government closed its case Friday with testimony from Maritza Rosario, the mother of three siblings who each testified as alleged cult members and victims Yalitza Rosario, Felicia Rosario and Santos Rosario. Felicia, 39, told the court how she regarded herself as Ray's 'wife' only recently realizing their relationship was a sham. Yalitza, 32, testified that her relationship with Ray 'tore her world apart' and led to her mental breakdown. Santos, 30, told of violent physical abuse, coercion and extortion to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. Rosario, 62, described her elder daughter as Ray's 'girlfriend' and her younger one as simply his 'friend,' and told how during all three of her children's relationship with Ray each came to her asking for money in Santos's case many thousand dollars multiple times a week. She said, 'He told me he had broken the refrigeration, the stove, many things in Mr Ray's house and also computers.' She said she didn't believe his reasons but her son appeared, 'desperate' and threatened to take his own life if she didn't help. She said, 'I didn't know what to do.' The most she gave Santos on any one occasion was, she said, $8,000. But she recalled a time when she was forced to report her son to police as, she claimed, he stole a bag of $12,900 from the family business cash that had been set aside to pay for money transfers. Rosario spoke little about the change in her children's affect beyond noting that it had happened and volunteered that, after providing more than $150,000, she did not see any of them from 2014 to 2021. Visibly emotional she told jurors that she and her husband had sought help from three different police precincts but been told that because her offspring were all adults there was nothing they could do. Before closing their case the prosecution also entered several prison calls between Ray and his father, Lawrence Grecco who had been present in court Thursday. Larry Ray's sex trafficking trial was halted after the accused sex cult leader suffered another medical emergency in court Felicia Rosario (pictured arriving court earlier this week) told jurors how she came to realize her 'romance' with alleged sex cult leader Larry Ray was a sham Felicia, 39, told the court how she regarded herself as Ray's 'wife' only recently realizing their relationship was a sham In the calls Ray can be heard urging his father to gather 'negative' evidence against each of the students who are his alleged victims. He urges Grecco to index and categorize the videos, audio recordings and journals that, the government alleges, he held as collateral and used to extort Claudia Drury, Felicia, Yalitza and Santos Rosario, Daniel Levin and others. 'Anything to shoot holes in Dan,' Ray can be heard saying at one point while asking for the most 'violent' stuff from Drury who was hospitalized for having thoughts about harming herself and others including her parents. After the jury were dismissed for the day Judge Lewis Liman conducted a separate hearing to consider a bid by Ray to offer an 'advice of counsel' defense a claim that he believed he was acting lawfully because he had been advised so by his attorney. Ray claimed that he had been told by a lawyer he was within his rights accepting the proceeds of Drury's prostitution by way of 'reparations' for the 'wrongs' she had committed against. Ray, who jurors earlier heard failed to file taxes on income, 'very conservatively' estimated as more than $2million also claimed he was told that 'reparations' were non-taxable. Alleged cult victims Claudia Drury and Dan Levin Sarah Lawrence College is an elite liberal arts college in Bronxville, just north of New York City In testimony that descended into the farcical, attorney Glenn Ripa took the stand for Ray. Ripa represented Ray in a housing court dispute in 2014 and 2015. On direct testimony he double down on the defense's claims that he had advised Ray that he could accept money by way of reparations. But under cross examination he quickly fell apart failing to remember when he had given any such advice, admitting he had neither taken notes nor kept billing records and confessing he never used the language attributed to him by the Federal Defendants and set down in a letter he had supposedly sent just last month. He had no knowledge that many of Ray's claims to him claims he took entirely credulously including Ray's assertion that he had testified against former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik at trial were false. Nor did Ripa recall a telephone conversation with Perry Carbone in which the now Chief of the US Attorney White Plain's Office - with whom Ray claimed he had cooperated in that prosecution told him he had never brought any such trial. In fact Carbone described Ray as 'an unreliable witness' whom he would never use and 'nuts.' Judge Liman, who described Ripa's testimony as 'all over the place,' will rule on whether Ripa can testify on the tax matter ahead of trial Monday, but told both parties, 'I am hard pressed to see an advice of counsel [defense] on the basis of this witness's testimony.' Court resumes Monday morning when the defense will begin their case. Ray has yet to decide whether he will take the stand. The Mail's campaign in aid of Ukraine's refugees today tops a staggering 10million thanks to our incredible readers. Generous donations to help evacuees are still rolling in, as the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal reached a landmark 10.4million, including more than 9million from readers. Your peerless altruism continues to give support to Ukrainian families who have fled the fighting and those seeking sanctuary in Britain. One is keen musician Vitia, 11, whose treasured guitar, toys, school books and bicycle were destroyed when his home in Volnovakha, eastern Ukraine, was bombed. Now he and his mother Olena are safe in a shelter in Vinnytsia, on the other side of the country, thanks to Unicef, which has received 500,000 from Mail Force. An aid worker even managed to find the youngster a replacement guitar. One is keen musician Vitia, 11, whose treasured guitar, toys, school books and bicycle were destroyed when his home in Volnovakha, eastern Ukraine, was bombed. Now he and his mother Olena are safe in a shelter in Vinnytsia, on the other side of the country, thanks to Unicef, which has received 500,000 from Mail Force. An aid worker even managed to find the youngster a replacement guitar Olena described how her son had asked her to record a video of him playing his new instrument. 'He misses his music teacher very much,' Olena said. 'She has also become a refugee. And to cheer her up, he decided to play for her.' Before fleeing their home, Vitia and his family spent several days without food, heating or any way of communicating with the outside world. Nights were spent in the basement of their home, with mattresses against the windows. 'I only survived those days thanks to Vitia's support,' Olena said. 'We were lying in the dark and he was hugging me, saying: 'Mum, everything will be fine'.' Unicef says 4.3million children have been displaced by the war in Ukraine. Today we announce the latest grant of more than 338,000 to Refugees at Home. The cash will enable the charity to 'dramatically' expand its programme, which links up evacuees and British households who have offered spare rooms. Today we announce the latest grant of more than 338,000 to Refugees at Home. The cash will enable the charity to 'dramatically' expand its programme, which links up evacuees and British households who have offered spare rooms Co-founder and trustee Sara Nathan said last night: 'We are really grateful to the Mail's readers for supporting us and other groups who are trying to make the lives of Ukrainians fleeing war as positive as possible. 'The money will make a huge amount of difference to our capacity. It is such a relief that the only thing we don't have to worry about is resourcing our work. Thank you.' Miss Nathan said the charity has already started hiring ten extra staff to administer its programme. The donation will also help fund suitability checks on hosts, as well as support for sponsors and evacuees. The Mail Force campaign was kick-started by a 500,000 donation from parent company DMGT at the personal request of Lord and Lady Rothermere. Since then, the money from generous readers has flooded in. Other aid organisations to have received grants include the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, which accepted 1million, while the Red Cross and CARE International received 500,000 each. North Korea has recently resumed construction activity at an underground nuclear test site north of Pyongyang, which suggests a possible nuclear test down the road, a news report said Thursday, citing unidentified U.S. officials. "North Korea has recently resumed digging tunnels and construction activities at its underground nuclear test site, according to five US officials," CNN reported. The report comes after government sources in Seoul said the North may be working to create a shortcut to one of the underground tunnels at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site that it purportedly dismantled in 2018 in an internationally observed event to show its willingness to denuclearize. One of the sources said the North had abruptly stopped its initial construction work to restore the entrance to an underground tunnel at Punggye-ri, and is now digging up a side of the tunnel apparently to create a shortcut to the tunnel. The source added creating such a shortcut may allow the completion of restoration work "in a month." Punggye-ri has been the site of all six of North Korea's known nuclear tests. The work to restore the underground tunnels was detected earlier this year after Pyongyang said in January that it may consider restarting "all temporarily suspended activities," apparently referring to its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear weapons and long-range missile testing that had been in place since late 2017. The North fired an intercontinental ballistic missile last Thursday (KST), ending its self-imposed restrictions on long-range missile testing. In its annual Threat Assessment report, released earlier this month, the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence said the North may be expected to resume nuclear weapons and ICBM testing this year. (Yonhap) Defence sources say Red Army has run out of weapons and can't replenish stock Russia's war effort is grinding to a halt because much of the military hardware they need is made in Ukraine, it emerged last night. Kremlin forces have run out of vital weapons and cannot now replenish their stocks, UK defence sources revealed. The revelations came as President Volodymyr Zelensky's forces drove Russia out of dozens of towns around Kyiv and the north in one of the most extraordinary days since the start of the invasion. More than 30 settlements were reclaimed with Vladimir Putin's forces retreating up to 25 miles in places. But officials urged caution, saying the movement is part of Russia's 'tactics' to encircle Ukrainian troops in Donbas and split the country in two. Russia's war effort is grinding to a halt because much of the military hardware they need is made in Ukraine, it emerged as defence sources said the Kremlin could not replenish its stocks The Daily Mail can reveal that Ukraine had previously supplied Russia with cruise missiles, helicopter engine parts and fighter jet components. It also produced the fire control systems used by Russian tanks (one seen here at the bottom of a river) Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said: 'Russian units are not withdrawing but repositioning.' Among the towns back under Ukrainian control last night were Hostomel, where Moscow had hoped to gain the airport to ease taking control of Kyiv, Chernihiv in the north, and Chernobyl, where Putin's forces were heading across the border to Belarus. The Daily Mail can reveal that Ukraine had previously supplied Russia with cruise missiles, helicopter engine parts and fighter jet components. It also produced the fire control systems used by Russian tanks. Now, when these systems fail, they cannot be replaced. Russia is unable to source these items or alternatives from other countries due to international sanctions. The revelations came as President Volodymyr Zelensky's forces drove Russia out of dozens of towns around Kyiv and the north in one of the most extraordinary days since the start of the invasion Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen ride on an armoured transporter driving through a Russian position overran by Ukrainian forces outside Kyiv Since the conflict began in late February, Russia has lost an estimated 143 planes, 131 helicopters, 625 tanks and 316 artillery pieces. Russia has also fired at least 1,100 missiles, raising questions about how long it can maintain such an expenditure rate. Given Russia's reliance on Ukraine for military components, UK defence sources say Russia's war effort is in serious trouble. Last night a source said: 'Serious amounts of components for Russian weapons systems were made there [Ukraine]. That won't be happening any more. 'Russia cannot manufacture this equipment itself or import it, so it won't be getting any of these materials any time soon. The hardware expended in Ukraine came from historic stockpiles, developed when there was greater cooperation between Russia and Ukraine. 'The integration of their industrial complexes meant a severing of relations would jeopardise Russia's ability to sustain military operations. Now they're running out.' In the Soviet Union era, Ukraine produced 30 per cent of the Union's weaponry and military equipment. Starving soldiers reduced to 'eating stray dogs' Starving Russian soldiers have been eating stray dogs abandoned by their fleeing Ukrainian owners, it has been reported. The grim claim allegedly from a telephone call intercepted by Ukraine's security services is a sign of how stretched and harried the invaders' supply lines are. According to a transcript released by the Ukrainian agents, a Russian soldier was asked: 'Are you eating OK at least?' He is said to have replied: 'Not too bad. We had alabai [a Central Asian sheepdog] yesterday. We wanted some meat.' Armies should be provided with long-life ration packs, which do not need to be chilled, and typically contain boil-in-the-bag ready meals. But the Ukrainians' attacks on convoys into the country appear to be cutting off supplies, reducing the Russian army to desperate measures as they live off the land. Other reportedly intercepted calls from Putin's soldiers have revealed not only shortages of food, but also of ammunition and fuel. Russian troops are said to have been raiding supermarkets for food and alcohol, as well as looting homes for supplies. Hotelier Tetiana Schevchenko, 47, told The Times that Russian and Chechen fighters in Trostyanets, in eastern Ukraine, had been taking whatever they wanted from properties, and killing civilians who get in their way. In Odessa, on the Black Sea coast, two vets are said to be still in the city and working relentlessly to help the pets left behind. Some of the strays across the country have even supposedly been keeping alive by feeding on the corpses of dead Russians. Advertisement Weapons sales continued after the Cold War. In 2012 Ukraine was the world's fourth largest arms exporter and the Commonwealth of Independent States as the Soviet Union became was among its biggest customers. But after Russia invaded Crimea in 2014 and began the conflict in the Donbas region aided with Ukrainian equipment Kyiv drastically reduced supplies to its neighbour. Ukraine's revenues from arms exports plummeted from 1billion in 2012 to 100million in 2020.According to UK sources, Russia faces drastic shortages of 'helicopter, ship, fighter jet and cruise missile parts'. Its cruise missiles were manufactured in Ukraine's second biggest city Kharkiv, which has been bombarded by Russian artillery and aircraft. The state-run instrument-making plant at Izyum also made essential components for Russia's T-72 range of tanks. The war is also expected to curtail Russia's nuclear programme as half of the components for its ground-based intercontinental ballistic missiles were sourced in Ukraine. UK intelligence reports have also indicated Russia's generals have pushed back against Kremlin attempts to deploy thousands more troops to Ukraine, rejecting them as 'not fit for purpose'. On the ground, a Ukrainian solider in Hostomel said of the Russians: 'They left like cowardly rabbits, almost without a fight. I think soon we will totally kick them out beyond the border.' The nearby town of Bucha was also reportedly liberated, leaving Russia's plans to encircle Kyiv in tatters following Ukraine's victory at Irpin earlier in the week. A Ukrainian official said: 'The enemy has exhausted its offensive potential and needs to replenish itself and regroup.' And the nuclear plant at Chernobyl was back in the hands of Ukrainians for the first time since the start of the invasion last night. Russian troops reportedly started to fall ill after digging trenches in the highly toxic zones forcing them to evacuate. Around 700 armoured vehicles around Kyiv have also headed towards Belarus. But Ukrainian officials warned there are still 'significant forces around Kyiv' which could 'still cause some damage'. They added that there is a 'high probability' that the retreating forces will be redeployed to the eastern Donbas region. A US defence official said: 'We continue to believe that this is a repositioning. We certainly haven't seen any indications that any of these troops are going back home, or that they're being taken away from the fight forever.' The head of the European Parliament told President Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv today that the people of Europe stand with Ukraine and the assembly supports the country's hope to start the process of joining the EU. Roberta Metsola, who took over as the European Parliament's president in January, met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during her one-day visit to the capital. She said: 'You are us and we are you. But at the same time, you are also fighting our war, you are fighting for fundamental principles that this continent has for so many centuries defended. 'I also come here with the message of this is "the whatever it takes" moment. So I would like to make sure that you have everything that you need in your hands in order for you to win this war. 'Because if you win, the world wins.' The head of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, (right) told President Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv today that the people of Europe stand with Ukraine and the assembly supports the country's hope to start the process of joining the EU In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, right, talk during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 1 European Parliament President Roberta Metsola addresses the Ukrainian lawmakers, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, during a parliament session in Kyiv, Ukraine April 1 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola pose for a picture during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 1 Zelensky replied: 'There is no grey colour and grey zone for us in the international diplomacy. 'I think you understand it. The question of survival is very urgent. 'We are happy that you are on the side of light and good, so I am grateful for your support.' Metsola, who is Maltese, also made three promises in a seperate address earlier on Friday to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. She said: 'First of all, this invasion of your country puts Russia in direct confrontation with Europe, the international community and the rules-based world order. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola talk during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 1 'And it is not something that we will let Putin do unchallenged. We need more and harder sanctions. 'We will hold those responsible accountable for what they have committed here. Second, the European Union recognises Ukraine's European ambitions and your aspirations to be a candidate country for accession. 'And I stand before all of you here to say, that you can count on me, you can count on the European Parliament in supporting Ukraine's path in achieving this goal. Roberta Metsola, who took over as the European Parliament's president in January, met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during her one-day visit to the capital Zelensky said: 'We are happy that you are on the side of light and good, so I am grateful for your support' Zelensky added: 'There is no grey colour and grey zone for us in the international diplomacy' 'We know what blood was spilt to get here. And we will not let you down. 'And we know more than ever that Ukraine looks to the European Union as its destination. We will respond with honesty and with hope. 'Every country has its own path - but the European Union future of Ukraine should never be in doubt. 'Thirdly, we will take care of your families who are forced to flee, until the day they can safely return to their homes and rebuild their lives. 'And we will help you to rebuild your cities and your towns when this illegal, unprovoked and unjustified invasion is over. 'We have already provided assistance: financial, military and humanitarian. This will continue and this will increase. 'We will create the Ukraine Solidarity Trust Fund and organise an International Donors Conference, to help rebuild. 'Because this attack on your homeland has changed everything. Metsola told the Ukrainian parliament: 'We know more than ever that Ukraine looks to the European Union as its destination. We will respond with honesty and with hope' She added: 'Every country has its own path - but the European Union future of Ukraine should never be in doubt' 'You did not invite this invasion. Nor did you provoke it. You did not seek a confrontation. 'But you have risen to meet this moment that is testament to the greatness of a people, to your courage, to your strength of character.' She added: 'Please believe me when I say that the European Parliament, the European Union and the people of Europe stand with Ukraine. 'That is why I am here today, because we stand with you.' Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, said they had discussed continuing international sanctions on Russia, humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine and procedures for EU accession. Metsola's visit came as Ukraine recaptured more territory around Kyiv from Russian soldiers who left shattered villages and their own abandoned tanks as they moved away from the capital, while a disputed cross-border strike in Russia complicated peace talks on Friday. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (left), Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of Ukrainian Parliament, during their meeting in Kyiv today European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Ukraine's Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk shake hands after a news briefing, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola walks before a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 1 In the hamlet of Dmytrivka to the west of the capital, smoke was still rising from the wrecks of tanks and the bodies of at least eight Russian soldiers lay in the streets, Reuters correspondents saw. 'From one side we were hearing the tanks shooting at us, and from the area of Bucha was a massive mortar shelling,' said resident Leonid Vereshchagin, a business executive, referring to a town to the north. Ukrainian forces went on to take back Bucha, its mayor said on Friday in a video that appeared to be filmed outside the town hall. The advances followed several days of Ukrainian gains around Kyiv and in the north. A man walks past a burnt armoured personnel carrier near buildings destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Service members of pro-Russian troops sit atop of an armoured vehicle, which moves along a street in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Marina Sidorenko, 83, shows an apartment building burnt-out in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 A view shows the building of a theatre destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 In southwest Ukraine, anti-air defences thwarted an attempted attack on critical infrastructure in the Black Sea port of Odesa, the Ukrainian military said. Reuters could not immediately verify the account. Odesa's governor, Maksym Marchenko, said three missiles had hit a residential district, causing casualties. He said the missiles were fired from an Iskander missile system in Crimea, the southern Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia denies targeting civilians. A view shows a road and buildings damaged in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 People walk along a street near residential buildings heavily damaged in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 A boy looks at a destroyed Russian tank after recent battles in Bucha, close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 1 'President Vladimir Putin sent troops on February 24 for what he calls a 'special operation' to demilitarise Ukraine. The West calls it an unprovoked war of aggression that has killed thousands and uprooted a quarter of Ukraine's population. Moscow said Ukrainian helicopters struck a fuel depot in the Russian border city of Belgorod, a logistics hub for its war effort, causing a huge fire. Ukraine denied responsibility for the incident, the first of its kind in the five-week-old war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the incident could jeopardise Ukrainian-Russian peace talks, which resumed on Friday by video link. Russia will strengthen its western borders so it won't 'cross anyone's mind to attack,' Peskov said later. Marina Sidorenko, 83, and other local residents sit around a fire on the territory of a church in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Local resident Marina Sidorenko, 83, shows her apartment in a multi-storey building burnt-out in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Local resident and pensioner Valentina Popyi, 75, who seeks refuge in a children's home damaged in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict, speaks with neighbours in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Hours after the blaze began at the oil depot, an eyewitness reached by telephone in Belgorod, who asked not to be identified, said aircraft were flying overhead and there were continuous explosions from the direction of the border. 'Something is happening. There are planes and constant explosions in the distance.' Security camera footage, from a location verified by Reuters, showed a flash from what appeared to be a missile fired from low altitude in the sky, followed by an explosion on the ground. Ukraine's top security official said Russia's accusations were not correct. Ukraine's defence ministry earlier had declined to confirm or deny involvement. 'Ukraine is currently conducting a defensive operation against Russian aggression on the territory of Ukraine, and this does not mean that Ukraine is responsible for every catastrophe on Russia's territory,' said ministry spokesperson Oleksandr Motuzyanyk. A Russian threat to cut off gas supplies to Europe unless buyers paid with roubles by Friday was averted for now, with Moscow saying it would not halt supplies until new payments are due later in April. Local resident and accountant Tatyana Velichko, 60, who seeks refuge in a children's home damaged in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict, cooks food in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Local resident Pavel, 42, stands next to the grave of his friend Igor, who was killed by shelling while they were riding together in a car during Ukraine-Russia conflict, in a residential area in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 30, 2022 Russia says the southeastern region of Donbas, where it has backed separatists since 2014, is now the focus of its war efforts. The besieged and bombarded Azov Sea port city of Mariupol has been its main target there. Conditions on Friday made it impossible to go ahead with a plan to evacuate civilians from Mariupol, where tens of thousands are trapped with scant water or food, the International Committee of the Red Cross said. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths will travel to Moscow on Sunday and then to Kyiv as the United Nations pursues a humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters. A total of 6,266 people were evacuated from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors on Friday, said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian president's office. After failing to capture a single major city, Russia has painted its draw-down of forces near Kyiv as a goodwill gesture in peace talks. The negotiations led to a prisoner exchange on Friday, Tymoshenko said, with the release of 86 Ukrainian troops. Tymoshenko did not say how many Russian soldiers were released. Homes, administrative buildings and cultural landmarks have all been shelled in the brutal campaign BEFORE: A satellite image shows home and buildings in Mariupol in June last year before the Russian invasion AFTER: A photo taken on Tuesday shows the scale of devastation on the port city wrought by Putin's army Ukraine and its allies say Russian forces have been forced to regroup after suffering heavy losses due to determined Ukrainian resistance. Regional governors in Kyiv and Chernihiv said Russians were pulling out of areas in both those provinces, some heading back across borders to Belarus and Russia. In Irpin, a commuter suburb northwest of Kyiv that had been one of the main battlegrounds for weeks, now firmly back in Ukrainian hands, volunteers and emergency workers carried the dead on stretchers out of the rubble. About a dozen bodies were zipped up in black plastic body bags, lined up on a street and loaded into vans. Lilia Ristich was sitting on a metal playground swing with her young son Artur. Most people had fled; they had stayed. She listed neighbours who had been killed - the man 'buried there, on the lawn'; the couple with their 12-year-old child, all burned alive. 'I pray for all this to end and for them never to come back,' she said. 'When you hold a child in your arms it is an everlasting fear.' With its amphitheatre-shaped cliffs, stunning waterfalls and breathtaking views across the Yorkshire Dales, the scenery around Malham Cove and Gordale Scar can't fail to lift the spirits in these troubled times. Now a magical walk that takes in both landmarks, which were featured in the Harry Potter films, has been voted the best in Britain. The 7.5-mile circular route, starting from the village of Malham, came top in a Which? survey of 51 favourite walks in the UK. Each were scored out of five for accessibility, visitor facilities, food and drink, peace and quiet, places of interest, scenery, signage and wildlife. Visitors impressed by the dramatic cove, which climbs to a limestone pavement where a scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was filmed, and the striking 330ft narrow ravine of Gordale Scar awarded the walk a maximum five out of five for scenery and places of interest. A 7.5-mile circular route going past Malham Cove and Gordale Scar (pictured) in the Yorkshire Dales has been awarded the accolade of 'Britain's Best Walk', according to Which? Visitors impressed by the striking 330ft narrow ravine of Gordale Scar (pictured) awarded the walk a maximum five out of five for scenery and places of interest The scenery around Malham Cove and Gordale Scar can't fail to lift the spirits in these troubled times Which? carried out a survey of 51 favourite walks in the UK, with routes in Yorkshire and Cornwall snapping up the three top spaces Famous for its nesting peregrine falcons and bluebells that carpet the woodland in spring, it also scored highly for wildlife. Overall, the ramble achieved an 89 per cent satisfaction score from the consumer watchdog's readers, narrowly beating two walks in Cornwall the one-mile Botallack Mine amble and the more challenging seven-mile Lizard Peninsula circuit, which scored 88 per cent each. The latter, which takes in the pretty Kynance Cove, also scored highly for wildlife thanks to rare red-billed chough birds found en route together with seals and basking sharks often spotted offshore. But it was the Lake District that was the most popular region for ramblers claiming six spots in the table, including three in the top ten. The tricky 9.5-mile hike up Helvellyn was named the favourite Lake District walk, followed by the circuit around Buttermere lake, which was knocked down from the number one spot in the 2021 poll to fifth place overall. The Peak District, Cornwall and Northumberland each boasted three of the best walks, while Dorset, Snowdonia, London, Surrey and the North York Moors have two apiece. Rhossili Headland retained its title as the best walk in Wales, with an overall score of 86 per cent. The 3.5-mile trail in the Gower got top marks for scenery and five other four-star scores, making it an excellent all-rounder. Walkers pass an Iron Age fort and can see the remains of a shipwreck poking out of the sea at low tide. Anstruther to Crail on the Fife Coastal Path was rated Scotland's best route with an 83 per cent score. The route, rated 4/5 for difficulty, narrowly beat a much easier walk (1/5 for difficulty) in Cornwall past Botallack Mine, proving that British walkers are not averse to a challenge 'Britain's Best Walk' begins at Malham Village in the Yorkshire Dales. Pictured: A lone ash tree at Malham Village The walks were scored out of five for accessibility, visitor facilities, food and drink, peace and quiet, places of interest, scenery, signage and wildlife. Pictured: A limestone ravine in the Yorkshire Dales National Park The easy four-mile route knits together a string of pretty fishing villages, ending at Crail with its white-washed stone cottages that have provided the inspiration for many artists who have made it their home. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: 'The UK has an amazing variety of walks and with its magical connection, the most popular route in our survey was a worthy winner. 'From breathtaking rolling hills and lake loops to historic hikes, clifftop paths and the shingle beaches below, there is a route for every taste and ability.' Advertisement Buckingham Palace told bankers a mysterious 750,000 gift to Prince Andrew was for his daughter Princess Beatrice's wedding. The Daily Mail has obtained details of an astonishing phone call to his private secretary at the time deepening the riddle over the money. The Duchess of York and Princess Eugenie have also been named in the High Court as having received large amounts of cash. The extraordinary case involves an alleged fraudster who set up a scheme described in legal documents as 'apparent money laundering'. The Mail revealed yesterday how 77-year-old Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen claims to have been scammed out of her fortune by businessman Selman Turk. She is suing him in the High Court over 40million she says is missing. She claims 1.1million of her money ended up with Andrew. He has repaid 750,000 but has not explained why it was paid into his account at royal bank Coutts in November 2019 in the first place. Buckingham Palace told bankers a mysterious 750,000 gift to Prince Andrew was for his daughter Princess Beatrice's wedding. Pictured: Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at their wedding The Mail revealed yesterday how 77-year-old Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen claims to have been scammed out of her fortune by businessman Selman Turk (pictured at a dinner for the Duke of York). She is suing him in the High Court over 40million she says is missing Now the Mail can reveal that the duke's former private secretary Amanda Thirsk gave the wedding explanation for the payment. Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a private ceremony in Windsor in July 2020 Mrs Isbilen alleges she was tricked into giving the duke the money by Mr Turk, who she says falsely told her the payment was because Andrew had helped her obtain a passport. Now the Mail can reveal that the duke's former private secretary Amanda Thirsk gave the wedding explanation for the payment. Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a private ceremony in Windsor in July 2020. The Mail has obtained a transcript of the phone call Mrs Thirsk received from Mrs Isbilen's bank on November 14, 2019, querying the purpose of the 750,000 transfer from her account to the duke's personal account at Coutts. Will he be taxed on the gifts? HMRC does not class cash gifts as income, so if you receive a lump sum you will not be taxed on it. However, you can be billed for any interest earned on the money once it is deposited in your account. Prince Andrew's precise tax arrangements are not known, so it is not clear if he had to pay out in this way. If a donor dies within seven years of giving a gift, then their estate is likely to be subject to inheritance tax, but the recipient will not be charged. Other exemptions allow you to gift your child up to 5,000 tax-free if it is a wedding present. UK taxpayers also have a 3,000 annual gift allowance before tax is charged. Advertisement Mrs Thirsk, who was a senior member of the Royal Household at the time but no longer works there, said: 'It's a gift for the wedding, a wedding gift.' The riddle of the money took a series of dramatic twists yesterday as court documents claimed Andrew's ex-wife was sent payments totalling 225,000, while his younger daughter Eugenie received 25,000, including a 15,000 'birthday gift' five months before the actual day. Andrew is not accused of any wrongdoing and he is not central to the complex legal proceedings which are still at an early stage at the High Court. Mrs Isbilen is the wife of a Turkish MP jailed in their homeland on 'politically motivated' charges. She fled to London, asking Mr Turk to help her move her $90million (68million) fortune out of the country, the court has heard. Mr Turk denies dishonestly 'misappropriating' her money. He says that Mrs Isbilen decided to give Andrew the money 'on her own initiative'. Former Goldman Sachs banker Mr Turk, 35, has been living in a property owned by the Queen, court documents suggest. The 750,000 payment to the duke was made nine days after Mr Turk won an award at Pitch@Palace, Andrew's Dragons' Den-style scheme for entrepreneurs. Mr Turk could not be contacted for comment. Andrew's spokesman said: 'We are unable to comment on an ongoing legal case', while a spokesman for his ex-wife said: 'The Duchess was completely unaware of the allegations that have since emerged against Mr Turk. 'She is naturally concerned by what has been alleged against him.' Mrs Thirsk said she 'would not be involved in anything improper'. 'It's a gift for the wedding, yes': What Andrew's aide told banker about 750,000 ... before even MORE payments By Sam Greenhill, Chief Reporter for the Daily Mail The phone call to one of Buckingham Palace's most senior courtiers concerned a delicate matter. Banker Stephen Buckland had been instructed to transfer 750,000 into the Duke of York's Coutts account, and he wanted to check what the money was for. The money belonged to Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen, a wealthy client of Mr Buckland at Hampden & Co private bank. As part of his duty to conduct due diligence, Mr Buckland set about asking some questions about the purpose of the 'very large sum of money'. Before speaking to Andrew's private secretary Amanda Thirsk at the Palace, he started with a call to Selman Turk the alleged 'middleman' said to have arranged the payment between Mrs Isbilen and the duke. Banker Stephen Buckland had been instructed to transfer 750,000 into the Duke of York's Coutts account, and he wanted to check what the money was for. The money belonged to Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen, a wealthy client of Mr Buckland at Hampden & Co private bank The Daily Mail has obtained a transcript of their discussion on November 14, 2019, in which Mr Buckland told Mr Turk: 'We just need to feel comfortable given the very unusual nature of the transaction,' which had been given the reference 'wedding gift'. Mr Buckland said: 'What we're struggling to understand is why it is so large and, also, is it a gift to help with the cost of the wedding or is it a wedding gift to the bride?' Mr Turk, 35, who once worked for Goldman Sachs, gave the rather unclear answer: 'No, wedding so basically wedding so for the cost of the wedding.' The London-based businessman said the transfer was 'a gift' and allegedly gave Mr Buckland the number for Andrew's private secretary. 2 phone calls that smoothed way for Beatrice's big day CALL ONE Call from Stephen Buckland, from Nebahat Isbilen's private bank Hampden & Co, to Selman Turk November 14, 2019 Stephen Buckland (SB): Hi Selman, thanks for calling back Selman Turk (ST): Hello, just missed your call, sorry, yeah SB: Just had a word with one of my senior colleagues. As I am sure you will appreciate, we just need to feel comfortable given the very unusual nature of the transaction and, also the quantum [amount] ST: Yeah, sure SB: And what we're struggling to understand is why it is so large and, also, is it a gift to help with the cost of the wedding to the bank account holder or is it a wedding gift to the bride? ST: No, wedding so basically wedding so for the cost of the wedding SB: Right OK so, it's not a, so it's solely for the help with the cost of the wedding and not... ST: Yes SB: Right, because that's not what it said in the original instruction ST: Wedding gift, so basically it's a gift to the bride... SB: To help with the wedding? To help with the cost of the wedding? ST: Yes SB: It's obviously a very large sum of money which I think anybody would understand, but OK. Did he request that sort of sum or was it a sum which Mrs Isbilen... ST: No (multiple times), it's not requested at all, it's just one-sided, a gift CALL TWO ** Call from Stephen Buckland to Amanda Thirsk, then legal adviser to Prince Andrew November 14, 2019 Stephen Buckland (SB): It's Stephen Buckland from Hampden & Co. Amanda Thirsk (AT): Oh right, hello, how are you? SB: I'm not bad, you? AT: Yes, good thank you SB: It's in connection we are bankers to Mrs Isbilen and this is in reference to a conversation that you might have had with Selman Turk AT: Oh yeah, yeah SB: So, I am sure as you will appreciate, we just need to feel comfortable with the very unusual nature of the transaction and, also the quantum and Selman said that you were happy for me to give you a call AT: Yes, of course, yes SB: Are you able to confirm if this transfer is to assist with the cost of the wedding, or is it a gift to Princess Beatrice? AT: I understand it's a gift for the wedding, a wedding gift SB: It's for the wedding, right AT: Yes exactly, that's what he's said to her father SB: Right OK, so this is a gift for the cost of the wedding or is it a gift to Princess Beatrice? AT: I mean, I'm not sure it makes much difference, does it? I think it's a gift for the wedding SB: It's a gift for the wedding, OK AT: What she and her family decide to do with it is really to do with them, isn't it? SB: Right, OK. And has the conversation been between Selman and the family, or has it been with Mrs Isbilen? AT: With Selman I believe SB: It's with Selman, right, OK. OK that's helpful, thank you very much indeed AT: OK. Thank you, bye SB: Thank you, bye Advertisement When Mrs Thirsk answered later that day, Mr Buckland asked her what the 750,000 was for, and according to the transcript, she replied: 'I understand it's a gift for the wedding, a wedding gift.' The banker inquired whether it was a gift for the cost of the wedding or a gift to Princess Beatrice and was told: 'I mean, I'm not sure it makes much difference, does it? I think it's a gift for the wedding.' She added: 'What she and her family decide to do with it is really to do with them, isn't it?' The next day, November 15, the money was transferred to the duke's account. Fast-forward 16 months to March 2021, and Mrs Isbilen, 77, told the High Court her money had been 'dishonestly misappropriated' by Mr Turk, an allegation he denies. Her solicitors wrote to the duke over his dealings with Mr Turk. None of their questions were answered, but 'within days' Mrs Isbilen received 750,000 from the duke. For her, it was the first breakthrough in what has become a jaw-dropping legal wrangle. The Duke of York is not accused of any wrongdoing and is not a central figure in the case, in which Mrs Isbilen is suing Mr Turk and a number of offshore companies he allegedly controls. But the duke, along with his ex-wife and daughters, has become embroiled in the complex case. Yesterday Mrs Thirsk told the Mail she could not remember the call from Mr Buckland. She added: 'As a person of integrity, I would not be involved in anything improper.' The aide, an ex-banker who joined the prince's staff in 2004, quit following his disastrous Newsnight interview which coincidentally was recorded the same day as the crucial phone calls. The loyal 'gatekeeper' was made to carry the can for encouraging him to talk to the BBC. THE 750,000 RIDDLE A series of conflicting explanations have been made for the duke receiving 750,000 from Mrs Isbilen in November 2019. The refugee from Turkey, where her politician husband is in jail, claims Mr Turk told her Andrew had helped her secure a new Turkish passport. She claims Mr Turk told her such a service 'would normally be worth 2million but it would cost less if we made the payment by way of a gift'. The court was told Mr Turk who disputes Mrs Isbilen's version of events had invented the passport story as a ruse. Then came the explanations about Princess Beatrice's wedding, which was due to take place in eight months' time in July 2020. In his defence, filed to the court, Mr Turk said Mrs Isbilen had made the gift to Andrew 'on her own initiative'. He claimed she had 'met the Duke and Duchess of York a number of times', including in Turkey in the late 1980s', and there were further meetings in 2019, he said, at Mr Turk's flat and at St James's Palace. A further meeting took place in January 2020, Mr Turk claimed, because she wanted to discuss her husband's case with the duke and duchess. Mr Turk claimed Mrs Isbilen had been 'invited to Princess Beatrice's wedding reception'. He denied telling her to make the gift to Andrew and that he had told her it was for a passport. He denied the duke 'could or would have used his connections' to assist with Mrs Isbilen's passport. PITCH@PALACE Whatever the reason for the 750,000, it went into the duke's account nine days after Mr Turk scored success at an event run by the duke at St James's Palace. The duke's Pitch@Palace initiative is his version of the BBC's Dragons' Den in which budding entrepreneurs make pitches to business high-flyers. The winner of the night's People's Choice Award was digital banking company Heyman AI, run by 35-year-old Turkish financier Mr Turk. In an affidavit submitted to the High Court, Jonathan Tickner, Mrs Isbilen's solicitor, wrote: 'Mrs Isbilen suspects that the payment was made for some purpose connected with the banking business.' The duke did not respond to questions yesterday, but it has been pointed out that he does not cast a vote in the People's Choice Award. 'MONEY LAUNDERING' A series of payments to the Yorks were made from a company named Alphabet. Mrs Isbilen's solicitor told the High Court in his affidavit there was 'strong evidence' the firm was a 'fraudulent and covert front used by Mr Turk...to make payments to persons associated with him. Those persons include HRH Prince Andrew [and] Sarah, Duchess of York'. Mr Tickner said the Alphabet transactions were consistent with a pattern of 'apparent money laundering activity by Mr Turk'. He said payments made by Alphabet appeared to have been made 'on a fraudulent basis'. A FURTHER 350,000 As well as the 750,000 payment which he repaid the Duke of York is said to have received a further 350,000. The affidavit states: 'The Alphabet disclosure shows that further transfers of up to 350,000, in regular instalments and in many instances under the reference TK WEDDING or TK WED, were made to Prince Andrew.' No further details were given but it is understood Mrs Isbilen has not had any further money repaid apart from the 750,000. 225,000 TO FERGIE Andrew's ex-wife received 'at least' 225,000 from the Alphabet account, the affidavit states. Mr Tickner wrote: 'At least 225,000 was transferred to an account in the name of DUCHESS OF YORK out of the Alphabet account, again in regular instalments.' The duchess has acted as a brand ambassador for a company named Pegasus Group Holdings, and some of the references on the payments are 'PEG001'. One of the instalments, in November 2019, showed that $25,000 was transferred to Mr Turk from a Las Vegas company named Pegasus Group Holdings, under the reference DUCHESS FEE POP SERVICE.' A spokesman for the duchess declined to comment. But it is understood that she says it was money she was owed by Pegasus for her work. PRINCESS EUGENIE The affidavit states: 'A payment of 10,000 was made out of the Alphabet account to EUGENIE OF YORK on 9 October 2019, under the payment reference TK008.' The next day, a further payment was made. 'The bank records for Mr Turk's account show that, on 10 October 2019, Mr Turk made a payment of 15,066.05 to EUGENIE YORK under the payment reference BIRTHDAY GIFT.' The solicitor noted that the payment was made some five months before Eugenie's birthday on March 23. He added: 'But Sarah, Duchess of York's birthday is 15 October. In any event I am not aware of any reason for Mr Turk to have made such a substantial gift.' Andrew's ex-wife received 'at least' 225,000 from the Alphabet account, the affidavit states. Mr Tickner wrote: 'At least 225,000 was transferred to an account in the name of DUCHESS OF YORK out of the Alphabet account, again in regular instalments The affidavit states: 'A payment of 10,000 was made out of the Alphabet account to EUGENIE OF YORK on 9 October 2019, under the payment reference TK008.' The next day, a further payment was made Mr Turk disputes Mrs Isbilen's allegations and 'disagrees with her portrayal of the facts'. He states that 'much of what has happened is the result of Mrs Isbilen's status as a politically exposed person and the consequential difficulty in dealing with her assets'. In one court ruling, he was described as 'very cooperative', and told the judge he 'had nothing to hide'. The case continues. Eugenie last night became the first member of the York family to offer an explanation, saying 25,000 she had received from 'a long-standing family friend' had been to help with the cost of catering for a surprise party for her mother's 60th birthday. In a statement issued last night, Eugenie said: 'I suggested that any contribution could be made directly to the caterers, but in the event provided my account details to which two payments were made totalling 25,000, which I then transferred on to the company organising my mother's party.' The princess, who is consulting her lawyers, said she did not know Mr Turk or Mrs Isbilen. Yesterday Andrew's spokesman said: 'We are unable to comment on an ongoing legal case.' A spokesman for the Duchess of York said: 'The duchess was completely unaware of the allegations that have since emerged against Mr Turk. She is naturally concerned by what has been alleged against him.' 10 telling questions Andrew must answer 1How do you and the Duchess of York know Selman Turk? 2How many times have you met Mr Turk, where and why? 3What did you think the 750,000 paid into your Coutts account was for? 4 Was the money a wedding gift to Princess Beatrice, a payment to cover wedding costs or something else? 5Why did you pay back the 750,000? 6 What instructions did you give your private secretary Amanda Thirsk about the 750,000 payment? 7Mr Turk won a Pitch@Palace award on November 5, 2019 were you involved in choosing his business as a winner? 8Is it a coincidence that nine days after the award you were paid 750,000? 9You received a further 350,000 from Alphabet Capital Ltd, which the court heard was allegedly a 'fraudulent' entity. What was this money for and what has happened to it? 10The court has heard that Alphabet Capital transactions show 'apparent money laundering activity by Mr Turk'. Do you have any comment? Advertisement Alleged fraudster's home 'is owned by the Queen': Prestige Mayfair flat is a short stroll from Buckingham Palace By David Wilkes for the Daily Mail The alleged fraudster at the heart of the legal battle over huge cash gifts to Prince Andrew has been living in a property owned by the Queen, court papers suggest. Turkish businessman Selman Turk, 35, has lived in a multi-million-pound flat in a prestigious Mayfair address close to Buckingham Palace and the luxury shops of Piccadilly. The flat is owned by 'The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty In Right Of Her Crown care of The Crown Estate Commissioners', Land Registry documents suggest. The Crown Estate, which owns land and property across Britain, is owned by the monarch and funds the Royal Family via the Sovereign Grant. The flat is owned by 'The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty In Right Of Her Crown care of The Crown Estate Commissioners', Land Registry documents suggest There has been no 'obvious payment' from Mr Turk's bank accounts to the Crown Estate, witness statements lodged with the High Court claim. Mr Turk is currently being sued by Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen. Jonathan Tickner, from the law firm Peters & Peters which is representing her, said in a statement: 'Peters & Peters have been unable to ascertain on what basis Mr Turk has occupied the premises.' The businessman did not appear to be at home yesterday, and the property's concierge said he was 'not authorised' to talk about who lived there. Mr Turk, a former Goldman Sachs banker, won an award at the Duke of York's Dragons' Den-style competition Pitch@Palace in November 2019. In a video posted on the Pitch@Palace Twitter account, he outlined how he was creating a new consumer-focused digital bank aimed at millennials. Asked what problem the company, called Heyman AI, was solving, Mr Turk replied: 'People's daily banking habits will be much easier and efficient.' The next evening Heyman AI won the People's Choice Award at Pitch@Palace. Mr Turk was photographed shaking hands with the duke, who hosted the event. Afterwards, in another video posted on Pitch@Palace's Twitter page, Mr Turk said: 'It was great seeing such a great amount of people here that is willing to help you.' The Crown Estate, which owns land and property across Britain, is owned by the monarch and funds the Royal Family via the Sovereign Grant. Pictured: The multi-million pound property Mr Turk, a former Goldman Sachs banker, won an award at the Duke of York's Dragons' Den-style competition Pitch@Palace in November 2019. In a video posted on the Pitch@Palace Twitter account, he outlined how he was creating a new consumer-focused digital bank aimed at millennials Heyman AI later went bust, and now it, Mr Turk, and his appearance at Pitch@Palace are at the centre of the extraordinary case unfolding. Mr Turk was not only the founder of Heyman AI but was also the financial adviser of Mrs Isbilen, 77. She claims to have been tricked into giving Prince Andrew 750,000 'by way of payment for assistance' with her passport and has told the High Court she believes the payment may have been connected to Mr Turk's appearance at the Pitch@Palace event. The prince has since repaid the cash after she alleged it was a scam. Mr Turk disputes Mrs Isbilen's claims and says he has nothing to hide. He claims she decided 'on her own initiative' to pay the money to Andrew, saying she had met him and the Duchess of York numerous times, which she denies. He denies Andrew 'could or would have used his connections' to assist with Mrs Isbilen's passport. Mr Turk's profile on the business networking website LinkedIn lists under education a BSc in information technology and management from University College London. It says he worked for investment bank Goldman Sachs in London for five years until 2016. He reportedly married his wife Nurhuda Cevahir, described as an heiress, in Turkey in 2013. Many guests were from the social and business worlds, and the country's then deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc, a friend of the Turk family, was a witness. Mr Arinc reportedly said it was 'the wedding of the two most distinguished families of Istanbul'.After leaving Goldman Sachs, Mr Turk was a co-founder and managing director of SG Financial Group, based in London's Park Lane. His occupation was listed as 'investment adviser' and he resigned as a director of it in July 2019, according to Companies House. He also founded a company in America called Naturlich Yoghurt, in 2018, his LinkedIn page says. Mrs Isbilen alleges that Mr Turk invested some of her money in a company called Bethlehem LLC, which owns or owned 87.5 per cent of Naturlich, and says she does not recall having seen an agreement. Mr Turk claims it was done with her knowledge and consent. Millionairess who paid 750,000 to Andrew is the wife of an MP who was jailed over a 'terror link' By David Wilkes for the Daily Mail Nebahat Isbilen is the wealthy wife of a Turkish MP jailed in their homeland in what was said to be a politically motivated imprisonment. She describes herself in court documents as a member of a 'prominent' family which owns the Evyap Group manufacturing firm. Her father founded the company and passed it on to her and her five siblings. Mrs Isbilen, 77, worked there in cosmetics production and was later on the board. She married Ilhan Isbilen, 76, in 1996. He has been close friends since childhood with Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim preacher whose movement, she said, 'advocates progressive Islam and socially conscious politics'. Mrs Isbilen claimed that from 2002 to 2013 the ruling Justice and Development Party of Turkey (AKP), led by president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was strategically allied with the Gulen movement. But relations deteriorated and since 2016 the AKP has proscribed the Gulen movement as a terrorist organisation. Mrs Isbilen, 77, worked there in cosmetics production and was later on the board. She married Ilhan Isbilen, 76, (pictured) in 1996. He has been close friends since childhood with Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim preacher whose movement, she said, 'advocates progressive Islam and socially conscious politics' Mr Isbilen was an AKP member of parliament but resigned in 2014. His wife said: 'Following a political investigation and prosecution, my husband was imprisoned in December 2015 for his affiliation with the Gulen movement. Following my husband's arrest, I became more concerned about my own well-being and assets.' It also became 'increasingly difficult' for her to have dealings with the Evyap Group as 'other members of my family disapproved of my husband's and my political beliefs' so she decided to sell her shares in the firm in 2015. Feeling 'extremely vulnerable', Mrs Isbilen, who describes herself in the court documents as speaking 'very little English', came to London in 2018 with the help of Turkish businessman and former banker Selman Turk. She escaped via Athens and the Greek island of Samos to avoid political persecution herself and gave him 'almost total control' of her financial affairs. The Gulen movement is widely believed in Turkey to have masterminded a failed coup attempt against President Erdogan in 2016. GUY ADAMS: Andrew is like a hot air balloon he floats around in rarified circles with no visible means of support Say what you like about Prince Andrew, but he certainly has a 'type'. This latest scandal, like so many over the years, involves an odd financial relationship with secretive but very wealthy foreigners. The mysterious Turkish duo battling it out in London's High Court over, among other things, a 750,000 bank transfer (now repaid) to the Duke of York (plus other six-figure 'gifts' to his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their daughters) might have been sourced from Central Casting in a TV docudrama about the shamed royal's rackety life. Andrew has for years seemed unable to resist the lure of easy money, especially when it comes from parts of the world where taxes are minimal and power and wealth go hand-in-hand. His financial manoeuvres are almost always opaque. But when details emerge, they invariably end up tarnishing the royal brand. Say what you like about Prince Andrew, but he certainly has a 'type'. This latest scandal, like so many over the years, involves an odd financial relationship with secretive but very wealthy foreigners Take, to cite the most famous example, his disastrous friendship with the prolific sex offender and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who provided the Duke with endless free holidays, private jet rides and glamorous party invitations, along with a 15,000 cheque to help his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson clear her debts. Andrew solicited the final gift from the late financier in December 2010, three years after Epstein had been convicted of child sex offences. Days after the cheque was paid, Andrew travelled to New York, where he stayed at the paedophile's home, attended his celebrity dinner parties, and in a moment captured for posterity by a Press photographer took a chummy morning walk with him in Central Park. Take, to cite the most famous example, his disastrous friendship with the prolific sex offender and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who provided the Duke with endless free holidays, private jet rides and glamorous party invitations, along with a 15,000 cheque to help his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson clear her debts Take also the Duke's longstanding ties to politically-connected figures in the corrupt Central Asian dictatorship of Kazakhstan. In 2008 it emerged that he'd sold his marital home, Sunninghill Park, to an old chum called Timur Kulibayev, then a son-in-law of the despotic president of Kazakhstan. The sum paid was 15million, some 3million over the previously quoted asking price, despite the fact that the vulgar property had been languishing on the market for years. It was later claimed that a second buyer had engaged in a bidding war for the property. Be that as it may, the building was subsequently demolished. Three years later, the Prince (who was then supposedly Britain's roving trade ambassador) telephoned, then personally emailed, another Kazakh businessman called Kenges Rakishev (who had helped negotiate the sale of Sunninghill), on behalf of a Greek water company called EYDAP and a Swiss finance house called Aras Capital. Messages subsequently obtained by the Mail revealed that the firms wanted to bid for a 385million contract to build water and sewage networks in Astana and Almaty, respectively Kazakhstan's capital and largest city, the first of which boasted Rakishev's father-in-law as mayor. Take also the Duke's longstanding ties to politically-connected figures in the corrupt Central Asian dictatorship of Kazakhstan. In 2008 it emerged that he'd sold his marital home, Sunninghill Park, to an old chum called Timur Kulibayev, then a son-in-law of the despotic president of Kazakhstan Describing the consortium as 'we', and outlining what he called 'the water plan', the Prince then said his private secretary, Amanda Thirsk, would personally help to introduce the firms to senior Kazakh political figures. According to Greek executives involved in the bid, Andrew was to have been paid a commission of 1 per cent, or 3.85million, for helping broker a successful deal. But alas the arrangement collapsed. Then there are mysterious commercial ties to a Guernsey-based Tory donor named David Rowland, who once gave Sarah Ferguson 40,000 to help clear debts. Last November, leaked documents revealed the former scrap metal dealer, nicknamed 'Spotty', had in 2017 paid off a 1.5million bank loan for the Duke. His generosity was occasionally reciprocated. He was invited to Balmoral where he reportedly met the Queen and took tea with the Prince of Wales. Shortly after the 1.5million gift, Rowland enticed Andrew to the launch of a joint venture between one of his banks and a sovereign wealth fund in Abu Dhabi. Then there are mysterious commercial ties to a Guernsey-based Tory donor named David Rowland, who once gave Sarah Ferguson 40,000 to help clear debts Behind these and other exotic capers lies a simple fact: Though he lives like a billionaire, maintaining endless staff, large households (packed, on the evidence of his ex-wife's YouTube videos, with fresh flowers) and spent years travelling the world, often via private jet, Prince Andrew has never had any obvious source of major income. Indeed, an acquaintance once described the Prince to be as being like a 'hot air balloon', saying: 'He seems to float serenely around, in very rarefied circles, without any visible means of support. 'No one has ever had a clue how he pays for it.' Despite managing to acquire an extensive collection of watches including several Rolexes and Cartiers, a 12,000 gold Apple Watch and a 150,000 Patek Philippe and a small fleet of luxury cars, including a green Bentley, his only official income came via a small navy pension of about 20,000 annually, and the 249,000 annual stipend he received from the Queen before retiring from Royal duties. In fact, his only discernible source of cash has been the largesse of patrons, the most wealthy of whom were primarily made while travelling the world (often at the taxpayer's expense) in the years during which he still had one official role. This saw him holidaying on yachts and regularly disappearing on what appeared to be business trips, perhaps to act as a 'fixer' in similar deals to the Kazakh sewage bid. For example, there was a mysterious 48-hour jaunt in China in 2016, which the Palace vaguely described as having been 'paid for privately', and various strange trips to the Middle East. The purpose of these expeditions were never properly explained. Around the same time, he also established the now defunct Pitch@Palace initiative, part of which was structured as a company in which he was the sole beneficial owner. Behind these and other exotic capers lies a simple fact: Though he lives like a billionaire, maintaining endless staff, large households (packed, on the evidence of his ex-wife's YouTube videos, with fresh flowers) and spent years travelling the world, often via private jet, Prince Andrew has never had any obvious source of major income Yet for all the grift, and despite his outward wealth, the Duke never seems to achieved true financial stability, thanks partly to domestic costs (such as the 7.5million he spent renovating Royal Lodge, where he now lives, in the early 2000s), and partly to the mounting expense of his bruising legal battle with Jeffrey Epstein's victim Virginia Giuffre, which he settled (with no admission of liability) for a reported 12million a few months back. Even the purchase of his swanky Verbier holiday home, Chalet Helora, bought in 2014 for roughly 18million, wasn't all that it seemed. In 2020, I revealed that about 13million of its purchase price was raised via a mortgage, while the remaining 5million came via a loan from Isabelle de Rouvre, a French socialite who was the property's previous owner. They secretly agreed that Andrew and his ex-wife would pay back 6.7million (representing the cash, plus interest) by the end of 2019. When the deadline came and went, with no money forthcoming, Miss de Rouvre launched a legal action in Switzerland to recover the loot. Now the chalet has been sold, and the Duke's financial transactions are once more being pored over in court. But with his reputation firmly in the mud, it remains to be seen whether the mysterious foreigners in his royal Rolodex will be quite so generous in future. The U.S. Military has canceled a previously scheduled test of its intercontinental ballistic missile in a bid to lower nuclear tensions with Russia during the war in Ukraine. The Air Force confirmed the cancellation of its Minuteman III test after Moscow announced earlier on Friday that it would militarily strengthen its Western borders with Europe. The U.S. had previously delayed the ICBM test on March 2 when Russia said it was putting its nuclear forces on high alert. Washington said at the time that it was important both nations 'bear in mind the risk of miscalculation and take steps to reduce those risks.' However, officials said the intent was only to delay the test 'a little bit,' not cancel it. Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek said Friday the decision to cancel the test of the LGM-30G Minuteman III missile was due to the same reasons as when it had been first delayed, but noted: 'The Air Force is confident in the readiness of the strategic forces of the United States.' The next Minuteman III test is scheduled to take place later this year. The nuclear-capable missile is a key part of the U.S. Military's strategic arsenal and has a range of 6,000-plus miles and can travel at a speed of approximately 15,000 miles per hour. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in February that his nation's nuclear forces should be put on high alert, raising fears that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to nuclear war. The U.S. military has canceled a previously scheduled test of its intercontinental ballistic missile in a bid to lower nuclear tensions with Russia during the war in Ukraine. The Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is pictured during a test launch in October 2019 The Air Force confirmed the cancellation of its Minuteman III test after Russia announced earlier on Friday it would military strengthen its western borders with Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured attending a meeting with the Security Council on Friday In response, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made the decision to cancel the ballistic missile test that was scheduled for early March 'to demonstrate we are a responsible nuclear power.' Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby claimed the move was a show of 'restraint' amid warnings that Putin would be deploying vacuum bombs and cluster munitions across the border. 'This is not a step backward in our readiness, nor does it imply that we will necessarily cancel other routine activities to ensure a credible nuclear capability,' Kirby assured the nation during a press conference on March 2. 'We did not take this decision lightly, but instead to demonstrate that we are a responsible nuclear power.' He added: 'We remain confident in our strategic posture.' Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek (not pictured) said Friday the decision to cancel the test of the LGM-30G Minuteman III missile was due to the same reasons as when it had been first delayed in early March. Air Force marshals are pictured at a base in Romania in February 2022 The U.S. had previously delayed the ballistic missile test on March 2 when Russia said it was putting its nuclear forces on high alert amid the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers are pictured approaching a trench that had been used by Russian soldiers as they retake an area on the outskirts of Kyiv on Friday Minuteman III nuclear missile: The $7million warhead that can travel 6,000 miles at 15,000 mph The Minuteman III makes up the Unites States' land-based ICBM of the nation's nuclear triad, along with the Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and nuclear weapons carried by long-range strategic bombers. It is a strategic weapon system using a ballistic missile of intercontinental range. Missiles are dispersed in hardened silos to protect against attack and connected to an underground launch control center through a system of hardened cables. The $7,000,000 Minuteman III weighs 79,432 pounds and can travel 6,000 miles at 15,000mph. Development of the missile began in the 1950s, and was named after the Colonial Minutemen of the American Revolutionary War, who could be ready to fight on short notice. The Minuteman entered service in 1962 as a deterrence weapon that could hit Soviet cities, with the Minuteman-II entering service in 1965 with a number of upgrades to its accuracy and survivability in the face of anti-ballistic missile (AMB) systems. In 1970, the Minuteman-III became the first deployed ICBM with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV): three smaller warheads that improved the missile's ability to strike targets defended by AMBs. By 1970 during the Cold War, 1,000 Minuteman missiles were deployed, but by 2017, the number had shrunk to 400, deployed in missile silos around Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming. From 2027 onwards, Minuteman will be progressively replaced by the new Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) ICBM from 2027 onwards to be built by Northrop Grumman. Advertisement Despite Russia's threats, U.S. officials have said they have seen no reason, so far, to change Washington's nuclear alert levels. However, experts warn that altering the test schedule for America's ICBM force could be controversial. The missiles are dispersed in hardened underground silos operated by launch crews. U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed disappointment in March at the delay of a test he said was critical to ensure America's nuclear deterrent remains effective. Jeffrey Lewis, a missile researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), played down the impact of the cancelation. 'There's a value to doing the tests but I don't think missing one test in the grand scheme of things is a really big deal,' said Lewis, adding the Minuteman III was extremely reliable. Russia and the U.S. have by far the biggest arsenals of nuclear warheads after the Cold War that divided the world for much of the 20th century, pitting the West against the Soviet Union and its allies. The announcement of the canceled missile test comes as war continues to rage in Ukraine. The nation recaptured more territory around Kyiv from Russian soldiers who left shattered villages and their own abandoned tanks as they moved away from the capital, while a disputed cross-border strike in Russia complicated peace talks on Friday. In the hamlet of Dmytrivka to the west of the capital, smoke was still rising from the wrecks of tanks and the bodies of at least eight Russian soldiers lay in the streets, Reuters correspondents saw. Ukrainian forces went on to take back Bucha, its mayor said on Friday in a video that appeared to be filmed outside the town hall. The advances followed several days of Ukrainian gains around Kyiv and in the north. In southwest Ukraine, anti-air defenses thwarted an attempted attack on critical infrastructure in the Black Sea port of Odesa, the Ukrainian military said. Reuters could not immediately verify the account. Odesa's governor, Maksym Marchenko, said three missiles had hit a residential district, causing casualties. A man walks past a burnt armored personnel carrier near buildings destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 He said the missiles were fired from an Iskander missile system in Crimea, the southern Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia denies targeting civilians. 'President Vladimir Putin sent troops on February 24 for what he calls a 'special operation' to demilitarize Ukraine. The West calls it an unprovoked war of aggression that has killed thousands and uprooted a quarter of Ukraine's population. Moscow said Ukrainian helicopters struck a fuel depot in the Russian border city of Belgorod, a logistics hub for its war effort, causing a huge fire. Ukraine denied responsibility for the incident, the first of its kind in the five-week-old war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the incident could jeopardize Ukrainian-Russian peace talks, which resumed on Friday by video link. Russia will strengthen its western borders so it won't 'cross anyone's mind to attack,' Peskov said later. Service members of pro-Russian troops sit atop of an armored vehicle, which moves along a street in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 A view shows the building of a theatre destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 1 Mwantime, it was revealed Thursday night that Russia's war effort is grinding to a halt because much of the military hardware they need is made in Ukraine. Kremlin forces have run out of vital weapons and cannot now replenish their stocks, U.K. defense sources confirmed to The Daily Mail. The revelations came as President Volodymyr Zelensky's forces drove Russia out of dozens of towns around Kyiv and the north in one of the most extraordinary days since the start of the invasion. More than 30 settlements were reclaimed with Putin's forces retreating up to 25 miles in places. But officials urged caution, saying the movement is part of Russia's 'tactics' to encircle Ukrainian troops in Donbas and split the country in two. Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said: 'Russian units are not withdrawing but repositioning.' Russia's war effort is grinding to a halt because much of the military hardware they need is made in Ukraine, it emerged as defense sources said the Kremlin could not replenish its stocks The Daily Mail can reveal that Ukraine had previously supplied Russia with cruise missiles, helicopter engine parts and fighter jet components. It also produced the fire control systems used by Russian tanks (one seen here at the bottom of a river) Ukraine had previously supplied Russia with cruise missiles, helicopter engine parts and fighter jet components. It also produced the fire control systems used by Russian tanks. Now, when these systems fail, they cannot be replaced as Russia is unable to source these items or alternatives from other countries due to international sanctions. Since the conflict began in late February, Russia has lost an estimated 143 planes, 131 helicopters, 625 tanks and 316 artillery pieces. Russia has also fired at least 1,100 missiles, raising questions about how long it can maintain such an expenditure rate. The fourth victim of a helicopter crash in Victoria's Mount Disappointment has been identified as finance consultant Ian Perry. Mr Perry, who worked at AXIchain, was one of five people killed in the chopper tragedy in a state forest north-east of Melbourne on Thursday morning. His colleague and CEO Linda Woodford was also on the chopper along with helicopter pilot Dean Neal, 32, and Radford's Abattoir chairman Paul Troja, 73. AXIchain released a statement labelling Mr Perry as a 'respected member' of the agricultural industry and Ms Woodford as a driven 'visionary'. The company issued the statement shortly before it emerged Ms Woodford had made a haunting Facebook post about the helicopter before the doomed flight. Ian Perry and his colleague and CEO Linda Woodford (pictured) were on the chopper along with helicopter pilot Dean Neal, 32, and Radford's Abattoir chairman Paul Troja, 73 Dean Neal, 32, had four passengers on board, including Radford's Abattoir chairman Paul Troja, in his care Ms Woodford's last Facebook post had the chilling message with a wink emoji: 'The transport to work today ... a little different 'Linda was a driven visionary and an eternal optimist and will be deeply missed by all that knew her,' AXIchain said on Friday. 'Ian was a respected member of the agricultural industry and a committed family man and will be sorely missed by all that knew him. Mr Perry was described on the AXIchain website as a 'passionate' finance consultant who had a 'deep understanding' of the agriculture industry. 'Ian's aim is to work towards embedding new technologies in traditional finance products to improve the customer experience,' the website read. His previous roles included Head of Agribusiness, ANZ Corporate & Institutional Banking and Executive General Manager Financial Services for Ruralco Holdings and Nutrien. Ms Woodford had made one final Facebook post before boarding the helicopter with Mr Perry and the other passengers. 'The transport to work today ... a little different,' she wrote with a wink emoji. Ms Woodford had been the Melbourne-based chief executive of agriculture trading firm AXIchain since 2018 and for the past decade had also been the director of Kaizen Consulting, a blockchain technology company. In another twist, her family was already dealing with the loss of her sister-in-law shortly before this tragedy in rugged bushland during a trip to inspect land. Scroll down for video Paul Troja, the chairman of Radford's Abattoir in Warragul, was killed when the helicopter he was riding in crashed at Mt Disappointment on Thursday A blue tarpaulin is set up over wreckage found in the Mount Disappointment bushland following the helicopter crash on Thursday Her friend Martin Gibson posted a tribute to her, alongside the haunting social media post put up shortly before the crash. 'Yesterday my lovely friend of 25 years Linda Woodford posted pics of her taking a helicopter to work from downtown Melbourne,' he said. 'It was yet another proud moment for me, having watched her build a fantastic, innovative and world-leading blockchain company. 'Her success came after relentless work and picking herself up after many failures. 'Sadly her flight ended in a crash into Mount Disappointment in Victoria, and it claimed the lives of all five people on board, including Linda's.' Mr Gibson remembered her as a 'beautiful, fun-loving and genuinely compassionate soul'. Her friend Martin Gibson posted a tribute to Linda Woodford (pictured), alongside the haunting social media post put up shortly before the crash Mr Gibson remembered his friend as a 'beautiful, fun-loving and genuinely compassionate soul' 'Such a loss, and such a shame for this to happen just as all her hard work was really paying off, and as her family are still dealing with the loss of her sister-in-law, whose children she had treated like her own,' he said. 'She packed a lot into her half century, and she'll leave a big hole in so many people's lives, including mine.' Another friend Miriam van Heusden, the founder of the Maralytics marketing group, said she was 'devastated beyond words'. 'We lost someone that was truly amazing yesterday, Linda Woodford, lifetime best friend of my sister and founder of Axichain, died in the horror helicopter crash in regional Victoria,' she said on Facebook. Ms Woodford's company AXIchain had developed technology to buy, sell and keep track of livestock. Her brother Dougal told Nine News the family had 'never felt emotional pain like this'. Mr Neal was a 'conscientious, professional pilot [who] always put the safety and wellbeing of his passengers in the highest of his priorities', his devastated family said in a statement on Friday afternoon The pilot involved in a devastating helicopter crash has been remembered as 'remarkable' and 'highly respected'. Dean Neal, 32, had four passengers on board. His father Rodney Neal read out a statement on Friday afternoon describing his son as a 'conscientious, professional pilot [who] always put the safety and wellbeing of his passengers in the highest of his priorities'. 'Our broken hearts go to the family's and friends of those who were flying with him,' he said. 'Your unspeakable loss is understood by us all. We know Dean would have done anything in his power to deliver his passengers safely to their destination.' Mr Neal was working for Microflite Helicopter Services, a family-owned business based in Victoria that offers private flights and premium tours Mr Neal was working for Microflite Helicopter Services, a family-owned business based in Victoria that offers private flights and premium tours. Microflite executive general manager Rod Higgins said in a statement the pilot was 'highly respected'. 'The service had been travelling as part of a two-aircraft charter when it lost communication with the second aircraft just after 8am,' he said. He flew everywhere from Uluru in the Northern Territory to Hamilton Island in Queensland and has been a qualified pilot since 2016. Mr Neal was trained to provide specialist bushfire support from the skies and patrolled beaches on behalf of Surf Life Saving Victoria. He also flew news crews covering some of the nation's biggest stories. Paul Troja, the chairman of Radfords Abattoir in Warragul, was also killed when the helicopter crashed. Mr Neal was trained to provide specialist bushfire support from the skies and patrolled beaches on behalf of Surf Life Saving Victoria Mr Neal flew everywhere from Uluru in the Northern Territory to Hamilton Island in Queensland and has been a qualified pilot since 2016 The 73-year-old Albert Park man was well known within the agricultural industry. Radfords is a family owned business operating out of the West Gippsland region. Mr Troja and three others were viewing an agricultural property in Ulupna on the Victorian border when their helicopter crashed, killing them all, The Herald Sun reported. Avlaw Aviation consulting managing director Ron Bartsch said it was still too soon to determine the actual cause of the crash. Mr Bartsch said the helicopter flight operator Microflite had a near perfect safety record and there was only one possible explanation for the crash. 'The aircraft is a very common type of aircraft,' he told Channel Nine's Today on Friday. 'Six passenger aircraft, very reliable. Avlaw Aviation consulting managing director Ron Bartsch said it was still too soon to determine the actual cause of the crash at Mount Disappointment on Thursday A pilot and their four passengers, believed to be meat farmers, died after the aircraft crashed near the popular picnic grounds at Blair's Hut 'The company indeed has a very good safety record and is very well managed with new aircraft. 'Really at this stage, without speculating, weather is probably the main consideration at this stage.' Mount Disappointment recorded a high of 21C and winds of up to 36km/h. Controlled forestry burns were being carried out in the area while there was also low cloud coverage throughout the day. Mr Bartsch warned 'it may be some time' before investigators determined the exact cause of the crash. Mr Bartsch warned 'it may be some time' before investigators determined the exact cause of the crash (pictured, a tree split in half near the crash site) 'Unlike larger air transport aircraft, these aircrafts are not always fitted with blackboxes, flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder,' he said. 'I know the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is on the scene. Normally they will hand down a preliminary report in six to seven weeks.' The helicopter was one of two that left the Melbourne City Helipad on Thursday morning, flying in convoy over Mount Disappointment. Ambulance Victoria received a report of an incident at 9.35am that morning. Mr Bartsch said the other pilot was the best hope of understanding what happened to the doomed helicopter. A police helicopter and air ambulance were sent to search for the missing chopper but the terrain hampered their efforts until 11.45am on Thursday when the wreckage was finally located. A police helicopter, five Country Fire Authority vehicles and paramedics, including the air ambulance, were dispatched to the area on Thursday Mr Higgins said the incident was reported to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority as per industry protocols. 'We will work with the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident,' he said. The helicopter had picked up the meat farmers from Melbourne City Helipad before reportedly heading north to purchase cattle. The second helicopter returned to Morrabbin Airport safely with all onboard accounted for and uninjured. Smoke (pictured) from controlled forestry burns in the area and low cloud cover hampered initial search efforts on Thursday Five Country Fire Authority vehicles, police and paramedics, including the air ambulance, were on scene at the crash site of the downed helicopter on Thursday. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is also investigating and has sent a team from its Canberra and Melbourne offices with expertise in helicopter operations and maintenance, and aerospace engineering, to the site. The experts will inspect the wreckage and site surrounds before retrieving any relevant components to take them to Canberra for further examination. The ATSB will also analyse any recorded data and conduct interviews with those who have knowledge of the flight. A preliminary report from the watchdog is expected in about six to eight weeks. The phone call to one of Buckingham Palaces most senior courtiers concerned a delicate matter. Banker Stephen Buckland had been instructed to transfer 750,000 into the Duke of Yorks Coutts account, and he wanted to check what the money was for. The money belonged to Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen, a wealthy client of Mr Buckland at Hampden & Co private bank. As part of his duty to conduct due diligence, Mr Buckland set about asking some questions about the purpose of the very large sum of money. Before speaking to Andrews private secretary Amanda Thirsk at the Palace, he started with a call to Selman Turk the alleged middleman said to have arranged the payment between Mrs Isbilen and the duke. Banker Stephen Buckland had been instructed to transfer 750,000 into the Duke of York's Coutts account, and he wanted to check what the money was for As part of his duty to conduct due diligence, Mr Buckland set about asking some questions about the purpose of the 'very large sum of money'. Before speaking to Andrew's private secretary Amanda Thirsk (pictured) at the Palace, he started with a call to Selman Turk the alleged 'middleman' said to have arranged the payment between Mrs Isbilen and the duke The Daily Mail has obtained a transcript of their discussion on November 14, 2019, in which Mr Buckland told Mr Turk: We just need to feel comfortable given the very unusual nature of the transaction, which had been given the reference wedding gift. Mr Buckland said: What were struggling to understand is why it is so large and, also, is it a gift to help with the cost of the wedding or is it a wedding gift to the bride? Mr Turk, 35, who once worked for Goldman Sachs, gave the rather unclear answer: No, wedding so basically wedding so for the cost of the wedding. The London-based businessman said the transfer was a gift and allegedly gave Mr Buckland the number for Andrews private secretary. When Mrs Thirsk answered later that day, Mr Buckland asked her what the 750,000 was for, and according to the transcript, she replied: I understand its a gift for the wedding, a wedding gift. The banker inquired whether it was a gift for the cost of the wedding or a gift to Princess Beatrice and was told: I mean, Im not sure it makes much difference, does it? I think its a gift for the wedding. The Daily Mail has obtained a transcript of their discussion on November 14, 2019, in which Mr Buckland told Mr Turk (pictured): 'We just need to feel comfortable given the very unusual nature of the transaction,' which had been given the reference 'wedding gift'. Mr Buckland said: 'What we're struggling to understand is why it is so large and, also, is it a gift to help with the cost of the wedding or is it a wedding gift to the bride?' She added: What she and her family decide to do with it is really to do with them, isnt it? The next day, November 15, the money was transferred to the dukes account. Fast-forward 16 months to March 2021, and Mrs Isbilen, 77, told the High Court her money had been dishonestly misappropriated by Mr Turk, an allegation he denies. 2 phone calls that smoothed way for Beatrice's Big Day CALL ONE Call from Stephen Buckland, from Nebahat Isbilen's private bank Hampden & Co, to Selman Turk November 14, 2019 Stephen Buckland (SB): Hi Selman, thanks for calling back Selman Turk (ST): Hello, just missed your call, sorry, yeah SB: Just had a word with one of my senior colleagues. As I am sure you will appreciate, we just need to feel comfortable given the very unusual nature of the transaction and, also the quantum [amount] ST: Yeah, sure SB: And what we're struggling to understand is why it is so large and, also, is it a gift to help with the cost of the wedding to the bank account holder or is it a wedding gift to the bride? ST: No, wedding so basically wedding so for the cost of the wedding SB: Right OK so, it's not a, so it's solely for the help with the cost of the wedding and not... ST: Yes SB: Right, because that's not what it said in the original instruction ST: Wedding gift, so basically it's a gift to the bride... SB: To help with the wedding? To help with the cost of the wedding? ST: Yes SB: It's obviously a very large sum of money which I think anybody would understand, but OK. Did he request that sort of sum or was it a sum which Mrs Isbilen... ST: No (multiple times), it's not requested at all, it's just one-sided, a gift CALL TWO ** Call from Stephen Buckland to Amanda Thirsk, then legal adviser to Prince Andrew November 14, 2019 Stephen Buckland (SB): It's Stephen Buckland from Hampden & Co. Amanda Thirsk (AT): Oh right, hello, how are you? SB: I'm not bad, you? AT: Yes, good thank you SB: It's in connection we are bankers to Mrs Isbilen and this is in reference to a conversation that you might have had with Selman Turk AT: Oh yeah, yeah SB: So, I am sure as you will appreciate, we just need to feel comfortable with the very unusual nature of the transaction and, also the quantum and Selman said that you were happy for me to give you a call AT: Yes, of course, yes SB: Are you able to confirm if this transfer is to assist with the cost of the wedding, or is it a gift to Princess Beatrice? AT: I understand it's a gift for the wedding, a wedding gift SB: It's for the wedding, right AT: Yes exactly, that's what he's said to her father SB: Right OK, so this is a gift for the cost of the wedding or is it a gift to Princess Beatrice? AT: I mean, I'm not sure it makes much difference, does it? I think it's a gift for the wedding SB: It's a gift for the wedding, OK AT: What she and her family decide to do with it is really to do with them, isn't it? SB: Right, OK. And has the conversation been between Selman and the family, or has it been with Mrs Isbilen? AT: With Selman I believe SB: It's with Selman, right, OK. OK that's helpful, thank you very much indeed AT: OK. Thank you, bye SB: Thank you, bye Advertisement Her solicitors wrote to the duke over his dealings with Mr Turk. None of their questions were answered, but within days Mrs Isbilen received 750,000 from the duke. For her, it was the first breakthrough in what has become a jaw-dropping legal wrangle. The Duke of York is not accused of any wrongdoing and is not a central figure in the case, in which Mrs Isbilen is suing Mr Turk and a number of offshore companies he allegedly controls. But the duke, along with his ex-wife and daughters, has become embroiled in the complex case. Yesterday Mrs Thirsk told the Mail she could not remember the call from Mr Buckland. She added: As a person of integrity, I would not be involved in anything improper. The aide, an ex-banker who joined the princes staff in 2004, quit following his disastrous Newsnight interview which coincidentally was recorded the same day as the crucial phone calls. The loyal gatekeeper was made to carry the can for encouraging him to talk to the BBC. THE 750,000 RIDDLE A series of conflicting explanations have been made for the duke receiving 750,000 from Mrs Isbilen in November 2019. The refugee from Turkey, where her politician husband is in jail, claims Mr Turk told her Andrew had helped her secure a new Turkish passport. She claims Mr Turk told her such a service would normally be worth 2million but it would cost less if we made the payment by way of a gift. The court was told Mr Turk who disputes Mrs Isbilens version of events had invented the passport story as a ruse. Then came the explanations about Princess Beatrices wedding, which was due to take place in eight months time in July 2020. In his defence, filed to the court, Mr Turk said Mrs Isbilen had made the gift to Andrew on her own initiative. He claimed she had met the Duke and Duchess of York a number of times, including in Turkey in the late 1980s, and there were further meetings in 2019, he said, at Mr Turks flat and at St Jamess Palace. A further meeting took place in January 2020, Mr Turk claimed, because she wanted to discuss her husbands case with the duke and duchess. Mr Turk claimed Mrs Isbilen had been invited to Princess Beatrices wedding reception. He denied telling her to make the gift to Andrew and that he had told her it was for a passport. He denied the duke could or would have used his connections to assist with Mrs Isbilens passport. PITCH@PALACE Whatever the reason for the 750,000, it went into the dukes account nine days after Mr Turk scored success at an event run by the duke at St Jamess Palace. The dukes Pitch@Palace initiative is his version of the BBCs Dragons Den in which budding entrepreneurs make pitches to business high-flyers. The winner of the nights Peoples Choice Award was digital banking company Heyman AI, run by 35-year-old Turkish financier Mr Turk. In an affidavit submitted to the High Court, Jonathan Tickner, Mrs Isbilens solicitor, wrote: Mrs Isbilen suspects that the payment was made for some purpose connected with the banking business. The duke did not respond to questions yesterday, but it has been pointed out that he does not cast a vote in the Peoples Choice Award. 'MONEY LAUNDERING' A series of payments to the Yorks were made from a company named Alphabet. Mrs Isbilens solicitor told the High Court in his affidavit there was strong evidence the firm was a fraudulent and covert front used by Mr Turk...to make payments to persons associated with him. Those persons include HRH Prince Andrew [and] Sarah, Duchess of York. Mr Tickner said the Alphabet transactions were consistent with a pattern of apparent money laundering activity by Mr Turk. He said payments made by Alphabet appeared to have been made on a fraudulent basis. A FURTHER 350,000 As well as the 750,000 payment which he repaid the Duke of York is said to have received a further 350,000. The affidavit states: The Alphabet disclosure shows that further transfers of up to 350,000, in regular instalments and in many instances under the reference TK WEDDING or TK WED, were made to Prince Andrew. No further details were given but it is understood Mrs Isbilen has not had any further money repaid apart from the 750,000. 225,000 TO FERGIE Andrews ex-wife received at least 225,000 from the Alphabet account, the affidavit states. Mr Tickner wrote: At least 225,000 was transferred to an account in the name of DUCHESS OF YORK out of the Alphabet account, again in regular instalments. The duchess has acted as a brand ambassador for a company named Pegasus Group Holdings, and some of the references on the payments are PEG001. One of the instalments, in November 2019, showed that $25,000 was transferred to Mr Turk from a Las Vegas company named Pegasus Group Holdings, under the reference DUCHESS FEE POP SERVICE. A spokesman for the duchess declined to comment. But it is understood that she says it was money she was owed by Pegasus for her work. Andrew's ex-wife received 'at least' 225,000 from the Alphabet account, the affidavit states. Mr Tickner wrote: 'At least 225,000 was transferred to an account in the name of DUCHESS OF YORK out of the Alphabet account, again in regular instalments' PRINCESS EUGENIE The affidavit states: A payment of 10,000 was made out of the Alphabet account to EUGENIE OF YORK on 9 October 2019, under the payment reference TK008. The next day, a further payment was made. The bank records for Mr Turks account show that, on 10 October 2019, Mr Turk made a payment of 15,066.05 to EUGENIE YORK under the payment reference BIRTHDAY GIFT. The solicitor noted that the payment was made some five months before Eugenies birthday on March 23. He added: But Sarah, Duchess of Yorks birthday is 15 October. In any event I am not aware of any reason for Mr Turk to have made such a substantial gift. The affidavit states: 'A payment of 10,000 was made out of the Alphabet account to EUGENIE OF YORK on 9 October 2019, under the payment reference TK008.' The next day, a further payment was made. 'The bank records for Mr Turk's account show that, on 10 October 2019, Mr Turk made a payment of 15,066.05 to EUGENIE YORK under the payment reference BIRTHDAY GIFT' Mr Turk disputes Mrs Isbilens allegations and disagrees with her portrayal of the facts. He states that much of what has happened is the result of Mrs Isbilens status as a politically exposed person and the consequential difficulty in dealing with her assets. In one court ruling, he was described as very cooperative, and told the judge he had nothing to hide. The case continues. Eugenie last night became the first member of the York family to offer an explanation, saying 25,000 she had received from a long-standing family friend had been to help with the cost of catering for a surprise party for her mothers 60th birthday. In a statement issued last night, Eugenie said: I suggested that any contribution could be made directly to the caterers, but in the event provided my account details to which two payments were made totalling 25,000, which I then transferred on to the company organising my mothers party. The princess, who is consulting her lawyers, said she did not know Mr Turk or Mrs Isbilen. Yesterday Andrews spokesman said: We are unable to comment on an ongoing legal case. A spokesman for the Duchess of York said: The duchess was completely unaware of the allegations that have since emerged against Mr Turk. She is naturally concerned by what has been alleged against him. The alleged fraudster at the heart of the legal battle over huge cash gifts to Prince Andrew has been living in a property owned by the Queen, court papers suggest. Turkish businessman Selman Turk, 35, has lived in a multi-million-pound flat in a prestigious Mayfair address close to Buckingham Palace and the luxury shops of Piccadilly. The flat is owned by 'The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty In Right Of Her Crown care of The Crown Estate Commissioners', Land Registry documents suggest. The Crown Estate, which owns land and property across Britain, is owned by the monarch and funds the Royal Family via the Sovereign Grant. There has been no 'obvious payment' from Mr Turk's bank accounts to the Crown Estate, witness statements lodged with the High Court claim. Mr Turk is currently being sued by Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen. Jonathan Tickner, from the law firm Peters & Peters which is representing her, said in a statement: 'Peters & Peters have been unable to ascertain on what basis Mr Turk has occupied the premises.' Turkish businessman Selman Turk, 35, has lived in a multi-million-pound flat in a prestigious Mayfair address close to Buckingham Palace and the luxury shops of Piccadilly The businessman did not appear to be at home yesterday, and the property's concierge said he was 'not authorised' to talk about who lived there. Mr Turk, a former Goldman Sachs banker, won an award at the Duke of York's Dragons' Den-style competition Pitch@Palace in November 2019. In a video posted on the Pitch@Palace Twitter account, he outlined how he was creating a new consumer-focused digital bank aimed at millennials. Asked what problem the firm, called Heyman AI, was solving, Mr Turk replied: 'People's daily banking habits will be much easier and efficient.' The next evening Heyman AI won the People's Choice Award at Pitch@Palace. He was photographed shaking hands with the duke, who hosted the event. Afterwards, in another video posted on Pitch@Palace's Twitter page, Mr Turk said: 'It was great seeing such a great amount of people here that is willing to help you.' Heyman AI later went bust, and now it, Mr Turk, and his appearance at Pitch@Palace are at the centre of the extraordinary case unfolding at the High Court. Mr Turk was not only the founder of Heyman AI but was also the financial adviser of Mrs Isbilen, 77. The flat is owned by 'The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty In Right Of Her Crown care of The Crown Estate Commissioners', Land Registry documents suggest She claims to have been tricked into giving Prince Andrew 750,000 'by way of payment for assistance' with her passport and has told the High Court she believes the payment may have been connected to Mr Turk's appearance at the Pitch@Palace event. The prince has since repaid the cash after she alleged it was a scam. Mr Turk disputes Mrs Isbilen's claims and says he has nothing to hide. He claims she decided 'on her own initiative' to pay the money to Andrew, saying she had met him and the Duchess of York numerous times, which she denies. He denies Andrew 'could or would have used his connections' to assist with Mrs Isbilen's passport. Mr Turk's profile on the business networking website LinkedIn lists under education a BSc in information technology and management from University College London. It says he worked for investment bank Goldman Sachs in London for five years until 2016. He reportedly married his wife Nurhuda Cevahir, described as an heiress, in Turkey in 2013. Many guests were from the social and business worlds, and the country's then deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc, a friend of the Turk family, was a witness. Mr Turk disputes Mrs Isbilen's claims and says he has nothing to hide. He claims she decided 'on her own initiative' to pay the money to Andrew, saying she had met him and the Duchess of York numerous times, which she denies Mr Arinc reportedly said it was 'the wedding of the two most distinguished families of Istanbul'. After leaving Goldman Sachs, Mr Turk was a co-founder and managing director of SG Financial Group, based in London's Park Lane. His occupation was listed as 'investment adviser' and he resigned as a director of it in July 2019, according to Companies House. He also founded a company in America called Naturlich Yoghurt, in 2018, his LinkedIn page says. Mrs Isbilen alleges that Mr Turk invested some of her money in a company called Bethlehem LLC, which owns or owned 87.5 per cent of Naturlich, and says she does not recall having seen an agreement. Mr Turk claims it was done with her knowledge and consent. Households' sky-high energy costs could reach nearly 400 in a single month next winter, experts have warned. Around 22million homes saw their gas and electricity bills increase by 54 per cent as the new price cap came into force yesterday. The rise, which came as temperatures fell below freezing yesterday, will add nearly 700 to the average annual bill as the nation battles a cost of living crisis. But many customers say suppliers have hiked their direct debit payments by even more than this with some demands doubling. Government economists have forecast that the Ukraine crisis and soaring cost of wholesale energy means the price cap will have to rise another 42 per cent in October to reach 2,800 for the average household. Around 22million homes saw a 54 per cent increase yesterday in energy bills, as experts predict an average home will cost a massive 400 to heat and power in January 2023 It means those living solely off the state pension could see their income obliterated by heating costs. Comparison site The Energy Shop said heating and powering the average home will cost 1,859 between October and March peaking at 395 in January when temperatures hit their lowest. Chief executive officer Scott Byrom said: 'Families need to be aware that the worst is very much still to come. 'It is like looking at a tsunami approaching and we know it is going to hit us soon.' The price cap limits the price suppliers can charge households on standard variable tariffs for gas and electricity. Energy regulator Ofgem was last night urged to investigate suppliers hiking direct debit demands above the price cap rise. MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis told MPs last week that there was a 'systematic, market-wide' problem with suppliers doubling direct debits. Mr Byrom added: 'We can't have energy suppliers taking excess money off already cash-strapped families to improve their own cash flow. 'Ofgem should be investigating this.' Several supplier websites crashed on Thursday as customers rushed to submit meter readings before prices rocketed. Chief executive officer Scott Byrom said: 'Families need to be aware that the worst is very much still to come. It is like looking at a tsunami approaching and we know it is going to hit us soon.' The price cap stood at 1,138 for the average family last year but was lifted to 1,277 in October. If it is hiked again to 2,800 in October, as predicted by the Office for Budget Responsibility last week, older households will be forced to put most of their state pension towards heating. An Ofgem spokesman said: 'Suppliers must take all reasonable steps to set direct debit payments based on current and accurate information about a customer's consumption, as well as other factors including customer credit balances.' A spokesman for trade body Energy UK said direct debits were calculated 'using estimates and previous energy use as well as taking into account individual circumstances'. Free Covid tests for everyone in England has ended, but what should I do if I have Covid? Am I one of the people still eligible to get free tests? Below, your questions are answered: - Can I still get free tests? The majority of people in England will no longer be eligible for free Covid tests from April 1. The Government has set out the groups who will still be eligible for free testing when they have symptoms of the virus, these include some hospital patients, some people at high risk of severe Covid and some who live or work in 'high risk settings' including some NHS and social care settings or prisons. While there are still high rates of the virus in the community, health and social care staff will still be able to get access to free tests, even when they don't have symptoms. - What about people who live in care homes and hospices? Routine tests for care home and hospice residents will no longer continue and will only be provided in the event of an outbreak or a resident being admitted. - Why has the Government decided to stop free tests? The short answer: Money. The Department of Health and Social Care said testing has come at a 'significant cost' to the taxpayer, with the testing, tracing and isolation budget costing more than 15.7 billion in 2021/22. It said that testing can also be reduced thanks to the protection afforded to the population through vaccination and the use of antiviral medication. - So I do not need to keep testing? Ministers have said that most people no longer need to take lateral flow tests. This includes visitors to hospitals and care homes. - But if I want to keep testing I can still buy them? Sure, they start at around 2 a test, if you buy a pack. - What do I do if I get Covid? People who have a positive Covid-19 test in England will be advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days, which is when they are most infectious. Those who are positive, or have symptoms, and need to leave home will be urged to wear masks, avoid crowded places and stay away from people with weakened immune systems. - What about if I feel generally unwell and I'm not sure if it's Covid? The new advice is that people should try and stay at home until they feel better. Those who have a symptoms of a respiratory illness such as a high temperature or 'who feel unwell' are being encouraged to stay home until they feel well enough to resume normal activities or when their temperature has subsided, the Department said on Tuesday. - What about children going to school? The Government is going to advise that children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should 'stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can' and that 'they can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend'. - But don't we need tests to monitor new variants? Yes, but probably not at the current level of testing. The Office for National Statistics' flagship Covid Infection Survey is to continue for the next year albeit at a reduced level. And other infection monitoring studies will also continue. - What if there is a sudden wave of a new variant that is more deadly? Ministers have reserved the right to stand up testing capacity again in the event of a new variant, this includes keeping a stockpile of lateral flow tests. - What risks does reducing testing carry? The Government's chief scientific adviser was asked this question on Wednesday. Sir Patrick Vallance told MPs that a reduction in testing will lead to a 'decrease in precautionary behaviours' which could drive up transmission of the virus. He told the Science and Technology Committee of MPs: 'Testing in effect does three things: it is very important for surveillance; it enables precautionary behaviour and it's useful to protect those who are most vulnerable.' - Are people happy about it? Some charities representing people at risk of Covid have raised concerns about taking away frequent testing for vulnerable people without symptoms. They said that testing has become a way which has enabled some people to return to their normal lives, despite being concerned abut the virus. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the Government to reinstate free tests. A stamp that features North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's meeting with then U.S. President Donald Trump at the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in June 2019, part of a batch issued to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his ascension to the leader of the party and the country, is seen in this photo taken from the website of North Korea's State Stamp Bureau, April 1. Yonhap North Korea released a new collection of commemorative stamps Friday for the 10th anniversary of leader Kim Jong-un's rise to power with photos of his meetings with world leaders. The 49 sets of stamps, published by the North's Korea Stamp Corp., include those featuring Kim's Singapore summit in 2018 with then U.S. President Donald Trump and another meeting at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom the following year, as well his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But no stamps featuring Kim's summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in or a trilateral gathering with Trump at Panmunjom were in the collection. Stamps that feature North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile under the guidance of the North's leader Kim Jong-un in 2017, part of a batch issued to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his ascension to the leader of the party and the country, are seen in this photo taken from the website of North Korea's State Stamp Bureau, April 1. Yonhap The North showed the launches of its missiles in the stamp collection, including the Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in 2017. Images of the newest Hwasong-17 ICBM the North claims to have launched last week were not included. Inter-Korean relations have chilled and the Korea peace process has stalled since the 2019 Hanoi summit between Kim and Trump ended without a deal. (Yonhap) Samantha Fraser had been eager to look her best in the days before she was found dead in a supposed suicide. The mother of three's hairdresser had cut and coloured her hair just five days earlier. Ms Fraser had a court appointment the following day where she would be required to sit in the same courtroom with her estranged partner Adrian Basham. Basham, 45, is facing a jury trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria defending a charge of murdering his psychologist ex-wife on July 23, 2018 inside her Phillip Island home. Samantha Fraser told her new boyfriend in a text message the night before her death that she had been looking forward to her future Adrian Basham has pleaded not guilty to murdering his estranged wife Hairdresser Ashlee Bowen had run the local salon in Cowes, about two hours' drive from Melbourne. Her children had been about the same age as Ms Fraser's and had gone to kindergarten with them. Ms Fraser told her she had been seeing a bloke from the local bike shop and wanted to look good for her court appearance. The attractive blonde also had her 38th birthday coming up, with plans to hold a small party at her parents' home on Seagrove Way, which was where she was living at the time. The couple had separated in 2017, with Ms Fraser taking out intervention orders against him as the relationship continued to sour. Ms Fraser's friends had baked her a cake and later told police she had looked relaxed, happy and looking ahead to the future. Rebecca McFarlane told the jury her friend was 'content with where she was.' The following day Ms Fraser took her children to school and stopped to enjoy a coffee with friends. Alarm bells were raised that afternoon after her kids were left waiting at the school gate. When police forced their way into her home, they found the doting mum hanging inside her garage. Forensic experts would later deem her cause of death as 'hanging in the setting of multiple blunt force injuries'. Adrian Basham is accused of killing Samantha Fraser (pictured) inside her Phillip Island home in 2018 Adrian Basham is accused of bashing and murdering his wife before attempting to make it look like a suicide CCTV captured from a neighbour's home was shared by police with the community at the time in the hope someone might be able to identify a hooded man seen lurking about outside that day. Police claim that man was Basham, whose distinctive walk was allegedly recognised by a woman he had been recently dating. Crown prosecutors claim Basham assaulted his ex-wife before hanging her from the garage door in an attempt to make the alleged crime look like a suicide. Her head injuries had been so severe that she had suffered a brain injury before she supposedly climbed a step ladder and took her own life. There was no suicide note. Basham was questioned by police and released while detectives carried out their investigation. Police allege just days later Basham attempted to menace witnesses while they were in the process of being interviewed by police. On August 2 he was charged with Ms Fraser's murder. Forensic experts claim DNA profiles of three contributors were found on the surface of the knot of the noose used to hang Ms Fraser. The DNA is said to be 100 billion times more likely to be Basham's than a person chosen randomly from the Caucasian population, the jury has heard. More of Basham's alleged DNA was found under his ex-wife's fingernails. Police had noted Basham had sustained a recent scratch on his nose when they had questioned him following the discovery of Ms Fraser's body. The Cowes home where Samantha Fraser was allegedly murdered in 2018 Samantha Fraser had been expected to pick-up her children from school, but never arrived ALLEGED KILLER BLAMED WIFE FOR SPLIT Adrian Basham repeatedly talked over and blamed his ex-wife for the breakdown of their relationship when they had counselling, the jury was told. Marriage counsellor Terence Melvin claimed Basham had been reluctant to engage with him. 'It struck me very early on that Mr Basham took very little responsibility for what was happening in the relationship,' Mr Melvin told the jury. 'I heard lots of blaming language. His primary belief was that the blame lay with his wife.' Mr Melvin testified Samantha Fraser had not been suicidal at the time of her death. 'The children were the most significant thing in her life and I felt reassured she was not suicidal,' the retired psychologist said. 'She had started to reach out to friends and family, who had regular contact with her and built a network around her. That was all part of the safety plan we devised.' Advertisement Basham's barrister Ashley Halphen told the jury his client indeed assaulted Ms Fraser on the day she died, but he denied killing her. 'Mr Basham admits to causing those injuries. The issue, members of the jury, is then whether or not Mr Basham's actions went further and beyond causing those injuries,' he said. 'Did Samantha Fraser suicide? You will need to consider whether you can exclude suicide as a possibility. If you cannot, then you must return a verdict of not guilty.' On Thursday, Ms Fraser's new boyfriend Wayne Foster told the court Ms Fraser had indeed previously contemplated suicide. 'She said she had considered taking her life. I asked her why. She said that her past husband had taken everything from her,' he said. But the night before she was found dead, Mr Foster claimed Ms Fraser had been upbeat about her future. 'How will you remember this birthday this year?' he asked her via a text message. 'The beginning of a wonderful new stage in my life,' she responded. The jury has now sat through more than two weeks of evidence. Last week, they heard Basham had been hellbent on financially crippling Ms Fraser. Peter Matthews had been friends with the couple up until their bitter separation. 'He talked about that he would cripple her financially and take the house and the savings and anything that was of value , which I felt really confronted and really alarmed by,' Mr Matthews told the court. 'He also talked and alluded to, oh, making her "pay in other ways", were his exact words.' Samantha Fraser had been happy and relaxed the very day before she supposedly hanged herself from a garage door Mr Matthews said when pressed, Basham would be vague in his meaning. The court heard Basham felt entitled to keep all the couple's money because 'he'd earned it'. Basham had taken-up a fly-in-fly-out position on a mining project on Barrow Island off the Western Australian coast for several years while still together with Ms Fraser. 'That was his justification for why we should be cool with him crippling our friend financially,' Mr Matthews said. While Basham was upset about the breakdown of his relationship, the court heard he had been angry that Ms Fraser had made him endure couples counselling with a psychologist. After police slapped an intervention order on Basham, he allegedly complained to Mr Matthews about his ex-wife's attempts to ruin his life. '"How dare she do this to me? Doesn't she know that I need ... to be on the Island,"' he allegedly told his then mate. '"I'm entitled, that's my home, they're my beaches, you can't keep me out from this".' The jury heard Basham was certain Ms Fraser had been cheating on him throughout their relationship. His former neighbour Dayne Lewis' children used to play with Basham's kids by accessing a ladder they had thrown over the back fence. One day, Basham accused him out of the blue of sleeping with his estranged wife. 'I was like, "No way, what are you talking about?", you know? Like, and it kind of just came out of nowhere. So, I kind of just - was just wigged out by the whole thing,' Mr Lewis told the jury. Basham allegedly accused Mr Lewis again while he was in the company of his own wife and children. '(He) accused me of having an affair again with my wife sitting right there, and she's like "no". Like, what are you talking about? And then we basically kind of stood up and tried to move away and he followed us. 'So, I just told him to leave us alone. We just hopped in the car and left,' Mr Lewis said. The trial before Justice Lesley Taylor continues. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Last year was a record year for wildfires, with devastating blazes wreaking havoc in California, Australia and Siberia. Smoke from these wildfires is known to cause a range of health effects for humans, including coughing, headaches and stinging eyes. Now, a new study has highlighted the devastating effects that wildfire smoke can also have on monkeys. Researchers from the University of California, Davis, found that baby rhesus macaque monkeys conceived while their mothers were exposed smoke from wildfires showed behavioural changes including problems with their memory. Researchers from the University of California, Davis, found that baby monkeys conceived while their mothers are exposed smoke from wildfires show behavioural changes including problems with their memory California's Camp Fire: The most destructive in history The Camp Fire in Butte County, started the morning of November 8, 2018. It burned a total of 153,336 acres, destroying 18,804 structures and resulting in 85 civilian fatalities and several firefighter injuries. The Camp Fire is the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. Advertisement In the study, the team looked at the effects of smoke from California's 2018 Camp Fire on rhesus macaques housed at the California National Primate Research Centre. The fire started on November 8 and burned a total of 153,336 acres, destroying 18,804 structures and resulting in 85 civilian fatalities and several firefighter injuries, making it the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. A total of 89 monkeys were conceived around that time, including 52 conceived on or before November 22, whose mothers had been exposed to wildfire smoke, and 37 conceived later, whose mothers were not exposed. The baby monkeys were then born around six months later. When the babies were about 3-4 months old, the researchers conducted assessments to test their cognitive and behavioural skills. Their analysis revealed that infants whose mothers were exposed to wildfire smoke showed increases in a marker for inflammation, a reduced cortisol response to stress, memory deficits and a more passive temperament than those whose mothers had not been exposed. Professor John Capitanio, who conducted the assessments, said: 'It's a mild effect across a variety of domains of psychological function. 'The effects are consistent with those found in studies of prenatal exposure to air pollution.' The findings suggest that at least one component of wildfire smoke acts as a teratogen - an agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or fetus, according to the researchers. The Camp Fire in Butte County, started the morning of November 8, 2018, and burned a total of 153,336 acres, destroying 18,804 structures and resulting in 85 civilian fatalities and several firefighter injuries While the specific component remains unclear, the team believes it could be airborne hydrocarbons such as phthalates, which were found in the smoke from the Camp Fire. In primates such as humans and monkeys, the placenta produces hormones that support brain development in the infant via the adrenal system. Professor Bill Lasley, senior author of the study, explained: 'Since fetal adrenal glands are the source of cortisol and other steroids for neurologic development, which determines behaviours, a scenario of a placenta-adrenal-brain axis could be the causal pathway.' The team now plans to study women who conceived around the time of the wildfires to see if the same effect applies to them. 'I think this will have an effect on future studies of exposures in pregnancy, because we'll know when to look,' Professor Lasley added. 'Existing studies of environmental exposures during pregnancy in humans are mostly retrospective, and women may not even realise they are pregnant until weeks into the first trimester.' While taking selfies was once regarded as vain, people now snap an average of 450 photos of themselves every year. But a new study may put you off capturing so many pictures with your front-facing camera. Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre have revealed that selfies distort your face, making your nose look longer and wider than in standard photographs. Researchers have revealed that selfies distort your face, making your nose look longer and wider than standard photographs. Pictured left: a 12-inch selfie, centre: a 18-inch selfie, right: photo taken on a digital camera Instagram filters have made us forget what we look like A recent survey by Uvence asked 2,069 respondents how they feel about filters on social media. A fifth said they now no longer post photos on social media without using editing tools that get rid of wrinkles, spots and stretch marks. Meanwhile, 37 per cent said they prefer their filtered face to their real face. Read more Advertisement In the UK, nose surgery, also known as rhinoplasty, is one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery. And according to the researchers, requests for rhinoplasty have surged amid the popularity of selfies. Dr Bardia Amirlak, who led the study, said: 'There is a noted relationship between the increase in selfie photographs and an increase in rhinoplasty requests, particularly among younger patients.' In the study, the team employed 30 volunteers to explore how selfies affect the appearance of facial features. The volunteers sat for a series of three photographs two taken using a front-facing camera at distances of 12 and 18 inches from the face, and one taken using a digital camera at a distance of five feet. Importantly, all three photos were taken at the same sitting and under the same lighting conditions. The researchers compared the measurements of four facial landmarks in the photos nose, lip, chin and facial width. Participants also completed questionnaires rating their satisfaction with their appearance in the images. The volunteers sat for a series of three photographs two taken using a front-facing camera at distances of 12 and 18 inches (left), and one taken using a digital camera at a distance of five feet (right) The results showed that the photos taken on the front-facing camera significantly distorted the participants' facial features. On average, the nose appeared 6.4 per cent longer on the 12-inch selfies, and 4.3 per cent longer on the 18-inch selfies, compared to the photo taken on the digital camera. The length of the chin was also found to decrease by an average of 12 per cent in the 12-inch selfies. This led to a whopping 17 per cent increase in the ratio of nose to chin length. These distortions were also reflected in the participants' own ratings of their facial appearance. Participants were 9.1 per cent less satisfied with their nose in the 12-inch selfies than the digital camera photo on average, and 5.7 per cent less satisfied with their face Meanwhile, selfies also made the base of the nose appear wider, relative to the width of the face. These distortions were reflected in the participants' own ratings of their facial appearance. Participants were 9.1 per cent less satisfied with their nose in the 12-inch selfies than the digital camera photo on average, and 5.7 per cent less satisfied with their face overall. 'As the popularity of selfie photography increases, it is crucial to understand how they distort facial features and how patients use them to communicate,' Dr Amirlak said. 'In addition our findings provide data for manufacturers to improve the societal impact of smartphone cameras.' The researchers warned that the facial distortions on selfies could also affect mental health. 'Our study further supports the concern that selfies can negatively affect perceived facial appearance,' Dr Amirlak added. 'We need to increase awareness of how false perceptions on selfies may affect rhinoplasty requests, perceptions of self-image, and subsequent depression and anxiety.' A planet 'almost identical' to Jupiter has been spotted orbiting a star 17,000 light years from Earth by NASA's Kepler telescope, scientists have revealed. The exoplanet, K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb, is almost identical to Jupiter in terms of its mass and distance from its star, according to astronomers in Manchester. K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb is around 420 million miles from its star, while Jupiter is 462 million miles from our sun. Meanwhile, K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb's mass is 1.1 times that of Jupiter, while the star that it orbits is around 60 per cent the mass of our sun. The planet and its star are in the constellation Sagittarius, which covers an area around the Galactic Centre the rotational centre of our Milky Way galaxy. The system is twice as distant as any seen before by Kepler, which found over 2,700 confirmed planets before ceasing operations in 2018. Pictured is a view of the region close to the Galactic Centre where the planet was found. The two images show the region as seen by Kepler (left) and by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) from the ground. The planet is not visible but its gravity affected the light observed from a faint star at the centre of the image (circled). Kepler's very pixelated view of the sky required specialised techniques to recover the planet signal THE NEW PLANET Name: K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb Galaxy: Milky Way Mass: 1.1 MJ (1.1 times the mass of Jupiter) Diameter: Unknown Distance from its sun: 420 million miles Distance from Earth: 17,000 light years Advertisement A new study describing the finding was conducted by an international team of astrophysicists, led by the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Centre. 'To see the effect at all requires almost perfect alignment between the foreground planetary system and a background star', said Dr Eamonn Kerins at Jodrell Bank. 'The chance that a background star is affected this way by a planet is tens to hundreds of millions to one against. 'But there are hundreds of millions of stars towards the centre of our galaxy. So Kepler just sat and watched them for three months. 'It is basically Jupiter's identical twin in terms of its mass and its position from its sun, which is about 60 per cent of the mass of our own Sun.' Just like Jupiter, K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb is thought to be gaseous rather than rocky, according to Dr Kerins. Jupiter makes a complete orbit around the Sun (a year in Jovian time) in about 12 Earth years (4,333 Earth days). Similarly, K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb is estimated to take 13 Earth years to orbit its star although this is only an estimate, based on 'a single snapshot' from Kepler, Dr Kerins said. 'We don't actually see it orbit,' he told MailOnline. 'So there's a margin of error that means it could be as short as 11 years or as long as 21 years. The research team don't know if there are any more planets in this solar system, other than K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb. This is an artist impression of the Kepler Space Telescope that was decommissioned by NASA in 2018 after nearly a decade of service WHAT IS MICROLENSING? Predicted by Albert Einstein 85 years ago as a consequence of his General Theory of Relativity, microlensing describes how the light from a background star can be temporarily magnified by the presence of other stars in the foreground. This produces a short burst in brightness that can last from hours to a few days. Roughly one out of every million stars in our Galaxy is visibly affected by microlensing at any given time, but only a few per cent of these are expected to be caused by planets. Advertisement The now retired Kepler telescope spent nearly a decade in space looking for Earth-size planets orbiting other stars, but scientists are still analysing its data. Kepler launched in 2009 and was decommissioned by NASA in 2018 when it ran out of fuel needed for further science operations. It was launched specifically by NASA with the aim of identifying planets outside of our own Solar System, known as exoplanets. K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb was discovered using data obtained in 2016 by Kepler. It was found using gravitational microlensing, an observational effect that was predicted in 1936 by Einstein using his General Theory of Relativity. When one star in the sky appears to pass nearly in front of another, the light rays of the background source star become bent due to the gravitational 'attraction' of the foreground star. To find an exoplanet using the microlensing effect, the team searched through Kepler data collected between April and July 2016, when it regularly monitored millions of stars close to the centre of the galaxy. The aim was to look for evidence of an exoplanet and its host star temporarily bending and magnifying the light from a background star as it passes by the line of sight. Following the development of specialised analysis methods, candidate signals were finally uncovered last year from the Kepler data using a new search algorithm. Among five new candidate microlensing signals uncovered, one showed clear indications of an anomaly consistent with the presence of an orbiting exoplanet. Five international ground-based surveys also looked at the same area of sky at the same time as Kepler, including the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), situated on Mauna Kea mountain, Hawaii. To confirm the Kepler findings, ground-based surveys also looked at the same area of sky at the same time as Kepler, including the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), situated on Mauna Kea mountain, Hawaii (pictured) THREE 'EXOPLANETS' ARE ACTUALLY STARS Scientists have been examining the thousands of exoplanet discoveries confirmed within the Milky Way Galaxy, and three of them have turned out to be stars. A team from MIT in Cambridge looked through planets discovered using the NASA Kepler Space Telescope, double checking the measurements to see which match known planet sizes. They identified three objects that are simply too big to be planets, based on new, more accurate measurements taken by the European Space Agency Gaia telescope. Read more: Three 'exoplanets' are actually stars Advertisement At a distance of around 83 million miles from Earth, Kepler saw the anomaly slightly earlier, and for longer, than the teams observing from Earth. The new study exhaustively models the combined dataset showing, conclusively, that the signal is caused by a distant exoplanet. 'The difference in vantage point between Kepler and observers here on Earth allowed us to triangulate where along our sight line the planetary system is located,' said Dr Kerins. 'Kepler was also able to observe uninterrupted by weather or daylight, allowing us to determine precisely the mass of the exoplanet and its orbital distance from its host star.' In 2027, NASA will launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space telescope, which will potentially find thousands of distant planets using the microlensing method. Nancy Grace Roman was one of the first women to work at NASA and a central figure in the development of the Hubble Telescope. Meanwhile, European Space Agency's Euclid mission, due to launch next year, could also undertake a microlensing exoplanet search as an additional science activity. 'Kepler was never designed to find planets using microlensing so, in many ways, it's amazing that it has done so,' said Dr Kerins. The telescope will also do a census of exoplanets to answer questions about the potential for life elsewhere in the universe. 'Roman and Euclid, on the other hand, will be optimised for this kind of work. They will be able to complete the planet census started by Kepler.' 'We'll learn how typical the architecture of our own solar system is. The data will also allow us to test our ideas of how planets form. This is the start of a new exciting chapter in our search for other worlds.' The study has been submitted to the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and has been made available as a preprint on ArXiv.org. The Ghost Orchid was last seen in 2009 in a Herefordshire wood 1. Ghost Orchid Status: Critically Endangered Best time to see: Unknown Habitat: Beech wood Where? Herefordshire This orchid was thought extinct until it was spotted in Herefordshire in 2009. It usually grows underground in deep leaf litter only rarely popping its white flower above the surface to attract pollinators. The Red Helleborine grows in southern England and is best seen in May, June and July 2. Red Helleborine Status: Critically Endangered Best time to see: May, June and July Habitat: Dark woodland Where? Southern England This orchid grows a stem up to 60cm in height that can carry up to 17 flowers that are a deep shade of pink. Plantlife UK said it may have become rare due to a decline in the population of its pollinators and the right habitat for them. Spreading Bellflowers are only found in 37 places in the UK 3. Spreading Bellflower Status: Endangered Best time to see: July to November Habitat: Woodland Where? Welsh borders and west Midlands The Spreading Bellflower is only found in 37 10-km square areas in the UK, but in very small numbers. It is threatened by changes in woodland management, such as the end of coppicing and other disturbances, and an increased use of herbicides on roadsides and railway banks. The Crested Cow-wheat grows in East Anglia and other parts of the UK 4. Crested Cow-wheat Status: Endangered Best time to see: July and August Habitat: Rocky Hillside meadows and roadsides Where? East Anglia and other areas The plant grows to 15 to 40cm high and produces pink flowers with yellow lips. It grows in meadows, competing with scores of other plants to attract insects. 5. Cotswold Pennycress Status: Vulnerable and Near-Threatened Best time to see: April and May Habitat: Farmland Where? Cotswolds It sprouts mainly in the Cotswolds, and can be seen growing out of hedges, walls and banks. Ploughing, the levelling of rough land, increased use of fertilisers and herbicides and neglecting marginal land have all led to the plants gradual demise. It is often choked by thicker smothering plants. The Lady Orchid, which has stunning pink flowers, grows in Kent and Oxfordshire 6. Lady Orchid Status: Critical Best time to see: April, May, June Habitat: Edges of woodland and grassland Where? Kent and Oxfordshire This purple-coloured orchid produces large stems of 200 flowers that grow up to 80cm in height. It can be seen growing on the edges of woodland, and sometimes in open grassland. This meadow plant has been in decline since less land was used for grazing meaning it was smothered by others 7. Meadow Clary Status: Vulnerable/Near Threatened Best time to see: Spring and Summer Habitat: Grassland Where? Oxfordshire, Chilterns and north and south Downs This plant declined before 1950 when less land was used for grazing and it was smothered by other coarser plants. It is now found in just 21 areas in the south of England, where it was probably re-introduced through wild flower seed mixtures. The sun loving plant grows in open grassland, and along south-facing hedge banks and the southern edges of woodland. The One-flowered Wintergreen grows in damp, shaded pine forests 8. One-flowered Wintergreen Status: Vulnerable/ Near Threatened Best time to see: May, June and July Habitat: Pine forests Where? North-east Scotland This single-flowered plant grows in damp, shaded areas of pine forests. It is clearly visible against the dark soil and rotting pine leaves. The white flower faces downwards from the end of a tall stem, looking a bit like an umbrella The Twinflower is a relic from the ice age 9. Twinflower Status: Unknown Best time to see: Spring and Summer Habitat: Woodland Where? Scotland An arctic-alpine plant that is a relic of the ice age, It has two pink bell-like flowers on a slender stem and a thicker stem below that creeps along the ground forming small mats. The Twinflower is considered one of our smallest and most delicate native flowers. It now grows in just 50 unrelated sites following changes in woodland management. The white-flower orchid has been lost from 75 per cent of the countryside 10. Lesser Butterfly-orchid Status: Vulnerable/Near Threatened Best time to see: June & July Habitat: Woodland, grassland, heathland and wetland Where? England, Cardiganshire in Wales, and parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland This white-flower orchid has been lost from 75 per cent of the English countryside since records began. Growing a 30cm-high stem, the plant is now scattered across open areas and those with acidic soil. The best chance of seeing it is in the Cae Blaen Dyffryn Nature Reserve, Wales, which hosts a population that can exceed 3,000 in good years. The orchids decline may be linked to a symbiotic fungus it depends on to grow, according to Plantlife UK, which is very sensitive to fertilisers and fungicides. Their use on open grassland may have played a part in the plants march towards extinction. The plant prefers Beech and Hazel woods 11. Yellow Birds-nest Status: Unknown Best time to see: All year Habitat: Beech and Hazel woodland Where? UK-wide The whole plant is a yellow-brown colour, and tends to grow in leaf litter in shaded woodland. However, it began to decline after 1930, possibly due to changes in woodland management, overgrazing and habitat fragmentation. Source: Plantlife UK Pep Guardiola has ruled Ruben Dias out of Manchester City's crunch title clash with Liverpool. The central defender has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in the FA Cup win at Peterborough United last month. Guardiola does not expect Dias to play any part of City's next three games against Burnley, Atletico Madrid and then Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on April 10. Ruben Dias will miss crucial Manchester City games against Liverpool and Atletico Madrid John Stones has felt no ill effects of his knock on international duty and is expected to partner Aymeric Laporte in the Portuguese's absence. 'I don't know how long, the doctor said four to six weeks,' Guardiola said. 'Ruben is on four now, March 1 he was injured, it's now four weeks later. I think we need two weeks more.' City could be behind Liverpool by the time they face Burnley at Turf Moor should Jurgen Klopp's side beat Watford in Saturday's early kick off. Dias has not played since suffering a hamstring injury against Peterborough United last month John Stones is fit after picking up a knock while on international duty with England last week There is little margin for error if City are to lift their fourth Premier League trophy in five years but Guardiola believes there will be twists and turns. 'We can do a mistake and win the title, nobody knows,' he added. 'Whatever happens in this game and next one we [still] don't know who will be champions. We are going to see. 'Burnley is always tough opponent with the way they play, incredible respect for Sean Dyche - for many years their consistency. He believes in what they do and it works.' To Kill a Mockingbird (Gielgud Theatre, London) Rating: Verdict: Killer Mockingbird! You can't ask much more of Aaron Sorkin's blistering adaptation of Harper Lee's tragic tale of racial injustice in 1930s Alabama. Bartlett Sher's production was a huge hit on Broadway and it looks like doing the same kind of business in the West End. And so it should, because this is a spellbinding show, led by Rafe Spall as the small-town lawyer defending a young black man who has been maliciously accused of rape. The brilliance of Sorkin's adaptation is that it makes Lee's 62-year-old literary classic feel like it was minted yesterday. Far from creaking like a period piece, it chimes with modern racial conflicts on both sides of the Atlantic. Nor does it pull its punches with issues of rape, violence and strongly racist language. The upshot is a riveting drama that often reduces the audience to pin-drop silence. Rafe Spall as lawyer Atticus Finch and Poppy Lee Friar as Mayella Ewell Best seat in the house HAMLET Disciples of Benedict Cumberbatch can see his Dane from the comfort of their own sofas in Lyndsey Turner's 2015 Barbican Theatre production. Just go to Amazon Prime and select Great British Theatre Series 1. Advertisement Were it not for Spall's resolutely decent lawyer Atticus Finch, much of this internecine social conflict might have proved indigestible. Respectful of others to a fault, Spall's Atticus is also sharp and self-aware. As a single dad who lost his wife, he wins our admiration thanks to his gift for conflict resolution with his angry son, Jem, and tomboy daughter, Scout. But the pride he takes in his off-white linen suit, round specs and carefully parted curls, lends him dignity and status, too. Another great innovation of Sorkin's play is how it makes Atticus squirm in his moral dilemma as a middle-class liberal nervous of seeming patrician. For this, he is held to account by Pamela Nomvete as his tight-lipped housekeeper, Calpurnia. It's a role greatly expanded from the book, as is the character of hapless defendant Tom Robinson. A young black man reviled for presuming to have sympathy for an abused young white girl, he is played with grace and vulnerability by Jude Owusu. No less significant is the way Patrick O'Kane steers his Ku Klux Klan antagonist Bob Ewell away from being a swivel-eyed straw target. Yet still he burns with white fury at the condescension meted out by what he sees as an institutional conspiracy. Parallels with today's white supremacists are precisely drawn, as is the fate of his bitterly conflicted daughter, Mayella (Poppy Lee Friar), whom we dare not disbelieve. Most remarkable, in a story that boils with tension, is how the staging matches the drive of courtroom drama with the populous variety of Lee's novel. Most remarkable, in a story that boils with tension, is how the staging matches the drive of courtroom drama with the populous variety of Lee's novel Gwyneth Keyworth and Harry Redding, as Atticus's children Scout and Jem, are our childlike eyes and ears on this world; along with David Moorst as their summer friend Dill, who masks heartbreaking insecurity with endless chatter. Jim Norton is a wry and benign presence as the trial judge who keeps hope of justice alive in the face of ingrained prejudice. Similarly, Lloyd Hutchinson, as the supposed town drunk, Link Deas, has his own story that opens up a whole new vista of toxicity and redemption. The fact that Sher's production can pull so much together is thanks partly to Sorkin's Hollywood-tight script, peppered with great one-liners. But it's also thanks to Miriam Buether's set that effortlessly transforms from courtroom and domestic interiors to verandahs and backyards. So much goes right in this exceptional production that it's quite simply a killer Mockingbird. Horrors of war shatter the peace Private Peaceful (Touring) Rating: Verdict: The price of brotherly love Children's author Michael Morpurgo's novel tells of two brothers who are caught up in a battle in which the pitiless English squirearchy, a sadistic Army sergeant and the casually careless military authorities prove more lethal than invading Germans. Adaptor Simon Reade's moving memory play starts at the end, with Daniel Rainford's baby-faced Private 'Tommo' Peaceful recalling his life before his scheduled execution for alleged cowardice. Daniel Rainford as Private 'Tommo' Peaceful recalling his life before his scheduled execution for alleged cowardice Above Elle While's beautifully lit production hangs a tangle of wire, suggesting the Devon clouds, the barbed wire and the mangled minds and bodies of young soldiers, blown to blazes by the terrors of the Great War. In a darker second half, the lads shelter in rat-infested trenches before being sent to their slaughter. The symbolism is a mite crude and there is too much broad character-acting going on, but this show soars and sings when the doomy hum of war is broken by folksongs and hymns, vividly rooting it in a place and a time. Georgina Brown Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Touring) Rating: Verdict: Jukebox heaven The ordinary yet extraordinary Carole King (Molly-Grace Cutler) bounds into a Brooklyn song factory and pitches It Might As Well Rain Until September. Music producer Don Kirschner knew gold when he heard it. Aged 16, with lyricist Gerry Goffin, Carole proceeds to pop out much of the soundtrack to the 50s and 60s . . . plus a couple of kids. And having made the whole world sing, King finds her own voice (cue A Natural Woman). While Douglas McGrath's deliciously corny, cheesy, schmaltzy jukebox biog stops short of soul-searching, director Nikolai Foster and a cast of super-versatile actor-musicians make the earth move under your feet when The Drifters and The Shirelles bop their way through Up On the Roof and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow. Carole's friend, Barry Mann the songwriter who 'put the bomp' behind his wife Cynthia Weil's sassy lyrics provides the excuse for The Righteous Brothers' classic You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' and more. Some kind of wonderful, indeed. Georgina Brown Home truths in the Chicago suburbs Clybourne Park (Park Theatre) Rating: Verdict: Uneasy comedy of manners Imogen Stubbs aches as the bereaved mother masking her loss with a frenzy of activity Hard as it is to love a play about racism, director Oliver Kaderbhai reinvigorates Bruce Norris's 2010 comic drama set in a Chicago suburb of the 1950s and today. In an impressively choreographed new production, he turns the story into a kind of ballet of American manners. The first half features a couple who've lost their son in the Korean War and horrify their white neighbours by selling their home to a black family. After the interval, we are at a residents' planning meeting in the same house, 50 years later, with the neighbourhood subject to gentrification. Imogen Stubbs aches as the bereaved mother masking her loss with a frenzy of activity; while her husband (Richard Lintern) is a brooding, explosive enigma. Aliyah Odoffin brings resignation to their black servant and, later, to the young woman seeking to preserve local history. Kaderbhai cleverly presents all this as a ceremony of time, showing how our dearest preoccupations and most strongly felt indignations just come and go. Patrick Marmion They recently said they would remain 'friends for life' after filming together. And Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum looked the best of pals at the UK premiere of The Lost City in London's Leicester Square on Thursday. Channing, 41, looked dapper in a simple black trouser suit as he cast a lingering look at his glam co-star. Pals: Sandra Bullock gets a lingering look from co-star Channing Tatum on the green carpet at The Lost City premiere in London on Thursday The Magic Mike star teamed the look with a matching polo neck while placing his hand in his trouser pocket. Channing finished off the look with a pair of dress shoes while looking suave posing with with his arm around his co-stars waist. Meanwhile, Hollywood icon Sandra, 57, showed off her style credentials in a chic black trouser suit with a contrasting pink cape. Bond: They recently said they would remain 'friends for life' after filming together The actress wowed in the stunning ensemble which was embellished by a pink and purple caped belted detailing. The belt fell from the star's svelte waist flowed behind her as she posed on the green carpet for the premiere. She completed her look with black pointed-toe heels while wearing her brunette tresses in a mass of dramatic curls. Wow: Hollywood icon Sandra, 57, showed off her style credentials in a chic black trouser suit with a contrasting pink cape The outing comes as earlier this month Sandra described how she stayed focused while filming with an almost nude Channing in an episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The Speed actress described how in their new movie she was in front of his crotch but tried instead to divert her eyes and focus on his thigh. The screen icon 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. Suave: The Magic Mike star teamed the look with a matching polo neck while placing his hand in his trouser pocket Plot: Sandra 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 |Stunner: The actress wowed in the stunning ensemble which was embellished by a pink and purple caped belted detailing Wow: She completed her look with black pointed-toe heels while wearing her brunette tresses in a mass of dramatic curls Handsome: Channing looked the typical Hollywood icon as he posed at the star-studded event New movie: Sandra Bullock described how she stayed focused while filming with an almost nude Channing Tatum on Monday's episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 'He's full on Fabio,' said Sandra. 'He's more than that he's full on Monty,' said Stephen, 57. 'Let's sell some tickets right now, Sandy.' 'He's stupid naked in this film,' said Sandra. Stephen said there was a full on shot of his butt. Leeches scene: Sandra 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 Sandra said not really. 'There is a full cheekbut I don't believe we showed the full left cheek,' said Sandra. 'Ninety percent of the left cheek,' said Stephen, who then said there was a moment when Channing's character turned around so she could check his front. 'Was that CGI?' Only partial: 'There is a full cheekbut I don't believe we showed the full left cheek,' said Sandra Good times: 'Fully there,' said Sandra laughing. 'Full on, face to face, with the landscape I had to spend some time down there.' 'No,' said Sandra. 'You are there?' asked Stephen. 'Fully there,' said Sandra. 'Full on, face to face, with the landscape I had to spend some time down there.' Stephen said her character was reacting as if he was well endowed. 'When you are down there and you have two pages of dialogue, if you are looking directly at it you will get nothing done,' said Sandra. 'So I looked at his left thigh.' Molly-Mae Hague was glowing as she stepped out for dinner at Manchester restaurant The Ivy on Thursday, but she was left with a bad taste in her mouth after being hit with another parking ticket. The influencer, 22, looked sensational as she slipped into a chic oversized blazer and baggy jeans for her evening meal at the upmarket restaurant. But she was slapped with what appeared to be yet another 60 parking fine on the windscreen of her 32,000 Range Rover. Stylish: Molly-Mae Hague, 22, received another parking ticket as she stepped out for dinner in a chic oversized blazer on Thursday She clinched in the grey jacket with a matching thin belt to highlight her tiny waist and added a coordinating pair of pointed toe heels. Her signature bright blonde locks were styled into a sleek low bun to showcase her gold hoop earrings. The Pretty Little Thing creative director, added a feline flick of black eyeliner and carried a white Dior handbag to complete her look. Oh no! Molly-Mae returned to her car to find yet another 60 parking fine slapped on the windscreen of her Range Rover Oops: Molly-Mae also received a parking ticket last month and another in January after leaving her car on a busy Manchester City Centre street Molly-Mae also received a parking ticket last month and another in January after leaving her car on a busy Manchester City Centre street. The Instagram influencer passed her driving test in May on her second attempt, after her first test left her 'traumatised' and in tears. Molly-Mae decided to switch from a manual test to automatic after a disastrous experience the first time round. Glowing: She clinched in the grey jacket with a matching thin belt to highlight her tiny waist and added a coordinating pair of pointed toe heels Fashion forward: Molly-Mae wore her signature bright blonde locks in a sleek low bun to showcase her gold hoop earrings Radiant: She carried a white Dior handbag to complete her look as she clutched onto her shopping from Louis Vuitton The outing comes after Molly-Mae admitted to thinking she might die as a consequence of her endometriosis and has nearly called an ambulance multiple times during her periods. Speaking in her latest YouTube vlog, the influencer explained how she found nights particularly difficult, and was fearful she 'wouldn't wake up' due to the excruciating pain. Taking to her popular channel on the video-sharing site, Molly-Mae answered fans' queries surrounding her experience with the condition - which causes tissue similar to the lining of the womb to grow in other places, such as the ovaries. Incredible: Molly-Mae showcased her sleek sense of style as she stepped out for a meal Candid: The outing comes as Molly-Mae admitted that she thought she would die and had nearly called an ambulance multiple times during her periods Speaking to her 1.64million subscribers during the the 'Q&A Girl Talk', the reality star confessed of her symptoms: 'Mine have definitely worsened over the years, I cannot explain the levels of pain I have experienced. 'I have actually nearly called myself an ambulance on multiple occasions because of the level of pain that I was in. 'It got so bad, I would be rolling in bed and I would actually be fearful for my life, thinking for my body to be in this much agonising pain, what is it going through? Shocking! Speaking in her latest YouTube vlog, the influencer explained how she found nights particularly difficult, and was fearful she 'wouldn't wake up' due to the excruciating pain She continued: 'I literally used to lie there and think, "Am I going to see tomorrow morning?" I genuinely used to be in that much pain that I was fearful I wouldnt wake up in the morning. It was so so horrendous.' 'Tommy didn't even used to know what to do with me, he would be looking at me like, "I don't know what to do".' The former Love Islander first spoke of her diagnosis last year and has bravely shown scars from operations she's undergone to ease her symptoms. Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and other fashion icons took to Instagram on Thursday to post a tribute to photographer Patrick Demarchelier who died at the age of 78. The model, 25, posted several photos from a Vogue China shoot alongside gamer and model Chu Wong that Demarchelier took for a 2017 issue. 'I am grateful to have been lucky enough to be in front of your lens,' Hadid wrote in the caption. 'Most gentle, most legendary, soft but full of life . You will be missed Patrick. Rest In Peace. [broken heart emoji]' Fond farewell: Bella Hadid and other fashion icons took to Instagram on Thursday to post a tribute to photographer Patrick Demarchelier who died at the age of 78 She continued, 'and I got to shoot with one of my favorite people ever. @_chuwong. I will miss this day, and you dear Patrick..' Emily Ratajkowski posted several photos from a completely nude photo shoot she did with Love Magazine and Patrick back in 2017. In the one photo where she was wearing clothes, she wore a black leather frock that covered her torso. Ratajkowski captioned the series of photos, 'So honored to have worked with the legend and the most lovely @patrickdemarchelier you will be missed.' Heartfelt: 'I am grateful to have been lucky enough to be in front of your lens,' Hadid wrote in the caption Making her own tribute: Emily Ratajkowski posted several photos from a completely nude photo shoot she did with Love Magazine and Patrick back in 2017 Heartfelt words: Ratajkowski captioned the series of photos, 'So honored to have worked with the legend and the most lovely @patrickdemarchelier you will be missed' Her only clothes: In the one photo where she was wearing clothes, Ratajkowski wore a black leather frock that covered her torso 'Incredible': Hailey Bieber also paid tribute as she shared a snap of herself cuddled up to the famous snapper In memoriam: Heidi Klum shared a trio of magazine covers that had been shot by the late photographer to her Instagram account on Wednesday Cindy Crawford kept the tributes coming with several photos of herself including one for Vogue Paris and another in which she wore a bikini for Harper's Bazaar. 'Rest In Peace, #PatrickDemarchelier. Thanks for so many great memories and beautiful, timeless images,' she wrote in the caption. Demarchelier's official Instagram account announced the news earlier in the day with a few photos of the beloved photographer over the years. The caption read, 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Patrick Demarchelier on March 31st 2022, at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife Mia, his three sons Gustaf, Arthur, Victor and three grandchildren.' From one legend to another: Cindy Crawford kept the tributes coming with several photos of herself including one for Vogue and another in which she wore a bikini for Harper's Bazaar Bikini shot: One photo showed Crawford in a bikini for Harper's Bazaar A number of familiar faces to the fashion scene responded to the news with heartfelt condolences. Hairstylist Sam McKnight wrote, 'Oh I am so sad to hear this. I had the BEST TIMES with Patrick, endless incredible iconic photos, wonderful memories, a lifetime of laughter, I have so much to thank him for, there will never be another. Condolences to his beloved family.' Gigi Hadid kept it simple with a broken heart emoji, two full hearts and a fire emoji while artist Teddy Charles wrote, 'Le cur brise' which is French for 'broken heart.' Tragic news: Demarchelier's official Instagram account announced the news earlier in the day with a few photos of the beloved photographer over the years A whole bunch of stars: A number of fashion icons took to the comments on Demarchelier's account's post to pass a long their condolences Fashion designer Zac Posen made his own individual post of a black and white photo of a woman in a frilly dress leaning out a window with 'Rip #patrickdemarchelier' written underneath it. Shoe designer Brian Atwood posted a picture of the photographer sitting on a stool with one leg crossed over the other. He captioned the snap, 'RIP @patrickdemarchelier. We lost a true talent and visionary #godspeed #patrickdemarchelier.' Honoring Patrick: Fashion designer Zac Posen made his own individual post of a black and white photo of a woman in a frilly dress leaning out a window Relaxed look: Shoe designer Brian Atwood posted a picture of the photographer sitting on a stool with one leg crossed over the other Longtime photographer: Patrick Demarchelier was born in Le Havre, France on August 21, 1943. He worked actively as a photographer from 1975 to 2022 Patrick Demarchelier was born in Le Havre, France on August 21, 1943. He worked actively as a photographer from 1975 to 2022. Demarchelier shot for nearly every major fashion magazine including Vogue, Glamour, Elle and other non-fashion related outlets like Rolling Stone, Newsweek and Life. The Normandy native dealt with controversy later in his life when, in 2018, seven women accused Demarchelier of sexual misconduct. He responded to the claims at the time saying, 'People lie and they tell stories. Its ridiculous.' Despite his vehement denials magazine publisher Conde Nast, which own Vogue, The New Yorker, GQ, Vanity Fair and others, ended its professional relationship with the photographer. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, waves with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the former's visit to Pyongyang in June 2019. Xinhua via AP Pyongyang emerges as key challenge for Yoon Suk-yeol administration By Kim Bo-eun HONG KONG Pyongyang's series of provocations this year signal that addressing the neighbor to the North will be one of the greatest challenges for President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, who has pledged to take a hardline stance toward the reclusive state compared to his predecessor, Moon Jae-in. Yoon is scheduled to take office in May and has outlined the direction of his administration's foreign policy which is to strengthen Seoul's alliance with Washington, while relying less on Beijing. This would be a shift from Moon's policy towards China, given that South Korea depends largely on the Asian neighbor, not only for trade but also in regards to progress in relations with North Korea. Although China and North Korea have not always been on the best terms, the two have had a special relationship. Beijing is Pyongyang's greatest ally, among the few that exist, with the two countries signing a treaty in 1961. China has played a complex role in the geopolitics of the Korean Peninsula. It took part in efforts for North Korea's nuclear disarmament, as one of the participants of the six party talks, and in 2017 backed the United Nations Security Council sanctions on Pyongyang, which strained ties with the country. However, Beijing's role has shifted in recent years. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made his first overseas trip, since taking power in 2011, to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2018, and four more summits followed, the last being Xi's visit to Pyongyang in 2019. It was the first time in 14 years a Chinese head of state visited North Korea. China continues to be North Korea's largest trading partner, accounting for 88 percent of total trade in 2020, while the figure is down due to sanctions and Pyongyang closing its border after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beijing has continued to supply key resources not only through legal trade, but also through illicit means. Beijing, along with Moscow, has recently been backing Pyongyang at the United Nations, leading efforts to ease sanctions imposed for its weapons testing as well as the prevention new ones being realized. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, holds hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Pyongyang Sunan Airport before Xi's departure for China in June 2019. Korean Central News Agency-Yonhap China has acted as a buffer, speaking on behalf of Pyongyang. Beijing's ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, in February said that Washington should "show more flexibility" if it wanted to see a "new breakthrough." He said more "attractive, practical policies and actions accommodating the concerns of North Korea" were necessary. Analysts have stated that China is invested in relations with North Korea, because it is a means to counter U.S. influence in the region, with U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. On the other hand, the Beijing-Pyongyang relationship also provides China with some leverage as a broker if the process of North Korea's denuclearization were to actually occur. "Beijing, since Kim Jong-un's visit in March 2018, has transformed its North Korea policy into a historic new form: restoring the alliance discourse and the expression of ideological commonality with North Korea, while ending any reference to denuclearization of the Peninsula as an element of China's position and policy toward that country," Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, said via email. "That 'new normal' will be kept intact in the predictable future." China's current role has complicated the situation on the Korean Peninsula, analysts said. "By propping up the Kim regime, China allows North Korea to threaten Seoul and reject offers of engagement," Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international relations at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said in an email. President Moon Jae-in, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands at the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom at an inter-Korean summit held April 2018. Korea Times file As progress with North Korea was one of the Moon administration's greatest goals, the president took a dovish stance, which led to historic summits in 2018, and denuclearization talks with the U.S. But it is unclear how Yoon's expected hardline stance will drive relations with North Korea, and whether negotiations with the U.S. can resume. This challenge is presented at a time when expectations are growing that the alliance of China, Russia and North Korea will likely be strengthened against the backdrop of the Russia-led Ukraine invasion. Beijing has not condemned the aggression, while Pyongyang has attributed Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a result of the U.S.' refusal to take Moscow's security demands seriously. South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol / Newsis Shi said that China's stance on Russia's attack on Ukraine has further deteriorated relations with the U.S. and other major allies. "In this context, Kim Jong-un is accelerating his nuclear missile development program, and South Korea's president-elect, a so-called hardline conservative, will therefore, take a harsher stance towards Kim, based on closer allied cooperation with the U.S. and perhaps also Japan," he added. "The incoming Yoon administration is aware of the strategic and economic importance of China, but wants the bilateral relationship to be based on mutual respect and framed by the rules-based international order," Easley said, referring to Beijing's rivalry with Washington, which prompted it to strengthen alliances with Russia and North Korea. "Yoon won't seek to escalate tensions but will strengthen deterrence via the U.S. alliance and demand reciprocity from the Kim regime," he said. President Moon Jae-in, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing in December 2017. Yonhap She has become well known for showing off her flawless form in swimwear and lingerie ads over the past decade. And Alessandra Ambrosio gave her fans a prime look at her fabulous physique in a trio of shots that were shared to her Instagram account on Thursday. The 40-year-old supermodel was making the most of her 'spring break' in the Bahamas while strolling along the getaway destination's sunlit streets in a skimpy white bikini. Ambrosio wore a stylish low-cut white bikini top and matching low-rise bottoms that showed off her curvy hips. The former Victoria's Secret Angel also donned a pinstripe button-up shirt that remained partially unbuttoned while she posed for the outdoor snaps. Ambrosio carried a tote bag and accessorized with a wide-brimmed hat. Her voluminous brunette locks cascaded onto her shoulders in loose waves. The supermodel was later seen walking through a resort in a video that was shared to her Instagram Story. In the brief clip, she sported a floral-patterned outfit while enjoying her time off in paradise. Fun in the sun: The supermodel was seen walking through a resort in a video that was shared to her Story on Thursday She accessorized with a stylish pair of sunglasses and carried a sizable hat, and her locks were tied into a lengthy ponytail. Ambrosio went on to share a picture of the bright blue Bahamian ocean to her Story, as well. She included a selfie that she took while posing with her pal Jessica Geraty. The fashion industry mainstay opted for a white dress that showed off her toned legs. She accessorized with several articles of jewelry and her lovely brunette locks were worn down. Enjoying the waves: Ambrosio went on to share a picture of the bright blue Bahamian ocean to her Story The fashion industry mainstay opted for a white dress that showed off her toned legs as she spent time with her friend Ambrosio is no stranger to posing in beach-ready outfits, and she is frequently seen in promotional shots for her swimwear brand GAL Floripa. The runway regular launched her line with her sister Aline and childhood friend Gisele Coria in 2019. She has since taken on a hands-on approach to promoting her line, and she was most recently seen on its Instagram account in a shot that was shared earlier this week. Ambrosio donned a light blue bikini top and a matching bottom while posing for the picture. Kim Kardashian gave her fans a peek into her idyllic childhood by sharing a throwback snapshot to her Instagram featuring herself and sisters Kourtney and Khloe. In the snap, which appeared to be taken around Halloween time in the 1980s, the trio rocked vibrant pink costumes as they snacked in the living room of their Brentwood home. Kim, now 41, was dressed up as a flapper girl, complete with a fringed dress, a strand of pearls, and a feather headband. Throwback: Kim Kardashian gave her fans a peek into her idyllic childhood by sharing a throwback snapshot to her Instagram featuring herself and sisters Kourtney and Khloe. In the snap, which appeared to be taken around Halloween time in the 1980s, the trio rocked vibrant pink costumes as they snacked in the living room of their Brentwood home She also had on a pair of darling polkadot tights and her cheeks were doused in bright pink blush. The reality star was seated on a coffee table next to her eldest sister Kourtney, who could be seen giggling behind a face scarf that was part of her pink genie costume. The POOSH founder, now 42, had on a puffy sleeved shirt with matching pants and her brunette hair cut in an adorable bob. Last but not least, Kourtney and Kim's little sister Khloe, now 37, looked absolutely darling while dressed up as a frilly ballerina. Flapper: Kim, now 41, was dressed up as a flapper girl, complete with a fringed dress, a strand of pearls, and a feather headband The mother-of-one's costume consisted of a leotard and tutu with a coordinating headpiece that was tucked into her light brown, curly hair. 'The coolest,' captioned Kim on her post, which has earned nearly 1million likes on the platform. Over the past month, the ex-wife of Kanye West has treated her 296million followers to a slew of throwback photos, including a slideshow of snaps taken during the early days of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Genie: The reality star was seated on a coffee table next to her eldest sister Kourtney, who could be seen giggling behind a face scarf that was part of her pink genie costume Ballerina: Last but not least, Kourtney and Kim's little sister Khloe, now 37, looked absolutely darling while dressed up as a frilly ballerina In celebration of her brother Rob's 35th birthday, Kim uploaded a snap of herself - seemingly from her teen years - and Rob riding a jet ski together. Each clad in life vests, Kim helmed the jet ski while Rob held on from behind. To kick off March, the SKIMS founder decided to share some hilarious selfies featuring herself, Kourtney and Khloe taken during their time at their store DASH. One shot showed the tight knit siblings posing with their tongues out, while another more candid shot showed them indulging in conversation. Giving another glimpse at 'Baby K,' Kim took to Instagram on March 6 to uploaded an absolutely darling image of her younger self donning a pale pink raincoat and matching tote bag. Memory lane: Over the past month, the ex-wife of Kanye West has treated her 296million followers to a slew of throwback photos, including a slideshow of snaps taken during the early days of Keeping Up With The Kardashians Little bro: In celebration of her brother Rob's 35th birthday, Kim uploaded a snap of herself - seemingly from her teen years - and Rob riding a jet ski together. Each clad in life vests, Kim was helmed the jet ski while Rob held on from behind Her hair was in pigtails secured in place with hot pink ribbons and she posed for the shot in the kitchen of her childhood home. 'Sorry about the hair I tried,' commented Kim's mother Kris Jenner, followed by a tongue-out emoji. Kris shares Kim, as well as Khloe, Kourtney and Rob, with her late ex-husband Robert Kardashian, who passed away after a short battle with esophageal cancer in September 2003. He was just 59. The Kardashian-Jenner matriarch also shares daughters Kendall, 26, and Kylie, 24, with ex Caitlyn Jenner, 72. Simpler times: To kick off March, the SKIMS founder decided to share some hilarious selfies featuring herself, Kourtney and Khloe taken during their time at their store DASH Sisters: One shot showed the tight knit siblings posing with their tongues out, while another more candid shot showed them indulging in conversation Kim and her blended family will be returning to the small screen this April in their new Hulu series The Kardashians. The family's long-running reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians came to an end last June after 20 seasons and 14 years on E! Months later, it was announced that Kris, Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kylie, and Kendall would be letting fans back into their lives by signing a new media deal with Hulu. A brand new promo poster for The Kardashians, which premieres on the streaming platform on April 14, was unveiled on Thursday. New show: A brand new promo poster for The Kardashians, which premieres on the streaming platform on April 14, was unveiled on Thursday In the image, each one of the ladies - Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall, Kylie and Kris - is seen in an ivory, cream or beige outfit as they sit in a group. 'New home. Next level,' it says on the poster as the Kardashian Hulu Instagram page added, 'Now it feels official. #TheKardashians premieres in 2 weeks on @hulu, Disney+ internationally and Star+ in Latin America.' The series promises a lot. Kim has said she will address her ugly divorce from rapper Kanye West, as well as her thriving romance with SNL star Pete Davidson. Khloe has said her relationship with Tristan Thompson is 'complicated' and she has to expand on that after he welcomed a child with another woman. Bitter divorce: The series promises a lot. Kim has said she will address her ugly divorce from rapper Kanye West, as well as her thriving romance with SNL star Pete Davidson; Kim and Kanye pictured in 2016 Engaged: Kourtney will talk getting engaged to Travis Barker; the couple pictured on Sunday Kourtney will talk getting engaged to Travis Barker. Kylie will share her feelings over having a second child with rapper Travis Scott. Kendall also has a part on the show as she is seen storming out of a lunch meeting with her mother Kris Jenner. And even Kourtney's baby daddy Scott Disick is on the show, though it is not known if he will talk about his split with Amelia Hamlin. The first official trailer for The Kardashians dropped in mid March after months of the family teasing potential release dates and insight on just what will be touched on in the new series. Catherine Tate apologised to Pete Bennett after his scene was removed from The Nan Movie, the Big Brother star has revealed. The reality star, who filmed his cameo in 2019, revealed the comic sent an email admitting his scene had been edited out for 'technical reasons,' and while he was 'p****d off' he's since 'taken it on the chin.' The Nan Movie saw Catherine reprise her role as the foul-mouthed pensioner who embarks on a road trip with her grandson Jamie to reunite with her sister. All friends now! Catherine Tate apologised to Pete Bennett after his scene was removed from The Nan Movie, the Big Brother star has revealed Speaking on Thursday's Access All Areas on Fubar Radio, Pete shared that Catherine contacted him directly ahead of the film's release. He said: 'Just before the film came out, I got a very apologetic email from Catherine Tate saying due to purely technical reasons, our scene in the lift together has been cut out and she's gutted.' The reality star, who won Big Brother back in 2006, explained he travelled in Dublin in 2019 to film the scenes, but was gutted to learn his scene had been cut out. Changes: The reality star, who filmed his cameo in 2019, revealed the comic sent an email admitting his scene had been edited out for 'technical reasons' Insight: Speaking on Thursday's Access All Areas on Fubar Radio , Pete shared that Catherine contacted him directly ahead of the film's release He told hosts Bobby Norris and Stephen Leng: 'I was like noooo, it's such a shame, I was so p****d off. 'I took it on the chin and it was so sweet that Catherine apologised herself in the email.' Pete went onto reveal that his agent suggested he audition for the role, saying: '[Catherine] wanted people with Tourette's in it. So my agent said, 'hey this might be good for you' and I said, well of course it is! Furious: He told hosts Bobby Norris and Stephen Leng: 'I was like noooo, it's such a shame, I was so p****d off' 'In my audition I just called her all the names under the sun and she called me lots of rude words as well... I was really happy because I really like her, I'm a massive fan.' 'I went out there buzzing you know coz she's going 'you're off the telly' and I was like, 'you're actually star struck with me?' She liked me! She actually knew me from Big Brother.' Despite being cut from the film, Pete still attended The Nan Movie's premiere in London last month. Enjoyed it? 'I did watch the film and I still think its a wicked film. I laughed my head off and its fine that this bit is cut out because the pacing is really good,' he added Truth: Pete, who filmed his cameo in Dublin in 2019, still attended the film's premiere despite learning his scene had been cut (pictured last month) 'I did watch the film and I still think it's a wicked film. I laughed my head off and its fine that this bit is cut out because the pacing is really good,' he added. It comes after Catherine's co-star Mathew Horne said he's finding it difficult to promote the comedy film, as war continues to unfold in Ukraine. The actor plays the role of Jamie in the flick, which is based on the foul-mouthed elderly character from Catherine's sketch show. During an appearance on Lorraine, he said: 'It is hard to be promoting a silly comedy movie in this heartbreaking situation.' Transformation: Catherine completely transformed into her most beloved character, reprising her role as foul-mouthed Nan in the film (right in 2018) However, show host Lorraine Kelly, 62, insisted people in the UK needed a bit of light relief at the moment, telling him: 'You know what, for goodness sake, do we ever need a belly laugh right now? 'Do we ever need something that's daft and silly and bawdy and rude that's what we need right now.' The Nan Movie sees Nan and Jamie go on a road trip as she tries to repair her relationship with her estranged sister Nell (Katherine Parkinson) after it emerges Nell is dying. Catherine's role of Nan is based on the popular character from her BBC Two sketch show which ran for three series from 2004 to 2006, along with four BBC One spin-offs, the Catherine Tate's Nan specials, which aired between 2009 and 2015. Elsa Pataky was seen running errands in Byron Bay on Thursday, a day after the NSW coastal town was affected by severe flooding for a second time. The Spanish actress, 45, who is married to Thor star Chris Hemsworth, went makeup free and dressed casually in a white T-shirt, beige sweatpants and black sneakers. The sighting comes after it was reported last month Elsa and her children were isolated in their $30million home after the entrance was 'completely flooded'. Out and about: Makeup free Elsa Pataky cut a casual figure as she stepped out in Byron Bay on Thursday - a day after flooding wreaked havoc on the NSW coastal town for a second time Elsa accessorised her laid-back look with several gold bangles on one wrist, delicate drop earrings and her sparkling wedding rings. At one stage, she looked windswept as she stepped out of her car. Wild weather wreaked havoc in northern NSW for a second time this week. Natural beauty: At one stage, the 45-year-old looked windswept as she stepped out of her car Floodwaters inundated Byron Bay on Wednesday with water reaching unprecedented levels in the town centre. The flood emergency continues across the state's north with residents rushing to salvage anything they can in the famous tourist town. The weather event has dumped up to 400mm of rain within a 24-hour period on the region, with water engulfing entire homes and businesses. Casual: The Spanish actress, who is married to Thor star Chris Hemsworth, went makeup free and dressed casually in a white T-shirt, beige sweatpants and black sneakers Flooding: Wild weather wreaked havoc in northern NSW for a second time this week, with floodwaters reaching unprecedented levels in the Byron Bay town centre Elsa and her children, daughter India, nine, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, eight, found themselves trapped in their $30million Byron Bay home last month after its entrance was 'completely flooded' during a previous bout of extreme weather. 'She was there on her own with her three young children because Chris is currently overseas filming [Netflix movie Extraction 2],' a source told The Daily Telegraph. Elsa was said to be 'stuck in her house for several days with no phone reception'. Devastated community: The weather event has dumped up to 400mm of rain within a 24-hour period on the region, with water engulfing entire homes and businesses Flooded: Elsa and her children, daughter India, nine, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, eight, found themselves trapped in their $30million Byron Bay home last month after its entrance was 'completely flooded' during a previous bout of extreme weather Elsa last month praised those helping to save people in flood-stricken northern NSW. The Fast & Furious actress shared a series of photos on Instagram of the flood crisis and thanked the heroes on boats and jet-skis who went out to rescue locals. 'Northern Rivers and beyond had been hit by the worst floods in history. People have spent hours waiting on rooftops to be rescue,' she wrote. 'Thanks to all those who are able to help save people and animals stranded by the floodwaters, you are the real heroes. 'So amazing to watch how everyone pulls together in a disaster and helps the community. Our hearts go out to those affected by the floods. Stay safe.' Before she welcomed her daughter Grace Warrior, Bindi Irwin was a proud mother to her fur baby Stella. And now the adorable pug has bonded with baby Grace, one. Irwin matriarch Terri posted an adorable photo of the protective pooch 'looking over' the tot on Friday. So cute! Terri Irwin has posted an adorable picture of daughter Bindi's protective pet pug Stella looking over her baby Grace Warrior She wrote alongside it 'Stella has decided that its her job to watch over Grace at all times.' Bindi and her husband Chandler Powell threw Grace a lavish party last week to celebrate her milestone first birthday. The conservationist couple, who celebrated their second wedding anniversary on the same day, organised a celebration at Australia Zoo with their family and friends. The party was complete with elaborate blush decorations, a two-tiered pink cake and animals, and there was even a sweet tribute to Bindi's late father Steve Irwin. Milestone! Bindi and her husband Chandler Powell threw Grace a lavish party last week to celebrate her milestone first birthday Bindi and Chandler shared pictures from the special day on Instagram. They celebrated with Bindi's family, including mother Terri and brother Robert, as well as Chandler's parents, Shannan and Chris, who had flown over from Florida. Grace looked cute in a pink tutu as she posed for pictures with her parents and the birthday cake. Several animals, including small turtles, an echidna and a cockatoo, mingled among guests in true Australia Zoo style. Family affair: They celebrated with Bindi's family, including mother Terri and brother Robert, as well as Chandler's parents, Shannan and Chris, who had flown over from Florida Her girl: Bindi said it was the 'greatest blessing' to be Grace's mother in a heartwarming tribute Tribute: In a special nod to Steve Irwin, who never got to meet his granddaughter, there was a photo of the late Crocodile Hunter on display at the party In a special nod to Steve Irwin, who never got to meet his granddaughter, there was a photo of the late Crocodile Hunter on display at the party. Steve died in September 2006 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a documentary on the Batt Reef in Queensland. Bindi said it was the 'greatest blessing' to be Grace's mum in a heartwarming tribute. 'Happy Birthday to my graceful warrior,' she wrote on Instagram. 'One year of watching your beautiful heart bloom into the most extraordinary person. Grace, you have been an old soul from the very beginning. It is the greatest blessing to be your mama. I love you eternally, unconditionally and infinitely.' Proud dad: Chandler also shared a tribute to Grace, writing: 'It's been one year since you came into our lives and yet it feels like you've been with us forever' Chandler also shared a tribute to Grace, writing: 'It's been one year since you came into our lives and yet it feels like you've been with us forever. 'I never knew I had so much love to give. Happy first birthday, sweetheart.' Bindi and Chandler, a former professional wakeboarder, welcomed their daughter on March 25, 2021, which coincidentally was their one-year wedding anniversary. Apple of their eye! Bindi and Chandler, a former professional wakeboarder, welcomed their daughter on March 25, 2021, which coincidentally was their one-year wedding anniversary The couple married in March 2020 at an intimate ceremony at Australia Zoo, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Bindi spoke to Stellar magazine about parenting earlier this month, and let fans know Grace already knows the words 'Mama' and 'Dada'. 'At nearly one, Grace has reached that stage where she's crawling like it's an Olympic sport and almost walking,' she added. The finale of long-running Australian soap Neighbours will air on Monday, August 1. The episode will be broadcast on the same day in Australia and the UK, where the show is aired on 10 Peach and Channel 5 respectively. The Australian broadcaster last month confirmed the series was being axed after an incredible 37 years on the air. Farewell, Ramsay Street: The finale of Aussie soap opera Neighbours (cast pictured) will air on Monday, August 1. The episode will be broadcast on the same day in Australia and the UK The last episode will be filmed in Melbourne in June. Channel 10 and production company Fremantle previously told MailOnline: 'It is with sadness that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes broadcast, we are confirming that Neighbours will cease production in the summer. 'Following the loss of a key broadcast partner [Channel 5] in the UK, and despite a search for alternative funding, we currently have no option but to rest the show. 'Everyone at Neighbours has been overwhelmed by the love and support from the audience since the news came out. 'The show has brought a sunny slice of Australia into the homes of millions of viewers around the world launching the careers of dozens of household names along the way. 'But as this chapter of Ramsay Street comes to a close, we promise to do everything we can to give the show the send-off it deserves.' Iconic: The Australian broadcaster last month confirmed the series was being axed after an incredible 37 years on the air. (Pictured: Neighbours actors Alan Fletcher Jackie Woodburne) Stars including Kylie Minogue, who found fame as Charlene Robinson on Neighbours before launching a successful music career, have mourned the loss of the show that helped launch their careers. The pint-sized pop star tweeted: 'I'll be forever grateful for the experience and the friends I made on Neighbours. 'We had no idea how big the show would become and how passionately viewers would take it to heart. Pure love! I can still hear Madge calling CHARLENE!!!!' 'Grateful': Stars including Kylie Minogue, who played Charlene Robinson on Neighbours before launching a music career, have mourned the loss of the show that helped launch their careers. (Pictured Kylie and Jason Donovan, who played Scott and Charlene, in 1988) Channel 10 also said in a statement the axing of the show was a 'difficult decision'. 'Today, Fremantle confirmed that Neighbours will cease production in June, after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes,' a network spokesperson said. 'This difficult decision came after the search for an alternative UK broadcast partner proved unsuccessful.' Tough call: Australian broadcaster Channel 10 said the axing of the show was a 'difficult decision'. (Pictured: Ryan Moloney, who plays Toadie Rebecchi) 'A much-loved stalwart of our program schedule for over 35 years it has been a staple of Australian television drama, and Australian cultural exports,' the rep added. 'Ramsay Street, Erinsborough, is a cul-de-sac recognised all over the world and has been home to Scott and Charlene, Des and Daphne, Dr Karl and Susan, Dee and Toadie, Aaron and David and many, many more neighbours. 'Network 10 thanks the cast, crew, all the production team and Fremantle for bringing the perfect blend of soap and sunshine to audiences in Australia and around the world.' Many Hollywood stars, including Margot Robbie and Chris Hemsworth, began their careers on the show, which premiered in Australia in March 1985. Kanye West's ex Julia Fox bared her toned midriff in a black peek-a-boo bra while enjoying a glamorous night out in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The 32-year-old actress, best known for her role in the 2019 thriller Uncut Gems, oozed confidence as she strutted down the street with a sultry expression across her face. She completed her sexy ensemble with a crocodile embossed leather bag, skintight skirt and thigh-high boots. Stunner: Kanye West ex-girlfriend Julia Fox bared her toned midriff in a black bra on a glamorous night out in Los Angeles on Wednesday Her wavy brown hair cascaded freely past her shoulders as she displayed a number of her tattoos, including a cello inked on her lower back. On Sunday, the Fox released details on Sunday night about her eagerly-awaited first novel, which she is describing 'so far' as a 'masterpiece.' 'I don't wanna give too much of it away because I am very superstitious,' the model told Variety at the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscars party. Sexy: The 32-year-old actress, best known for her role in the 2019 thriller Uncut Gems, oozed confidence as she strutted down the street with a sultry expression across her face Fierce: She completed her sexy ensemble with a crocodile embossed leather bag, skintight skirt and thigh-high boots She continued: 'I don't like to speak of things before they're finished.' Asked if it's a memoir, she replied: 'No, it was going to be a memoir at first but now it's just like my first book.' Additionally, the star said fans should anticipate the book's release 'soon.' Turning heads: Her wavy brown hair cascaded freely past her shoulders as she displayed a number of her tattoos, including a cello inked on her lower back The performer has been an open book when it comes to her brief romance with Kim Kardashian's ex-husband, which ended in February. Julia recently claimed she dropped '15 pounds' during their brief time together during an interview with the New York Times. Her life with 'big personality' Kanye was so hectic during their romance that she shed a considerable amount of weight in a short space of time. Telling all: The Uncut Gems star who had a whirlwind six-week fling with Kanye West recently revealed her first book is 'coming out soon', but evolved beyond her initial expectations; seen with the rapper in January 'I tried my best to make it work,' she said following their split. Fox explained: 'I already had a jam-packed life. How do I fit this really big personality into this already full life?' Julia insisted she doesn't pay any attention to the criticism the pair faced online. Scary: Julia recently claimed she dropped '15 pounds' during their brief time together during an interview with the New York Times; seen earlier this year 'It's not real,' she claimed. 'It's only happening on the internet. I'm not actively engaging with it. 'I don't feel it. I'm still 1,000 percent me. Nothing's changed, except, I will say, having been around Kanye was like a crash course on how to be famous.' Julia felt like Kanye 'cast' her in the 'role of his girlfriend' but didn't consider them to be 'exclusive.' 'If you come for me, I'm going to come for you. And I'm really good at coming for people. I just go straight for the jugular. I don't think he would be dumb enough to do that,' she said of their split She said: 'I don't think those words ever came out of my mouth, actually. It definitely felt like I was his girlfriend. But it also felt like I was being cast in the role of his girlfriend and he was casting me. He was the orchestrator of it all. It really did feel like a movie.' The model doubts that Kanye will ever speak out of turn about their fling, but warned that she's 'really good at coming for people'. She said: 'I don't think that he would want to open that door with me. 'If you come for me, I'm going to come for you. And I'm really good at coming for people. I just go straight for the jugular. I don't think he would be dumb enough to do that.' Grateful: In another interview, Julia admitted dating Kanye was 'the best thing' to happen to her; seen earlier this month In another interview, Julia admitted dating Kanye was 'the best thing' to happen to her. The movie star has no regrets about their romance because it 'brought a spark' back into her life. She said: 'It was the best thing that could have happened to me.' Julia added that dating the Stronger hitmaker was 'like hitting a reset button. It kind of brought a spark back into my life that I had kind of forgotten about.' Asked if they are on good terms, she said: 'We're still friends, yeah.' He delighted audiences by temporarily joining the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel last year. Now the show's longest-serving professional dancer Anton Du Beke could be set to waltz into the position permanently. The BBC confirmed on Thursday the list of pros returning for the 2022 series but Du Beke's name was not on it. Claims: Strictly Come Dancing's longest-serving professional dancer Anton Du Beke could be set to waltz into a permanent position on the judging panel Anton, 55, has not announced plans to depart, prompting speculation he may become a permanent judge. But just hours earlier, the BBC said the 2022 judging line-up had not yet been confirmed. Du Beke replaced Bruno Tonioli as a judge in the 19th series after Tonioli was unable to travel due to Covid rules. In recent days Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood have called for Du Beke to sit alongside them and fellow judge Motsi Mabuse for good. Absent: The BBC confirmed on Thursday the list of pros returning for the 2022 series but Du Beke's name was not on it Ballas, 61, wanted a five-judge panel with both Tonioli and Du Beke being a part of it. 'I hope Anton stays, we could just have five seats,' she told The Mirror. 'I just did the tour with Bruno and he was on point and on form.' Last week Revel Horwood said he hopes Du Beke will 'come back next year'. On Thursday BBC bosses confirmed the professional lineup for Strictly when the show returns later this year. Following the exits of two-time winner Oti Mabuse and Aljaz Skorjanec - who both recently revealed they were quitting the programme - Strictly bosses have not yet added any new professionals to this year's line-up. Absence: Du Beke replaced Bruno Tonioli (pictured) as a judge in the 19th series after Tonioli was unable to travel due to Covid rules Nadiya Bychkova, Katya Jones and series winner Giovanni Pernice are the dancing stars returning to the hit ballroom show for another spin on the dancefloor. Other returning pros include Dianne Buswell, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Cameron Lombard and Gorka Marquez. The complete line-up concludes with Luba Mushtuk, Giovanni Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu. It comes after Craig Revel Horwood revealed he hopes Anton Du Beke will return as a judge on this year's Strictly. Speculation: It comes after Craig Revel Horwood revealed he hopes Anton Du Beke will return as a judge on next year's Strictly Craig, 57, is ecstatic Anton was made a permanent judge last year, telling The Sun he hopes to see him return: 'I am so pleased now that he is a judge, finally. 'There are only so many years you can be front-row dancing, then the second row, then the third and fourth. Then the only place left, darling, is a dancer's sheer death in the wings. 'I was pleased they got him off the dancefloor and then put him where he belongs. I hope he comes back next year. I loved it, absolutely.' Bruno is also a judge on Dancing With the Stars, the American version of Strictly, and he flew between the States and the UK to take part in both shows in pre-pandemic times. However, The Sun claims Bruno could stay put in the US for future series. Bruno, who was on the Strictly panel since the show launched in 2004, was a judge on the show's tour alongside Craig Revel Horwood and head judge Shirley Ballas which took place earlier this year. Some suggest that the move could be a 'sweetener' for Bruno so they don't have to invite him back and ditch Du Beke, but others think it is a way of lining up his return. Supermodel Bella Hadid is breaking into acting with a role on the upcoming third season of the Hulu sitcom Ramy. The 25-year-old little sister of Gigi Hadid will have a recurring part on the series, according to a report in Deadline. Ramy was co-created by the comedian Ramy Youssef, who stars as a first generation Egyptian American in New Jersey. New frontier: Supermodel Bella Hadid (left) is breaking into acting with a role on the upcoming third season of the Hulu sitcom Ramy starring Ramy Youssef (right) While the title character is the millennial product of a secular western milieu, his Muslim family and roots are more traditional and conservative. Ramy himself is conflicted about his own feelings on religion and spirituality, and the show charts his personal evolution. Previous recurring guest stars on the show have included Mahershala Ali, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for Moonlight. The main cast includes such names as Hiam Abbas, who plays Ramy's mother and who can also be seen playing Brian Cox' dramatically younger wife on Succession. Heartthrob: While the title character is the millennial product of a secular western milieu, his Muslim family and roots are more traditional and conservative In prayer: Ramy himself is conflicted about his own feelings on religion and spirituality, and the show charts his personal evolution As far as her own faith is concerned, Bella shared in a Porter interview in 2017 that her Palestinian father Mohamed Hadid 'was always religious, and he always prayed with us. I am proud to be a Muslim.' When she covered this year's April issue of Vogue she revealed that she has developed a more ecumenical attitude. 'Im very spiritual, and I find that I connect with every religion. Theres that my-way-is-the-right-way thing in human nature, but for me its not about my god or your god. I kind of just call on whoever is willing to be there for me,' she said. Imam sahib: Previous recurring guest stars on the show have included Mahershala Ali, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for Moonlight Regulars: The main cast includes such names as Hiam Abbas (left), who plays Ramy's mother and who can also be seen playing Brian Cox' dramatically younger wife on Succession Although Bella has previously acted in such projects as commercials, Ramy appears set to be the largest acting role she has taken. Bella's latest professional coup comes as she mourns the death of legendary French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier. Patrick died at the age of 78 and according to Page Six ended his days on St. Barts, though the cause of death has not yet surfaced. Dearly departed: Bella's latest professional coup comes as she mourns the death of legendary French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier who is pictured in 1992 'You will be missed Patrick': Bella paid tribute to him on Instagram by posting the Vogue China cover he shot of her alongside her fellow model Chu Wong Bella paid tribute to him on Instagram by posting the Vogue China cover he shot of her alongside her fellow model Chu Wong. 'I am grateful to have been lucky enough to be in front of your lens. Most gentle , most legendary , soft but full of life,' she wrote. 'You will be missed Patrick. Rest In Peace . and I got to shoot with one of my favorite people ever. @_chuwong . I will miss this day, and you dear Patrick..' You can watch Ramy now only on Stan in Australia. He's not afraid of a good time. And Married At First Sight star Al Perkins was certainly pumped up when he attended a cast reunion hosted by Nova FM in Coogee, Sydney, on Thursday. The Bondi-based carpenter, 25, proved his comedy credentials by grabbing a 'wet floor' sign and spinning it around as the group left Shutters restaurant. You can't take him anywhere! Married At First Sight star Al Perkins was certainly pumped up when he attended a cast reunion hosted by Nova FM in Coogee, Sydney, on Thursday The other MAFS stars, including Ella Ding, Brent Vitiello and Domenica Calarco, were seen laughing as Al courted attention in front of the paparazzi. Despite his childish display, Al looked dapper for the occasion in a cream double-breasted blazer, tailored pants and dress shoes. Al recently found himself at the centre of couple-swap rumours with Selina Chhaur after they were seen hugging just days before she filmed her final vows with 'husband' Cody Bromley. Naughty boy: The Bondi-based carpenter, 25, proved his comedy credentials by grabbing a 'wet floor' sign and spinning it around as the group left Shutters restaurant And the pair did little to quell the speculation as they cuddled up once again while attending the Nova event on Thursday. The co-stars put on a tactile display at the soiree, with Al placing his arm around Selina's shoulders in full view of onlookers. Al couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he cosied up to Selina inside the venue. Joker: Despite his childish display, Al looked dapper for the occasion in a cream double-breasted blazer, tailored pants and dress shoes Selina, 33, returned the favour by wrapping an arm around Al's waist. The hairdresser, who is half-Cambodian and half-Chinese, agreed to stay with Cody at their final vows despite their many ups and downs. But her flirty friendship with Al - who split from 'wife' Samantha Moitzi weeks before the final vows - has led to rumours they are now dating. Couple swap? Al recently found himself at the centre of couple-swap rumours with Selina Chhaur after they were seen hugging days before she filmed her final vows with Cody Bromley What's going on here? Al and Selina (left) put on a tactile display at the Nova FM event, which did little to quell speculation they are more than just friends Not again! The other MAFS stars, including Ella Ding, Brent Vitiello and Domenica Calarco, were seen laughing as Al courted attention in front of the paparazzi Selina has denied any couple swap, however, telling Yahoo this week: 'We are just good friends. There's nothing there. No romantic vibes.' It comes after Daily Mail Australia published photos of the pair on a date together. Al met up with Selina during filming last year in Sydney's CBD, not long before she filmed her final vows with 'husband' Cody. Plot twist! Al met up with Selina during filming last year in Sydney's CBD, not long before she filmed her final vows with 'husband' Cody Edited: The pair met up during filming sometime between the boys' and girls' nights and the final vows, but their date was never aired on television What's going on? Selina, who is half-Cambodian and half-Chinese, agreed to stay with Cody (right) at their final vows, but her flirty friendship with Al has led to rumours they're now dating The unlikely duo were seen hugging and dancing in front of a MAFS camera crew, but their catch-up was never aired on TV. At one stage, producers tried to block paparazzi from taking photos of the pair. The scene is understood to have taken place between the boys' and girls' nights and the final vows, and was ultimately left on the cutting room floor. Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine and 9Now Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announces the government decision to allow private gatherings of up to 10 people, and extend closing hours of restaurants and cafes to midnight during a videoconference of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at the government complex in Seoul, April 1. Yonhap The government will increase the private gathering size limit to 10 people and raise the business hour curfew on restaurants and cafes to midnight, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Friday. The new social distancing rules will go into effect Monday for two weeks. Should the situation remain stable during the period, Kim said the government will "boldly revamp" the social distancing rules, raising the possibility of the complete removal of all restrictions. The decision to further relax antivirus curbs came as the country has begun to see a downward trend in new infections after the number of daily COVID-19 cases soared to as high as 621,197, March 17, amid the Omicron variant-fueled wave. "There are still lots of risk factors to consider, such as concerns over a possible increase in serious cases and deaths, the impact of stealth Omicron, also known as BA.2, which has become a dominant strain, and spring travel demands," Kim said during a COVID-19 response meeting in Seoul. Bindi Irwin's in-laws jetted over from Florida last month to meet baby Grace Warrior for the first time. And the whole extended family - including Bindi's husband Chandler Powell, his parents Chris and Shannan, plus Bindi's mother Terri and brother Robert - spent a fun day at the beach on the Sunshine Coast on March 21. The Irwin-Powell clan looked thrilled as they soaked up the scorching Australian sun and doted on little Grace, who turned one year old on March 25. The Powells weren't able to travel to Australia sooner because of the Covid-19 pandemic and border closures, so the family reunion was long overdue. A family affair: Bindi Irwin enjoyed a relaxing beach day with her family on the Sunshine Coast last month. (She is pictured with her daughter Grace Warrior, one, on Monday, March 21) Bindi, 23, cut a casual figure in a plaid button-up shirt, which she teamed with khaki jeans and metallic sneakers. Her brunette locks were swept back into a ponytail, and she drew attention to her natural beauty by wearing minimal makeup. The wildlife warrior looked every inch the doting mother as she pushed Grace along in her stroller. Too cute: Chandler, 25, doted on his daughter Grace while chatting to his mother Shannan Precious memories: Grace looked cute as a button in a pink wetsuit and floral sun hat Family time: The Powells weren't able to travel to Australia sooner because of the Covid-19 pandemic and border closures, so the family reunion was long overdue Two families become one: Shannan chatted to Bindi's 18-year-old brother Robert Irwin Little Grace looked cute as a button in a pink swimsuit and floral sun hat. Chandler, who wore a black rash vest and grey boardshorts, showed off his impressive surfing skills on the day. When he wasn't catching waves, the 25-year-old former professional wakeboarder doted on Grace and chatted to his parents. Surf's up: Chandler, who wore a black rash vest and grey boardshorts, showed off his impressive surfing skills on the day Relaxed outing: When he wasn't catching waves, the 25-year-old former professional wakeboarder doted on Grace and chatted to his parents Daddy duties: Chandler carried Grace as he walked across the beach with Bindi and Robert Active lifestyle: Robert also perfected his surfing skills Bindi's mother Terri, 57, and brother Robert, 18, also joined them at the beach. Robert perfected his surfing skills, while Oregon-born Terri recorded the family reunion on a camcorder. Chandler's parents timed their trip to Australia to coincide with Grace's first birthday. Making it look easy: Robert looked like a natural as he caught waves Attire: Robert, who is a budding photographer, donned a black rash vest and blue boardshorts Shared interests: Chandler's father Chris Powell (right) also went for a surf Matriarch: Bindi and Robert's mother Terri Irwin spoke on the phone while sitting on the sand The Covid-19 pandemic and border closures meant the Powells couldn't meet Grace in person last year. Bindi threw a party for her mother-in-law Shannan at Australia Zoo on Thursday. In a gushing Instagram post, the young conservationist said she was 'thankful for [her] friendship' with her in-laws and 'in awe' of Shannan. Proud grandmother: Oregon-born Terri recorded the family reunion on a camcorder Making memories: At one stage, Terri handed the camera to her daughter Sun's out: The Irwin-Powell clan soaked up the scorching Australian sun and doted on Grace Their pride and joy: The family surrounded little Grace, who turned one on March 25 'Grace is leading the way to birthday celebrations for her gorgeous grandma,' her post began. 'Join me in wishing my mother-in-law a very happy Australian birthday. Thankful for our friendship and forever in awe of the way you love your family.' Chandler added on his own Instagram: 'Happy Birthday, mom! Loved having you and dad here these last few weeks. Down Under: Chandler's parents flew from Florida to Australia late last month Perfect timing: Their arrival coincided with Grace Warrior's first birthday on March 25 Restrictions: The Covid-19 pandemic and border closures meant the Powells couldn't meet Grace in person last year Thoughtful: Bindi threw a party for her mother-in-law, Shannan, at Australia Zoo on Thursday 'Grace had so much fun celebrating her first birthday with her grandma and grandpa. And don't worry - Grace will always be there with her crocodile when we need it.' Shannan and Chris live in Tampa, Florida, and also have another son, Cameron, who is married to wife Kristin. Chris said of his trip to Australia to meet Grace: 'Love you three so much. The last three weeks have been such a blessing spending time with you.' Role model: In a gushing Instagram post, the young conservationist said she was 'thankful for [her] friendship' with her in-laws and 'in awe' of Shannan Heartfelt: 'Grace is leading the way to birthday celebrations for her gorgeous grandma,' her post began Festivities: 'Join me in wishing my mother-in-law a very happy Australian birthday. Thankful for our friendship and forever in awe of the way you love your family,' she continued Proud dad: Chandler added on his own Instagram: 'Happy Birthday, mom! Loved having you and dad here these last few weeks' Bindi and Chandler wed in a secret ceremony at Australia Zoo on March 25, 2020. They made the 'difficult decision' to host their wedding without any guests due to Covid restrictions, meaning Chandler's parents did not attend. However, Chandler's parents 'fully supported' their decision to 'just get married'. Bindi and Chandler live on Queensland's Sunshine Coast and work at Australia Zoo, the Irwin family business. They have previously celebrated Thanksgiving in the U.S. with Chandler's family. Nuptials: Bindi and Chandler wed in a secret ceremony at Australia Zoo on March 25, 2020 Kendall Jenner glowed with happiness when she was spotted out and about in Los Angeles this Wednesday. The 26-year-old supermodel was eminently casual in a cozy-looking boyfriend fit black sweater and a pair of sweats. She was wearing the same luxurious strawberry blonde hairdo she had modeled to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party a few nights earlier. Looking fab: Kendall Jenner glowed with happiness when she was spotted out and about in Los Angeles this Wednesday Kendall recently starred in a Vogue video that showed her getting ready for Sunday night's Vanity Fair Oscar Party - and bracing herself with her own tequila. She recently founded a tequila brand called 818 after the zip code she grew up in, igniting a cultural appropriation controversy in the process. Pouring herself a glass of liquor she said slyly: 'Why not have a little tequila just to loosen you up before you go out on a carpet?' She mixed a couple of cocktails with the caveat that 'I have never claimed to be a bartender' and then brought the drinks out to her glam team. Stepping out: The 26-year-old supermodel was eminently casual in a cozy-looking boyfriend fit black sweater and a pair of sweats Kendall attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in a voluminous black strapless Balenciaga gown with a spray of frills over her bust. The sizzling sensation had her hair done for the evening by Jen Atkin, who is famous for having worked with the whole Kardashian-Jenner clan. Meanwhile her makeup was being done by Mary Phillips, who went for an understated look that Kendall revealed was calibrated to not distract from the dress. 'Every time we're getting ready for something, it's like one thing gets the moment, so it's either the hair or the makeup or the outfit. If you do it all I feel like it becomes to much, so we're really letting the dress have its moment tonight. We're obviously gonna have fun with the hair and makeup but keep it pretty simple,' Kendall said. Her own best advert: She recently appeared in a new Vogue video that showed her getting ready for Sunday night's Vanity Fair Oscar Party - and bracing herself with her own tequila Process: She mixed a couple of cocktails with the caveat that 'I have never claimed to be a bartender' and then brought the drinks out to her glam team 'So I just dyed my hair and we put in these extra-long extensions just for tonight, that I'm loving,' she added. 'I feel like a mermaid!' As for the dress itself, she revealed that Balenciaga's creative chief Demna Gvasalia got in touch with her during Paris Fashion Week recently about the Vanity Fair fete. The dress they made her for the party is 'very different for me,' said Kendall. 'Feels very Balenciaga but still very elegant and beautiful in my opinion.' 'Internal struggles': While having her hair and makeup done, she lifted the curtain back on some of the pressures that celebrities go through before a major glamorous event Bombshells: Near the end of the video a very special celebrity cameo occurred - Kendall's elder half-sister, international superstar Kim Kardashian Near the end of the video a very special celebrity cameo occurred - Kendall's elder half-sister, international superstar Kim Kardashian. Kim was also dressed in Balenciaga, showcasing her world-famous curves in a skintight highlighter blue frock with a train. 'Oh my God, I get to go with Kendall Jenner to the Vanity Fair party?' Kim joked as the two of them headed off to go to the event. Sizzling sensation: Kendall attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in a voluminous black strapless Balenciaga gown with a spray of frills over her bust Retired AFL star Brendan Fevola addressed some personal matters on his Fifi, Fev & Nick radio show on Friday alongside his long-term partner Alex Fevola. Alex, 44, appeared as a guest on the program to discuss her new memoir Silver Linings, and the conversation soon turned to their family. The high-profile couple - who married in 2005, divorced in 2014 and became engaged again in 2016 - spoke about the fact Brendan, 41, is not the biological father of their eldest daughter Mia. Candid conversation: Retired AFL star Brendan Fevola (left) addressed some personal matters on his Fifi, Fev & Nick radio show on Friday alongside his long-term partner Alex Fevola (right) Alex acknowledged there had been 'a lot of misunderstanding and questions about where Mia's biological father was, because he was never in the picture'. She said it was also something she wished to address, but she 'wanted to do it when the children were older, and when Mia understood the full story herself'. 'Some people don't realise that Mia's not my child. You know, I'm not her real dad...' interrupted Brendan. Keeping it in the family: Alex, 44, appeared as a guest on the program to discuss her new memoir Silver Linings, and the conversation soon turned to their family. (The Fevolas are seen here at Melbourne Airport on Friday) Bond: The couple - who married in 2005, divorced in 2014 and became engaged again in 2016 - spoke about the fact Brendan, 41, is not the biological father of their eldest daughter Mia (left) 'I'm her real dad now, but I'm not her biological father, who passed away when Mia was really young.' The former Carlton and Brisbane Lions star said he first met Mia, now 22, when she was about three years old, describing her as the 'cutest thing ever'. 'I fell in love with Mia before I did with Alex, so we probably wouldn't be together and all those kids probably wouldn't be there if I didn't meet Mia!' he added. Mystery: Alex acknowledged there had been 'a lot of misunderstanding and questions about where Mia's biological father was, because he was never in the picture' Biding her time: Alex said Mia's paternity was something she wished to address, but she 'wanted to do it when the children were older, and when Mia understood the full story herself' Brendan admitted it was 'tough' entering a relationship with a single mum, and recounted the day Mia called him dad 'out of the blue'. 'It was really strange, actually. It was like she was longing to have a dad, so she never really knew any different,' added Alex. 'Obviously, it was just her and I, and then when Brendan came into our lives, she took to him immediately. She just adored him, and it was really weird.' Sad story: 'I'm her real dad now, but I'm not her biological father, who passed away when Mia was really young,' Brendan said Snap happy: The Fevolas were all seen just outside the departures gate with their luggage before jetting off on holiday on Friday. Eldest daughter Mia snapped a series of selfies In addition to Mia, Brendan and Alex are also parents to daughters Leni, 15, Lulu, 11, and Tobi, three. Elsewhere in the interview, Brendan took responsibility for the couple's 'rocky' times. 'Obviously as a family, we're going really well now, but there were times in our past where things were rocky, and we weren't together, and I'd lost all our money, and you were stuck with the kids...' he said, referring to his infidelity and gambling problem. Owning it: Elsewhere in the interview, Brendan took responsibility for the family's 'rocky' times Honest: 'Obviously as a family, we're going really well now, but there were times in our past where things were rocky, and we weren't together, and I'd lost all our money, and you were stuck with the kids...' he said, referring to his infidelity and gambling problem 'I wasn't working, I'd been sacked, and you were literally looking after me and paying for things that I needed, too.' Alex admitted that while it had been 'hard' and 'a juggle', she'd 'had a lot of help' from both of their mothers. 'We had houses and we had to sell them, and then you moved in with your mum, because we couldn't afford a house,' Brendan continued. Stepdad: 'I fell in love with Mia before I did with Alex, so we probably wouldn't be together and all those kids probably wouldn't be there if I didn't meet Mia!' Brendan said Alex added: 'We had to sell everything really quickly. We ended up with pretty much nothing left... It was a very, very difficult time. It was tough.' Brendan and Alex were married in 2005, before divorcing in 2014 and getting engaged once again two years later. They previously split in 2006 after the footy star's brief and controversial affair with bikini model Lara Bingle, who is now married to actor Sam Worthington. Love at first sight: The former AFL star said he first met Mia, now 22, when she was about three years old, describing her as the 'cutest thing ever' Brendan also made headlines for several controversial incidents, including being kicked out of Crown Melbourne with a black eye in March 2004. The powerful full-forward was also sent home from an AFL tour of Ireland after assaulting a barman at a Galway nightclub in 2006. He urinated outside a nightclub in 2008 that resulted in him being fined $10,000 by Carlton and stood down from leadership at his club. Challenges: 'We had to sell everything really quickly. We ended up with pretty much nothing left... It was a very, very difficult time. It was tough,' Alex said of the couple's hard times In 2009, he dressed in a nightie and brandished a sex toy during Carlton's Mad Monday celebrations, with video footage of the incident posted on YouTube. The same year, he was banned from the Grand Final Footy Show after behaving inappropriately at the Brownlow Medal ceremony, and left Carlton shortly thereafter. Over the years, the goalkicker was also plagued by a gambling addiction that nearly drove him to suicide in late 2010 after he lost almost a million dollars. Outnumbered: In addition to Mia, Brendan and Alex are also parents to daughters Leni, 15, Lulu, 11, and Tobi, three In 2011, Brendan ended up going to rehab for 60 days for gambling, drinking and depression, and was temporarily banned from playing AFL. 'Being sacked was probably the best thing that ever happened to me though, because then I got out of "the bubble", and I was fine. It was really weird,' he later said. Brendan and his family appear to be in a much better place now though, and were spotted embarking on a holiday on Friday. Jetting out: Shortly after their emotional radio interview, Brendan and Alex made their way to Melbourne Airport with their four daughters Shortly after their emotional radio interview, Brendan and Alex made their way to Melbourne Airport with their four daughters. They were all seen outside the departures gate with their luggage, as Mia snapped a series of selfies on her iPhone. The family made their way into the busy terminal, with Mia clutching her sister Tobi's hand as they walked. Home and Away is set to lose two popular characters after actors Sam Frost and Harley Bonner quit the show several months ago. But it looks like there are some Summer Bay newcomers waiting in the wings. Up-and-coming actress Juliet Godwin was pictured filming surfing scenes on set in Palm Beach, Sydney, on Monday, March 28. Surf's up! Actress Juliet Godwin is the Home and Away newcomer set to take Summer Bay by storm, following the departure of Sam Frost and Harley Bonner. (Pictured on set last Monday) While little is known about Juliet's character, Daily Mail Australia understands she will play a doctor who works at Northern Districts Hospital. Home and Away appears to be Juliet's first major TV gig, after she played the minor character of Cara in ABC drama series The Heights in 2020. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment. New job: Juliet, an up-and-coming actress, was pictured filming surfing scenes on set in Palm Beach, Sydney, on Monday, March 28 Learning the ropes: She was joined by a producer who guided her through her first beach run Catching waves: She received a helping hand while shooting her surfing montage Watchful eye: A surf rescue team accompanied Juliet out to sea on a small dinghy Learning curve: She may look the part, but Juliet does not appear to be an experienced surfer Juliet wore a floral wetsuit for her surfing montage, before changing into a white T-shirt and denim shorts for another scene in which she spoke to a police officer. Home and Away has been through some upheaval of late following the exit of Sam Frost, who played nurse Jasmine Delaney. Sam's exit in December came about two months after she caused controversy by comparing Covid vaccine rules to 'segregation'. The 32-year-old later apologised for her choice of words and is now fully vaccinated. Duck and cover! At one stage, she was splashed head-on by an incoming wave Eye-catching: Juliet wore a floral wetsuit for her surfing montage Gear: She carried a blue surfboard that was attached to her ankle via a leg rope Ready for her close-up: At one stage, a crew member approached with an underwater camera Breakout role: Home and Away appears to be Juliet's first major TV gig, after she played the minor character of Cara in ABC drama series The Heights in 2020 Cop drama: After filming her surfing montage, she changed into a white T-shirt and denim shorts for another scene in which she spoke to a police officer Channel Seven has stated it will not hire another actress to play Jasmine. She was followed out the door by Harley Bonner, who portrayed Dr Logan Bennett. Harley, 30, who previously starred in Neighbours as Josh Willis, quit Home and Away in January, reportedly because he did not want to get vaccinated. The Seven Network requires all cast and crew working on its productions to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Gang's all here: It wasn't all about Juliet, as other cast members were seen shooting exterior scenes at Palm Beach Stars: Patrick O'Connor, Sophie Dillman and Emily Weir shot at the location on March 22 When in Rome: The two actress carried surfboards while chatting to Patrick And... action! Kirsty Marillier and Luke Van Os, who is the cousin of Chris Hemsworth, filmed a beachside scene on March 22 Young lovebirds: These two actors filmed a romantic scene by the beach Departure: Home and Away has been through some upheaval of late following the exit of Sam Frost (pictured), who played nurse Jasmine Delaney Just a day after Bruce Willis' family collectively announced his retirement from acting, his wife Emma Heming is thanking fans for their support. The 43-year-old model and actress, along with Willis' daughter Rumer, posted a heartfelt message on Wednesday, announcing Willis was diagnosed with aphasia, which is affecting his cognitive abilities, and has lead to his retirement. Heming took to her Instagram story on Thursday evening, thanking fans for their outpouring of support for the 67-year-old actor. Thanks: Just a day after Bruce Willis' family collectively announced his retirement from acting, his wife Emma Heming is thanking fans for their support 'Your love, support, compassion, prayers really help,' Heming began in her brief Instagram story post. 'I'm grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,' she concluded. The original message on Wednesday began by revealing that, 'our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. Help: 'Your love, support, compassion, prayers really help,' Heming began in her brief Instagram story post 'As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,' the statement added. 'This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support,' the statement continued. 'We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him,' they said. Stepping away: 'As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,' the statement added 'As Bruce always says, Live it up and together we plan to do just that. Love, Emma, Demi, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, & Evelyn,' they concluded. Willis shares daughters Rumer, 33, Scout, 30, and Tallulah, 28, with Demi Moore, who he was married to from 1987 to 2000. He also has two more daughters with Heming, Mabel Ray, who turns 10 next month, and Evelyn Penn, who turns eight in May. Live it up: 'As Bruce always says, Live it up and together we plan to do just that. Love, Emma, Demi, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, & Evelyn,' they concluded Willis and Heming were married in Turks and Caicos in March 2009. While it's unclear when he was diagnosed with aphasia, there had been rumors about his failing health for years. There have been rumors going all the way back to 2015, when Willis made his Broadway debut in a stage adaptation of Stephen King's Misery, that he was using an earpiece that fed his lines to him. The actor has been busier than ever over the past few years, filming a whopping 21 movies since late 2019, including eight that are still awaiting release. Married: Willis and Heming were married in Turks and Caicos in March 2009 Rumors: While it's unclear when he was diagnosed with aphasia, there had been rumors about his failing health for years Lines: There have been rumors going all the way back to 2015, when Willis made his Broadway debut in a stage adaptation of Stephen King's Misery, that he was using an earpiece that fed his lines to him My Kitchen Rules star Blake Proud and his fiancee Ella Bee have welcomed their first child together. Blake took to Instagram on Thursday to announce the happy news - revealing their daughter's name 'Sunny'. 'Sunny Rose Proud,' he captioned a gorgeous image of the bub. Baby makes three! My Kitchen Rules star Blake Proud and his fiancee Ella Bee have welcomed their first child together He let fans know Sunny was born on March 28, weighing 3.8kg. 'We are so glad to finally be home together with our Sunny girl. Thank you everyone for all your beautiful messages of love, excitement and support,' he wrote. He also said the young family were settling down at home in Perth, Western Australia. Too cute: Blake took to Instagram on Thursday to announce the happy news - revealing their daughter's name 'Sunny' 'Sorry if we haven't responded yet we are still settling in at home and finding our feet as new parents and will eventually come back to you,' he added. The images showed his tiny bundle of joy sitting in a basket while dressed in a yellow jumpsuit. Another photo was of Blake cradling little Sunny at the hospital soon after she was born. Doting: 'We are so glad to finally be home together with our Sunny girl. Thank you everyone for all your beautiful messages of love, excitement and support,' Blake (pictured) wrote He also shared a picture of Sunny in the arms of mother Ella. The news is welcome for Blake who revealed late last year he was rushed to hospital following chest pains. The star shared a shirtless photo to Instagram in November with ECG tabs over his chest, documenting the ordeal. Special: He shared a photo of Sunny in the arms of mother, Ella (pictured) 'Life isn't always sunshine and rainbows,' he began. 'Last week I was out drinking with friends on Saturday night and all of a sudden my heart started racing. 'By Monday morning I was rushed to hospital and Tuesday diagnosed with Pneumonia (the heart racing was because of lack of Oxygen and low haemoglobin).' Coming home: A photo showed the adorable little infant in a seat on the way home Blake then detailed that his hospital visit coincided with his beloved Nan falling ill. 'On that Monday, sadly, my Grandma had a heart attack and God bless her soul she passed away Wednesday night. Thankfully I was allowed out to go and see her one last time,' he wrote alongside a beautiful family photo with his grandmother. Blake went on to explain that he was sharing the post to remind his followers that Instagram is only a highlight reel. Health: Blake (pictured) was rushed to hospital after his 'heart started racing all of a sudden' back in November last year 'I could have just posted another food photo or happy couple photo and told you life IS always sunshine and rainbows but it isn't,' he said. 'Sometimes it's just straight out mean and when you're down and out it will kick you in the guts at the same time and take someone you love.' He went on to say that he doesn't want sympathy but only for his followers to realise there is a truth behind highly-curated photos. 'I want YOU to realise that what you see on social media isn't always real, life can be sh*t, happiness isn't a given everyday,' he said. 'Stop comparing yourself or your life, stop reading fake news, stop trying and just start living and loving the life and people that give back as much as you give.' Fans will remember Blake when he competed on My Kitchen Rules alongside his sister Amanda back in 2019. Hugh Jackman appeared to be in high spirits as he arrived for a performance of his Broadway show, The Music Man, in New York City on Thursday. The actor, 53, looked trendy in a grey T-shirt featuring a pancake motif which he teamed with a pair of tailored trousers. He tied a black hoodie around his waist and donned a coordinating face mask amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Emerging: Hugh Jackman looked trendy in a grey T-shirt with a pancake motif as he arrived for a performance of his Broadway show, The Music Man, in New York City on Thursday Hugh certainly looked fit and fabulous as he chatted with fans at the Midtown venue before waving to passers-by as he made his way in. In an interview with Vogue earlier last month, the Wolverine star revealed his years-long dream to star in the hit Broadway musical. 'I woke up and was literally like, "Why haven't I done The Music Man?" And so I rang my agent, and he'd just had a call that day about it,' he recounted. 'And so it sort of felt as if it were meant to be Now, I'm a little mad at myself for putting it off so long.' Buff: The actor, 53, looked trendy in a grey T-shirt featuring a pancake motif which he teamed with a pair of tailored trousers Casual: He tied a black hoodie around his waist and donned a coordinating face mask amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic Thumbs up: Hugh certainly looked fit and fabulous as he chatted with fans at the Midtown venue before waving to passers-by as he made his way in The Music Man follows Harold Hill, played by Hugh, a conman who sells musical instruments to naive locals with the promise of teaching them how to play. He then makes plans to leave the town without delivering on his promise, but not before being caught out by a piano teacher named Marian. Meanwhile, Hugh recently shared a family recipe his once-estranged mother Grace McNeil had passed down to him. 'On today's menu: chickpea burgers. Thank you Mum!' he wrote, adding a photo of a tray of chickpea patties in front of a handwritten recipe. The Wolverine star has spoken honestly about his at times strained relationship with his mother in the past. In an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly in October 2012, Hugh revealed he was just eight years old when his British mother returned to England. She left him and his four siblings behind with their father, Christopher Jackman, in Sydney, and Hugh admitted it took him years to come to terms with it. Sienna Miller has worked with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood like Bradley Cooper, Daniel Craig and Clint Eastwood, but the actress revealed she recently 'fangirled' over a surprising star: Peppa Pig voice actress Amelie Bea Smith. The 40-year-old actress and mother to nine-year-old daughter Marlowe Ottoline Layng Sturridge revealed she works with the 11-year-old Smith on her new Netflix series Anatomy of a Scandal, which debuts on April 15. Miller appeared on Thursday's episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where she opened up about her work with Smith on the new series. Fangirl: Sienna Miller has worked with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood like Bradley Cooper, Daniel Craig and Clint Eastwood, but the actress revealed she recently 'fangirled' over a surprising star: Peppa Pig voice actress Amelie Bea Smith Peppa star: The 40-year-old actress and mother to nine-year-old daughter Marlowe Ottoline Layng Sturridge revealed she works with the 11-year-old Smith on her new Netflix series Anatomy of a Scandal, which debuts on April 15 She first praised David E. Kelley, who co-created the series with Melissa James Gibson, stating, 'Not too shabby. The guy can write. We'll give him that.' Miller added that his co-writer Gibson was, 'also a sublime writer,' before Fallon teased that she told him she worked with, 'one of the biggest stars you've ever worked with in your career.' 'Bradley Cooper, Clint Eastwood but whatever because I worked with Peppa Pig,' she joked, referring to Smith, as Fallon showed a photo of the voice actress. Writers: She first praised David E. Kelley, who co-created the series with Melissa James Gibson, stating, 'Not too shabby. The guy can write. We'll give him that' Big star: 'Bradley Cooper, Clint Eastwood but whatever because I worked with Peppa Pig,' she joked, referring to Smith, as Fallon showed a photo of the voice actress 'That is the voice of Peppa Pig. And I've never fangirled out on anyone, like it was just -- it was really too much,' Miller admitted. 'Like, I'd sit there across set with my cup sort of staring at her. And then make her facetime my daughter relentlessly, and she was such a pro, you know she was, like, nine,' Miller added. Miller said she has, 'all these voicenotes. Like, "Hello, Marlow," from Smith to her daughter Marlow. Fangirl: 'That is the voice of Peppa Pig. And I've never fangirled out on anyone, like it was just -- it was really too much,' Miller admitted The actress also added the series hails from, 'the people who did Big Little Lies and The Undoing,' adding it's the same, 'six-part format' used in those shows. Miller said she plays, 'the wife of a Tory politician in England who is caught having an affair and it evolves into all sorts of drama. She stars alongside Michelle Dockery, Naomi Scott, Rupert Friend Character: Miller said she plays, 'the wife of a Tory politician in England who is caught having an affair and it evolves into all sorts of drama Format: The actress also added the series hails from, 'the people who did Big Little Lies and The Undoing,' adding it's the same, 'six-part format' used in those shows Miller was visiting during The Tonight Show's Grandma's Week, where she shared an interesting story about her mother. 'I didn't know one of my grannies the other one lived in South Africa, but my mother started the first ever exercise-based school in England in the '70s,' Miller said, adding it was called, Granny's Beautiful Bodies. She said the school was, 'kind of like a yoga Alexander technique combo ballet, balletic,' where stars like Albert Finney and Ava Gardner attended. Mother: Miller was visiting during The Tonight Show's Grandma's Week, where she shared an interesting story about her mother Celebrity conservationist Robert Irwin of Australia Zoo on the Gold Coast had some April Fool's fun on Friday morning, when it was announced he would be leading a 'new crime squad' called Police Animals in the Wild or PAW. Posting a video to the Queensland Police Service Facebook Robert 18, can be seen cuddling a koala as a police member explains that PAWS will 'add more eyes, wings and claws to help keep Queensland safe.' Owning up to the hoax later, Queensland Police messaged: 'Gotcha! As much as we love our Australia Zoo... they are not our newest crime fighting critters #AprilFools'. April Fools Day Furry Fun: Robert Irwin (right) and Constable Mitch Burton took part in a hoax video announcing that the young conservationist would be launching a 'crime squad' called PAW Police Animals in the Wild - made up of animals from Australia Zoo on the Gold Coast Irwin acted his part in the prank with his usual gusto. 'I'm so excited to be here to launch this Australia-first squad that sees some of our favourite zoo residents be promoted to police personnel,' Irwin said in the video. The clip then shows some Australia Zoo's treasured animals including a crocodile, a giant tortoise and a ring-tail possum. Cute: A ring-tail possum in the April Fools joke hoax video made in co-operation with Australia Zoo and the Queensland Police Service 'We've been experimenting with what animals would be best with which jobs,' Irwin explained. 'It did take longer than expected particularly for our nocturnal animals, given their sleep schedule, which, believe it or not can be up to 18 hours a day.' Supporters of Queensland Police and Australia Zoo seem to enjoy the April Fools joke. One messaged: 'Thank you... gave me a great laugh.' Not practical: Owning up to the hoax later, Queensland Police messaged: 'Gotcha! As much as we love our Australia Zoo... they are not our newest crime fighting critters #AprilFools Robert is the son of famous Australian conservationists Steve and Terri Irwin, founders of Australia Zoo. Steve died in September 2006 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a documentary on the Batt Reef in Queensland. Bindi, Robert's older sister stars alongside him and their mother Terri in the hit nature series Crikey It's the Irwin's. Chris Hemsworth can now add fitness mogul to his resume. Private equity firm HighPost, founded by David Moross and Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos' brother Mark, has acquired the Thor star's health and fitness app Centr. Bloomberg reported on Friday that Centr is worth US $200million (AU $267million), making it a huge payday for the 38-year-old Australian actor. Chris Hemsworth's huge $267million payday: Thor star (pictured), 38, has partnered with Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos' younger brother Mark in Centr app deal HighPost have also acquired Inspire Fitness - a company that produces weights, rowing machines and other fitness-related equipment. They will combine both Centr and Inspire Fitness, making it a premium destination for the health and fitness-minded. Chris is the second largest shareholder behind HighPost. Moross said in a statement obtained by Bloomberg: 'We see an opportunity to take Centr, which is already very profitable, to the next level. Acquisition: Private equity firm HighPost, founded by David Moross and billionaire Jeff Bezos' brother Mark (pictured far left with Jeff), has acquired the Thor star's health and fitness app, Centr. HighPost have also acquired Inspire Fitness and will combine the companies 'Our model shows subscribers growing to 700,000 in four years, but I think it's going to be much bigger than that.' Chris said in an official statement: 'Centr was created to provide people with carefully curated and integrated fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness programs, guiding beginners and more experienced users in achieving their unique health and fitness goals. 'I look forward to partnering with HighPost and Inspire to continue the success of Centr, inspire people to lead healthier and more active lives, and increase our strong subscriber base worldwide by developing outstanding new content and expanding our offerings. 'I would like to thank the teams at FLG and Loup for their many contributions to Centr and for their ongoing support.' According to Man of Many last year, Chris' net worth is estimated to be around US $130million (AUD $173million). Still having an active role: Chris is the second largest shareholder behind HighPost He's also estimated to have seven-figure endorsement deals with TAG Heuer and Hugo Boss, and lives in a sprawling $30million Byron Bay mansion with his family. The wife of actress Elsa Pataky shared the news on his Instagram page on Friday. Alongside an article revealing the news, Chris wrote: 'Get ready for @centrfit 2.0! 'Thrilled to be working with Mark Bezos, David Moross and the entire HighPost team. As well as combining forces with first-in-class equipment manufacturer @inspirefitnessofficial. 'Huge thanks to all Centr members who've been with us along the way and excited for the future of the platform and app.' Enthusiasm: The wife of actress Elsa Pataky shared the news on his Instagram page on Friday. 'Thrilled to be working with Mark Bezos, David Moross and the entire HighPost team. As well as combining forces with first-in-class equipment manufacturer @inspirefitnessofficial' In a statement shared with Daily Mail Australia in January, Chris said he wants to help others live 'healthier and happier long-term'. 'This is the team that helps me live the way I want to live, and be the best I can be,' Chris said. 'With Centr, I'm able to share that with people all over the world. And now, we're sharing that for a lifetime. This is about living healthier and happier for the long-term.' The departure hall of Incheon International Airport is crowded with passengers, Friday, when the government lifted self-isolation requirements for fully vaccinated entrants. Yonhap Limits on private gatherings eased to 10 By Lee Hyo-jin The government has decided to ease COVID-19 social distancing measures further, Friday, in what is anticipated to be the last adjustment on the distancing rules before scrapping all quarantine regulations in the coming weeks. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Friday that it will relax social distancing measures from Monday to April 17, allowing multiuse facilities such as eateries and cafes to receive sit-in customers until midnight, pushing the limit on operating hours back by one hour to midnight from the current 11 p.m. The limit on the number of people for private gatherings will be eased to 10, up from the current eight. The ministry said all COVID-19-related curbs, except mandatory wearing of face masks, will be removed if the virus situation stabilizes in the next couple of weeks. "If it is determined that infections have entered a downward trend and the number of critical patients and deaths remain at a manageable level, we will review the lifting of all regulations on operation hours, private gatherings and large-scale events, other than the face mask rule," Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said during a briefing. Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol speaks during a COVID-19 response briefing held at Government Complex Seoul, Friday. Yonhap The ministry noted that the presidential transition committee's repeated calls to relax quarantine measures have been reflected in its latest decision. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition committee has been urging the government to scrap all antivirus rules once the Omicron wave passes its peak, as the current measures have had little effect in preventing infections. Medical experts also viewed that social distancing measures have become less effective in curbing the virus spread. "At this point in time, the easing of quarantine measures will have little effect on the virus situation. The government should put more effort into bringing down the number of deaths by focusing more on vulnerable patients such as senior citizens," said Chon Eun-mi, a respiratory disease specialist at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. The country reported 280,273 daily new infections for Thursday, with 1,299 patients in critical condition and 360 COVID-19-related deaths. Over 8,000 COVID-19 fatalities were reported in March alone, accounting for about half of the total deaths reported since the pandemic began. Threat of post-coronavirus symptoms As the cumulative number of infections here has reached over 13 million, an increasing number of people are suffering symptoms even after recovering from the disease, a condition known as long COVID. According to data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, among 21,615 COVID-19 patients who had recovered, 4,139, or 19 percent, have visited a hospital due to post-coronavirus symptoms. The most frequent symptoms experienced among them were fatigue, breathing difficulties, forgetfulness and sleeping disorder. Experts warned that the number of long COVID patients will surge in the coming months and called on the government to analyze data on the long-term aftereffects of the disease, based on which it should draw up treatment plans. Against this backdrop, the National Institute of Health said Thursday it would conduct a survey among 1,000 former COVID-19 patients aged under 60, who do not have underlying health conditions, and announce the results within the latter half of this year. A worker at a coffee shop in downtown Seoul arranges reusable mugs, Thursday. Yonhap Behati Prinsloo put her sensational legs on display when she enjoyed a night out on the town in West Hollywood this week. The 33-year-old supermodel, who is married to Maroon 5 heartthrob Adam Levine, was headed to Catch LA, which became a showbiz hot spot when it opened in 2016. She slid into a black minidress that appeared to be made of either velvet or velour for her latest outing in the City Of Angels. Legs for days: Behati Prinsloo put her sensational legs on display when she enjoyed a night out on the town in West Hollywood this week Wearing a bit of fringe and letting her luxurious hair tumble freely over her shoulders, she popped on a pair of purple tinted shades. Behati threw on a black leather jacket and slid her smoldering gams into a gleaming pair of matching black leather stiletto boots. The Namibia-born fashionista, who shot to fame as a Victoria's Secret Angel, accentuated her screen siren features with makeup. Place to be: The 33-year-old supermodel, who is married to Maroon 5 heartthrob Adam Levine, was headed to Catch LA, which became a showbiz hot spot when it opened in 2016 Arm in arm: Behati was accompanied by her gal pal Heather Marks when she was spotted sauntering down the sidewalk and heading into the swank venue Details: She was attending a party for BUMPSUIT's launch on Revolve and she recorded some of her escapades for her Insta Stories Behati was accompanied by her gal pal Heather Marks when she was spotted sauntering down the sidewalk and heading into the swank venue. She was attending a party for BUMPSUIT's launch on Revolve and she recorded some of her escapades for her Insta Stories. In one dazzling snapshot Behati festively held aloft a bottle of Cali Rosa as she and Heather posed up a storm for the camera. Dynamic duo: In one dazzling snapshot Behati festively held aloft a bottle of Cali Rosa as she and Heather posed up a storm for the camera Looking fab: Behati flashed her megawatt smile for another picture in which she sat comfortably at the dinner table and put the bottle on display Behati flashed her megawatt smile for another picture in which she sat comfortably at the dinner table and put the bottle on display. She and her sizzling husband have been married for nearly eight years and raise two little girls - Dusty Rose, five, and Gio Grace, four. Beanie Feldstein's brother Jonah Hill performed Adam and Behati's wedding in 2014 in San Jose Del Cabo, which is about 20 miles from Cabo San Lucas. Jim Carrey is apparently ready to retire from his legendary acting career, after 40 years in the biz. The 60-year-old actor was promoting his next (and final?) movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with Access Hollywood when interviewer Kit Hoover mentioned that Dolly Parton wants him to play her, 'music partner,' Porter Wagoner. While Carrey was intrigued, he said he had not heard that, when he casually mentioned he was 'retiring,' and while Hoover didn't know if he was joking or not, he said, 'Yeah, probably' and he was, 'being fairly serious' about it. Retiring: Jim Carrey is apparently ready to retire from his legendary acting career, after 40 years in the biz Promoting: The 60-year-old actor was promoting his next (and final?) movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with Access Hollywood when interviewer Kit Hoover mentioned that Dolly Parton wants him to play her, 'music partner,' Porter Wagoner Still, he doesn't seem entirely certain, adding, 'It depends, if the angels bring some sort of script that's written in gold ink that says to me that it's gonna be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I'm taking a break.' 'I really like my quiet life and I really love putting paint on canvas and I really love my spiritual life,' Carrey continued. He added, 'I feel like - and I feel like this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists - I have enough. Ive done enough. I am enough.' Depends: Still, he doesn't seem entirely certain, adding, 'It depends, if the angels bring some sort of script that's written in gold ink that says to me that it's gonna be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I'm taking a break' Enough: He added, 'I feel like - and I feel like this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists - I have enough. Ive done enough. I am enough' When it came to the potential Dolly Parton biopic, Carrey admitted, 'I will always talk to Dolly. Dolly is, just to me, an other-worldly that is just bigger than you can imagine.' While Carrey doesn't have any more movie projects lined up past Sonic the Hedgehog 2, in theaters April 8, he is returning in a new Netflix special honoring Bob Saget, with Chris Rock, John Mayer, John Stamos and Jeff Ross. 'Bob was just an absollute gem of a human being. He was loving, he was funny, he was sick. His sense of humor was off-the-charts sick,' Carrey said. Dolly: When it came to the potential Dolly Parton biopic, Carrey admitted, 'I will always talk to Dolly. Dolly is, just to me, an other-worldly that is just bigger than you can imagine. Special: While Carrey doesn't have any more movie projects lined up past Sonic the Hedgehog 2, in theaters April 8, he is returning in a new Netflix special honoring Bob Saget, with Chris Rock, John Mayer, John Stamos and Jeff Ross He added he was the type of person who you can't, 'cut together who he really was' by the kind of work he did, adding they would, 'pantomime mutilating each other every time we saw each other.' He added Saget was, 'just a lovely guy to everybody,' and he was one of the first people he connected with when he moved to Los Angeles. The special was filmed at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles in January, slated to air on Netflix this June. Person: He added he was the type of person who you can't, 'cut together who he really was' by the kind of work he did, adding they would, 'pantomime mutilating each other every time we saw each other' Carrey also revealed that he will be turning his artwork into NFT's, stating that he has, 'a website landing in April and it's called Magic Hour.' 'I'm going to present some kooky art that is a mix of painting and spoken word that delves into my existential musings,' Carrey said. Carrey returns as Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, arriving in theaters April 8. She's been city hopping around the States on her Future Nostalgia tour. And Dua Lipa, 26, treated fans to snaps from Seattle on Thursday as the US leg of her tour came to a close. The hitmaker wowed in an array of racy ensembles as she took some time to see the sights of the city. Sightseeing: Dua Lipa gave an insight into the last of her Future Nostalgia tour's US leg with a slew of social media snaps from Seattle on Thursday A number of the shots showed Dua posing in front of Seattle's Market Theater Gum Wall, a brick wall covered in used chewing gum under in Downtown Seattle. She cut a chic figure in front of the bizarre attraction, flashing her midriff in a black crisscross string top that she layered beneath a brown aviator jacket. Dua paired this with black cargo trousers, bowing her head to the ground as she shielded her eyes with large brown sunglasses. Night out: Dua posed for a selfie with her hair stylist, Jake Gallagher, as they enjoyed a Seattle night out The Levitating hitmaker added bold gold star earrings to the look, as her brunette tresses fell to her shoulders. In another snap, Dua posed for a selfie with her hair stylist, Jake Gallagher, as they enjoyed a Seattle night out. She flashed her toned torso in the picture, with a cut-out red crop top and low-rise blue jeans, as she cosied up to Jake. Gum wall: A number of the shots showed Dua posing in front of Seattle's Market Theater Gum Wall, a brick wall covered in used chewing gum under in Downtown Seattle Performing: Dua also shared an insight from the stage of one of her previous shows, as she was circled by show dancers whilst performing in the centre of them Dua also shared an insight from the stage of one of her previous shows, as she was circled by show dancers whilst performing in the centre of them. Lolo Zouai, who is touring with Dua as her support act, was also featured in the photodump. In the caption, Dua wrote: '2 shows left of the US leg with Ipad shawty @lolazouai!!! Seattle tonight!!!' Regular updates: She's been keeping fans up to date with her tour, sharing regular photo-dumps to her 81.6million followers On Thursday evening, the beauty shared some videos to her story of her energetic Seattle performance, where she put on a peachy display in a silver bodysuit. On Friday, Dua is heading to Canada for the last show before she returns home for the European leg of her tour, kicking it off in Manchester on April 15. After heading around Europe, the star's tour will ultimately end in November, after she takes on the US. Peachy! On Thursday evening, the beauty shared some videos to her story of her energetic Seattle performance, where she put on a peachy display in a silver bodysuit Dunkirk star Jack Lowden made a disorderly retreat after celebrating the London premiere of his new TV drama, Slow Horses, a little too enthusiastically on Thursday. The Scottish actor, 31, with a dishevelled tie and untucked white shirt, had to be held upright by pals as he tripped over cobblestones. He was then escorted to a black cab with the help of three smiling companions, one wearing a glamorous emerald green skirt. Hilarious: Dunkirk star Jack Lowden made a disorderly retreat after celebrating the London premiere of his new TV drama, Slow Horses, a little too enthusiastically on Thursday Jack had been enjoying the party at the Chiltern Firehouse in London's Marylebone, held after the opening of the new spy thriller. He stars in the blockbuster alongside Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas. It will be broadcast on Apple+. The Chelmsford-native is going out with Little Women star Saoirse Ronan, 27, whom he met on the set of Mary Queen of Scots in 2018, in which they played husband and wife. Earlier in the evening, he put on a dapper display for onlookers in a grey suit at the premiere, which took place at the Regent Street Cinema. Oh dear: The Scottish actor, 31, with a dishevelled tie and untucked white shirt, had to be held upright by pals as he tripped over cobblestones Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman takes the lead as Cold Warrior Jackson Lamb while Kristin Scott-Thomas takes on the role of a spymaster in the new series. After lockdown restrictions delayed filming and production on the series, the drama now has an air date of April 1. The first two episodes will drop simultaneously followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday. Slow Horses is the television adaptation of Mick Herron's Slough House book series, about a group of M15 misfits annexed into obscurity. Suave: Earlier in the evening, he put on a dapper display for onlookers in a grey suit at the premiere, which took place at the Regent Street Cinema The spies end up in the Slough House division due to their career ending mistakes. Jack Lowden is also part of the talented cast. The misfits are led by former Cold Warrior Jackson Lamb (Gary) and wannabe 007 River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) and end up seeing more action than the intelligence officers at HQ. Kristin has been cast as one of the two spymasters who oversee Lamb and his flock in Slow Horses, named after the first Slough House novel. The series also stars Academy Award-nominee Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright, and The Sound Of Metal star Olivia Cooke as as Sidney 'Sid' Baker. Angie Kent is keen on a Married at First Sight cast member. The former star of The Bachelorette wrote in her column for Yahoo on Friday that she would love to get a message from groom Brent Vitiello. The 32-year-old said that after Brent and his onscreen bride Tamara Djordjevic split, she is next in line. Romantic: Angie Kent (pictured) is keen on a Married at First Sight cast member. The former star of The Bachelorette wrote in her column for Yahoo on Friday that she would love to get a message from groom Brent Vitiello However, Angie also referred to rumours that Brent has since gotten together with another bride, Ella Ding. 'Brent and Ella will end up together and I want to watch this more than I should,' she wrote. 'If they don't, Iow key wouldn't be cross if he slid into my DMs asking for a foot pic. I have the ugliest feet in Australia and would like a feature on his OnlyFans account.' 'Low key wouldn't be cross if he slid into my DMs' Angie said. Brent is pictured Brent and Ella only had eyes for each other as they hit Maroubra Beach in Sydney on the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day. The sighting raised eyebrows given that Brent is paired with Tamara on MAFS, and Ella is coupled up with Mitch Eynaud. The pair have been embroiled in rumours of a couple swap, after Tamara 'made a pass' at Ella's 'husband' Mitch. Over: Brent and 'wife' Tamara Djordjevic (right) called it quits at their final vows A trailer for the reunion dinner party, which airs this Sunday, shows Brent accusing his ex-'wife' Tamara of making a pass at Mitch Eynaud. Mitch split from Ella Ding at their final vows on Tuesday's episode. Brent and Tamara called it quits at their final vows the previous night. 'Tamara, you tried to pick up Mitch when we got out of the experiment, and he rejected you!' Brent announces, as the table erupts into a chorus of gasps. An outraged Tamara glares at her ex and replies incredulously, 'I tried to pick up Mitch?', but does not deny the allegation. Alec Baldwin is embracing La Dolce Vita in Rome. The Hollywood star was pictured beaming as he enjoyed a stroll around the Italian capital on Thursday, before treating himself at a Gelato store. Alec is in Rome to film Christmas movie Kid Santa. It's been a week of headlines for the star whose wife Hilaria also confirmed on Tuesday that the couple are expecting their seventh child together. When in Rome: Alec Baldwin is embracing La Dolce Vita in Rome. The Hollywood star was pictured beaming as he enjoyed a stroll around the Italian capital on Thursday Alec was in great spirits during his break from set on Thursday, flashing a huge smile for photographers as he explored the city, with his script in hand. Kid Santa is by Italian director Francesco Cinquemani, who previously worked with Alec on the 2015 film Andron. It co-stars Alec's brother William. The movie is being billed as a 'live-action/animation family Christmas comedy', according to Variety. Alec was seen on set in Italy for the first time on Wednesday. His return to work comes after the incident in October last year when he held a revolver during a rehearsal for his movie Rust when it fired, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding the film's director. Sweet treat: The star was pictured picking out flavours in a Gelato store in the Italian capital Alec has returned to work in movies just months after the tragic on-set incident which saw cinematographer Halyna Hutchins killed. In October 2021, the actor was holding a Colt .45 while preparing for a scene at a ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, when his gun went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the film's director, Joel Souza. Alec said in a December interview with ABC News that he was pointing the gun at Hutchins at her instruction on the set of the Western when it went off without his pulling the trigger. Charges haven't yet been filed in the ongoing criminal investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. Break from set: Alec was in great spirits during his break from set on Thursday, keeping his script with him as he explored the city Matthew Hutchins, the widower of the cinematographer, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and others in the film in February. In an interview with NBC in February, Matthew said: 'I was just so angry to see him talk about her death so publicly in such a detailed way and then to not accept any responsibility after having just described killing her.' Matthew, a Harvard-educated lawyer, told Today in an interview that he felt the majority of the blame lay with Alec. Alec, in the December interview, said: 'Someone is responsible for what happened, and I can't say who that is, but it's not me.' Tragedy: Alec has returned to work in movies just months after the tragic on-set incident which saw cinematographer Halyna Hutchins killed Matthew said: 'The idea that the person holding the gun and causing it to discharge is not responsible is absurd to me. 'But gun safety was not the only problem on that set. There were a number of industry standards that were not practiced and there's multiple responsible parties,' he added. Earlier this month, Hutchins' estate lawyer Brian Panish slammed Alec as 'shameful' for claiming that the cinematographer had told him to point the weapon at her and fire it. Panish claimed Baldwin was trying to minimise the role he played in the incident that killed Hutchins, 42, telling Deadline that the actor was 'trying to avoid liability and accountability for his reckless actions before and on October 21'. On Tuesday Alec's wife Hilaria revealed she is pregnant with her seventh child, with the former yoga instructor posting a video of herself and her husband playing with their six children after sharing their happy news with their brood. Gordon Ramsay was a knight in shining armour for one contestant on MasterChef Junior on US network Fox during Thursday's episode of the show. The celebrity chef, 55, was seen in his shimmering silver protective covering in the scene titled Sir Yellsalot to play on his notoriously booming voice. The episode, which was called All's Fair at Ren Faire, saw the remaining 14 young aspiring chefs visit a local Renaissance Faire in Los Angeles, where they cooked away from the MasterChef kitchen for the first time during the current eighth season. Shimmering vision: Gordon Ramsay, 55, was a knight in shining armour for one contestant on MasterChef Junior on US network Fox during Thursday's episode of the show Gordon was seen wearing metallic medieval costume and raising his voice to the contenders after hopping on a horse to engage in some jousting with another knight. The television personality was seen charging across an arena while holding a lance in one hand and a green and yellow shield in another. Looking on, the shows contestants were left open-mouthed as they watched the action unfold from a raised platform, unaware of who was under the helmet. In costume: The celebrity chef was seen in his shimmering silver protective covering in the scene titled Sir Yellsalot to play on his notoriously booming voice Setting the scene: The episode, which was called All's Fair at Ren Faire, saw the remaining 14 young aspiring chefs visit a local Renaissance Faire in Los Angeles New challenge: They cooked away from the MasterChef kitchen for the first time during the current eighth season Competition: Gordon was seen wearing metallic medieval costume and raising his voice to the contenders after hopping on a horse to engage in some jousting with another knight Unexpected: Looking on, the shows contestants were left open-mouthed as they watched the action unfold from a raised platform, unaware of who was under the helmet Fellow judge and chef Aaron Sanchez stepped down off his horse after the match and stood next to Gordon, prompting the kids to clap and cheer. Gordon then stepped forward to declare: 'I am Sir Yellsalot!' as all the young hopefuls laughed. Not to be outdone, Aaron announced: 'And I am Dir Snoresalot!' Feet on the ground: Fellow judge and chef Aaron Sanchez stepped down off his horse after the match and stood next to Gordon, prompting the kids to clap and cheer (Gordon pictured) Hilarious: Gordon then stepped forward to declare: 'I am Sir Yellsalot!' as all the young hopefuls laughed Jokers: Not to be outdone, Aaron announced: 'And I am Dir Snoresalot!', during the episode which aired in the US on Thursday Stars: The pair were joined by third judge, pregnant Daphne Oz, who was dressed as a princess in a sweeping green gown and a crown Test: The trio gave the contestants their task and they were split into two teams to cook a middle age-style dinner involving a meat on the bone and scotch eggs for a total of 51 people The pair were joined by third judge, pregnant Daphne Oz, who was dressed as a princess in a sweeping green gown and a crown. The trio gave the young contestants their task this week and they split were into two teams to cook a middle age-style dinner involving a meat on the bone main course and scotch eggs for starters for a total of 51 people. The Lords and Ladies who dined on the blue team and red team meals then voted with the red team the winners of this challenge. Champions: The Lords and Ladies who dined on the blue team and red team meals then voted with the red team the winners of this challenge Multi-talented: It comes after Gordon was seen taking a daring plunge into the sea as he leapt from a helicopter in last night's episode of Future Food Stars on the UK's BBC One It comes after Gordon was seen taking a daring plunge into the sea as he leapt from a helicopter in last night's episode of Future Food Stars on the UK's BBC One. In Thursday's instalment of the show, which is billed as the culinary version of The Apprentice, Gordon dramatically introduced himself after launching himself out of the aircraft before getting his aspiring chefs to jump off a cliff. Television star Gordon gave his Instagram followers a glimpse at the programme by sharing a clip of the gripping moment, filmed in Newquay, on Instagram ahead of the episode. Tease: Gordon Ramsay, 55, gave his Instagram followers a glimpse at his new show Future Food Stars by sharing a clip of himself jumping out a helicopter on Instagram on Thursday Gripping: Gordon was be seen taking a daring plunge into the sea as he leapt from a helicopter in Thursday's episode In the video, the restauranteur was seen gingerly stepping onto the landing skids of a black helicopter as it hovered above the sea, the water rippling below as the chopper's blades forced air downwards. Looking on open-mouthed, one contestant asked: 'What the heck?', as he straightened his legs and stood upright once out of the door. As another contender declared: 'Oh my goodness, he's going to jump,' Gordon threw himself through the air and down into the water below him, prompting cheers from the onlookers. Making a splash: The chef dramatically introduced himself after launching himself out of the aircraft before getting his aspiring chefs to jump off a cliff Steady: In the video, the restauranteur was seen gingerly stepping onto the landing skids of a black helicopter as it hovered above the sea Leap of faith: Gordon threw himself through the air and down into the water below him, prompting cheers from the onlookers The businessman was then seen frantically swimming to shore, to which another show hopeful said: 'Good entrance, isn't it!' Once on shore, Gordon ran across the golden sand and shouted: 'Guys, so nice to meet you all! Is everybody ready?' He captioned the clip on Instagram: 'Im taking a leap of faith on #FutureFoodStars tonight at 9 PM on @bbc to see which UK food and drink entrepreneur will impress me to get my 150,000 investment. Trust me.this wont be easy Gx #ffs.' Jim Carrey is the latest celebrity to come under fire after weighing in on Will Smith's assault on Chris Rock during the Academy Awards on Sunday evening - as two 1997 videos resurfaced in which he is seen 'sexually assaulting' a then-20-year-old Alicia Silverstone at an awards show, before 'forcibly' trying to kiss Smith at the same event. The actor, now 60, furiously criticized the celebrity audience at the Oscars for giving Smith a standing ovation following his Best Actor win, just minutes after he slapped Rock on-stage in response to a joke the comedian made about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia. Carrey, who announced on Thursday night that he is 'probably retiring', claimed he was 'sickened' by the round of applause for Will and insists he should have been escorted out - however fans have been quick to slam him as a 'hypocrite' while bringing back to light a video of him 'sexually assaulting' Silverstone at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards. Resurfaced footage from the awards ceremony shows a then-35-year-old Carrey walking up to the stage to collect an award from Silverstone, only to grab her by the head and 'forcibly' pull her into a kiss while she tried to push him off her. During the same 1997 ceremony, Carrey was also seen trying to kiss Smith after he was announced as the winner of the award for Best Kiss. As Smith, who was 28 at the time, prepared to make his way up on-stage, Carrey was seen grabbing him by the neck and sticking his tongue out towards his face, while the actor tried to shove him away. Social media: Jim Carrey is the latest celebrity to come under fire after weighing in on Will Smith assaulting Chris Rock during the Academy Awards on Sunday evening In the wake of Carrey's criticism of Smith, Twitter users have resurfaced a video of him 'sexually assaulting' a 20-year-old Alicia Silverstone at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards After Silverstone announced Carrey as the winner of Best Comedic Performance, he walked up to the stage, grabbed her by the head and kissed her, seemingly without her consent During the same awards ceremony, a then-35-year-old Carrey tried to kiss Smith, who was 28 at the time, with footage showing him grabbing the actor and sticking his tongue at his face The two resurfaced clips are now doing the rounds on Twitter, where users have branded Carrey a 'hypocrite' for condemning Smith's actions, despite having himself 'assaulted' both the actor and Silverstone during the 1997 event. 'It's amazing that Jim Carrey sexually assaulted Alicia Silverstone by physically forcing her to kiss him on national TV, when she was [20], and it had literally no impact on his career whatsoever,' one person wrote, while sharing images of Carrey grabbing Silverstone and Smith during the awards show. 'He's such a complete piece of s*** on so many levels.' Another added: '[Carrey] forcibly kissed Alicia Silverstone AND also tried to do the same thing to Will Smith. Regardless of age or age gaps, what Jim Carrey did was ASSAULT. He's scum and he had no business forcing himself on people.' 'Jim Carrey tried to French kiss Will Smith at the MTV movie awards and he kissed Alicia Silverstone without her consent at the same award show,' one Twitter user chimed in. 'So he assaulted two people in one night and nobody said a word. He should be minding his own business.' The bitter backlash comes after Carrey slammed the A-list audience at the Oscars for applauding Smith's Best Actor win - which came shortly after he stormed onto the stage to slap Rock across the face, before yelling at him twice to 'keep my wife's name out your f***ing mouth'. Hitting out: The comedian, now 60, criticized Hollywood for giving Smith a standing ovation when he won Best Actor, minutes after he slapped Rock on-stage Carrey told CBS' Gayle King on Monday that he was 'sickened' by the standing ovation, adding that he 'felt like Hollywood is just spineless en masse' During an interview with CBS' Gayle King on Monday morning, hours after the Oscars aired, Carrey branded Hollywood as 'spineless' for giving Smith a standing ovation. 'I was sickened by the standing ovation,' he said. 'Hollywood is just spineless en masse and it really felt like this is a really clear indication that we aren't the cool club anymore.' Benedict Cumberbatch, a fellow Best Actor nominee, as well as Best Director nominee Paul Thomas Anderson and actress Maya Rudolph were some of the stars who stood for Smith's win. Venus and Serena Williams, whose father was portrayed by Smith in King Richard, also stood. Carrey added that if he was in Rock's position, he would pursue a lawsuit against Smith, saying: 'I'd have announced this morning that I was suing Will for $200 million because that video is going to be there forever, it's going to be ubiquitous. 'That insult is gonna last a very long time. If you want to yell from the audience and show disapproval or say something on Twitter [that's fine]. But you do not have the right to walk up on stage and smack somebody in the face because they said words.' Carrey concluded: '[The slap] came out of nowhere because Will has something going on inside him that's frustrated. I wish him the best. I have nothing against Will Smith. He's done great things, but that was not a good moment. It cast a shadow over everyone's shining moment last night It was a selfish moment.' Shocked: Following Carrey's interview, many people reacted by reminding him of the moment he forcibly kissed Silverstone and attempted to kiss Smith Backing off: A third shared a meme of Homer Simpson backing into a hedge, and wrote: 'Jim Carrey being reminded of his forcible kiss on then 19-year-old Alicia Silverstone' However, following the CBS interview, Carrey found himself coming under furious fire on social media, where users were quick to dredge up his own unpleasant awards show behavior. Responding to the comedian's comments, one person wrote: 'In that case, Jim Carrey should be jailed for sexually assaulting a teenaged Alicia Silverstone on stage at the 1997 MTV Awards, and then also trying to sexually assault Will Smith at the same awards show.' A third shared a meme of Homer Simpson backing into a hedge, and wrote: 'Jim Carrey being reminded of his forcible kiss on then 19-year-old Alicia Silverstone.' Another added: 'Jim Carrey... the guy who kissed a 19-year old Alicia Silverstone without her content... that Jim Carrey?' One person tweeted directly at Carrey, asking: 'Didn't you sexually assault Alicia Silverstone?' The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is holding an emergency board meeting to discuss disciplinary action against the star for slapping Rock. The Academy, which condemned Smith's actions, said it was reviewing the episode but the inquiry is expected to take a few weeks, sources familiar with the matter said. Can't believe it: Everyone was saying the same thing regarding Jim's comments Although Carrey has yet to publicly comment on the backlash over the resurfaced 1997 videos, he made the shock announcement on Thursday night that he is 'probably' going to 'retire' after the release of his latest movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Speaking to Access Hollywood about the upcoming film, said that he 'feels like... he has done enough' in his career, adding that he wants to focus on his 'quiet life'. His admission came after interviewer Kit Hoover mentioned that Dolly Parton wants Carrey to play her 'music partner' Porter Wagoner in a biopic about her life. 'Well I love Dolly Parton,' he said, before adding: 'Well I'm retiring... yeah probably. I'm being fairly serious. 'It depends, if the angels bring some sort of script that's written in gold ink that says to me that it's going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I'm taking a break. 'I really like my quiet life and I really love putting paint on canvas and I really love my spiritual life. I feel like - and this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists - I have enough. Ive done enough. I am enough.' The furious controversy surrounding Carrey comes after The View host Whoopi Goldberg, who is also a member of the Academy, said she believes Smith will be able to keep his Oscar following the controversy but that will still face some form of punishment for the on-stage assault. Speaking out: It comes after View host Whoopi Goldberg, who is also a member of the Academy, said she believes Smith will be able to keep his Oscar 'There are consequences,' Goldberg said. 'There are big consequences because nobody is OK with what happened. Nobody, nobody, nobody.' Goldberg defended Smith during her talk show on Monday, saying 'sometimes you behave badly' and adding that she believes he 'snapped.' If the group determines Smith violated its standards of conduct, members could expel the actor from the organization, revoke his Oscar, or make him ineligible for future awards. Meanwhile wife Jada Pinkett Smith, 50, finally broke her silence on Tuesday with an Instagram post that read, 'This is a season for healing and I'm here for it.' On Monday afternoon, Smith released a public apology to both Rock and the Academy, saying his behavior was 'unacceptable and inexcusable' and left him 'embarrassed'. Breaking her silence: Meanwhile wife Jada Pinkett Smith, 50, finally broke her silence on Tuesday with an Instagram post that read, 'This is a season for healing and I'm here for it' 'This is a season for healing and I'm here for it,' the actress posted to Instagram Tuesday, two days after the incident that stunned millions of viewers Earlier this week, Zoe Kravitz's condemnation of Will also backfired as fans flocked to Twitter to slam the star for a historic comment about the actor's son Jaden. Taking aim at Smith following the attack, Kravitz, 33, captioned an Instagram picture of her awards dress: 'Here's my dress at the show where we are apparently assaulting people on stage now.' However Twitter was quick to remind Kravitz of her own murky past and brought up creepy comments she had previously made about the King Richard actor's son, now 23, when they starred in After Earth together when he was aged 14 and she was aged 24. When asked about Jaden during an interview with V Magazine for their June 2013 issue, Kravitz said: 'There were moments that I was hanging out with Jaden and thinking, I can't believe you're 14, I have to check myself, like what I say to you. 'He has so much personality and so much swag, he is so much cooler than I am. And he's so handsome, I was always like, when you're older, you know, we'll hang outNope, that's inappropriate, you're 14.' Online users were horrified by the inappropriate remarks and branded Kravitz a 'hypocrite' as they suggested she was in no position to criticize the screen star. Awkward: Earlier this week, Zoe Kravitz 's condemnation of Will also backfired as fans flocked to Twitter to slam the star for a historic comment about the actor's son Jaden Problematic: However Twitter was quick to remind Zoe of her own murky past and brought up creepy comments she had previously made about the King Richard actor's son, now 23, when they starred in After Earth together aged 14 (pictured at the time) Hitting out: Zoe, 33, captioned an Instagram picture of her awards dress: 'Here's my dress at the the show where we are apparently assaulting people on stage now' Another person said: 'I love Twitter for exposing these f-ing hypocrites like Jim Carrey, Judd Apatow, Zoe Kravitz. 'They want to judge Will Smith (a man who's been a class act for 30 years) for one mistake, as if they haven't done worse. Get them all.' One user added: 'Zoe Kravitz is also not having a good day. They really should just not even comment. Nobody is perfect. Did they really think their own dirt wouldn't be brought out too? Hollywood is full of hypocrites and narcissists.' 'We're looking at Zoe Kravitz for being weird with a 14 year-old boy,' another wrote, as someone else chimed in: 'No way am I seeing Zoe Kravitz thirsting over 14 year-old Jaden Smith...' Another said: 'Zoe Kravitz liking a 14-year-old... very interesting.' One other commented on how quickly she has been cancelled, writing: 'Zoe Kravitz has the quickest rise and fall on this app lol.' One other said: 'Nothing will ever beat how quickly the internet will switch up on someone. Yesterday Zoe Kravitz was the sexiest woman ever and today she has to beat predator allegations.' A different person joked: 'Zoe Kravitz just mad at Will Smith for telling he to stay away from his son that's why she said all that.' Another person brought up the fact that she refused to work for Essence - which has a black readership - because it wasn't 'her audience'. Speaking out: Zoe also previously said of her After Earth co-star Will that he was 'sweet' and 'down to earth' after starring in the film with the Fresh Prince of Bel Air actor Reaction: Online users were horrified by the inappropriate remarks and branded Zoe a 'hypocrite' as they suggested she was in no position to criticise the screen star One other commented on how quickly she has been cancelled, writing: 'Zoe Kravitz has the quickest rise and fall on this app lol' The Twitter user claimed: 'Zoe Kravitz is funny. Will never forgetting working at essence and us trying to book her for interviews/covers/events etc and her team declining bcuz we "aren't her audience". Zoe also previously said of her After Earth co-star Will that he was 'sweet' and 'down to earth' after starring in the film with the Fresh Prince of Bel Air actor. She told Elle in 2013: 'He's one of the kindest people I've ever met. Watching him and Jaden together, it was cool to see so much love in their father-son dynamic. He's a superstar but he's the sweetest, most normal, down-to-earth person ever.' Zoe and Jaden, then 15, were seen walking the red carpet at the Divergent premiere together in 2015. While the two haven't really been linked since, their families appear to have stayed close, as Will shared a snap of his daughter Willow braiding Zoe's hair. He wrote: 'Something about this pic gets me every time! Willow Smith braiding Zoe's hair. Lenny Kravitz took this shot in Paris. The sisterly love is on [100 emoji]. Jackson Lonie and his Married at First Sight bride Olivia Frazer are rumoured to have split. And on Friday, it was revealed that the 31-year-old has an active profile on the dating app, Hinge. Under the name 'Jack', Jackson's Hinge biography explains he 'loves to cook' and is 'good at it too'. Done? Jackson Lonie and his Married at First Sight bride Olivia Frazer are rumoured to have split. Both pictured However Jackson tells Daily Mail Australia the account pre-dates his time on MAFS, and he's simply not deactivated it, nor used it in a year. It comes after news that Jackson may now be a single man. The promo for the finale, which airs on Sunday and Monday, appears to show Olivia, 27, and 'husband' Jackson don't go the distance as a couple. App: On Friday, it was revealed that the 31-year-old has an active profile on the dating app, Hinge. Under the name 'Jack', Jackson's Hinge biography explains he 'loves to cook' Jackson and Olivia are seen sitting next to each other on the couch as a man is heard asking, 'Do you want to share the big news?' Expert Mel Schilling then asks, 'Who ended the relationship?' A visibly shocked Samantha Moitzi says to Al Perkins, 'Theyre breaking up,' while groom Jack Millar removes his glasses and gasps, 'Oh no.' However Jackson tells Daily Mail Australia the account pre-dates his time on MAFS, and he's simply not deactivated it, nor used it in a year Split? The promo for the finale, which airs on Sunday and Monday, appears to show Olivia (right) and 'husband' Jackson don't go the distance as a couple While the trailer suggests it's Jackson and Olivia who split up, it could just be a case of clever editing as all other evidence points to them still being together. The apparent bombshell comes after star Ella Ding reacted to news Olivia had lost her job at a prestigious Sydney school because of her nasty behaviour on the show. The beautician, 27, who is friends with Olivia's arch rival Domenica Calarco, said the former teaching assistant only had herself to blame for the professional setback. Chrissie Swan head her impressive slimmed-down figure on display as she attended a lunch date in Melbourne alongside Nadia Bartel and Martha Kalifatidis. The 48-year-old television host opted for a black blazer and matching trousers for the occasion on Friday. She added a simple black top underneath, as well as paring the look with black sandals with a low heel. Looking good: Chrissie Swan (pictured) head her impressive slimmed-down figure on display as she attended a lunch date in Melbourne alongside Nadia Bartel and Martha Kalifatidis The radio star opted for a bronzed make-up palette with a plum lipstick and blush on her cheeks. Chrissie completed the ensemble with a dainty necklace, while wearing her brunette hair down in waves. She was busy taking a call while stepping aside from the lunch, and looked deep in conversation. A look: The 48-year-old television host opted for a black blazer Details: She added a simple black top underneath Basis: Chrissie added a pair of dark trousers to the monochrome ensemble Dainty: She added a dainty necklace and a chink ring Nadia also opted for an all-black outfit, consisting of a long-sleeved bodysuit with cutouts that showed off some skin. She paired the top with wide-legged trousers and a metallic chain belt, as well as a pair of tall stiletto heels. The 36-year-old carried a dark handbag that matched her outfit and went light on accessories. Best foot: The radio star opted for a pair of black sandals with a low heel Pretty: She opted for a bronzed make-up palette with a plum lipstick and blush on her cheeks Chats: Chrissie was busy taking a call while stepping aside from the lunch, and looked deep in conversation Tucking in: She enjoyed a snack and some sparkling water at the lunch The former WAG wore her caramel locks down in loose waves, and chose a glamoropus make up look. Nadia opted for blush in a warm peachy tone, pinky-nude lipstick and lashings of mascara. She could be seen enjoying a chat with other guests at the lunch, including Martha, who she chatted to for some time. Back in black: Nadia (pictured) also opted for an all-black outfit, consisting of a long-sleeved bodysuit with cutouts that showed off some skin Well heeled: The former WAG added a pair of tall stiletto heels with a pointed design Fun-day: She paired the top with wide-legged trousers and a metallic chain belt Bag it: The 36-year-old carried a dark handbag that matched her outfit and went light on accessories Also commanding attention at the luncheon was Married at First Sight star Martha, who opted for a high fashion look. The 34-year-old chose a super oversized grey blazer, which hung loose around her frame. She added wide-legged trousers, in the same slate tone, which she folded up at the hems. Talks: She could be seen enjoying a chat with other guests at the lunch, including Martha, who she chatted to for some time Lovely: The former WAG wore her caramel locks down in loose waves Fancy face: She chose a glamorous make up look Made up: Nadia opted for blush in a warm peachy tone, pinky-nude lipstick and lashings of mascara Animated: She and Martha had a fun discussion, getting quite lively Martha added to the eclectic fashion statement with a pair of towering, chunky heels in a hot pink satin fabric. The reality star wore her dark hair back in a loose ponytail, and added a silver chain to her outfit. She chose a warm makeup palette, with bronzed cheeks, nude lipstick and smoky eye-shadow. Martha too stepped away from the meal to take a call and was engaged in an animated discussion. High fashion: Also commanding attention at the luncheon was Married at First Sight star Martha (pictured) Out there: She opted for a high fashion look Wide load: The 34-year-old chose a super oversized grey blazer, which hung loose around her frame Trend: She added wide-legged trousers, in the same slate tone, which she folded up at the hems Chrissie's appearance at the lunch follows her dramatic slim down. She briefly touched on her weight loss in an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly, saying the 'enormous' lifestyle changes she'd made over the last year had improved her life in so many ways. 'I'm not going to talk about the size of my a**e. I'm not going to tell you what I eat in a day. she said. Think pink: Martha added to the eclectic fashion statement with a pair of towering, chunky heels in a hot pink satin fabric Open wide: Her blazer had a wide open portion at the back and she wore nothing underneath Stunner: The reality star wore her dark hair back in a loose ponytail, and added a silver chain to her outfit. Warmed up: She chose a warm makeup palette, with bronzed cheeks, nude lipstick and smoky eye-shadow Chatty: Martha too stepped away from the meal to take a call and was engaged in an animated discussion before greeting Chrissie Hugs: The two women embraced, sharing a sweet hug Look at these! Martha showed off her massive shoes 'Because I've read those stories and they make me feel bad about myself'. However, she did confirm Melbourne's lengthy Covid lockdown was the catalyst for her health and fitness kick. 'We couldn't go out to dinner, we couldn't go to a friend's house, they couldn't come to us, we couldn't go outside five kilometres. All we could do was walk, and so that's what I did,' she said. Say cheese! Martha took a selfie of the pair together Beaming! Chrissie looked delighted to be in Martha's company Ladies who lunch: Martha chatted to other women at the lunch event Drink up: Chrissie enjoyed a clear beverage through a paper straw So funny! Nadia laughed widely with her pals during the lunch Jokes: She seemed very amused by the conversation at the table Chrissie began walking only short distances, but steadily increased her fitness and now walks for two hours per day. The media personality, who hosts the Chrissie, Sam and Browny breakfast show on Nova 100, gave up alcohol more than a year ago as part of a health kick. She also turned to meditation and daily 10km walks to improve her physical and mental health during Melbourne's 112-day lockdown. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida / Korea Times phto Incoming president needs to make 'political' decision, convince public By Kang Seung-woo Even though President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, who wants to mend frayed ties with Japan, takes office in May, strained bilateral relations will not return to normal overnight due to longstanding historical issues, according to diplomatic observers. Currently, ties between Korea and Japan have slumped to their worst level in years due to Tokyo's imposition of export controls on three key materials critical for the semiconductor and display industries here, in apparent retaliation against a ruling by Korea's Supreme Court ordering Japanese companies to compensate surviving Koreans victims of wartime forced labor. On Monday, Yoon held a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koichi Aiboshi, where he called for a future-oriented approach to worsening bilateral ties. But it came to light the following day that Japan will remove expressions and descriptions of forced labor and sex slavery in some of its history textbooks for high school students, in what seems to be a move to whitewash its wartime atrocities. "While Korea and Japan have shown hugely different views on thorny bilateral issues, their current ties are also at the lowest point. Under the circumstances, an immediate and dramatic shift in Korea-Japan ties is not likely even though the two heads of state want to improve them," said Choi Eun-mi, a researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "If such bilateral history-related issues occur frequently, domestic sentiment toward Japan could worsen, which will make it more difficult for the new president to mend fences with Japan." However, Choi said the timing between the meeting and the textbook issue was accidental, given that the Yoon-Aiboshi meeting was rearranged after the Japanese ambassador had tested positive for COVID-19. Lee Won-deog, a professor of Japanese studies at Kookmin University, said it is not easy to just say that rapprochement between Korea and Japan will escalate with the launch of a new administration, citing barriers to improving relations between the two neighbors, including the wartime forced labor issue and the planned release of radioactive water from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, which was damaged in a 2011 earthquake and tsunami. In addition, the Japanese government is currently seeking to add a controversial site to UNESCO's World Heritage list next year, despite its connection with the wartime use of Korean laborers. "Despite the thorny issues, if the president wants to get bilateral ties back on track, he should make a political decision, which will inevitably draw backlash from opponents," Lee said. "In that respect, a new administration does not guarantee better relations." However, the experts advised the incoming president to show his determination to mend soured ties, while also dealing with domestic sentiment toward Japan. "Although there are several pending bilateral issues, if the president or the government shows a willingness to improve ties with Japan, I believe there is a window of opportunity for rapprochement," Lee said. Choi said, "The current administration took political advantage of anti-Japan sentiment, so it will be a task for the new administration to mobilize all of its diplomatic abilities to advance relations with Japan, while swaying domestic opinion regarding the need to improve them." James Jordan has revealed he's been diagnosed with shingles. The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 43, developed a painful red rash while holidaying with his family in Abu Dhabi and rushed to see the doctor once he'd returned to the UK, who confirmed the diagnosis. James had been enjoying time away with wife Ola, 39, and their daughter Ella, two, but was unable to relax due to the painful condition, resulting in him calling on his Twitter followers for help. Struck down: James Jordan, 43, dashed to the doctors this week after returning from his family holiday to be diagnosed with shingles (pictured 2020) He wrote at the time: 'On holiday and have got this painful rash on one side of my back in my belt line Any ideas anyone? 'Also got a similar pain on the thigh of my right leg but doesnt look anywhere near as bad Thoughts? 'Im thinking shingles but dont know what brings it on. Or maybe heat rash?' What's up doc? The former Strictly pro sought medical advice as soon as he arrived back in the UK after enjoying time away with wife Ola, 39, and their daughter Ella, two, in Abu Dhabi With many of his followers telling him they thought it could be shingles, he filled them in this week, writing: 'Updating fans after home from an amazing family holiday - straight to docs and its been confirmed I do actually have shingles like most of you suggested. 'Its pretty uncomfortable not going to lie but hopefully will start to get better soon. Many of you been asking how it is. Thanks guys.' Shingles is a viral rash caused by varicella zoster virus, the virus which causes chickenpox, being reactivated. In the UK, 90 per cent of adults have had chickenpox, so will have this virus lying dormant in their nervous systems. Help: James had been enjoying time away with family but was unable to relax due to the painful condition, resulting in him calling on his Twitter followers for help Update: With many of his followers telling him they thought it could be shingles, he filled them in this week James is not the only star to have spoken out publicly about suffering from shingles - Eamonn Holmes was left unable to work when he suffered with the illness in 2018 - shocking fans as he uploaded a photo of his painful-looking face on social media at the time. Last month, the television presenter, 62, shared a picture of his swollen face and spoke out about suffering shingles on social media in a bid to get people talking during Shingles Awareness Week. The GB News host wrote on Instagram: 'Having had shingles, I know how painful and exhausting it can be. That's why I am supporting #ShinglesAwarenessWeek with @gsk and @intfedageing.' Swollen: Eamonn Holmes, 62, has also spoken out about suffering from shingles in 2018 in a bid to get people talking during Shingles Awareness Week last month Last year, Eamonn appeared on Loose Women to talk about his 'brutal' battle with shingles, with the broadcaster saying he looked like 'Quasimodo' on his son Declan's wedding day in 2018. As a picture of Eamonn's face was shown on screen, the TV host said: 'This is me with shingles looking like Quasimodo there and as you can see from that, it's quite brutal.' Pained: Last year, Eamonn detailed his battle with shingles and how he was struck down with the virus on his son Declan's wedding day in 2018 (pictured 2018) He continued: 'You'll say, 'How on earth did you get that?' Well, if you've had chickenpox and you've had the virus, it's there in your system and there's a very high chance - 60% chance or so - that you too will have shingles.' Eamonn shares children Declan, 33, Rebecca, 31, Niall, 29, with his ex wife Gabrielle and son Jack, 19, with current wife Ruth Langsford, 61. He explained the impact the condition had and detailed how his image was ravaged by the side effects on his son's wedding day. His boy: He explained the impact the condition had and detailed how his image was ravaged by the side effects on his son's wedding day, with Eamonn covering his face in make-up (pictured with Declan in 2018) He said: 'That was at a time when my eldest son - my only son to get married. That was the first marriage in the family and that was what I looked like on the wedding day and I had to have that covered up... 'So you can imagine, I ruined all the pictures, I didn't want to be in them. I didn't want to be the centre of attention with all this... 'But the timing was awful. The dangerous thing about mine was that if it's on your face, it can affect, maybe impair your eyesight.' Comedian Ash Williams has revealed that his nude photo scandal left him struggling to cling onto his career after he was 'cancelled' over the allegations. A Sydney magistrates court found The I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here Australia star not guilty of recording intimate images of a woman on March 25. Speaking to The Herald Sun on Friday, the 40-year-old says that in the year after the charges were laid, he lost TV gigs and the phone stopped ringing. Cancelled: Comedian Ash Williams (pictured) has revealed that his nude photo scandal left him struggling to cling onto his career after he was 'cancelled' over the allegations Ash says he stopped being called for appearances on shows such as Have You Paying Attention? and ended up moving back to Melbourne to live with his mother. During that time, he left social media and comforted himself by watching SBS cooking shows. He also spent time with his good friend, radio star Chrissie Swan, with the pair going on walks together. Missed out: Speaking to The Herald Sun on Friday, the 40-year-old says that in the year after the charges were laid, he lost TV gigs and the phone stopped ringing 'It's devastated me and my family, especially my mum. We all hope this appalling chapter of my life is now over and we can all fly again,' he told the paper. Ash was alleged to have engaged in phone sex with a woman via FaceTime when he took screenshots of her without her knowledge and sent them back to her. The comedian was found not guilty by Magistrate Eve Wynhausen in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on March 25, reports Perth Now. Home bound: Ash says he stopped being called for appearances on shows such as Have You Paying Attention? and ended up moving back to Melbourne to live with his mother Williams had consistently denied wrongdoing after he was charged with the offence in December 2020. The matter was first mentioned before Newtown Local Court last year, just hours after the finale of the hit Channel 10 reality show. He denied any wrongdoing and his lawyer Lauren MacDougall appeared in court on his behalf to formally enter a not guilty plea to the criminal charge. The incident allegedly took place in November 2020, while Ash was in lockdown ahead of his debut on I'm a Celebrity. Claims: Ash was alleged to have engaged in phone sex with a woman via FaceTime when he took screenshots of her without her knowledge and sent them back to her 'In November 2020, officers from the Inner West Police Area Command received a report of an offence allegedly committed by a 38-year-old man,' NSW Police said at the time. 'Following further investigations, the man was charged with intentionally record intimate image without consent on Friday, 18 December, 2020.' Williams said at the time the allegation had left him feeling 'shocked and confused'. 'I was completely blindsided by the allegation and I propose to defend the charge. I'm really upset by the allegation and I'm distressed about the impact it's had on members of my family, particularly my mum,' he told The Daily Telegraph. Amber Davies looked sensational as she hosted the Cabaret All Stars show at Proud Embankment in London on Thursday night. The former Love Island star, 25, put on a leggy display in a satin green dress with with an asymmetrical hem and bejewelled detail. West End performer Amber held her microphone up as she sung on-stage with the train of her glamorous garment resting on the floor behind her. Smokin': Amber Davies, 25, put on a leggy display in a satin green dress with with an asymmetrical hem and bejewelled detail during Cabaret All Stars show on Thursday She wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty facial features and added a few inches to her stature by wearing a pair of heels. The television personality was doused with water as she danced, raising her arms up and brushing her wet hair back off her face. Moments later Amber turned with her back to the audience to show off the lace-up detail on the back of her dress. Cooling off: The television personality was doused with water as she danced, raising her arms up and brushing her wet hair back off her face at Proud Embankment in London Born to perform: She wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty facial features and added a few inches to her stature by wearing a pair of heels She was helped on to a wooden swing by a strapping shirtless dancer before performing the rest of her number. The gown was a new addition to Amber's slew of show outfits she usually showcases throughout the show. The star oozed confidence while relishing in the spotlight and showing off her vocal talents as she stormed the stage. In the detail: Amber turned with her back to the audience to show off the lace-up detail on the back of her dress Hanging out: She was helped on to a wooden swing by a strapping shirtless dancer before performing the rest of her number Making music: The star oozed confidence while relishing in the spotlight and showing off her vocal talents as she stormed the stage Work it: Amber shared a social media video of herself showing off the stunning dress in the mirror recengtly The theatre star has shared some behind-the-scenes snaps to her 1.4million Instagram followers after her performances - with a video of herself showing off her stunning green dress in the mirror. She also shared a selfie in one of her regular costumes, a sheer black bodysuit with diamante detailing - sporting a glittery makeup look to match. Following a successful night on stage, Amber made a glamourous exit as she prepared to head home. The Welsh beauty looked stunning in a brown corset top and matching trousers. Amber wowed in the busty ensemble which showcased her trim waist. The musical star was all smiles following an incredible nights performance. Glam: Amber wowed in the busty ensemble which showcased her trim waist. Chic: The Welsh beauty looked stunning in a brown corset top and matching trousers Happy: Following a successful night on stage, Amber made a glamourous exit as she prepared to head home Amber rose to fame after winning season three of Love Island with ex-boyfriend Kem Cetinay, but has reared away from reality TV in West End and performing roles. Her cabaret role follows her professional stage debut in 9 to 5 The Musical, and her role in Bring It On: The Musical - which had it's tour cancelled due to Covid-19. Advertisement Bella Hadid cut a stylish figure as she stepped out for a swanky dinner in Rome with her beau Marc Kalman on Thursday night. The model, 25, showed off her phenomenal frame in a plunging white shirt and tight black corset as she left Dal Bolognese Restaurant arm in arm with her art director boyfriend, 33. It comes after it was announced this week that she is breaking into acting with a role on the upcoming third season of the Hulu sitcom Ramy. Model looks: Bella Hadid cut a stylish figure as she stepped out for a swanky dinner in Rome with her beau Marc Kalman on Thursday night While out and about in the Italian city Bella teamed her corset and shirt with baggy black trousers and shiny boots. She accessorised with chunky glasses and wore dangly silver earrings while wearing her long dark tresses in a half-up-half-down style and opting for a dewy, natural makeup look. Bella was also seen toting her phone, which she accessorised with a beaded wristlet from String Ting. Meanwhile Marc wore a black shirt and cream chinos as he left with his stunning girlfriend. Fashionista: The model, 25, showed off her phenomenal frame in a plunging white shirt and tight black corset as she left Dal Bolognese Restaurant arm in arm with her art director boyfriend, 33 Exciting: It comes after it was announced this week that she is breaking into acting with a role on the upcoming third season of the Hulu sitcom Ramy The look: While out and about in the Italian city Bella teamed her corset and shirt with baggy black trousers and shiny boots Looking good: She accessorised with chunky glasses and wore dangly silver earrings and carried her phone with her It comes not long after Bella spoke about her relationship with art director Marc during an interview. The star spoke about her connection to her boyfriend during a chat with Vogue, where she attributed their success as a couple to their dedication to privacy. The social media personality pointed out that 'I think that's why things have been able to last.' Bella then noted that she and Marc were uninterested in outside views on their relationship. Radiant: She wore her long dark tresses in a half-up-half-down style and opting for a dewy, natural makeup look 'When you give other people room to have opinions on things that are so personal to you, it poisons it,' she said. The couple were initially linked last year, when they were spotted having lunch with each other in New York City. Bella was previously in a high-profile relationship with The Weeknd before they parted ways in August 2019. Supermodel Bella is breaking into acting with a role on the upcoming third season of the Hulu sitcom Ramy. The little sister of Gigi will have a recurring part on the series, according to a report in Deadline. Relaxed vibes: Meanwhile Marc wore a black shirt and cream chinos as he left with his stunning girlfriend Lifting the lid: It comes not long after Bella spoke about her relationship with art director Marc during an interview Ramy was co-created by the comedian Ramy Youssef, who stars as a first generation Egyptian American in New Jersey. While the title character is the millennial product of a secular western milieu, his Muslim family and roots are more traditional and conservative. Ramy himself is conflicted about his own feelings on religion and spirituality, and the show charts his personal evolution. Previous recurring guest stars on the show have included Mahershala Ali, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for Moonlight. Love: The star spoke about her connection to her boyfriend during a chat with Vogue, where she attributed their success as a couple to their dedication to privacy Going public: The couple were initially linked last year, when they were spotted having lunch with each other in New York City Love life: Bella was previously in a high-profile relationship with The Weeknd before they parted ways in August 2019 The main cast includes such names as Hiam Abbas, who plays Ramy's mother and who can also be seen playing Brian Cox' dramatically younger wife on Succession. As far as her own faith is concerned, Bella shared in a Porter interview in 2017 that her Palestinian father Mohamed Hadid 'was always religious, and he always prayed with us. I am proud to be a Muslim.' When she covered this year's April issue of Vogue she revealed that she has developed a more ecumenical attitude. Honest: As far as her own faith is concerned, Bella shared in a Porter interview in 2017 that her Palestinian father Mohamed Hadid 'was always religious, and he always prayed with us. I am proud to be a Muslim' Looking forward to it: The little sister of Gigi will have a recurring part on the series, according to a report in Deadline Big move: Although Bella has previously acted in such projects as commercials, Ramy appears set to be the largest acting role she has taken Dining out: They enjoyed a meal at the swanky eatery Chatting: They were enjoying quality time together Happy: She couldn't keep the smile off her face 'I'm very spiritual, and I find that I connect with every religion. There's that my-way-is-the-right-way thing in human nature, but for me it's not about my god or your god. I kind of just call on whoever is willing to be there for me,' she said. Although Bella has previously acted in such projects as commercials, Ramy appears set to be the largest acting role she has taken. Bella's latest professional coup comes as she mourns the death of legendary French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier. Upset: Bella's latest professional coup comes as she mourns the death of legendary French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier Heading home: They left the restaurant and looked close Dewy: She opted for a radiant makeup look complete with a slick of light pink lip Shades: She wore designer sunglasses Stellar: Previous recurring guest stars on the show have included Mahershala Ali, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for Moonlight Casual: Marc looked happy and relaxed in his ensemble Dining: They chose what they wanted from the menu There was an attempted robbery at the Louis Vuitton store in Beverly Hills on Thursday afternoon in broad daylight when a man ran out of the luxury store with a $8,000 leather jacket. Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Jonathan Cheban - whose name has been changed to FoodGod - was walking up to the store to shop just after the incident occurred at 1:30 pm and he spoke to DailyMail.com exclusively. Several police were already on the scene as two men were reportedly arrested. 'It was a madhouse, there were so many police here in these huge bullet proof vests, and there were helicopters in the sky circling, it did not look like Beverly Hills, it looked like an action movie! This place has changed a lot,' he remarked to DailyMail.com exclusively. Chas in 90210: The Louis Vuitton store in Beverly Hills was robbed on Thursday afternoon in broad daylight when a man ran out of the store with a $8,000 leather jacket. Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Jonathan Cheban was walking up to the store to shop just after the incident occurred at 1:30 pm On the scene: Cheban arrived just after police showed up. 'It was a madhouse, there were so many police here in these huge bullet proof vests, and there were helicopters in the sky circling, it did not look like Beverly Hills, it looked like a movie! This place has changed a lot,' he remarked to DailyMail.com exclusively The attempted robbery was chaos, said a person who saw the event unravel. According to the eyewitness who spoke to DailyMail.com exclusively, the police arrived within four minutes with four SUV police cars and apprehended two suspects outside the shop. According to the Los Angeles Times which talked to the police, one suspect was caught near the store, and the other was detained by private security contractors about a block away. Because the suspects used force, they could be charged with a felony, it was added. Nasty streets of BH: Here Cheban is seen talking to a Louis Vuitton store employee after the incident occured New security: Louis Vuitton told DailyMail.com that they took in shoppers by appointment after the incident 'A man tried to run out of Louis Vuitton with a leather jacket, and security tried to apprehend him on the stairs, which resulted in a physical fight that made a lot of noise and scared shoppers out of the store,' said an onlooker to DailyMail.com. 'The suspect and the security guard were rolling down the stairs together, yelling, and fighting in front of customers it was a big scene. 'I thought someone was hurt but no one seemed to be hurt.' Cops all over the place: 'I don't wear nice watches anymore because of it. I was robbed in New Jersey and my watch was taken, so I don't even wear anything nice when I go out anymore' He was robbed in 2020: Cheban is referring to the August 2020 robbery in New Jersey where his $250,000 watch was stolen at gunpoint when he was with his mother. A suspect Victor Rivera was arrested months later in Miami 'When police arrived I saw guns and I saw a man get tackled and handcuffed on the street. It was really scary. People are talking about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. I feel bad for Chris, but this is much worse. This was intense,' said the shopper. Ceban says he is so aware of increased crime in big cities, he leaves the bling at home. 'I don't wear nice watches anymore because of it. I was robbed in New Jersey and my watch was taken, so I don't even wear anything nice when I go out anymore,' he added. Security on the streets: Beverly Hills security were seen talking to Cheban near the store as well; the city has increased their private security after a rash of crimes in the area, including a Fendi store robbery and a shooting outside Il Pastaio Cheban is referring to the August 2020 robbery in New Jersey where his $250,000 watch was stolen at gunpoint when he was with his mother. A suspect Victor Rivera was arrested months later in Miami. Beverly Hills has been hit with a string of crimes in the past year, including a robbery at Fendi and a shooting at the restaurant Il Pastaio over an expensive watch. 'It happens to often now, people don't even get shocked anymore,' said an eyewitness outside Louis Vuitton to DailyMail.com. Cheban was seen outside the store in a black sweatoutfit with sneakers and a cap, adding black sunglasses. He said he was in town for his friend Kim Kardashian's new Hulu series The Kardashians which debuts April 14. Cheban is a guest star on the show. Gary Oldman has revealed he feels 'addicted' to working, despite having moments he's considered turning his back on the industry. The three-time BAFTA Award winner has been in the industry for four decades and can currently be seen in Apple TV+ series Slow Horses. The Oscar-winning actor, 64, takes the lead as Cold Warrior Jackson Lamb and revealed he identifies with his character Jackson Lamb due to their complicated relationships with work. No slowing down: Gary Oldman has revealed he feels 'addicted' to working, despite having moments he's considered turning his back on the industry Slow Horses is based on the 2010 novel of the same name by Mick Herron, and follows a team of British intelligence agents who are now working in the dumping ground department of M15 after making some career-ending mistakes. Gary, who plays the group's leader, said he feels an affinity with Jackson because, while the character wants to walk away to his life, he can't because he is too attached. Speaking on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky on Virgin Radio on Thursday, Gary said: 'I think that Lamb gives the impression to the world that he doesn't care, and maybe, just maybe, he cares more than most. 'He might be trying to pack it all in. He is sort of treading water and watching the clock until retirement. 'But like a lot of us who maybe have occasionally felt like walking away and packing it all in, we're sort of addicted to what we do.' Playing the part: The three-time BAFTA Award winner has been in the industry for four decades and can currently be seen in Apple TV+ series Slow Horses Slow Horses was released on Apple TV+ on Friday after restrictions delayed filming and production on the series. Gary appears alongside actress Kristin Scott-Thomas, 61, who takes on the role of a spymaster, while Jack Lowden, 31, plays wannabe 007 River Cartwright. The series also stars Academy Award-nominee Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright, and The Sound Of Metal star Olivia Cooke as as Sidney 'Sid' Baker. One to watch: The Oscar-winning actor, 64, takes the lead in Slow Horses which follows a team of British intelligence agents who are now working in the dumping ground department of M15 One to watch: Kristin Scott Thomas is one of the two spymasters who oversee Lamb and his flock in Slow Horses, named after the first Slough House novel Tense: The misfits are led by wannabe 007 River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) and end up seeing more action than the intelligence officers at HQ On what viewers can expect from the series, Gary told Chris today: 'It's a spy genre, which is familiar to us, but Mick Herron has turned it upside down. 'I mean, you never see spies in a movie, leaving work and doing their laundry and going off to the pub. It's a character piece 'It's like the office set in the world of espionage.' The TV series was originally slated to begin shooting in the UK in 2020 but was shut down due to the ongoing pandemic. Promotional trail: Gary spoke on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky on Virgin Radio on Thursday What's in store: On what viewers can expect from the series, Gary told Chris today: 'It's a spy genre, which is familiar to us, but Mick Herron has turned it upside down' Slick style: Gary looked stylish as he left the Virgin Radio studios in London, wrapping up in a winter coat and matching jumper which he teamed with checked trousers Looking forward: A second series of Slow Horses has been given the go ahead and will be based on the sequel novel by author Mick, Dead Lions Filming started under strict safety protocols as London is currently under lockdown restrictions, with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson issuing a stay at home order amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Gary has long been attached to the project both as the lead and an executive producer, alongside business partner Douglas Urbanski. A second series of Slow Horses has been given the go ahead and will be based on the sequel novel by author Mick, Dead Lions. All 12 episodes of Slow Horses are now available on Apple TV+. The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky is on weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand. Stepping out: Chris ensured he caught the eye as he left the Virgin Radio studios, wearing a pair of bright orange trousers Advertisement The cast and crew of Sir Ridley Scott's historical drama about Napoleon Bonaparte were taken back in time as they filmed scenes on location in Oxfordshire on Friday. Expected for release next year, a camp of white tents and multiple French flags were seen flying as scenes were filmed this week. Extras were seen dressed in military uniforms typical of the French Revolution era during which Napoleon was the de facto leader of the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804. Remaking history: The cast and crew of Sir Ridley Scott's historical drama about Napoleon Bonaparte were taken back in time as they filmed scenes on location in Oxfordshire on Friday Extras were seen on horseback as they acted out the Revolutionary Wars while standing in a realistic camp in a battlefield. A number of big names are attached to the Apple+ movie, including Joaquin Phoenix, 47, in the titular role of Napoleon. Vanessa Kirby is to replace Jodie Comer in the project, which was formerly known as Kitbag. Setting the scene: Expected for release next year, a camp of white tents and multiple French flags were seen flying as scenes were filmed this week Movie magic: Cast members were seen on horseback as they acted out the Revolutionary Wars while standing in a realistic camp in a battlefield Battle: Extras dressed in military wear typical of the French Revolution era during which Napoleon was the de facto leader of the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804 All stars: A number of big names are attached to the Apple+ movie, with Joaquin Phoenix, 47, in the titular role of Napoleon Acting out: Vanessa Kirby is to replace Jodie Comer in the project, which was formerly known as Kitbag Telling the tale: The 33-year-old actress will play Josephine in the historical epic which centres on Napoleon's rise on the battlefield and in politics Plot: The story is set to focus on the passionate love between Napolean and Josephine in the film Clash: Killing Eve star Jodie, 28, was forced to drop out of the project because of a scheduling conflict with her theatre debut in London's West End show Prima Facie The 33-year-old actress will play Josephine in the historical epic which centres on Napoleon's rise on the battlefield and in politics, while focusing on the passionate love between him and Josephine. Killing Eve star Jodie, 28, was forced to drop out of the project because of a scheduling conflict with her theatre debut in London's West End show Prima Facie, with the star and describing the situation as 'rubbish'. She told The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast: 'Unfortunately, due to Covid and changes of schedule, I don't think I can make Kitbag work right now due to a scheduling conflict.' Gutted about it: Jodie said she thought her not being able to appear in the film was 'rubbish' earlier this year Unfortunate: She told The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast: 'Unfortunately, due to Covid and changes of schedule, I don't think I can make Kitbag work right now' Steamy scenes? Sources previously indicated that the part would be Jodie's raunchiest role yet Stepping in: Although Vanessa whose previous credits include The Crown and Hobbs & Shaw will now take on the responsibility of portraying Napoleon's lover Speaking out: An insider said last year: 'Jodie has done sexy roles before but nothing like this, it's really pushing the boundaries' Sources previously indicated that the part would be Jodie's raunchiest role yet, although Vanessa whose previous credits include The Crown and Hobbs & Shaw will now take on the responsibility of portraying Napoleon's lover. An insider said last year: 'Jodie has done sexy roles before but nothing like this, it's really pushing the boundaries. But she felt it was right for the character and has thrown caution to the wind on it.' The drama about Napoleon Bonaparte will look at the French leader's climb to power through the lens of their volatile relationship. Inside information: They added: 'But she felt it was right for the character and has thrown caution to the wind on it' Rising up: The drama about Napoleon Bonaparte will look at the French leader's climb to power through the lens of their volatile relationship Insight: Napoleon and Josephine's relationship is described as, 'addictive and often volatile,' with Josephine said to be his, 'one true love' Booking them in: Apple Studios picked up the project in October 2020 with Sir Ridley coming aboard to direct, reuniting with his Gladiator star Phoenix Personal interest: Speaking about the film, Sir Ridley said: 'Napoleon is a man I've always been fascinated by' Passion behind his work: 'He came out of nowhere to rule everything but all the while he was waging a romantic war with his adulterous wife Josephine,' he added Napoleon and Josephine's relationship is described as, 'addictive and often volatile,' with Josephine said to be his, 'one true love'. Apple Studios picked up the project in October 2020 with Sir Ridley coming aboard to direct, reuniting with his Gladiator star Phoenix. Speaking about the film, Sir Ridley said: 'Napoleon is a man I've always been fascinated by. Leading the way: Joaquin Phoenix is set to play the titular character in the movie (pictured at the Oscars in 2021) Historical figure: Napoleon Bonaparte, pictured here, succeeded in transforming France into a continent-spanning empire and was well known for his military expertise Prioritising: Jodie (left) put stage before silver screen by pulling out of the film after signing up to play Empress Josephine with Vanessa (right) taking her place (both pictured last year) 'He came out of nowhere to rule everything but all the while he was waging a romantic war with his adulterous wife Josephine. 'He conquered the world to try to win her love, and when he couldn't, he conquered it to destroy her. 'No actor could ever embody Napoleon like Joaquin.' The film is due to be released on Apple TV+ next year. Fans have speculated that Bruce Willis' brain disorder may have been to blame for his famous rambling appearance on The One Show. Sources are calling for a 'sympathetic re-evaluation' of his odd 2013 interview on the show that led him to be ridiculed even though he may have already been suffering the affects of aphasia. This week the Die Hard veteran's family shared news the 67-year-old was quitting acting as he has the condition - a neuro-cognitive disorder that effects the sufferers ability to speak and understand language. Difficult: Fans have speculated that Bruce Willis' brain disorder may have been to blame for his infamously rambling appearance on The One Show During the interview he was unable to put together a sentence and stuttered over his words - something he later blamed on being jet lagged. When asked a question about an upcoming film he bizarrely responded saying 'have a sandwich and let's go shopping'. Host Alex Jones said after the chat: 'He had a very dry sense of humour, which just didn't translate, and he wasn't 100% sure about the film he was promoting. 'He really wanted to create a good impression. He kept asking: 'How's this going?' and I had to say: 'Not great, to be honest'.' One fan of the actor tweeted in the wake of his family going public with his aphasia diagnosis: 'I remember that One Show interview when Bruce Willis was slated by the press. Now we discover he has aphasia.' Unwell: Sources are calling for a 'sympathetic re-evaluation' of his odd 2013 interview on the show that led him to be ridiculed even though he may have already been suffering the affects of aphasia (Alex Jones and Matt Baker laugh in reaction to his ramblings during the chat) Another wrote: 'As soon as I read the news I remembered this weird interview. Now we know why he behaved like this. Is really sad to know that he struggled for so long.' Someone else said: 'Now everything makes sense... This breaks my heart' before a fourth wrote: 'This hits different when you get to know that he actually has afasia, a neurodegenerative disease.' A source has told now also MailOnline: 'Bruce's condition shows that not everything is at it seems on the surface. Sad: This week the Die Hard veteran's family shared news the 67-year-old was quitting acting as he has the condition - a neuro-cognitive disorder that effects the sufferers ability to speak and understand language Awkward: During the interview he was unable to put together a sentence and stuttered over his words - something he later blamed on being jet lagged 'He was absolutely hammered over his One Show appearance, getting called arrogant, with all sorts of rumours flying about whether he was intoxicated. 'But every sign now points to him being unable to understand questions or string sentences together due to aphasia.' A representative for Bruce has been contacted by MailOnline for a comment. He said after his One Show appearance: 'I have to apologise. I didn't get very many compliments about it. They said he was a little stale. 'But I was so jet-lagged. I'm very sorry, you kids on The One Show. I'm sure it's not their problem. I was a little bit boring, I think. I had a little sinking spell, that's all.' Reaction: One fan of the actor tweeted in the wake of his family going public with his aphasia diagnosis: 'I remember that One Show interview when Bruce Willis was slated by the press. Now we discover he has aphasia' It comes after earlier this week friends and family of Bruce said they believe that a head injury he suffered on the set of the 2002 action movie Tears of the Sun could be the cause of the debilitating brain disease that has ended his career, but a special effects worker on the movie denied the claim. Family - including ex-wife Demi Moore, current wife Emma Heming and daughter Rumer Willis - announced on Wednesday that the Die Hard actor was diagnosed with aphasia. As a result, Willis was 'stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.' An unnamed friend told The Sun that his family believes that the disability could be linked to a hit he took to the head on the action-rescue film. Odd: When asked a question about an upcoming film he bizarrely responded saying 'have sandwich and let's go shopping' (pictured the viewers in the studio react) Willis sued the production company, Revolution Studio, and the action movie's special effects professional Joe Pancake in 2004, claiming he had suffered 'substantial mental and physical injuries' after he had been hit by a 'squib' - a special effects explosive meant to look like the impact of gunfire, during the October 2002 production. Pancake called Willis's injuries 'bullsh--' in an interview with DailyMail.com on Thursday. 'The judge laughed him out of court,' Pancake said. According to the special effects guy, Willis and three other actors were firing off hundreds of rounds of blanks from their automatic rifles and a 'hot shell casing' hit the actor in the forehead. In the film, Willis played the role of Lt. A.K. Waters, a battle-hardened combat soldier leading his troop on a mission to save a humanitarian doctor pinned down by rebels in the jungle of Nigeria. The suit claims that the actor endured 'extreme mental, physical and emotional pain and suffering' from his injuries. Lawyers for the Die Hard actor said in court papers that Willis 'was required to and did employ physicians and other medical personnel.' The suit was settled in August 2005, but it's unclear if any money exchanged hands. Support: Shortly after sharing their father's diagnosis, the Willis sisters were flooded with support from their friends and followers on Instagram; (L-R) Rumer Willis, Bruce Willis, Tallulah Belle Willis, Demi Moore, Marlene Willis and Scout LaRue Willis pictured in 2018 No one at Revolution Studio, which also made 'Hellboy' and 'Black Hawk Down,' was available comment. Willis's cognitive problems became an open secret in Hollywood, according to reports. 'It was becoming super obvious he was having trouble,' an unnamed source told PageSix. 'He could not act anymore.' Oh no: It comes after earlier this week friends and family of Bruce said they believe that a head injury he suffered on the set of the 2002 action movie Tears of the Sun could be the cause of the debilitating brain disease As the Daily Mail exclusively reported, he was photographed in a scene in his new movie American Siege, which was filmed in 2020, wearing an earpiece. He also relied on an earpiece to be fed his lines in 2015 Broadway production of 'Misery,' OK Magazine reported. He was also reportedly struggling during the filming of M. Night Shyamalan's 2019 film Glass. Luke Newton wowed Bridgerton fans in the latest Netflix series but he was not so dapper in his younger years as he stripped naked during his secret pop career. The 29-year-old who is known for playing impeccable mannered Colin Bridgerton, returned for series two after being sent away from London due to a scandal. Fans went wild to see the second youngest family members return following travelling the world after the Marina Thompson incident. Now: Luke Newton wowed Bridgerton fans in the latest Netflix series but he was not so dapper in his younger years as he stripped naked during his secret pop career During Luke's younger years he starred on BBC Two shows and Disney Channel's The Lodge. However many fans won't be aware he once earnt 1million after being signed to a record label. The handsome actor was once a member of a four-piece boyband, South 4 which was dubbed 'Sussex's answer to One Direction.' In 2012, the band signed a million pound deal with Eagle Music and released their debut single Cougar Town. Hard to miss! Before rising to fame as the Regency heartthrob, the actor was a member of Sussex-based boyband South 4 Throwback: Many fans won't be aware that the 29-year-old who is known for playing Colin Bridgerton, once earnt 1million after being signed to a record label Singing career: The handsome actor was once a member of South 4 which was dubbed 'Sussex's answer to One Direction' Record deal: In 2012, the band signed a million pound deal with Eagle Music and released their debut single Cougar Town Pose: The band which was made up of 19-year-old Oli Evans, 18-year-old Luke Newton and their mates Joel Baylis and Henry Tredinnick (pictured 2012) The band which was made up of 19-year-old Oli Evans, 18-year-old Luke Newton and their mates Joel Baylis and Henry Tredinnick. The four met while studying at Brit School, which has produced the likes of Adele, Jessie J and The Kooks. In the music video, Luke was seen stripping down naked covered his modesty with just a Union Jack flag. BRIT school trained Luke smoldering at the camera as he hid his naked body from view under the giant flag, as he sat shoulder-to-shoulder with his bandmates. Unfortunately, the group failed to make an impression in the industry but luckily Luke pursued acting and landed a role in a Disney show. The star - who is dating Jade Davies, the younger sister of Love Island star Amber Davies - also landed a role in BBC drama The Cut. Though Luke's boyband career ended quite quickly he still sings for fun and shares his talents with fans on Instagram. In 2020, he landed his role in Bridgerton, and it is believed the third series which will hopefully be released next year, will focus around Luke's love life. Crushed: Unfortunately, the group failed to make an impression in the industry but luckily Luke pursued acting and landed a role in a Disney show Moving on: Though Luke's boyband career ended quite quickly he still sings for fun and shares his talents with fans on Instagram It comes as this week, the Netflix series announced a spin-off show focusing on a young Queen Charlotte's rise to prominence and power. The new series which has already started filming, will follow the origin stories of Queen Charlotte, Violet Bridgerton (played by Ruth Gemmell), and Lady Danbury (played by Adjoa Andoh). It is reported that Bridgerton had racked up an incredible 193 million hours of viewing time worldwide in the three days after its premiere last week. Acting: In 2020, he landed his role in Bridgerton, and it is believed the third series which will hopefully be released next year, will focus around Luke's love life Big dreams: The four met while studying at Brit School, which has produced the likes of Adele, Jessie J and The Kooks He played the role of Ian Beale in EastEnders for an action packed 36 years. But Adam Woodyatt, 54, has revealed that there are 'no plans' for him to return to the iconic soap. Speaking on Friday's edition of Steph's Packed Lunch, the star revealed that he had 'fallen in love with acting' again since leaving the show, as he has returned to performing on stage. No going back: EastEnders star actor Adam Woodyatt, 54, has revealed that there are 'no plans' for him to return to the iconic soap With Adam having appeared in over 3,000 episodes of EastEnders, Steph asked: 'Why did you choose to leave?' Adam replied: 'I've kind of left, but not left. It's kind of the way the story line has goneI'm not there.' With rumours swirling of the actor's imminent return, the host asked: 'So you could go back?'. Returning? With rumours swirling of the actor's imminent return, the actor was asked: 'So you could go back?' after his exit last year Speaking out: Adam said: 'I've kind of left, but not left. It's kind of the way the story line has gone I'm not there' Adam replied: 'I could go back and I could not go back! I don't know. The speculation has been hysterical. I think everyone is always going to speculate. But there are no plans at the moment.' The actor is reuniting with his on screen wife Laurie Brett, who played Jane Beale, to tour the country in a new play titled Looking Good Dead. Based on the novel by Peter James and is a thriller about an unsuspecting father who witnesses a grisly murder. Treading the boards: The actor is reuniting with his on screen wife Laurie Brett, who played Jane Beale, to tour the country in a new play titled Looking Good Dead Co-Star: Co-Star Laurie joined Adam on Friday's show where they spoke about their friendship Back together: Adam also spoke about how liberating it has been to play a different character: 'I've been having a ball. Being back on stage, I'd forgotten why I fell in love with acting because you get that immediate response Adam also spoke about how liberating it has been to play a different character: 'I've been having a ball. Being back on stage, I'd forgotten why I fell in love with acting because you get that immediate response. 'You've got an audience. If you do something on television, you could be waiting six weeks to three months a year.' Other plays based on novels by the author have starred fellow soap stars Jessie Wallace, Rita Simons, Shane Ritchie and Tina Hobley. Adam said: 'You've got an audience. If you do something on television, you could be waiting six weeks to three months a year.' (Pictured with L-R Simon Rimmer, Steph McGovern, Laurie Brett) Looking good dead: Based on the novel by Peter James and is a thriller about an unsuspecting father who witnesses a grisly murder (pictured on stage with co-star Laurie Brett) Soap bosses are said to be keen to get the actor back on board after Danny Dyer, 44, quit his role as Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter in January. However, it is claimed if Adam were to return now, he will have to pay his wife of 22 years Beverley Sharp more in their divorce settlement following their split in 2020. A source told The Sun: 'Adam was one of the highest earners in EastEnders and theres no doubt hed be looking to come back on at least the same amount of money, if not more. Star power: A source told The Sun : 'Adam was one of the highest earners in EastEnders and theres no doubt hed be looking to come back on at least the same amount of money, if not more Farewell: It is claimed Adam is wanted back in Walford as a familiar face after Danny Dyer, 44 (pictured), announced he was leaving after nine years at the start of this year Adam left EastEnders last year before appearing on ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in November and December. It comes after it was reported Adam has been entertaining BBC beautician Claire Martignetti in his campervan, which is parked up in Dartford, Kent. A caravan owner on the site where Adam lives told The Sun: 'Whatever the cause of his marriage break-up, Adam certainly seems to have moved on now. Separated: However, it is claimed if Adam returns, he will have to pay his wife of 22 years Beverley Sharp more in their divorce settlement following their 2020 split (pictured 2017) 'He has been staying in his caravan with his new partner. She has been seen going in, and coming out the next morning, heading to the shower blocks.' The publication also reports that she takes him to the local Orchard Theatre, where he is appearing in thriller Looking Good Dead. The source added: 'Clare and Adam seem to be very close. They are often seen arm in arm and appear very relaxed in each other's company. Ventures: The actor said he was open to a return to Albert Square, after rounding off 2021 with an appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! (pictured on ITV reality show) The actor is yet to finalise his divorce from his spouse, with whom he shares two children, and allegedly signed on the dotted line to receive 250,000 for his appearance on the ITV reality show. And Bev was said to not be impressed with the deal according to The Sun which claims she's struggling to make ends meet. An insider claimed that it was 'maddening' for Bev that the TV star decided to 'traipse off to Wales' for I'm A Celebrity before their divorce is even finalised. Stephs Packed Lunch airs weekdays at 12.30pm on Channel 4 and All 4 Rep. Park Jin of the main opposition People Power Party, the leader of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's seven-member delegation to the U.S., delivers opening remarks during a diplomacy forum at the National Assembly in Seoul's Yeouido, Wednesday. Yonhap By Jung Da-min President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's delegation to the United States, led by veteran lawmaker Rep. Park Jin of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), is set to depart for Washington, D.C., on Sunday for a week-long trip, according to Yoon's spokeswoman Rep. Kim Eun-hye, Friday. Attention is on whether the president-elect's delegation will meet U.S. President Joe Biden to deliver Yoon's message or discuss a future first summit between Yoon and Biden. Spokeswoman Kim said the delegation's visit was aimed at policy coordination with Washington before Yoon's inauguration, which falls on May 10. "The delegation will be meeting key figures with expertise to draw practical policy consultations," she said during a press briefing at the Korea Banking Institute in downtown Seoul. Earlier on Thursday, Rep. Park told reporters at the Financial Supervisory Service's training center that he will make sure to deliver the president-elect's message in any form. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, left and U.S. President Joe Biden. Yonhap, EPA "We are currently adjusting the schedule as to who we will be meeting during the visit while keeping all possibilities open," Park said. There is also the possibility that the delegation will hold a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as Blinken could attend an in-person meeting with foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Council at NATO headquarters in Brussels on April 6 and 7. The seven-member delegation is expected to meet key figures and policymakers in the Joe Biden administration, Congress and think tanks to discuss economic security issues in the East Asian region and the international community. The delegation is especially expected to coordinate on North Korea policy with its U.S. counterparts, as the delegation's visit to Washington follows Pyongyang's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch last Thursday, in violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and seen as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's abandonment of a self-imposed moratorium on ICBM tests since late 2017. As well as Park, the deputy leader of the delegation is PPP Rep. Cho Tae-yong, who formerly served as a vice foreign minister under the previous Park Geun-hye administration. The other five members are: Seoul National University (SNU) political science and international relations professor Chung Jae-ho, SNU Graduate School of International Studies professor Park Cheol-hee, former South Korean Embassy defense attache in Washington Pyo Se-woo, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy researcher Yeon Won-ho, and the president-elect's spokesperson for foreign press Kang In-sun. President-elect Yoon has been committed to diplomacy policy promises of strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance. He is reviewing a plan to visit U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, next week, to meet leaders of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), including General Paul LaCamera, commander of the United Nations Command (UNC), CFC and United States Forces Korea (USFK). David Koechner has been charged with DUI and hit-and-run after being arrested on New Year's Eve in California. TMZ reported that the Ventura County DA's office has charged the Anchorman actor, 59, with the two misdemeanor charges. The site noted that the entertainer will appear in court in a 'few weeks' to determine if he'll serve time or not. Trouble with the law: David Koechner has been charged with DUI and hit-and-run after being arrested on New Year's Eve in California Koechner is a first time offender, so it's likely he'll be punished with probation and an alcohol education course, avoiding jail time. At around 3PM on December 31, 2021 police in Simi Valley, California were called about an 'erratic driver.' Koechner was asked to perform field sobriety tests which he failed after allegedly hitting a street sign with his car. His vehicle was towed shortly afterwards. According to law enforcement he had two flat tires when he was pulled over and blew a .13 in the field and .12 back at the station. Charged: The Ventura County DA's office has charged the Anchorman actor, 59, with the two misdemeanor charges Records detail how he was booked into Ventura County Jail at 5:15pm that day, to be released the following morning on New Year's Day, just before 6am. His original court date was scheduled for March 30 at the Ventura County Superior Court. One day after he was released from jail, DailyMail.com obtained exclusive photos of the actor filling up a badly dented car at a Shell gas station, though it is not known if the car was the one involved in December 31 crash. Tour dates: Despite his legal woes, the comedian posted to Instagram on Thursday to promote his upcoming show in Oklahoma Despite his legal woes, the comedian posted to Instagram on Thursday to promote his upcoming show in Oklahoma. Sharing a video with his 115,000 followers, he started off the reel singing the 1971 song Never Been to Spain by Three Dog Night. 'In Oklahoma, not Arizona. What does it matter?' he crooned before stopping to say, 'It matters a lot. Why? I'm coming for ya, Oklahoma City.' 'I'm talking about Thursday, March 31, ok? And then we're going to roll into April,' he said excitedly. The father-of-five wrote in the caption, 'The Blue Skies & Dirty Lies tour rolls in at @bricktowncomedy this weekend. Some stand-up comicals. Plus, #TheOffice trivia with ol Pack-Man himself on Saturday afternoon. Ticket deets in my bio link.' Friction: Back in January the entertainer's estranged wife Leigh Morgan Koechner asked a Los Angeles court to suspend his visitation rights with their five children following his DUI bust Back in January the entertainer's estranged wife Leigh Morgan Koechner asked a Los Angeles court to suspend his visitation rights with their five children following his DUI bust. She also petitioned for 'safeguards be put in place to ensure (Koechner's) sobriety,' per TMZ. The actor fought the visitation request, stating that none of the former couple's kids were in the car at the time of his drunk driving arrest on December 31. Leigh and David were married in 1998 and share five children: sons Charlie and Sargent and daughters Audrey, Margot and Eve. After 22 years of marriage, David filed to divorce Leigh in 2020 and in his filing, asked for joint legal and physical custody of their three minor kids at the time. She beat out the competition to win a 250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar for her swimwear business in 2018. But Sian Gabbidon's boyfriend Clint Gordon stole the limelight on Friday as it was revealed he had started filming on Coronation Street. The Apprentice star, 29, took to Twitter to repost the announcement from her beau's management company. Proud: Sian Gabbidon's boyfriend Clint Gordon stole the limelight on Friday as it was revealed he had started filming on Coronation Street Alongside a picture of Clint and Corrie, Sian penned: 'PROUD GIRLFRIEND ALERT. Go Clint.' It is not yet clear what character or role Clint will play in the hit soap, but he has starting filming scenes this week. Sian gushed about her other half, who she has been dating for more than ten years, when she won the business show in 2018. Announcement: The Apprentice star, 29, took to Twitter to repost the announcement from her beau's management company Good luck: Alongside a picture of Clint and Corrie, Sian penned: 'PROUD GIRLFRIEND ALERT. Go Clint.' She said: 'He's been amazing. He has been my rock throughout this whole process. 'The hardest part of The Apprentice was being away from my family and my boyfriend for that long.' Before the finale aired, the swimwear designer spoke to MailOnline about her rivalry with runner-up Camilla Ainsworth whose 'gourmet nut milk' brand didn't quite impress. Winner: Sian gushed about her other half, who she has been dating for more than ten years, when she won the business show in 2018 Lord Sugar chose Sian despite describing her company as a cottage industry, and rightly so given that she had sold only 400 bespoke swimsuits during its two years trading. The multi-millionaire mogul rejected a product perfectly suited to the booming market in non-dairy alternative milk drinks a business already worth 300 million. Sian told MailOnline how having a backbone, and the constant support of her boyfriend, means she can handle 'brutal' Lord Sugar. Addressing the cattiness with the Nut Milk entrepreneur, Sian admitted she didn't go on the BBC show to make friends, and asserted that it's sometimes necessary to be 'ruthless' to win. Legendary Hollywood actor Warren Beatty, who starred in Splendor In The Grass with Natalie Wood, Bonnie & Clyde with Faye Dunaway and Dick Tracy with Madonna, has turned 85-year-old. And the icon was treated to a jovial celebration with his large family in attendance this week. His 63-year-old wife Annette Bening, whom he co-starred with in the epic gangster film Bugsy, was host and he was surrounded by their children. Happy 85th birthday! Warren Beatty kicked off his birthday celebrations with his kids including daughter Isabel (left) and son Benjamin (right) this week Early days: Annette Bening and Beatty with their children in 2005 (L-R) Isabel, Ella, Benjamin, and Stephen, who was born Kathlyn Elizabeth and transitioned to a boy at 14 Together they have Stephen Ira, 30, Isabel, 25, Benjamin, 27, and Ella, 21. (Stephen, born Kathlyn Elizabeth Beatty, has talked openly about his transition to being a boy from the age of 14.) Warren's actual birthday fell on Wednesday. Isabel posted photos on Twitter on Thursday. She was seen with her silver screen dad as well as her brother Benjamin. Warren was pictured behind a chocolate cake with candles. 'Deleting this in a lil bit but i think its sooo sweet so i post,' she captioned snap before adding, 'Not deleting, the energy is too sweet to delete!' Where it all began: Annette and Warren in 1991's Bugsy, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 10 categories, including Best Picture They have great chemistry! Here the couple are seen on the set of Love Affair in 1994 The couple fell in love on the set of Bugsy in 1990, where, upon inviting her to his house after dinner one night, Beatty famously asked his co-star, 'Do you want to have a baby with me?' The line worked, as they now share four children together. Talking about their long romance, the four-time Oscar nominee mused to Us Weekly back in April, 'There is no secret as anyone whos been married knows.' 'We have an incredible family, we have beautiful children,' she continued. 'Weve been through a lot. Its the center of life. Its the most important thing. Its everything.' Hollywood royalty: Bening and Beatty in 1998 for the premiere of Bulworth in Beverly Hills, which Beatty wrote, directed, produced and starred in Her man: Bening and Beatty hold hands at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in June 2019 in New York City 'I waited a long time to be married,' Beatty told AARP The Magazine in 2016. 'When you dont get married until you're 54...well, as Arthur Miller said, "It comes with the territory." I always knew I wanted to have children. 'I wanted to do it well, and I wanted to do it with someone who felt the same way.' At the annual AARP Movies for Grownups Awards in Los Angeles in 20202 Bening, who that night was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by actor Billy Crudup, thanked a Rolodex of A-listers throughout her speech. But when the actress got to her husband, the American Beauty star choked up as she let out a simple, 'I love you.' She flew into the UK from her new home, Dubai, earlier this week. And Laura Anderson, is making the most of her visit as she strutted her stuff in a plunging lilac blazer dress and mint green crocodile knee high boots while out in London on Thursday. The Scottish beauty, 32, put on a leggy display in the thigh skimming dress, which revealed her braless cleavage, as she showcased her sun kissed glow. Wow: Love Island's Laura Anderson went braless beneath a plunging lilac blazer dress paired with mint green boots during a stylish outing in London on Thursday Laura looked incredible as ever in the revealing cut out jacket and pointed toe stiletto boots. The former Love Island contestant carried a grey leather shoulder bag and accessorised with a simple gold chain necklace. The reality personality opted for a pretty neutral pallet of make-up and wore her blonde tresses in soft waves. Stunner: The Scottish beauty, 32, put on a leggy display in the thigh skimming dress, which revealed her braless cleavage, as she showcased her sunkissed glow Pretty: The former Love Island contestant carried a grey leather shoulder bag and accessorised with a simple gold chain necklace Glowing: The reality personality opted for a pretty neutral pallet of make-up and wore her brunette tresses in soft waves The former air hostess moved to Dubai in April last year, to be with her musician boyfriend Dane Bowers, 41. Laura recently underwent a hair transformation, chopping her long extensions into a chic bob after being inspired by Nicole Scherzinger. The TV personality took to Instagram last week to debut the new look, filming herself with her long blonde tresses before cutting to the glamorous shorter hairdo. Wow! Laura recently underwent a hair transformation, chopping her long extensions into a chic bob after being inspired by Nicole Scherzinger Wearing a full face of glamorous makeup accentuating her pretty features, she donned a simple grey t-shirt for the first clip, with her hair styled poker straight. She then underwent both a hair makeover and an outfit change, slipping into a hot pink blazer, with her new hair do styled in curls. Laura was inspired by Nicole who also underwent a chop earlier this week, and revealed her new hairdo the same way with the same audio. Captioning the video, Laura wrote: 'I did it. Inspired by the Scherzy'. Ree Drummond's husband Ladd is doing much better after an accident one year ago left him with a broken neck. The Pioneer Woman, 53, gave an update on his condition in a blog post she shared where she told fans that he's back to doing many of the things he enjoys. 'He's lifting weights,' she divulged. 'He's riding his horse. He's feeding cattle and doing all the work on the ranch he always did.' Recovering well: Ree Drummond's husband Ladd is doing much better after an accident one year ago left him with a broken neck (pictured 2017) Though he is back to his old self in many ways, Drummond did concede that his neck will probably never entirely go back to the way it was before the accident. 'Sure, his neck is still a little stiff and probably always will be,' she said. 'He can no longer whip his head around when I call "Oh, Honey????? Can you do me a favor????" from the other room. (And this is probably okay with him, haha). 'So all in all, I'm giving thanks today Ladd is pretty much back to normaljust in time for spring burning to start, by the way. I repeat: Jesus take the wheel.' Much improved: The Pioneer Woman, 53, gave an update on his condition in a blog post she shared last Saturday where she told fans that he's back to doing many of the things he enjoys Not totally back to normal: Though he is back to his old self in many ways, Drummond did concede that his neck will never entirely go back to the way it was before the accident Ladd and the couple's nephew, Caleb, were each driving a Himmat fire truck when they collided 'head on' according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol at the time of the accident. The OHP reported that the accident was the result of 'high winds on a gravel road.' Neither man happened to be wearing a seat belt and Caleb was 'ejected approximately 70 feet from point of rest.' Caleb survived the ordeal though he was arrested later in 2021 on a DUI charge unrelated to the accident. In her recent blog post, Drummond reiterated just how devastating her husband's injury almost was. Bad accident: Ladd and the couple's nephew, Caleb, were each driving a Himmat fire truck when they collided 'head on' according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (pictured 2017) Wedding accessory: Ladd wore a neck brace to his daughter Alex's wedding though he took it off before walking down the aisle 'The surgeon had told us that the fracture in his neck came dangerously close to damaging his spinal cord, and the fact that he was lucky to be able to get up and walk around after surgery was not lost on Ladd,' she said. Ever the resilient man, Ladd didn't wait long before pushing himself, going as far as driving a truck around their ranch just days after surgery according to Ree. He also removed the neck brace he wore in order to walk his daughter Alex down the aisle at her wedding. Drummond said her faith helped her to not worry so much when her beau decided to push what he could do. 'Fortunately, I've been married to this dude for 25 years and I asked Jesus to take the wheel many years ago, so I was able to throw my hands up and surrender when these envelopes were pushed,' she wrote. Happy family: Ree married Ladd on September 21, 1996. The couple shares five children: Alex, 24, Paige, 22, Bryce, 19, Todd, 18, and their foster son Jamar Ree married Ladd on September 21, 1996. They honeymooned in Australia. The couple shares five children: Alex, 24, Paige, 22, Bryce, 19, Todd, 18, and their foster son Jamar. They have a close familial relationship as evidenced by when they all had to band together to film The Pioneer Woman television show on The Food Network during the pandemic. Emily Ratajkowski gave a glimpse of her long legs as she walked around New York City with her son Sylvester on Friday. The model, 30, stepped out in an oversized yellow sweater and tall leather cowboy boots. The sweater, ruffled at the hem and around the her wrists and collar, stopped at mid-thigh accentuating her legs. Out with Sylvester: Emily Ratajkowski gave a glimpse over her long legs as she walked around New York City with her son Sylvester on Friday She added a pair of dark sunglasses and some gold By Alona earrings to her look, and she wore her hair down and parted in the middle. She carried her iPhone with a bright red case and an Army green mask in one hand while she pushed the stroller with her other. Ratajkowski shares her little one with her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard. The couple married back in 2018. These boots were made for walking: The model, 30, stepped out in an oversized yellow sweater and tall leather cowboy boots Hair down: She added a pair of dark sunglasses and some gold By Alona earrings to her look, and she wore her hair down and parted in the middle Ratajkowski announced the pregnancy in October 2020 and was born on March 8, 2021. Ratajkowski's appearance out came just a day after she posted several pictures in remembrance of French photographer Patrick Demarchelier who passed away at age 78. Emily Ratajkowski posted several photos from a completely nude photo shoot she did with Love Magazine and Patrick back in 2017. In the photos, which she edited slightly to obscure her nipples, Ratajkowski bent over a table and sitting on it as well. Her hair, presumably a wig, was very short and she even had small bangs that barely touched her eyebrows. She captioned the set of photos, 'Ratajkowski captioned the series of photos, 'So honored to have worked with the legend and the most lovely @patrickdemarchelier you will be missed.' Cindy Crawford, Bella Hadid, Heidi Klum and a whole host of other stars also posted in honor of the late Normandy native. Sydney Sweeney and Gillian Anderson kickstarted their weekends with a sensational display of fashion on Friday. The actresses, 24 and 53 respectively, were among the stars in attendance at the 5th Canneseries Festival at Palais des Festivals in France, and took to the pink carpet for a series of stunning photos. Euphoria star Sydney looked phenomenal in a busty tiered dress, which spotlighted her assets and was bound to leave her turning heads. Wow: Sydney Sweeney (left) was a vision in a busty tiered dress while leather-clad Gillian Anderson (right) rocked a multi-coloured gown by Chloe for the Canneseries Festival at Palais des Festivals in France on Friday The gorgeous ensemble cinched in at her waist and boasted a complementary neck appendage, while she added a generous amount of height to her svelte frame with Louboutins. The American film and TV star secured her ponytail with a black bow from Discover Night and she kept several strands loose around her face which created a tousled effect. Meanwhile, Sex Education star Gillian was leather-clad in a multi-coloured dress, which featured overlaying segments in multiple hues. Gorgeous: Sydney, 24, took to the pink carpet for a series of stunning photos Commanding attention: Euphoria star Sydney looked phenomenal in her jaw-dropping ensemble, which spotlighted her assets and was bound to leave her turning heads Pose: The gorgeous ensemble cinched in at her waist and boasted a complementary neck appendage All smiles: Four-time SAG Award winner Gillian teamed the almost floor-length ensemble with simplistic gold heels, which were just about visible Pink carpet: Gillian carried her belongings in a suede bag, the maroon colour matching the dominant feature on her dress The four-time SAG Award winner teamed the almost floor-length ensemble with simplistic gold heels, which were just about visible. Like Sweeney, she swept back her blonde tresses but let two strands frame her glowing face. Gillian carried her belongings in a suede bag, the maroon colour matching the dominant feature on her dress. Congratulations: On the opening night of the 5th festival, Gillian scooped the Variety Icon Award Here you go! Canneseries, Cannes' International Series Festival, aims to represent and highlight series from all over the world and runs for six days Happy days: Gillian looked elated as she took to the podium to deliver a speech Well done: Sydney was also a recipient of an award, recognised as the Madame Figaro Rising Star Beaming: Sydney gestured to the crowd as she said a few words Thrilled: Gillian was awarded her Variety Icon Award during the opening ceremony Photo opportunity: The actress stopped for a photo against the bright pink Canneseries backdrop Canneseries, Cannes' International Series Festival, aims to represent and highlight series from all over the world and runs for six days. And on the opening night of the 5th festival, Gillian scooped the Variety Icon Award, looking on proudly as she clutched her glass gong. Sydney was also a recipient of an award, recognised as the Madame Figaro Rising Star. Carey Mulligan took inspiration from the 90s on Friday as she headed out in New York wearing double denim. While the English actress may have kept her look both comfortable and casual, she still managed to showcase her style as she wove in the denim with a simple blue jacket and a paler shade of jeans. The BAFTA Award winner, 36, kept warm in a knit jumper and deemed comfort to be key as she stepped out in black trainers. Outing: Carey Mulligan channelled the 90s in double denim as she headed for a spot of shopping with a friend in New York on Friday Carey went makeup free for the outing and kept her locks concealed with a navy cap. It looked as though the film star had her hands full, with a black rucksack slung over her shoulder, an additional jacket bundled in her hands, while a large Target bag held a selection of goods. The London-born actress looked content as she walked alongside her friend through the Lower Manhattan neighbourhood of Tribeca. Shopping: While the English actress may have kept her look both comfortable and casual, she still managed to showcase her style Hands full: The BAFTA Award winner, 36, kept warm in a knit jumper and deemed comfort to be key as she stepped out in black trainers Casual: Carey went makeup free for the outing and kept her locks concealed with a navy cap Baggage: It looked as though the film star had her hands full, with a black rucksack slung over her shoulder, an additional jacket bundled in her hands, while a large Target bag held a selection of goods Friday fun: The London-born actress looked content as she walked alongside her friend through the Lower Manhattan neighbourhood of Tribeca Earlier this year, Carey ensured she turned out to support good pal Jamie Dornan at a screening for his new movie, Belfast, in Los Angeles. Clad in a boucle trouser suit, the actress exuded glamour while enjoying a catch up with the Irish actor, 39. Carey's cream co-ord complemented her tanned complexion and featured an eye-catching fringed hem. Delightful duo: Earlier this year, Carey ensured she turned out to support good pal Jamie Dornan at a screening for his new movie, Belfast, in Los Angeles Opting for minimal makeup, the BAFTA winning star allowed her natural beauty to shine through and styled her glossy chestnut locks in loose waves to frame her pretty features. Looking equally as stylish was Jamie, who cut a dapper figure in a tailored charcoal grey suit. Carey and Jamie have been friends for 18 years after meeting on the set of Pride and Prejudice in which Carey starred alongside Jamie's then-girlfriend Keira Knightley. Kanye West has for months been lashing out at his estranged wife Kim Kardashian on social media for her parenting skills and choice to date SNL comedian Pete Davidson. And on Friday a source told PageSix that the 44-year-old rapper, who goes by Ye now, has told his ex that he will no longer make negative comments about her on social media and he is also 'going away to get help.' The two seem to have been on better terms as on Sunday they were seen talking at their son Saint's game in Los Angeles. He may be getting help: Kanye West told Kim Kardashian that 'he's going away to get help' for his anger issues, according to PageSix; seen in 2020 Together Kim and Kanye co-parent North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four and Psalm, two. DailyMail.com has contacted Kim's rep for comment. A rep for West told Page Six, 'At this time, Ye is committed to a healthy co-parenting relationship with Kim and is and focused on raising their beautiful children.' The site's source said that Kanye plans to better the family situation. 'For the sake of the kids, Kanye has told Kim he's not making any public appearances or inflammatory social media statements, and he will go away somewhere to get better,' said a Kardashian family 'insider' to the site. Family matters: Together Kim and Kanye co-parent North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four and Psalm, two The source added that 'it wasn't clear if West planned to go into a treatment facility, as he has stayed in Los Angeles to be with his and Kardashian's four kids.' Fans expressed concern that West may not have his mental health in check when he harassed Kim and Pete over and over on social media, causing the singer to be suspended from Instagram for 24 hours in March. In a music video Kanye showed a claymation version of Pete being buried alive. Kanye has also accused Kim of not being a good parent by letting North go on TikTok and he also said that she was keeping the kids from him, which she has denied. Kanye not thrilled with Kim's new love: Fans expressed concern that West may not have his mental health in check when he harassed Kim and Pete over and over, causing him to be suspended from Instagram for 24 hours in March. In a music video Kanye showed a claymation version of Pete being buried alive Introducing us: Kim and Pete hinted they were a couple when they kissed on SNL in October Kim is ready to talk about Kanye on her new Hulu series The Kardashians which debuts April 14. When plugging the show with co-anchor Robin Roberts, she admitted things have been quite surreal. In a teaser trailer for the ABC primetime special, which airs on April 6, Robin joked to Kim: 'You can not make this stuff up!' She replied: 'You couldn't write this stuff if it was a sitcom!' Robin also asked the 41-year-old beauty: 'How have you leaned on your family through your divorce with Kanye?' Her answer wasn't shown, but at another point in the trailer, the Kardashians star noted: 'It's hard to live your life on a reality show and then say I want certain things to be private.' Kim seems to have moved on with her business links with West. Last summer she said she was rebranding her makeup line KKW Beauty. And on Friday she said she was rebranding her scent line KKW Fragrances. Katie Prices ex-fiance Carl Woods has allegedly accused her of cheating with a second man. According to reports, the luxe car dealer, 33, accused the former glamour model Katie, 43, of messaging 'another man' on WhatsApp. It comes after Carl reportedly ended his 11-month engagement to Katie as he could no longer trust her. Split: Katie Prices ex-fiance Carl Woods has allegedly accused her of cheating with a second man A source told The Sun: 'Carl was furious and was accusing Katie of all kinds of things. He was ranting about loyalty and saying hed found out exactly how she was hiding the messages from him. 'Carl believes Katie went behind his back with another man. He lashed out in a series of texts and accused her of lying to him and using her pals to hide the phone number of the man he thinks shes been seeing. 'He branded her a cheat and a player and told her he has had enough.' MailOnline has contacted Katie Price and Carl Woods' representatives for comment. Ex: According to reports, the luxe car dealer, 33, accused the former glamour model Katie, 43, of messaging 'another man' on WhatsApp Night out: Katie also took to Instagram on Friday to post a picture on a night out with pals as she penned: 'People who believe in me Business and best friends @rymi1 @jeydayilmaz' Katie also took to Instagram on Friday to post a picture on a night out with pals as she penned: 'People who believe in me Business and best friends @rymi1 @jeydayilmaz.' The reported split came just a day after Katie ditched the engagement ring which Carl gave her, while he has now deleted all trace of their romance from his social media account. Sources told The Sun: 'Katie and Carl have decided to split up. It's been a difficult couple of months and their ongoing court cases have just added even more stress to the situation. 'It really seems to be over for now and they are both very sad about it. But of course no one would be surprised if they got back together.' While Carl deleted all photographs of the pair, he and Katie still follow each other on the social media platform. Oh dear: Having been joined by her then-fiance Carl Woods, 33, they were forced to come home so he could appear in court over 'abusive and threatening behaviour' charges The news came days after Carl appeared before Colchester Magistrates' Court after being charged with 'abusive and threatening behaviour'. The court case was referenced in the comments section of one of Carl's social media posts, as one follower questioned: 'Thought you said you didn't hit her? But up in court today.' While Carl, who was charged with threatening behaviour, replied: 'Why don't you read what the charge is ACTUALLY for.' One fan who was heavily defensive of Carl, wrote: 'He's in court for being threatening, not violence. Price admitted she lied about the bruise and getting punched. She should be charged for lying and wasting police time. Where's it gone? A day before their split was reported, Katie 's engagement ring was nowhere to be seen as she took to Instagram to post a series of videos 'It's disgusting to falsely accuse a man (or woman) of domestic violence, makes a mockery of the whole system and genuine victims. They added: 'I feel sorry for Carl Woods he has been tangled into such a horrible mess. If he leaves her, we all know how vindictive she is and she could lie again to the police. 'If he stays, it's a permenant reminder of being with the person who falsely accued you and dragged your name through the mud. 'People are even questioning his dog owning skills because of HER track record with animals, even though it's clear he looks after Sid very well. 'Guilt by association and all that. Wouldn't want to be in his shoes, I tell you.' Wow! Katie continued to exhibit the results of her new boob job as she showcased her huge surgically-enhanced assets during her sun-soaked Thailand getaway Appearing to appreciate the supportive comments, Carl tagged the user and posted a couple of praising hands emojis. Carl was arrested last year after Katie was allegedly punched in the face on August 22, 2021. He was subsequently charged under Section 4 of the Public Order Act following an incident at his home in Little Canfield, Essex last year. The maximum sentence he faces is up to six months. The court heard that the charge followed a row that spilled over into the street, disturbing neighbours. At one stage Carl was seen trying to force open a door, the court heard. Carl denied using 'threatening words and behaviour' following a row at his Essex home, with Mark Davies, defending, saying that Carl's argument would be that the incident was 'nothing more than a squabble'. Reaction: The court case was referenced in the comments section of one of Carl's posts, as one follower questioned: 'Thought you said you didn't hit her? But up in court today' He spoke just to confirm his date of birth and address before answering 'not guilty' when asked to enter a plea to the public order charge. Katie sat in the public gallery and watched her fiancee during the short session, while he smiled towards her from behind the reinforced glass of courtroom four. Carl was granted unconditional bail and the case was adjourned for trial on June 16 at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court. The car mechanic earlier accused others of creating a 'storyline' - insisting he and Katie only had an argument in public. Carl claims he 'didn't lay a finger' on the glamour model and said he had 'black and white proof' to clear his name after he was charged with using threatening and abusive behaviour towards her in an incident at their house in Essex. The mother-of-five could be seen as she showed off some sweets to her followers, without the glitzy ring on her left hand. In a later post to her Story, her engagement ring returned, but the video appeared to be a pre-recorded advertisement, though it is unclear when this was filmed. A day before their split was reported, Katie's engagement ring was nowhere to be seen as she took to Instagram to post a series of videos. Defense Minister Suh Wook /Newsis Defense Minister Suh Wook underscored Friday, South Korea's missile capabilities to "accurately and swiftly strike any targets in North Korea" amid tensions heightened by Pyongyang's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch last week. Suh was attending a ceremony marking the reinforcement of the Army Missile Strategic Command in Wonju, 132 kilometers east of Seoul, as he ordered troops to maintain a "firm" readiness posture. "Currently, our military possesses large numbers and various types of missiles that have greatly improved in terms of range, accuracy and power, and it has the capabilities to accurately and swiftly strike any target in North Korea," Suh said. The minister also stressed the military's ability to conduct precision strikes on the "origin of any attack and its command and support facilities" an apparent warning message against additional provocations by the North. Earlier in the day, Suh vowed to further develop an "advanced, multilayered missile defense system that the North does not possess," during another event celebrating the strengthening of the Air and Missile Defense Command in Osan, 55 km south of Seoul. "The defense ministry will actively support the two commands to ensure they have capabilities to respond overwhelmingly to the North's shifting missile threats," Suh said. Following the North's March 24 ICBM launch, South Korea has highlighted its military readiness by showcasing its firepower and air assets, including through last week's "elephant walk" drill involving dozens of F-35A fighters. (Yonhap) Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming is said to be doing everything she can to make sure the actor is getting the best help possible as he battles aphasia. The model, 43, is said to be 'working with several professionals to help' the movie star, 67, and 'has arranged for him to see the best doctors,' a source told PEOPLE. 'He has an assistant at home to make sure that he is safe, but Emma takes care of him too,' the insider added to the outlet. Staying strong: Emma Heming, 43, is trying to 'keep it together' for Bruce Willis, 67, and their two young daughters as source says 'it's not easy seeing a spouse decline' This week the Die Hard veteran's family shared news he was quitting acting due to the condition, which is a neuro-cognitive disorder that effects the sufferers ability to speak and understand language. 'Because Bruce is older than Emma, they knew that his health might decline sooner than hers. Still, his diagnosis has been shocking for her', the source continued. It comes amid claims from The Sun that Bruce wants to speak publicly about his diagnosis and wishes to do an interview with TV pal Diane Sawyer. A source said: 'Over the years, Bruce has considered tapping a friend like Diane Sawyer to interview him, Emma, and Demi about his condition, but the opportunity to keep working usually got in the way of planning something like that. 'It could still happen though because Demi and Emma want other families to know what they've been going through and provide some educational value to the whole situation, now that it's more public. Support: The 43-year-old model is said to be 'working with several professionals to help' the 67-year-old movie star 'But with everything with Bruce now, it has to be handled sensitively and nobody wants him to turn into a circus sideshow.' The insider added: 'If they can do an interview - or even a documentary project - that will help other families without humiliating theirs, they will do it.' The pair have a long history of on-screen interviews and in 2006 he spoke to her about his efforts to find love after his marriage to actress Demi Moore ended. A representative for Bruce has been contacted by MailOnline for a comment. In a statement shared to his daughters Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah's respective Instagram pages, Bruce's health condition was revealed to the world. 'To Bruce's amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,' they wrote. 'As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.' The statement added: 'This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. 'As Bruce always says, 'Live it up' and together we plan to do just that,' the statement, which was signed by his wife, model Emma, his ex-wife Demi and all of his children, concluded. According to the National Aphasia Association, the condition is an impairment of language, affecting the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write. Devastating: In a statement shared to Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah's respective Instagram pages, Bruce's health condition was revealed to the world The association reports the condition is always due to injury to the brain, most commonly from a stroke, particularly in older individuals. Head trauma, brain tumors or from infections can also cause aphasia. The announcement comes more than one year after OK Magazine first speculated on Willis' declining mental health, after he was seen leaving a California pharmacy without a facemask. The actor later apologized saying it was an 'error in judgment,' but unnamed sources told the magazine Willis 'simply forgot' to bring the bandana hanging from his neck up to his face. Stepping away: 'As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,' the statement revealed; Bruce pictured in 2018 The source said that, although Willis had not been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, 'he's been waging a personal war for a number of years.' They said Willis had sold his New York property to spend more time with his wife and children in Los Angeles, and said that his wife, as well as ex-wife Demi Moore, were working together to take care of the famed actor. 'His wife Emma has helped Demi Moore and the children Bruce shares with his ex-wife to make truces because they know he's fading,' the unnamed source told the magazine in January 2021. 'Between Demi and Emma, the family has always ensured Bruce has the support and care he might need at any given time,' the insider said. 'It's sad that people are making fun of him.' According to the magazine, Willis had previously been seen using an earpiece to feed him lines in his Broadway debut in Misery in 2015, and the unnamed insider also said he was struggling during the filming of M. Night Shyamalan's2019 film Glass. The Drew Barrymore Show has been renewed for a third season, but changes are coming. In celebrating the good news, the 47-year-old actress issued a statement that read, 'I am honored and grateful but I also want to take this show higher and continue to innovate and be a game changer in the daytime space.' Part of that innovation is the way the popular talk show is being constructed. Club three: The Drew Barrymore is being renewed for a third season. The Hollywood Veteran issued a statement saying, 'I am honored and grateful but I also want to take this show higher and continue to innovate and be a game changer in the daytime space' In season three the program will be produced as two half-hour episodes and affiliates will have the option of running them back to back, or in two separate sequences with the first 30 minutes following local newscasts on all CBS stations. The Charlie's Angels star added, 'Rising to the occasion of finding people in the diverse way they watch is what I want to challenge myself with.' 'Our show wants to be a bright spot not a blind spot and we just want to make people feel good. And I thank all the people who helped us get here.' Changes: In season three the program will be produced as two half-hour episodes and affiliates will have the option of running them back to back, or in two separate sequences with the first 30 minutes following local newscasts on all CBS stations The Hollywood veteran began hosting her self-titled talk show back in 2020 and she has turned out to be a survivor in the tight daytime lineup. In announcing the news, CBS president Steve LoCascio said, 'Stations have always had a finite amount of shelf space, so we're evolving the syndication model to meet the needs of our partners.' 'We could not be happier to continue our relationship with CBS Stations and our other station partners to deliver more of 'The Drew Barrymore Show' through this innovative new idea.' Force of nature: In announcing the talk show's return for another season, CBS president Steve LoCascio praised Drew as 'a force of nature who has brought a fresh optimistic viewpoint to daytime television' 'From Drew's unique take on everyday news to headline-generating celebrity interviews, to lifestyle how-tos, Drew is a force of nature who has brought a fresh optimistic viewpoint to daytime television.' 'We love having her as part of the CBS family.' The busy working mom already has big plans for the off-season. She is set to produce and direct the film Surrender Dorothy. Naomi Watts has signed up to be part of Ryan Murphy's hit anthology series Feud. Following on from the success of FEUD: Bette and Joan on FX, a new project has been greenlit titled Capote's Women, where Watts is set to play American socialite Babe Paley, according to Deadline. Paley - a friend of Truman Capote - ruled the glamorous world of New York society around 1960s and 1970s. Two-time Oscar nominated director Gus Van Sant will direct all eight episodes of the series, with Pulitzer-nominated writer Jon Robin Baitz serving as showrunner and will be writing all eight episodes. New role: Naomi Watts joins Ryan Murphy's latest Feud miniseries playing American socialite Babe Paley... in drama about Truman Capote's female friends known as 'Swans' The project is an adaptation of a best selling book by Laurence Leamer titled Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era. The miniseries will be set in the '70s with it ending around the time of Truman Capote's death in 1984. The drama follows the lives of his elegant, stylish high-society women - dubbed his 'Swans'- who included Jackie Kennedys sister, Lee Radziwill, Andy Warhols muse C.Z. Guest, and Babe Paley. It is not yet clear which other historical figures will be depicted in the series. In good hands: Watts will be directed by two-time Oscar nominated director Gus Van Sant (Watts pictured above last month) Capote's popularity with New York socialites is perhaps of little surprise considering he was hailed one of the sharpest writers of the 20th Century. His 1958 novella, Breakfast At Tiffany's, was adapted into the Oscar-winning movie starring Audrey Hepburn, while his 1966 true crime 'non fiction novel', In Cold Blood, is often regarded as one of the greatest examples of the genre. Babe Paley made up one third of the Cushing sisters - alongside siblings Minnie and Betsey - whose romances, style trends and parties captivated the American public during the poverty-stricken Great Depression. The women fascinated people with their glamorous lifestyles marked by wealth, privilege, country homes, designer clothes, yachts, fancy apartments and six high-profile marriages. Interesting life: Barbara ('Babe') Paley with her second husband CBS founder William S. Paley at Sarah Roosevelt's going away party at Greentree, held on Jock Whitney's Manhasset estate, Long Island, circa 1952 The first married was 21-year-old Betsey, the middle sister who ensnared the affections of James Roosevelt II. James, also known as 'Jimmy' to his classmates at Harvard, was the eldest son of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Betsey's time as a Roosevelt in Washington DC was important for Babe because she arranged for her teenage sister to be introduced to the debutante circuit by hosting a ball at The White House. Babe (born Barbara) had long been regarded as the most beautiful of the three girls; she was tall, slender, stylish and had aristocratic appeal. But much to her mother's disappointment, Babe decided to enter the workforce after two seasons of smashing success as a debutante. Babe became an editor at Vogue Magazine, hired by Conde Nast himself, and quickly became a style icon, having believed to have started two 20th century trends - mixing high-low pieces and tying a scarf to her handbag. She was married to oil heir Stanley Grafton Mortimer for six years, having two children, Amanda Jay Mortimer and Stanley Grafton Mortimer, before wedding CBS founder William S. Paley. Motherhood was not Babe's forte and she was said to have ignored her children while in pursuit of social status. Inspiration: Capote's popularity with New York socialites is perhaps of little surprise considering he was hailed one of the sharpest writers of the 20th Century Babe and William lived in a luxurious apartment at the St Regis in New York. At the weekend, they would host lavish parties at their 80 acre farm on Long Island, attended by celebrity guests. She maintained her position on the best-dressed list 14 times before officially being inducted into the Fashion Hall of Fame in 1958. She stayed married to William until her death in 1978 from lung cancer. One of Babe's closet friends was Truman Capote, who admitted in his journal that her only fault was that she was perfect. However this friendship was destroyed after Capote published his Answered Prayers chapter, La Cote Basque 1965, in Esquire Magazine - detailing a thinly-veiled account of William Paley cheating on his wife. He said that Babe had walked in on her husband washing their sheets after a woman he was having an affair with menstruated on their marital bed. She never spoke to the writer again. UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Thursday to endorse the African Unions new transitional mission in Somalia and authorized it to take action against al-Qaida and Islamic State extremist groups and conduct a phased handover of security responsibilities to Somalias government. The African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, replaces the African Union Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, which has been in the Horn of Africa nation for 15 years trying to build lasting peace and security. While the resolution adopted by the council recognizes significant changes in the security situation since it authorized AMISOM in February 2007 and improvements in Somalias capability to respond to security challenges, it also reaffirms "the need to combat terrorist threats by all means." Only in the past few years has Somalia begun to find its footing after three decades of chaos from warlords to the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group and the emergence of Islamic State-linked extremist groups. Last year, a political crisis further postponed long-delayed elections and lower house elections which were to be completed on March 15 are still not complete, further delaying the vote for a new president. The British-drafted resolution authorizes the new ATMIS mission to support the Somali forces "in providing security for the political process at all levels." The Security Council underscored that completing the electoral process without further delay and achieving "a peaceful transition of power" will help Somalia move ahead with its national priorities and support its 2021 transition plan which outlines steps toward the gradual handover of responsibilities for security from international forces to the government. The council reiterated its objective "of enabling Somalia to take full responsibility for its own security, including through assuming the leading role in countering and addressing the threat posed by al-Shabab." The resolution authorizes ATMIS to conduct jointly planned operations with Somali security forces "to degrade al-Shabab and affiliates linked to ISIL," an acronym for the Islamic State group. The council authorized AU member nations to deploy up to 19,626 uniformed personnel, including a minimum of 1.040 police, until Dec. 31, and endorsed the AU Peace and Security Councils decision to reduce the peacekeeping force by 2,000 by that date. It authorized a reduced force of 17,626 between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2023, and noted that a joint proposal including the AU and Somalia envisions further cuts to 14,626 in September 2023, 10,626 in June 2024 and "zero personnel" by the end of December 2024. The resolution welcomes the Somali governments intention to generate 3,850 new security forces by December 2022, 8,525 new forces by September 2023 and 10,450 new forces by June 2024. AMISOM was funded by voluntary contributions, especially from the European Union, with logistical support from the United Nations. The Security Council urged U.N. member nations, including new donors, "to consider providing predictable, sustainable and multi-year support for ATMIS." After the vote, Britains deputy U.N. ambassador James Kariuki thanked council members for their support "in the adoption of this landmark resolution." U.S. deputy ambassador Richard Mills said the resolution "provides a vital opportunity to build on AMISOMs efforts and take the next steps to roll back al-Shabaab, enabling Somalia to provide the security and stability required for the Somali people to achieve their aspirations." "Al-Shabab is a formidable and adaptable threat to Somalia, and to East Africa more broadly," he said. "As al-Qaedas largest and best financed affiliate, al-Shabab represents a threat that requires a vigorous and broad-based response. The ATMIS mandate provides the opportunity to adapt and reinvigorate the African-led, international effort against al-Shabab." Albanias political coordinator Arian Spasse noted al-Shababs increased attacks on security forces and civilians in recent months and called on the government again to complete elections. "It is crucial the newly elected government turn its focus to the deteriorating security situation, to the undertaking of reforms, and to the humanitarian crisis caused by the unprecedented droughts, which is plunging the population into another famine," he said. "Further delays will give al-Shabaab more time to overshadow the governments effort to provide peace and prosperity, and will fuel al-Shabab propaganda as an alternative to a democratically elected government." Somalia's U.N. Ambassador Abukar Osman expressed disappointment that the council's resolution didn't provide more funding for its security forces, address the need for a unified and centralized command for ATMIS, and greater logistical support Addressing these issues will ensure that the resolution is aligned with Somalia's strategic document on security, he said. Russia creates working groups to probe U.S.-controlled biolabs in Ukraine Xinhua) 08:12, April 01, 2022 The building of Russia's State Duma is seen in this picture. (State Duma press release) The four working groups will conduct a detailed analysis of all documents and facts. MOSCOW, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A Russian parliamentary commission held its first meeting on Thursday, announcing the establishment of four working groups to investigate U.S.-controlled biological laboratories in Ukraine. The commission heard information from the Russian Defense Ministry on the investigation into biological research by American specialists in Ukraine, the Russian State Duma or the lower house of the country's Federal Assembly said in a statement. During Russia's special military operation, the dangerous biological activities of the United States on the territory of Ukraine were revealed, said Irina Yarovaya, co-chair of the commission and deputy chairperson of the State Duma. "Dangerous both for Russia and for Ukraine itself. We are talking about secret activities controlled by the U.S. Department of Defense, with signs of the development of biological weapons," she said. The four working groups will conduct a detailed analysis of all documents and facts, including at the expert level, the senior lawmaker noted. "Today the commission has instructed the working groups on defense, security and international law to start working on materials on the involvement of Hunter Biden in the project in Ukraine, as well as an invitation for explanations from him and Victoria Nuland," Yarovaya said. The investment fund Rosemont Seneca, currently managed by U.S. President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, financed the Pentagon's military biological program in Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said last week. U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland has admitted that "Ukraine has biological research facilities." The Russian parliamentary commission, which was founded last week, will report its findings to President Vladimir Putin, the government and international organizations. The next meeting of the commission will be held on April 4. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) A building with Cyrillic signs is seen in at "Koryoin Village" in Gwangsan District, Gwangju, March 29. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk This is the first in a series of articles to shed light on various ethnic groups living in Korea and have more of their voices heard. ED. 'We are Koreans, just like you,' says godmother of Koryoin By Lee Hyo-jin GWANGJU Cyrillic signboards line the streets of a residential area in Gwangsan District in the city of Gwangju, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul. Referred to by its residents as "Koryoin Village," the peaceful yet unique neighborhood encompasses restaurants, groceries, cafes, bakeries and hair salons that are owned by Koryoin residents, or ethnic Koreans from Russia and Central Asian countries. The restaurants serve authentic Russian and Central Asian dishes such as shashlik (meat skewers), borscht (soup made from beetroot) and plov (steamed rice with meat and vegetables). Bakeries offer tandoor-baked somsa (pastry stuffed with meat or potatoes), while supermarkets stock bottles of Russian vodkas. Seen in this photo are a bowl of borscht (beetroot soup) and a loaf of lepyoshka, a Central Asian bread that was served at an Uzbekistani restaurant in Wolgok-dong, Gwangsan District, in Gwangju, March 29. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk This neighborhood in Wolgok-dong is home to about 7,000 Koryoin who migrated from Russia and post-Soviet Union countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. It is the second-largest Koryoin community in Korea after Ansan in Gyeonggi Province. In the late 1930s, nearly 200,000 Koreans living in the Russian Far East were forcibly moved to Central Asia by former Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Tens of thousands died during the 6,000-kilometer journey by cattle train. Others who survived were "dumped" across Central Asia in the middle of nowhere. These migrants and their descendants are called "Koryoin" or "Koryo-saram" after the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Their tragic tales were little known in Korea until this century, after the government began to issue working visit visas (H-2) exclusively to post-Soviet and Chinese ethnic Koreans in 2007, leading to an increasing influx of Koryoin who sought a new life in the homeland of their ancestors. Currently, there are an estimated 80,000 Koryoin residents living in the country, according to government data, and the number continues to grow. Shin Jo-ya, head of "Korean cooperative," a support center for Koryoin residents in Gwangju, poses during an interview with The Korea Times at her office, March 29. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk Those who may wonder what has made Wolgok-dong a magnet for thousands of Koryoin people can find the answer from Shin Jo-ya, 64, who heads the "Korean cooperative," a support center for ethnic Koreans there. It is not an exaggeration to say that Shin, a third-generation Koryoin and Uzbekistani by birth, is the founder of the village. But when she first landed on Korean soil in 2001 to visit her daughter who was married to a Korean citizen, she could not have imagined that she would later become the "godmother" of Koryoin residents. "To be honest, I stayed illegally in Korea at that time. I chose not to go back to Uzbekistan although my visiting visa had expired. For me, life in Korea as an undocumented resident seemed better compared to life in Uzbekistan," she told The Korea Times. Speaking fluently in Korean, Shin recalled how terrible it was for ethnic Koreans living in Uzbekistan in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. "As we don't speak their native (Uzbek) language, we were looked down upon everywhere we go. Even merchants at markets ignored me because I spoke in Russian. There was no place in the society for us," she said. In 2002, she moved to Gwangju's industrial district of Gwangsan and worked at factories for several years. She was then employed at a migrant worker support center, where she began to offer help to Koryoin workers in the town. Shin Jo-ya offers tea during an interview with The Korea Times. Everyone who visits her office, including this reporter, were offered a cup of tea and Uzbek snacks. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk "Back then, there were only about 20 of us. But we began to invite to Gwangju our friends and relatives who were living overseas or in other parts of the country," she said. The newcomers soon felt quite at home thanks to their neighbors who helped them rent houses and find jobs. Over the past decade, many families have reunited here and generations have extended, according to Shin. As the number of Koryoin residents surged to several thousand in 2013, Gwangju Metropolitan City enacted the so-called "Koryoin resident support ordinance," creating a legal basis to use government financial resources to support these ethnic Koreans. In 2015, Shin opened the Korean cooperative to better help those in need. "Here, we help anyone with anything: sick people who cannot go to the hospital alone, those seeking to register their children at schools or kindergartens, people struggling with visa issues, as well as those facing difficulties in the workplace due to delayed payments," she explained. Children at a kindergarten in Gwangju's Koryoin Village eat lunch, March 29. About 40 children are enrolled at the center. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk "We feel grateful for the help from Korean residents and the local government, who have accepted us as members of society," Shin said. "As you can see, we are Koreans, just like you. We share the same ethnic backgrounds and ancestors." The village now has about 40 facilities including a kindergarten, alternative school, medical center, radio studio, Korean language center and a museum. Shin Jo-ya prepares kuksi, an Uzbek variation of Korean noodles. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk On the third floor of the Korean cooperative is the studio of Korea FM, a radio channel established in 2016 by ethnic Koreans in Gwangju, where Vladimir Kim, 65, a former professor of Russian literature at Tashkent State University, hosts a program about Russian literature every Tuesday. Vladimir Kim speaks during an interview with The Korea Times in a studio of the "Korean cooperative" in Gwangju, March 29. Korea Times Sense of non-belonging Kim, a third-generation Koryoin, grew up aware of his Korean roots. His parents, who in 1937 were moved forcibly to Kazakhstan from the city of Ussuriysk in the Russian Far East, later settled in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, where Kim was born. He has vivid childhood memories of his parents and relatives singing Korean songs and cooking Korean meals. "I remember their tears while singing the Korean songs. I was very young, but I could feel their sense of longing for home," he said. "My parents told me a lot about Korea, about its beautiful nature and scenery. It was my father's will that I must return to his home country." After Kim retired from teaching at the age of 55, he came to Korea in 2012, leaving behind his home and friends in Tashkent. But life in Korea wasn't as beautiful as his father had described. For several years, Kim worked in factories, but had to quit after being diagnosed with liver cancer. After receiving multiple surgeries and treatments, he worked on farms picking berries and apples. Vladimir Kim speaks during an interview with The Korea Times, March 29. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol /Yonhap A delegation of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will leave for the United States, Sunday for a weeklong trip aimed at coordinating policy ahead of the launch of the new government, an official said Friday. The seven-member delegation, led by Rep. Park Jin of Yoon's People Power Party, will hold meetings with U.S. government and congressional officials, as well as experts on alliance and security issues, Yoon's spokesperson Kim Eun-hye said. Russia is offering its flagship Urals grade to India at discounts of as much as $35 a barrel on prices before the war to lure India to lift more shipments, the sources said Russia is offering India steep discounts on the direct sale of oil as mounting international pressure lowers the appetite for its barrels elsewhere following the invasion of Ukraine, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. The sanctions-hit nation is offering its flagship Urals grade to India at discounts of as much as $35 a barrel on prices before the war to lure India to lift more shipments, the sources said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential deliberations. Headline Brent prices have risen about $10 since then, implying an even larger reduction from current prices. Russia wants India to take 15 million barrels contracted for this year just to begin with, they said, adding the talks are taking place at government level. Asias No. 2 oil importer is among a handful of nations that have been doubling down on Russian crude, defying international pressure and sanctions. Russian barrels have been flowing to Asia in greater volumes as buyers across Europe and the U.S. shun the supply following the invasion of Ukraine. India and China have been the key buyers. Russia has also offered rupee-ruble-denominated payments using Russias messaging system SPFS, that could make trading more attractive for India, they said. No final decision has been taken and the matter will probably be discussed when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrives in India for a two-day visit Thursday. The direct purchase is expected to involve Russias Rosneft PJSC and the Asian nations biggest processor Indian Oil Corp., which have an optional term contract -- thats rarely used -- for close to 15 million barrels a year. Its not clear what the upper end of the buying might be, but India is thought to have limited appetite for the grades being offered. That contract has a built-in clause that Indian Oil will buy only when its economical, the sources said, adding a discount offered by Russia could make the oil trade viable even at a higher freight. Indias intake of Russian oil has been very small for many, many years, said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights in Singapore. So the refineries are not configured to buy a lot of Russian oil. Representatives for Indian Oil didnt immediately reply to calls seeking comment and Indias Oil Ministry declined to comment. Shares of Indian state-run refiners rose in Mumbai. Indian Oil climbed 2.3% as of 10:53 a.m., while Hindustan Petroleum rose 2.4%, beating the 0.1% gain in the benchmark index. The two sides are exploring routing the oil through Russias Vladivostok Port in the far east to avoid shipping hurdles from the Baltic Sea in the west of the country. From there, oil shipments could reach Indias east coast refineries in fewer than 20 days, they said. India is also seeking to push for greater exports of medicines, engineering goods and chemicals to Russia to narrow its trade gap created by oil and arms purchases. Urals crude has been trading at discounts since the war began. Litasco, the trading arm of Russia Lukoil PJSC, offered a cargo of Urals at a discount of $31.35 to the Dated Brent benchmark in a pricing window organized by S&P Global Platts last week. There were no bids, and it was a deeper discount than a record-low offer by Glencore Plc a little over a week before. China buys a different grade of oil from Russia. India has maintained a softer stance against Russias actions, while the U.S. and its allies have tried to isolate and punish Moscow over the invasion of its neighbor. India has not condemned Moscows attack in outright terms, even under international pressure. New Delhis attempts to bypass the SWIFT system and lap up cheap Russian oil have also come under criticism from its allies in the Quad grouping, which includes the U.S. Australia and Japan. Other countries, like the U.K., have also put pressure on India. On Thursday, visiting U.K. Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss called Russia the number one threat to world order. Speaking at an event with her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, she also called for more sanctions on Russian banks. Jaishankar bristled at what he called a concerted campaign against Indias oil purchase from Russia. India is not among the top 10 buyers of Russian oil, he said. However, Dr G Srinivasa Rao said, that it was advisable to wear a mask while in crowded places and hospitals and by those suffering from comorbidities. (Representational Image/ AP) Hyderabad: Telangana health department on Thursday declared that wearing face masks is no longer mandatory in the state and will be optional from Friday. This was announced by director of public health & family welfare Dr G Srinivasa Rao. However, he said that it was advisable to wear a mask while in crowded places and hospitals and by those suffering from comorbidities. Meanwhile, the city police said that no one would be fined for not wearing masks while in public places. City police commissioner C.V. Anand said that the government orders on face masks had lapsed on February 28. On work from office, Dr Srinivasa Rao said work from home can now be stopped fully and IT companies can allow their full staff to work from offices, he said. The Suryakiran team will be performing their final aerobatics display for the year 2021-22 at the Air Force Station at Hakimpet as part of the Chetak helicopters celebrations, which is to be attended among others, by defence minister Rajnath Singh. (Representational Image: DC) HYDERABAD: Citizens of Hyderabad could be in for a roaring treat in the skies over the city on Saturday with the famous Suryakiran, the Indian Air Forces aerobatics team, planning a fly-past over various parts of the city. The Suryakiran team is in the city to take part in the ministry of defences celebrations marking 60 years of Chetak helicopter, for many years the workhorse of the Air Force. The Suryakiran team, with nine Hawk MK 132 aircraft manufactured under licence from British aerospace company BAE systems by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, will be performing their final aerobatics display for the year 2021-22 at the Air Force Station at Hakimpet as part of the Chetak helicopters celebrations, which is to be attended among others, by defence minister Rajnath Singh. In addition to aerobatics displays, the Suryakiran team also holds fly-pasts over cities to inspire and motivate youth, the IAF said in a release on Friday. As part of this activity, the Suryakiran team will be flying over the city of Hyderabad on Saturday afternoon. Not just that, the team also threw in a challenge for photography enthusiasts from the city to take pictures of the fly-past with the promise of a prize for the best picture. According to the team, the fly-past over the city will start from the Air Force Academy at Dindigul, and then fly to Air Force Station at Hakimpet. From there, the team will fly to Hussainsagar lake and then on to University of Hyderabad. After that, the Suryakiran team, will fly over the Golconda Fort and the National Police Academy, before taking a turn towards the Falaknuma Palace. From Falaknuma, the team will fly over Charminar, then the Salar Jung Museum, and head back to Dindigul via Hussainsagar lake and the Begumpet airport. The fly-past will last for just 21 minutes. As per the ministrys decision, the law, at present in force in all districts of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and some districts of Arunachal Pradesh, will be lifted in 36 districts of the trouble-torn northeastern states. (Photo: Representational/PTI) The decision of the Union home ministry to stop the operation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, from most districts of the Northeast signals to the governments assessment of the improved law and order in the region as well as the increased opposition to it from people. As per the ministrys decision, the law, at present in force in all districts of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and some districts of Arunachal Pradesh, will be lifted in 36 districts of the trouble-torn northeastern states. This includes 23 districts in Assam, six districts of Manipur and seven districts of Nagaland. Only three districts in Arunachal Pradesh will continue to remain under AFSPA. The law has its origins in the British era: the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Ordinance, 1942, was promulgated by then viceroy Linlithgow to suppress the Quit India movement. The ordinance was a virtual licence to kill. It had its rebirth in 1958 as a law to contain insurgency in Assam and Manipur; and was later extended to the other northeastern states as localised insurgencies gained strength. A version of the same law was introduced in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990 when Pakistan-backed terrorists made it a point to strike at will. The law gives the Armed Forces the power to maintain public order in disturbed areas, which are declared so by the state or Union government. It empowers a non-commissioned officer or above to prohibit a gathering of five or more persons in an area and use force or even open fire causing death if warranted for the maintenance of public order. The Armed Forces personnel can also arrest a person or enter and search premises without a warrant. While the security forces have been of immense help to the government in fighting insurgents in the Northeast, there have also been complaints of very serious nature about the gross misuse of this law. A public interest litigation filed in the Supreme Court in 2013 alleged that 1,528 people were killed in fake encounters and that the perpetrators had the cover of the AFSPA, forcing the Supreme Court to order an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the killings. The recent incident in which six coal mine labourers were killed in an ambush by the security forces in Nagaland, and the death of another eight more civilians in firing by security forces in their bid to contain the violence that broke out in protest against the killings, reignited the call for revoking the law in the region. The Armed Forces are trained to fight, and kill, the enemy, and, as the Supreme Court pointed out in 2016, the indefinite deployment of Armed Forces in the name of restoring normalcy under AFSPA would mock at our democratic process and would symbolise a failure of the civil administration and the Armed Forces. It must be appreciated that the Union government has realised the import of the observation and acted with alacrity. It must now extend the process to rest of the areas in the Northeast as well as in the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir which, as per the governments claims, have returned to complete normalcy. Bangalore University authorities are clearly discomfited by the continuing protests on the campus seeking the appointment of a vice-chancellor. In a circular on Thursday, Registrar (Administration) Prof M Kotresh asked students and teaching and non-teaching staff, including department heads, not to hold any protests on the universitys Jnanabharathi campus. The circular came hours after research students held a sit-in demonstration in front of the vice-chancellor's office and pasted a copy of the high court order that quashed Prof K R Venugopal's appointment. On March 16, a division bench of the court upheld the order passed by a single judge quashing Prof Venugopal's appointment. The order, which remains unchallenged, has created a power vacuum in the university. Neither the state government nor the governor's office has provided clarity on the matter yet. Prof Venugopal's term was to end on June 12. The Bangalore University Postgraduate and Research Scholars' Association has vowed to continue the protest until a new vice-chancellor is appointed. Lokesh Ram, an office-bearer of the association, said: "We are students and it is our right to protest for the welfare of the student community. Nobody can stop us." He suggested that the circular was issued on the basis of a letter by the jurisdictional police station. "They have quoted the high court order in the circular. The registrar should know that we are not associated with any political party. The high court does not apply to students because ours is a peaceful protest," Ram said. Another student said: "Instead of resolving the issue, the administration is trying to suppress our voice." Check out DH's latest videos: Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said his government handed an official protest to the U.S. embassy on Friday over what it called Washington's interference in the country's affairs. "We now have given a demarche to (the) American embassy," Khan told local television channel ARY in an interview, referring to a diplomatic note over what he described as a foreign conspiracy to oust him from power. Faced with a tight no-confidence vote on Sunday that could see him ousted after defections from his ruling coalition, Khan had said on Thursday that a foreign country was conspiring against him after he visited Moscow in February. Khan met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on the day Russian forces invaded neighbouring Ukraine. Speaking on Thursday in a nationally televised address, Khan said a Western country had been unhappy about his Moscow visit. He mentioned the United States before smilingly correcting it to "a foreign country". But on Friday evening Khan named the United States, in his interview with ARY News TV. The White House denied the United States had been seeking to remove Khan from power. The U.S. embassy in Islamabad did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Ruling party members in Pakistan led a protest against the United States in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday. In an unusual move, dozens of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ruling party figures, led by a provincial minister, rallied in the centre of Peshawar, chanting "Down with America!" "We have come out to support Imran Khan who has challenged the capitalist forces," the minister, Taimur Jhagra, told the rally. "We will prefer hunger over a surrender to the U.S.," said another provincial lawmaker in the rally, Fazal Elahi. A handful of activists from an anti-America Shi'ite group also reacted to Khan's claims, holding a rally in Islamabad where they burned American flags. Khan has said his government possessed an "official document" that was evidence of the conspiracy. The document was later described by the government as a formal communication of a "senior official of a foreign country to Pakistan's Ambassador in the said country in a formal meeting". Check out latest DH videos here By Lee Hae-rin Over 500,000 people have signed a petition calling for the withdrawal of Yoon's controversial presidential office relocation plan from Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul to the Ministry of National Defense compound in Yongsan District, Seoul. The public petition posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website on March 17 reads, "Please stop the coercive relocation of the country's national security headquarters thereby wasting several hundred billion won of taxpayer money." It has collected more than 508,000 signatures, as of 3 p.m., Friday. The petitioner argues that Yoon should seek an alternative to relocation such as remodeling Cheong Wa Dae or finding another empty building, to prevent unnecessary waste of taxpayer money, since his presidential term lasts only five years. According to domestic research group Sisa Research which surveyed 1,023 people aged over 18 on Tuesday, 55.5 percent of respondents said they disagree with Yoon's plan, while 42 percent favored it. Taking a closer look, 58.4 percent said the planned relocation was unnecessary, while 21.8 percent said it will cost too much. Meanwhile, the defense ministry said it is establishing a phased plan to move the ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff out of its headquarters in Yongsan, starting with the offices the least security concerns, Thursday. According to a ministry official, Thursday, the ministry will follow legal and administrative procedures once the government approves the state reserve fund. Cheong Wa Dae proposed approval of some portion of the 49.6 trillion won ($40 million) requested by Yoon's presidential transition committee in stages. President Moon Jae-in said he will thoroughly look into the budget related to the relocation and cooperate with Yoon's plan, during their meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. From scenic Boulder to bustling London, Jaipur Literature Festival, more colloquially JLF to fans and followers, has expanded its footprint across the world. Its outposts include global hubs such as New York, Toronto, Doha, and Adelaide. Almost all big urban centres where sizable numbers flock to hear and be close to authors they admire. JLF is venturing into a different format for the first timewith an edition in the idyllic Maldives. This is right amongst the sunny sand, serene sea, and spectacular skies that this island nation is famed for. JLF Soneva Fushi, scheduled for May 1322, will be an exclusive version of the festival. A partnership between Soneva and Festival organisers, Teamwork Arts, JLF Soneva Fushi is bringing some of the world's top authors, cultural leaders and thought-provoking speakers to the white sands of Soneva Fushi. Just by the very nature of the island resort, it will have limited access, even though it will be spread over ten days, including two weekends, designed to increase the audience numbers. "It's been a dream project to take JLF to Soneva Fushi in the Maldives," said Sanjoy Roy, MD, Teamwork Arts. "The festival in Sonevait's 150 people each weekend across two weekends. It's going to be a high-end bespoke festival. Our all-new edition will focus on climate crises, history, geology, fiction and film, alongside delectable cuisine and diverse music and poetry traditions, bringing together the best of world cultures in one place that includes the sun and the sea." A team from the Soneva Fushi edition attended the festival at Jaipur earlier this year, where they shed light on the highlights. "We are so proud to host the first edition of JLF Soneva Fushi, the first-ever Maldives iteration of the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival," said Sonu Shivdasani, CEO and Co-Founder of Soneva. "The festival's remarkable programme is an opportunity to reconnect with the pure joy of literature and the arts. I cannot wait to welcome the lineup of outstanding international authors to our shores." Those who attend the festival will be amongst a galaxy of 30 of the most sought-after speakers. Attendees will benefit from being up close with David Wallace Wells, Ranjit Hoskote, Shobhaa De, Shashi Tharoor, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Pavan K. Varma and Elif Shafak, besides festival directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple. You could be discussing politics with authors Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi, Damon Galgut, Hillary Clinton's chief of staff Huma Abedin, investigative Journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, or hear Mira Nair, Andre Aciman and Vikas Swarup on film and adaptations. There is a session on travel writing and multiple ones on history. Fiction and poetry remain a bedrock, of course. Climate is a highlight, especially relevant as rising sea levels threaten the host nation. The days will start and end with music, as is the JLF tradition, and include some unique events and experiences, which are signature Soneva offerings. The weekend programme is dedicated to flagship events, including keynote addresses, gala dinners, sunset poetry cruises, live musical performances and film screenings, all within the resort, located on Baa atoll, about 150 kilometres north of capital Male. It will not come cheap, of course. The site mentions a full-board, four-night stay from $6,800 for two guests, complimentary domestic transfers and full access to the festival programme. The resort, which was the original Soneva known for barefoot luxury, has 64 one- to nine-bedroom beachfront villas and eight one- and two-bedroom Water Retreats. Twelve dining destinations offer an array of cuisines. Resources permitting, this might just be the most picturesque JLF edition you can attend! Check out DH's latest videos Senior Congress leaders, while welcoming Trinamool chieftain Mamata Banerjee's initiative inviting all opposition parties to unite against the BJP, indicated the grand old party will, however, have to play the role of the "central pole" of any future national opposition grouping. The Congress leaders also felt "little differences" between the 137-year-old party and other opposition parties should be kept aside as non-BJP leaders attempt to unite to defeat a fundamental force like the BJP. Congress Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha, Anand Sharma, told PTI, "This (opposition unity) has been Congress' stated position. The Congress president and the working committee have repeatedly stressed this. In the past, the Congress has taken the initiative to bring all on one platform. Sharma said, "The thing is that when we talk in the national context, Congress will remain in the central pole of opposition. We have to work together (for opposition unity) with all sincerity." Though the Congress party was trounced in the general elections by the BJP, its vote share during the 2019 election stood at 19.55 per cent far higher than regional rivals, none of whom managed to garner even 5 per cent of the nationwide vote. This vote had actually marginally risen from 19.31 per cent of total votes in 2014. Also Read AAP: Can broom sweep nation? The Congress is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while in Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, they are in a coalition government. Several opposition leaders, including NCP leader Surpiya Sule, have on occasion on or off record have talked of the need for Congress to play a role in forging opposition unity. On March 27, Banerjee wrote to all non-BJP chief ministers and opposition parties, including the Congress, from which her party had organised defections in two states recently, calling on all "progressive forces" to come together and put up a united fight against the "oppressive BJP regime." The West Bengal chief minister has called for a meeting to discuss strategies to take on the saffron party and also commit to the cause of a unified and principled opposition that will make way for the "government that the country deserves." Last year, Banerjee had said, What UPA? referring to the opposition coalition led by Congress. However. analysts said that by reaching out to Congress, in a departure from her previous attempt at opposition unity, when she had cold shouldered the grand old party, the feisty leader from Bengal is also in agreement that the Congress has an important role to play in a united opposition. Congress leader Manish Tewari told PTI, "It's (Banerjees letter calling for opposition unity) is a splendid initiative. Though I have not seen the letter, I would say that it's a welcome one. There is a need for all progressive nationalist and secular forces to come together and fight the forces of theocracy, fundamentalism." Also Read Whither Opposition unity? Banerjee's initiative was also lauded by Congress leader and noted legal luminary Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who described the TMC boss, as "one of the main pillars of that opposition" which should unite to prevent vote division, state by state for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "Non-BJP opposition is the need of the hour. Mamta Banerjee is certainly one of the pillars of that opposition. Each element of that opposition has to unite to prevent vote division, state by state, for 2024 Parliamentary elections," Singhvi told PTI. When asked about Banerjee's past criticism of the Congress, Tiwari said such little differences should be put behind when there is a larger challenge to "save the country". "It's the larger battle which needs to be kept in mind and as long as we are focussed on the larger challenges faced by the country and we are willing to put our little differences behind, I think we will make a difference to this initiative," Tiwari said. Reasoning that any opposition "disunity and vote division" would allow the BJP to win, Singhvi opined that big leaders like Banerjee have to take every form of initiative to unite the non-BJP parties. "... Opposition disunity and vote division allows BJP to win (despite) its best performances never exceeding 39-40 per cent of the popular vote. Hence Mamta Banerjee and other opposition stalwarts like her have to strain every sinew to unite the non-BJP space, Singhvi said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The contemporary global order was built on the United Nations Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, India reminded Russia, even as it resisted the pressure from the United States to directly and strongly condemn its invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reiterated India's call for early cessation of violence in Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on him and briefed him about the situation in Ukraine. Modi also conveyed to Lavrov India's readiness to contribute in any way to the peace efforts launched to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Lavrov arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, even as the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western nations stepped up pressure on India to take a tough stand on the issue. He had a meeting with his counterpart External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar before calling on the prime minister. Read | Russia hints at boosting rupee-rouble trade with India Jaishankar emphasised the importance of cessation of violence and ending hostilities, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs after his meeting with Lavrov. Differences and disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and by respect for international law, UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, the External Affairs Minister told the Foreign Minister of Russia. Lavrov later told journalists that if India, with its just and rational approach towards international problems, wanted to support a process to defuse the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, then no one would be against it. Russias invasion brought to public domain the differences between India and the US. India abstained from voting on the resolutions the US and other Western nations sponsored or supported at the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly denouncing Russia for its activities. Though India has been calling for cessation of hostilities and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict, it has also avoided directly condemning the Russian President. Lavrov also lauded India's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and said that most countries understood what had been going on and the root cause of the crisis. India still relies heavily on Russia for its military hardware, including ammunition, given the long-standing defence cooperation between the two nations. Watch latest videos by DH here: Police seized a car from the house of Malayalam actor Dileep in Kochi on Friday in connection with the ongoing probe into a sexual assault case filed by an actress against him. There is suspicion that a conspiracy was hatched to attack the aforementioned actress and cash was paid to key accused Sunil Kumar alias 'Pulsar Suni' in the car in 2016, sources said. Meanwhile, a letter written by Kumar to Dileep that mentions the conspiracy was also recovered by the investigation team. The probe was initiated on the basis of recent revelations by filmmaker Balachandrakumar about the conspiracy. Another case was initiated against Dileep recently for conspiring to endanger the life of the police crime branch officials probing the case. Check out DH's latest videos The pandemic may have prevented Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba from making his first bilateral visit to India sooner. But Deuba and his Indian hosts have ensured he will be able to combine diplomacy with a generous dollop of Hindu religious fervour with visits to the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Nepali Mandir in Varanasi during his three-day visit to India beginning April 1. The Varanasi visit is particularly important for Deuba and his party in an election year with certain outfits in Nepal busy whipping up Hindu nationalist sentiments. Appointed PM for a fifth time after his predecessor K P Sharma Oli's attempts to retain power were scuttled by Nepal's Supreme Court, Deuba is looking to win a sixth term in office. While the ruling BJP party in India would undoubtedly be pleased with Varanasi being a part of Deuba's itinerary, the focus of South Block mandarins would decidedly be on the ever-expanding Chinese footprint in Nepal. It is, perhaps, no coincidence that Deuba's visit to India was announced by the South Block within days of Chinese foreign minister and state councillor Wang Yi's three-day visit to Nepal last week. The increasing sway Beijing now has on political parties across the spectrum in Nepal was evident when the Deuba government hosted Wang Yi even before he could make his India trip. The Deuba-led Nepali Congress has traditionally been seen as allied with Indian interests, unlike the Communist parties. However, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge from the time when India considered itself the sole benefactor of Nepal, secure in the knowledge that it had close and civilisational ties with its neighbour. Regardless of their ideology, political parties in Nepal have been eagerly embracing China, which has been wooing the strategically located Himalayan nation with the huge financial and other resources at its command. Although India has also spared no effort to execute development projects in Nepal, which straddle different sectors, and considers development cooperation with the country "one of the fundamental pillars of the bilateral partnership", the Chinese moves present a daunting challenge for New Delhi. The Chinese dragon has been slowly but surely shrinking India's sphere of influence in Nepal. This, in turn, also threatens India's security interests with increasing Chinese presence at its doorstep as Nepal's political parties tango with Beijing. During Wang Yi's visit, the two sides inked nine agreements ranging from those focused on infrastructure to education. But if it's any matter of consolation for India, China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Nepal joined in 2017, remains a non-starter despite repeated iterations by Beijing that it remains committed to it. While the BRI seems headed nowhere in Nepal, the Deuba government recently saw through the ratification of the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact by the country's Parliament. The Compact will bring in $500 million to Nepal to build infrastructure, which clearly has Beijing annoyed and concerned as bitter rival US increases its focus on the landlocked nation that lies sandwiched between India and China. Nepal now finds itself caught in the crosshairs of the `Great Game', as India, China and now the US jostle for influence. New Delhi would expectedly be keen to tell an 'India-friendly' government that its strategic interests need to be kept in mind when Deuba comes visiting. That India and the US have converging strategic interests, and view China's growing belligerence as a threat to the world at large, should stand New Delhi in good stead in countering Beijing in Nepal. Deuba's visit was long overdue with Nepalese PMs traditionally making India their first port of call after taking charge. But New Delhi had to wait eight long months for Deuba, who became PM for a record fifth time in July last year, to be able to visit India. A visit scheduled in January had to be cancelled when the Omicron variant of the Covid pandemic was raging. Both the Indian establishment and the veteran politician are well acquainted with each other, so each side will be speaking their mind during the visit. The two sides need to find a way to resolve the prickly disputes like the territorial one over Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura instead of allowing them to fester and be an irritant in bilateral ties. New Delhi also needs to look into Nepal's consistent demand for a review of the 1950 Treaty of Peace Friendship. The 2018 report of an Eminent Persons Group that looked into this Treaty, among other things, and suggested this pact be replaced with a new one in keeping with the changed times, has been given a quiet burial. While it's not unusual for world leaders to visit places of worship during their travels abroad, Deuba's Varanasi stopover on April 3 is loaded with political significance for the ruling parties in both Nepal and India the Nepali Congress and the BJP. In visiting a city considered holy by Hindus, Deuba will be hoping to reach out to that constituency in Nepal that believes his country should be declared a Hindu rashtra even though it chose secularism when its new Constitution was promulgated in 2015. The push for a Hindu state in Nepal is perceived as having received a fillip ever since the BJP swept to power in India in 2014. The Nepalese media has been reporting that Sangh Parivar outfits have been active in Nepal, fuelling the demand for a Hindu rashtra. Naturally, then, the BJP-led Indian government is happy to host the PM of a Hindu majority nation in Varanasi, which also happens to be PM Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency. Deuba isn't the only one among top Nepalese politicians seeking to woo those who favour Nepal's return to a Hindu state. Even Deuba's predecessor, K P Sharma Oli, who leads the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), was not averse to playing the Hindu nationalism card despite his Leftist credentials. He famously once declared that Lord Rama's birthplace was in Nepal and not Ayodhya in India. South Block, on its part, has to ensure that the China card in Nepal does not get further play. (The writer is a senior journalist.) With Assembly elections a year away, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday asked his party to win not less than 150 seats in the 2023 Assembly polls and launched a major offensive against the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government. Indias most corrupt government is in Karnataka, Rahul said during his address to party leaders and workers. PM Modi used to talk about corruption. Today, if he talks about corruption in Karnataka where theres a 40 per cent commission government, then people of the state will laugh, he said, referring to the Karnataka State Contractors Association going public with its complaint that they are forced to pay huge kickbacks. Rahul said the BJP government in Karnataka was made using financial resources and subterfuge, referring to the 2019 defections. No BJP leader can go on stage and talk about economy, corruption and jobs, Rahul said. The biggest issue facing Karnataka and the country is unemployment. The economic collapse with price rise and unemployment means that our economy, which was our strength, is now our weakness, he said. Accusing the BJP of crony capitalism, Rahul said the Modi administration is taking money from the poor people to make a handful of people richer. This is a financial transfer mechanism, he said. The idea is to divide the country, which is called polarisation, by making religions and castes fight. Rahul charged that the BJP cannot provide jobs even if it wants to because small businesses, which he said were Indias strength, have been destroyed because of demonetisation and wrong GST. The damage is already caused and therell be more, he said. The Congress responsibility is to raise real issues, he said, such as unemployment, repairing the economy and bringing people together. They break, we fix, he said. We should do this and show it in Karnataka. According to Rahul, winning 150 seats in Karnataka is quite easy for the Congress. Karnataka has always had the spirit of Congress. This is a natural Congress state, he said. We shouldnt aim to win the election with a close margin. It should be a decisive victory with not less than 150 seats, he said. Watch latest videos by DH here: The April issue of Revista Espanola de Defensa in its English version dedicates its cover to the strengthening of the deterrence and defense measures that NATO has adopted as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. The Atlantic Alliance and the European Union have shown their unity and strength in condemning Russia, and their solidarity and support for Ukrainian people. It also reports on the handover ceremony to the new head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Spanish General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz. In an interview, he assures that, thanks to this peace mission, "a generation has grown up in a calm situation." The pages of the National section include the collaboration of the Armed Forces in vaccinating citizens against COVID-19 within the framework of Baluarte Mission, and support for the population affected by the eruption of the volcano in La Palma. The magazine offers an interview with Lieutenant General Fernando Garcia-Vaquero, head of NATO's Rapid Deployment Headquarters in Betera. In addition, the keys to the new Strategic Concept that NATO must adopt at the June summit in Madrid are analyzed, together with another article focused into the role that the OSCE must play in conflicts. The section dedicated to the defense industry reports on the arrival of the first CH-47 Chinook helicopter of the Army, that has been renovated in the US. A researcher from the INTA Astrobiology Center writes about the Spanish participation in James Webb Space Telescope. The April issue is completed with an analysis of the implications of climate change on the environment, the economy and national and international security. Pupils from a County Derry primary school have proved they are real film buffs after winning the top prize in a challenge organised by an education charity. Into Film launched its latest Film Buff Challenge to complement its free educational streaming service, Into Film+. The Challenge has been curated to open a window to the world while enabling young people to watch and review short, accessible films to improve their literacy and critical thinking skills. Pupils from St Johns Primary School, Dernaflaw enjoyed a free cinema trip to the Jet Centre in Coleraine as a reward for winning the top prize in the challenge. Pupils were so inspired that they watched all the films and completed activities alongside them. Teacher Gary Lynch, who runs the schools Into Film Club, said he had seen real improvements in the childrens creativity and writing ability as a result of taking part in the challenge. He said: I loved the sound of this new opportunity to learn through film. I cant speak highly enough of it, the enthusiasm you get from the children and the variety of learning. Its just wonderful. With a selection of films for ages 7-11 and another for ages 11-14, pupils earn silver, gold or platinum awards by watching films and writing reviews. As well as certificates along the way, Platinum Film Buffs are awarded a clapperboard keyring and are in with a chance of winning amazing prizes, including a class cinema trip. Gary added: I have to confess, as soon as we started this, I thought were doing them all!. And thats going to happen this year too. Garys class watched a range of genres from the historic silent short The Georgetown Loop, made in 1903, to a story of family and autism in the animated My Brother Luca. Films on offer include youth made films, documentaries, foreign language, Black and White and more. A range of educational topics and themes, such as mental health, the environment and racism, have been chosen to encourage rich and inclusive discussion. Thats the beauty of these short movies. Youre getting far better interactions with those children who would be more withdrawn, or wouldnt be confident enough to answer, he said. Across the challenge, Gary saw real improvement in group discussions and in individual writing. He said: It was so heartening to witness the pride they have at the end of the challenge. Film Buff Challenge is a magic carpet ride through time, genres, countries and film mediums. It opens doors to other worlds and ways of thinking for young people and I cant sing the challenges praises enough. The Film Buff Challenge, first launched to support home learning during the pandemic has been used by many schools across the North as a valuable tool for literacy learning. With the welcome return to the classroom the challenge has now expanded with more short films available to every teacher. A brand-new selection of Film Buff Challenge shorts are now available on Into Film+, the UKs first streaming service designed for all school settings. Hosting more than 250 films, it is unique in its additional educational content such as curriculum linked resources and exclusive videos. These include screening Paddington 2 in class with a pre-recorded introduction for schoolchildren by director Paul King. Into Films Sean Kelly said: Film Buff Challenge is an exciting way for children to engage with the curriculum. As well as being fun, its a powerful educational tool that develops and sharpens analytical and literacy abilities, while providing a basis for thought-provoking discussion. Teachers wishing to take up Film Buff Challenge can visit https://www.intofilm.org/resources/1693 for details. Into Film are also offering free virtual workshops to introduce the Challenge. To book your class workshop email intofilmni@intofilm.org There is no cost for Into Film+ however, all schools require a Public Video Screening Licence (PVS Licence) to screen Filmbankmedia films and watch any Into Film+ content. Schools in receipt of Extended Schools funding can claim one of a limited number of PVS licences paid for by Northern Ireland Screen. A Derry man has been banned from keeping all animals for ten years after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his two dogs. John Fleming, from Eglinton, was sentenced at Coleraine Magistrates Court today after previously pleading guilty to the offences involving his own dogs Alf, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Ko, an Akita/German Shepherd Cross. The charges were brought against Fleming by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011. Proceedings followed an investigation by councils Animal Welfare Officer after receiving a report that Fleming was captured on video attacking his own two dogs on the Craigbrack Road. On reviewing this footage with the councils contracted vet, animal welfare officers attended Flemings home address and removed three dogs from the property. While the dogs were all in good physical health, Alf, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, had a number of superficial injuries, which the vet believed were consistent with the incident captured on film. Council made use of the expertise of the Forensic Service of Northern Ireland in the improvement and presentation of the video footage in order to present the best evidence possible in this investigation. The video showed Fleming kicking at Ko a number of times, before picking up Alf, raising him above his head and slamming this dog into the tarmac. He then kicked at the dog, before lifting it a second time to shoulder height and again slamming the dog onto the road. Alf and Ko were recently transferred from councils care into that of the Dogs Trust to be rehomed. The third dog has now been signed over to council. Fleming previously indicated guilty pleas to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals, contrary to section 4 of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. A pre-sentence report was ordered, with sentencing today. Whilst District Judge King was satisfied that it was a case in which the custody threshold had been crossed, he took account of the defendants clean record and exemplary public service prior to this incident, as well as the early guilty plea and imposed a 200 hour Community Service Order. In addition, Fleming was also disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years and ordered to pay costs of 1,500 for care and veterinary fees, as well as 500 for legal costs. Commenting on the case, a spokesperson for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said the council gave a high priority to the welfare of domestic pets and horses and operated a rigorous enforcement policy to ensure full compliance of regulatory requirements. The spokesperson added: All complaints are investigated thoroughly and in the most serious of animal welfare offence, such as in this case, council will prosecute for offences. I hope this serves as a warning to anyone who does not take appropriate care of animals. Vodacom South Africa MD Balesh Sharma is leaving the mobile operator after less than two years in the role. He has decided to pursue a new opportunity in Europe after two decades with Vodafone Group, the parent company. Sharma joined the Vodafone Group in India in March 2003 where he held various senior leadership roles before moving to international assignments as CEO of Vodafone Malta and then CEO of Vodafone Czech Republic, driving successful turnarounds in both roles. He later returned to India to help the company fight one of the industrys most competitive environments. In his capacity as the founding CEO of Vodafone Idea, Balesh managed the integration of Vodafone and Idea, delivering substantial synergies within the first year post-merger, and successfully completing a rights issue of US$3.5-billion for the merged entity, Vodacom said in the statement. To ensure a smooth transition, Sharma will remain in his role for the next three months, Vodacom said in a statement. Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub said: "During this time, he led the improvements in market share, net promoter scores, network, churn improvement, TOBI, Vodacom Business performance and also drove the winning back of data market share. Balesh was strong support various critical Vodacom projects such as the recent spectrum auction, which saw Vodacom successfully acquire a total of 110 MHz high-demand spectrum. We wish Balesh the very best for the next chapter of his career and will announce his successor in due course. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Ingushetia's regional head at the Kremlin in Moscow, in this March 30 file photo. AFP-Yonhap Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding foreign buyers pay for Russian gas in rubles from Friday or else have their supplies cut, a move European capitals rejected and which Germany said amounted to "blackmail." Putin's decree Thursday leaves Europe facing the prospect of losing more than a third of its gas supply. Germany, the most heavily reliant on Russia, has already activated an emergency plan that could lead to rationing in Europe's biggest economy. Energy exports are Putin's most powerful lever as he tries to hit back against sweeping Western sanctions imposed on Russian banks, companies, businessmen and associates of the Kremlin in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moscow calls its Ukraine action a "special military operation". Putin said buyers of Russian gas "must open ruble accounts in Russian banks. It is from these accounts that payments will be made for gas delivered starting from tomorrow," (April 1). "If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default on the part of buyers, with all the ensuing consequences. Nobody sells us anything for free, and we are not going to do charity either that is, existing contracts will be stopped," he said in televised remarks. It was not immediately clear whether in practice there might be a way for foreign firms to continue payment without using rubles, which the European Union and G7 have ruled out. Italy said it was in contact with its European partners to give a firm response to Russia, adding its own gas reserves would allow economic activity to continue even in the event of disruptions. Meantime, Germany's energy firms said they were in close talks with Berlin about how to respond to possible supply disruptions and draw up a roadmap on what to do should Russia stop gas exports. Gas is seen burning on a domestic hob in this March 31 photo taken in Moscow. On March 31, President Vladimir Putin warned "unfriendly" countries, including all EU members, that they would be cut off from Russian gas unless they opened an account in rubles to pay for deliveries. AFP-Yonhap With the deadline of 31st March now elapsed, Nigerias government has called on the countrys mobile phone users to register their National Identity Numbers (NINs) to their SIM cards in the next few days. Nigeria has pushed back the deadline for NIN-SIM registration several times since it commenced the initiative in December 2020. The process is aimed at reducing fraud and improving security in the market. TeleGeography reports that in order to ensure that citizens are able to complete their enrolment, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has instructed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to offer registration facilities round-the-clock for the next few days. Saint Kitts and Nevis is set to build a new data centre in a bid to boost its economy. The Caribbean nations Prime Minister Timothy Harris made the proposal in a speech to the sixth National Convention of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP), saying: we will build out a state-of-the-art data centre here bringing much big business to St. Kitts and Nevis. Harris underlined the importance of the digital economy, saying that the government aimed to target high-tech industries to help create new jobs and improved opportunities for our people to work away from home. The Prime Minister also said that Saint Kitts and Nevis would explore sustainable energy initiatives in the face of rising fuel prices. Harris claimed that this would include the use of the ocean dubbed the blue economy. Data Centre Dynamics reported that the islands have at least one data centre in the form of the Government Information and Communication Technology Centre, located in the capital of Basseterre. This data centre was last upgraded in 2015 after sustaining damage in a storm. Since 1995, Basseterre has also been a landing point for the Eastern Caribbean Fibre System (ECFS) system. In 2006 Digicel landed its South Caribbean fibre cable in Bassterre, and this was joined in 2013 by a landing point for the Dutch governments Saba, Statia Cable System (SSCS) to Anguilla. Minister Coveney on the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Ties with Ukraine Statement Friday, April 1st, marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Ukraine. Marking the occasion, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., said: I am pleased to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Ukraine". Irelands support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its right to choose its own foreign and security policy path is unwavering". I have been so impressed by the courageous, measured and very capable response by Ukraine and its people to the unacceptable invasion of their country by Russia. Your resilience is being sorely tested but I am confident that you will overcome this grave challenge facing your country, as you have done at pivotal times in your long history". Along with our EU partners and other likeminded countries, Ireland stands firmly with you, and will offer assistance in the rebuilding process. I look forward to continued and enhanced cooperation as we explore ways for Ukraine to deepen its links with Ireland and with the EU. ENDS Press Office 1st April 2022 Previous Item | Find out whats new on iOS 15.4.1 and whether you should update your iPhones and iPads here. Following user reports of heavy battery drain on the recently launched iOS 15.4, Apple has rolled out iOS 15.4.1 to the public with a solution for the battery issue. The iOS 15.4.1 release notes also mention some bug fixes for braille devices and Made for iPhone hearing devices. However, as always, upon closer inspection, you would come across other minor changes too. For instance, the Apple world clock widget now shows the Ukraine capital Kyivs abbreviation as KYI instead of KIE. Lets know its reason first. Kyiv abbreviation on iOS 15.4.1 is KYI: Heres why iOS 15.4.1 Kyiv world clock As Steve Moser, contributing writer at Macrumors notes, KIE comes from the Russian spelling of Kyiv: Kiev. iOS 15.4.1 changes: Apple changed the World Clock widget abbreviation for Kyiv from KIE to KYI. KIE comes from the Russian spelling of Kyiv: Kiev. Screenshot is iOS 15.4. pic.twitter.com/KaoBfE9T3e Steve Moser (@SteveMoser) March 31, 2022 Also, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy recently clarified the correct spelling of the nations capital. He tweeted: High time to finally discard the outdated Soviet spelling of our cities and adopt the correct Ukrainian form. Grateful to Japan and @kishida230 for already doing so and encourage others to follow. #KyivNotKiev (@ZelenskyyUa) March 31, 2022 Moving back to iOS, here are the other improvements on version 15.4.1: iOS 15.4.1 Changes, Fixes, Should you update? Apple.com release notes Apple release notes state the following bug fixes for your iPhone: Battery may drain more quickly than expected after updating to iOS 15.4 Braille devices may become unresponsive while navigating text or displaying an alert Made for iPhone hearing devices may lose connection within some third-party apps Apple Support also reveals that iOS 15.4.1 and iPadOS 15.4.1 have fixed a security issue with AppleAVD (an audio-video decoding framework) on the respective platforms. Well, its not just those two, Apple has released watchOS 8.5.1, tvOS 15.4.1, and HomePod 15.4.1 updates too, details of which you can check here. For other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in. The Galaxy A52s has been a popular mid-range phone and Samsung has rehashed it as the Galaxy A53 5G with a new 5nm Exynos 1280 chipset. The phone has an appealing design, an AMOLED display, a beefier 5000mAh battery, and comes with an assurance of 4 major software updates! So, is the Galaxy A53 5G the ultimate Samsung mid-range phone that you should buy? How much better is the Galaxy A53 as compared to the Galaxy A52s, iQOO 9 SE or OnePlus Nord 2? Lets answer those questions and more in our Galaxy A53 review. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Price and Specifications Display: 6.5-inch 2400x1080 (20:9) 120Hz AMOLED, Gorilla Glass 5 protection 6.5-inch 2400x1080 (20:9) 120Hz AMOLED, Gorilla Glass 5 protection Dimensions: 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm; 189g 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm; 189g Chipset: 5nm Exynos 1280 (2 x 2.40GHz Cortex A78 + 6 x 2.0GHz Cortex A55), Mali-G68 GPU 5nm Exynos 1280 (2 x 2.40GHz Cortex A78 + 6 x 2.0GHz Cortex A55), Mali-G68 GPU RAM: 6GB/ 8GB 6GB/ 8GB Storage: 128GB, MicroSD card slot 128GB, MicroSD card slot Rear camera: 64MP (f/1.8), OIS, 4K@30fps + 12MP (f/2.2) wide-angle camera + 5MP (f/2.4) macro + 5MP (f/2.4) depth sensor 64MP (f/1.8), OIS, 4K@30fps + 12MP (f/2.2) wide-angle camera + 5MP (f/2.4) macro + 5MP (f/2.4) depth sensor Front camera: 32MP (f/2.2), 4k@30fps 32MP (f/2.2), 4k@30fps Battery: 5000mAh, 25W fast charging (Charging adapter not included in the box) 5000mAh, 25W fast charging (Charging adapter not included in the box) Software: Android 12-based OneUI 4.1 (4 major updates promised) Android 12-based OneUI 4.1 (4 major updates promised) Connectivity: 5G Sub-6, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, USB Type-C (2.0) 5G Sub-6, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, USB Type-C (2.0) Others: IP67 water-resistant, Optical in-display fingerprint sensor, Stereo speakers IP67 water-resistant, Optical in-display fingerprint sensor, Stereo speakers Price in India: Rs 34,499 (6GB + 128GB), Rs 35,499 (8GB + 128GB) Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review: Design and Build Samsung sticks to the same design as the Galaxy A52s which in turn was similar to the Galaxy A52. So, yes, Samsung has left the design part untouched for a while and if you ask me that's only a problem if you are upgrading from any of these two predecessors launched within the last year (which is not very likely). Nevertheless, the Galaxy A53 is a good looking phone with simple and serene colour options. It has a polycarbonate back, but a polycarbonate back done right. The smoky matte finish feels luxurious and can resist finger grease better than most glass back phones. The Galaxy A53 is also IP67 dust and water-resistant. The good thing is that Samsung has managed to house a bigger battery without increasing the heft of the phone - 189 grams is pretty modest by modern standards and the weight also feels reasonably well balanced. All buttons and ports are easily accessible and so is the optical in-display fingerprint sensor underneath the display. The fingerprint reader is not particularly snappy but it still proved quite reliable at unlocking our phone. The phone has stereo speakers and together they can get really loud. The audio jack didn't make the cut and that's hardly surprising in a phone that has already advanced to the next phase and ditched the charging adapter. Another peeve point is that Samsung doesnt bundle a pre-applied screen protector on the screen. This seems like a minor thing to crib about but the pre-applied options from OEMs often fair better and have proper oleophobic coating as compared to what most mid-range phone buyers will end up with and that ultimately impacts the consumer experience. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review: Display The Galaxy A53 has a 6.5-inch Full HD display thats advertised to go up to 800 nits bright. It is a good quality AMOLED panel with high contrast and an option for a relatively colour-accurate sRGB profile (Natural mode). The colour accuracy in the sRGB profile is excellent with an average Delta E less than 3 as measured using Spectracal C6 HDR2000 Colorimeter and Calman Ultimate software. Whites still have a slight blue bias. The Vivid profile targets DCI-P3 colour space and here too the average Delta E remains under 3. The display constantly refreshes at 120 Hz (save for in gaming apps) if you choose the High motion smoothness preset. There is no adaptive refresh rate option here, but we didnt miss it because battery mileage is pretty good. This is not an HDR compliant display panel and thus users dont have the option to watch HDR content on YouTube and Netflix. In my opinion, the lack of HDR support is still not a deal-breaker on mid-range mobile phones, but it is still something many consumers would expect for the price. Also Check: Samsung Galaxy S22+ Review - Don't ignore this middle child! Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review: Performance, Gaming and Software The Galaxy A53s is the first phone in India to be powered by Exynos 1280. The 5nm process based SoC has two Cortex-A72 performance cores paired with four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores and replaces the Snapdragon 778 on the Galaxy A52s. Unfortunately, the SoC turned out to be a downgrade on benchmark platforms and in practical gaming performance. The phone holds rather well will regular tasks like web browsing, multimedia consumption, and social media surfing, but we did encounter random stutters every now and then. Performance gaps begin to show when going gets tough. For instance, in Call of Duty: Mobile, the phone defaults to Low graphics and Very High frame rate and even at these settings, FPS stability wasnt up to the mark. Currently, the Galaxy A52s offers practically the same experience with a faster Snapdragon 778 chipset (the same SoC that Samsung also employs on the higher-end Galaxy A73 this generation). Even though it won't get software updates for another 4 major versions, it remains a better option for anyone who isn't a basic user. When it comes to software, Samsung is a very solid place today. Stock Android or near-stock Android experience is no longer a consumer fancy or rather a viable option, and amidst a sea of heavily customized interfaces, OneUI is one of the few options that seem in good taste. Numerous customization options, seamless integration with Your Phone app on Windows, and Samsung Pay are some of the highlights to look forward to. Samsung has been great with software updates lately and it assures 4 major OS version upgrades for the Galaxy A53! On the downside, the Indian unit ships with a number of pre-installed apps but most of these can be uninstalled. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review: Camera Performance Once again Samsung continues with the same camera specs as on the Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A52s. The quartet on the rear is led by a 64MP primary sensor, 12MP ultra-wide camera, 5MP macro camera, and 5MP depth sensor. The Galaxy A53 does quite well in proper daylight. This is not a camera for purists since the colours and exposures are willfully tweaked and boosted. Most consumers are likely to appreciate the pleasantly oversaturated tones, even if the processing often results in unnatural skylines. We see some improvement in the way red tones are handled. Details are also quite impressive in proper daylight shots. In low light, the image quality takes a hit but the Galaxy A53 still manages to perform better than expected. The camera is quite deft with metering but over-processing adds noise and gains and the lack of details is more apparent when you zoom in or examine the images on your PC. The images youd get will still suffice for social media purposes. The night mode helps keep the shutter open a wee-bit longer. More often than not, there isnt much difference between the shots clicked using auto mode and night mode. The Galaxy A53 also performs great when it comes to selfies and portraits. The software can intelligently detect subject edges and the background blur feels quite natural. The app also has some fun portrait effects that you can experiment with. The customary 5 MP macro camera and the 12MP wide-angle shooter complete the quartet and these arent sensors that youd be using very frequently. They still do a decent job when compared to what youd get on other mid-range options. The handset also has OIS and you can shoot 1080p videos at up to 60fps and UHD videos at 30fps. Also Check: Samsung Galaxy S22 Review - the iPhone 13 alternative? Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review: Battery and Charging The Exynos 1280 chipset is based on a 5 nm process and proved quite power efficient. With moderate to heavy use, we could consistently manage more than one day of backup. We managed a screen on time of approximately 6.5 hours on a full charge. The 5000 mAh battery takes around 2 hours to refill if you use a 25W USB PD charger or the thunderbolt port of your laptop. So, even if you manage to lay your hands on a fast charger, charging speeds are quite slower than what the competition has on offer. Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A53? The Galaxy A53 is everything we expect of a Samsung mid-range phone. The experience is quite pacifying, mostly thanks to the palatable software and good-quality display, but its also let down by a mediocre chipset. If you are into gaming, phones like the OnePlus 9R, OnePlus Nord 2, iQOO 9 SE or perhaps even Galaxy A52s should offer better value. The Galaxy A53 is an allrounder with a lot to look forward to. It has an appealing design, offers decent camera performance for the price, and assures a reliable battery backup. At the same time, the mid-range Exynos chip hampers the experience. The lack of a charging adaptor in the box and slow charging speeds are other peeve points. Subscriber content preview SUQUAMISH On Sunday, the Suquamish Tribe, NAFOA (formerly the Native American Finance Officers Association), and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), will host U.S. Department of the Treasury Chief Recovery Officer Jacob Leibenluft as he visits the Suquamish Tribe. The trip marks the first visit by a Treasury Department official to tribal lands during the Biden-Harris Administration. . . . The challenge of fighting climate change Health Resiliency is the future of sustainable building in health care. By STACY SMEDLEY Skanska Smedley care and sustainability play a?crucial?role in fostering a resilient society?and ensuring a sustainable future. In the face of a disturbance, health care facilities are among the most important components of our community. Be it extreme weather risks, infrastructure disturbances, utility outages, mass casualty events, or a public health crisis, health care facilities must remain available and functional. As such, prioritizing sustainable and resilient design and construction within these facilities is essential. According to a 2020 Health Affairs study, the health care industry accounts for more than 8% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched a new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity aimed at protecting community health across the nation and assisting in regulatory efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the health care sector. Photo courtesy of Benjamin Benschneider [enlarge] Main entrance to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. And, on the heels of President Biden announcing his goal of creating a net-zero economy by 2050, and local governments making huge strides in regulatory action to fight climate change, we will start seeing all sectors nationally and locally ramp up sustainability initiatives. In alignment with these shared goals and regulations, great strides are being made among our health care clients in both green building and sustainability efforts. Within my role as senior director of sustainability at Skanska USA Building, I advise and collaborate with building owners and designers to determine key sustainability priorities and strategies within the project lifecycle. Among the highest priorities for our industry and our clients is resiliency. Resiliency can be defined as the intentional design of buildings to respond and plan for natural and manmade disasters and disturbances as well as long-term changes resulting from climate change. Building resiliency incorporates many components various energy and water sources, disaster fortitude design, emphasis on passive systems, resource storage, and reduced environmental impacts such as the greenhouse gas emissions associated with construction and operations. A building is resilient if it maintains functionality in the face of disaster a vital element in health care facilities. A building is resilient because of its strategic energy recovery systems. A building is resilient if it was built to combat climate change through holistic decarbonization initiatives. A building is resilient if it improves the ability to care for patients in complex situations. When it comes to resiliency, needs vary by region. For instance, a West Coast client may be concerned with seismic needs. A health system on the Gulf Coast is thinking about hurricanes. All are focused on pandemic and mass casualty preparedness. The importance of resilient building was emphasized throughout our work on the Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City, Oregon. For this hospital, operational resiliency, seismic, and economic resiliency were all key factors during design and construction. The facility featured flexible spaces including outpatient and diagnostic imaging rooms that could be transformed into emergency treatment bays and inpatient rooms when needed. As the region anticipates?a potential Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, the new facility?had to?be?built to withstand a 9.0 magnitude earthquake. According to the Lund Report,?state engineers?noted the facility sets a new benchmark for earthquake readiness across all buildings in Oregon. Another key to resilient building is ensuring that project plans will adhere to all future regulations surrounding climate action legislation, which can be hard to predict and vary from state to state. Regardless, embodied carbon regulation is key in meeting long-term decarbonization goals both within our industry and local communities. As part of its sustainability program plan, King County was a pilot partner for the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3), a tool co-created by Skanska and supported by over 50 industry partners that is working to help reduce embodied carbon throughout the built environment. Photo courtesy of Josh Partee [enlarge] Patient room in Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. Additionally, many of our health care clients have made strong carbon reduction commitments that consider both operational and embodied carbon reduction. Utilizing innovative technology like early energy modeling tools and EC3, we can visualize and strategize the use of different materials and methods to reduce a projects final carbon footprint. As the climate continues to change and we see the evolution of natural disasters, resiliency must be a top priority when mapping out sustainability initiatives within the construction industry. To successfully do this, it is of course necessary to look to history for lessons learned, but more importantly it is essential to look at predicative data and the future state of our society. This data, which includes invaluable projections surrounding environmental risks, impending infrastructure hazards, and analysis on population displacement due to climate impacts, allows developers and community leaders to future proof their infrastructure, and plan all future projects through a resiliency lens. This, combined with a keen understanding and focus on decarbonizing health care facilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is vital to the future of our society and our planet. By focusing on resilience and mitigating climate change via decarbonization, we have the ability to future proof our health care system and ensure its future impact on the environment is a positive one. Stacy Smedley is Skanskas senior director of sustainability. Other Stories: Its time to rethink health care design The severity of the COVID-19 outbreak challenged health care systems in every direction. By BRYAN MAGGIO and CHANTILLY MALIBAGO Mortenson Maggio Malibago There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed our view of health care preparedness. The severity of the outbreak challenged health care systems in every direction: sicker patients requiring a higher cost of care; rising expenses across the board for labor, pharmaceuticals and supplies; and fewer outpatient visits and elective surgeries during the pandemic-driven shutdowns have strapped health care facilities and their employees. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic will not be the last major health event we face, and health care organizations are having to rethink everything from how hospital workers are protected to the way that hospital environments are engineered and designed. With an eye toward understanding the specific impact on providers and their subsequent shifts in strategy, Mortenson surveyed more than 100 health care professionals including industry executives, facility and operational leaders from many of the nations largest health care organizations at the American Society for Healthcare Engineerings Planning, Design & Construction Summit & Exhibition in 2021. Images courtesy of Mortenson [enlarge] Mortenson collaborated with Providence Health to bring its 118,000-square-foot integrated Reeds Crossing Medical Office Building & Wellness Center to the Northwest. All survey participants agreed that the pandemic opened new ways of thinking that will endure long after COVID-19 subsides. At the same time, the pandemic accelerated several important health and community trends that were already taking place. Three major themes emerged that summarize the current focus of health care providers: The need for greater flexibility. The need to make space changes to maximize safety and comfort. The continued advancement of telehealth. GREATER FLEXIBILITY When asked, What is the greatest long-term impact of the pandemic on your health care facilities? the topic of flexibility was referenced more than any other. Health care facilities need flexible, multi-functional spaces that can quickly scale up or down in acuity and capacity levels. During the biggest waves, when hospitalizations were at their peaks, the need for additional intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity and trained staff became apparent. Just as importantly, HVAC, air exchange, ventilation, gas lines and engineering systems lacked the flexibility to control airflow and keep patients and caregivers safe. Future engineering of these systems will need to support quick conversions to negative pressure of isolation of rooms and floors. Another important element of creating greater flexibility is the use of modular components. Facility components designed and built in a standardized manner can be configured and reconfigured efficiently. Sixty percent of survey respondents reported they were considering modularity in the hospital environment including patient rooms/ICU beds, acuity adjustable spaces, surgeries, isolation, and other uses. Another 34% are considering using modular in the ambulatory setting to reduce cost and drive consistency across their network. SPACE CHANGES The second greatest long-term impact of the pandemic on health care facilities was the need for design and space changes aimed at increasing safety and comfort for all while underscoring the heightened commitment to the well-being of the caregivers. Space changes included the need for more physical barriers, distancing and touchless designs. Patient and treatment rooms needed to be better prepared to manage infectious diseases requiring more isolations rooms and single-occupancy rooms. More wellness and respite areas were needed for caregivers to rest and take breaks. Common space areas such as waiting rooms, entrances, screening, and patient and provider flows are all receiving more attention now as a result. POWER OF TELEHEALTH [enlarge] Mortenson recently worked on an expansion of Kaiser Permanentes existing Everett Medical Center, and the project includes a state-of-the-art 150,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center with multiple specialty clinics and exam rooms. Telehealth continues to drive agility. Out of necessity, the pandemic accelerated the transition to telehealth and providers quickly recognized the positive impacts to their organizations. All of the providers agreed that telehealth is receiving much more attention now versus pre-COVID-19. Telehealth allows providers to quickly and efficiently triage and direct patients to the right care at the right time. It also helps providers reach new patients and underserved communities, enhance preventative, proactive, or ongoing care, and reduce the overall cost of care. Just as importantly, telehealth often allows patients to get the care they need without the fear of having to go to the doctors office or emergency room. Additionally, greater use of virtual care and technology solutions are enabling efficiencies in facility space utilization. FUTURE FACILITY INVESTMENTS When asked, How will your facility investments in the next 12-18 months compare to the 12-18 months before COVID-19? respondents replied as follows: Nearly 40% said they plan to increase investment into their facilities in 2021/2022. Eight out of 10 indicated that their facility investments in the next 12 to 18 months will be at, or above, pre-pandemic levels. 70% noted they are planning to invest in traditional hospitals and acute care, compared to just 48% in 2018. While study results have highlighted the renewed attention on the inpatient setting, 51% of respondents also pointed to ambulatory surgery as part of their organizations investment future, which supports a continued trend toward moving certain procedures and surgeries out of the hospital. As a result of this shifting landscape, developer/builder Mortenson continues to work with customers to offer innovative capital, development and construction solutions to help health care organizations drive flexibility within their facilities while advancing a community-aligned care delivery strategy. A recent case in point involves Mortensons collaboration with Providence Health to bring its 118,000-square-foot integrated Reeds Crossing Medical Office Building & Wellness Center to Hillsboro, Oregon. Commencing at the onset of the pandemic, the Providence and Mortenson team stepped back to evaluate potential design considerations that would allow flexibility to adapt to an ever-changing health care landscape. This allowed the team to integrate adaptable exam rooms with the ability to supply negative air pressure capabilities should the need arise for more capacity. The space was also designed for both provider and staff engagement, as well as patient experience with: Collaborative workspaces to promote engagement internally and with the local community. Improved respite spaces along exterior walls. Increased natural light in break room spaces. Similarly, Mortenson recently mobilized on Kaiser Permanentes new Specialty Care Center in Everett. An expansion upon the existing Kaiser Permanente Everett Medical Center, the project includes a state-of-the-art 150,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center with multiple specialty clinics and exam rooms designed with future flexibility in mind to scale with telehealth services. Modular and design for manufacturing and assembly elements such as Dirtt modular partitions for clinic spaces and exterior wall panels manufactured in Mortensons off-site factory are being leveraged to increase the speed of delivery. As the health care industry endeavors to meet the challenges of a once-in-a-generation crisis, the long-term effects of COVID-19 will have a lasting impact, forcing leaders to rethink how they organize, make decisions, serve customers, continue to retrofit existing spaces and expand. Working with a developer/builder who has access to a full spectrum of capital, development and construction solutions can make that journey possible. Bryan Maggio is health care market director and guides Mortensons health care teams. Chantily Malibago is Mortensons director of health care real estate development and leads Mortenson Developments health care vertical sector. Other Stories: What it takes to build health and science projects Unique requirements, a specialized approach and best practices are key. By GEORGE WARD Aldrich + Associates Ward This year marks Aldrich + Associates 50th anniversary. We have practiced health care construction for nearly all our 50-year history, from constructing clinics and office buildings for private practice doctors in the 1970s and 80s to recent projects at some of the Puget Sounds premier facilities. Today, we focus solely on health and science projects. Our specialization in this area has been very rewarding and we love sharing our knowledge and our passion. In this article, well share our insights about the unique requirements that come with construction in these complex environments, highlight some of the key benefits to facility owners and project teams that come from engaging health and science project specialists, and explore some of the trends and best practices were seeing in project delivery. UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS Nimble and flexible: Working in a patient care area or active laboratory often comes with strict requirements for noise and vibration control with access restrictions that can change due to operational circumstances. The ability to quickly shift focus and resources is a key factor to staying productive and moving a project forward without impacting care, especially in perioperative and critical care environments, where change can happen on a moments notice. Images courtesy of Aldrich + Associates [enlarge] Close coordination and consistent communication between the Aldrich team and SJMC clinical care providers supported a smooth continuation of ongoing operations during construction. For example, in our work on CHI Franciscan St. Joseph Medical Centers Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, we coordinated down-to-the-minute plans with nursing staff to ensure safety for these vulnerable patients. This sometimes involved running to an adjacent floor to make sure nurses could put earmuffs on neonates prior to drilling and, providing phone numbers so nurses could immediately reach our project leads if a babys condition changed or there was an unexpected delivery. When NICU staff needed quiet or a hallway cleared immediately, our team was there to get it done. Extensive communication: Another key requirement, especially in occupied health care environments, is making sure all staff fully understand the nature and implications of upcoming work. One tool we use to support ongoing communication is an activity-specific method-of-procedure document that includes visuals of affected/unaffected areas and down-to-the-hour scope detail, required safety precautions, and infection control measures. Other strategies we use include simplified color-coded phasing plans with dates and marking the location of temporary walls with blue tape on the floor well in advance of construction activities so staff can familiarize themselves with the new traffic patterns. Daily huddle meetings with health care providers and weekly recap emails with progress photos and details about upcoming tasks/deliveries are all part of Aldrichs commitment to keep everyone involved in the project well-informed. SPECIALIZED APPROACH [enlarge] Creative solutions drawn from a teams collective experience in projects of all kinds enables designers and contractors to meet the needs of diverse health and science environments, such as this 41-foot atrium at EvergreenHealths Family Maternity Center. Budget accuracy: For facility owners and project teams, having reliable cost data is a key element to support decision-making that guides a projects design. A contractor with extensive, successful health care experience is likely to have representative unit pricing and historical cost data that they can use for reference. Since this is all that we do, we have customized our estimating tools for health and science projects. Combined with our extensive historical cost database, this enables us to provide reliable cost information at the earliest stages of a project and anticipate how the design will progress as it relates to the project budget. Creativity: There are many different types of environments included under the umbrella of health and science facilities, requiring openness to diverse perspectives and creative ideas from both designers and contractors. For example, EvergreenHealths Family Maternity Center included a two-story, 41-foot-tall atrium that required an infection control barrier. Similar atria in airports came to mind as our team looked at the cavernous space, and we developed a barrier solution using scaffolding to anchor our fire-retardant plastic along with 2-inch rigid foam to reduce noise transfer. These measures turned out to be an excellent and effective solution for this unique space. Knowledge sharing: The strict codes and requirements combined with the variety of space types in health and science makes partnership and knowledge sharing between designers, contractors, and owners a key factor in devising effective and innovative solutions. We hold a Thursday morning superintendents huddle, a Friday project engineers huddle, and a Monday project managers huddle. These huddles often lead to teams sharing creative approaches and resources to support each other and bring the value of our companys collective wisdom to every project. For example, we had one project team constructing modular patient rooms at EvergreenHealth, and another team looking for the right solution for an ophthalmology clinic for Northwest Eye Surgeons (NWES). We proposed the modular idea to NWES and it ended up working best for them as well. Our teams also keep an ear to the ground on material availabilities a particularly relevant topic as supply chain disruptions continue to challenge all construction projects. BEST PRACTICES Design-build and integrated models: More owners, such as University of Washington, Moses Lake Community Health Centers, and Northwest Kidney Centers continue to adopt design-build and other alternative delivery methods. The goal of design-build and other models like it is to create a more integrated and collaborative approach between owners, designers, and contractors. Integrated models can also shorten project timelines, which supports the owners speed to market goals. We believe in the value of this integrated approach. As such, most of our project management staff is DBIA certified, with the plan to have all management team members complete certification within the next two years. Trust and transparency between all team members are the cornerstones of maximizing these integrated processes. We encourage this environment through team partnering and developing project charters, full team kickoff meetings that get all parties on the same page, and regular project executive meetings where leaders from all key parties, owner included, can speak openly about project progress and challenges. Expanding and changing care: Were seeing more primary and specialty care centers opening in communities and rural areas. This expansion correlates with implementation of the Affordable Care Act and population shifts out of expensive metro areas. Health care communities have also increased investments in behavioral health, residential treatment facilities, elective surgeries for a growing aging population, and user-centered biophilic design approaches that support decreased patient mortality rates and decreased staff absenteeism and turnover. More specialty centers and designs that incorporate user feedback and connectivity to the natural environment mean even greater diversity of environments that require specialized capabilities from the design and construction community. Many owners continue to invest in practice flow study and operational efficiency to streamline the patient/provider experience. All of these trends are important to understand so that we can ask the right questions early, support reliable decision-making, and help bring best value for our clients and their patients. Although we only practice in one market, we find theres never a dull moment. Together with owners and designers, were tackling some of the more complex challenges in the built environment and supporting our communities through the places they go for care. Were proud to specialize in health and science construction. George Ward is president of Aldrich + Associates. Other Stories: Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The Kings Inn, at 2106 Fifth Ave. in Belltown, sold this week for $12.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was the Kang family, which acquired the property in in 2003 for $4 million. . . . Ukrainian servicemen inspect the remains of a Russian tank that was destroyed in fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces on a road leading to the Ukrainian city of Makariv, west of Kyiv, Ukraine, March 31. EPA-Yonhap Russia may be repositioning some of its forces around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv to send them to the eastern Donbas region, where Ukrainian forces have been putting up fierce resistance, the Pentagon said Thursday. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby also said that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has decided to keep elements of the 82nd Airborne Division in Europe for the time being along with an aircraft carrier strike group in the Mediterranean. Russia has moved a "small number" perhaps 20 percent of its troops from around Kyiv after failing to capture the city, which continues to be targeted by Russian airstrikes, Kirby said. "It's not exactly clear where they're going to go, for how long, and for what purpose," he said, "but we don't see any indication that they're going to be sent home." The Pentagon spokesman said the "best assessment" is that the troops are "going to be repositioned, probably into Belarus, to be refit and resupplied and used elsewhere in Ukraine." He noted that Russia has said it plans to "reprioritize" its operations in the Donbas area. "That could be one destination," he said. Sergei Rudskoi, a senior Russian military leader, said last week that the first phase of the military campaign in Ukraine was over and troops would now focus on the "main goal the liberation of Donbas," which is already partly held by Russian proxies. Kirby noted that the Donbas region has been fought over for eight years and the Ukrainian armed forces have been "very active" in the area. "This could drag on for a while," he said. "It might not just be a matter of days and weeks, it could be much longer than that. It's really difficult to know." The Pentagon spokesman said Austin had decided to keep elements of the 82nd Airborne Division in Europe and the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier strike group in the Mediterranean. "They're not going anywhere, anytime in the immediate future," Kirby said. "We want to be able to monitor the situation on the ground and make the best and most flexible decisions in real time." Kirby said the United States has also received indications that some Russian forces have left the area around the accident-hit Chernobyl nuclear plant. "We gather that they are leaving to the north to go back again towards Belarus," he said, adding that it was "not necessarily being done because of health hazards or some sort of emergency or a crisis at Chernobyl." He said he was not able to "definitively" say who was in control now of Chernobyl, the site of a 1986 nuclear accident. (AFP) China's President Xi Jinping said on Friday he hopes the European Union can form its view of China "independently", state broadcaster CCTV reported. Xi was speaking to the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel at a video summit. China had been concerned that European countries are taking harder-line foreign policy cues from the United States and has previously called for the EU to "exclude external interference" from its relations with China. Xi at the Friday summit also told EU leaders that both sides should communicate more on major issues concerning their bilateral relations and world peace, and that China and Europe should provide stability in a volatile world, CCTV reported. (Reuters) The answer in this week's Question Time about the last visit of a British Monarch to Dundalk shows some of the tensions that were festering in Dundalk at the beginning of that last century which would lead to violence within a couple of decades. It was not just that Edward was claiming to be 'King of Ireland' that caused the resentment but because of the oath he had taken at his coronation in the previous year! Few people alive in Dundalk today can scarce realise the problems raised by Edward VII's Coronation Oath, taken in 1902; not just between Catholics and Protestants in Dundalk but also between older nationalists who had been seeking Home Rule for Ireland for many decades and younger people who were looking for a more radical break from British rule. This issue may explain the reason why there was such a division among townspeople on the occasion Edward's stopping at Dundalk Railway Station in April 1904. The reason was that this oath contained reference to the Roman Catholic faith as being 'superstitious and idolatrous'. Many Catholics in Ireland at the beginning of that century had been fairly loyal to the British Crown and had hoped that Edward would be more liberal than his mother Queen Victoria who had reigned for over sixty years. They hoped that Edward would refuse to take such an insulting oath or, at least, would alter the wording! They believed that he had been a great peace maker in European politics and had been a friend of Pope Leo XIII, while Prince of Wales. The Coronation was due to take place in June 1902 but was postponed due to Edward's illness. Leo died in July and, when the Coronation took place in in Westminster Abbey in August, Edward did take the objectionable oath - which was a cause of great disappointment to many in Ireland, including the Editor of the Dundalk Democrat, Thomas F. McGahon. This tension in Dundalk at the time is reflected in Padraic Ua Dubhtaigh's 'Book of Dundalk were he writes --- 'In 1903, a meeting of Louth magistrates arranged for an address to King Edward on the occasion of his visit to this country. Lord Bellew (Lord Lieutenant of the County) presided and the attendance included: Sir Henry Bellingham, Dr. Blake, William Tempest, J. McAdorey, C.A. Duffy, James Norton, Thomas C. MacArdle, R. Love, William Joseph O'Reilly, and Sir Vere Foster, T. Balfour and O. J. Kelly. A suggestion by Mr. O'Reilly, from Knockabbey, Louth, that the King be requested to have the coronation oath eliminated was supported by Mr. Balfour, Townley Hall Drogheda, as a member of the Church of Ireland and by Sir Vere Foster, Ardee, also a non-Catholic. Mr. O'Reilly (Mountain View, Blackrock,) resigned his Commission of the Peace when a proposal by him to protest against the Oath was rejected by a majority.' The piece goes on to list the address to be delivered to the King which refers to as having 'deeply at heart the interests of the Realm of Ireland.' All this might seem very childish and almost laughable to young people of Dundalk today but it was to have very serious consequences for the area with onset of the Great War only a few years later. Dundalk people of the time were, mainly, very religious and took any slight to their beliefs very seriously! Ua Dubhtaigh, reporting the visit of the King in April 1904 writes - 'The royal party, when passing through Dundalk Station was greeted by a crowd waving Union Jacks. Most effusive in their demonstrations were members of a few prominent Catholic families.' The author was to travel to Dublin to take part in the 1916 Rising, although he returned to Dundalk, believing it had been called off. He was interned for his political views and took part in the Fight for Independence on his release! Gardiner Family Apothecary, a 3rd generation manufacturing skincare company based in Dundalk, have just been recognised in the inaugural Guaranteed Irish Business Awards 2022 for their range of dermatological facial skincare. Manufacturers of Elave dermatological skincare for dry, sensitive skin, Gardiner Family Apothecary have won the Home, Beauty, and Lifestyle category of the Guaranteed Irish Business Awards 2022. Made in Ireland since 1934, over 80 staff make more than 70 products for 1,800 local pharmacy customers, along with a reach of 11 international markets, at the fully integrated GMP Pharma research and manufacturing facility in Dundalk. Retail partners for the Elave facial skincare range - cleansers, serums, balms and moisturisers which use only the purest, most natural ingredients - include Tesco, Dunnes Beauty, Boots, Chemist Warehouse and Superdrug. Joanna Gardiner, CEO Gardiner Family Apothecary said: We are proud to be an Irish business supporting other Irish businesses. For example, our production process uses a short supply chain, which aids sustainability while benefiting local communities and boosting employment. Elave has a mission: to protect sensitive skin and promote clear, healthy skin. Our clean formulations are PETA Cruelty-free and Vegan, as well as ECOCERT Cosmos Natural and Organic, and our integrated pharma facility operates to internationally recognised environmental standard IS14001. Gardiner Family Apothecary, founded by the current CEOs grandfather, has recently won several prestigious awards, including the Global Health & Pharma Awards accolades Best Cruelty Free Skincare Brand and Best Sustainable Skincare Brand. Leading Guaranteed Irish businesses gathered at The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin for an awards ceremony which celebrated the success and resilience of Irelands homegrown and multinational businesses across various sectors. Brid OConnell, CEO Guaranteed Irish, said: Congratulations to all our worthy winners at the inaugural Guaranteed Irish Business Awards! What a terrific celebration of Irelands leading businesses that support local jobs and contribute to Ireland, its people, and its economy. Gardiner Family Apothecarys category win was sponsored by Harvey Norman and the overall awards were supported by Permanent TSB. See more about Gardiner Family Apothecary at www.gardinerfamilyapothecary.com A man who punched a Dundalk father-of-four once leading to a fall that resulted in fatal head injuries has been jailed for two years. Ian Moore (31) told gardai that Jason Kearney, a stranger, had come to his house in the early hours of the morning and forced his way inside. He said he pushed him out, but his partner mistakenly believed her bag had been stolen and Moore left the house with the intention of retrieving it. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Moore told gardai there had been a series of verbal interactions before he punched Mr Kearney once. He fell backwards and hit his head. Mr Kearney died after ten days in a coma when his family had to make the decision following medical advice to turn off his ventilator. His family in Dundalk say they are now left serving a life sentence. Jasons family told the court that they dont believe he was a threat to anyone and ask why Moore did not contact gardai instead of taking the law into his own hands. Moore, of Portland Close, Dublin city pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Jason Kearney at Seville Place, Dublin 1, on September 12, 2020. He has no previous convictions. Passing sentence last Wednesday, Judge Melanie Greally said it is very clear Mr Kearney was dearly loved by his family, by his four children and his two grandchildren. She said his death has caused them intense pain from which they have no relief. The judge said the culpability of the accused man lies in the fact he took the law into his own hands and pursued Mr Kearney after he had retreated and punched him after he had ceased to be a threat to him. She said the act was impulsive, emotional and ultimately violent, but it was not premeditated. She said the case was further mitigated by his returning to the scene, contacting emergency services and tending to Mr Kearney until they arrived. The judge said other mitigating factors included his plea of guilty, his high level of assistance to the investigation, his lack of previous convictions, his high level of remorse, his low risk of reoffending and the impact his incarceration will have on his family. She said that having carefully considered in light of the mitigation whether a custodial sentence is appropriate, she had reached the conclusion the offending must be marked with a custodial sentence. Judge Greally sentenced Moore to two years imprisonment. During a previous sentencing hearing, Attracta Kearney, from Dundalk, Jasons mother, described her son as a caring, gentle, kind hearted soul. I believe had Ian Moore felt threatened in any way whatsoever then he should have called the Garda, not taken it upon himself to follow my son and assault him in such a manner that it resulted in my son Jasons untimely death, she wrote in her statement. What kind of person does something like that? I do not believe that Jason was a threat to anyone that night. There are so many questions that we will never get the answers to. The never ending pain that Ian Moore has caused my family is immeasurable and I will never, ever, forgive him for it. Jasons sister Lorraine Kearney asked Moore: Why did you take the law into your own hands? Why did you engage with Jason at the door? Why didnt you ring the guards? Why did you follow him? If you had done the right thing neither party would be here today. Whatever happens here today, you will get a chance to rebuild your life. We wont. she said. Detective Sergeant Shane Noonan told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that Moore told gardai he had heard noises downstairs in his family home on September 2, 2020, like someone interfering with the handle on the door and went to investigate. He said he could see a shadow at the door and shouted at the person to get away, he turned on the light and banged on the door glass to alert the person the house was occupied. His pregnant partner who had followed him downstairs handed him a knife. He said he did not intend to use the knife. Moore opened the door and there was a scuffle with Mr Kearney who came in through the doorway. Moore pushed Mr Kearney out with one hand, holding the knife in the other. Mr Kearney then left. Moores partner then told him her bag was missing. He got dressed and got into his car with a view to retrieving the bag. He said he followed Mr Kearney for a time in the car hoping he would drop the bag. He spoke to Mr Kearney asking for the bag back. Moore told gardai Mr Kearney said he did not have the bag and made a comment that he would be back. He said he left in the car, but returned again to ask for the bag. The court heard the final encounter took place at Seville Place where Moore got out of the car and punched Mr Kearney once with a close fist. Mr Kearney fell backwards and hit his head. Moore told gardai he was unresponsive, he realised he had no phone so went home to get it, came back and alerted emergency services. He told them he had found a man on the ground. When he was back at the house retrieving his phone, his partner told him she had found her bag. Witnesses who came on the scene describe Moore following instructions from the emergency services such as putting Mr Kearney into the recovery position and holding his head. He stayed on the phone following the medical directions and giving directions to the scene for nine and half minutes until the ambulance arrived. Moore stayed for one more minute and then left. Mr Kearney suffered traumatic head injuries and passed away on September 12, 2020. Gardai began their investigation and contacted Moore who had used his own phone number for the 999 emergency call. He initially told gardai he had come upon an unresponsive man, but later rang gardai back and said he wanted to show them CCTV and outline events. Moore told gardai he had been shocked by events at the house. He told gardai he had not intended to hurt Mr Kearney, but had been concerned about what he was saying about returning to his house. The garda agreed with Ronan Munro SC, defending, that gardai did not have CCTV footage of the actual assault, but their independent investigations were consistent with what they were told. He agreed Moore and his partner were distressed when speaking to gardai. Mr Munro read a portion of a letter of apology written by Moore in which he outlined he was so sorry for the pain and suffering he had caused to the Kearney family. He said he thoroughly regretted his actions on the night which had caused them so much devastation. Counsel said Moore was conscious of the pain of the family and acknowledges responsibility for what he has done. He said Moore, an electrician and father of two, had been deeply affected by the events. He is attending counselling. He is remorseful and feels empathy for the Kearney family. Mr Munro handed in character references and said this was an isolated incident in the life of his client who does voluntary work within his community. He submitted the court had to take into account the unusual context in which the encounter began and the tragic mistaken belief that appears to have led to this tragedy. The Teaching Council is reviewing registration fees for Ukrainian teachers, amid concerns that refugees were being charged 390 to work in Irish schools. Concerns were raised by Labour TD Aodhan O' Riordain, who said he had received reports that Ukrainian refugee teachers were facing being charged 390 to register with the Teaching Council. The council is the professional standards body for Irish teachers. They will not have 390. And if they do have 390, they should probably be spending it on something else, the Labour education spokesperson said. Mr O' Riordain said he had written to Minister for Education Norma Foley about it. He said it was clearly a barrier for Ukrainian teachers hoping to work in Irish schools. It has come to my notice that Ukrainian refugee teachers are being charged 390 to register with the @TeachingCouncil. Given the urgent need for language support in our schools for Ukrainian children, I have written to the Education Minister asking for this fee to be waived. Aodhan O Riordain (@AodhanORiordain) March 31, 2022 The politician said it makes no sense, given that Ukrainian teachers are needed in Irish schools, which are currently preparing to take in thousands of Ukrainian children, many of whom will have little English. It is likely a lack of proactivity, rather than bad faith, from the Teaching Council, he said. Yesterday evening (Thursday March 31), the Teaching Council confirmed that it was aware of the issue. In a statement, a spokesperson said that a streamlined process for the registration and vetting of Ukrainian teachers in Ireland was being developed. Ireland has taken in more than 15,000 Ukrainian refugees since the war began over a month ago. The spokesperson said that the process will include guidance documentation and a tailored application process that provides reasonable accommodations to allow qualified Ukrainian teachers to apply for vetting and registration in Ireland. The matter of fees is also under review, the spokesperson added. The Teaching Council already has procedures in place for teachers who have arrived in Ireland after fleeing from war or political turmoil, the spokesperson confirmed. They said the council would engage with any Ukrainians who, due to the situation in their home country, do not have the necessary documentation to register. Where Ukrainian teachers have evidence of qualified teacher status, they can apply to be admitted to the register of teachers in Ireland in order to teach in schools, the spokesperson said. Each application for registration will be assessed under the Teaching Council Registration Regulations 2016. Teachers who do not meet all the registration requirements may be registered subject to conditions. Once registered, Ukrainian teachers, irrespective of conditional status, are eligible to receive a state-funded salary to teach in recognised schools. Ireland's support for Ukraine's sovereignty is "unwavering". Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, made the comment today (Friday April 1) while marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In a statement, he said, "I am pleased to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Ukraine. "Irelands support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its right to choose its own foreign and security policy path is unwavering." Minister Coveney praised Ukraine for its people's resilience in the face of war. He said, "I have been so impressed by the courageous, measured and very capable response by Ukraine and its people to the unacceptable invasion of their country by Russia. Your resilience is being sorely tested but I am confident that you will overcome this grave challenge facing your country, as you have done at pivotal times in your long history. "Along with our EU partners and other likeminded countries, Ireland stands firmly with you, and will offer assistance in the rebuilding process. I look forward to continued and enhanced cooperation as we explore ways for Ukraine to deepen its links with Ireland and with the EU." Approximately 15,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Ireland so far since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Minister for Health has ruled out the reintroduction of mandatory mask-wearing, saying there is no longer a need for the draconian power that was in force during the pandemic. Stephen Donnelly defended the Governments stance on masks, and said it was important to move away from the legal obligation to wear one. He said that Ireland has moved away from the emergency phase of the pandemic. The mandatory powers that were in place were very draconian powers and they were emergency powers, he told RTEs News At One. Here are today's walk-in #COVIDVaccine clinics. We're operating walk-in clinics for dose 1 and 2 for children aged 5 to 11, dose 1 and 2 for people aged 12 and older, and booster vaccine clinics. Find the full list of clinics here: https://t.co/IRwvIPChlt #ForUsAll pic.twitter.com/dAs2vte5aw HSE Ireland (@HSELive) April 1, 2022 We are moving from the emergency phase of Covid to a more medium term phase of living with Covid. There is still public health advice around the wearing of masks, however the regulations around people being fined and people being arrested, it was important we move away from that. There is still advice around masks, if on public transport, in a busy public place and obviously going to a healthcare setting or a nursing home, that advice is still wear a mask in those place. Mr Donnelly said the BA.2 strain of Covid accounts for around 90% of all cases and is the most transmissible variant to date. Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan told the minister that it would take more than mandatory mask wearing to flatten the curve of the dominant variant. He warned that it would take a suite of serious measures to control the cases but Mr Donnelly ruled out bringing back restrictions. Mr Donnelly said that while there were many patients in hospital with Covid, which is causing huge pressure on health services, the rate of severe illness is very low. The minister was told by Dr Holohan yesterday evening (Thursday March 31) that almost 50,000 positive PCR tests were reported in the last seven days, an increase of 6% on the previous week. The number of Covid-19 cases in ICU, whose primary reason for admission to ICU was Covid, has decreased from 29 on March 22 to 19 by March 29. Around 28% of people in ICU were not vaccinated, 2% were partially vaccinated and 70% were fully vaccinated. Dr Holohan said in the letter: The overall epidemiological situation indicates continuing high levels of infection and a significant number of cases receiving general hospital care, although this figure has fallen over recent days. He also said that anyone who was infected with Covid-19 over the Christmas period is now eligible for a booster. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar also ruled out a return to mandatory mask-wearing. Speaking at Dublin Zoo, he said that hospital data was showing some positive indicators. The pandemic is not over but the emergency phase of the pandemic is, Mr Varadkar added. Some reassurance again today, two days in a row we see the number of people in hospital with Covid has fallen. And the number in ICU is staying between 40 and 60, two-thirds of whom would be in ICU anyway. Mr Varadkar also indicated that delays to the launch of an advisory public health group to replace the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) were being caused by the need to finalise membership. He said that he expected an announcement on the new group next week. What we actually want in this new Covid advisory group is a mix a mix of people who are, if you like, on the inside HSE and Department of Health employees but also some external people who can bring independence and rigour to the advisory group and they have to be asked. The delay is for a number of reasons. We have to agree to the terms of reference, we have to agree whos going to be asked, they have to be asked and they have to be given a bit of time to respond. Ukrainian soldiers carry bodies of civilians killed by the Russian forces over the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, March 31. AP-Yonhap Talks to stop the fighting in Ukraine resumed Friday, as another attempt to rescue civilians from the besieged port city of Mariupol broke down and Russia accused the Ukrainians of launching a cross-border helicopter attack on an oil depot. The governor of Russia's Belgorod region said the alleged airstrike by a pair of helicopter gunships caused multiple fires and injured two people. A Kremlin spokesman said the incident on Russia's territory could undermine the negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives. "Certainly, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied when asked if the strike could be viewed as an escalation of the war in Ukraine. It was not immediately possible to verify the claim that Ukrainian helicopters targeted the oil depot or several nearby businesses in Belgorod also reported hit. Russia has reported shelling from Ukraine before, including an incident last week that killed a military chaplain, but not an incursion of its airspace. Asked if Ukraine had fired on the depot, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in Warsaw that he could "neither confirm nor nor reject the claim that Ukraine was involved in this simply because I do not possess all the military information." The latest negotiations, taking place by video link, follow a meeting in Turkey on Tuesday where Ukraine reiterated its willingness to abandon a bid to join NATO and offered proposals to have its neutral military status guaranteed by a range of foreign countries. The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, wrote on social media that Moscow's positions on retaining control of the Crimean Peninsula and expanding the territory in eastern Ukraine held by Russia-backed separatists "are unchanged." The International Committee for the Red Cross said complex logistics were still being worked out for the operation to get emergency aid into Mariupol and civilians out of the city, which has suffered weeks of heavy fighting with dwindling water, food and medical supplies. Ukrainian refugees cross the Ukrainian border with Poland at the Medyka border crossing, southeastern Poland, April 1. AFP-Yonhap Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with members of the Security Council at a residence outside Moscow, Russia April 1. Reuters-Yonhap Russian officials said their demand for "unfriendly" countries to pay for natural gas in rubles does not mean supplies will be immediately interrupted. Gas used for heating and electricity was still flowing from Russia to Europe on Friday. "Payments on shipments in progress right now must be made not this very day, but somewhere in late April, or even early May," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. A day earlier, President Vladimir Putin said Russia would start accepting ruble payments Friday and gas supplies would be cut off if buyers don't agree to the new conditions, including opening ruble accounts. But a decree he signed says countries could pay foreign currency to Gazprombank, which would convert the money into rubles in a second account to pay for the gas. It gave Russian authorities and the bank 10 days to make arrangements. Putin's measure applies to countries deemed "unfriendly" for imposing sanctions over Russia's war in Ukraine, and European leaders have been weighing what the shift might mean. Some experts say it could be an effort to prop up the ruble, which fell in value amid sanctions but has since bounced back, though the effect on the currency would be limited. Putin's demand has jolted energy markets and raised fears it could be a prelude to an interruption of supplies to Europe, which is heavily dependent on Russian natural gas and would struggle with a sudden cutoff. But Russia also depends on oil and gas sales for much of its government revenue at a time its economy is under severe stress from Western sanctions. The European Commission's energy chief, Ditte Juul Jorgensen, tweeted Friday that the European Union was coordinating "to establish a common approach." German officials said contracts stipulate payment for gas in euros and dollars and that must continue. "The German government is currently examining this decree to determine its concrete effects," spokesman Wolfgang Buechner said Friday. Officials wouldn't be drawn further on what impact the Russian demands might have. Economy Ministry spokeswoman Beate Baron noted that Gazprombank has been given 10 days to explain the procedure, "and of course we will in turn look carefully at that." (AP) 40 million EBRD loan and 13 million EU grant for energy efficiency in schools Financing to reduce CO 2 emissions and utility bills Improving the learning environment for students in Georgia The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Union (EU) and KfW on behalf of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development are supporting energy efficiency in Georgia. A 40 million EBRD loan and a 13 million grant from the EU will be used to reduce energy consumption, mostly in schools, contributing to overall energy security and protection of the environment. KfW will also be providing additional financing. Buildings consume a significant amount of energy, making up close to one-third of total consumption in the country. The investment will target schools and fund the thermal insulation of facades, roofs and basements, new windows and doors, upgraded heating systems including boilers, pipes, pumps, ventilation and cooling systems, and water-saving devices. As a result, heating bills will decrease, allowing authorities to allocate the savings to other services, and students will be able to learn in more pleasant and environmentally friendly classrooms. What is more, the investment will increase the use of energy-efficient technologies, boost the local construction sector and create employment opportunities. Lower utility bills, a cleaner environment and greater energy security benefits us all, explained Catarina Bjorlin Hansen, EBRD Regional Director for the Caucasus. Together with the European Union and KfW, we are directing our efforts to make schools in Georgia greener and to provide comfortable learning environments for students. Sigrid Brettel, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, commented: Thanks to our joint programme with the EBRD and KfW, the EU is helping to scale up energy efficiency renovations in schools across Georgia. In addition to lower energy bills and CO 2 emissions, this investment will bring healthier conditions for students, new jobs and improved energy security. Lasha Khutsishvili, Minister of Finance for Georgia, explained how the project was supporting the countrys transition to a green economy. Our agenda to transition to a green economy remains a priority and is fully aligned with the Green Investment in Buildings (GRIB) Georgia project, helping to build more resilient and efficient infrastructure while improving the learning environment for students in Georgia. In addition, it will support the governments capacity to incorporate energy efficiency aspects into building construction and operations and increased private sector participation. The EU, EBRD and KfW are important partners of Georgia, in terms of both financial cooperation and deepening relations with Europe. We appreciate their role in helping Georgia overcome recent challenges and for ensuring that they are responsive to our priority needs. Mzia Giorgobiani, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure (MRDI), echoed these comments. Energy efficiency is an important component in the construction and rehabilitation of public buildings. This approach is beneficial for the environment, and so the MRDI, with the support of the EU and the financial institutions, aims to implement numerous environmentally friendly projects. The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Georgia. Since it started operating in the country, the Bank has invested more than 4.6 billion in 269 projects in the financial, corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors, with 78 per cent of these investments in the private sector. Cork City Fire Brigade have this evening dealt with a gorse fire in Glen Park which runs between the Glen and Ballyvolane. Shortly after 6pm this evening Cork City Fire Brigade attended the scene of the fire and it was brought under control by 7pm. Martin Coughlan, 3rd Officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, said one unit attended the scene with another on standby. Cork City Fire Brigade Deals with a Large Gorse Fire Near Houses in the Glen Park, Cork, Ireland. Credit: Damian Coleman. There were two units in Ballyvolane, one was at the scene and the other was ready to assist, he said. He said that houses in the nearby estate, Pynes Valley, were not affected by the fire as there is a road, a ditch and a green between the gorse and the houses. Cork City Fire Brigade Deals with a Large Gorse Fire Near Houses in the Glen Park, Cork, Ireland. Credit: Damian Coleman. He said that the wind drives the fire, the gorse burns hot and fast but it burns out very quickly due to the shape of the valley. Thats the cycle there, the gorse burns off and you get new growth up twice as fast, it burns very very fast, he said. Frank Hederman of Belvelly Smoke House has become the first Irish person to receive the Walter Scheel Medal, the prestigious annual European culinary prize that recognises outstanding contributions to European culinary culture. The Walter Scheel Medal celebrates recipients as a valuable and integral part of Europes rich cultural heritage and it promotes unique culinary traditions in order to preserve them. It also rewards a commitment to quality by producers considered to be the best in their field. Previous winners of the award include Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger of Taittinger Champagne and Spanish Chef Ferran Adria of El Bulli. A family business The award comes as Belvelly Smoke House celebrates 40 successful years in business. Established in 1982 and located near the town of Cobh, Belvelly Smoke House is Irelands only authentic timber smoke house for Irish salmon. The Walter Scheel judges praised Franks traditional smoking methods, as well as his four-decade dedication to producing the finest possible quality smoked salmon, stating that Frank "redefined one of the most iconic products of Irelands culinary heritage." Growing up in a seaside town, Frank Hederman was inspired by the bustling activity of fishermen and the local boats landing with salmon catches. He began smoking salmon in a cupboardlike room and is a self-taught craftsman and businessman. A local and family focussed business, Franks late father and mother, his brother and children were all involved over the years. Now, Frank and his wife Caroline run the business. The company employs eight people, a number which doubles during the busy Christmas period. Products from Belvelly Smoke House have appeared on menus such as Rick Steins, and on the counters of food halls such as Fortnum & Mason for decades. 'A great day for Irish Food' Frank Hederman said the award is recognition for the authenticity and singular quality of the food they make, the skill and hard work that goes into it, and the perseverance thats required to keep a food business like theirs going. Its an opportunity to pause and take stock of all the people along the way who have worked with us, supported us and believed in us, and to thank them sincerely. Its a great day for Irish food. Its the first time the Walter Scheel medal has been awarded in Ireland and it also recognises the excellence of our raw materials and food markets and independent shops - all that makes up our food culture. Caroline added: Its a really harsh world out there and we feel incredibly lucky to have survived and thrived this long and to have all the support and friendships we enjoy through the business. Most of all it is hugely satisfying knowing that so many people enjoy eating what we enjoy making. This award is also for our customers, they are as instrumental as the producers are in creating the vibrant food community that this award recognises. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney offered his congratulations to Mr Hederman. "I would like to congratulate Frank Hederman on becoming the first Irish person to receive the Walter Scheel Medal. This is a huge honour for Frank and indeed for the Irish food industry as this award recognises outstanding contributions to European culinary culture. It is a double celebration as Belvelly Smoke House is celebrating 40 years in business this year and I look forward to visiting soon. Frank is a true ambassador nationally and internationally for Ireland's food culture and his products are world renowned. This award shows that Frank and Caroline and the team at Belvelly Smoke House are considered to be the best in their field on the world stage." Celebrations Established in 2014 in memory of the fourth President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Walter Scheel, the Medal promotes cuisines, wines, regional food specialities and gastronomic traditions, and it emphasises their ability to bring people together. To celebrate the award there will be a ceremony at Belvelly which will be attended by MEP Deirdre Clune, Dr Christoph Wirtz who presides over the Walter Scheel Medal, his colleague Dr Dominik Dortmann, the German Ambassador, Cord Meier-Klodt and Colm OGorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland. C aroline and Frank will also host a breakfast on the Promenade at Cobh Farmers Market with all proceeds going to Amnesty International Ireland and St Vincent de Paul. The Walter Scheel Medal organisers will also be given to a tour of the English Market by local food historian, Regina Sexton, followed by lunch created by Claire Nash, a keen ambassador for local food at Nash 19, Princes Street. Heres a quick overview of Dallas electricity rates: Current average rate of retail electricity: 12.55 cents per kWh 12.55 cents per kWh Average monthly electric bill: $160 $160 Average energy usage: 1,300 kWh Jump To: Dallas Energy Rates | Price Comparison | How to Find the Best Rates | Types of Electricity Plans | Best Electricity Companies | FAQ Best Dallas Electricity Companies Compared Whether youre moving to the area and looking for power connection or simply shopping for the best electricity rates in Dallas, EcoWatch is here to help. Weve narrowed down the top clean-energy providers in the city, and by using this tool or clicking the links below, you can compare prices and find the right plan for you. Dallas has a deregulated energy market, which gives consumers the power to choose their own electricity provider. While the idea seems simple enough, deregulated energy can be a confusing industry to understand, and many consumers wind up paying way too much. Lets compare electric rates in Dallas so you dont overpay for energy. Dallas Energy Rates Dallas has had a deregulated energy market since 2002, allowing residents to shop for their own electricity providers.1 There are over 100 different energy companies and more still popping up competing for your business. Looking at energy rates and plans can help you narrow down your choices. The citys retail electricity providers (REPs) offer plans that vary in price, contract terms, quality and environmental impact. On top of paying your REP, youll be charged an additional fee from your transmission and delivery utility company (TDU) to cover the cost of delivering electricity, meter reading, wiring and more. If you live in or near the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, your TDU is likely Oncor.2 Oncors current rates are about $0.04 cents per kWh of power usage, plus a monthly charge of $3.42. Youll pay these charges no matter what energy plan or provider you choose, and theyll be baked into the monthly bill from your provider. Lets dive into how to find the best electricity rates in Dallas, the differences in electricity providers and price points, and how to best navigate Texas deregulated energy market. Comparison of Electricity Prices From Companies in Dallas Here at EcoWatch, we strive for a more sustainable planet and encourage our readers to do their part when feasible. As such, weve chosen to highlight some of the best electric companies in Dallas that offer 100% renewable energy. The chart below shows renewable energy plans and prices available throughout the Dallas area. Keep in mind that these electricity prices may not be exact, as rates can fluctuate daily. Dallas Energy Plan Term (Months) Rate (/kWh) (1,000 kWh plans)* MP2 Energy Power Choice 12 ePlan 12 13.4 MP2 Energy Power Choice 24 ePlan 24 12.5 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 12 Choice 12 14 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 24 Choice 24 13.9 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 36 Choice 36 13.3 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 60 Choice 60 12.4 Gexa Eco Choice 3 3 10.4 Gexa Eco Choice 5 5 11.2 Gexa Eco Choice 12 12 12.3 Gexa Energy Saver 12 12 14.9 Gexa Energy Saver 24 24 13.9 Gexa Energy Saver 36 36 13.6 Rhythm Simply Green 24 24 11.8 Rhythm Simply Green 36 36 11.4 Champion Energy Green Energy 12 12 13.9 Champion Energy Green Energy 24 24 13.1 Reliant 100% Solar 12 plan 12 13.9 Constellation Energy 12 Green Plan 12 14 TXU Energy Free Nights & Solar Days 12 12 16.2 *Rates will vary based on your TDU. Youll see the above rates if your TDU is Oncor. These rates include the utilitys current charge of $0.04 cents per kWh. Rates are according to Texas Public Utilities Commission and are subject to change.3 On average, a non-renewable plan might cost around 1 cent per kWh less than a clean energy plan. If you use 1,000 kWh per month, that will be about a $10 difference. If youre outside of Dallas, you can check out this page for electricity rates around Texas. How to Find the Best Electricity Rates in Dallas When searching for the best electricity rates in Dallas, keep in mind that rates and the average cost of electricity can vary based on numerous factors, so you may be given a different electric rate than that of your neighbors. Here are a few things to consider: Your Energy Usage The amount of electricity your household consumes may affect the rate you pay per kWh. Most REPs offer tiered plans based on average energy usage. Tiered-rate energy plans are often called V-shaped plans because the rates are more expensive for people who use the least and most amounts of energy and are lowest for those in the middle. For example, in a typical tiered plan, customers who use around 500 kWh or 2,000 kWh per month will pay more than those who use around 1,000 kWh per month. According to Oncor, the average customer uses 1,300 kWh per month.4 Contract Length The length of the contract will also play a factor in the cost of your electricity. As with most things, the longer you commit to one provider, the better deal youll get. Well discuss the different types of electricity plans in the next section. A word of caution: Read the fine print and ask questions before you sign. Many contracts come with startup fees as well as cancellation fees for early termination. And while some Dallas electricity providers advertise a $10 cancellation fee, the fine print may read that its really $10 per month left on the contract. Electricity Facts Label When shopping for energy, always ask for a providers Electricity Facts Label (EFL). Similar to a nutrition label you see on your favorite snacks, an EFL will give you all of the information about a companys electricity prices, contract lengths and terms, sources of generation, and emission levels.5 To find the best electricity rates in Dallas, we recommend comparing prices from a few companies. As a trusted energy information source, EcoWatch is often able to secure discounted rates for our readers. You can use this tool to be connected with local energy providers near you. Types of Electricity Plans in Dallas When choosing an energy provider in Dallas, youll be presented with a few plan options. Heres an overview of the types of electric plans offered in Dallas, as well as their pros and cons, so you can pick which plan works best for you. Fixed-Rate Plans Just as it sounds, a fixed-rate plan allows you to secure a rate that will stay the same throughout the entire duration of your contract. Note that fixed rate does not mean that your electric bill will be exactly the same every month. Instead, it means the rate you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity wont change. So, your bills will still be higher during months you use more electricity. Pros of a Fixed-Rate Energy Plan in Dallas Cons of a Fixed-Rate Energy Plan in Dallas Youll have a better idea of what to expect when it comes to budgeting. If you cancel early, you could be subject to an early termination fee (ETF), unless youre moving to a new address outside of the service area. Your rates remain locked in if energy costs rise. Some fixed-rate plans will turn into variable-rate plans upon contract expiration. Be sure to read the fine print and ask your energy provider specific questions about length and price. With a fixed-rate plan, youll pay the same amount month over month for each kilowatt-hour of energy you use. This ensures your rates will stay the same even when the market rate of electricity fluctuates. Some months, youll pay less than the market rate, and others, youll pay more. Variable-Rate Plans If you prefer paying month-to-month instead of being locked into a length-based contract, you may consider a variable-rate electric plan. Variable rate means you guessed it the price you pay is based on variables in the energy market. The price per kWh will increase or decrease depending on supply and demand. Pros of a Variable-Rate Energy Plan in Dallas Cons of a Variable-Rate Energy Plan in Dallas If the price of energy drops, there may be some months where a variable-rate electric customer will be paying less per kWh than someone on a fixed-rate plan. Variable rates can be very risky given the extreme weather or other factors that can suddenly and drastically increase the price of electricity. We saw the biggest risk of the variable-rate plan during the winter storm of February 2021, when millions were in the dark due to a massive power outage. Texans who kept their lights on paid the price, with at least one customer facing an electric bill over $16,700.6 Texas power companies were reportedly overcharged $16 billion dollars by the electric grid operator. With a variable-rate plan, prices change each month based on the market rate of electricity. Some months, youll pay less than homes with fixed-rate plans, and others, youll pay more. You may also see surprisingly high bills during extreme fluctuations. No-Deposit and Prepaid Energy Plans Many power plans require a deposit upon signing a contract to protect the REP from losses should a customer be unable to pay their energy bill. However, certain companies will offer a no-deposit electricity plan option so long as the customer passes a credit check. If the customer doesnt have a high enough credit score for a no-deposit plan, they can still avoid paying a deposit by opting for a prepaid, or pay-as-you-go, electricity plan. With a prepaid plan, the customer pays in advance for a set amount of electricity. The good news is that the customer is able to track their electricity usage online and can reload the account when it runs low. However, rates are not fixed in a prepaid plan, so it can be harder to plan out expenses. Pros of a Prepaid Energy Plan in Dallas Cons of a Prepaid Energy Plan in Dallas The obvious no deposit. All of the money you pay to the energy provider goes directly toward powering your home. Youll have to pay for your electricity upfront and remember when to top up your meter. You have total control over how much you spend on your electricity. Your power will be automatically shut off if you hit the threshold of electricity you paid for (this can be avoided by actively monitoring your usage or enrolling in an auto-pay plan). You dont have to sign a contract that may come with cancellation fees. Youll pay a higher rate per kWh compared to other plans (in most cases). Green Energy Plans Green energy plans are those that supply electricity from renewable energy sources. Thats going to be primarily wind and solar energy in Texas.7 Some REPs may have Green-e Verification or a similar certification to ensure that the electricity is responsibly generated, transmitted and distributed. Non-green energy plans, at least in Texas, rarely meet 25% of their total energy from renewable sources.8 Most green energy REPs will still offer variable- and fixed-rate plan options; the main difference is where their energy comes from. Pros of a Green Energy Plan in Dallas Cons of a Green Energy Plan in Dallas You can feel good about where your electricity is coming from. On average, renewable plans cost around 1 cent per kWh more than non-renewable plans. (If you use 1,000 kWh per month, that will be about a $10 difference.) You can support clean energy without the large upfront investment of solar or wind. Theyre not offered by all energy companies, so youll have more limited options when choosing a provider. Business Energy Plans Not all REPs will provide commercial electricity. If youre looking for a supplier for your business, youll want to make sure the provider offers business energy rates. Business energy plans may also apply to industrial sectors, schools, government buildings and churches. Most business energy providers will offer variable or fixed-rate electricity services. Electricity Companies and Providers in Dallas As mentioned, there are well over 100 different energy providers in the Dallas area. EcoWatch has chosen to focus on REPs that get their basic power from a clean energy source, like solar or wind power. Here are a few examples of the best energy companies in Dallas and what makes them the best suppliers by our standards. Constellation Energy Award-winning company, one of the best in the business Offers 100% renewable energy options Options for customers to go solar via Sunrun with guaranteed prices The No.1 producer of carbon-free energy in the U.S. (producing 10% of all carbon-free energy) 20+ years of experience A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating9 Gexa Energy Cheaper electric rates relative to competitors Offers 100% renewable options Fixed-rate plans Wide variety of contract term options 20+ years of experience A+ BBB accredited business10 Reliant Energy Award-winning company One of the most prominent companies on the market Offers a 100% renewable energy option, although most of its plans are not green Fixed-rate plans Wide variety of plan options 20+ years of experience11 Green Mountain Energy 100% renewable options Green-e verified plans Fixed-rate plans Variety of contract term options 20+ years of experience Low complaint rate A+ BBB accredited business12 TXU Energy Highly regarded as one of Texas best REPs Offers plans with 100% solar days and an option to upgrade any plan to be 100% wind-powered 20+ years of experience A+ BBB accredited business13 FAQ: Dallas Electricity Plans The EcoWatch team frequently gets energy questions from readers in the Dallas area. Here are the most common questions we see, along with our answers. Which provider has the cheapest electricity rates in Dallas? Based on our market research, Gexa Energy offers the cheapest electricity rates through its Eco Choice plan, with rates just over 10 cents per kWh for Dallas residents. If the only thing youre looking for out of your provider is cheap electricity, you may want to go with Frontier Utilities, which currently offers the lowest rates of around (9 cents per kWh with a 12-month fixed-rate plan).14 Other companies, such as Just Energy, will offer free-electricity nights or weekends.15 What is the best Dallas energy provider? Weve found that the best energy providers in Dallas include Constellation Energy, Gexa Energy and Reliant Energy. However, the provider thats best for you will depend on your households specific energy needs. What is the average electric bill in Dallas? The average monthly electric bill in Dallas is around $160. This is based on an average Texas electricity rate of about 12.55 cents per kWh and the average Dallas home energy usage of 1,300 kWh per month.16,17 How can I lower my electricity bill in Dallas? Because of deregulation, the best way to lower your electricity bill in Dallas is to compare rates from multiple providers and choose the one thats going to offer you the best deal over time. You can also work to lower your overall electricity use by making more conscious decisions to turn off lights, better insulate your home, mind the thermostat and use more power strips. Follow these tips for more ways to save energy at home. What is the best energy plan in Dallas? Its hard to single out the best energy plan in Dallas, because whats best for one customer may not be the best for another. We recommend looking at the plans offered by Constellation, Gexa and Reliant Energy and finding one that works best for your household. Or, use this link to get connected to the best energy providers in your area. People Also Ask Heres a quick overview of Houston electricity rates: Current average rate of retail electricity: 12.55 cents per kWh 12.55 cents per kWh Average monthly electric bill: $160 $160 Average monthly energy use: 1,300 kWh Jump To: Houston Energy Rates | Price Comparison | How to Find the Best Rates | Types of Electricity Plans | Best Electricity Companies | FAQ Whether youre moving to the area and looking for power connection or simply shopping for the best electricity rates in Houston, EcoWatch is here to help. Weve narrowed down the top clean-energy providers in the city, and by using this tool or clicking the links below, you can compare prices and find the right plan for you. Houston has whats called a deregulated energy market, which gives consumers the power to choose their own electricity provider. While the idea seems simple enough, deregulated energy can be a confusing industry to understand, and many consumers wind up paying way too much. Lets compare electric rates in Houston so you dont overpay for energy. Houston Energy Rates Houston is known as the Energy Capital of the World, hosting a slew of headquarters and intellectual capital for pretty much every segment of the energy industry.1 The city has also had whats called a deregulated energy market since 2002, which allows residents to shop for their own electricity providers.2 As a result, there are well over 100 different Houston electric companies that are competing for your business. These companies, also called retail electricity providers (REPs), offer plans that vary when it comes to contract terms, quality and environmental impact. On top of paying your REP, youll be charged an additional fee from your transmission and delivery utility company (TDU) to cover the costs of delivering electricity, meter reading, wiring and more. If you live in the Houston metropolitan area or any of its surroundings, your TDU is likely CenterPoint Energy.3 CenterPoints current rates are about $0.04 cents per kWh of power usage, plus a monthly charge of $4.39. Youll pay these charges no matter what energy plan or provider you choose, and theyll be baked into the monthly bill from your provider. Read Also: Whatre the overall Texas energy rates? Comparison of Electricity Prices in Houston Here at EcoWatch, we strive for a more sustainable planet and encourage our readers to do their part when feasible. As such, weve chosen to highlight some of the best electric companies in Houston that offer 100% renewable energy. The chart below shows renewable energy plans and prices available throughout the Houston area. Keep in mind that these prices may not be exact, as rates can change daily. Plan Term (months) Rate (/kWh) (1,000 kWh plans)* MP2 Energy Power Choice 12 ePlan 12 13.9 MP2 Energy Power Choice 24 ePlan 24 13.1 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 12 Choice 12 13.9 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 24 Choice 24 13.5 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 36 Choice 36 11.9 Gexa Simply Low 12 12 9.7 Gexa Eco Choice 3 3 10.2 Gexa Eco Choice 12 12 12.4 Gexa Energy Saver 12 12 15.6 Gexa Energy Saver 24 24 14.6 Gexa Solar 24 24 14.6 Gexa Solar 36 36 14.6 Rhythm Simply Green 12 12 13 Rhythm Simply Green 24 24 12.3 Rhythm Simply Green 36 36 11.8 TriEagle Green Eagle 12 12 13.7 TriEagle Green Eagle 24 24 13.2 Reliant 100% Solar 12 plan 12 14.5 Constellation Energy 12 Green Plan 12 14.5 TXU Energy Free Nights & Solar Days 12 12 17.8 *Rates will vary based on your TDU. Youll see the above rates if your TDU is CenterPoint Energy. These rates include the utilitys current charge of $0.04 cents per kWh. Rates are according to Texas Public Utilities Commission and are subject to change.4 On average, a clean energy plan might cost around 1 cent per kWh more than a non-renewable energy plan. If you use 1,000 kWh per month, that will be about a $10-$15 difference. Read Also: Which company offers the best electricity rates? How to Find the Best Electricity Rates in Houston When searching for the best electricity rates in Houston, keep in mind that rates and the average cost of electricity can vary based on numerous factors. That means you may be given a different electric rate than that of your next-door neighbors. Here are a few things that factor into the cost of electricity in Houston: Your Energy Usage The amount of electricity your household consumes may affect the rate you pay per kWh. Most REPs offer tiered plans based on average energy usage. Tiered-rate energy plans are often called V-shaped plans because the rates are more expensive for people who use the least and most amounts of energy and are lowest for those in the middle. For example, in a typical tiered plan, customers who use around 500 kWh or 2,000 kWh per month will pay more than those who use around 1,000 kWh per month. Data from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) shows the average home in the Houston area uses 1,300 kWh per month.5 Contract Length The length of a contract will also play a factor in the cost of your electricity. As with most services, the longer you commit to one provider, the better deal youll get. Well discuss the different types of electricity plans in the next section. A word of caution: Read the fine print and ask questions before you sign anything. Many contracts come with startup fees as well as charges for breaking a contract. And while some companies may advertise a $10 cancellation fee, the fine print could read that its actually $10 per month left on the contract. Electricity Facts Label When shopping for an energy provider, always ask for an Electricity Facts Label (EFL). Similar to a nutrition label you see on packaged foods, an EFL will give you all of the information about a companys electricity prices, contract lengths and terms, sources of generation, and emission levels.6 If youre interested in seeing the best energy rates youre eligible for in Houston, you can start comparing prices and plans here. As a trusted energy information source, EcoWatch is often able to secure discounted rates for our readers. Types of Electricity Plans in Houston When choosing an energy provider in Houston, youll be presented with a few different types of plans. Heres an overview of the different options offered by most companies in Houston, as well as their pros and cons, so you can pick the best plan for you. Fixed-Rate Plans Just as it sounds, a fixed-rate plan allows you to secure a rate that will stay the same throughout the entire duration of your contract. Note that fixed rate does not mean your electric bill will stay exactly the same month over month. Rather, the rate you pay per kilowatt-hour will be fixed. So, your overall bills will still be higher during the months you use more electricity. Pros of a Fixed-Rate Energy Plan in Houston Cons of a Fixed-Rate Energy Plan in Houston Youll have a better idea of what to expect when it comes to budgeting If you cancel early, you could be subject to an early termination fee (ETF) unless youre moving to a new address outside of the service area Your rates remain locked in if energy costs rise Some fixed-rate plans will turn into variable-rate plans upon contract expiration. Be sure to read the fine print and ask your energy provider specific questions about length and price With a fixed-rate plan, youll pay the same amount every month for each kilowatt-hour of energy you use. This ensures your rates will stay the same even when the market rate of electricity fluctuates. Some months, youll pay less than the market rate, and others, youll pay more. Variable-Rate Plans If you prefer paying month-to-month instead of being locked into a long-term contract, you may consider a variable-rate electric plan. As implied by the name, variable-rate plan prices are based on variables in the energy market. The price per kWh will increase or decrease depending on supply and demand. Pros of a Variable-Rate Energy Plan in Houston Cons of a Variable-Rate Energy Plan in Houston If the price of energy drops, there may be some months where variable-rate customers will pay less per kWh than fixed-rate customers. Variable-rate plans can be especially risky if extreme weather or other factors suddenly and drastically increase the price of electricity. We saw the biggest negative impact of variable-rate plans during the February 2021 winter storm, when millions were in the dark due to a massive power outage. Texans who kept their lights on paid the price, with at least one customer facing an electric bill over $16,700.7 Texas power companies were reportedly overcharged $16 billion dollars by the electric grid operator. With variable-rate plans, prices change month to month based on the market rate of electricity. Some months, youll pay less than homes with fixed-rate plans, and others, youll pay more. You may also see surprisingly high bills during extreme fluctuations. No-Deposit and Prepaid Energy Plans Many power plans require an initial deposit to protect REPs from losses should a customer be unable to pay an energy bill. However, certain companies will offer a no-deposit electricity plan option so long as the customer passes a credit check. If you dont have a high enough credit score for a no-deposit plan, you can still avoid paying a deposit by opting for a prepaid, or pay-as-you-go electricity plan. With a prepaid plan, the customer pays in advance for a set amount of electricity. The good news is that customers can track electricity usage online and can reload the account when it runs low. However, rates are not fixed in a prepaid plan, so it can be harder to plan out expenses. Pros of a Prepaid Energy Plan in Houston Cons of a Prepaid Energy Plan in Houston The obvious no deposit. All of the money you pay to the energy provider goes directly toward powering your home. Your power will be automatically shut off if you hit the threshold of electricity you paid for (this can be avoided by actively monitoring your usage or enrolling in auto-pay to reload your meter if it gets below a certain amount). You have total control over how much you spend on your electricity. Youll pay for your electricity upfront and will have to remember to top up your meter if not set on auto-pay. You dont have to sign a contract that may come with cancellation fees. Youll usually pay a higher rate per kWh compared to other plans. Green Energy Plans Green energy plans are those that supply electricity from renewable energy sources. Those sources will primarily be wind and solar energy in Texas.8 Some REPs may have Green-e Verification or a similar certification to ensure that the electricity is responsibly generated, transmitted and distributed. Non-green energy plans, at least in Texas, rarely meet 25% of their total energy from renewable sources.9 Most green energy REPs will still offer variable- and fixed-rate electricity plans the main difference is where the energy comes from. Pros of a Green Energy Plan in Houston Cons of a Green Energy Plan in Houston You can feel good about where your electricity is coming from. On average, a non-renewable plan might cost around one cent per kWh less than a clean energy plan. You can support clean energy without the large upfront investment of solar or wind. These plans are not offered by all energy companies, so youll have more limited options when choosing a provider. Business Energy Plans Not all REPs will provide commercial electricity. If youre looking for electricity service for your business, youll want to look for a provider that offers business energy rates. Business energy plans may also be needed for industrial and government buildings, schools, and churches. Most business energy providers will offer variable or fixed-rate options. Electricity Companies and Providers in Houston As we mentioned, there are well over 100 energy providers in the Houston area. EcoWatch has chosen to focus on REPs that get their basic power from a clean energy source, like solar or wind power. Here are a few examples of the best Houston energy companies and what makes them worthy by our criteria. Constellation Energy Award-winning company; one of the best in the business Offers 100% renewable energy options Options for customers to go solar via Sunrun with guaranteed prices Veteran solar energy supplier The No.1 producer of carbon-free energy in the U.S. (producing 10% of all carbon-free energy) 20+ years of experience A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating10 Gexa Energy Houstons best value energy plan, offering cheaper electric rates relative to most competitors Offers 100% renewable options Fixed-rate plans Wide variety of contract term options 20+ years of experience A+ BBB accredited business11 Green Mountain Energy 100% renewable options Best green energy option, offering Green-e certified plans Fixed-rate plans Variety of contract term options 20+ years of experience Low complaint rate A+ BBB accredited business12 Reliant Energy Award-winning company One of the most prominent companies on the market Offers a 100% renewable energy option, although most of its plans are not green Fixed-rate plans Wide variety of plan options 20+ years of experience13 TXU Energy Highly regarded as one of best REPs in the Lone Star State Offers plans with 100% solar days and an option to upgrade any plan to be 100% wind-powered 20+ years of experience A+ BBB accredited business14 FAQ: Houston Energy Plans At EcoWatch, we frequently receive energy-related questions from readers in Houston. Here are the most common questions we see, along with our answers: Which provider has the cheapest energy in Houston? Based on our market research, Gexa Energy offers the cheapest electricity rates through its Gexa Simply Low 12 plan (rates around 10 cents per kWh with a 12-month fixed-rate contract). Frontier Utilities and 4Change Energy tend to be the biggest competitors to Gexa when it comes to cheap electricity rates in Houston, but Gexa is the only one that offers only 100% renewable energy plans. Other companies, such as Just Energy, will offer free electricity on nights or weekends, which may lower your overall energy bills.15 What is the best Houston energy provider? Weve found that the best energy providers in Houston include Constellation Energy, Gexa Energy and Green Mountain Energy. However, the provider thats best for you will depend on your households specific energy needs. What is the average electric bill in Houston? The average monthly electric bill in Houston is around $160. Thats based on ERCOT data that shows the average Houston home consumes 1,300 kWh per month and the average Texas electricity rate is about 12.55 cents per kWh.16,17 How can I lower my electricity bill in Houston? Because of deregulation, the best way to lower your electricity bill in Houston is to compare rates from multiple providers and choose the one thats going to offer you the best deal over time. You can also work to lower your overall electricity use by making more conscious decisions to turn off lights, better insulate your home or make energy-efficient home upgrades. Follow these tips for more ways to save energy at home. What is the best energy plan in Houston? Its hard to say which of Houstons energy plans is best, because whats best for one customer may not be the best for another. We recommend looking at our top three best companies Constellation, Gexa and Green Mountain Energy and exploring their rate options to find the best electricity plan for your household. Or, use this link to get connected to the best energy providers in your area. People Also Ask Heres a quick overview of Texas electricity rates: Current average rate of retail electricity: 12.55 cents/kWh 12.55 cents/kWh Current range of electricity prices in Texas: 8.8 to 16 cents/kWh 8.8 to 16 cents/kWh Average Texas monthly electric bill: $142.06 $142.06 Average energy usage in Texas: 1,132 kWh/mo Jump To: Texas Energy Rates | Price Comparison | How to Find the Best Rates | Types of Electricity Plans | Best Electricity Companies | What to Look For When Choosing a Provider | FAQ Whether youre moving to the area and looking for power connection or simply shopping for the best electricity rates in Texas, EcoWatch is here to help. Weve narrowed down the top clean-energy providers in the state, and by using this tool or clicking the links below, you can compare prices and find the right plan for you. In 1999, a piece of legislation introduced in Texas unveiled the concept of deregulated energy. Senate Bill 7 (SB7) requested the elimination of regulated energy rates and monopoly providers, and would according to lawmakers drive the low prices of energy in Texas even lower.1 Today, the majority of Texans live in a deregulated service area, which means they have the power to choose their own energy provider. While the idea seems simple enough, deregulated energy can be a confusing industry to understand, and many consumers wind up paying way too much. In this article, well compare energy rates and plans in Texas so you dont overpay for electricity. Texas Energy Rates About 85% of Texans live in a deregulated service area, meaning they have the power to choose their own electricity provider. Three of Texas largest cities Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth are deregulated, while the other 15% of the state, including Austin and San Antonio, remain regulated by electric cooperatives. However, there are some zip codes in deregulated areas that will have regulated energy, and vice versa. You can enter your zip code into this tool to see if deregulated energy is available near you. For many Texans who can choose their own retail electricity provider (REP), the process of doing so is overwhelming. After all, there are over 150 providers, each offering different energy rates, plans and contract terms. Along with paying your REP, youll be charged monthly fees from your transmission and delivery utility company (TDU) to cover the cost of delivering electricity, meter reading, wiring and more. Youll pay these charges no matter what energy plan or provider you choose, and theyll be baked into the monthly bill from your REP. All TDU rates are regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). Unlike with REPs, you cannot choose your TDU, as it depends on where you live. The three main TDUs in the state are AEP, CenterPoint and Oncor, each serving millions to tens of millions of customers in different areas of Texas. The smallest utility company is Texas New Mexico Power, serving more than 260,000 customers in the western part of the state.2 Lets dive into Texas electric companies and price points, plus how to navigate finding the best energy rates in Texas deregulated energy market. Comparing Texas Electricity Prices Here at EcoWatch, we strive for a more sustainable planet and encourage our readers to take action to improve the environment whenever feasible. As such, weve chosen to highlight some of the best electric companies in Texas that offer 100% renewable energy. The chart below shows renewable energy plans and prices available throughout the Lone Star State. Keep in mind that these electricity prices may not be exact, as rates can fluctuate daily and may vary depending on where you live. For instance, if you live outside of densely populated metropolitan areas, youll likely enjoy rates even lower than whats below. Oncor Energy Electricity Rates Plan Term (months) Rate (/kWh) (1,000 kWh plans)* MP2 Energy Power Choice 12 ePlan 12 13.4 MP2 Energy Power Choice 24 ePlan 24 12.5 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 12 Choice 12 14 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 24 Choice 24 13.9 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 36 Choice 36 13.3 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 60 Choice 60 12.4 Gexa Eco Choice 3 3 10.4 Gexa Eco Choice 5 5 11.2 Gexa Eco Choice 12 12 12.3 Gexa Energy Saver 12 12 14.9 Gexa Energy Saver 24 24 13.9 Gexa Energy Saver 36 36 13.6 Rhythm Simply Green 24 24 11.8 Rhythm Simply Green 36 36 11.4 Champion Energy Green Energy 12 12 13.9 Champion Energy Green Energy 24 24 13.1 Reliant 100% Solar 12 plan 12 13.9 Constellation Energy 12 Green Plan 12 14 TXU Energy Free Nights & Solar Days 12 12 16.2 *Rates will vary based on your TDU. Youll see the above rates if your TDU is Oncor. These rates include the utilitys current charge of $0.04 cents per kWh. Rates are according to Texas Public Utilities Commission and are subject to change.3 CenterPoint Energy Electricity Rates Plan Term (months) Rate (/kWh) (1,000 kWh plans)* MP2 Energy Power Choice 12 ePlan 12 13.9 MP2 Energy Power Choice 24 ePlan 24 13.1 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 12 Choice 12 13.9 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 24 Choice 24 13.5 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 36 Choice 36 11.9 Gexa Simply Low 12 12 9.7 Gexa Eco Choice 3 3 10.2 Gexa Eco Choice 12 12 12.4 Gexa Energy Saver 12 12 15.6 Gexa Energy Saver 24 24 14.6 Gexa Solar 24 24 14.6 Gexa Solar 36 36 14.6 Rhythm Simply Green 12 12 13 Rhythm Simply Green 24 24 12.3 Rhythm Simply Green 36 36 11.8 TriEagle Green Eagle 12 12 13.7 TriEagle Green Eagle 24 24 13.2 Reliant 100% Solar 12 plan 12 14.5 Constellation Energy 12 Green Plan 12 14.5 TXU Energy Free Nights & Solar Days 12 12 17.8 *Rates will vary based on your TDU. Youll see the above rates if your TDU is CenterPoint Energy. These rates include the utilitys current charge of $0.04 cents per kWh. Rates are according to Texas Public Utilities Commission and are subject to change.4 AEP Texas Electricity Rates Plan Term (months) Rate (/kWh) (1,000 kWh plans)* Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 12 Choice 12 14.4 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 24 Choice 24 14.2 Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 36 Choice 36 13.7 Gexa Eco Choice 12 12 12.9 Gexa Eco Choice 3 3 10.6 Rhythm Simply Green 12 12 13 Rhythm Simply Green 35 35 11.8 Rhythm Simply Green 36 36 11.9 TriEagle Green Eagle 12 12 13.2 TriEagle Green Eagle 24 24 12.7 Octopus Energy OctoGo 12 12 12 Octopus Energy OctoPlus 12 12 12 Octopus Energy OctoPlus 36 36 12.2 *Rates will vary based on your TDU. Youll see the above rates if your TDU is AEP Texas. These rates include the utilitys current charge of $0.05 cents per kWh. Rates are according to Texas Public Utilities Commission and are subject to change.5 How to Find the Best Electricity Rates in Texas When searching for the best electricity rates in Texas, keep in mind that rates and the average cost of electricity can vary based on numerous factors, so you may be given a different electric rate than that of your neighbors. Here are a few things to consider: Your Energy Usage The amount of electricity your household consumes may affect the rate you pay per kWh. Most REPs offer tiered plans based on average energy usage. Tiered-rate energy plans are often called V-shaped plans because the rates are more expensive for people who use the least and most amounts of energy and are lowest for those in the middle. For example, in a typical tiered plan, customers who use around 500 kWh or 2,000 kWh per month will pay more than those who use around 1,000 kWh per month. According to the EIA, the average Texas home uses around 1,132 kWh per month.6 Contract Length The length of the contract will also play a factor in the cost of your electricity. As with most things, the longer you commit to one provider, the better deal youll get. Well discuss the different types of electricity plans in the next section. A word of caution: Read the fine print and ask questions before you sign. Many contracts come with startup fees as well as cancellation fees for early termination. And while some Texas electricity providers advertise a $10 cancellation fee, the fine print may read that its really $10 per month left on the contract. Electricity Facts Label When shopping for energy, always ask for a providers Electricity Facts Label (EFL). Similar to a nutrition label you see on your favorite snacks, an EFL will give you all of the information about a companys electricity prices, contract lengths and terms, sources of generation, and emission levels.4 To find the best electricity rates in Texas, we recommend comparing prices from a few companies. As a trusted energy information source, EcoWatch is often able to secure discounted rates for our readers. You can use this tool to be connected with local energy providers near you. Types of Electricity Plans in Texas Most Texas electric companies will offer a few plan options for customers to choose from. Heres an overview of the different types offered in the Lone Star State, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, so you can pick whats best for your household. Fixed-Rate Plans Just as it sounds, a fixed-rate plan allows you to secure a rate that will stay the same throughout the entire duration of your contract. Note that fixed rate does not mean that your electric bill will be exactly the same every month. Instead, it means the rate you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity wont change. So, your bills will still be higher during months you use more electricity. Pros of a Fixed-Rate Energy Plan in Texas Cons of a Fixed-Rate Energy Plan in Texas Youll have a better idea of what to expect when it comes to budgeting. If you cancel early, you could be subject to an early termination fee (ETF), unless youre moving to an address outside of your providers service area. Your rates remain locked in if energy costs rise. Some fixed-rate plans will turn into variable-rate plans upon contract expiration. Be sure to read the fine print and ask your energy provider specific questions about length and price. With a fixed-rate plan, youll pay the same amount month over month for each kilowatt-hour of energy you use. This ensures your rates will stay the same even when the market rate of electricity fluctuates. Some months, youll pay less than the market rate, and others, youll pay more. Variable-Rate Plans If you prefer paying month-to-month instead of being locked into a length-based contract, you may consider a variable-rate electric plan. Variable rate means you guessed it the price you pay is based on variables in the energy market. The price per kWh will increase or decrease depending on supply and demand. Pros of a Variable-Rate Energy Plan in Texas Cons of a Variable-Rate Energy Plan in Texas If the price of energy drops, there may be some months where a variable-rate electric customer will be paying less per kWh than someone on a fixed-rate plan. Variable rates can be very risky given the extreme weather or other factors that can suddenly and drastically increase the price of electricity. We saw the biggest risk of the variable-rate plan during the winter storm of February 2021, when millions were in the dark due to a massive power outage. Texans who kept their lights on paid the price, with at least one customer facing an electric bill over $16,700.7 Texas power companies were reportedly overcharged $16 billion dollars by the electric grid operator. With a variable-rate plan, prices change each month based on the market rate of electricity. Some months, youll pay less than homes with fixed-rate plans, and others, youll pay more. You may also see surprisingly high bills during extreme fluctuations. No-Deposit and Prepaid Energy Plans Many power plans require a deposit upon signing a contract to protect the REP from losses should a customer be unable to pay their energy bill. However, certain companies will offer a no-deposit electricity plan option so long as the customer passes a credit check. If the customer doesnt have a high enough credit score for a no-deposit plan, they can still avoid paying a deposit by opting for a prepaid, or pay-as-you-go, electricity plan. With a prepaid plan, the customer pays in advance for a set amount of electricity. The good news is that the customer is able to track their electricity usage online and can reload the account when it runs low. However, rates are not fixed in a prepaid plan, so it can be harder to plan out expenses. Pros of a Prepaid Energy Plan in Texas Cons of a Prepaid Energy Plan in Texas The obvious no deposit. All of the money you pay to the energy provider goes directly toward powering your home. Youll have to pay for your electricity upfront and remember when to top up your meter. You have total control over how much you spend on your electricity. Your power will be automatically shut off if you hit the threshold of electricity you paid for (this can be avoided by actively monitoring your usage or enrolling in an auto-pay plan). You dont have to sign a contract that may come with cancellation fees. Youll pay a higher rate per kWh compared to other plans (in most cases). Green Energy Plans Green energy plans are those that supply electricity from renewable energy sources. Thats going to be primarily wind and solar energy in Texas.8 Some REPs may have Green-e Verification or a similar certification to ensure that the electricity is responsibly generated, transmitted and distributed. Non-green energy plans, at least in Texas, rarely meet 25% of their total energy from renewable sources.9 Most green energy REPs will still offer variable- and fixed-rate plan options; the main difference is where their energy comes from. Pros of a Green Energy Plan in Texas Cons of a Green Energy Plan in Texas You can feel good about where your electricity is coming from. On average, renewable plans cost around 1 cent per kWh more than non-renewable plans. (If you use 1,000 kWh per month, that will be about a $10 difference.) You can support clean energy without the large upfront investment of solar or wind. Theyre not offered by all energy companies, so youll have more limited options when choosing a provider. Business Energy Plans If youre looking for a supplier for your business, keep in mind that not all REPs will provide commercial electricity. So youll need to search for the ones that do. Business energy plans may also be needed for industrial properties, schools, government buildings and churches. Most business energy suppliers will offer variable or fixed-rate options. Electricity Companies and Providers in Texas As mentioned, there are well over 150 energy providers in Texas. EcoWatch has chosen to focus on REPs that get their basic power from a clean energy source, like solar or wind power. Here are a few examples of the best energy companies in Texas and what makes them top suppliers by our standards. Gexa Energy Texas best value energy plan, offering cheaper electric rates relative to most competitors Offers 100% renewable options Fixed-rate plans Wide variety of contract term options 20+ years of experience A+ BBB accredited business10 Green Mountain Energy 100% renewable options Green-e verified plans Fixed-rate plans Variety of contract term options 20+ years of experience Low complaint rate A+ BBB accredited business11 Constellation Award-winning company, one of the best in the business Offers 100% renewable energy options Options for customers to go solar via Sunrun with guaranteed prices Veteran solar energy supplier The No.1 producer of carbon-free energy in the U.S. (producing 10% of all carbon-free energy) 20+ years of experience A+ BBB accredited business12 Reliant Energy Award-winning company One of the most prominent companies on the market Offers a 100% renewable energy option, although most of its plans are not green Fixed-rate plans Wide variety of plan options 20+ years of experience13 Rhythm Offers 100% renewable energy Majority of customer reviews are positive Promotes transparency, promises not to charge any hidden fees 90-day free trial Up to $150 in bill credits to cover switching fee from old provider Note: Very young company, just launched in 202014 What to Look For When Choosing an Electricity Provider Whether youve just moved to Texas or youre looking to save money by switching companies, here are five main things you should look out for when choosing an electricity provider: The type of plans it offers: Not every REP will offer fixed-rate, variable and no-deposit energy plans. Where the energy is coming from: We recommend companies that offer 100% renewable plans from solar or wind energy. If a company does not specify where its electricity comes from, its likely natural gas. Its electricity rates and the fine print: Many customers shopping for a new energy provider will be looking for the cheapest electricity rates, but if the prices look too good to be true, be sure to read the fine print. Some companies will offer low rates for short-term contracts with a fine-print clause that it will turn into a variable or higher rate when the contract expires. Be wary of this, as companies with misleading advertising may not have your best interests in mind. Company history: In most cases, youll want to choose an energy supplier with a proven track record of quality service in your area. You also may want to do some research to find out if theres a parent company. Customer reviews: No one enjoys having to pay for electricity service, but an excessive number of negative customer reviews is probably a warning sign to steer clear of a company. On the other hand, tons of positive reviews are telling that a company is likely honest and accommodating. Other Popular Providers in Texas EcoWatch has chosen to feature providers that align with our mission of offering 100% renewable energy in most cases. Here are some of the other popular electricity providers in Texas that may not hit that goal: Provider Lowest Available Rate (/kWh)* Plan Length Percent of Renewable Energy** Pros Cons Cirro 12 12 months 15% in each plan Variety of plans; $30 bill credit per cycle Only 15% renewable energy (state average is 25%) Direct Energy 12.8 36 months 20% in each plan with 100% renewable option (see con) Variety of plans; offers make it green option on all plans Company buys Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for its Green Plan, so its more of an offset rather than 100% clean energy source Frontier Utilities 7.6 24 months 15% in each plan with 100% renewable plan options (in some areas) Cheap electric rates; variety of plans; $75 to $100 usage credits per cycle Only 15% renewable energy in most plans (state average is 25%); 100% renewable plans only offered to some customers Just Energy 9.2 12 months 15% in each plan with 100% renewable option (see con) Cheap electric rates; variety of plans Company buys RECs for its Green Plan, so its an offset rather than 100% clean energy source TriEagle Energy 10.4 36 months 6% in each plan with 100% renewable option Offers 3 green energy plans with 100% renewable energy Only 6% renewable in non-green plans (state average is 25%) Payless Power 16.5 12 months 20% in each plan Offers prepaid electric plans No 100% green energy; no fixed-rate or variable rate options; more expensive Pulse Power 12.1 36 months At least 20% in each plan with 100% renewable plan options Offers variety of fixed-rate plans Newer company (founded in 2018); no variable or prepaid plan options *Rates are subject to change and will vary based on your TDU **All information is accurate as of March 2022 FAQ: Texas Energy Plans The EcoWatch team frequently gets energy questions from readers in Texas about deregulation. Here are the most common questions we see, along with our answers. Which provider has the cheapest energy in Texas? Based on our market research, Frontier Utilities offers the cheapest electricity rates in Texas through its Frontier Super Value 24 plan, costing $0.076/kWh. Of the clean energy sources, Gexa Energy has the best rates, with a $0.097/kWh rate through its Simply Low 12 plan offered to CenterPoint customers or $0.102/kWh rate with its Eco Choice 6 plan offered in all markets. What is the best Texas energy provider? Weve found that the best energy providers in Texas include Constellation Energy, Gexa Energy and Green Mountain Energy. However, the provider thats best for you will depend on your households specific energy needs. What is the average electric bill in Texas? The average monthly electric bill in Texas is around $142. This is calculated based on an average Texas electricity rate of about 12.55 cents per kWh and the average energy usage in Texas around 1,132 kWh/mo.15,16 How can I lower my electricity bill in Texas? Because of deregulation, the best way to lower your electricity bill is to compare rates from multiple providers and choose the one thats going to offer you the best deal over time. You can also work to lower your overall electricity use by making more conscious decisions to turn off lights, better insulate your home, mind the thermostat and use more power strips. Follow these tips for more ways to save energy at home. What is the best electricity plan in Texas? Its hard to single out the best energy plan in Texas because whats best for one customer may not be the best for another. We recommend looking at the plans offered by Constellation, Gexa and Green Mountain Energy and finding one that works best for your household. Or, use this link to get connected to the best energy providers in your area. People Also Ask A new study has found that fish in the oceans communicate through a variety of sounds made in extraordinary ways, from moving or grinding their jaws to vibrating their bodies to snapping their tendons. Although researchers already knew fish communicated through sound, it was believed to be a rare phenomenon. The study, published in the journal Ichthyology & Herpetology, found that acoustic communication has evolved 33 times in Actinopterygii, which includes about 34,000 species and makes up 50% of all living vertebrate species. Comparatively, humans and other tetrapods, or animals with four limbs, have only experienced an evolution of communication through sound six times, highlighting just how important acoustics are for fish. The scientific study of fish has been biased by how humans perceive the world, Aaron Rice, lead author of the study and a researcher at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, told Mongabay News. When we go swimming, for example, we cant smell underwater, so we think that there is no reason fish should be able to smell underwater as well when in fact, many of them have a very well-developed sense of smell. The study suggests that sound communication in fish goes back at least 155 million years. Although fish have developed hearing similar to other vertebrates, the way they make sounds to communicate to other fish is distinctive. Many fish use swim bladder vibrations to make noise or may vibrate other muscles or parts of the body, while others can snap their tendons, move their jaws, or otherwise rub skeletal parts to produce sounds. The sounds are created for various reasons. For example, a catfish may make noise to scare off predators. Drum fish and toadfish are both considered particularly noisy fish. While many people think toadfishes are ugly and sit at the bottom of the ocean doing nothing, they happen to have the fastest-contracting vertebrate skeletal muscles across the animal kingdom, and these are dedicated for sound production, Rice said. Although the researchers used recordings of oceanic sounds, they found it difficult to identify what sounds belonged to certain species. So they turned to thousands of years of Indigenous knowledge to better track down the source of the noises. The study shows the importance of minimizing human-related noise pollution, as its impact on fish communications is still unknown. Since we have so many fish that are depending on sound for communication whether its for reproduction or social cohesion how fish respond to increases in human-driven noise is a giant question mark, Rice explained. So that fundamental question is, how can we use fish sounds as an indicator of the impacts humans are having on coastal ecosystems? Amazon spent around $4.3 on consultants last year in an effort to prevent unionization of its warehouses, according to company filings with the US Department of Labor. Workers were required to attend meetings led by the consultants who discussed anti-union talking points ahead of key union votes in Bessemer, Alabama and Staten Island, New York, HuffPost has reported. Companies are required to disclose financial details when consultants speak directly to workers about unionization. Very few have spent even $1 million on union avoidance over several years, according to a recent report, while Amazon spent multiple times that in just 2021 alone. Some consultants were paid up to $3,200 per day. The meetings are legal and usually held when employers discover efforts to organize unions. They're called "captive audience meetings" by labor organizers because attendance is normally non-optional. Typically, the consultants will focus on union dues and potential loss of wages due to work stoppages. They also help company's come up with strategies to defeat unions. Amazon workers recently voted in two union drives in Bessemer and Staten Island. At Bessemer, workers voted 993-875 against unionizing, but 416 votes have been challenged, so the final result is far from established. However, as it stands now, the Staten Island union is currently ahead 1,518 to 1,154 (a margin of 364) votes, with counting set to resume today. Apple has rolled out updates for its mobile, tablet and desktop operating systems, and they come with a fix for two zero-day vulnerabilities. As Ars Technica notes, the bugs can give bad actors access to the internals of the operating systems if exploited. Apple said in its patch notes that it's aware "of a report that [the issues] may have been actively exploited," but it didn't expound on whether it has detected instances of the bugs being used to gain entry to customers' devices. The tech giant attributes the vulnerabilities' discovery to "an anonymous researcher." One of the vulnerabilities called CVE-2022-22675 affects all three operating systems and gives hackers a way to execute malicious code with kernel privileges. That means they can get complete access to their target's system and hardware. The other vulnerability, CVE-2022-22674, affects macOS and could lead to the "disclosure of kernel memory" or the the memory used by an operating system. They're the fourth and fifth zero-days Apple has fixed this year so far, which includes one that can be exploited to track sensitive user information. In addition to fixing the zero-day vulnerability affecting iPhones, iOS 15.4.1 also remedies an issue caused by the update before it. Apparently, iOS 15.4 went out with a bug that could cause an iPhone's battery to drain more quickly than expected. The update fixes an issue that could render Braille devices unresponsive, as well. Back in 2021, engineer Ken Pillonel did what Apple refuses to do when he made the worlds first iPhone with a working USB-C port. Now, Pillonel has flipped the script with his latest project: the first Android phone with a Lightning connector. Admittedly, an Android phone with a Lightning port doesnt have nearly the same sort of cross-over appeal as a USB-C iPhone, but thats OK. In his initial video, Pillonel says the device was meant to be more of a fun project created to balance the chaos unleashed by his previous device, with the release deliberately timed for April Fools Day. However, putting this thing together was no joke, because while the concept might be silly, the Lightning port on the Android phone (in this case a Samsung Galaxy A51) is fully functional for both charging and data transfer. [This] was a complex modification that required some out-of-the-box thinking, said Pillonel. And when I got the chance to ask about the projects biggest challenges, Pillonel told Engadget the hardest part was figuring out how to make everything actually work together. The Lightning cables sold by Apple are not dumb, he said. They will only charge Apple devices. So I had to find a way to trick the cable into thinking it was plugged into an Apple device. And the whole thing needs to fit inside the phone, which is another challenge in itself. Thankfully, Pillonel has learned a thing or two since his previous project, which helped lay the groundwork for his latest device. I would say it was easier to do than the first USB-C iPhone for two reasons, he said. The first is that Im getting better at it because Im learning new things every day, so hopefully I can finish these mods faster and faster. The second reason is that the quality of the finished product is nowhere near what it was for the iPhone. And while I would posit that an Android phone with a Lightning port is a definite downgrade in terms of usability compared to a standard USB-C port, that doesn't seem to bother Pillonel. I dont expect anyone in their right mind wanting to do this to their device, he said. It was for fun, I just wanted to see if I could do it. So whats the next move for this unique gadget? For those looking for more details about what went into the project, Pillonel says hes working on a full-length explanation video coming soon to his YouTube channel. As for the phone itself, Pillonel says hell probably just keep it after running into issues when he put the original USB-C iPhone up for auction on eBay, which ended up garnering fake bids in excess of $100,000. I didnt want to force trying to sell it because thats not really who I am. I want to focus on my engineering and science projects, Pillonel said. And while these custom mods might not be everyones dream device, theyre a great example of what can be done even without the help of the companies that originally made them. A newsletter a day keeps the FOMO at bay. Just enter your email and we'll take care of the rest: Subscribe Please enter a valid email address Now available on your smart speaker and wherever you get your podcasts: For GoPro cameras, battery life has never been a strong feature in fact, the Hero 9 outlasted the Hero 10 by almost half an hour when we tested out the newer camera. Now, the company has launched a new battery grip, called Volta. Combined with the GoPro's own battery, the Volta grip can deliver up to four hours of 5.3K recording at 30 fps. It also comes with integrated camera buttons to give you access to one-handed controls while the GoPro is mounted. You can even use it as a remote control up to 98 feet away, and if you need a tripod for your shoot, you can flip out its built-in legs. The versatility goes further: You can use it to charge, well, anything from its USB-C port. If youre in deep with GoPros camera series, this could very well replace half of your existing peripherals. You might also like the new Creator Edition package, which includes two mods that feature a built-in directional microphone, 3.5mm mic-in, HDMI-out ports and LED lighting. The standalone Volta grip will set you back $130, and its available now. Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed The vulnerability let intruders access your stored videos. Bitdefender says it informed Wyze of a major security vulnerability in the Wyze Cam v1 in March 2019, but that the device maker didn't inform customers, recall the product or fully patch the problem in the three years since. In fact, Wyze couldn't completely fix the issue while it did mitigate the problem with patches, the company appeared to discontinue the camera in January as "hardware limitations" prevented a proper update. The vulnerability let attackers remotely control the camera without having the value normally needed to authenticate. While they couldn't watch live video as it was encrypted, they could steer the camera, switch it off and access videos saved on the SD card. Continue reading. It charges incredibly quickly, but... GoPro OnePlus latest flagship phone is a stylish device with a powerful processor and the ability to recharge incredibly quickly thanks to 65W (and in some regions 80W) SuperVOOC tech, courtesy of Oppo. However, the OnePlus 10 Pro cant quite stand up against the best phones out there, with a sometimes middling camera performance. At least its cheaper than last years OnePlus 9 Pro. Continue reading. The Human Genome Project 'only' sequenced 92 percent. If you're thinking "Wait a minute didn't scientists produce the complete human genome sequence almost two decades ago?" Well, you wouldn't be wrong. The Human Genome Project finished sequencing 92 percent of the human genome back in 2003, but the techniques available at the time left the remaining eight percent out of reach until recent years. In a series of papers published in Science, the T2T Consortium has reported how it managed to fill in almost all of the missing spots except for five, leaving only 10 million and the Y chromosome only vaguely understood. Continue reading. But units won't be delivered until 2023 to 2024. Boston Dynamics Stretch is not quite as exciting or as terrifyingly adorable as the Hyundai-owned company's Spot robotic dog, but it can make loading, unloading and moving boxes in warehouses a lot easier. Boston Dynamics is now accepting reservations for deliveries in 2023 and 2024, because it's already sold out this year due to strong pre-order demand. DHL is one of the early Stretch customers, signing a $15 million deal with Boston Dynamics to equip its warehouses in North America with the robots over the coming years. TechCrunch reports both Gap and H&M will have the robot in their warehouses, as well. Continue reading. But it might be back next year. In January, the ESA announced E3 would be an online-only event, citing concerns over "COVID-19 and its potential impact on the safety of exhibitors and attendees." According to a statement yesterday, even that isnt happening. The ESA said "E3 will return in 2023." The association added it "will devote all our energy and resources to delivering a revitalized physical and digital E3 experience next summer." Continue reading. Up to five players could share a subscription at a special rate. Unlike Netflix, Spotify and many other subscription services, the Xbox Game Pass currently has no option for multiple users to share one account. This has been a common frustration among Xbox players over the years, particularly those who live with other Xbox gamers. Game Pass subscriptions are tied to specific Xbox profiles, allowing players to sign-in from anywhere. The family plan will reportedly allow up to five players on a single subscription and should debut later this year. A family plan could give Microsoft an extra edge over Sonys Playstation, which recently announced its revamped set of subscription plans. Continue reading. If you've hesitated in getting a PC stylus because it's one more thing to lose, Dell has a possible solution. The company's latest Premiere Rechargeable Active Pen has Tile tracking built in, so you can use the Tile app to make it emit sound and LED light. If it's not close enough to hear or see, the app will show the pen's last known location and track it down via the Tile network. The $110 Premiere Rechargeable Active Pen works with compatible Dell 2-in-1 laptops and offers a 40-day battery life with 80 percent charging in just 20 minutes. The programmable top and side buttons give easy access to commands and it attaches to laptops via a magnet tether. Tile also announced that it has added its tracking tech to several new Intel-powered laptops. The latest to include it are Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 and latest ThinkPad T Series, making for a total of seven Lenovo laptops with the tech. MSI's new Intel 12th-gen Summit and Prestige series laptops are also equipped with Tile tracking, along with Fujitsu's FMV Loox PCs in Japan. To activate tracking, you just need to install the Tile Windows App and activate your PC as a Tile. The Android or iOS app will then "ring" your laptop to help you find it nearby. Tile announced in 2020 that it was teaming with Intel to help users find lost notebooks. It also struck a deal with Bluetooth chip companies to allow its tech to be placed in nearly any kind of device. Its tech can currently be found in HP Dragonfly laptops, Fitbit wearables, Skullcandy products, Sennheiser headphones and other devices, around 55 in total according to Tile. After arresting seven alleged members of the hacking group Lapsus$ last week, London police have charged two of them with multiple computer crimes. The teenagers, aged 16 and 17, remain in police custody in connection with the investigation. "Both teenagers have been charged with: three counts of unauthorized access to a computer with intent to impair the reliability of data; one count of fraud by false representation and one count of unauthorized access to a computer with intent to hinder access to data," the City of London Police said in a news release. "The 16-year-old has also been charged with one count of causing a computer to perform a function to secure unauthorized access to a program. They will both appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court this morning (April 1st)." Lapsus$ claimed to have downloaded 37GB of Microsoft source code for key products like Bing and Cortana, along with mobile apps. They also reportedly compromised the security system of MFA company Okta, forcing the company to admit that it made a mistake in the way it handled the attack. One of the teens arrested was reportedly a 16-year-old Oxford resident known as "Breachbase" or "White," who has supposedly made the equivalent of $14 million in Bitcoin. London police have not released any names, however, nothing that the people charged are juveniles and that reporting any identifying information about them is prohibited. Julia Fox has NOT been in conversations with Real Housewives of New York despite, heavily circulating rumors. Recently, the Real Housewives of New York franchise made a historic decision. In order to add new faces to the mix while maintaining the time-tested core group of women, the show has split into two. There will be an entirely new group of wives to kick start a new season of RHONY, but the classic cast will continue on into a RHONY legend show. What's even more interesting, though, is the discussion of who whill be included in the new Real Housewives of New York cast. Speculation has been flowing. One of the most frequently speculated is none other than Kanye's rebound, Julia Fox. However, an article on TMZ has put these rumors (mostly) to bed. According to the article, discussion of Fox becoming a Real Housewife is mere speculation. There have not actually been any discussions between herself and producers of the show. That means that all musings on the topic have been a mere byproduct of wishful thinking - and enough Reality-TV knowlege to know that having Fox on the show would make it fabulously and dramatically unforgettable. That being said, people have been known to rumor things into existence. Who knows? While there have been no conversations yet, it may be soon to definitively state that Fox is not in the show, considering that the producers are deep within the throes of the casting process. We will keep you up to date with more information as it comes to light. Ukraine has offered a detailed proposal for neutrality, but both Kyiv and Moscow are pressing their advantages on the ground. Russias war in Ukraine that has entered its third week brought some Ukrainian successes around Kyiv and a Russian reorientation to focus on liberating the eastern Donbas region, suggesting Moscow is giving up on regime change and focusing on territorial gains with a view to a settlement. Ukraine put forward a detailed proposal of neutrality as negotiators met in Istanbul on 29 March. It included pledges to not join military alliances or host foreign troops, and that it would remain a non-nuclear power. That would mean Kyiv would give up its aspirations to join NATO, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded. Ukraine suggested guarantors will be permanent members of the UN Security Council the US, the UK, France, China and Russia as well as Israel, Turkey, Germany, Canada and Poland. Some experts have said such a peace deal would weaken Ukrainian sovereignty and reward Russia. Meanwhile, Germany had arrived in the new reality and is facing up to the consequences triggered by Russias invasion of Ukraine, Germanys Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has said. During her visit to Washington ( 30 March) where she discussed her countrys current role in global security and defense policy Lambrecht also stressed Europes need to have the US as an ally and friend. Despite the major pivot to increase defense spending in line with NATO goals and strengthen its own military in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she said Germanys first choice would always be dialogue. We will never presume to go it alone. We will always remain closely integrated in the European Union, in NATO, in the United Nations, Lambrecht added. If we see today that Putins plans are not working out, then we owe that also and precisely to this impressive unity, she said, noting that all of Russian President Vladimir Putins attempts to divide the West have failed. The Pentagon on Tuesday (29 March) clarified that US troops in Poland were liaising with Ukrainian forces as they hand over weapons to them, but they were not training them in the classic sense following remarks from President Joe Biden on the matter. Earlier Biden told reporters that while in Poland last week, he had been talking to US troops who were helping train Ukrainian forces in Poland. But its not training in the classic sense that many people think of training. I would just say its liaising, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. He did not provide details on what exactly the interactions entail or how long they usually lasted. It was not immediately clear whether the distinction between liaising and training had greater significance, as the US tries to limit any direct military involvement in the war. The US and countries from around Europe have largely limited their military support to intelligence sharing and heavy supplies of weapons to Ukrainian forces, including anti-aircraft and anti-tank systems. But Germany, the fourth-biggest weapons exporter globally, is reportedly preparing to provide Ukraine with weapons worth 300 million after weeks of protracting shipments from German weapon manufacturers. The U.S. government began privately warning some American companies that Moscow could manipulate software designed by Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky to cause harm, according to a senior U.S. official and two people familiar with the matter. Foreign exchange analysts at Credit Suisse consider that the overall Sterling trend has turned negative against major currencies. Yields have declined amid doubts whether the Bank of England can push ahead with aggressive rate hikes and Credit Suisse expects that this dip in yield support will reinforce the negative technical outlook. A move above 0.8471/79 for the Euro to Dollar (EUR/GBP) exchange rate would indicate the potential for an eventual move to 0.8715 (1.1475 for GBP/EUR). Technical Outlook Indicates Pound Sterling (GBP) Exchange Rate Losses According to Credit Suisse, the Pound overall has come under pressure; We are seeing increasing signs of a more negative change of trend for GBP, with the Trade Weighted Index coming under increasing pressure and with GBPUSD breaking medium-term support. As far as EUR/GBP is concerned, it sees evidence that an important base is in the process of being completed. The immediate focus turns on the 0.8479 area which represents the February high and 200-day moving average which has been tested this week. According to Credit Suisse, a close would confirm confirmation of a base and also represent the first close above the 200-day average since early 2021. This would indicate a move to at least 0.8600 and an eventual potential target of 0.8715. According to the bank, support at 0.8370 would ideally hold, but only a break below 0.8295 would invalidate thoughts of a base. Yield Spreads Support the Bearish British Pound Case Yield trends remain a key driver of exchange rates and Credit Suisse considers that relative moves in German and UK yields support the bearish Sterling argument. It notes; The case for a head and shoulders base in EURGBP is seen reinforced by the rate differential picture, with UK Bonds notably outperforming German Bonds over the past few weeks. With UK bonds out-performing, yields have declined relative to German yields. The bank expects that this trend will continue over the next few weeks which will also tend to sap support for the Pound. We therefore look for further outperformance of UK Bonds relative to German Bonds over the coming weeks, with next supports for this spread at 96bps and ultimately 90/87.5bps. Commentary From Crisis Management Expert Edward Segal, Bestselling Author of the Award- Winning Book "Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies " (Nicholas Brealey) A good rule of thumb about responding to a crisis is that the bigger the crisis, the stronger you must be in addressing itand the more careful you should be to ensure you do not do or say anything that can accidentally make matters worse or take the crisis in a different direction. Although President Joe Biden's recent forceful 27-minute in Warsaw, Poland, about Russia's war against Ukraine had some important plusses, it also had a major minus that the White House immediately scrambled to address. Upside Biden challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his war against Ukraine, sought to manage expectations about the crisis and assured Ukraine and the world of America's commitment to protecting Ukrainians and those who have fled the country or will leave in the days ahead. Downside Sometimes leaders create more headlines about a crisis by what they did not intend or plan to say. That was certainly the case when Biden strayed from his prepared text and added these nine words to the end of his speech: ''For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power.'' The Washington Post said, "It was a remarkable statement that would reverse stated U.S. policy, directly countering claims from senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who have insisted regime change is not on the table. "It went further than even U.S. presidents during the Cold War, and immediately reverberated around the world as world leaders, diplomats, and foreign policy experts sought to determine what Biden said, what it meant and, if he didn't mean it, why he said it.'' Damage Control According to The Hill, soon after the speech, the White House attempted to clarify Biden's ad-lib. "Following the remarks, a White House official said that comment was referring to Putin exercising power outside of Russia. 'The president's point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin's power in Russia, or regime change,' the official said in an email." Kremlin's Reaction Reuters reported that "Asked about Biden's comment, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters: 'That's not for Biden to decide. The president of Russia is elected by Russians.' "Peskov did not immediately respond to a follow-up request for reaction to the White House clarification." Potential Impact Biden's extemporaneous words could have unintended consequences. They could: Stiffen Putin's resolve to continue his war against Ukraine. Help Moscow generate additional propaganda and misinformation. Put the Biden administration into an unnecessary defensive position about why the U.S. is helping Ukraine. Enable Russia to position the U.S. as an aggressor that is seeking regime change. Fuel Putin's paranoia. Richard Haass, a veteran diplomat and president of the Council on Foreign Relations, told the Washington Post that ''It discourages Putin from any compromise essentiallyf you've got everything to lose, it frees him up. Why should he show any restraint?" Haass added. "And it confirms his worst fears, which is that this is what the United States seeks: His ouster and systemic change." Ammunition For Opponents The White House's denial that Biden wants Putin removed could also provide political ammunition to Republicans who have called for Biden to take stronger steps against Russia. On March 4, NPR reported that " Sen. Lindsey Graham's suggestion that Russians should assassinate President Vladimir Putin has drawn the ire of Republicans and Democrats concerned over the war in Ukraine. "Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military?" the South Carolina Republican asked in a tweet. Biden Administration's Policy On that same day, Reuters reported that "The White House is not advocating for regime change in Russia, President Joe Biden's spokesperson said on Friday after a U.S. senator advocated for Russians to assassinate President Vladimir Putin. '"We are not advocating for killing the leader of a foreign country or regime change. That is not the policy of the United States,' White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters." Advice For Business Leaders When updating the public or stakeholders about a crisis or your efforts to address it, avoid any temptation to stray from prepared remarks about the situation. When that happens, it is important to immediately clarify those comments or to set the record straight. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that whatever was said will become set in stone and become conventional wisdom. Use every communication tool at your disposal, including social media, to clarify or explain your unintended remarks. Before any speech about a crisis, be sure to practice your delivery of the remarks with others and receive presentation and spokesperson skills trainingor a refresher courseto ensure you will stay on message. At the Oscars telecast on Sunday, Chris Rock made a bad joke about Jada Pinckett Smith's shaved head. Her husband, Will Smith, ran onstage, slapped Chris, and uttered a slew of profanities. The online world went crazy. Some people defended Rock, some defended Smith, and others said they were both wrong. The Academy is wrestling with what action to take against Smith, and how to prevent this type of incident in the future. Wow. We've had more than two years of COVID and we're into the second month of a horrific attack on the sovereign nation of Ukraine. In the past two weeks, there have been 11 people killed in 5 terrorist attacks in Israel--police officers, civilians, and even two workers originally from Ukraine. But Rock v. Smith is what's in the headlines. While Smith didn't hurt Rock, there was still no excuse to resort to a physical altercation. And no reason to shout profanities. These award shows are known to roast the celebrities in attendance. My grandmother had a great saying: " If you don't go, you don't have to go home. " If you don't put yourself into a tough situation, then you don't need to figure out how to get out of it. ?If Will Smith didn't want to be subjected to the kind of bad jokes these type of events generate, he didn't have to attend. Yes, he won the Best Actor award. But certainly not for his Sunday night performance. Meanwhile, the images that stick in my head are a young Ukrainian girl shot in the head while fleeing Russian soldiers, and blood stains on the floor of a cafe outside of Tel Aviv. If we focus on the Oscar night altercation rather than these more disturbing occurrences, then maybe we are the ones that need to be slapped. A couple of times, perhaps. A Notable Way to Help Ukraine: More than 50 amateur pianists are coming together in April to play the music of 10 Ukrainian composers as a benefit for humanitarian relief. Learn how to support this effort here Subscribe to this newsletter. Contact me to find out how you can get heard above the noise--even in a crisis situation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Fiesta has begun, and in Alamo Heights that means live music, food and a carnival that includes a rock climbing wall and laser tag. The 34th annual Alamo Heights Night is today from 5:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. The festivities will all be on the University of the Incarnate Word campus at 4301 Broadway. Hotcakes, Skyrocket and Finding Friday are just a few of the bands scheduled to perform tonight. Admission tickets cost adults $15 and will be $5 for students and those between the ages of 12 and 17. Kids under 12 can get into the event for free. Active duty and reserve component military and UIW students, staff and faculty with ID cards can all get in for free as well. Tickets will be on sale at the event but not ahead of it. On ExpressNews.com: Best Fiesta Ever: Parades, medals, chicken on a stick and more! Getting tickets, food, drinks and passes for games and rides will all require cash. ATMs will be on-site for those who need to get cash for the event. Bags larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches will not be allowed inside unless they are for baby products or health needs, according to a news release. Park and ride services will be offered for free from Alamo Heights Methodist Church, Alamo Heights High School, Incarnate Word High School, and the San Antonio Zoo Garage on Tuleta Drive. Shuttles will cart people back and forth from 5:15 p.m. until midnight. There will also be free parking in the UIW parking lot on the southwest corner of Hildebrand Avenue & Broadway, which was formerly the AT&T parking lot. The event is nicknamed Party Time in 09 after the last two digits of the Alamo Heights ZIP code. More information is available on the event Facebook page and at AlamoHeightsNight.org. megan.rodriguez@express-news.net In 1978, when Taco Cabana first opened at the corner of Hildebrand and San Pedro, original owner Felix Stehling turned to Margie Lopez Abonce to create the recipes and do the cooking at the tiny taco stand with brown walls and a yellow awning. Some 44 years later, Taco Cabana has grown into a 140-restaurant chain. Abonce is no longer with the chain, but you can still taste her cooking at Mama Margies, the restaurant that bears her name. Regional meeting on Afghanistan stresses 8 consensuses, pledges aid By Wang Qi (Global Times) 08:31, April 01, 2022 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (center) stands with officials from Afghanistan's neighboring countries and the Afghan Taliban as China-hosted talks on Afghanistan concluded in East China's Tunxi, Anhui Province on March 31, 2022. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry China-hosted talks between foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries and the Afghan Taliban concluded on Thursday in East China's Tunxi, Anhui Province, foregrounding China's role as a constructive leading force in addressing the Afghan issue. Some analysts said the mechanism has given regional countries confidence in the Afghan Taliban and more expectations to the international community. According to a joint statement released by Chinese Foreign Ministry after the meeting, all parties held comprehensive, in-depth and constructive discussions on the situation in Afghanistan and cooperation related to Afghanistan in a candid, pragmatic and mutual understanding atmosphere. The statement urges those countries primarily responsible for Afghanistan's current plight to fulfill their commitments to the country's economic reconstruction and development. It also called for the improvement of people's livelihood and the protection of the basic rights of all Afghans, including ethnic groups, women and children. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi summarized the statement into eight points, including recognizing the governance efforts of the Afghan interim government, supporting Afghanistan's economic reconstruction and independent development, calling on international financial institutions to actively inject liquidity into Afghanistan and urging the US and the West to unfreeze Afghan assets, and strengthen counter-terrorism and security cooperation. Wang Yi raised three suggestions. He said China recognizes that providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan is a top priority, enhancing its capacity for independent development is a long-term approach, and forming international synergy is necessary. Wang Yi said China has provided emergency assistance to Afghanistan in the form of food, vaccines, medicines and supplies for the winter, and is ready to support Afghanistan's integration into the regional economic landscape. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a Thursday press briefing that since the establishment of the coordination and cooperation mechanism last September, it has played a constructive role in the smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan by leveraging the strengths of neighboring countries. Uzbekistan is expected to host the forth Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan in the first quarter of 2023, read the joint statement. High valued meetings Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday delivered written remarks at the meeting. Xi pointed out that Afghanistan has reached a critical point of transition from chaos to order. "Afghanistan is a common neighbor and partner of all participating countries, and we form a community with a shared future linked by the same mountains and rivers who would rise and fall together," said Xi. He also noted that a peaceful, stable, developing and prosperous Afghanistan is the aspiration of all Afghans. It is also in the common interests of regional countries and the international community. Xi stressed that the neighboring countries of Afghanistan should do their best to build consensus and coordinate efforts to support the people of Afghanistan to build a brighter future. China attaches great importance to the home-hosted meeting and has done a lot of preparatory work to enrich its contents and forms, Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies in Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Thursday. Compared with the previous two multinational meetings of foreign ministers from Afghanistan's neighboring countries, the mechanism offered more chances for officials to interact by adding extra meetings such as extended Troikas on Afghanistan between China, Russia and the US. Despite the tense relations between the US and Russia over the Ukraine crisis, the two official representatives still sat together, which reflected their recognition of China's impartiality and importance on the Afghan issues, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Thursday. The three powers [China, Russia, and the US] have common interests in maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan and preventing Kabul from once again becoming a harbor of terrorism, Qian said. As two important Muslim countries, Qatar and Indonesia were invited to attend as guests, which is unprecedented. China, Pakistan, and the Afghan Taliban also talked on Thursday. The participation of all parties has provided positive factors for the resolution, Qian said. "Nations have realized their unique influence and are thus more willing to participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan." The escalating Ukraine crisis has somehow shifted the world's focus to Europe, but the humanitarian crisis and aid vacuum facing Afghanistan has not lessened with less attention. The UN has launched a $5 billion funding appeal for Afghanistan to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in 2022. However, only 13 percent has been funded so far. Britain on Wednesday pledged 286 million pounds ($374 million) for life-saving food and other aid for Afghanistan, Reuters said. "Through these two days of diplomatic meetings, China has shown the world that it is playing its part as a responsible power to unite all parties and remind them that 'Ukraine matters, but don't forget Afghanistan which matters as well,'" Zhu said. Procession with progression The China-hosted third Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan witnessed the first-time attendance of the Afghan Taliban acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Experts said Afghanistan's participation will improve communication and understanding with its neighbors and it will also help implement the consensus reached on issues such as counterterrorism, security, government inclusion, and humanitarian assistance. "The reality that the Taliban is in power in Afghanistan needs to be faced. If the international community isolates the country and does not have dialogue with its interim government for a long time, how can it bring positive influence and better guide the country to return to the mainstream?" Qian said. In the eight-point consensus released after the meeting, countries agreed to launch the mechanism for regular meetings of special envoys to Afghanistan's neighboring countries, establish three working groups on political diplomacy, economy, humanitarian affairs and security and stability. Experts said although the talks have released positive signals and although the situation in Afghanistan has gradually improved over the past six months and more, the US has left too many long-standing problems in the past 20 years to truly solve the Afghan issue through policy coordination at the macro level. Therefore, the establishment of the above mechanism and working group is precise and crucial. To promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, the Afghan Taliban and the international community need to find a way forward step by step, Qian said. On the one hand, according to Qian, the Afghan Taliban needs to face up to the calls regarding counterterrorism, inclusive government and other issues; on the other hand, the international community should give priority to helping resolve the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and then gradually increase exchanges and cooperation. And the key is how Washington will implement its specific responsibilities, Qian said. The US, which has left Afghanistan with an economic and social mess, cannot just walk away and leave the problem to Afghanistan and its neighbors, which may further affect peace and stability in Asia, Zhu said, explaining why all regional countries' call on the US to unfreeze $7 billion Afghan assets is reasonable. Compared with previous foreign ministers' meetings, which put more emphasis on security and stability, the meeting also focused on Afghanistan's economic development, and called on international financial institutions to actively inject liquidity into Afghanistan, Qian said. "Afghanistan's future needs to be integrated into the regional economic development." China is the most trusted power in Afghanistan as China has never interfered or invaded Afghanistan, analysts said. According to local media outlets, Afghanistan has expressed great interest in seeking to link up with the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI). People in Afghanistan see China's influence and economic power, as well as the remarkable achievements of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). And the Taliban hope that the further extension of CPEC will inject impetus into Afghanistan's economy, society and livelihood, which has been languishing for years, Qian said. China is willing to make the BRI more beneficial to its neighbors, but both China and Afghanistan know that a stable investment and business environment is indispensable for any major economic joint initiative, said Qian. "China does not exclude cooperation with Afghanistan, but it needs to be done when the time is right." (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Second COVID-19 booster shots are now available to those who qualify. The Food and Drug Administration this week authorized a second booster dose of two COVID-19 vaccines for some high-risk patients. It is very much designed to protect certain groups, primarily the elderly and the sick, said Dr. Fred Campbell, an internist and associate clinical professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio. He and his wife already received their second boosters. People ages 12 and older with certain immunocompromising medical conditions are eligible for the fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. People ages 18 and older who are similarly affected are eligible for the fourth dose of the Moderna vaccine. People ages 50 and older are eligible for a fourth dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or the Moderna vaccine. The FDA stipulates a minimum of four months must pass between the first and second boosters. Theoretically, the longer you wait after the third shot, the more likely you are to get a good immune response, Campbell said. Evidence suggests the protection from severe illness or death conferred by the first booster declines over time in older and immunocompromised populations. However, that protection could be bolstered by the second booster, according to Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Additionally, the data show that an initial booster dose is critical in helping to protect all adults from the potentially severe outcomes of COVID-19, Marks said in a news release. So, those who have not received their initial booster dose are strongly encouraged to do so. Those who satisfy all of the requirements can roll up their sleeves as soon as today no appointment needed. In San Antonio, boosters are available at Metro Healths pop-up clinics, which welcome walk-ins. Most other providers in San Antonio will offer the second booster, but you need to contact them to get confirmation, said Cleo Garcia, public information officer for Metro Health. Upcoming clinics will be held at Southside Independent School District, Southwest High School and the Frank Garrett Multi-Service Center. More details, including hours of operation, are available at covid19.sanantonio.gov. Bring a photo ID such as a drivers license and a COVID-19 vaccine card for proof of vaccination status. Campbell said side effects will vary in severity between individuals. While his wife complained of a fever, a headache, insomnia and muscle aches, he only experienced tenderness at the injection site. Life-threatening reactions are extremely rare, he added. On Wednesday, Metro Health logged 73 new COVID-19 infections, 105 COVID-19 hospitalizations and zero new COVID-19 deaths. Of the 105 people hospitalized, 40 were in intensive care and 14 were on ventilators. caroline.tien@hearst.com A poncho, a broad-brimmed black hat and a wailing Stratocaster all played a role in the image of Texas blues icon Stevie Ray Vaughan. Texas State Universitys Wittliff Collections recently acquired those personal items and others for a new exhibit that promises to offer intimate insights into the life and career of the famed guitarist. On ExpressNews.com: Vintage photos show what San Antonios first Taco Cabana looked like in 1978 An unidentified private collector handed over Vaughn's archive to the Wittliff, which will go on display in the spring at the Texas Music Gallery in San Marcos. It will join collections from music legends Willie Nelson and Selena and one of the largest collections of Tejano music and memorabilia. Vaughan was behind hits such as Pride and Joy and Texas Flood. He died in 1990 in a helicopter crash in Wisconsin at the age of 35. Included in the collection are Vaughans guitar strap, iconic black hat and conch belt worn during Vaughans 1984 Carnegie Hall concert. Other items include his suede boots with buckskin fringe and his favorite moccasins. The collection also includes rare photos, handwritten lyrics, production notes, drawings and personal journals. The collection offers new insights into Vaughan's mind set when it comes to understanding how important his recovery and spirituality were near the end of his life, and how overcoming his alcohol and drug addictions wasnt easy, according to a news release. timothy.fanning@express-news.net For the second day in a row, Alex Jones failed to comply with a court order requiring his deposition in a successful defamation lawsuit brought by families of Sandy Hook shooting victims. About an hour after it was scheduled to begin, law firms representing the families alerted the media that Jones did not arrive for the in-person questioning. This cowardly attempt by Mr. Jones to escape accountability for the years he spent spreading lies about Sandy Hook, shows contempt both for the law and the families, the families attorney, Chris Mattei of Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, said in a statement. We will continue to work within the legal system to hold Mr. Jones accountable for his actions. The no-show marks the second time this week Jones has failed to appear for his deposition, with his defense attorneys arguing to the court that an unnamed medical condition should excuse him. According to his defense counsel, Jones did not appear for his Wednesday deposition two days after a Dr. Ben Marble, a guest on his show Infowars, personally observed unnamed symptoms leading to a physical examination on Monday. Marble, a Florida-based physician who created a free telemedicine website MyFreeDoctor.com during the COVID-19 pandemic, told Jones lawyers he advised Jones to go to an emergency room or call 911 immediately, according to court documents, and subsequently arranged for, comprehensive medical testing to be performed Wednesday morning the same time as the scheduled deposition. Late Wednesday evening, attorneys for Jones produced an additional doctors note stemming from the second opinion. Signed by Dr. Amy Offutt, the redacted five sentence note cites a recommendation made to Jones that he, not attend court proceedings for now, after assessing his unnamed condition. In her note submitted to the court, Offutt described her, medical visit with Mr. Jones for acute medical issues that were time-sensitive and potentially serious. We started a comprehensive medical evaluation, and he has labs that are pending to assess his [redacted] status, Offutt wrote to the court. I also gave him ER precautions if he develops escalating symptoms. According to her website, Ouffutt is an extensively trained integrative medicine physician based in Marble Falls, Texas, who was, recently appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome Advisory Council. Her practice provides consultation and treatment to patients for chronic pain, offering yoga and other services including, ozone therapies and IV nutritional therapies. Despite the added medical testimony from Offutt, Judge Barbara Bellis again denied the motion from the defense, ordering Jones to appear for his deposition Thursday morning. While the court has no details regarding Dr. Offutts background or qualifications, It appears both from Dr. Marbles letter that the court reviewed yesterday (Tuesday) in camera, and from Dr. Offutts letter today (Wednesday), that the medical issues, while potentially serious, are not currently serious enough to either require his hospitalization; or convince him to stop engaging in his broadcasts, Bellis wrote in her denial. Of course, if, as Dr. Offutt indicates, he develops escalating symptoms such that he is hospitalized, that change in circumstance would excuse his attendance at the court ordered deposition, Bellis added. Jones defense counsel could not be reached for comment Thursday morning. At a press conference Wednesday, attorneys for the families of the victims said if Jones continues to defy court orders to attend his deposition, they will seek a court order to compel Jones to attend his deposition that could involve his arrest. What we have requested is that if Mr. Jones does not comply with the courts order to appear tomorrow it should issue a capias, which is essentially the equivalent in a bench warrant that would authorize Mr. Jones arrest and production at a location to give sworn testimony, attorney Christopher Mattei said Wednesday. Jones attorneys objected to the capias request, arguing later in the day that, while Mr. Jones appears not to have initially complied with his physicians orders, there is every indication that he has finally assented to do so, according to court filings. Mr. Jones was never subject to a compulsory obligation, and he has yet to receive one in the form of a subpoena. Thus, the Plaintiffs motion for an order cannot be properly considered to be a motion to compel, and their attempt to procure his arrest is untimely. Bellis declined the capias request, court documents filed Wednesday show, but said missing the Thursday deposition would put Jones, in direct contempt of the courts orders requiring him to appear... Nothing prevents the plaintiffs from pursuing a motion for commission and subpoena, nor are the plaintiffs prevented from seeking sanctions should Mr. Jones continue to disregard the courts orders, Bellis added. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for at 2 p.m. March 30. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two men have been charged with capital murder in the shooting death Thursday night of an off-duty Harris County Sheriff's deputy in a north Harris County parking lot, according to court documents. Joshua Stewart, 23, and Fredarius Clark, 19, are accused of killing Darren Almendarez outside a Joe V's grocery store, striking him multiple times. The deputy returned fire and struck both men. The men were allegedly under the deputy's truck, attempting to steal his catalytic converter in the parking lot when the off-duty deputy approached their black Nissan Altima. According to the charging documents, both men are alleged to have intentionally caused Almendarez' death during the course of committing a crime in this instance a robbery. MORE ON ALMENDAREZ: Harris County deputy who died protecting wife was Milby HS alum: 'A shock to everybody' A third suspect in the black Altima, described as being 17 to 19, is being sought for questioning, HCSO stated. Almendarez was taken to Houston Northwest Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to HCSO. The two injured men were taken by private vehicle to the same hospital where they were detained, chief deputy Edison Toquica said. One was in stable condition and the other in critical condition late Thursday. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said he was devastated by the death of Almendarez, 51, who was assigned to the auto theft division and had served the office for approximately 23 years. 'OUT OF CONTROL': 6 Harris County police officers wounded, killed in one week The homicide division, the Harris County District Attorneys Office and internal affairs all responded, according to the sheriffs office. Absolutely heartbroken, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a tweet about the deputy's death. My heart goes out to all our law enforcement family and to his loved ones. He is the third law enforcement officer from a Harris County agency to be killed this year. On HoustonChronicle.com: As metal prices rise during COVID, theft of catalytic converters skyrockets Cpl. Charles Galloway of the Harris County Precinct 5 Constables Office was shot and killed Jan. 23 during a traffic stop. The next day, Sgt. Ramon Gutierrez of the Harris County Sheriffs Office was fatally struck by a driver during a traffic escort. A sheriff's office deputy from neighboring San Jacinto County who was working a security job was slain Feb. 23 in Houston. Neil Adams was shot and killed by a man who gained control of his weapon during a disturbance at PlazAmericas mall in Sharpstown, Houston police said. Almendarez' death marks the 24th time since 2017 that a peace officer or jailer has died in Harris County in the line of duty. That includes peace officers and jailers who died from COVID, heatstroke, or drowning. The four deaths that occurred this year from violent causes are the most since a three-week period in late 2020, when three peace officers -- Houston Fire Marshal's Arson Investigator Lemuel Bruce, and Houston Police sergeants Harold Preston and Sean Rios -- were killed by criminal suspects. Additionally, three Houston police officers were wounded Jan. 27 in a chaotic domestic disturbance call that ended in a shootout. And on Wednesday night, an off-duty Surfside Beach officer was stabbed in southeast Houston. Anyone with information about the death of Almendarez is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. A group of nonprofits that help people access abortions are threatening to sue a Texas lawmaker for defamation after he called them criminal organizations in letters he posted to social media. State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, sent cease-and-desist letters to eight of these abortion funds earlier this month, ordering them to immediately stop paying for abortions performed in Texas or face criminal prosecution. Cain cites an older state law that says whoever furnishes the means for procuring an abortion knowing the purpose intended is guilty as an accomplice, and faces two to five years in prison. The state representative notes in his letter that the law was never repealed and that the Legislature reaffirmed the statute when it passed its ban on abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. Texas new abortion restriction, passed as Senate Bill 8, specifically notes that the legislature finds that the State of Texas never repealed, either expressly or by implication, the state statutes enacted before the ruling in Roe v. Wade. It appears that you are unaware that [the statute] continues to exist as the law of Texas, Cain said. And you likewise appear unaware that your organization is committing criminal acts that are exposing everyone involved in your organization including your employees, volunteers, and donors to criminal prosecution and imprisonment. Cain also said he intends to introduce legislation to allow district attorneys to prosecute abortion-related crimes outside their home jurisdiction when the local district attorney fails or refuses to do so. Texas original abortion statutes do remain on the books, but were found to be unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade in 1973. The next year, Texas Attorney General John L. Hill affirmed in a legal opinion that there presently are no effective statues of the State of Texas against abortion. Laws that are repugnant to the Constitution are void and of no effect, and do not create crimes or criminal liability, Jennifer Ecklund, a lawyer for the abortion funds, wrote in a rebuttal to Cain. You are making statements that are legally indefensible and factually false. Your unfounded criminal accusations are also defamatory. In the letter, Ecklund called for Cain to issue a public statement retracting his original claims and making it clear that he does not believe that the abortion funds are committing any crimes. If he does not, the letter said, the organizations will explore all legal options, including seeking a court order and compensation for the damages and attorneys fees incurred by the funds. Ecklund also asked Cain to confirm whether he sent the cease-and-desist letters as a state representative, as an attorney or as an individual. The letters were sent on his official legislative letterhead. In a response sent to Ecklund on Tuesday, Cain confirmed that he was acting in his role as a state legislator when he sent the letters, and indicated he did not intend to retract the claims. He also added that Ecklund was committing legal malpractice by advising her clients that they were not in violation of state law. If you and your clients want to adhere to your delusional belief that article 4512.2 no longer exists as the law of Texas, then we welcome the opportunity to have the judiciary set you straight, Cain said. Ecklund and her firm, Thompson Coburn, are representing the abortion funds in an ongoing state lawsuit challenging Texas ban on abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. A state judge found the law to be unconstitutional, though he declined to enjoin it from being enforced. Earlier this month, two of the abortion funds filed federal lawsuits against two anti-abortion groups, a move legal experts believe may have a strong chance of blocking the law. Denise Rodriguez, communications director for the Texas Equal Access Fund, said the abortion funds will not be intimidated by Cains letter. But shes not surprised that abortion funds have moved into the crosshairs recently due to their work helping people circumvent the new law. It seems like their strategy is to try to intimidate donors of abortion funds and try to basically starve abortion funds for resources that can help people get out of state or get abortions, she said. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this summer on a Mississippi abortion case that has the potential to overturn Roe v. Wade. Texas has a trigger law that would immediately ban abortion in line with the Supreme Courts ruling. Cains letter is an indication that he, and possibly other legislators, will take action to ensure those laws are swiftly and thoroughly enforced. The state of Texas will ensure that you and your organizations employees, volunteers, and donors are held accountable for every abortion that you illegally assisted, Cain wrote in the letter. Conduct yourself accordingly. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. A state district judge criticized the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on Friday, expressing ongoing frustration over its handling of a 15-year-old girl who was shot accidentally while she was supposed be under a caseworkers supervision. The girl, who has been in the states care since June, was being housed at an area hotel amid the departments ongoing efforts to find a permanent placement for her. On Wednesday, the girl sneaked out of the hotel room where she was being supervised. About 2 a.m., she was in a hotel room at the Clarion Pointe, in the 4800 block of Manitou, with another teenage girl under state supervision, along with two men. A gun accidentally discharged and wounded her. The girl was taken to University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. Judge Mary Lou Alvarez of the 45th Civil District Court, who regularly sees cases involving foster youths who are considered children without placement, was upset to learn Friday that her order from Thursday to place the girl at a local behavioral health facility was not carried out. Meanwhile, caseworkers testified Friday during the continuation of an emergency hearing that began Thursday that the girl remains hospitalized with shrapnel in her neck. She will need to see a doctor in the coming weeks as her recovery continues. On ExpressNews.com: Teen grazed by gunfire at Northwest Side hotel was unplaced foster child being watched by caseworker On Friday, Alvarez became frustrated over the departments inability to carry out the simplest of orders, such as getting the child vaccinated. Caseworkers said the girl refused a COVID-19 test so she could receive vaccinations at the hospital. Im not sure that theyre going to strap her to the bed to give her the vaccine, a supervising caseworker who handles the girls case said in her defense, noting that hospital workers were aware of the court order. Alvarez also ordered two weeks of therapeutic intervention for the girl, who has a history of significant trauma. But caseworkers told the judge that they did not take the girl to the facility as instructed because workers there refused to accept her. Alvarez became impatient that the caseworkers did not push back on a facility, given the court order they were following, and because they failed to collect information such as the name or names of those defying her order. The supervising caseworker responded that they were looking into other facilities that may care for the girl. Caseworkers said the girl has also been refusing therapy. The judge sought to learn from caseworkers how the girl managed to have a conversation via an electronic device a day after the shooting with the same child whom she sneaked away with. The supervising caseworker said under repeat questioning from the judge and attorneys that the girl was left unsupervised for a time prior to an emergency hearing. The judge later ordered a review of the history of applications used on the device. Asked about the girls relationship with the other child, who is also in the foster care system, the caseworker said the girl and the other child had met just last week. On ExpressNews.com: Texas Supreme Court rules for San Antonio in Chick-fil-A lawsuit filed by conservative activists The girls father testified Friday that he had sought help from the Department of Family and Protective Services when the girl was 13 because she ran away from home at least seven times, staying away for a few days to half a month at a time. When she doesnt get what she wants, she tends to run, the father said, adding that he felt he could not keep her safe. The number of Texas youths in unlicensed foster care placements ballooned last year, largely the result of COVID-19 and the closure of unsafe foster care facilities in the state. They exceeded 400 in one month last summer, before subsiding in the fall and into this year. Children staying in unlicensed placements for limited periods as they await formal placement has not been uncommon in Texas or other states, but the extent to which Texas relied on the practice last year was unprecedented. At the end of Fridays hearing, which will continue next week, the judge ordered caseworkers to continue exploring treatment options and gave a final lashing. Im ordering the department to stop following the will of a 15-year-old child who the state is supposed to be taking care of, she said. Shes not a doctor. Shes not a parent. Shes not even an adult. Im ordering the department to fulfill its role as managing conservator and follow the recommendations of medical professionals. Staff writer Edward McKinley contributed to this report. jbeltran@express-news.net Express-News /File photo The students involved in threats against a local high school posted on social media Thursday night have been identified, Northeast Side Independent School District officials said. The post referenced rumors of a school shooting at Reagan High School, a letter to parents from Principal Brenda Shelton said. The telephone harassment charge against prominent San Antonio attorney Martin Phipps, filed by his then-wife during a marriage that lasted about a month, has been dismissed. The Class B misdemeanor case against Phipps involved allegations he Phipps harassed his former employee, Brenda Vega, a legal assistant he wed in mid-December 2020. A telephone harassment complaint was filed Dec. 26, 2020, according to online court records. The marriage was annuled the following month and Phipps was arrested Feb. 8, 2021. He has been free on bond since. Online court records indicate the case was dismissed today at the request of a special prosecutor citing lack of evidence, and the case was closed. Last year, the Bexar County District Attorneys Office recused itself from the case to avoid any appearance of impropriety because Phipps represented Bexar County in a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors seeking millions of dollars to compensate the county for damage caused by addiction to their products. District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales office is involved in the litigation. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio attorney Martin Phipps and ex-law partner T.J. Mayes apparently end public feud The harassment charge occurred during a bizarre public falling out between Phipps and a partnering lawyer helping pursue the litigation, T.J. Mayes, against whom Phipps filed a protective order, accusing him of threats and egging on police to investigate Vegas claims. The county subsequently hired another law firm to pursue the lawsuit, and Phipps eventually dropped his pursuit of an injunction against Mayes.. After Gonzales recused his office from the harassment case, County Court-at-Law No. 14 Judge Carlo Key assigned Cyrus Scott Hessami Morgan, a Hays County assistant district attorney, to investigate and prosecute the case. Morgan did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment about the dismissal of the charge. On ExpressNews.com: Embattled San Antonio lawyer Phipps wants Bexar DA off his case, citing conflict of interest An affidavit by Vega submitted to San Antonio police stated that Phipps confronted her in an aggressive and agitated state, possibly under the influence of drugs, and that she feared for her life, left her personal belongings behind and flew to Mexico. Vega said Phipps continued to contact her, mostly through text messages, at least 40 times, according to the document. The Docket: Local crime and courtroom news, delivered to your inbox weekly Phipps attorney, Michael McCrum, disputed the allegations at the time he submitted a motion for Gonzales office to recuse itself, stating that the messages amounted to a husband venting on texts for two days with his wife, and (he) didnt ever contact her again. On Friday, McCrum issued a statement repeating that defense and also taking a swipe at Gonzales for not recusing himself sooner. Martin is happy that the objective set of eyes in the Hays County D.A. office vindicated him of this false charge, McCrum said. Bexar County hired Phipps law firm in 2017 to sue opioid drug manufacturers and distributors that the county alleged were responsible for causing and contributing to local addiction problems. It and another firm filed the lawsuit in 2018. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 Back in 2011, then-District 8 Councilman Reed Williams offered a logical solution to the citys redistricting challenges. Williams recognized that San Antonios population growth was concentrated in areas north of Loop 410. As a result, his Northwest Side district had become bloated with excess population, while districts in the urban core didnt have enough residents. In the interest of achieving a population balance between the citys 10 council districts, Williams suggested that one of his districts economic jewels, the Medical Center area, should be split up among three council districts. Under his plan, District 1 which stretches from downtown up to Loop 410 would extend into the southeastern part of the Medical Center. District 7 which covers much of the citys West Side would extend east into the Medical Center. The population is moving north, and so the districts need to shift north, Williams said at the time. In my particular area, I think its important that we have multiple districts involved in the Medical Center because its pretty close to the center of the city now. Williams didnt worry about parting with pieces of a coveted District 8 asset. He thought the Medical Center could benefit from having multiple council members addressing its needs. Lets face it. We worry about the district too much, he said. We have to make sure our districts are served, but if it doesnt make sense, you change the alignment. Ultimately, the 2011-2012 redistricting process ended with District 8 retaining the Medical Center. But with a new round of redistricting in play, the question of who should represent the Medical Center has surfaced again. This time, the conversations are anything but magnanimous. Eleven years after Williams made his offer, the citys demographic realities remain the same. We continue to see explosive growth on the North Side. Once again, the U.S. Census has determined that District 8 is the citys most populous district, with nearly 170,000 residents, roughly 26,000 above its ideal population level. Once again, District 8 must give up some of its neighborhoods to achieve municipal population balance and adhere to the concept of one-person, one-vote. What has changed is that were not seeing much of the statesmanship that Williams brought to the process. Instead, were seeing a turf war between Redistricting Advisory Committee appointees of two council members, District 8s Manny Pelaez and District 7s Ana Sandoval. The conflict has dominated the citys redistricting process and it thoroughly consumed a long, acrimonious Tuesday committee meeting. From the perspective of Pelaez, Sandoval has been angling behind the scenes to take at least part of a valuable District 8 asset. From the perspective of Sandoval, the battle is one-sided, thoroughly driven by Pelaezs refusal to consider any compromises when it comes to drawing district lines near the Medical Center. This week, Sandoval told Express-News City Hall reporter Megan Stringer that she has stayed out of the redistricting process and left it up to her two committee appointees to represent the interests of District 7. This is inherently a political process because were drawing political boundaries, Sandoval said. But are we letting electeds dip their hands and manage this to their convenience? Sandoval supporters say Pelaezs decision to appoint one of his staff members, Laura Garza, to the Redistricting Advisory Committee indicates that he was determined from the start to interfere with the process. Sandoval appointee Frances Gonzalez has suggested moving roughly 40 percent of the Medical Centers population into District 7. Committee advocates for that idea have thrown around the term gerrymandering to describe Pelaezs unwillingness to budge with any part of the Medical Center. Garza has countered by accusing Sandoval of shiny object looting. The Team Sandoval argument is that all of our council districts must shift northward to balance their population levels, and since the Medical Center is on the southern edge of District 8, it makes sense to give at least a piece of it to District 7. Several residents of the Medical Center area spoke at Tuesdays meeting, asking committee members to leave them in District 8. The committee voted 15 to 4 to keep certain Medical Center precincts in Pelaezs district. Unlike most congressional or state-legislative redistricting fights, this conflict isnt about protecting a seat. Neither Pelaez nor Sandoval is in danger of getting voted out of office. This is about territorial possessiveness. And as Williams demonstrated back in 2011, council members should be able to rise above that. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON Chloe Hazelwoods first trip to the nations capital as an adult should have been a vacation. Instead, the 21-year-old from Knoxville, Tenn., was in D.C. this past week representing her father, Frank Hazelwood, a Marine combat veteran of Iraq. Five years after returning home, he fell ill from toxins he was exposed to overseas. He died of cancer in 2012 at age 50. Chloe was 11 when doctors diagnosed her dad. He passed away a year later on my moms birthday, which is two days after my birthday, she said. In a 2012 interview, Frank mentioned his very grim prognosis and reflected on his time in Iraq. Ive never had a problem with that, he said. I always felt like what I did was worthwhile as long as you look at the big picture. When you look at the big picture, Chloe should not have had to visit D.C. to advocate for health care for the estimated 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxins or burn pits. If we cared about the big picture, America would have already honored its sacred obligation, as President Joe Biden has said, to care for its veterans and their families. On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: Take care of our veterans, pass burn pit legislation In the big picture, thered be no quibbling over price or process our lawmakers would take care of veterans. But the big picture in our country is fractured. The system meant to uphold that sacred obligation has let down many. Thats why a grassroots group of veterans, families, New York City firefighters, organizations, businesses and comedian Jon Stewart are advocating for reform so all vets poisoned by their service get care. At the forefront of this movement is Robstown couple Rosie Lopez Torres and Le Roy Torres, who head the advocacy group BurnPits360. Le Roys military service has cost him his health and career, but not his spirit. Tuesday, the fight to save veterans from toxins stretched from the Supreme Court to the Senate. On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: After the battlefield, vets left battling toxic exposures The Torres and their legal team huddled with their arms around one another at the top of the Supreme Courts stairs. They prayed before lawyers stepped into the courtroom. Torres resigned from his state trooper job after the Department of Public Safety would not accommodate his military service-connected health conditions. He sued the state, but Texas claimed sovereign immunity, and the case bounced around courts for five years until landing in the nations highest court. Chloe watched from the sidewalk in the 28-degree weather under a bright blue sky. Tim Jensen, co-owner of the San Antonio-based apparel brand Grunt Style and board president of its nonprofit, served with Chloes dad in Iraq. He invited her to join the group in D.C. Im just really thankful I got to go, honestly, and be around people who get it, she said. Its really hard to communicate with people more my age about stuff like this because a lot of people havent been through it, so its nice to, like, hate the same system. Later, at a press conference on the Capitol lawn, Chloe stood with sick vets, widows, children, parents, friends and advocates. They held flags and pictures, and stared into the cameras with somber faces. On ExpressNews.com: Just like Agent Orange: Vets exposed to burn pits face slew of health issues. The Supreme Court is taking notice. Stewart voiced his support of the Honoring our PACT Act, a comprehensive bill approved by the House despite strong Republican opposition. The bill is now in committee in the Senate. He said Kate Hendricks, an ill veteran, had planned to speak but couldnt because shes in hospice. We cant wait any longer, he said. This delay is unconscionable. Then he railed against those in Congress who dont support the bill because of its financial cost and potential impacts to Veterans Administration services and programs. Heres the bottom line: You cannot be America first when you put veterans last, he said. On ExpressNews.com: Veterans are dying: Texan man exposed to toxic burn pits featured on new Jon Stewart show Chloe said the whole experience cameras, media attention, Stewart felt weird. I dont get to talk about stuff like this often, she said. And to also have somewhat influential people who arent involved in the government behind this really kind of shocked me. After the presser, Chloe met Stewart in New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrands conference room. In the afternoon, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs met with VA Secretary Denis McDonough about the PACT Act. The veterans and their loved ones and advocates filled the rooms empty chairs. Some senators left after they asked their questions. Views & Voices: Editorials, columns and commentary, delivered to your inbox I felt kind of disrespected because a lot of these people took time to come all the way out here, and (the senators) would just either leave early or didnt show up at all, she said. Chloe wants to come back to D.C. at the legislations next crossroads. I just hope the bill passes and people get what they want because I grew up in a time where this wasnt even like a thought in peoples minds, she said. May her next trip to D.C. be a celebration. brandon.lingle@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Melissa Lucio is no Mother of the Year. Thats what Peter Gilman, Lucios lead defense attorney, said during her 2008 capital murder trial for the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Mariah. On this point, there is no dispute. Whether she is guilty of murder, or deserving of the death penalty, is very much in question. Lucio, a 53-year-old Harlingen mother of 14, is scheduled for execution April 27. But her Innocence Project attorneys have raised compelling questions about her prosecution and conviction: a coerced confession, a false autopsy report, regretful jury members, an ineffective defense and a district attorney who was sentenced to prison. Appearances can be everything, and during interrogation, Lucios slumped posture and passive behavior painted the picture of guilt. She was a drug addict, high school dropout and mother of 12, who was pregnant with twins and well known to Child Protective Services. Experts have said Lucios flat affect and lack of emotion were survival skills. She had been bowing to abusive male authority figures her whole life. Her mothers boyfriend and other family members sexually abused her at the age of 6. She married at 16, but her first and second husbands abused her. Yi-Chin Lee /Staff photographer On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: As questions mount, stop execution of Melissa Lucio As the Texas Council on Family Violence wrote in support of Lucio: Her story is a woeful illustration of a familys plight and fate in the absence of supportive services and tailored interventions. Instead of helping Lucio, our states systems failed her. According to Lucios attorneys, of the nearly 20 women convicted of capital murder of a child in Texas, only Lisa Coleman, who starved and abused her girlfriends 9-year-old son, also received a death sentence. Unlike Lucios case, CPS had documented Colemans abuse of the child. Ernestina Espinoza, one of four jury members and one alternate juror from the trial who now support clemency or a reprieve for Lucio, said she believed CPS was equally responsible for Mariahs death. Court records include thousands of pages of CPS records, detailing reports of neglect but never abuse. Lucios younger brother Rene said he witnessed daily his sister locking herself in the bathroom to either get high or sober. Her demons took over everything she had, he said in the documentary The State of Texas vs. Melissa. Again, neglect and addiction are documented, but not physical abuse. Lucios family was drowning in dysfunction. Their filthy home had no water for at least a month, food was scarce and food stamps were sold to purchase marijuana, CPS caseworkers documented. In December 2001, Lucios family had been homeless for months. They were sleeping in the park near Zavala Elementary School and using the school for food and hygiene. In September 2004, weeks after Mariah was born with cocaine in her system, CPS removed all of Lucios children for neglect. There was a turn for the better. On Nov. 21, 2006, Lucio and her second husband, Robert Alvarez, moved into a three-bedroom rental home and CPS returned their kids. But soon after, life unraveled, abuse escalated and they were evicted, moving to a run-down second-floor apartment without electricity. Next, according to Innocence Project attorneys, came the tragic accident: On Feb. 15, Mariah and a teenage sister were inside with Lucio as she packed for another move, but Mariah opened the unlocked screen door to the flight of 14 stairs outside. Lucio found Mariah, whose developmental delays and turned-in foot made her prone to falling, at the bottom of the stairs. Mariahs lip was bleeding, but she seemed OK. By Feb. 17, Mariah was congested, sleeping excessively and refusing to eat. Exhausted from the move, Lucio considered taking her to the doctor the next day. Lucio put Mariah down for a nap and a short while later, Mariah wasnt breathing. The family did CPR and called 911. On ExpressNews.com: Catholic leaders urge Abbott to stop execution of Hispanic mother in childs death Next came the police interrogation, capital murder conviction and death row. In the documentary, Lucio is full of lament for her daughter. I failed her, I failed her in many ways, she said. Yes, but the safety net and criminal justice system also failed Lucio. In their clemency application, Lucios attorneys point to layers of tragedy: The Board has an opportunity to avert a tragic miscarriage of justice in this case both by sparing an innocent woman from execution and by preventing the unfathomable anguish her death would cause to Mariahs already-traumatized family. Havent Lucio and her family suffered enough? Nancy.Preyor-Johnson@express-news.net Mark this on your April calendar: President Joe Biden does something about ghost guns. OK, just sort of. But lets be thankful for a start. First, a little ghost gun background. The only truly good news is that they have nothing to do with evil spirits of long-deceased revolvers floating around your house in the middle of the night. The bad news is that theyre very easy to obtain and pretty darned popular perhaps because they often have no serial numbers. Theyre regulated in only 10 states. On ExpressNews.com: Your Turn, March 13: Founding Fathers would understand need for gun regulation. Those of us who worry about gun proliferation used to obsess about the iron pipeline, aka I-95, along which weapons were ferried from Southern states where they were easy to purchase to Northern destinations where they could be sold for a very tidy profit. Now shipping through the iron pipeline is sort of like keeping in touch with all your friends and family by writing lovely letters on your personal stationery and taking them to the post office to buy stamps and put them in the mail. So 20th century. Today if you want an off-the-records gun, you go online, of course. You order a ghost, which arrives at your home in pieces, ready to be assembled. You can even order a 3D printer to make one from scratch. This is as big a threat as anything Ive ever seen, said John Feinblatt, head of Everytown for Gun Safety. Theyre a dream come true for a prohibited person a felon. Or an armed extremist. Theyre invisible. Theyre well made. The New York Police Department, which reported seizing 47 ghost guns in 2019 and 375 last year, said that as of early this week, it had already confiscated 106 in 2022. True, its still only a small chunk of the total number of weapons the police collected, many of which had probably been hanging around the house/gang/car trunk for ages. But think about the ghost guns thatll be piling up in the years to come. Meanwhile, shootings keep coming. Two weekends ago, 29 people were hit in New York City, one of them mortally wounded during an argument in the Bronx. And New Yorks hardly alone. Los Angeles and San Francisco are in similar nightmares. Miami Beach officials declared a state of emergency after two shootings over a spring break weekend. We cant endure this anymore. We just simply cant, said Mayor Dan Gelber. On ExpressNews.com: Collins: When will Congress put guns under lock and key? He was talking about the invasion of the party-hearty crowd. But you could apply the same sentiment to gun proliferation. Its a tough time for gun safety in general. The Supreme Court decided to take a look at New York regulations that set a pretty high bar on the right to, say, carry a revolver in your pocket when you go out for a walk. Nobody knows whats going to happen. The Supreme Court keeps me up at night. For all kinds of reasons, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told me. Lawmakers from Connecticut tend to be very concerned about this kind of issue, an obsession that goes back to 2012, when a 20-year-old stole his mothers gun and then killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, 20 of them children. The Newtown shooting shocked the world, and many of us simpletons that we were presumed it would be the start of a whole new American attitude toward guns. Certainly didnt imagine that wed be watching activists, many of them survivors of the Parkland high school shooting in 2018, place 1,100 body bags on the National Mall. Each bag stood for about 150 lives lost to guns since Parkland including homicides, accidental gun deaths and suicides. Organizers said there was no way to include one for each victim since that would have meant 170,000 body bags. On ExpressNews.com: Collins: Why no progress in gun safety? And hows Biden, who clearly sees himself as a champion of gun safety regulation, doing? It depends on what your expectations were, Blumenthal said, carefully. While many anti-gun activists say theyve been disappointed, Blumenthal still has a lot of hope. Hes more passionate and determined than any president in my memory, the senator said. Definitely more than the guy who came before. Like most New Yorkers, Donald Trump sympathized with gun control for most of his life. Then he began making political speeches and told people he was stunned stunned! by how enthusiastic Republican crowds got if you gave a shout-out for the right to bear arms. Instant switcheroo. Bidens been consistent, if not always successful. His first attempt to name a director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives imploded when the Second Amendment lobby managed to torpedo the nomination of gun control activist David Chipman last year. Either this was impossible to win, or the strategy failed, Chipman said afterward an analysis that could be used for many, many administration encounters with the U.S. Senate. But Biden, whos still without a permanent ATF director, did direct the Department of Justice to help stop ghost gun proliferation. That was a year ago. The department complied rather quickly, opening the new rules for comment last May. Public comment closed in August, and then . Well, here we are. Waiting for word. On ExpressNews.com: Collins: Our firearms problems just keep piling up Biden also requested a ton of money for the ATF in his budget presuming the budget gets passed and theres a new director wholl know how to spend it. So hows the president doing? Feel free to vote: A. Ghost guns! Hey, hes got a start. B. Ghost guns! Good grief, is that all hes done? C. Well, as long as he delivers before the Easter Egg Roll. There are massive holes in Melissa Lucios 2008 capital conviction, making her looming execution, set for April 27, an injustice that must be stopped. Search online and you will see that Lucios Texas Department of Criminal Justice death row profile includes her stone-faced mugshot and details: age (53), date of offense (Feb. 17, 2007), race (Hispanic), highest grade completed (11), prior occupation (janitor), prior prison record (none). Next comes an incident summary: On February 17, 2007, paramedics were dispatched to a residence where they found an unresponsive two-year-old child who subsequently died. Evidence of abuse let (led) to the arrest and conviction of Lucio, the childs mother. On ExpressNews.com: Melissa Lucio could be the first Latina executed in Texas. Family members say her crime was a tragic accident. More telling is what is missing damning questions about a coercive interrogation and the failure to consider the medical history of Lucios daughter, Mariah Alvarez. Was Mariah the victim of a heinous murder at the hands of her mother? Or was this a tragic accident and a wrongful conviction, as Lucios Innocence Project attorneys, her family, experts and some jury members who convicted her contend? These are reasonable questions that warrant stopping the execution. A bipartisan appeal for clemency should also speak volumes. There is more evidence indicting the states criminal justice system than there is evidence of Lucios guilt. Attorneys and experts have called this the weakest case they have ever seen a conviction based on a coerced confession and false autopsy results. Lucio, a Rio Grande Valley mother of 14 who refused a 30-year plea deal, is the first Latina to be sentenced to Texas death row in modern time. In the 2020 documentary The State of Texas vs. Melissa, some of Lucios family said Mariah, who was prone to falls due to a congenital foot deformity, fell down a 14-step flight of stairs outside the familys second-floor Harlingen apartment a couple days before her death. A recent bipartisan news conference led by state Reps. Jeff Leach, a conservative Republican from Plano, and Joe Moody, D-El Paso, was held two days after Lucios team submitted a clemency application to Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles seeking that her death sentence be commuted to a lesser sentence, or that a 120-day reprieve be granted to examine new evidence. Leach, a death penalty supporter, said, I have never seen a case more troubling than the case of Melissa Lucio. The system literally failed Melissa Lucio at every single turn. The effort to stop this execution is incredible. It includes bipartisan lawmakers, including about 90 House representatives who signed a letter to the parole board and Abbott, as well as more than 130 Baptist, evangelical and Catholic leaders, including the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops. On ExpressNews.com: Catholic leaders urge Abbott to stop execution of Hispanic mother in childs death The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Lucio was denied her constitutional right to defend herself, but procedural rules barred the court from overturning her conviction. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case last year. Four jurors in the conviction have said they now have grave concerns about evidence being withheld. Now that I think about it, it looks like a sham, Johnny Galvan Jr., a juror, wrote in his declaration. The jury was told Mariahs injuries and death could have only come from abuse, but experts who didnt testify have said that is false. The jury also didnt hear testimony from Lucios mother, siblings and other children, who have said their mom was not abusive. And the jury wasnt told how Lucio suffered a lifetime of abuse and trauma that made her especially vulnerable to coercive interrogation. Appalling corruption and ethics breaches at the Cameron County Courthouse only make the case more problematic. Armando Villalobos, the former district attorney who faced an election amid scrutiny about his perceived leniency on crimes against children, sought the death penalty in Lucios case. He was convicted in 2014 of bribery and extortion. He is serving a 13-year federal prison sentence. Peter Gilman, Lucios lead defense attorney, went to work for the district attorney after Lucios trial. Lucios case is undeniably tainted. This execution must be halted and the prosecution reviewed. We urge the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Abbott to grant clemency. WASHINGTON The Department of Justice is warning states like Texas that policies meant to block transgender children from receiving gender-affirming care violate their constitutional rights. Intentionally erecting discriminatory barriers to prevent individuals from receiving gender-affirming care implicates a number of federal legal guarantees, DOJ officials wrote in a letter sent Thursday to state attorney generals. The letter comes after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton authored a nonbinding legal opinion that some gender-affirming care may constitute child abuse and Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the states child welfare agency to investigate parents who get such care for their children. Republicans who support the policy argue that children are being stripped of their constitutional right to procreate, and that even providing gender-affirming medications may constitute abuse because the children are not old enough to consent to them. IN-DEPTH: Families of trans kids are living in fear of CPS investigations, some leaving Texas altogether A state appeals court temporarily blocked Abbotts order after the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal sued on behalf of parents. Paxton has asked the state Supreme Court to take up the issue. The DOJ says additional lawsuits may follow. State laws and policies that prevent parents or guardians from following the advice of a health care professional regarding what may be medically necessary or otherwise appropriate care for transgender minors may infringe on rights protected by both the equal protection and the due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, said the DOJ letter, which was sent on Trans Day of Visibility. ben.wermund@chron.com WASHINGTON Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday said the Biden administrations decision to stop immediately turning away asylum seekers at the border means the Texas must take even more unprecedented action to keep our communities safe by using any and all constitutional powers to protect its own territory. Abbott did not provide details on what those further actions could include, instead touting steps already taken, including deploying Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and over 10,000 Texas National Guard soldiers to the border and jailing migrants who are charged with trespassing. Texas Republicans on Friday voiced outrage as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it was ending a Trump-era public health order known as Title 42 that the Biden administration has used to immediately expel migrants 1.2 million times since President Joe Biden took office. The order is set to end May 23. TODAY: Biden to lift Trump expulsion order at Mexican border Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement Friday that the agency has already sent 600 law enforcement officers to the border and is working to boost capacity to process migrants, evaluate their asylum requests and quickly remove those who do not qualify for protection. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, an Austin Republican, said the move to end the order was an impeachable offense, as Title 42 was literally the only thing standing between us and a completely wide open border. U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, a San Angelo Republican, said the move will have heartbreaking consequences for our border patrol, local communities, and country. Democrats, meanwhile, were praising the decision, saying Title 42 had undercut the nations asylum system and was no longer defensible with a decline in COVID cases. Under the rule, migrants are denied the opportunity to plead their asylum cases. The administration has used Title 42 to expel migrants 426,819 times so far in the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, according to Customs and Border Protection data. Title 42 was a Stephen Miller policy suspending our asylum system for 2 years, tweeted former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. It did incredible damage to our credibility as a nation of refuge for those feeling violence and persecution, and to the lives of so many people. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox His brother, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, earlier this week urged the Biden administration to end the policy. Trekking hundreds or thousands of miles across dangerous terrain is not something people do when they have better options, he said in a statement. Those who seek asylum at our nations borders are fleeing from oppression and violence, and they just want a place where they can be safe. Some Democrats, however, voiced concern that the administration was not prepared for a potential surge in migrants after the order lifts. Ending Title 42 prematurely will likely lead to a migrant surge that the administration does not appear to be ready for, tweeted U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, a New Hampshire Democrat. Democratic U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen joined Republicans in the Texas delegation in writing to administration officials that South Texas mayors have told them that local nongovernmental organizations are completely at capacity in terms of lodging and other services and that local transportation hubs have been overwhelmed with migrants, many of whom lack the financial means to purchase tickets. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said he remains concerned about the ability of local nongovernmental organizations to handle additional migrants. Cuellar and U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, recently joined Republicans from the Texas delegation in warning Biden that the NGOs, along with local transportation hubs, are already at capacity and overwhelmed. Cuellar said the move also opens Democrats up to attacks from Republicans in critical House districts. I did tell the White House, there are vulnerable Democrats that are concerned about this, said Cuellar, a moderate Democrat who faces progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros in a primary runoff. Gonzalez urged Biden to re-think his decision to end Title 42, arguing the country will once again be wholly unprepared to handle a surge in irregular migration at our Southern Border in a humane, safe, and orderly way. Jasper Scherer contributed to this report. ben.wermund@chron.com The European Commission has said that Air Serbia and other non-European Union registered carriers that continue flying to Russia are not in violation of sanctions imposed by the block. In a document clarifying measures imposed onto Russia in the air transport sector, the Commission further explained that insurance companies should continue providing their services to such airlines. The provision of re/insurance in the context of an international flight in and out of Russia by a non-Russian airline is not covered by the prohibition as it is not for use in Russia but part of normal international services provided by the airline. This is also true for the re/insurance of any parts or components for the purpose of conducting repairs to an aircraft, where a non-Russian airline conducts flights into and out of Russia, the Commission said. It previously noted that while it expects Serbia to align its foreign policy with that of the block, it has no intention of preventing Air Serbia from flying to Russia. The European Commission has said that Air Serbia and other non-European Union registered carriers that continue flying to Russia are not in violation of sanctions imposed by the block. In a document clarifying measures imposed onto Russia in the air transport sector, the Commission further explained that insurance companies should continue providing their services to such airlines. The provision of re/insurance in the context of an international flight in and out of Russia by a non-Russian airline is not covered by the prohibition as it is not for use in Russia but part of normal international services provided by the airline. This is also true for the re/insurance of any parts or components for the purpose of conducting repairs to an aircraft, where a non-Russian airline conducts flights into and out of Russia, the Commission said. It previously noted that while it expects Serbia to align its foreign policy with that of the block, it has no intention of preventing Air Serbia from flying to Russia. The Serbian carrier has reduced its operations to Russia, while its flights to Moscow and St Petersburg have been subject of sustained hoax bomb threats. The latest such threat came yesterday on its service from the Russian capital to Belgrade while the Airbus A330-200 aircraft was still on the ground in Moscow. The e-mail, which also included death threats against Air Serbia staff, resulted in the inbound flight departing with an over three-hour delay. Other carriers maintaining services to Moscow have also seen a rise in such hoax reports, with Turkish Airline having several of its flights targeted in the last few weeks. Air Serbia has not commented on its operations to Russia since the war in Ukraine broke out over a year ago. On the other hand, Emirates, which maintains eleven weekly flights from Dubai to Moscow with its Airbus A380 aircraft and six weekly rotations to St Petersburg with the Boeing 777 jet, has said it has no intention of discontinuing operations to the country. Its President, Tim Clark, said this week, As long as the state, our owner, requires us to fly there, we will continue. We carry humanitarian goods in our holds. Weve got NGOs traveling in and out of Russia. Weve got the diplomatic community going in and out of Russia ... so all were doing is being an enabler, facilitator, without taking a political position on this for the time being. Defra has hosted its first meeting of the newly-created Fertiliser Roundtable, with talks exploring potential mitigations to the challenges which global supply pressures are causing. Defra farming minister Victoria Prentis convened and hosted the crisis talks on Thursday 31 March, which was attended by key industry figures. The roundtable was established to explore the impact of reduced supply of fertiliser exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, and to seek alternatives. Last month, prices for ammonium nitrate fertiliser increased to highs of 1,000 a tonne. A year ago, prices were 280. The meeting consisted of representatives from the NFU, the AHDB, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and the Tenant Farmers Association. Following the talks, Ms Prentis said the situation and impacts of the current high fertiliser prices on farmers were being 'monitored closely'. She added that the government was in 'regular contact' with the farming industry to 'understand any upcoming pressures'. "As part of our work to support farmers on fertiliser prices and supply issues, today I chaired a round-table with key industry bodies," the minister said. The meeting was practical and solutions-focused, and we agreed that government and industry would work closely together to increase market confidence, and help keep costs down for farmers. "We are confident in the supply of fertiliser, and I'll continue to meet with key industry bodies for further fertiliser round-table sessions in the coming months, to help identify and mitigate potential risks." The roundtable meeting follows Defra announcing a package of support for farmers to help with the availability and use of fertilisers. It included statutory guidance to the Environment Agency on how they should implement Farming Rules for Water, to provide clarity to farmers on how they can use slurry and other manures during autumn and winter. A delay to changes to the use of urea by at least a year was also announced. When restrictions are introduced, they will be related to the use of ammonia inhibitors rather than a complete ban. Further details of the new Sustainable Farming Incentive will pay farmers to help with the costs of sowing nitrogen fixing plants and green manures in their crop. Announcing the measures, Defra Secretary George Eustice said that while they were "not the whole solution", they would help farmers "manage their nitrogen needs in the year ahead". "The significant rise in the cost of fertiliser is a reminder that we need to reduce our dependence on manufacturing processes dependent on gas," he added. Many of the challenges we face in agriculture will require a fusion of new technology with conventional principles of good farm husbandry." A farmer has been ordered to pay out over 10,000 after a worker was entangled in a potato harvester on a Kent farm in 2020. Folkestone Magistrates Court heard that on 21 August 2020, the worker was involved in unblocking the potato harvester when he stepped down on to the rollers. The worker was pulled leg first into the machine and became stuck up to his knee. This resulted in burns to the leg, a pulled hamstring, torn calf, broken nerves and hairline fractures to the knee and ankle. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the farmer had failed to implement a safe stop procedure to isolate power and stop the movement of the rollers before the worker accessed them. Alan Down of Ashford, Kent pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1)(b) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. He was fined 4,992 and ordered to pay costs of 5,805. The agricultural industry accounts for around one percent of the workforce in Britain, yet it accounts for 20% of worker deaths. Many of these deaths are due to poor working practices while carrying out maintenance on machinery. HSE inspector, Sam Brown said: Too often we see incidents like this, where maintenance is carried out on live machinery and the principles of safe stop and safe maintenance are ignored." He added: "In addition, many more workers are seriously injured each year due to unsafe working practices while working on machinery. Those undertaking maintenance work on agricultural machinery should ensure that the principles of safe stop are followed to prevent people being put at risk of injury. The Welsh government has announced 227m in post-Brexit rural support, including funds for farmers to make environmental improvements. The funding responds to the ending of the EU Rural Development Programme (RDP), which will close in 2023, the Welsh government said. The new support package will ensure continuity of support for 'important actions' previously funded under the EU programme. Funding will be made available to support farmers, foresters, land managers and associated rural sectors. The support aims to boost farm scale land management, such as encouraging the growing of crops which provide an environmental benefit like protein crops. On-farm environmental improvements are included in the package, including enhancing fuel, feed and nutrient efficiency, and encouraging the use of renewable energy. The new funds will also support farm efficiencies, through investment in new technology and equipment and to enable opportunities for on-farm diversification. Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said: We want to support sustainable food production by Welsh farmers, and we want our rural communities to have a green and sustainable future. "This package is designed to support these aims. A strong rural economy can only be beneficial for our rural communities." The package will include funds to spearhead nature based solutions at a landscape scale, for farmers, land managers and landowners. It will also include funds to increase tree planting, supporting the Welsh government's commitment of 43,000 hectares of woodland creation by 2030. The framework compliments the development of Wales' post-Brexit Sustainable Farming Scheme, which will reward farmers in boosting the environment. The Minister announced schemes, worth a total value of 100m, are either open now or will be launched in the coming weeks. Responding to the support, NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said: We hope that the Minister will work with industry over the coming weeks to share more detail and to allow industry to input into the design of the schemes. NFU Cymru has set out plans for the industry to reach net zero by 2040. To achieve our aim, we need measures that support farmers to improve efficiency, capture more carbon on our land and boost our production of renewable energy. "We are clear that at the same time as reducing our impact on the climate, we should not reduce our capacity to feed consumers with high quality, affordable Welsh food." What's included in the new support package? The Welsh government said funding would be delivered across six themes: Farm scale land management on-farm sustainable land management actions to enhance natural resources, such as encouraging the growing of crops which provide an environmental benefit like protein crops On-farm environmental improvements - including enhancing fuel, feed and nutrient efficiency, embedding circular economy approaches and encouraging the use of renewable energy On-farm efficiency and diversification - supporting farm efficiencies through investment in new tech and to enable opportunities for agricultural diversification Landscape scale land management - delivering nature based solutions at a landscape scale, through a multi-sectoral collaborative approach Woodland and forestry - supporting 43,000 hectares of woodland creation by 2030 and supporting the creation of a timber based industrial strategy Food and farming supply chains - creating a strong Welsh food and drink industry with a global reputation for excellence Stormont has been accused of 'disregarding' the sheep sector after proposals for Northern Irelands future agricultural policy were launched. The National Sheep Association (NSA) said it was 'dismayed' to see a lack of support for the sector after an announcement from DAERA farming minister. In a statement made last week, Edwin Poots outlined 54 policy decisions on the future agricultural policy for Northern Ireland. Included in the document are a farm sustainability payment, farming with nature package, farming for carbon and a beef sustainability package. Mr Poots said: The future policy provides a fresh vision for a future agricultural regime that promotes productive, efficient practices through greater innovation and capacity. It is my view that my policy decisions announced today are absolutely vital to support sustainable farming and rural communities. But the NSA said there were no further proposals to help support the Northern Irish sheep sector, such as incentivising productivity in breeding ewes. The industry body said this was an "exclusion of particular importance" due to productivity efficiency leading to reduced carbon footprints. Northern Ireland has a population of more than 968,000 breeding ewes, supporting rural businesses, communities and the landscape. NSA NI development officer, Edward Adamson said to disregard the value of this sector was 'short-sighted'. "Supporting one sector in favour of another has the potential to distort the marketplace and the balance between cattle and sheep. "The decision also has the potential to damage the NI wool market. It is hard to understand why sheep have not been treated on an equivalent per hectare basis as beef cattle. Consultation responses to the policy proposals showed that sheep play an integral role in maintaining landscapes, including a specific recognition of the uplands, and providing a host of wider public goods. Many respondents indicated support was needed for the sector to help improve health and welfare, invest in genetics and improve the quality of the sheep flock. NSA chief executive, Phil Stocker said the NI sheep sector was already in a 'vulnerable' position as it was operating within a volatile marketplace. He said the Ruminant Genetics Programme should be open to the beef and sheep sector at the same time, as well as a package of measures to incentivise enhanced sheep health and welfare outcomes. "NSA is dismayed about the omission when we know the contribution sheep farming makes and are clear about what can be done to take the sector forward. "NSA would encourage DAERA to look again at these decisions and extend tailored support to the sheep sector from the outset." Only subscribers with PAID Print or E-Edition subscriptions please enter here to gain access. If you are not already a Paid subscriber do not go through this portal. Please return to the subscription page to purchase one of our offers. Thank you! Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Luxury NFT firm teams up with a world-leading photographer. SINGAPORE, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- World-renowned photographer Nicolas Gerardin has partnered with pioneering platform 1of1 and ARTM Technologies to produce luxury NFTs based on his photography. The NFTs will include rare and famous images by the French photographer who works with the world's top celebrities, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Jonas Brothers, Priyanka Chopra, Donatella Versace, James Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Kendall Jenner, Lewis Hamilton, Karim Benzema, Paulo Dybala, Sofia Carson, and many more. Gerardin's photographs have appeared on the front covers of leading international magazines and were recently hailed by Georgina Rodriguez in the Netflix special 'I am Georgina.' as "the best photographer in Europe." 1of1 is the first official luxury NFT platform for pioneering tech firm ARTM Technologies. It has already established numerous global partnerships with international luxury brands. ARTM is an ERC-20 token used to unlock NFTs, video streaming, metaverse, and gaming add-ons. Co-Founder Craig Allard shared, "We are very excited to be linking up with such an internationally-acclaimed photographer. His client list speaks for itself, and we can't wait to see what can be achieved in partnership with our 1of1 luxury NFTs. These will be based on his photographs, including some of his rare work and his more famous pieces. Some will involve experiences and special access to events and celebrities. Our pioneering technology is already changing the world of NFTs, leveraging blockchain technology with new use cases. This latest partnership will add another element to our work, and we look forward to announcing more details in due course." Notes to editors: For more information on Nicolas Gerardin and to see more of his work, visit: https://www.instagram.com/nicolasgerardin/ http://www.nicolasgerardin.com/ For more information on 1of1, visit: https://1of1.biz/ For more information on ARTM, visit: https://getartm.io/ Media Contact: info@getartm.io Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1778227/PHOTO_2021_11_30_13_14_14_7.jpg NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. PRESS RELEASE REGULATED INFORMATION - INSIDE INFORMATION 1 April 2022, 07:00 CET LIEGE, Belgium , April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA (Euronext Brussels: HYL) (the "Company" or "Hyloris"), a specialty biopharma company committed to addressing unmet medical needs through reinventing existing medications, announces today that it successfully raised an amount of EUR 15.0 million in gross proceeds, from new and existing, local and international investors, through an equity offering by means of a private placement via an accelerated bookbuild offering of 967,742 new shares (being approximately 3.7% of the Company's outstanding shares (pre-transaction)) at an issue price of EUR 15.50 per share (the "Offering"), representing a discount of 1.6% to the 30-day VWAP. Stijn Van Rompay, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Hyloris, commented: "We are delighted to have completed this transaction at a tight discount in challenging market conditions, and are particularly pleased with the continued strong support from our existing investors as well as welcoming new investors. This transaction further strengthens our financial position as we continue to drive forward our pipeline of repurposed drugs in areas of high unmet medical needs and endeavour to grow shareholder value. We are excited for the year ahead where we plan to add four new innovative product candidates to our pipeline." Hyloris will use the net proceeds of the Offering primarily to fund the development of new products and accelerate in-house R&D activities. Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG ("Berenberg"), KBC Securities NV ("KBC Securities") and Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited ("Stifel") are acting as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners in the Offering (jointly, the "Underwriters"). The new shares have been placed with certain qualified and/or institutional investors as provided in the applicable laws and regulations and certain other investors who acquired new shares for a total consideration of at least 100,000 per investor. The payment and delivery of the new shares is expected to take place on 5 April 2022, and an application will be made to admit the new shares to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels at the same time. The new shares to be issued will have the same rights and benefits as, and rank pari passu in all respects, including as to entitlement to dividends and distributions, with, the existing and outstanding shares of Hyloris at the moment of their issuance. As a result of the issuance of new shares, the Company's outstanding shares will increase from 25,832,632 to 26,800,374 shares. In relation to the Offering, the Company has agreed with the Underwriters to a customary 180-day standstill period on future share issuances, waivable by the Underwriters and subject to customary exceptions. For more information, contact: Hyloris Pharmaceuticals, Investors and Media investorrelations@hyloris.com About Hyloris Pharmaceuticals Hyloris is a specialty biopharma company focused on innovating, reinventing, and optimising existing medications to address important healthcare needs and deliver relevant improvements for patients, healthcare professionals and payors. Hyloris has built a broad, patented portfolio of 14 reformulated and repurposed value-added medicines that have the potential to offer significant advantages over available alternatives. Outside of its core strategic focus, the Company also has 4 high barrier generic products in development and registration phase. Two products are currently in initial phases of commercialisation with partners: Sotalol IV for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, and Maxigesic IV, a non-opioid post-operative pain treatment. The Company's development strategy primarily focuses on the FDA's 505(b)2 regulatory pathway, which is specifically designed for pharmaceuticals for which safety and efficacy of the molecule have already been established. This pathway can reduce the clinical burden required to bring a product to market, and significantly shorten the development timelines and reduce costs and risks. Hyloris is based in Liege, Belgium. For more information, visit www.hyloris.com and follow-us on LinkedIn . Important information These written materials, and any copy thereof, may not be directly or indirectly distributed in or to persons resident in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, South Africa or any other jurisdiction where such distribution could constitute a breach of the applicable laws of such jurisdiction. These written materials are for information purposes only and are not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell or subscribe for, or the announcement of a forthcoming offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for, or the announcement of a forthcoming solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for, existing or new shares of the Company in the EEA (except in the context of a private placement with Qualified Investors, as defined below), the United States, Canada, Switzerland (except in the context of a private placement with Professional Clients, as defined below), Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom (except in the context of a private placement with UK Relevant Persons, as defined below) or South Africa. No offer to sell or subscribe for shares, or announcement of a forthcoming offer to sell or subscribe for shares, will be made in the EEA (except in the context of a private placement with Qualified Investors, as defined below), the United States, Canada, Switzerland (except in the context of a private placement with Professional Clients, as defined below), Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom (except in the context of a private placement with UK Relevant Persons, as defined below) or South Africa, or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction, and the distribution of this communication in such jurisdictions may be similarly restricted. Persons into whose possession this communication comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the security laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" or could be considered as such. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words 'believe', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'continue', 'ongoing', 'possible', 'predict', 'plans', 'target', 'seek', 'would' or 'should', and contain statements made by the Company regarding the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are warned that none of these forward-looking statements offers any guarantee of future performance. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The Company makes no undertaking whatsoever to publish updates or adjustments to these forward-looking statements, unless required to do so by law. This communication does not constitute or form part of an offer of securities in the United States, or a solicitation to purchase securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), or under the securities law of any state or jurisdiction in the United States and may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly within the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or jurisdiction of the United States. The issuer of the securities has not registered, and does not intend to register, any portion of the transaction in the United States. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States. In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each a "Relevant Member State") an offer of securities to which this communication relates is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Relevant Member State within the meaning of Regulation ((EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC, and any implementing measure in each Relevant Member State of the EEA (the "Prospectus Regulation")) (all such persons together referred to as the "Qualified Investors"). In relation to the United Kingdom, this announcement is only addressed to, and is only directed at, "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation amended and transposed into the laws of the United Kingdom law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act of 2018 and the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (the "UK Prospectus Regulation") (all such persons together referred to as the "UK Relevant Persons"). In relation to Switzerland, this announcement is only addressed to, and is only directed at, investors that qualify as "professional clients" within the meaning of the Swiss Federal Act on Financial Services ("Finanzdienstleistungsgesetz") of 15 June 2018, as amended ("FinSA") (such persons referred to as "Professional Clients"). 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. - Its preschooler English learning program 'Wings' was chosen as a finalist VISANG Education (KRX: 100220), the global education and culture company, said that it participated in the BETT Show 2022, the world's largest Education Technology exhibition held in London, the United Kingdom, from March 23 to 25. Its EdTech product, 'Wings', a program for early childhood English learning, was selected as a BETT Awards finalist in the category of International Digital Educational Resource at BETT Show 2022. British Educational Training and Technology (BETT) is an authoritative international exhibition on education technology, which has thus far attracted more than 900 major EdTech companies, education experts and visitors from 146 countries. Over 400 global companies participated in the 2022 edition of the exhibition held under the overarching theme of "Create the Future." They displayed a wide array of education-related content and products while sharing information with international buyers from around the world. VISANG Education achieved a meaningful result. Its English learning program for preschoolers, Wings, was chosen as a finalist for this year's BETT Awards in the division of International Digital Educational Resource for the second successive year. VISANG Education set up a booth of its own, where its EdTech brands such as Wings, ELiF, englisheye, Math Alive and Oxford Discover Series sparked visitors' curiosity. Oxford Discover Series which debuted this time is an elementary and secondary English education program that digitized Oxford Discover books into interactive ones. "We gained insight into the latest global EdTech trends through our participation in the BETT Show 2022. VISANG Education was selected as a BETT Awards finalist two years in a row. It is an accomplishment showing our global competitiveness," said Woo-Kun Hur, head of VISANG Education's global business. "VISANG Education is trying to be a global EdTech leader with its unique content and service." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220401005113/en/ Contacts: VISANG Education Ji-Won Lee +82-2-6970-6076 leejw6@visang.com SHANGHAI and SUZHOU, China, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trina Solar, a global leading provider for photovoltaic module and smart energy solutions, joined hands with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) China to call for the use of clean energy to roll out the "60+" initiative. On March 26, Earth Hour, the world's most influential public environmental protection activity, was officially launched, according to Trina Solar. At 8:30 pm on March 26, many urban landmark buildings in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, and Sanya, turned off their landscape lights for one hour. It kickstarts the Earth Hour 2022 campaign. Earth Hour, the world's most influential public environmental protection activity, marks its 14th anniversary in China. The theme of Earth Hour 2022 is "Action! Shape Our Future Together". "2022 marks the 14th year that the Earth Hour campaign has been held in China. In the past year, through the UN's COP15 and COP26, the WWF has prompted international governments and all sectors of society to reach a new consensus on harmony between man and nature, bringing out the full potential of a synergistic effect toward biodiversity conservation, climate change response and sustainable development, and laying a strong foundation for ecosystem restoration in the next decade. " Lu Lunyan, CEO of WWF China, calls on all countries to lead the post-pandemic recovery in a "human-centered, environment-prioritized" way and fulfill the global commitments of climate and biodiversity conservation while developing economically. "By 2030, with action, we can reverse the trend of biodiversity loss, protect our planet and shape a bright future." Under the initiative of WWF, Trina Solar, has become a firm practitioner of energy conservation and emission reduction. This year, Trina Solar is working with WWF China to launch the "Clean Energy for Earth" campaign, a non-profit sub-project of Earth Hour. It calls on society to use clean energy and tries to raise public awareness of clean energy to contribute to a carbon-neutral future. Twenty-five years ago, with the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the issuance of the One Million Solar Roofs initiative by the US Clinton Administration, Trina Solar anticipated the arrival of a new low-carbon era while recognizing the positive role of PV new energy in protecting the earth. Trina Solar took on social responsibility and was established in Changzhou, China. Twenty-five years later, Trina Solar has established a presence in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. By the end of the third quarter of 2021, its cumulative shipments of PV modules had exceeded 83GW, close to the installed capacity of four Three Gorges Dam power stations and equivalent to planting 6.2 billion trees worldwide. Through the Earth Hour platform, Trina Solar and WWF China look forward to developing more initiatives to create a safer, fairer, and more sustainable future for all. This year, a series of thematic activities under the Earth Hour campaign will be held in Beijing. These activities will fall into six components: Pride on Our Plates (Reducing Waste), Gaining Wisdom from Nature; Using Nature to Write a New Chapter; The Road to a Better Natural World; A Place of Coexistence with Nature; Taking Actions to Shape a Better Future. All of these components are centered on climate change and biodiversity conservation. Subject experts, government leaders, industry representatives, and celebrity guests will gather to discuss the ecology and promote sustainable living. The new "Earth Hour Channel" will be officially launched, and live virtual broadcasts will be conducted from the "Phoenix Earth Hour Zone" in the form of video, picture, and text at three-time intervals. April 1, 2022 Integrated portfoliofor atrial fibrillation offers solutions across electrophysiology, cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)lead extraction and ECG monitoring New release of KODEX-EPD cardiac imaging and mapping system from Philips incorporates new innovations for RF and cryoballoon therapy for cardiac arrhythmias Philips reinforces its commitment to facilitating adherence to international best-practice guidelines for lead management and lead extraction Wearable ePatch Holter monitor aids diagnosis and follow-up of atrial fibrillation patients to reduce stroke risk Amsterdam, the Netherlands - Royal Philips , April 3-5, Copenhagen, Denmark). A key highlight in the company's booth that will support the treatment of the growing number of patients with atrial fibrillation will be the launch of the latest release of the KODEX-EPD system from Philips. It offers enhanced imaging and mapping capabilities for RF ablation, including the new Tissue Engagement Viewer and support for the Medtronic DiamondTempTM ablation system. For cryoballoon ablation, KODEX-EPD supports a new saline-based occlusion assessment workflow [1]. Other highlights include enhancements to the company's Electrophysiology Suite; the company's newest lead management tools for the safe removal of infected cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) leads; and Philips' unobtrusive wearable ePatch extended wear Holter monitoring service, which is part of the Philips Ambulatory Monitoring and Diagnostics portfolio. Providing support for confident diagnosis, enhanced electrophysiology (EP) procedure efficacy and efficiency, reduced X-ray exposure, and post-procedure therapy monitoring, these new innovations significantly elevate the physician's experience towards optimal treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Atrial fibrillation is the world's most common cardiac arrhythmia, with a particularly high prevalence in developed countries, partly due to lifestyle and an aging population. The condition, which also significantly increases the risk of stroke, dementia, and heart failure, already affects around 37 million people worldwide (approximately 0.5% of the world's population)[2] - a number that is predicted to double in the next 40 years. Philips' electrophysiology and cardiac lead extraction solutions uniquely leverage imaging systems and software with specialized diagnostic and therapeutic devices designed to support the treatment of the growing number of patients with heart rhythm disorders. Running on the company's Azurion platform, Philips Electrophysiology Suite seamlessly integrates imaging, devices, software, informatics, and services. It assists at every stage of an atrial fibrillation patient's journey, providing cardiologists with greater insight and confidence in electrophysiology procedures while allowing them to meet increasing clinical demand at affordable cost. New KODEX-EPD release with expanded compatibility The latest release of KODEX-EPD, launched at EHRA, features a range of innovations for both RF and cryoballoon ablation therapy. Enhanced imaging and mapping capabilities support physicians with precise RF ablation procedures, including the new Tissue Engagement Viewer that provides information about catheter-tissue contact without the need for special catheters. Philips has expanded the compatibility of the KODEX-EPD system to support the Medtronic DiamondTempTM ablation system for real-time, temperature-controlled ablation. For cryoballoon ablation, the KODEX-EPD system features a new saline-based occlusion assessment workflow [1], which further reduces the need for X-ray imaging with iodinated contrast media, which is particularly valuable for patients with allergies to iodine or chronic kidney disease. Philips continues to engage with Medtronic to support physicians in ablation procedures to optimize patient outcomes and minimize exposure to X-ray and iodinated contrast media. The results of these activities will be presented during the EHRA congress at various scientific sessions and a Philips-sponsored symposium. CIED lead extraction and lead management Cardiac implantable electronic devices [7] , definite CIED infections are a Class I indication for full device extraction. Nevertheless, it is estimated that more than 75% of indicated patients do not receive Class I guideline care, which is a full system extraction, leading to negative health outcomes and higher costs. Philips is committed to supporting evidence-based medical approaches and innovating solutions to help physicians improve outcomes and decrease mortality for CIED infection. Although adverse events during a procedure can potentially be life threatening, lead extraction is a highly successful, potentially life-saving procedure with a clinical success rate of 97.7% and a procedural safety rate of 99.72% [8]. Philips supports physicians with Lead Management solutions through a broad portfolio of tools designed for safety and predictability , including both laser and mechanical lead extraction devices. Philips ePatch When diagnosing AF - a heart irregularity that can lead to blood clots and increase the risk of stroke - it is important to record its frequency, duration, and severity. It is equally important to check that irregularities do not recur in the days and weeks after therapy. While conventional Holter monitors that perform these evaluations have been around for a long time, they typically involve the attachment of up to seven ECG electrodes to the patient's chest, linked to a belt-worn control unit. These can be cumbersome for patients to wear - which can impact the diagnostic yield - while the application process, data analysis and reporting can be labour-intensive and inefficient for clinical staff. Philips ePatch replaces this cumbersome set-up with a small unobtrusive sensor and patch(es) adhered to the patient's sternum for up to 14 days of continuous, high-quality ECG recording for reliable diagnosis. Philips ePatch is splash proof, it can be worn in the shower and enables the patient to keep an active lifestyle. Philips also provides an end-to-end service for ePatch deployment, supporting efficient workflows, enhancing the patient experience and enabling robust data analysis using our cloud-based AI-enabled Cardiologs software. For more information and to register for the Philips Lead Management scientific session with an expert infectiologist and cardiologist or our session on the evolution of dielectric imaging and next-generation ECG monitoring, please visit Philips' EHRA 2022 webpages . [1] For use exclusively with Medtronic Arctic Front Advance cryoablation catheters. [2] GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators, Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018; 392: 1789-1858. [3] Cantillon D, et al. Complications and Health Care Costs Associated With Transvenous Cardiac Pacemakers in a Nationwide Assessment. J Am Coll Cardiol EP. 2017 Nov, 3 (11) 1296-1305. [4] del Rio A, Anguera I, Miro JM, et al. Surgical treatment of pacemaker and defibrillator lead endocarditis: the impact of electrode lead extraction on outcome. Chest 2003;124:1451-9. [5] Chua, J.D., et al. (2000). Diagnosis and management of infections involving implantable electrophysiologic. [6] Archana Rao et al 2020 Knowledge gaps, lack of confidence, and system barriers to guideline implementation among European physicians managing patients with CIED lead or infection complications: a European Heart Rhythm Association/European Society of Cardiology educational needs assessment survey. Europace (2020) 0, 1. [7] Blomstrom-Lundqvist C, Traykov V, Erba PA, et al. EP Europace, Volume 22, Issue 4, April 2020, Pages 515-549, https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euz246. [8] Wazni, O. et. al. Lead Extraction in the Contemporary Setting: The LExICon Study: A Multicenter Observational RetrospectiveStudy of Consecutive Laser Lead Extractions, J Am Coll Cardiol, 55:579-586. DiamondTemp and Arctic Front Advance are trademarks of Medtronic companies. For further information, please contact: Joost Maltha Philips Global Press Office Tel: +31 6 10 55 8116 E-mail: joost.maltha@philips.com Fabienne van der Feer Philips Image Guided Therapy Tel: + 31 622 698 001 E-mail: fabienne.van.der.feer@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips. Attachments PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Stellantis N.V. (STLA) announced the signing of binding agreements with BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Credit Agricole Consumer Finance and Santander Consumer Finance. These agreements support the financial services commitment to: create a multi-brand operational leasing company in which Stellantis and Credit Agricole Consumer Finance each hold a 50% interest, and to reorganize the financing activities through joint ventures set up with BNP Paribas Personal Finance or Santander Consumer Finance in each country to manage financing activities for all Stellantis brands. Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO, said: 'Our strategy is to better leverage our financial services arms, both in Europe and North America, with the aim to double our net banking income by 2030. The new platform is setting the scene to achieve this target and boost value creation across our financial services business.' Owned equally by CA Consumer Finance and Stellantis, the new multi-brand leasing joint venture will serve all customers, both companies and individuals, in ten European countries, and aims to develop a fleet of over one million vehicles by the end of 2026. Also, CA Consumer Finance will acquire 100% of the capital of FCA Bank and Leasys Rent. 'The Credit Agricole Group will create a European leasing leader with Stellantis and will have a 100% innovative car financing platform that will enable it to serve all market players in 18 countries, including white labels, with a comprehensive and operational offer,' said Stephane Priami, Deputy CEO of Credit Agricole S.A. and CEO of CA Consumer Finance. 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. CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Apple Inc. said its Business Essentials subscription service is now available to all small businesses in the United States. The new service helps small businesses with invaluable time savings by simplifying device management, storage, support, and repairs. The IT management package for small businesses combines device management, 24/7 Apple support, and iCloud storage into flexible subscription plans. Apple Business Essentials service, which was introduced late last year in a limited beta, is now available starting at $2.99 per month after a two-month free trial. Flexible subscription plans can be customized to support each user and device in an organization with up to 2TB of secure storage in iCloud. The service provides strong security, prioritized support, and data storage and backup. The complete solution begins with simple employee onboarding, allowing a small business to easily configure, deploy, and manage Apple products from anywhere. Employees simply sign in to their work account on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac using a Managed Apple ID. They will then have access to everything they need to be productive. This includes the new Apple Business Essentials app, where they can download work apps available to them. The tech giant also unveiled new AppleCare+ for Business Essentials options that can be added to any plan. Plans that include AppleCare+ for Apple Business Essentials start at $9.99 per month. A two-month free trial will be available to all customers, including those who have been using Apple Business Essentials in beta. Businesses have the option to add prioritized support for employee devices with AppleCare+ for Business Essentials. This service includes 24/7 access to phone support, training for both IT administrators and employees, and up to two device repairs per plan - by individual, group, or device - each year. Apple noted that onsite repairs are now available with AppleCare+ for Business Essentials plans in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area, while more locations will be added later. Further, iCloud work account offers simple and secure storage, backup, and collaboration on files and documents. Business data is automatically stored and backed up on iPhone or iPad, making it easy to upgrade to a new device. Apple said thousands of small businesses in the Business Essentials beta reported significant time savings and renewed ability to focus on their mission. 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. 1 April 2022 KR1 PLC ("KR1" or the "Company") Appointment of Non-executive Director KR1 plc (KR1:AQSE), a leading digital asset investment company, is pleased to announce that Aeron Buchanan has been appointed as a Non-executive Director of the Company with effect from today. Aeron Buchanan is the Vice President of the Web3 Foundation. After gaining a doctorate from Oxford University, Aeron was involved in several start-ups before joining the Ethereum Foundation soon after it was founded; he went on to be Head of European Operations. He then left to start Parity Technologies, working on the Polkadot protocol alongside Gavin Wood, before helping set up the Web3 Foundation. Aeron was an early supporter of KR1, having joined as a shareholder in the second year of operations, and is currently interested in 400,000 ordinary shares of 0.19p each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares"), representing 0.26% of the Company's issued share capital. With Aeron now joining the board, he will be granted options to subscribe for 145,631 Ordinary Shares at a price of 103p per share, being the closing share price on the day prior to his appointment. These options will only be exercisable in the event that certain future milestones are achieved by the Company. Aeron Buchanan, Non-Executive Director of KR1, commented: "I am continually impressed with the adaptability of the KR1 team, their knowledge and insights into the changing landscape of the decentralised web." George McDonaugh, Managing Director and Co-Founder of KR1, commented: "Adding Aeron to our board is a huge step for the Company, as we will be gaining the expertise of one of the true pioneers in the space. KR1 is at the forefront of investing into the Web3 ecosystem and with Aeron alongside we can further strengthen our role in supporting the very best teams and technologies that the Web3 world has to offer." The Directors of KR1 plc accept responsibility for this announcement. --ENDS-- For further information please contact: KR1 PLC George McDonaugh Keld van Schreven +44 (0)1624 630 630 Peterhouse Capital Limited (AQSE Corporate Adviser) Mark Anwyl +44 (0)20 7469 0930 FTI Consulting LLP (PR Adviser) Ed Berry Laura Ewart +44 (0)7711 387 085 KR1@fticonsulting.com Save as set out below, there is no further information regarding Aeron Morgan Buchanan that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 4.9 of the AQSE Growth Market Apex Rulebook. Current Directorships Former Directorships Morrell Grounds Ltd Banzhou Electric Ltd Banzhou Services Ltd Morrell Avenue Services Ltd Westmorland Gearing ltd Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them. 1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name Aeron Buchanan 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Non-executive Director b) Initial notification /Amendment Initial 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name KR1 Plc b) LEI 213800WFTIIBY5SBCL19 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Identification code Ordinary shares of 0.19 pence each ISIN: IM00BYYPQX37 b) Nature of the transaction Grant of options c) Price(s) and volume(s) 145,631 Ordinary Shares at 103p per share d) Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price N/A e) Date of the transaction 1 April 2022 f) Place of the transaction Not a market transaction About KR1 plc KR1 plc is a leading digital asset investment company supporting early-stage decentralised and open source blockchain projects. Founded in 2016 and publicly traded in London on the AQSE Growth Market (KR1:AQSE), KR1 has one of the longest and most successful track records of investment in the digital assets space by investing in decentralised platforms and protocols that are emerging to form new financial and internet infrastructures. www.KR1.io MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Ukrainian officials say humanitarian convoys headed to transit civilians fleeing Mariupol were blocked and aid materials were confiscated by Russian forces Thursday. Iryna Vereshchuk, the Ukrainian minister of reintegration of temporarily occupied territories, said 45 evacuation buses en route to Mariupol were held at a Russian checkpoint and 12 buses carrying 14 tons of food and medications bound for Melitopol were confiscated. A Red Cross convoy carrying medical aid to the besieged southern port city has been stranded in Zaporizhzhia due to lack of security guarantees. Later, following request by the leaders of France and Germany, the Russian Defense Ministry said the military will reopen the Mariupol-Zaporizhzhia humanitarian corridor on Friday. The Governor of Russian city of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, claimed that Ukrainian helicopters attacked an oil storage depot in the city. The number of civilians fleeing Ukraine to Poland since the war began has crossed 2.4 million, according to the Polish Border Guard. Russia has introduced a new rule Friday, demanding foreign buyers to open local bank accounts in Russia to pay for its gas in rouble. Meanwhile, the Pentagon says about 20 percent of the Russian forces are beginning to reposition from their attack on Kyiv, possibly to Donbas. The best assessment is these troops will reposition to Belarus where they will refit, get resupplied and then be moved back into Ukraine, possibly into the Donbas region, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said in a news conference. Thursday, the United States announced additional sanctions on Russian technology companies that enable the war on Ukraine. 'We will prevent them from procuring Western technology and evading our severe sanctions,' White House Director of Communications Kate Bedingfield said in a news conference. 'We're also expanding our sanctions authority to target additional sectors of the Russian economy important to Putin, including aerospace, maritime, and the electronics sectors,' she added. In the coming days, the Commerce Department will take further action to degrade Russia's defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors by adding 120 entities in Russia and Belarus to the Entity List. These firms can no longer get U.S. cutting-edge technology without a license, Bedingfield told reporters. Compared to the same time period last year, U.S. exports to Russia of items subject to new export controls have decreased by 99 percent by value, according to the top White House media official. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Former Investment Banker and Public Company Chief Operating Officer To Accelerate Strategic Growth in Leadership Role SAN FRANCISCO, April 01, 2022will assume full-time leadership as Vice Chairman to accelerate strategic expansion activities. Global Heritage Fund, an international non-profit organization, invests in cultural heritage to advance sustainable economic development and provides emergency response to cultural heritage during crises. Mr. Franco has extensive experience as a strategic advisor and COO, leading teams in blue chips and start-ups. He served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Foxtons Plc, London's leading estate agent. He led digital transformation programs, including scaling up marketing, technology, and data analytics to improve customer experience. He was instrumental in Foxtons ESG programs and an ardent advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion within the property sector. Prior to Foxtons, Mr. Franco served as Chief Operating Officer Credit Suisse Asset Management UK. There, he held strategy and business development roles across investment banking and wealth management in London, New York, and emerging markets. He joined Credit Suisse with a BA in Modern History & Politics from Oxford University (Pembroke College) and an MBA from University of Chicago (highest honors). Patrick is a dual U.S. and UK citizen and lives in London. "Patrick has served on the Board of Global Heritage Fund for a decade, meeting with donors and key stakeholders in heritage conservation. I'm excited to work with him to execute our strategy to double the organization's revenues and dramatically increase our impact," said Global Heritage Fund Board Chair, Ro King. "Not only is Patrick an avid explorer, having visited 80+ countries, he also deeply cares about developing sustainable models for high-value tourism and local communities in need. There is no better ambassador for Global Heritage Fund." "Patrick's record of accomplishment executing transformational growth initiatives and driving operational excellence can be applied at Global Heritage Fund," said Executive Director, Nada Hosking. "His commitment to our mission is evident as he engages with our projects and communicates our work to key stakeholders. I look forward to working with Patrick on strategies and partnerships to deliver our mission at scale." "The Global Heritage Fund team is immensely talented, and I am delighted to work with them to build on the organization's recent momentum," noted Mr. Franco. "The world's cultural heritage is tested severely by destructive forces from climate change to armed conflict and demands increasingly urgent, innovative, and adaptive approaches to preserve our past. Global Heritage Fund is the perfect platform from which to take on this challenge." ABOUT GLOBAL HERITAGE FUND Founded in 2002 with the premise that cultural heritage protection can catalyze responsible social and economic development, Global Heritage Fund has worked in 20 countries supporting over 30 projects through creative collaborations and grassroots partnerships. Global Heritage Fund achieves its mission by developing programs that connect communities to expertise and funding, build resilience among stakeholders, create opportunity for local populations, foster innovation and creativity, and support sustainable travel. These efforts enhance local communities while preserving invaluable links to our shared human history. Learn more at globalheritagefund.org. For more information, please contact: US enquiries Matthew Strebe Global Heritage Fund mstrebe@globalheritagefund.org +1 (510) 499-3819 UK enquiries Olivia Jarrell Global Heritage Fund ojarrell@globalheritagefund.org Related Images Image 1: Patrick Franco Vice Chairman at Global Heritage Fund This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment The longstanding successful partnership between the MultiChoice Group www.MultiChoice.com) and the United Nations Verified Campaign has been to include the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF). MTF alumni have been commissioned again to produce a new COVID-19 campaign for the global body. The campaign, titled Together We Can, aims to fight pandemic fatigue, sharing a public-service announcement (PSA) that encourage people to continue following COVID-19 safety protocols. The MTF has already supported several UN Verified campaigns including the Pause campaign against misinformation and the Zwakala COVID-19 awareness drive with MultiChoice harnessing the power of its platforms to give audiences access to credible, accurate COVID-19 information. The latest PSA was shot in Nigeria, Angola, and Namibia, and will resonate with audiences across the continent. The PSAs will be broadcast across Africa on DStv and GOtv channels, as well as some key free-to-air channels. We are very excited to again have MultiChoice on board to help produce our campaign content and expand our reach across Africa, says Masimba. Multichoice is uniquely positioned to deliver this important message to their diverse audiences across the continent, says Mr Masimba Tafirenyika, Director, UN Information Centre, Pretoria South Africa. The campaign is the result of another powerful partnership between MultiChoice and the New York Film Academy (NYFA), which sees high-performing graduates of MTF academies in Nairobi, Lagos and Lusaka selected for further training through NYFA. Campaigns like these are a great vehicle for the talented creative professionals that Africa produces, says NYFA VP Jim Miller. Its also proof of how effective the MTF and NYFA collaboration has been. Its a natural extension of our commitment to help bolster the skills of talented African storytellers. The campaign is also an endorsement of the MTF curriculum, which allows students and graduates to collaborate with global partners on practical work with real-world relevance, so they can contribute to society, while building the skills to become industry professionals or entrepreneurs. MTF Director Nwabisa Matyumza says, MTF alumni have now come full circle, from learning skills to applying what they have learned, for the benefit of African audiences. This campaign is a great opportunity for MTF graduates to multiply our impact across Africa, says Matyumza. For a student (now alumni) from Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya or Angola to now be working with global clients is a massive step. To influence behaviour and save lives as part of this global programme is even more exciting. Were very intentional about ensuring that MTF alumni work on the productions, says Reatile Tekateka, Multichoice Africa Group Executive Head of Corporate Affairs. These are commercial jobs, paid for by the UN, to raise COVID-19 awareness. For MultiChoice, its a great chance to be a platform for good, while creating opportunities for young people and strengthen global partnerships. Strategic relationships with likeminded global partners like those with the UN and NYFA have seen around 92% of MTF alumni go on to find work in the broadcast industry or launch their own production companies. MultiChoice also regularly commissions MTF alumni to produce its own content. Were proud to play a role in developing our industry, says Tekateka. We are creating opportunities, but also empowering our alumni to become productive drivers of the sector themselves. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires The "E-Cigarette Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global e-cigarette market reached a value of US$ 20.4 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 30 Billion by 2027, exhibiting at a CAGR of 4.5% during 2022-2027. Companies Mentioned Philip Morris International Inc. Altria Group Inc. British American Tobacco PLC Japan Tobacco Inc. Imperial Tobacco Group International Vapor Group Nicotek LLC NJOY Inc. Reynolds American Inc. VMR Products LLC MCIG Inc. ITC Limited J WELL France Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that are considered less toxic than traditional cigarettes. Also known as e-cigs, e-vaping devices, vape pens and electronic cigarettes, these cigarettes consist of three main components, namely, a heating coil, battery and an e-liquid cartridge. These components help in delivering dosages of vaporized nicotine or flavored solutions to the users. E-cigarettes are gaining popularity, especially among young adults and adolescents, due to the rising awareness about the harmful effects of traditional tobacco-based cigarettes. However, researchers are still assessing the impact of e-cigarettes on the human body, which is not yet known. The willingness of consumers to quit smoking tobacco products and their perception of e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes have led to the increased demand for these devices across the globe. In line with this, the manufacturers are introducing new-generation e-cigarettes which offer different strengths of nicotine and allow the users to refill the cartridge. Moreover, the leading manufacturers are acquiring or entering into partnerships with small and domestic vendors. For instance, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) acquired the UK-based e-cigarette brand E-Lites to develop new products and to commercialize its vaporizers worldwide. These players are also introducing an extensive range of flavors, such as tobacco, fruits and botanicals, in response to the evolving consumer preferences. Further, they are developing the designs of and technology used in e-cigarettes to improve their functioning. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global e-cigarette market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What are the key regional markets in the global e-cigarette industry? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global e-cigarette market? What is the breakup of the market based on the product? What is the breakup of the market based on the flavor? What is the breakup of the market based on the mode of operation? What is the breakup of the market based on the distribution channel? What are the various stages in the value chain of the global e-cigarette industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the global e-cigarette industry? What is the structure of the global e-cigarette industry and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the global e-cigarette industry? What are the profit margins in the global e-cigarette industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global E-Cigarette Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Breakup by Product 5.5 Market Breakup by Flavor 5.6 Market Breakup by Mode of Operation 5.7 Market Breakup by Distribution Channel 5.8 Market Breakup by Region 5.9 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup Product 7 Market Breakup by Flavor 8 Market Breakup by Mode of Operation 9 Market Breakup by Distribution Channel 10 Market Breakup by Region 11 SWOT Analysis 12 Value Chain Analysis 13 Porters Five Forces Analysis 14 Price Analysis 14.1 Price Indicators 14.2 Price Structure 14.3 Margin Analysis 15 Competitive Landscape 15.1 Market Structure 15.2 Key Players 15.3 Profiles of Key Players For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2c2tgj View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220401005272/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T. Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Indian drug maker Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (DRREDDY) and MediCane Health Inc., announced the launch of their medical cannabis products supply in Germany. In addition, the two parties have also inked a deal for the co-funding of a phase II clinical trial for a cannabis product. With the move, MediCane will supply the medical cannabis products to Dr. Reddy's from its EU-GMP-certified facilities in Portugal along with necessary logistic and regulatory support. As the exclusive distributor of the products in Germany, Dr. Reddy's will provide access to MediCane's medical cannabis products under its own brand. Patrick Aghanian, Head of European Generics at Dr. Reddy's, said: 'This collaboration with MediCane Health demonstrates Dr. Reddy's commitment to take a leadership position in Europe's rapidly growing medical cannabis market. With MediCane, we join forces with a unique and differentiated research-based partner in the medical cannabis field...' The move to distribute medical cannabis products in Germany, which represents over half of the current EU medical cannabis market, follows a partnership agreed between the two firms last year. . The agreement for the co-funding of a phase II clinical trial for a cannabis product is aimed at symptom relief of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD). Accordingly, Dr. Reddy's will hold exclusive sales and marketing rights for such a product in Europe, except Russia and CIS countries, upon completion of the trial. The companies expect to commence the clinical trial of the product during the second half of 2022. BPSD refers to the spectrum of commonly observed non-cognitive and non-neurological symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, aggression, psychosis, depression, and apathy. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX DR REDDYS-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2022 / In every part of the world, dance has been serving for centuries as an artistic expression and a powerful form of storytelling. When a show has performers from diverse backgrounds, the audience experiences a one-of-a-kind performance as the dancers or actors use different forms of expression, speech, and movement to engage with one another. One show, in particular, is Shen Yun , an international performing arts organization that travels far and wide to display the art of ancient Chinese culture. When it comes to Shen Yun 's dancers, people often think that they are all from China, but in reality, their performers come from all over the globe. Photo Credit: Shen Yun Performing Arts A majority of Shen Yun's dancers are from overseas-their diversity and unique regional expression results in a show-stopping performance. With most of the individuals coming from the U.S., Canada, Taiwan, China, and Australia, Shen Yun also has performers from Japan, Korea, the U.K., France, and Germany, among other countries. Below, is additional background information on Shen Yun 's global group of performers, and a look into how they embody their individuality in their Shen Yun performances. Kenji Kobayashi One of Shen Yun's Japanese-born stars, Principal Dancer Kenji Kobayashi , joined Shen Yun in 2010 and has been with the company ever since. His hometown is Tokyo, which he considers his favorite city on tour. Even though greater Tokyo is the most populated metropolitan area on Earth, it is always nice for Kenji to go back because it brings him a sense of calm and, he adds, "it's always great to be able to go home." Kenji's favorite character to portray in the Shen Yun production is Pigsy from Journey to the West, which he believes adds a sense of humor to the show. Though Pigsy is a fictional character, as Kenji notes, he can be quite challenging to play because he is a household name across Asia. Since everyone has an individualized image of what Pigsy should look and act like, it makes it difficult to perform in a way that will suit everyone's taste. Given how beloved a character Pigsy is in Asian culture, Kenji enjoys the challenge of taking on the role. Lillian Parker Another one of Shen Yun 's star performers is Lillian Parker , who fell in love with Shen Yun after attending the show with her family for years as an annual tradition growing up. Little did Lillian know that she would one day be on the stage performing with the group. Originally from Toronto, Lillian stated that her colleagues could tell that her dance expression didn't always reflect the Chinese spirit, which she worked tirelessly to improve. "I realized that I needed to adjust myself, so I started watching my classmates and people in Chinese movies, looking at the way they move. I noticed that they hold a lot inside. You can see their intentions and emotions, but it's like seeing them through a veil," she says. Although each Shen Yun performer comes from a unique background, the dancers delve deep into the Chinese culture as they practice and perform. Their hope is, in addition to putting on a great performance, that Shen Yun will inspire more people of all ethnic backgrounds to explore this beautiful art form. To learn more about Shen Yun, its history, and one-of-a-kind experiences, visit their site here . Media Contact: Denise C. Riley 979-554-1877 info@camdenmedia.net SOURCE: Shen Yun View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/695659/Shen-Yun-Dancers-from-Around-the-World-Captivate-Audiences-with-their-Regional-Artistic-Expression London-based Emerging Markets Investment Bank Continues Expansion with Key Senior Fixed Income Trading Hire LONDON, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BancTrust & Co. Investment Bank (BancTrust), the London-based Emerging Markets investment bank, is pleased to announce a new Senior Hire to its Fixed Income Sales & Trading team. Nick Taylor has joined the investment bank, at its new headquarters located in the Salesforce Tower in the City of London, as Managing Director, Fixed Income Trading. Nick has over 20 years of experience in Emerging Markets with previous roles heading trading at BNP, ING & Exotix Capital as well as senior positions at Deutsche Bank & Cantor Fitzgerald. Nick holds a degree from the University of Westminster and will report to the Head of Global Markets & Executive Board mMember, Dean Tyler. "I am delighted to have a trader of Nick's ability to spearhead our dealing efforts from London and I am sure he will repeat his previous successes here at BancTrust" stated Dean Tyler. CEO Carlos Fuenmayor commented, "I am thrilled yet another highly experienced EM veteran has joined the BancTrust team, as we continue our mission to service clients in frontier and emerging markets and deliver exceptional value". About BancTrust & Co. BancTrust & Co. Investment Bank is a London-based global Emerging Markets investment bank that offers corporate and investment banking, securities dealing and financing, as well as investment research products and services to a diversified client base mainly comprised of emerging and frontier markets-based corporates, financial institutions, governments, and dedicated global EM asset managers. For more information, please visit https://banctrust.com and follow us on Twitter at [twitter.com/BancTrustCo] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1309084/LOGOS_02_Logo.jpg BLACKROCK LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (the "Company") LEI: UK9OG5Q0CYUDFGRX4151 Voting Rights and Capital (Article 15 Transparency Directive, DTR 5.6) In conformity with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 5.6.1R, the Company would like to notify the market of the following: As at 31 March 2022, BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc's capital consists of 39,259,620 Ordinary Shares of 10 cents each, carrying one vote each, excluding 2,181,662 ordinary shares held in treasury. As at 31 March 2022, the total number of voting rights for Ordinary shareholders in BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc is 39,259,620. Shareholders should use 39,259,620 as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company. All enquiries: Sarah Beynsberger BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, Company Secretary Tel: 0207 743 2639 1 April 2022 Crawford Company (NYSE: CRD-A and CRD-B), the world's largest publicly listed independent provider of claims management and outsourcing solutions to carriers, brokers and corporations, has today announced the purchase of assets associated with Schaderegelingsburo R.P. van Dijk B.V., a personal injury loss adjusting company based in the Netherlands. The partnership aligns with Crawford's ongoing strategic objective of building an extensive network across all key territories. It follows the company's acquisition of Penta Expertise Consult N.V. in 2019 in Belgium and BosBoon Expertise Group B.V. in 2021 and further expands the scope and depth of loss adjusting and TPA services it delivers in the Dutch market. Established in 1989, Schaderegelingsburo R.P. van Dijk B.V. provides a range of specialist settlement services for personal injury claims. The company's highly qualified team, which now will be part of Crawford, has extensive experience in managing complex loss events resulting in injury or death, as well as handling medical liability claims. Schaderegelingsburo R.P. van Dijk B.V. also provides actuarial support and advice on medical matters. Commenting on the purchase, Andrew Bart, Crawford's CEO, International Operations, said: "At Crawford, our global network of adjusting professionals represents leading sector experts experienced in managing the full spectrum of loss types. The team at Schaderegelingsburo R.P. van Dijk B.V. is highly adept at handling all forms of personal injury claims and has specialist local market knowledge that ensures the efficient and effective resolution of even the most complex scenarios. They are an excellent addition to our rapidly expanding team of practitioners in the Netherlands led by Niels de Kock, country manager, the Netherlands." "We are excited to be joining the Crawford team," added Robert van Dijk, director of Schaderegelingsburo R.P. van Dijk B.V. "The company is at the forefront of innovation in the claims arena, solving claims challenges by combining expertise and technology mapped to each unique loss scenario. As the level of complexity in the personal injury space continues to increase, we believe this approach will be critical." About Crawford Based in Atlanta, Crawford Company (NYSE: CRD-A and CRD-B) is the world's largest publicly listed independent provider of claims management and outsourcing solutions to carriers, brokers and corporations with an expansive global network serving clients in more than 70 countries. The Company's two classes of stock are substantially identical, except with respect to voting rights and the Company's ability to pay greater cash dividends on the non-voting Class A Common Stock (CRD-A) than on the voting Class B Common Stock (CRD-B), subject to certain limitations. In addition, with respect to mergers or similar transactions, holders of CRD-A must receive the same type and amount of consideration as holders of CRD-B, unless different consideration is approved by the holders of 75 percent of CRD-A, voting as a class. More information is available at www.crawco.com. Tag: Crawford-Corporate View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220331005965/en/ Contacts: Media Contacts: mediarelations@us.crawco.com Lynn Cufley +44 207 265 4067 Lynn.Cufley@crawco.uk Katie Cline +1 470 792 5678 Katie.Cline@us.crawco.com Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2022) - Trican Well Service Ltd. (TSX: TCW) ("Trican" or the "Company") intends to release its First Quarter 2022 results on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 after the close of the market. The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. MT (12:00 p.m. ET) to discuss its results for the First Quarter 2022. To listen to the webcast of the conference call, please enter the following URL in your web browser: https://www.gowebcasting.com/11747. You can also visit the Investors section of our website at www.tricanwellservice.com/investors and click on "Reports". To participate in the Q&A session, please call the conference call operator at 1-800-319-4610 (North America) or 1-403-351-0324 (outside North America) 10 minutes prior to the call's start time and ask for the "Trican Well Service Ltd. First Quarter 2022 Earnings Results Conference Call." The conference call will be archived on Trican's website at www.tricanwellservice.com/investors. ABOUT TRICAN Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Trican supplies oil and natural gas well servicing equipment and solutions to our customers through the drilling, completion, and production cycles. Our team of technical experts provide state of the art equipment, engineering support, reservoir expertise and laboratory services through the delivery of hydraulic fracturing, cementing, coiled tubing, nitrogen services and chemical sales for the oil and gas industry in Western Canada. Trican is the largest pressure pumping service company in Canada. Requests for further information should be directed to: Brad Fedora President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Matson Chief Financial Officer Phone: (403) 266-0202 Fax: (403) 237-7716 2900, 645 - 7th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 4G8 Please visit our website at www.tricanwellservice.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/118887 HBM Healthcare Investments AG / Key word(s): Monthly Figures Key Figures 31.03.2022 01.04.2022 / 17:46 in CHF Performance in % 31.03.2022 MTD FYTD CYTD NAV 285.53 -4.7 -3.6 -15.1 Share Price 276.00 -4.2 -13.2 -18.6 Total Net Assets (in million) 1'986 HBM Healthcare Investments AG Bundesplatz 1 CH-6300 Zug - Switzerland Tel. +41 41 710 75 77 Fax +41 41 710 75 78 E-Mail: hbm@hbmhealthcare.com Web: www.hbmhealthcare.com Wenn Sie keine Mitteilungen von HBM Healthcare Investments mehr wunschen, konnen Sie diese hier abbestellen. Should you wish to unsubscribe from all HBM Healthcare Investments news, please unsubscribe here. Disclaimer: This message may contain confidential or privileged Information and is intended only for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or information herein. If you have received this message by error, please advise the sender immediately and delete this message. The publication is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or subscribe for securities. Past performance is not a reliable indicator or guarantee of future results, prices of shares and the income from them may fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. The investor must be aware of the investment risk and personal risk ability. Some information quoted was obtained from external sources HBM considers to be reliable. HBM cannot guarantee the adequacy, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of or be held responsible or liable for errors of fact regarding such data and information obtained from third parties, and this data may change with market conditions. If the email looks unformatted, please use this alternative link. End of Media Release LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2022 / Love Hemp Group PLC (AQSE:LIFE) (OTCQB:WRHLF), the brand-led consumer goods company focused on CBD health and wellness solutions, is pleased to announce that all resolutions failed to pass at the General Meeting of the Company held today. Resolutions Votes For Votes Against % of Shares % of Shares 1 To remove Andrew Male from office as Chairman 4.73% 95.27% 2 Reduce any board members' salaries by 75% 3.97% 96.03% 3 Conduct a strategic review and put the Company up for sale 1.52% 98.48% 4 Review the financial history of the Company 3.54% 96.46% 5 Operate the Company self-sufficiently and halt all marketing spend 1.50% 98.50% Andrew Male, Chairman of Love Hemp Group, commented, "We would like to thank shareholders for their continued support of Love Hemp and for sharing our belief in the potential of this company. Since its foundation, Love Hemp's growth trajectory has been unparalleled, earning and upholding the brand's "best in class" reputation. The result of today's meeting allows the Board to refocus its efforts on the pipeline of growth opportunities for Love Hemp, including the up-listing to the London Stock Exchange Main Market. We look forward to keeping shareholders updated as Love Hemp's journey progresses." For further information please visit: www.lovehempgroup.com or contact: Love Hemp Group Andrew Male Chairman & Director +44 (0) 7926 397 675 andrew.male@lovehempgroup.com Financial Advisor Rupert Fane/Nilesh Patel H&P Advisory Limited +44 (0) 20 7907 8500 rf@hannam.partners/nilesh@hannam.partners AQSE Corporate Adviser Mark Anwyl Peterhouse Capital Limited +44 (0) 20 7469 0930 ma@peterhousecap.com Financial PR Tim Blythe / Alice McLaren BlytheRay +44 (0) 207 138 3204 lovehemp@blytheray.com About Love Hemp Group Love Hemp Group isa brand-led consumer goods company focussed on health and wellness solutions for consumer use cases including sleep, pain, anxiety, stress and recovery.The Company is a pioneer in the UK-based premium high-quality CBD market, with over 40 products including oils, edibles, sprays, cosmetics and topicals. The Company's range of products are sold online across 70 websites and in over 2,000 stores including some of the biggest retailers in the UK, such as Holland & Barrett, Boots and Ocado. Listed on the Aquis Stock Exchange (AQSE: LIFE) the Company recently changed its name to Love Hemp Group plc, from World High Life, to better reflect its focus on supporting the "best in class" CBD brand as it embarks on a wider expansion of its core business and offering. Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Love Hemp Group PLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/695690/Love-Hemp-Group-PLC-Announces-Result-of-General-Meeting EP Global Opportunities Trust plc (the "Company") Change of Investment Manager As detailed in the stock exchange announcement dated 25 October 2021, the Company intends to change the Company's management arrangements by becoming a self-managed investment trust. The change in management structure is subject to the Company being approved by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") as a small registered alternative investment fund manager ("AIFM"). An application for registration has been submitted to the FCA and it is hoped that approval will be received in the next few months. Once the Company has been approved to act as its own AIFM, the Company's current management arrangements will cease and a new sub-advisory agreement will be entered into with Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited ("FTIML"). In preparation for this change and to ensure continuity of the Company's investment management function, the Board has agreed to an interim transfer of the Company's investment management responsibilities pending the Company's approval to act as its own AIFM and the completion of the new arrangements. The Company therefore announces that, with effect from 1 April 2022, the Company's delegated investment management function has transferred from Edinburgh Partners Limited ("EPL") to FTIML. FTIML and EPL are members of the same group of companies, the Franklin Templeton Group. Franklin Templeton Investment Trust Management Limited, which is also a member of the Franklin Templeton Group, continues to act as the Company's AIFM and Dr Nairn continues to act as the Company's portfolio manager. FTIML's appointment is in substitution for, and on materially the same commercial terms, as the existing delegated investment management agreement with EPL. 1 April 2022 LEI: 2138005T5CT5ITZ7ZX58 Enquiries: Kenneth Greig Franklin Templeton Investment Trust Management Limited Tel: 0131 270 3800 The Company's registered office address is: 27-31 Melville Street Edinburgh EH3 7JF AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B- (Fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bb-" (Fair) of Kommesk-Omir Insurance Company JSC (Kommesk) (Kazakhstan). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Kommesk's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, very limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management. Kommesk's balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by the Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best expects Kommesk's risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at the strongest level supported by positive operating results and the absence of dividend payments, as it executes its strategic business plan. In addition, Kommesk's balance sheet strength assessment considers the company's comprehensive reinsurance programme, which is backed by a panel of reinsurers of sound financial strength. Offsetting factors include the relatively low credit quality of the company's investment portfolio, which is concentrated in its domestic market. The ratings also factor in Kommesk's exposure to the high levels of economic, political and financial system risk associated with operating predominantly in Kazakhstan, as well as the current uncertainty around the impact to Kazakhstan's economy from sanctions imposed on Russia in response to the conflict in Ukraine. Kommesk has reported a solid five-year (2016-2020) weighted average return-on-capital ratio of 12.8%, mainly supported by investment returns. However, the company's underwriting performance has been marginal. In 2021, the company's technical result is expected to be negative. This is driven by the significant growth of the voluntary motor book, which generates higher losses and incurs higher acquisition costs than other lines of business underwritten. Losses in the growing voluntary motor book offset the benefits of Kommesk's continued re-underwriting of its motor third-party liability book using stricter underwriting criteria, which have led to a sustainably lower loss ratio for that line of business. Kommesk is a small insurer operating solely in the competitive Kazakh market. The company's underwriting portfolio is concentrated, with over two-thirds of its 2021 non-life net written premiums expected to be sourced from compulsory and voluntary motor business. This is partially offset by a growing contribution from its life subsidiary, Centras Kommesk Life JSC, which underwrites traditional life products, pension annuities and workers' compensation business. Future profitable growth of the life subsidiary, whose business in 2021 is expected to account for approximately 15% of the consolidated gross written premium, could enhance Kommesk's business profile over the short-to-medium term by increasing the company's market share and product diversification. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220401005408/en/ Contacts: Todor Kitin, ACA Financial Analyst +44 20 7397 6264 todor.kitin@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Jessica Botelho-Young, CA Associate Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 6264 jessica.botelho@ambest.com Jim Peavy Director, Communications +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644 james.peavy@ambest.com The SolarPower Summit 2022, held this week in Brussels, could prove to be a pivotal point in Europe's energy transition. Weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, the solar industry and the European Commission have come together to discuss solar's role in the future of continental energy security.SolarPower Summit 2022 took place at the Radisson Hotel in Brussels this week, with a good showing from the industry and the European Commission. As one might expect, the discussions soon became political, as both private and public representatives debated the simultaneous need for more support and less red ... 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. Forbo Holding AG / Key word(s): AGMEGM Forbo shareholders approve all proposals of the Board of Directors 01.04.2022 / 18:30 MEDIA RELEASE At today's 94th Ordinary General Meeting of Forbo Holding Ltd, shareholders approved all the proposals of the Board of Directors by a clear majority. In application of Article 27 of the Ordinance 3 on Measures to Combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19) of the Swiss Federal Council, shareholders exercised their rights solely through voting instructions issued to the independent proxy. A dividend of CHF 25 gross per share will be paid out as of April 8, 2022. Baar, April 1, 2022 Due to the continuing high number of COVID-19 cases and the Swiss Federal Council's current regulations to combat the coronavirus, today's Ordinary General Meeting was held at the headquarters of Forbo Holding Ltd in Baar. No shareholders were present. The independent proxy represented 1,068,217 registered shares, accounting for 64.74 percent of the share capital issued. The shareholders approved all the proposals of the Board of Directors by a clear majority. They approved the Annual Report, the annual statements and the consolidated financial statements for the 2021 business year, while also granting discharge to the responsible governing bodies. In addition, they voted in favor of the proposed distribution of earnings in the form of a dividend amounting to CHF 25 gross per share. They approved the capital reduction and the corresponding amendment to the Articles of Association in connection with the 2019-2022 share buyback program (165,000 shares/10% of the share capital) authorized at the Ordinary General Meeting of April 5, 2019. The shareholders approved the 2021 Remuneration Report by a clear majority in a consultative vote. The Ordinary General Meeting approved the maximum total remuneration of the Board of Directors for 2023, the maximum fixed remuneration of the Executive Board for 2023, the short-term variable remuneration of the Executive Board for 2021, as well as the maximum long-term equity participation of the Executive Board for 2022 by a large majority. With the exception of Dr. Reto Muller, who did not stand for re-election anymore, all the current members of the Board of Directors were confirmed in office and re-elected for a one-year term. They are This E. Schneider, Executive Chairman, and the members Dr. Peter Altorfer, Michael Pieper, Claudia Coninx-Kaczynski and Vincent Studer. Jens Fankhanel and Dr. Eveline Saupper were elected as new members of the Board of Directors. The current members of the Remuneration Committee - Dr. Peter Altorfer, Claudia Coninx-Kaczynski and Michael Pieper - were also confirmed for a further year. Lastly, the shareholders extended the mandate of the auditor, KPMG Ltd, for a further year. Furthermore, Rene Peyer was re-elected as independent proxy. MEDIA RELEASE (PDF-FILE) Forbo is a leading producer of floor coverings, building and construction adhesives, as well as power transmission and conveyor belt solutions. Forbo's linoleum floor coverings are made from natural raw materials. They are biodegradable and CO 2 -neutral (cradle to gate), without off-setting. In the manufacture of its heterogenous vinyl floor coverings, Forbo uses phthalate-free plasticizers of the latest generation. Vinyl floor coverings also contain up to 25% recycled material in relation to their total product weight. The BioBelt is a biologically degradable conveyor belt made largely from renewable, plant-based materials. The AmpMiser conveyor belt enables energy savings and therefore also a reduction in CO 2 emissions of up to 50%. For Forbo as a responsible manufacturer, the careful use of all resources for a sustainable future is a guiding principle. Forbo employs about 5,500 people and has an international network of 25 sites with production and distribution, 6 fabrication centers, and 49 sales organizations in a total of 39 countries around the world. The company generated net sales of CHF 1,254.0 million in the 2021 business year. Forbo is headquartered in Baar in the canton of Zug, Switzerland. Forbo Holding Ltd is listed on SIX Swiss Exchange (security number 354151, ISIN CH0003541510, Bloomberg FORN SW, Reuters FORN.S). Contact person: This E. Schneider Executive Chairman Phone +41 58 787 25 49 www.forbo.com www.forbo.com -> sustainability End of Media Release April, 1st 2022 RCI Banque discloses exposure to Russia and Ukraine RCI Banque has investments and operations in Russia and Ukraine. The bank strictly complies with the regulations in force and diligently implements the necessary measures to comply with international sanctions as soon as they are published. Given the way the bank operates in these two countries, balance sheet exposure to Russia and Ukraine is limited. Russia: RCI Banque main exposure to Russia derives from its equity investment in RN Bank, a self-funded Joint Venture in which we hold 30% of the economic interest and that we consolidate by the equity method. RCI Banque share of RN Bank equity was 92 M as of 31/12/2021. RCI Banque is assessing the available options with RN Bank other shareholders, taking into account the current environment, while acting responsibly towards RN Bank employees. RCI Banque also owns 100 % of RNL Leasing, a small leasing company that we consolidate by global integration. As of 31/12/2021, RCI Banque equity investment in RNL Leasing was 2 M while intra-group loans amounted to 15 M. A non-cash adjustment may have to be recorded against the book value of our assets in Russia at the time of the 2022 first half results. As of December 31, 2021, this value amounted to 109 million euros representing approximatively 22bps1 of RCI Banque's 2021-year end CET1 ratio (14.76%). Our strong capital position would allow us to absorb such adverse shock. Ukraine: In Ukraine we have a commercial agreement carried out by a non-consolidated subsidiary and therefore no lending exposure. RCI Banque's net investment is limited to the equity share of this subsidiary (0,3 M). We continue to dynamically monitor our risk exposure, whilst constantly assessing the potential impact of the conflict. Contacts Analysts and Investors Financial Communication + 33(0) 1 76 88 81 74 contact_investor@rcibanque.com (mailto:contact_investor@rcibanque.com) About RCI Bank and Services: As a partner caring for all its customers, RCI Bank and Services builds innovative financial services to create sustainable mobility for all. A subsidiary of the Renault Group created almost 100 years ago, RCI Bank and Services is a French Bank specializing in automotive financing and services for Alliance customers and networks. With operations in 36 countries and nearly 4,000 employees, the group financed over 1.4 million contracts (new and used vehicles) in 2021 and sold 4.7 million services. At end 2021, average performing assets stood at 44.8 billion in financing and pre-tax income at 1,194 million. Since 2012, RCI Bank and Services has rolled out a deposits collection business in several countries. At the end of December 2021, net deposits collected totaled 21 billion or 47% of the company's net assets. To find out more about RCI Bank and Services: www.rcibs.com Follow us on Twitter: @RCIBS 1 Impact on CET 1 ratio: In M 31/12/2021 After adjustment Impact CET1 capital 4 932 4 823 -109 (1) Risk-weighted exposure amount 33 420 33 174 -246 (2) Common Equity Tier 1 ratio (%) 14,76% 14,54% - 22 bps (1) In case of full depreciation of RN Bank equity (92M), RNL Leasing equity (2M) and loans to RNL Leasing (15M) (2) Decrease of RWA linked to equity investments in RN Bank (92M with 250 % risk weight), depreciation on RNL Leasing Risk-Weighted assets (16M) Attachment PARIS, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Doctolib, a leading European healthcare technology company, has recently been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in France and Italy for 2022. During the assessment, the company received outstanding scores across several aspects of their workplace, such as growth opportunities, trust in the leadership, relationships and culture resulting in its recognition among the employers of choice in Europe. Best Places to Work is an international certification program, considered as the 'Platinum Standard' in identifying and recognizing top workplaces around the world, provide employers the opportunity to learn more about the engagement and the satisfaction of their employees and honor those who deliver an outstanding work experience with the highest standards in regard to working conditions. Commenting on this achievement, Nicola Brandolese, CEO of Doctolib Italy said "At Doctolib we put employees at the centre of our development. We focus on understanding their needs and skills to offer them the best place to thrive. We empower all our employees, at all levels, to take impactful initiatives and decisions. Launching a new company in a country requires the involvement of everyone". He added "We are extremely fortunate to work in healthcare. It is an extraordinary sector in which to innovate because healthcare is a common good. Making sure that all citizens can access it easily and quickly is an extraordinary mission that we are just beginning to work on. I'm proud of the company we are building in Italy and all the creative, innovative and entrepreneurial minds that have joined us and are joining us every month." For Mathieu Birach, Global Chief People Officer, he said "We are really proud of having Doctolib Italia and France awarded Best Place to Work. I would like to thank all Doctolibers, who have been the main contributors in obtaining this important award, sharing their feedback and experience. Many thanks to them! Together with this amazing team of entrepreneurs, we make healthcare more accessible and efficient each day. It's only the beginning!" Every year, the program partners with many organizations in Europe, across different industries, to help them measure, benchmark, improve their HR practices and have access to the tools and expertise they need to deliver effective and sustainable change in their organizations Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2022) - Green Panda Capital Corp. (TSXV: GPCC.P) ("Green Panda" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent dated March 15, 2022 (the "LOI") with 1301666 B.C. Ltd. ("BC Company"), a private company that holds the rights to acquire an interest in two mineral exploration properties in Nevada. The LOI outlines the principal terms and conditions of a business combination by way of a share exchange, merger, amalgamation, arrangement, takeover bid, or other similar form of transaction (the "Proposed Transaction"), which will result in BC Company becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Panda, or otherwise combining its corporate existence with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Panda. Green Panda is a Capital Pool Company and intends for the Proposed Transaction to constitute its Qualifying Transaction pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). In connection with the announcement of the LOI, the trading in the common shares of Green Panda ("Green Panda Shares") has been halted pursuant to the policies of the TSXV. It is anticipated that Trading will remain halted until the completion of the Proposed Transaction. It is anticipated that the reporting issuer resulting from the Proposed Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer") will qualify as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV. Unless otherwise indicated, any capitalized term contained in this press release that is not defined herein has the meaning ascribed to such term in the policies of the TSXV. Proposed Transaction Summary Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Resulting Issuer will carry on the business of BC Company. Pursuant to the Proposed Transaction, holders of the issued and outstanding common shares of BC Company ("BC Company Shares") will exchange their BC Company Shares for common shares of the Resulting Issuer ("Resulting Issuer Shares") on a one-for-one basis (the "Exchange Ratio"). Convertible securities of BC Company will be exercisable to acquire Resulting Issuer Shares at the Exchange Ratio. The final structure of the Proposed Transaction is subject to the receipt of tax, corporate and securities law advice for both Green Panda and BC Company. As per the LOI, it is anticipated that concurrently with the closing of the Proposed Transaction, Green Panda or BC Company, as the case may be, will complete an equity financing (the "Concurrent Financing") to raise gross proceeds of $2,000,000, or such other amount as is sufficient to meet the initial listing requirements of the TSXV, at a price to be determined in the context of the market, anticipated to be $0.50 per share after reflecting the Consolidation (as defined below). Immediately prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction, and subject to Green Panda shareholder approval, it is anticipated that Green Panda will undertake a share consolidation (the "Consolidation") of the Green Panda Shares at a ratio to be based on the Concurrent Financing pricing, such that the outstanding common shares of Green Panda will have an aggregate deemed value of at least $1,000,000. On closing of the Proposed Transaction, the board of the Resulting Issuer will be comprised of nominees of BC Company, and the Resulting Issuer is expected to change its name to "Falcon Butte Minerals Corp." subject to Green Panda shareholder approval, or such other name as is determined by BC Company (the "Name Change"). Closing of the Proposed Transaction will be subject to a number of conditions precedent, including, without limitation: receipt of all required regulatory, corporate and third-party approvals, including TSXV approval, and compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and conditions necessary to complete the Proposed Transaction; completion of satisfactory results from due diligence investigations for each of the parties; completion of BC Company's acquisition of the Properties (as defined below); completion of the Concurrent Financing; and other mutual conditions precedent customary for a transaction such as the Proposed Transaction. The Proposed Transaction is not a Non-Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction, is not subject to TSXV Policy 5.9, and it is not expected that the Proposed Transaction will be subject to approval by Green Panda's shareholders. There are no Non-Arm's Length Parties of Green Panda that are Insiders of BC Company. About BC Company BC Company was incorporated pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) on April 22, 2021. Since incorporation, BC Company has focused its efforts on acquiring interests in mineral exploration properties in Nevada and obtaining a listing on a Canadian stock exchange. BC Company's share capital consists of an unlimited number of BC Company Shares without par value. BC Company currently has a total of 46,801,131 BC Company Shares and 15,531,130 common share purchase warrants (the "BC Company Warrants") outstanding. Each BC Company Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire a BC Company Share at an exercise price of $0.30 per BC Company Share until March 17, 2024. There are currently no Control Persons of BC Company; however, it is anticipated that Lion Copper and Gold Corp. ("Lion CG"), a British Columbia company listed on the TSXV will become a Control Person of BC Company upon the closing of the Butte Valley Agreement (as defined and as further described below). BC Company holds the rights to acquire from TUVERA Exploration Inc. ("TUVERA") its majority interest of 65% in the Island Mountain property, a Carlin-style gold deposit located in Elko County, Nevada (the "Island Mountain Property") and from Lion CG its 100% option interest in the Butte Valley property, a porphyry-skarn copper prospect, located in eastern Nevada about 40 miles north of Ely in north-central White Pine County (the "Butte Valley Property" and collectively with the Island Mountain Property, the "Properties"). Island Mountain Agreement BC Company entered into an asset purchase and sale agreement dated August 21, 2021, as amended on January 2, 2022 (the "Island Mountain Agreement"), with TUVERA and TUVERA's subsidiary, pursuant to which TUVERA agreed to sell its interest in the Island Mountain Property to BC Company or its designated nominee in consideration for BC Company agreeing to: a. pay TUVERA the following cash consideration; $170,000 (the " Closing Cash Payment ") on the closing date of the asset purchase (the " Island Mountain Closing "); ") on the closing date of the asset purchase (the " "); $100,000 on or before the 12 and 24 month anniversaries of the date of the Island Mountain Agreement; and $150,000 on or before the 36, 48 and 60 month anniversaries of the date of the Island Mountain Agreement. b. issue TUVERA the following Resulting Issuer Shares: $750,000 of Resulting Issuer Shares (the " Closing Share Issuance ") on the Island Mountain Closing, subject to adjustment, with a deemed price per Resulting Issuer Share equal to the issue price of the Resulting Issuer Shares issued in the Concurrent Financing; ") on the Island Mountain Closing, subject to adjustment, with a deemed price per Resulting Issuer Share equal to the issue price of the Resulting Issuer Shares issued in the Concurrent Financing; $200,000 of Resulting Issuer Shares upon completion of a preliminary economic assessment technical report on the Island Mountain Property, with a deemed price per Resulting Issuer Share equal to the volume-weighted average price of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the TSXV for a 10-day trading period ending two trading days before the date of issuance, subject to the minimum pricing requirements of the TSXV (the " VWAP "); and "); and $400,000 of Resulting Issuer Shares upon completion of a feasibility study technical report on the Island Mountain Property, with a deemed price equal to the VWAP; and c. on the Island Mountain Closing, reserve a 2% net smelter returns royalty (the "NSR") on the unpatented mining claims of the Island Mountain Property, subject to BC Company's right to repurchase the NSR as follows: (i) $1,300,000 for each 1% of the NSR, or (ii) $2,400,000 for the entire NSR, payable in cash or Resulting Issuer Shares, or a combination of both, with a deemed price equal to the VWAP. To date, BC Company has made advance cash payments to TUVERA in the aggregate amount of $45,000, which will be credited against the Closing Cash Payment on the Island Mountain Closing. BC Company has agreed to complete the following additional advance cash payments to TUVERA, which will also be credited against the Closing Cash Payment: $15,000 to be paid on or before April 30, 2022; and $10,000 to be paid on or before May 31, 2022. Subject to the terms and conditions in the Island Mountain Agreement including the completion of the obligations of BC Company set out above, on the Island Mountain Closing, BC Company will acquire TUVERA's majority interest in the Island Mountain Property upon the exchange of closing documents, including the delivery of the balance of the Closing Cash Payment and the Closing Share Issuance to TUVERA. Pursuant to the terms of the Island Mountain Agreement, BC Company has agreed to complete the following cash payments and issuances of Resulting Issuer Shares calculated based on the then-applicable VWAP to TUVERA, for achieving the following mineral resource milestones on the Island Mountain Property after the Island Mountain Closing: $900,000 cash and $200,000 of Resulting Issuer Shares for completion of a technical report estimating at least 750,000 ounces of gold or gold equivalent mineral resources on the Island Mountain Property; $200,000 cash and $200,000 of Resulting Issuer Shares for completion of a technical report estimating at least 1,000,000 ounces of gold or gold equivalent mineral resources on the Island Mountain Property; $200,000 cash and $500,000 of Resulting Issuer Shares for completion of a technical report estimating at least 1,500,000 ounces of gold or gold equivalent mineral resources on the Island Mountain Property; $700,000 cash and $1,000,000 of Resulting Issuer Shares for completion of a technical report estimating at least 2,000,000 ounces of gold or gold equivalent mineral resources on the Island Mountain Property; and $1,200,000 cash and $1,500,000 of Resulting Issuer Shares for completion of a technical report estimating at least 3,000,000 ounces of gold or gold equivalent mineral resources on the Island Mountain Property. The Island Mountain Closing is subject to a number of conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, BC Company meeting certain capital requirements, the concurrent closing of the Proposed Transaction and the Resulting Issuer entering into a consulting agreement with TUVERA for TUVERA to make available two directors and officers of TUVERA, to provide advice on the development of the Island Mountain Property in consideration for the payment $50,000 in cash and $300,000 in Resulting Issuer Shares on the Island Mountain Closing and an annual consulting fee of $50,000. Asset Information Summary - Island Mountain Property The Island Mountain Property is located in Elko County, Nevada, on the Independence Gold Trend and in close proximity to the Jerritt Canyon Trend, approximately 113 kilometres north of the city of Elko. The Island Mountain Property is composed of 78 unpatented lode mineral claims on public land plus 8 patented claims leased from private individuals, covering an aggregate of approximately 592 hectares. The style of mineralization at the Island Mountain Property is a Carlin-type, commonly hosted by carbonate strata near normal and thrust faults that may have served as hydrothermal feeder conduits and/or as aquitards that channeled mineralization into favourable-structured prepared zones or receptive beds. There also is a common association with dikes of felsic to mafic composition. Carlin-type gold mineralization is generally accompanied by a characteristic suite of pathfinder elements (arsenic, antimony, bismuth, mercury, and in places barium, tungsten, and thallium). Both oxide and sulphide gold mineralization occur on the Property. Initial drilling on the Island Mountain Property was conducted by Cordex Exploration Syndicate in 1982, and through the 1990s a number of property holders conducted further exploration programs, including 225 drill holes. A further exploration programs in 2003 and 2004 included 80 reverse circulation ("RC") drill holes and 10 diamond drill holes. Exploration programs in 2012 and 2013 included 26 RC holes and six diamond drill holes. Total past drilling on the Island Mountain Property includes 348 holes covers 8,094 metres. The Company has commissioned a technical report on the Island Mountain Property, that the Company anticipates will include a current mineral resource estimate. Butte Valley Agreement BC Company entered into a property acquisition agreement dated January 26, 2022 (the "Butte Valley Agreement") with a subsidiary of Lion CG ("Lion Subco") pursuant to which Lion Subco agreed to sell to BC Company its interest in the Butte Valley Property, which consists of two options to acquire a 100% interest in: (a) 78 unpatented mining claims located in White Pine County, Nevada and certain data, subject to an underlying 2% NSR (the "NS Property"); and (b) 600 mining claims located in White Pine County, Nevada, subject to an underlying 2.5% NSR (the "NorthEx Property"), in consideration for BC Company agreeing to: pay a cash payment of US$500,000 as reimbursement of explorations costs payable on the closing date of the Proposed Transaction, or earlier in certain circumstances; issue 15,750,000 BC Company Shares to Lion Subco or Lion CG, at a deemed price of $0.20 per BC Company Share, subject to adjustment; and grant a 1.5% NSR on each of the NS Property and NorthEx Property, subject to a buy-down to a 1% NSR with payment of US$7,500,000 per property. Lion Subco's interest in the underlying agreements with respect to the NS Property and the NorthEx Property, as described below, will be assigned to BC Company on the closing of the Butte Valley Agreement. Upon the closing of the Butte Valley Agreement, BC Company may acquire a 100% interest in the NS Property and the NorthEx Property by completing the option payments described below. The closing of the Butte Valley Agreement is subject to LCG obtaining the approval of the TSXV, and completion of a private placement by BC Company for gross proceeds of not less than $2,000,000. NS Agreement Lion Subco entered into an option agreement dated December 3, 2019 (the "NS Agreement") with Nevada Select Royalty, Inc. ("Nevada Select"), whereby Nevada Select granted to Lion Subco an option to purchase a 100% interest in the NS Property, for a five-year option period, in consideration for the following cash payments to Nevada Select: US$15,000 on December 3, 2019 (complete); US$24,711.61 reimbursement for 2020 claim fees and staking costs on December 3, 2019 (complete); US$35,000 on or before December 3, 2020 (complete); US$50,000 on or before December 3, 2021 (complete); US$50,000 on or before December 3, 2022; US$50,000 on or before December 3, 2023; and US$50,000 on or before December 3, 2024. Upon exercise of the option to acquire the NS Property, Nevada Select will be granted a 2% NSR on the NS Property, with a buyback right to reduce the NSR to 1% for the payment of US$10,000,000 to Nevada Select. NorthEx Agreement Lion Subco entered into a mining lease with an option to purchase agreement dated August 22, 2019, as amended on December 6, 2019 and July 30, 2021 (the "NorthEx Agreement") with North Exploration, LLC ("NorthEx") pursuant to which: (i) NorthEx leased the NorthEx Property to Lion Subco for aggregate lease payments of up to US$605,000 to maintain the lease up to August 1, 2025; and (ii) NorthEx granted an option to Lion Subco to purchase a 100% interest in the NorthEx Property at any time during the term of the lease for an amount equal to US$600,000 less the sum of the amounts previously paid to maintain the lease. To date, US$55,000has been paid to NorthEx under the NorthEx Agreement to maintain the lease until August 1, 2022. Upon exercise of the option to acquire the NorthEx Property, NorthEx will be granted a 2.5% NSR on the NorthEx Property, with a buyback right to reduce the NSR to 1.5% for the payment of US$1,000,000 to NorthEx, and a right to further reduce the NSR to 1% for the payment of US$5,000,000 to NorthEx within 10 years after the exercise of the option. Asset Information Summary - Butte Valley Property The Butte Valley property is a porphyry copper-gold property located in White Pine County, near Ely, Nevada. Over its recent history, there have been seventeen holes drilled on the Butte Valley Property, and geophysical studies including heli-MAG and Induced Polarization (IP) have been completed. To date a mineral resource has not been established, however the Butte Valley Property has the potential to contain a magnetite-rich copper skarn deposit. Sponsorship for the Proposed Transaction Sponsorship for the Qualifying Transaction of a Capital Pool Company is required by the TSXV, unless exempt in accordance with TSXV policies. The Company intends to apply for a waiver from the requirement to obtain a Sponsor for the Proposed Transaction, however, there can be no assurance that a waiver will be obtained. If a waiver from the sponsorship requirement is not obtained, a Sponsor will be identified at a later date. An agreement to act as Sponsor in respect of the Proposed Transaction should not be construed as any assurance with respect to the merits of the Proposed Transaction or the likelihood of its completion. Filing Statement In connection with the Proposed Transaction and pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV, Green Panda intends to file on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) a filing statement (or an information circular in the event that the Proposed Transaction requires approval by the shareholders of Green Panda), which will contain details regarding the Proposed Transaction, Green Panda, BC Company and the Resulting Issuer. Further Information Green Panda intends to issue a subsequent press release in accordance with the policies of the TSXV providing further details in respect of the Proposed Transaction, including information relating to the transaction structure, the definitive agreement, descriptions of the proposed Principals and Insiders of the Resulting Issuer, as well as the Concurrent Financing. In addition, a summary of BC Company's financial information will be included in a subsequent news release. For further information, please contact: Green Panda Capital Corp. Xin (Richard) Zhou President and Chief Executive Officer sukin21cn@hotmail.com On behalf of the board of directors of BC Company: Stephen Goodman, President This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. The securities of the Company and BC 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 unless pursuant to an exemption from such registration. Cautionary Note Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable pursuant to TSXV Requirements, majority of the minority 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 management information circular or filing statement 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 a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. C. Travis Naugle, QP-MMSA, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, is the Chairman and CEO of BC Company, and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this press release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the Proposed Transaction and certain terms and conditions thereof, the ability of the parties to enter into a definitive agreement and complete the Proposed Transaction, the Consolidation, the Exchange Ratio, the Name Change, the Resulting Issuer's ability to qualify as a Tier 2 Mining issuer, the TSXV sponsorship requirements, shareholder, director and regulatory approvals, obtaining TSXV approval, completion of the Concurrent Financing, BC Company's acquisition of an interest in the Properties, the potential exercise of the options under the NS Agreement and the NorthEx Agreement, the duration of the halt in respect of the Green Panda Shares, planned future press releases and disclosure, and other statements that are not historical facts. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to geological risks, risks associated with the effects of COVID-19, the financial markets generally, the ability of BC Company to acquire an interest in the Properties, the results of the due diligence investigations to be conducted in connection with the Proposed Transaction, the ability of the Company to complete the Proposed Transaction or obtain requisite TSXV acceptance and, if applicable, shareholder approvals. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the terms described herein or at all. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/118980 Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2022) - Raffles Financial Group Limited (CSE: RICH) (FSE: 4VO) (OTCQX: RAFFF) ("RFG" or the "Company") wish to give its shareholders an update on the latest development in performance of the Share Purchase Agreement between the Company and Raffles Financial Advisory Pte Ltd ("RFA"), which was announced on CSE on 17th September 2021. Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, Company acquired all the outstanding share capital of RFA in a purchase consideration of SGD2.00 and in a performance consideration equal to ten (10) times of RFA's audited net profit after tax for the financial year ending 30th June 2022, payable in the Company's shares valued at CDN10.00 per share. On 31st March, 2022, RFA served a notice of withdrawal from the Share Purchase Agreement to the Board of the Company taking consideration into the Cease Trade Order being issued by the Ontario and British Columbia Securities Commission to the Company on 6 January 2022. According to the Board of RFA, she and her Representatives and partners raised major concerns and issues particularly on the eligibility of the Company to commit the payment of the performance consideration in shares under the condition of such Order. In the event that the Company would not be allowed under the National Instrument 23-101 Trading Rules to issue new shares under such Order, the Company would be in a material breach of the buyer's performance of the Share Purchase Agreement. After going through detailed assessment on the options available to the Company, the merits as well as financial impact of accepting the notice of withdrawal, the Board of the Company agreed with RFA to unwind the subject transaction and immediately dispose of all of the outstanding share capital of RFA to the owner of RFA at SGD2.00, with the effect as if the Share Purchase Agreement was not entered into between both parties. Based on the proforma management account of RFA, the net asset value as of 31st March 2022, and the net profit after tax for the financial period from the acquisition date to 31st March 2022, were both negative. The Board of the Company is of the view that the above action does not produce material financial impact to the Company. We will keep shareholders duly informed on the progress of our business and the audit matter and will work closely with auditors to clear this matter as soon as possible. About Raffles Financial Group Limited (CSE: RICH) (FSE: 4VO) (OTCQX: RAFFF) Raffles Financial Group is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange Purchasable under the stock symbol (CSE: RICH), the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Purchasable under the stock symbol (FSE: 4VO) and the OTC Markets under the stock symbol (OTCQX: RAFFF). On behalf of the RFG Board of Directors Monita Faris Corporate Secretary Phone: + 604-283-6110 Email: monita@rafflesfinancial.co Website: www.RafflesFinancial.co The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the Canadian Securities Purchase nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Purchase) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/118981 Plymouth, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2022) - Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. (CSE: PRT) (OTCQB: PLRTF) (FSE: 4XA) (WKN: A2N8RH) ("Plymouth Rock", "PRT", "Plyrotech", or the "Company") a leader in developing unmanned technologies and detection apparatus announces, announces today that, as a result of delays to its audit, the Company's annual financial statements and accompanying management's discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2021 (the "Annual Filings") were not finalized by March 30, 2021, being the date that such filings are due under applicable Canadian securities law requirements. The Company has applied for, and has been granted, a management cease trade order (the "MCTO") by the British Columbia Securities Commission. The Company has been delayed in filing its audited financial statements as a result of COVID-19 related and other delays in obtaining information with respect to a U.K. subsidiary acquired during the fiscal period. During the MCTO, the general investing public will continue to be able to trade in the Company's listed common shares. However, the Company's Chief Executive Office and Chief Financial Officer will not be able to trade in the Company's common shares. The Company currently expects to file the Annual Filings on or before May 30, 2022 and will issue a news release announcing the completion of the filings at such time. Until the Company files the Annual Filings, it will comply with the alternative information guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Order for issuers who have failed to comply with a specified continuous disclosure requirement within the times prescribed by applicable securities laws. The guidelines, among other things, require the Company to issue bi-weekly default status reports by way of a news release so long as the Annual Filings have not been filed. About Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. We are on a mission to bring engineering-driven answers to the most critical problems that threaten our safety. We work with government, law enforcement and military to innovate solutions for national security, defense and space systems. The Company is developing the next generation of threat detection solutions and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). PRT designs and manufactures purpose-built multirotor UAS, utilizing Artificial Intelligence, cutting-edge sensors, and the latest dual-camera modules as standard, offering thermal capabilities alongside high-definition real-time air-to-ground streaming, with the ability to mount multiple, various sensors, modules, and payloads. Our advanced threat detection methods fuse artificial intelligence with augmented reality interfaces to eliminate human operating error. Plymouth Rock products, both airborne and land-based, will scan for threat items at greater 'stand-off' distances than current existing technologies. Our unique radar imaging and signal processing technology creates new opportunities for remotely operated, non-intrusive screening of crowds in real time. Plymouth Rock's core technologies include: (1) UAS platforms engineered to conform to NDAA FY2020 Section 848 ("PRT UAS"); (2) A compact microwave radar system for scanning shoe's ("Shoe Scanner"); (3) A compact modular radar utilized for a variety of applications, from aircraft to weapon detection ("CODA"). www.plyrotech.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dana Wheeler, President and CEO +1-774-404-7685 info@plyrotech.com Investor Information Tasso Baras +1-778-477-6990 tasso@plyrotech.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/119003 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2022 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with 1933 Industries and Talon Metals on their latest news. The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives. 1933 Industries (CSE:TGIF) reports Q2 2022 financial results 1933 Industries (TGIF) has announced financial results for the three and six months ended January 31, 2022. Revenues in Q2 improved by 23 percent over Q1 2022, operating expenses were reduced by 65 percent, and net loss decreased by 87 percent compared to fiscal 2021. CEO Paul Rosan sat down with Shoran Devi to highlight the results. For the full interview with Paul Rosen and to learn more about 1933 Industries' news, click here. Talon Metals (TSX:TLO) commends President Biden for designating nickel & battery materials for Defense Production Act support Talon Metals (TLO) reports that battery materials have been added to the support available under the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III program. Nickel and the other battery materials join rare earths as the only critical minerals eligible for DPA Title III support reducing U.S. dependence on Russia and China. The DPA Title III program provides authority for the Administration to use a variety of tools to support domestic production. Talon's Head of Climate Strategy Todd Malan sat down with Shoran Devi to discuss the news. For the full interview with Todd Malan and to learn more about Talon Metals' news, click here. Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald. 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CONTACT: The Market Herald Brianna Anthony brianna.anthony@themarketherald.ca themarketherald.ca SOURCE: The Market Herald View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/695722/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-New-Interview-With-1933-Industries-and-Talon-Metals DALLAS, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sekisui Specialty Chemicals, provider of multiple chemical solutions, is excited to announce the launch of its new website, www.Advancell.com. Advancell spheres are thermo-expandable microspheres that can be combined with a resin base to yield light weight, flexible materials like foam. The new Advancell website helps prospects, customers, and stakeholders find valuable information about Advancell microspheres in more intuitive and efficient way. The multi-language site features information and graphics illustrating the compatibility of Advancell microspheres with multiple base resins and processing methods. The website features a new applications section, providing specific information on applications such as building materials, automobiles, daily living goods, and other specialty items. It will make it easier for customers to get technical details on their preferred application in their preferred language. Sekisui Specialty Chemicals invites visitors to explore the new website. The latest information on products and availability will be added to the News section as it occurs. Sekisui Specialty Chemicals' primary product is Selvol, a line of high-performance polyvinyl alcohol polymers and copolymers used in paper, adhesive, packaging, construction, personal care, and many other specialty formulations. The company also represents Durastream CPVC compounds and resins, Advancell expandable microspheres, and S-LEC BK polyvinyl acetal resins. Sekisui Specialty Chemicals is a subsidiary of the Sekisui Chemical Group, a multibillion dollar, global company that delivers a wide range of products and services to enrich people's lives. The company is comprised of core businesses and technologies in housing, social infrastructure, and chemical solutions. For more information, visit www.sekisui-sc.com/. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1779033/Advancell__video.mp4 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/370717/Sekisui_Logo.jpg Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. Words, such as, but not limited to "believe," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although Frontline believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the control of Frontline, Frontline cannot assure you that they will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and Frontline disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication. Frontline Ltd. ("Frontline" or the "Company") today announced that Frontline Shipping Limited ("FSL") has agreed with SFL Corporation Ltd. ("SFL") to terminate the long term charters for the 2004-built very large crude carriers ("VLCCs") Front Force and Front Energy upon the sale and delivery of the vessels by SFL to an unrelated third party. Frontline has agreed to a total compensation payment to SFL of approximately $4.5 million for the termination of the current charters. The charters with SFL are expected to terminate in the second quarter of 2022. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2022) - Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc. (CSE: VEGI) (OTCQB: VGGIF) (FSE: 77I) ("Boosh" or the "Company") announces that it has closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement generating further gross proceeds of $433,569.50. The company issued 619,385 units (each a "Unit") at a price of $0.70 per Unit (the "Financing"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant (a "Warrant") will entitle the holder to acquire an additional common share at a price of $1.00 per share until March 31, 2025. Finder's fees of $29,660.40 in cash and 39,762 Warrants were paid in association with the closing of the initial tranche. The proceeds of the Financing will be utilized for general working capital, as well as ongoing product development and future plant based acquisition opportunities. All securities issued in this final tranche of the private placement are subject to a four month and one day hold period expiring on August 1, 2022. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. On behalf of the Board of Directors Jim Pakulis Chief Executive Officer jpakulis@booshfood.com Telephone: (833) 882-6674 www.Booshfood.com About Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.: Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Boosh Food (www.booshfood.com), offers high quality, non-GMO, gluten free, 100% plant-based nutritional comfort foods for the whole family. Through a separate subsidiary, Beautiful Beanfields, the Company owns Beanfields, a plant-based chips brand sold in over 7,000 stores throughout North America. Boosh, good for you and good for planet earth. The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company's plan for the proceeds of the Financing. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/119004 (ASX:LPD) Lepidicois an innovative developer of sustainable lithium hydroxide and other critical minerals and the global leader in lithium mica processing. Today, we welcome its Managing Director, Joe Walsh. Joe, nice to meet you and welcome back to the network.Thank you very much, Mel. Good to be here.Great to have you and before I start, I have to say there's a mighty good-looking guitar there, Joe.It certainly is. It was made by Chris Melville in Brisbane. He's a master luthier. Fabulous.Great to hear. Great to hear. Joe, lithium is certainly the topic of the moment, and we're excited to hear about your recent announcements. But before we do go into it, could you perhaps recap about a key focus for Lepidico. That is, your proprietary technology that can leach lithium and other valuable metals from micro minerals?Certainly, Mel. Our proprietary process technologies I think help differentiate us and will allow us to become a low-cost producer of lithium chemicals and other critical minerals. What we're effectively doing is deconstituting that mineral and using reagents, making it into six different valuable products. Our greenhouse gas emissions are significantly lower than for a typical vertically integrated conventional spodumene project. But, importantly, we know where our emissions are and we've got an intention to reduce them substantially, particularly if we can be getting green hydrogen. And one of the beautiful things about the process is there is no solid process waste. It really is a sustainable series of processes fit for the 21st century.Well, I read that your process is patented in the major industrial countries. Is that therefore something you would consider licensing out as a revenue stream?Well, we already have. At the end of 2020, we entered into a licence agreement for a package of our process technologies with a UK private company, Cornish Lithium. So, they're using our process technologies for the feasibility study on their hard rock mica project in the south-west of England. In certain circumstances, yes, we may consider licensing again, but it has to be for the right reasons. It has to suit us.Well, your announcement talks about approvals for operations in Namibia. Can you tell us more about that?Permits and approvals are a huge challenge for mines virtually anywhere in the world. And it is really great that our project in Namibia is fully permitted. There were some final permits that we had to apply for where we needed to get some initial development works under our belt to be able to make the applications. We've made those. We've got the approval. So, we are shovel-ready in Namibia. And we are very close to that in Abu Dhabi, where we're looking at building the chemical plant. Importantly there, we've got that vital environmental permit to construct in Abu Dhabi. But there are some others that we are in the process of getting now. But the project is extremely well advanced through initial stage one EPCM works. So, that's engineering, procurement, and construction management. And we expect to be going to stage two works, which is full project implementation, in the third quarter of this year subject to a final investment decision.Do you need to raise any capital for the Namibia mine?So, yes, we will, Mel. We're very well-capitalised at the moment. At the end of December, we had over 10 million in the bank. We have got some listed options which are expiring in May, which will bring another 5 million, more than 5 million in, if they're all exercised. Both Gary Johnson, our chairman, and myself have exercised those options in the last week or so. And the proceeds from those option exercises will be used for accelerating some of the work programs in Namibia and also for exploration. So, it's allowing us to commit to a more aggressive exploration program on our properties in Namibia, with the objective of expanding the resource base, which will then support a phase two project.Last question from me. Are you able to tell us about any offtake agreements in the pipeline?So, we did announce in December that we'd entered into a binding offtake agreement with the European trading company Traxys. That's for all of our lithium hydroxide that we expect to produce over the first seven years of the operation. But we're working very closely with Traxys now to place that lithium hydroxide to end users, and largely the lithium ion battery cathode manufacturers. And I think one of the beauties of going through a trader like Traxys is they have got very broad relationships across the market. And I firmly believe that it will give us all the best revenue outcome for Lepidico shareholders. We are also working on offtake for all of our other products, and we are seeing very, very good demand for those. So, watch this space. Over the course of this next quarter, we would expect to be seeing offtakes being signed up.Thank you so much, Joe, for being with us on Finance News, and I wish you all the best, and I look forward to speaking to you again.Thank you very much, Mel. tru.ID, a London, UK-based passwordless authentication platform leveraging SIM card cryptography, raised $9m in seed funding. Sorenson Ventures joined the seed funding round, alongside Episode 1, MMC Ventures and NHN Ventures. The company intends to use the funds to roll out its services into the USA market. tru.ID exists to help companies solve the $1trillion threat of cybercrime attacks on customers and employees. In todays post-COVID hybrid world, legacy authentication methods, using passwords and PIN codes sent by email or SMS, are no longer fit for purpose they are vulnerable to criminal attacks such as phishing and provide a poor user experience. Businesses have been trying to replace passwords for years, but have failed to find a secure and scalable solution. Now, the answer is here, combining the ubiquity of the mobile phone with the cryptographic security of the SIM card. Led by Paul McGuire, co-founder and CEO, tru.ID helps businesses to reduce the threat of cybercrime by replacing passwords and PIN codes with a secure possession factor API for multifactor authentication (MFA). This approach leverages the core cryptographic security built-in to every mobile network and is now being made available, for the first time, to businesses via API. The service is already available in 20 markets covering over 2bn users, and is rolling out globally. FinSMEs 01/04/2022 FlagSHIP Deaf EcoSystem Course Creates Bridges Between Communities Flagler Professors June Ann LeFors and Jennifer Catalano created the FlagSHIP Deaf EcoSystem Course with the sole mission of further connecting Flagler College to the Deaf community of St. Augustine. Their goal in creating the course was to teach students ways that local businesses can be more inclusive to Deaf individuals. With the help of Flagler- alumni owned local businesses, theyve been able to do just that. The FlagSHIP Deaf Ecosystem course is another way we can create bridges between our communities, find common ground, and celebrate our diversity! said Jennifer. June Ann continued, Deaf Ecosystem is about enabling empowerment and economic mobility of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Launching this course was especially important to June Ann and Jennifer given the rich histories of both Saint Augustine and the Deaf culture, education, and community. Flagler College has had a Deaf Education major for 50 years and, with the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB) just two miles down the road, Saint Augustine is a thriving Deaf Community, said June Ann. One of the many great aspects of the course, in addition to creating a more inclusive and accessible community for Deaf individuals, is that it provides a great opportunity to partner with local Flagler alumni business owners. So far, four local businesses have participated in this course: Where Salt Meets Soul, Stone Climbing, Monarch Studio, and Panama Hat Company. All of which June Ann and Jennifer credit with massively contributing to the courses success. Students provided these local businesses with a multitude of ideas for improving accessibility and inclusiveness. For instance, students suggested to the staff of Stone Climbing, that they should learn some basic ASL signs for Need help and proposed they use flashlights to guide climbers up and down the wall. At Where Salt Meets Soul, students came up with the idea to arrange and offer a music night once a month with an interpreter. All of the students suggested these companies use text-to-speech apps to communicate with their Deaf customers and to teach their staff basic ASL signs such as, Welcome, Can I help you? Thank you, and more. All of which will massively improve Deaf individuals customer experience. June Ann continued, As these businesses generate more business and collaborations with Deaf individuals and hire Deaf employees, they are contributing to the Deaf Ecosystem. However, the success of this course is largely attributed to the dynamic duo who teaches it. Between Jennifer and June Anns combined educational and lived experiences: June Ann is Deaf, and Jennifer has over 30 years of experience with the Deaf community, they knew theyd make a great team. Together theyve been able to not only initiate awareness and promote accessibility for the Deaf community, but provide students with a truly, transformative educational experience that puts learning and interacting across communities of difference at its core, according to the pair. This course serves as an introduction to the Deaf culture and community for a lot of Flagler students. The students who have had the pleasure of taking this course expressed how heavily they were influenced by its impact on the community in their course evaluations: This course and the professor that taught it was/were very insightful to the material and the meaning of Deaf Ecosystem overall. I am extremely pleased with how much I have learned, and I can't wait to use what I learned in this course in my everyday life, one student said. Another student said, Having one hearing professor and one deaf professor was great because we got to learn from both sides and two different perspectives. Everything was very organized, and the instructors really cared about the topic and really wanted us to learn and take something away from the course. I wish this course was a regular semester class so I could take it! Jennifer and June Ann were thrilled at the opportunity to teach this course and are very excited to teach it again in the near future. The FlagSHIP Deaf EcoySystem course was so successful that it has recently been approved to run again in January and May of 2023 and Jennifer and June Ann are actively seeking local businesses to work with come next Spring semester in January and May. If any alumni who own local businesses are interested in partnering with us next year, please contact us at jlefors@flagler.edu or jcatalano@flagler.edu. We look forward to teaching this course again in the future and partnering with other local Flagler College alumni-owned businesses! Tagged As SEATTLE (April 1, 2022) Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), Seattle Childrens and UW Medicine have completed the restructure of their longtime relationship and the formation of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, a unified adult cancer research and care center. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center brings together Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and SCCA into a single, independent, nonprofit organization that is also a clinically integrated part of UW Medicine and UW Medicines cancer program. Todays milestone is a tremendous step toward our vision of decreasing the time between discovery and delivery of the most advanced treatments for our patients. It builds on the foundation and 20-year legacy that Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, SCCA, Seattle Childrens and UW Medicine have established, said Dr. Thomas J. Lynch, Jr., president and director of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and holder of the Raisbeck Endowed Chair. As a unified organization, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center will focus on improving patient outcomes, accelerating research discoveries and cures and reducing barriers to how we collaborate. Ultimately, we want to deliver the latest scientific breakthroughs to our patients and provide them with the best possible care. Over the next year, SCCAs eight clinical care sites will be rebranded as Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center sites. UW Medicine physicians will continue providing cancer care to their current and future patients at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and University of Washington Medical Center. During the transition, high-quality patient care, research and operations will remain uninterrupted. As part of this transition, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center establishes a new Board of Directors composed of 13 members, including nine community directors and four ex officio positions. The community directors bring a diverse range of expertise and perspectives from across health care, technology and professional services sectors. The ex officio positions are held by leaders at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and UW Medicine. Kathy Surace-Smith, vice president and general counsel of NanoString Technologies, was the chair of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Board of Trustees and will now serve as board chair of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The formation of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center will help us redefine cancer research and care, said Kathy Surace-Smith. Our collaboration and connectivity across our clinical and research programs will help us accelerate lifesaving discoveries and improve outcomes for patients with cancer in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center will streamline and improve patients personalized care experience and build on SCCAs and UW Medicines nationally recognized clinical and research excellence as well as Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centers and UW Medicines internationally renowned research programs, said Dr. Paul Ramsey, chief executive officer, UW Medicine. The unification of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and SCCA and the clinical integration of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center with UW Medicine will bring research and care closer together, leveraging the strengths of all organizations to ensure that patients can access groundbreaking treatments and cures as quickly as possible. Seattle Children's, an original SCCA alliance partner, will work in close partnership with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center to advance breakthroughs in adult and pediatric oncology. Caring for children when they need us most and working to advance pediatric research is what inspires us, said Dr. Jeff Sperring, chief executive officer, Seattle Childrens. We will continue to invest in and expand Seattle Childrens leading pediatric cancer and blood disorders care and research to serve kids today and into the future and look forward to continued collaboration with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The merged organization will focus on integrating teams and operations over the coming weeks and months. A new Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center brand will be introduced later this year. To learn more, visit www.fhcc.org. ### About Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home to three Nobel laureates, interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists seek new and innovative ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Fred Hutchs pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation led to the development of immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer. An independent, nonprofit research institute based in Seattle, Fred Hutch houses the nations first National Cancer Institute-funded cancer prevention research program, as well as the clinical coordinating center of the Womens Health Initiative and the international headquarters of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network and the COVID-19 Prevention Network. For more information about Fred Hutch, visit fredhutch.org. About Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) brings together the leading research teams and cancer specialists from Fred Hutch, Seattle Childrens and UW Medicine one extraordinary group whose sole purpose is the pursuit of better, longer, richer lives for our patients. Based in Seattles South Lake Union neighborhood, SCCA is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in Washington state. In addition to its Proton Therapy Center in Seattle, SCCA has nine clinical care sites in the region, including a medical oncology clinic at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland; hematology/medical oncology and infusion services at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, medical and radiation oncology clinics at UW Medical CenterNorthwest in Seattle and medical oncology services at SCCA Issaquah, as well as Network affiliations with hospitals in five states. UWMC/SCCA has been recognized as the 9th Best Cancer Hospital for 2020-21 by U.S. News & World Report, and the only ranked number one cancer hospital in the Pacific Northwest for more than ten years. For more information about SCCA, visit seattlecca.org. About Seattle Childrens Seattle Childrens mission is to provide hope, care and cures to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible. Together, Seattle Childrens Hospital, Research Institute and Foundation deliver superior patient care, identify new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research and raise funds to create better futures for patients. Ranked as one of the top childrens hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Childrens serves as the pediatric and adolescent academic medical center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho the largest region of any childrens hospital in the country. As one of the nations top five pediatric research centers, Seattle Childrens Research Institute is internationally recognized for its work in neurosciences, immunology, cancer, infectious disease, injury prevention and much more. Seattle Childrens Foundation works with the Seattle Childrens Guild Association, the largest all-volunteer fundraising network for any hospital in the country, to gather community support and raise funds for uncompensated care and research. For more information about Seattle Childrens, visit seattlechildrens.org. About UW Medicine UW Medicine is one of the top-rated integrated clinical, research and learning health systems in the world. With a mission to improve the health of the public, UW Medicine educates the next generation of physicians and scientists, leads one of the world's largest and most comprehensive biomedical research programs and provides outstanding care to patients from across the globe. Our family of nearly 29,000 healthcare providers, researchers, faculty and staff includes Airlift Northwest, Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center, UW Medicine Primary Care, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine and Valley Medical Center. The UW School of Medicine is second in the nation in National Institutes of Health research grants with $1.3 billion according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Medical School Rankings (fiscal year 2020). For more information about UW Medicine, visit uwmedicine.org. Contact Us Fred Hutch: media@fredhutch.org, 206.667.2210 SCCA: media@seattlecca.org, 206.640.4782 Seattle Childrens: press@seattlechildrens.org UW Medicine: sghanson@uw.edu, 206.390.3226 China's Shenzhou-13 taikonauts preparing for return in April Xinhua) 08:42, April 01, 2022 Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan. 8, 2022 shows the Shenzhou-13 astronauts in China's space station core module conducting the manual rendezvous and docking experiment with the Tianzhou-2 cargo craft. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng) BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-13 astronauts are preparing for their return to Earth following the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft's recent separation from the country's space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The Shenzhou-13 crew members -- Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu -- are all in good condition, said the agency, adding that they plan to return to Earth in mid-April. On Oct. 16, 2021, the Shenzhou-13 mission sent the three taikonauts to the Tiangong space station for a six-month stay -- the longest-ever duration in the country's manned space program. They have completed multiple tasks over the past few months, including two extravehicular activities, two live science lectures, and a number of sci-tech experiments and application projects. Chinese astronauts also used manual teleoperation equipment for the first time, operating the cargo craft and the space station for rendezvous and docking. The core module of China's space station is currently operating steadily. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Oregon Republicans running for U.S. Senate promised they will retire the state's senior U.S. Senator at a Benton County GOP debate Thursday night, March 31. Seven Republicans and two Democrats are running against longtime Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, who joined the U.S. Senate in 1996. Those Republicans are Robert Fleming, a property manager from Gresham; Ibra Taher, a self-employed philosophy teacher from Eugene; Chris Christensen, a financial adviser from Beaverton; and Prineville Mayor Jason Beebe, a regional services manager for a data center. Leading the race in terms of fundraising are motel owner Darin Harbick from Blue River; Grant County Commissioner Sam Palmer from John Day; and financial adviser Jo Rae Perkins from Albany. On Thursday night, six of the GOP candidates convened at Corvallis Elk Lodge to make their case. Absent from the debate was Fleming, who was scheduled to attend the event. Based on a straw poll conducted by the Benton County GOP at Thursday night's debate, Harbick walked away as the preferred candidate among voting members of the audience, receiving 33 ballots out of 40 total over three rounds of voting. Palmer followed in the poll with 30 ballots total, Perkins finished with 16, Beebe with 14, Taher with 13 and Christensen with seven. Immigration Each of the candidates said they would help secure the U.S. border with Mexico to curb what they said are influxes of crime related to mass immigration. According to the American Immigration Council, Oregon was home to 110,000 undocumented immigrants in 2016, amounting to 2% of the state's population. In 2018, one out of 10 Oregonians were immigrants, documented or otherwise, the council reports. Palmer speculated that fentanyl, a synthetic opioid and increasingly popular street drug, will flood the state unless the country tightens its borders. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Lebanon Express. In 2020, Oregon saw 472 fentanyl overdoses and 473 more between January and August of 2021, based on data from Kaiser Permanente. Palmer said he supports immigrants entering the U.S. "the right way." He did not suggest reforms to reduce the red tape in the process. "It takes time, it takes money, but it can be done legally and our federal representatives right now are our enemy on the southern border," Palmer said. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reported in February it's reviewing more than 9.5 million pending immigration applications, a 66% increase since 2019. Beebe, an Iraq War veteran, said he would speed up the process for waiting applicants like his Iraqi interpreter. Other candidates vowed to increase funding for the U.S. Border Patrol and complete former President Donald Trump's southern border wall. "If our government, including Mitch McConnell, can vote to send $14 billion to Ukraine, but we can't spend $15 billion on our fences to secure our country, we have a problem," Perkins said. The environment The candidates also discussed rolling back environmental laws to shore up Oregon's economy. Harbick blamed the federal Endangered Species Act for choking the state's farmland of natural resources. Endangered species like the Klamath River's sucker fish, he said, are putting undue burdens on local farmers in need of more water sources. "The federal government doesn't know what's best for Klamath," Harbick said. "The farmers, they tell me, 'We want to work our fields.'" Palmer said he wants to expand Oregon's gas pipelines and build electric cogeneration plants statewide. The profits, he said, would be reinvested in job training and college scholarships. "That thins the forest, that creates jobs, that produces electricity that you sell back onto the open market," Palmer said. Christensen and Beebe proposed federal funding for Oregon cisterns under the condition they be run by local authorities. Education When asked how they would rein in the U.S. Department of Education, the candidates vowed to defund it at some level. Taher went a step farther. "My bill will be one sentence long," Taher said. "Abolish the U.S. Department of Education." Christensen voiced support for community block grants for charter schools or what he called the federal government's preferable role in education. Much of the debate was spent decrying critical race theory, an academic movement examining the impacts of systemic racism in society. Beebe said the theory, which is not taught in K-12 classrooms, is "breeding racism" and grossly unnecessary. "I teach my kids to be respectful to everyone," Beebe said. "You do not treat someone badly, no matter what they are, who they are, what they believe and anything that they choose to do." The candidates shared similar sentiments about transgender curriculum, branding it as offensive leftist propaganda. Election security Candidates also promised to clamp down on supposed cases of mass voter fraud. Perkins said ballots should include a QR code matching voter ID numbers on voter ballots along with their corresponding envelopes. As the Oregon GOP nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020, Perkins has made unsubstantiated claims the 2020 U.S. Senate race and the 2020 U.S. presidential election were marred by election fraud. She also attended the Jan. 6 insurrection which led to her expulsion from the Albany Human Relations Commission in 2021. Perkins has called her removal unjustified. Beebe proposed precinct committee persons should supervise live ballot counting and that all ballots be counted by hand without ballot counting machines of any kind. "A senator in the federal government shouldn't have anything to do with elections," Beebe said. "Election integrity needs to be done at a local level." Oregon's primary election will be held on May 17. Ballots sent by mail must be postmarked by election day. Ballots deposited in an official drop box must be received by 8 p.m. Election Day. Tim Gruver covers the city of Albany and Linn County. He can be contacted at 541-812-6114 or Tim.Gruver@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @T_TimeForce. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An intergovernmental agency is launching a study of how Linn and Benton counties are reporting bias crimes and serving its diverse communities. On Thursday, March 31, the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments a consortium of local governments in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties that manages a variety of local, state and federal programs announced the study will research the merits of creating a regional bias response system for the tri-counties. The study, in partnership with Colorado consulting firm Zilo International Group LLC, will catalog existing state and local anti-bias resources to find resource gaps. Focus groups and local community members will contribute to the study and brainstorm ideas of how a bias response system could better serve them. Bias crimes in Linn and Benton counties can be reported to police departments and sheriff's offices, the FBI, the Oregon State Police and through the Oregon Department of Justice's bias crime hotline. A bias response system could include a list of resources for reporting bias crimes, a database for tracking systematic biases and training resources for public and private organizations. Local diversity In 2020, U.S. Census Bureau data show 84.3% of Linn County residents were white, 9.5% were Hispanic or Latino, 3.6% were two or more races, 1.8% were American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% were Asian and 0.8% were Black. Based on those figures, racial minorities in Linn County saw an overall decline in 2020 compared to 2010, when 82.8% of Linn County residents were white, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Lebanon Express. In 2020, 79.8% of Benton County residents were white, 7.8% were Hispanic or Latino, 7% were Asian, 4.1% were two or more races and 1.2% were Black, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. Compared to 2010, when 80.7% of Benton County residents were white based on census data, people of color increased in 2020. Linn and Benton counties are both home to fewer people of color than the state as a whole. In 2020, 75.1% of Oregonians were white, 13.4% were Hispanic or Latino, 4.9% were Asian, 4% were two or more races and 2.2% Black, census data shows. Local bias crimes Bias crimes have risen in Linn and Benton Counties in the past two years, Oregon state police data show. Linn County saw 20 bias crimes reported in 2020, which included two against Asians. That figure rose to 24 bias crimes in 2021, 13 of which were directed against Black people. In 2020, Benton County reported three bias crimes, two of which were against Asians and one of which concerned political affiliation. By 2021, Benton County saw 15 bias crimes, three of which were anti-Black. Linn County commissioners voiced support for the study at their Tuesday, March 22 meeting, during which they spoke with Jenny Glass, community and economic director at Oregon Cascades West. But at the same time, Linn County Commissioner Sherrie Sprenger wanted to make sure each entity could maintain its own system of handling bias crimes. "Not every local government is in the same place as Corvallis, for instance," Sprenger said at the meeting. "We want to make sure that there are no expectations that one city maybe has put upon other cities that probably haven't linked arms to address the issue of concern in the same way." The Oregon Cascades West study is set to begin in April with a release of findings by this October. It is funded by the city of Corvallis. The contract is $70,000 total a $60,000 flat fee and estimated $10,000 for any additional costs, including stakeholders compensation and/or incentives, translators and other costs. According to Alicia Lucke, program manager of Community Services Program at Oregon Cascades West, the agency will meet with Zilo next week to kickstart the project. Tim Gruver covers the city of Albany and Linn County. He can be contacted at 541-812-6114 or Tim.Gruver@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @T_TimeForce. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Rainbow Flags will be flying high to celebrate the Southern Hemisphere's biggest Winter Pride party - Winter Pride 2022 being back on in Queenstown and Wanaka with some of New Zealand's biggest pride parties! With 10 days of pride filled fun and over 30 events on and off the slopes, Winter Pride is set to rebound after 2 years impacted by COVID. Hit the slopes 'Pride Style' at Winter Pride 2022 across Queenstown and Wanaka's 4 mountains and see some of New Zealand and Australia's most fabulous Queer talent take the stage! Winter Pride is everything you imagine and more. Join thousands of LGBTTQIA+ travelers in one of the most stunning settings in the world to celebrate Pride - right here in New Zealand from August 26 - 4 September Tickets are on sale NOW and after 5 consecutive sell out years of events, you really don't want to be left out in the cold! Head to www.winterpride.co.nz , register and get access to secure your place! Check out www.winterpride.co.nz for all the details to make the most of one of New Zealand's most fabulous Pride events of the year. Winter Pride 2022 Friday 26 August - Sunday 4 September 10 days of festival - 8 days of on mountain events including theme days! Tickets on sale now MCLEAN, Va., March 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global engineering and defense technologies provider HII (NYSE:HII) renamed its Technical Solutions division: Mission Technologies. Following a series of strategic acquisitions and supported by organic growth, the division has expanded its workforce around the globe and enhanced its capabilities with mission-critical national security solutions. HII has transformed its portfolio across domains with highly advanced technology capabilities, said Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HIIs Mission Technologies division. We are proud of our dedicated workforce addressing the evolving threats in support of our customers missions, and the name Mission Technologies underscores our offering for continued business growth. HIIs Mission Technologies division develops integrated solutions that enable todays connected, all-domain force. Capabilities include C5ISR systems and operations; the application of AI and machine learning to battlefield decisions; defensive and offensive cyberspace strategies and EW; unmanned, autonomous systems; LVC solutions; platform modernization; and critical nuclear operations. There has been a revolution in the last five years in how we can collect data at the edge, aggregate it and process it in near real time, said Todd Borkey, chief technology officer of HIIs Mission Technologies division. The new speed and precision by which we identify critical information has enabled countless new opportunities for humans and machines to collaborate, and were delivering those data-driven solutions today. Mission Technologies recently announced the: Selection of REMUS 300 as U.S. Navys next generation small UUV (SUUV) program of record. Completion of the first ever contractor-owned, contractor-operated aircrew training for U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA). Successful integration of HIIs advanced autonomy solutions with Sea Machines Robotics SM300 autonomy product. The six business operating groups within the division are: C5ISR: Delivering actionable intelligence across the globe at hyper speed through mission systems and operations, accelerating decision-making and exploiting foreign threat vulnerabilities. Cyber, Electronic Warfare (EW) and Space: Full-spectrum cyber, EW, and space capabilities that address todays rapidly changing, multi-domain global security threats, and anticipate emerging threats. Unmanned Systems: World leading autonomy and multi-domain autonomous systems making vast expanses of the earth accessible for defense, research and commerce. Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) Solutions: Designing and executing enterprise simulation and network technologies to prepare warfighters for virtually every conceivable situation they may face in service to national defense and security. Fleet Sustainment: Everything to keep the worlds most capable and resilient national security platforms mission ready: a holistic approach to lifecycle maritime defense systems on the sea, under the sea, and on the shore. Nuclear and Environmental Services: Leveraging HIIs disciplined nuclear operations culture to safely manage and operate Department of Energy sites and execute complex environmental remediation. HIIs Mission Technologies division is headquartered in McLean with more than 100 facilities across the globe. HII is a global engineering and defense technologies provider. With a 135-year history of trusted partnerships in advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities ranging from the most powerful and survivable naval ships ever built, to unmanned systems, ISR and AI/ML analytics. HII leads the industry in mission-driven solutions that support and enable a networked, all-domain force. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs skilled workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: San Jose, Calif., March 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In celebration of its 135th anniversary, the University of Silicon Valley (USV) announced expanded curriculum around the Metaverse. Chartered in 1887, the university began in San Franciscos Mission District as a high school offering technical education for boys and business education for girls the first of its kind in the West and a revolutionary idea and undertaking in the 19th century. In 1930, the school became a technical college offering a two-year program, and 40 years later, evolved to a full-fledged university offering bachelors and masters degrees. This month, over a century since its founding as Cogswell Polytechnical College, USV offers a meaningful and valuable education for students seeking careers in such creative and sought-after fields as game design and development and digital art and animation, among others. With industry faculty that include extensive Silicon Valley professionals, students are immersed in technology, design, and computer science using hands-on, project-based learning, and graduate prepared for meaningful employment. Beyond our storied history in creative technology programs, we are enthusiastic over our entry into the Metaverse as our next evolution, said Charles Restivo, USVs CEO. From founder Henry Cogswells original and innovative idea of offering a technical education an unheard-of concept 135 years ago to todays unique focus on coupling project-based learning opportunities with Silicon Valleys vast technical resources, USV has stayed true to its roots all these years by transcending the boundaries of traditional schooling to offer students a timely and relevant education. About University of Silicon Valley (USV) Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley the global center of technological innovation USV offers world-class, bleeding-edge programs and instruction in the Metaverse, technology, animation, audio, and gaming. USV is uniquely positioned to pair that learning with current Silicon Valley professionals and tech companies to provide mentorships, hands-on learning engagements, and networking opportunities. Named a 2022 Best University in U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges rankings, USV graduates complete certificate, bachelors and masters degree programs with the knowledge, experience, and portfolios to launch and/or accelerate successful careers. This year marks the universitys 135th anniversary. Founded in 1887 as Cogswell Polytechnical College, USV is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). For more information, visit us online at usv.edu. ### April 1, 2022 Integrated portfolio for atrial fibrillation offers solutions across electrophysiology, cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) lead extraction and ECG monitoring New release of KODEX-EPD cardiac imaging and mapping system from Philips incorporates new innovations for RF and cryoballoon therapy for cardiac arrhythmias Philips reinforces its commitment to facilitating adherence to international best-practice guidelines for lead management and lead extraction Wearable ePatch Holter monitor aids diagnosis and follow-up of atrial fibrillation patients to reduce stroke risk Amsterdam, the Netherlands Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, is showcasing its integrated portfolio of diagnosis, guidance, and treatment solutions for atrial fibrillation at the 2022 European Heart Rhythm Association Annual Meeting ( EHRA 2022 , April 3-5, Copenhagen, Denmark). A key highlight in the companys booth that will support the treatment of the growing number of patients with atrial fibrillation will be the launch of the latest release of the KODEX-EPD system from Philips. It offers enhanced imaging and mapping capabilities for RF ablation, including the new Tissue Engagement Viewer and support for the Medtronic DiamondTempTM ablation system. For cryoballoon ablation, KODEX-EPD supports a new saline-based occlusion assessment workflow [1]. Other highlights include enhancements to the companys Electrophysiology Suite; the companys newest lead management tools for the safe removal of infected cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) leads; and Philips unobtrusive wearable ePatch extended wear Holter monitoring service, which is part of the Philips Ambulatory Monitoring and Diagnostics portfolio. Providing support for confident diagnosis, enhanced electrophysiology (EP) procedure efficacy and efficiency, reduced X-ray exposure, and post-procedure therapy monitoring, these new innovations significantly elevate the physicians experience towards optimal treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Atrial fibrillation is the worlds most common cardiac arrhythmia, with a particularly high prevalence in developed countries, partly due to lifestyle and an aging population. The condition, which also significantly increases the risk of stroke, dementia, and heart failure, already affects around 37 million people worldwide (approximately 0.5% of the worlds population)[2] - a number that is predicted to double in the next 40 years. Philips electrophysiology and cardiac lead extraction solutions uniquely leverage imaging systems and software with specialized diagnostic and therapeutic devices designed to support the treatment of the growing number of patients with heart rhythm disorders. Running on the companys Azurion platform, Philips Electrophysiology Suite seamlessly integrates imaging, devices, software, informatics, and services. It assists at every stage of an atrial fibrillation patients journey, providing cardiologists with greater insight and confidence in electrophysiology procedures while allowing them to meet increasing clinical demand at affordable cost. New KODEX-EPD release with expanded compatibility The latest release of KODEX-EPD, launched at EHRA, features a range of innovations for both RF and cryoballoon ablation therapy. Enhanced imaging and mapping capabilities support physicians with precise RF ablation procedures, including the new Tissue Engagement Viewer that provides information about catheter-tissue contact without the need for special catheters. Philips has expanded the compatibility of the KODEX-EPD system to support the Medtronic DiamondTempTM ablation system for real-time, temperature-controlled ablation. For cryoballoon ablation, the KODEX-EPD system features a new saline-based occlusion assessment workflow [1], which further reduces the need for X-ray imaging with iodinated contrast media, which is particularly valuable for patients with allergies to iodine or chronic kidney disease. Philips continues to engage with Medtronic to support physicians in ablation procedures to optimize patient outcomes and minimize exposure to X-ray and iodinated contrast media. The results of these activities will be presented during the EHRA congress at various scientific sessions and a Philips-sponsored symposium. CIED lead extraction and lead management Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices are life-saving devices that improve quality of life for many patients. However, 1 in 20 of these patients develop a CIED infection [3] within three years. Patients diagnosed with CIED infections are often treated with antibiotics, which is not an effective treatment option on its own. 50%-100% of patients treated solely with antibiotics will experience an infection relapse [4,5]. A large EHRA survey conducted in 2020 demonstrated that medical professionals lack awareness and experience in CIED infection management [6]. According to the latest European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) International Consensus Document [7] , definite CIED infections are a Class I indication for full device extraction. Nevertheless, it is estimated that more than 75% of indicated patients do not receive Class I guideline care, which is a full system extraction, leading to negative health outcomes and higher costs. Philips is committed to supporting evidence-based medical approaches and innovating solutions to help physicians improve outcomes and decrease mortality for CIED infection. Although adverse events during a procedure can potentially be life threatening, lead extraction is a highly successful, potentially life-saving procedure with a clinical success rate of 97.7% and a procedural safety rate of 99.72% [8]. Philips supports physicians with Lead Management solutions through a broad portfolio of tools designed for safety and predictability , including both laser and mechanical lead extraction devices. Philips ePatch When diagnosing AF - a heart irregularity that can lead to blood clots and increase the risk of stroke - it is important to record its frequency, duration, and severity. It is equally important to check that irregularities do not recur in the days and weeks after therapy. While conventional Holter monitors that perform these evaluations have been around for a long time, they typically involve the attachment of up to seven ECG electrodes to the patients chest, linked to a belt-worn control unit. These can be cumbersome for patients to wear - which can impact the diagnostic yield - while the application process, data analysis and reporting can be labour-intensive and inefficient for clinical staff. Philips ePatch replaces this cumbersome set-up with a small unobtrusive sensor and patch(es) adhered to the patients sternum for up to 14 days of continuous, high-quality ECG recording for reliable diagnosis. Philips ePatch is splash proof, it can be worn in the shower and enables the patient to keep an active lifestyle. Philips also provides an end-to-end service for ePatch deployment, supporting efficient workflows, enhancing the patient experience and enabling robust data analysis using our cloud-based AI-enabled Cardiologs software. For more information and to register for the Philips Lead Management scientific session with an expert infectiologist and cardiologist or our session on the evolution of dielectric imaging and next-generation ECG monitoring, please visit Philips EHRA 2022 webpages . [1] For use exclusively with Medtronic Arctic Front Advance cryoablation catheters. [2] GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators, Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018; 392: 1789-1858. [3] Cantillon D, et al. Complications and Health Care Costs Associated With Transvenous Cardiac Pacemakers in a Nationwide Assessment. J Am Coll Cardiol EP. 2017 Nov, 3 (11) 12961305. [4] del Rio A, Anguera I, Miro JM, et al. Surgical treatment of pacemaker and defibrillator lead endocarditis: the impact of electrode lead extraction on outcome. Chest 2003;124:14519. [5] Chua, J.D., et al. (2000). Diagnosis and management of infections involving implantable electrophysiologic. [6] Archana Rao et al 2020 Knowledge gaps, lack of confidence, and system barriers to guideline implementation among European physicians managing patients with CIED lead or infection complications: a European Heart Rhythm Association/European Society of Cardiology educational needs assessment survey. Europace (2020) 0, 1. [7] Blomstrom-Lundqvist C, Traykov V, Erba PA, et al. EP Europace, Volume 22, Issue 4, April 2020, Pages 515549, https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euz246. [8] Wazni, O. et. al. Lead Extraction in the Contemporary Setting: The LExICon Study: A Multicenter Observational RetrospectiveStudy of Consecutive Laser Lead Extractions, J Am Coll Cardiol, 55:579-586. DiamondTemp and Arctic Front Advance are trademarks of Medtronic companies. For further information, please contact: Joost Maltha Philips Global Press Office Tel: +31 6 10 55 8116 E-mail: joost.maltha@philips.com Fabienne van der Feer Philips Image Guided Therapy Tel: + 31 622 698 001 E-mail: fabienne.van.der.feer@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter . Attachments Dublin, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Adventure Tourism Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global adventure tourism market reached a value of US$ 852.4 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 2,548.2 Billion by 2027, exhibiting at a CAGR of 20.23% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. Adventure tourism involves traveling to remote and exotic places for physical activity, natural environment, and cultural immersion. It encourages travelers to connect with the core values of the local people via interaction. In addition, it offers effective and economic incentives for enhancing bio-cultural diversity while generating financial benefits for local and private industries. Nowadays, adventure tourism is gaining traction over conventional mass tourism across the globe as it is resilient, supports economies, and encourages sustainable practices. Adventure Tourism Market Trends: The escalating demand for authentic and personalized traveling experience on account of rapid urbanization, improving disposable incomes, rising social media influence, and affordable air travel tickets represents one of the key factors bolstering the market growth. Moreover, the growing awareness about the adverse impact of conventional tourism, such as soil erosion, increasing pollution, and natural habitat loss, is shifting the preferences of travelers towards sustainable and adventure tourism. Apart from this, travel companies are introducing fast and mobile-friendly websites that are easy to navigate on smartphones. These websites allow peer reviews, 360-degree video tours, and clear price comparisons, which help tourists plan vacations online and make informed booking decisions. This, in confluence with the increasing penetration of the internet and boosting sales of smartphones, is creating a lucrative outlook for the market. In addition to this, they are partnering with marketing organizations to attract high-value customers through online marketing, which is positively influencing the demand for adventure tourism worldwide. Furthermore, governing agencies of numerous countries are promoting adventure tourism as it creates employment opportunities and contributes effectively to community development. This is projected to increase the popularity of adventure tourism around the world. Key Market Segmentation: The publisher provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global adventure tourism market, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2022-2027. Our report has categorized the market based on type, activity, age group and sales channel. Breakup by Type: Hard Adventure Soft Adventure Breakup by Activity: Land-based Activity Water-based Activity Air-based Activity Breakup by Age Group: Below 30 Years 30-41 Years 42-49 Years 50 Years and Above Breakup by Sales Channel: Travel Agent Direct Breakup by Region: North America United States Canada Asia-Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Indonesia Others Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Others Latin America Brazil Mexico Others Middle East and Africa Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC, Austin Adventures Inc., Butterfield & Robinson Inc., Cox & Kings Ltd., Discovery Nomads, G Adventures, Geographic Expeditions Inc., Intrepid Group Limited, Mountain Travel Sobek, Recreational Equipment Inc., ROW Adventures and TUI AG. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global adventure tourism market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global adventure tourism market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the type? What is the breakup of the market based on the activity? What is the breakup of the market based on the age group? What is the breakup of the market based on the sales channel? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global adventure tourism market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Adventure Tourism Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Type 6.1 Hard Adventure 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Soft Adventure 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Activity 7.1 Land-based Activity 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Water-based Activity 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 Air-based Activity 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Age Group 8.1 Below 30 Years 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 30-41 Years 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 42-49 Years 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 50 Years and Above 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Sales Channel 9.1 Travel Agent 9.1.1 Market Trends 9.1.2 Market Forecast 9.2 Direct 9.2.1 Market Trends 9.2.2 Market Forecast 10 Market Breakup by Region 11 SWOT Analysis 12 Value Chain Analysis 13 Porters Five Forces Analysis 14 Price Analysis 15 Competitive Landscape 15.1 Market Structure 15.2 Key Players 15.3 Profiles of Key Players 15.3.1 Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC 15.3.1.1 Company Overview 15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.2 Austin Adventures Inc. 15.3.2.1 Company Overview 15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.3 Butterfield & Robinson Inc. 15.3.3.1 Company Overview 15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.4 Cox & Kings Ltd. 15.3.4.1 Company Overview 15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.4.3 Financials 15.3.5 Discovery Nomads 15.3.5.1 Company Overview 15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.6 G Adventures 15.3.6.1 Company Overview 15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.7 Geographic Expeditions Inc. 15.3.7.1 Company Overview 15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.8 Intrepid Group Limited 15.3.8.1 Company Overview 15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.9 Mountain Travel Sobek 15.3.9.1 Company Overview 15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.10 Recreational Equipment Inc. 15.3.10.1 Company Overview 15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.11 ROW Adventures 15.3.11.1 Company Overview 15.3.11.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.12 TUI AG 15.3.12.1 Company Overview 15.3.12.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.12.3 Financials 15.3.12.4 SWOT Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/e6x0tv Attachment Dublin, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Activated Charcoal Products Market, By Source (Wood, Coconut Shell, Others), By Application (Personal Care, Medicine, Others), By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Global activated charcoal products market is expected to grow at a substantial rate during the forecast period due to the increasing demand in water treatment and sewage treatment applications, owing to its ability to remove particulate and dissolved impurities. Additionally, rising population and rapid urbanization in developing countries are contributing to the emergence of several end user industries which utilize water for their productions. This in turn has resulted in water contamination in many countries. Therefore, rapid industrialization is anticipated to fuel the demand for activated charcoal products in wastewater treatment. Moreover, it is also a cost-effective solution for purifying the air from pollutants such as siloxanes, hydrogen sulfide, and volatile organic compounds. This is anticipated to fuel the market until 2026. Activated charcoal, also known as activated carbon, is a fine black powder made from bone char, coconut shells, peat, petroleum coke, coal, olive pits or sawdust. Manufacturers make activated charcoal by heating common charcoal in the presence of certain gases at high temperature. The high temperatures changes its internal structure, reducing the size of its pores and increasing its surface area. The activated charcoal's porous texture has a negative electrical charge, which causes it to attract positively charged molecules, such as toxins and gases. Coconut shell dominated the global activated charcoal products market in 2020 as charcoal products created from coconut shell have the highest hardness when compared with other source type. The manufacturers are always concerned about the quality of raw material as it has direct impact on performance of the product. Major players operating in the global activated charcoal products market include Kingsford Products Co LLC Royal Oak Enterprises, LLC Gryfskand sp z oo Sagar Activated Charcoal Depot Parkar Activated Charcoal Company NAMCHAR (Pty) Ltd Timber Activated Charcoal Company LLC Duraflame Inc Bricapar SA Maurobera SA Report Scope: Years considered for this report: Historical Years: 2016-2019 Base Year: 2020 Estimated Year: 2021 Forecast Period: 2022-2026 Global Activated Charcoal Products Market, By Source: Wood Coconut Shell Others Global Activated Charcoal Products Market, By Application: Personal Care Medicine & Pharmaceuticals Others Global Activated Charcoal Products Market, By Region North America United States Canada Mexico Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Asia-Pacific China Japan India South Korea Singapore Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE South America Brazil Argentina Colombia For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4xggti Dublin, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Counter UAV Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Technology, Force Type, Product Type, Configuration, and End Users" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The counter UAV market is projected to reach US$ 5,021.57 million by 2028 from US$ 1,921.55 million in 2021; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.7% from 2021 to 2028. The global defense sector is increasingly witnessing a rise in asymmetric warfare, and due to this, the governments across developed and developing economies emphasize soldier modernization. The initiatives toward modernizing soldiers include equipping them with advanced combat capabilities, including modern vehicle fleets and countermeasure solutions. The counter UAV systems are among the critical components of soldier modernization among the majority of defense forces. Various military bodies across both developed and developing countries over the years have increased their spending in the procurement of counter UAV systems. The demand for counter UAV systems is expected to continuously grow over the years, as the threat of UAV-based attacks continue to rise. The rise in the manufacturing of small and easily affordable drones also increases the market demand, thereby boosting the counter UAV market growth. COVID-19 Impact on Counter UAV Market Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the manufacturing units across North America were temporarily shut to combat the virus's rapid spread. However, defense sector being of the critical industries of any economy experienced a continuous supply of their products. Defense equipment manufacturing is one of the essential services that was impacted partially due to disrupted raw material supply. The US defense also placed orders for anti-drone systems and experimented with implementing the same in their operations. For instance, in September 2021, the US Navy adopted anti-drone systems developed by Northrop Grumman to counter the rise in UAVs' use. This high demand and rise in manufacturing of counter UAV solutions across the region are positively impacting the growth of the market. APAC is expected to grow with the highest CAGR over the forecast period. APAC is characterized by developing nations looking to stamp their authority worldwide by developing powerful military units. China and India are some of the leading nations that have focused on strengthening their military over the years across the region. Setting up arms and armaments manufacturing bases in the country and enhancing the quality of equipment used for army support has been a long-going responsibility of the respective governments. Apart from this, there have been growing political tensions among neighbouring countries such as India, China, and Pakistan. The strengthening of defense fleet size of various countries, such as China and India, is driving the counter UAV market growth. A few players operating in the global counter UAV market profiled in the market study include Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd, DroneShield, DeDrone, Leonardo S.P.A., and Lockheed Martin Corporation. Key Market Dynamics Market Drivers Increase in Investment by Military Forces towards Counter UAV Systems Rising Adoption Kinetic Counter UAV Systems Market Restraints Low Adoption among Developing and Underdeveloped Countries Market Opportunities Strategic Initiatives by Major Players Future Trends Integration of Technologies for the Development of UAV based Anti-Drone Company Profiles Blighter Surveillance System Ltd Dedrone DroneShield Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. Leonardo S.P.A. Lockheed Martin Corporation Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. Raytheon Technologies Corporation SRC, Inc. Thales Group For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gq8hck Attachment AUSTIN, Texas, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In honor of Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, prosthetics and orthotics manufacturer, Ottobock, has launched Movao, an online platform dedicated to the amputee and limb difference community. Filling a void within the community and creating a safe, accessible space to seek local and global peers, Movao allows users from all over the world to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. "Movao brings a unique opportunity for the limb difference community to connect, collaborate, and continue their journey," says Aaron Holm, Executive Director of Wiggle Your Toes, Manager of Consumer Engagement at Ottobock, and bilateral, above knee amputee. "It's a safe space that eliminates the static of social media. People like me, someone that depends on prosthetics for daily activity, can unleash the power of community in ways that aren't possible via traditional social media." Including features like local and global live feeds, event planning, forums, and so much more, Movao is a one-stop shop for the amputee and limb difference community to meet like-minded individuals who share interests and hobbies across the globe. Over 2.1 million people are living with amputation and limb difference in North America, and the number continues to grow. Peer support and community are key factors in the journey of both amputees and those with congenital limb difference. As many people were left without their normal community resources during a global pandemic, the need for something like Movao became more and more apparent to amputees, people with limb difference, their loved ones, and the O&P community. "Our mission extends far beyond delivering quality products and patient care," says Cali Solorio, Vice President of Marketing for Ottobock North America. "It is also reflected in how we foster community for the individuals we serve. With Movao, we can deliver on our mission in a new and exciting way, and we look forward to watching this community make it their own." Amputees, those living with limb difference, and their loved ones can now join Movao and celebrate Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month with community members. About Ottobock Founded in 1919, Ottobock develops "wearable human bionics" - medical technology products for people with limited mobility in the fields of Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Wheelchairs. Ottobock's mission is to improve their quality of life and increase health economic benefits. Ottobock has been supporting the Paralympic Games with its technical expertise since 1988. For more information, go to: www.ottobock.com. Media contact: Melissa Langley, Sr. Manager, Marketing Strategy & Brand Communications, Ottobock melissa.langley@ottobock.com Related Images Image 1: movao_limb_loss_awareness_month bebionic hand scrolls through new online platform, Movao. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment SAN FRANCISCO, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hope for Haiti announced today the kick-off of their fourth annual Hike for Haiti Challenge, a campaign which brings together the global community to hike or walk over the month of April in solidarity with children in Haiti who travel long distances to access education and public health. Started in 2019, the feel-good movement has cumulatively raised over $500,000 to help fund Hope for Haiti's program initiatives such as: college scholarships; school supplies and other back-to-school materials; direct cash transfers to support teachers and community health workers; mobile health clinics in rural communities; and more. This year's campaign will also support the organization's $12M plan for school rebuilding and rehabilitation following the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck southern Haiti last August. In February, Hope for Haiti completed construction on one of the first schools to be built in southern Haiti post-earthquake. The 2022 Hike for Haiti Challenge is supported by a number of high-profile ambassadors and brands. Ambassadors include: Caroline Burckle, J-L Cauvin, Louis Chandler-Joseph, Simone De La Rue, Roxane Gay, Lacey Henderson, Claudine Joseph, DJ Karaba, Lana, Elex Michelson, Carel Pedre, Marla Tellez, Sabrina Victor, and Stephen Works. Sponsors include: Bank of America, Building and Land Technology (BLT), Citi Private Bank, Digicel Foundation, Gilead Foundation, O&G, and Sawyer. Brand partners include: The Artemis Agency, Asana, Asics, Bonfire, Boxed Water, ForestNation, and MPOWERd. To join the Hike for Haiti Challenge or make a donation, visit http://give.hopeforhaiti.com/hike. About Hope for Haiti: With experience running poverty alleviation programs in Haiti since 1989, Hope for Haiti has emerged as one of the most trusted non-profit organizations working to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly children, in southern Haiti. In the aftermath of the 2021 Earthquake, Hope for Haiti launched an $11.95 million short-term (August-October 2021) and long-term (November 2021-August 2023) Southern Haiti Support Plan to be implemented over a two-year period. Encompassing 17 key evaluation and action points, this initiative supports relief and recovery for 750,000 children, parents and grandparents in our impact area who are also coping with, from COVID-19, civil and political unrest, food and water shortages to infrastructure challenges. Hope for Haiti is a 4-star rated charity by Charity Navigator and is a participant at the Platinum Level through the GuideStar Exchange, two leading independent evaluators recognizing the organization's transparency and careful stewardship of donor resources. Hope for Haiti is also a winner of the 2021 Classy Awards in the Social Innovation category. To learn more: www.hopeforhaiti.com. Media Contact: Taylor Hebble Director of Marketing & Communications Ph. 239-434-7183, ext. 207 taylor@hopeforhaiti.com www.hopeforhaiti.com Related Images Image 1: Hike for Haiti Challenge 2022 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment English French MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Samsung Electronics Canada today announced that the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Series, a flagship PC line-up featuring the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 and Galaxy Book2 Pro, are now available for purchase in Canada. Delivering a flexible and versatile PC experience, Galaxy Book2 Series is packed with features designed to enable work-on-the-go flexibility and productivity in todays hybrid work and learning environment. At Samsung, were focused on pioneering the latest innovations for peak performance that fuel the creative and professional pursuits of our users, said Raj Doshi, Head of Mobile Business at Samsung Electronics Canada. The Galaxy Book2 Series offers Canadians a unique blend of PC power with the mobile DNA of a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, delivering next-generation connectivity, ultra-portable design, and elevated performance. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7f797179-6bb9-4313-9f7b-704d3bd511ee 1 Enhanced flexibility and versatility for todays hybrid work and learning environment First consumer PC lineup to meet Microsoft secured-core PC 2 requirements, the secured-core PC designation on the Galaxy Book2 Series delivers an enhanced level of protection on Windows 11 and features deeply integrated hardware, firmware and software to boost protection against potential cyber-attacks ensuring advanced security and enhanced peace of mind for users. the secured-core PC designation on the Galaxy Book2 Series delivers an enhanced level of protection on Windows 11 and features deeply integrated hardware, firmware and software to boost protection against potential cyber-attacks ensuring advanced security and enhanced peace of mind for users. The ultra-portable, stylish chassis provides mobility with thin and light designs in sleek new colours combined with the freedom of Wi-Fi 6E 3 connectivity . in sleek combined with the freedom of . With up to 21 hours of battery life 4 , carry just one charger when you travel, and power every Galaxy mobile device 5 with the super-fast USB Type-C universal charger 6 . , carry just one charger when you travel, and power every Galaxy mobile device with the super-fast USB Type-C The Samsung and Intel partnership allows for deeper platform integration and more optimization with the latest 12th Gen Intel Core processors - enabling smooth and reliable performance with full processor optimization to work, video call or use with your Galaxy Tab S8 Series for an extended screen. enabling smooth and reliable performance with full processor optimization to work, video call or use with your Galaxy Tab S8 Series for an extended screen. Complement work or leisure calls with the 1080p FHD webcams, Bi-directional AI noise cancelling 7 and wider field of view angles 8 . The GREENGUARD-certified AMOLED 9 displays are now brighter 10 making for increased clarity and amps up the video experience, whereas the upgraded Studio Mode 11 Auto Framing feature keeps you perfectly centered even when you move around the frame. Look your best regardless of where you video chat with the new background effects and Face Effect, which remove visual distractions from the background while enhancing your appearance. The Max 5W output 12 Smart Amp produces balanced sound at louder volumes, with AKG and Dolby Atmos sound technology for crisp and clear sound. Bi-directional and The GREENGUARD-certified displays are now brighter making for increased clarity and amps up the video experience, whereas the upgraded feature keeps you perfectly centered even when you move around the frame. Look your best regardless of where you video chat with the new which remove visual distractions from the background while enhancing your appearance. The Max 5W output produces balanced sound at louder volumes, with sound technology for crisp and clear sound. Connected experiences across Galaxy devices enable seamless transitions, with Single Sign-On with Samsung Account enabling instant access to Galaxy device apps and content. Users with other Galaxy devices can feel at home with the intuitive One Book UI 4.0, pairing their Galaxy smartphone with their Galaxy Book2 Series laptop with Link to Windows / Microsoft Your Phone13 while the Galaxy Book Smart Switch14 process helps move old data, photos, settings and more, from their old PC regardless of manufacturer, to their new PC. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/12f9f4bb-1097-44d4-8069-c6347838e69e 15 Canadian Availability The Galaxy Book2 Series is now available for purchase online at Samsung.ca, Bestbuy.ca and Amazon.ca. Galaxy Book2 Pro : Available in Graphite for $1,599.99 (our regular price) for the 256 GB model in 15.6-inches. For more information, please see https://www.samsung.com/ca/computers/galaxy-book/galaxy-book2-pro-15inch-i5-8gb-256gb-np950xed-ka1ca/ : Available in Graphite for $1,599.99 (our regular price) for the 256 GB model in 15.6-inches. For more information, please see Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: Available in Graphite, Silver and Burgundy starting at $1,469.99 (our regular price) for the 256 GB model in 13.3-inches with an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is also available in Graphite starting at $1,729.99 (our regular price) for the 512 GB model in 13.3-inches with an Intel Core i5 processor. For more information, please see: https://www.samsung.com/ca/computers/galaxy-book/galaxy-book2-pro-360-13inch-i5-8gb-256gb-np930qed-ka1ca/ Purchase a Galaxy Book2 Pro or Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 between April 1 and April 15, 2022 on Samsung.com/ca and receive 50% off on the purchase of a pair of Galaxy Buds Pro (Phantom Black) and a free Samsung Bluetooth mouse.16 AIR MILES Offers Customers who purchase a Galaxy Book2 Series laptop between April 1 and April 15, 2022 online at Samsung.com/ca will also receive:17 250 Bonus Miles with the purchase of a Galaxy Book2 Pro. 350 Bonus Miles with the purchase of a Galaxy Book2 Pro 360. Samsung Care+ Offers Customers purchasing an eligible Galaxy Book2 Series laptop between April 1 and June 15, 2022, will receive 30% off a Samsung Care+ 2 year plan for their new device.18 Trade-In Offers Until April 30, 2022, customers who purchase a Galaxy Book2 Series laptop can receive a credit of $100 when they trade in an old laptop, smartphone, or tablet, plus a credit for the trade-in value of the old device. The trade-in program is supported on Samsung.com/ca and select retail partners in Canada.19 Peace of Mind with Samsung Care+ With a Samsung Care+ Plan, Canadians can experience a total care service for their new Galaxy Laptop, Smartphone, Tablet or Wearable device. Users will be protected for up to two years against physical or liquid damage and mechanical malfunction or defects, with a team of dedicated Galaxy experts available to help them get back on track.20 To learn more, please see https://www.samsung.com/ca/offer/samsung-care-plus/ About Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. Samsung Electronics Canada inspires Canadians to reach their full potential through a transformative ecosystem of products and services that deliver innovation and distinct design to every aspect of their connected lives. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones and wearable devices, tablets and digital appliances. In 2021, Samsung was ranked as one of Canada's "Most Reputable Companies" in Leger's Corporate Reputation Study. Dedicated to helping make a difference in the lives of Canadians, Samsung's award-winning corporate giving initiatives support public education and health-related issues in communities across the country. To discover more, please visit www.Samsung.ca. Follow Samsung Canada at facebook.com/SamsungCanada, or Instagram @samsungcanada or Twitter @SamsungCanada. Contact: Aneesha Singh North Strategic Tel: 867-336-2206 aneesha.singh@northstrategic.com 1 An international keyboard is shown. Canadian model is a French/English bilingual keyboard. 2 Secured-core PCs use hardware-based security components like Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM) and modern CPUs along with virtualization-based security (VBS) and Windows hypervisor code integrity (HVCI) service to create a secure, hardware-isolated environment that effectively isolates memory and critical components to prevent attacks and unauthorized access to critical parts of the operating system. The Secured-core PC relies on advanced security capabilities built into modern CPUs to protect the integrity of Windows and its boot process from advanced attacks at the firmware level. Requires specialized hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated IT sensor or other biometric sensors and capable devices. 3 Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment. Requires optimal connection. Will require a Wi-Fi 6E router. 4 Battery life tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors. Battery pack sold separately. Video playback time is based on results from internal lab tests conducted by Samsung using default settings (Brightness-150 nits, Earphone (default volume), discharged to 2%, Airplane On (Wi-Fi not connected), KBD Backlight Off) when playing local 1080p movie playback, Player-Movies & TV with full screen videos on its screen. 5 Charger can power Galaxy devices that use USB Type-C port. 6 Based on super-fast charging results from international Samsung lab tests, conducted with a 65W charger while it has 2% of power remaining, with all the services, features and screen turned off. Charger specification varies by regions. Margin of error within +- 5%. 7 Only supports VoIP apps including Zoom, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp. 8 Galaxy Book2 Pro series devices feature 87-degree field of view compared to 77-degree field of view in Galaxy Book Pro series. 9 Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 models only. The Super AMOLED display is an AMOLED display that integrates touch screen functionality 10 Galaxy Book2 Pro measures at 400 nit, Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 measures at 370 nit default (Galaxy Book Pro series were 300 nit default) 11 Automatically activated when using the camera. Studio mode may not work correctly when 3rd party video call camera effects (backgrounds, face effects, etc.) are applied simultaneously. Auto framing feature requires face detection and may not work properly if user is wearing a face mask. Features may vary by environment, light condition, apps, device condition and other factors. 12 13.3-inch model supports max 4W output. 13 Users must link their Galaxy device to their Windows PC through Link to Windows on phone and Your Phone app on PC, follow the set-up prompts, including being signed into same Microsoft account. Link to Windows is preloaded on select Galaxy devices. Your Phone requires Windows 10 April 2019 Update (or later) on the PC and recommends the latest Windows 11. Your Phone requires Galaxy device to be on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the PC. Some mobile apps may restrict content to be shared on other screens or may require a touch screen to be able to interact with them. Multiple Android applications can be launched simultaneously up to 5 at a time in Windows 11 PC. 14 Data transferring via Galaxy Book Smart Switch requires all devices to be installed with Galaxy Book Smart Switch. The file-transferring PC can be any PC with the latest Windows OS. settings, MS Store Apps, and Files can be transferred. Both PCs should be connected to the same network. 15 An international keyboard is shown. Canadian model is a French/English bilingual keyboard. 16 Conditions apply. Offer is valid from April 1st, 2022 to April 15th, 2022 (the Promotional Period). Purchase only from Samsung.com/ca any eligible Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 or Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro and receive a Samsung Bluetooth Mouse (regular price of $70) Gift with Purchase and 50% off MSRP Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro (regular price of $264.99), as a bonus upon completion of your Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 or Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro Eligible Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 & Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro are as follows: NP930QED-KA1CA REGULAR PRICE: $1469.99, NP930QED-KB2CA REGULAR PRICE: $1729.99, NP930QED-KH1CA REGULAR PRICE: $1469.99, NP930QED-KA2CA REGULAR PRICE: $1729.99, NP950QED-KA2CA REGULAR PRICE: $1869.99, NP950QED-KA3CA REGULAR PRICE: $1999.99, NP950XED-KA1CA REGULAR PRICE: $1599.99. While supplies last. No rain checks. Limit of one Samsung Bluetooth Mouse & 50% off one Samsung Galaxy Buds pro per Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 or Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro purchased. The exact model of the Samsung Bluetooth Mouse & 50% off Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro received by the customer will depend on the eligible Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 or Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro purchased by the consumer. Open to Canadian residents only. Samsung.com/ca is only eligible for this promotion. Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Promotion may be cancelled or changed without notice. 17 Conditions apply. Offer available exclusively at www.samsung.com/ca. During the offer period, purchase: (i) a Galaxy Book2 Pro (NP950XED-KA1CA) and get 250 AIR MILES Bonus Miles (ii) a Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 (NP930QED-KA1CA, NP930QED-KH1CA, NP930QED-KB2CA, NP930QED-KA2CA, NP950QED-KA3CA, and NP950QED-KA2CA) and get 350 AIR MILES Bonus Miles AIR MILES Collector Number must be provided at the time of purchase. Bonus Miles will be posted to your Collector Account within 60 days of the offer end date. While quantities last. No rain checks. Availability and selection may vary. Products may be purchased separately at regular prices. Outright purchases only. Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion unless specifically agreed to by Samsung. Offer may be cancelled or changed without notice. 18 Conditions apply. Offer valid April 1st to June 15th, 2022 exclusively online at Samsung.com/ca. Now when you buy an eligible Samsung Laptop (applicable for NP930QED-KA1CA, NP930QED-KH1CA, NP930QED-KB2CA, NP930QED-KA2CA, NP950QED-KA3CA, NP950QED-KA2CA, NP950XED-KA1CA), you can also purchase a Samsung Care+ 2 Year Plan for 30% off (before taxes). While quantities last. Selection and availability may vary. No rain checks. Limit of one (1) Samsung Care+ 2 Year Plan, as applicable, per eligible Samsung laptop purchased per customer. Products must be purchased at the same time and on the same receipt. Products may be purchased separately at regular prices. No rain checks. Open to Canadian Residents only. Samsung reserves the right to change or cancel the promotion without notice. Cannot be combined with any other offer, unless expressly permitted by Samsung. 19 Certain conditions apply. Receive a trade-in promotional credit of $100, in addition to the trade-in value of your eligible old laptop, tablet or smartphone (the Eligible Trade-In Product), when you: (i) pre-order an eligible Galaxy Book2 Series device online at https://www.samsung.com/ca/ between March 17th, 2022 and March 31st, 2022 and complete your purchase; or purchase an eligible Galaxy Book2 Series device between April 1st, 2022 and April 30th, 2022 (the Offer Period), from a participating authorized Canadian retailer or carrier, or online at https://www.samsung.com/ca/; and (ii) complete the trade-in of your Eligible Trade-In Product by April 30th, 2022; and (iii) ship the Eligible Trade-in Product within 21 calendar days of receiving the waybill Selection and availability may vary. While quantities last. No rain checks. No cash value. $100 credit based on completing the trade-in of an Eligible Trade-In Product and purchasing a Galaxy Book2 Series device. Offer is subject to change or cancellation without notice, cannot be combined with any other offer and is available to Canadian residents only. Offer provided by Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. See https://www.samsung.com/ca/offer/ for Full Terms and Conditions. Please note: for trade-in transactions online at Samsung.com/ca if you do not send in your Eligible Trade-In Product within the prescribed time, or if the device condition differs materially from that which you have represented to be accurate using the Trade-In Tool, your trade-in transaction may be subject to a charge-back, in whole or in part, in accordance with the Trade-In Program Terms and Conditions of Use. 20 Terms and Conditions apply. For full Terms and Conditions, please see https://support-ca.samsung.com/secaew/consumer/ca/terms Pune, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- REPORT OVERVIEW: The Explosive Market provides vital information about the global, regional, and top companies, such as Explosive market share analysis, winning strategies, latest developments, and financials. Aside from giving information on the top participants in the Explosive market, the study also recalculates the influence of macroeconomic and microeconomic factors that may have an impact on the Explosive markets development. The report begins with an overview of the industrial chain structure, followed by a description of the increasing trend. Furthermore, the study examines market size and predictions for several geographic areas, kinds, and end-use sectors. Identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats results in fact-based analysis, new insights, increased revenue, historical data, and predicting new ideas. The Explosive market is growing at a steady rate and with the rising adoption of strategies by key players, the market is expected to rise over the projected horizon. The Explosive Market key insights have been presented through the frameworks of SWOT and Porters Five Forces analysis along with the attractiveness of the market has been presented by sales, revenue, distribution channel, product type, and region. Request a Sample PDF of report @ https://www.industryresearch.biz/enquiry/request-sample/19896165 INSIGHTS: Industrial explosives are high hazard blasting explosives primarily used in the mining and construction industry. Among them, mining explosive occupies the largest market share, and it can be widely used in coal mining, quarrying mining, nonmetal mining and metal mining. Coal mining is the most important application area of mining explosive. Market Analysis and Insights: Global Explosive Market Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Explosive market size is estimated to be worth US$ 17730 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of US$ 21790 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 3.5% during the review period. Explosive Market study also includes attractiveness analysis of type, application and regions which are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and attractiveness in terms of present and future opportunity for understanding the future growth of the market. Geographical and demographic data on the global Explosive market aims to determine the characteristics manufacturers need to include to meet the dynamics of the current market. The survey then deepens the best international players in the industry. This helps collect statistics on the revenue, products, growth, and other aspects of large companies. COVID-19 IMPACT: We have been tracking the direct impact of COVID-19 on this market, as well as the indirect impact from other industries. This report analyzes the impact of the pandemic on the Explosive market from a Global and Regional perspective. The report outlines the market size, market characteristics, and market growth for Explosive industry, categorized by type, application, and consumer sector. In addition, it provides a comprehensive analysis of aspects involved in market development before and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Report also conducted a PESTEL analysis in the industry to study key influencers and barriers to entry. To Understand How Covid-19 Impact Is Covered in This Report https://www.industryresearch.biz/enquiry/request-covid19/19896165 KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS: The market is fragmented due to the presence of a large number of regional and local enterprises from various nations. Mergers, expansions, acquisitions, and collaborations, as well as new product development, are emphasised as strategic strategies utilised by major firms to boost customer brand awareness. The markets leading businesses invest extensively in research and development to increase the effectiveness of their products and eliminate negative effects. List Of Market Players Profiled: - Orica - Dyno Nobel - MAXAM - ENAEX - AEL - Yunnan Civil Explosive - Poly Permanent Union Holding Group - Gezhouba Explosive - AUSTIN - NOF Corporation - Sverdlov - BME Mining - EPC Groupe - Sasol - Anhui Jiangnan - Solar Explosives - Nanling Civil Explosive - Famesa - Sichuan Yahua - IDEAL SEGMENTATION: The scope of the report includes worldwide and regional markets, as well as a complete analysis of the markets overall development prospects. It also highlights the global marketplaces broad competitive environment. This research also includes an overview of leading companies, including the most recent effective marketing techniques, market contributions, and present and historical context. The Explosive Market is is segmented by product type and end-user industry/application. Growth across segments is used to identify the many growth factors that are predicted to dominate the market as a whole, as well as to design diverse tactics to distinguish between key applications and target markets. By Type Analysis: - Ammoniun Nitrate Explosive - Anfo Explosive - Bulk Emulsions Explosive - Packaged Emulsions Explosive - Initiation Accesories By Application Analysis: - Coal Mine - Metal Mine - Quarrying - Non-metallic Mine - Construction Enquire before purchasing this report https://www.industryresearch.biz/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/19896165 DRIVERS AND RESTRAINS: The research report provides an analysis of the various factors driving the markets growth. It creates trends, constraints and impulses that change the market in a positive or negative direction. This section also discusses the various segments and applications that could affect the future market. The report includes a comprehensive boundary condition assessment that compares drivers and provides strategic planning. REGIONAL INSIGHTS: Global and country analyses are some of the main metrics used to predict domestic market scenarios. It takes into account the presence and availability of global brands, the problem of strong or little competition with local and domestic brands, and the impact of national tariffs and trade routes on country data projections. Regionally, the Explosive Market is clubbed into, - North America [US, Canada, Mexico] - Europe [Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy, Rest of Europe] - Asia-Pacific [China, India, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Rest of Asia Pacific] - South America [Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America] - Middle East and Africa [GCC, North Africa, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa] This report provides an analytical representation of the global Explosive Market, current trends, and future projections in order to discover prospective investment possibilities. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the global Explosive market share, as well as data on major drivers, constraints, and opportunities. The study provides a complete market analysis based on competitive intensity and how the competition will evolve in the next years. Get a Sample Copy of the Explosive Market Report Here Key Reasons to Purchase: - Gained an analysis of market insights and a comprehensive understanding of the Global Explosive Market and commercial environment. - To mitigate development risk, the production process evaluates key problems and solutions. - Recognize the driving forces and impediments that have the biggest influence on covid-19 in the Explosive market, as well as its worldwide market. - Explains the market strategies adopted by each major institution. - Understand the Explosive Market's future view and forecast. - In addition to standard structure reports, we also offer custom studies tailored to specific requirements. Purchase this Report (Price 4900 USD for a Single User License) - https://www.industryresearch.biz/purchase/19896165 IMPORTANT POINTS FROM TABLE OF CONTENT (TOC): 1 Study Coverage 1.1 Explosive Product Introduction 1.2 Market by Type 1.2.1 Global Explosive Market Size by Type, 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028 1.2.2 Ammoniun Nitrate Explosive 1.2.3 Anfo Explosive 1.2.4 Bulk Emulsions Explosive 1.2.5 Packaged Emulsions Explosive 1.2.6 Initiation Accesories 1.3 Market by Application 1.3.1 Global Explosive Market Size by Application, 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028 1.3.2 Coal Mine 1.3.3 Metal Mine 1.3.4 Quarrying 1.3.5 Non-metallic Mine 1.3.6 Construction 1.4 Study Objectives 1.5 Years Considered 2 Global Explosive Production 2.1 Global Explosive Production Capacity (2017-2028) 2.2 Global Explosive Production by Region: 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028 2.3 Global Explosive Production by Region 2.3.1 Global Explosive Historic Production by Region (2017-2022) 2.3.2 Global Explosive Forecasted Production by Region (2023-2028) 2.4 North America 2.5 Europe 2.6 China 2.7 Japan 2.8 Middle East & Africa 2.9 South America 2.10 India 3 Global Explosive Sales in Volume & Value Estimates and Forecasts 3.1 Global Explosive Sales Estimates and Forecasts 2017-2028 3.2 Global Explosive Revenue Estimates and Forecasts 2017-2028 3.3 Global Explosive Revenue by Region: 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028 3.4 Global Explosive Sales by Region 3.4.1 Global Explosive Sales by Region (2017-2022) 3.4.2 Global Sales Explosive by Region (2023-2028) 3.5 Global Explosive Revenue by Region 3.5.1 Global Explosive Revenue by Region (2017-2022) 3.5.2 Global Explosive Revenue by Region (2023-2028) 3.6 North America 3.7 Europe 3.8 Asia-Pacific 3.9 Latin America 3.10 Middle East & Africa 4 Competition by Manufactures 4.1 Global Explosive Production Capacity by Manufacturers 4.2 Global Explosive Sales by Manufacturers 4.2.1 Global Explosive Sales by Manufacturers (2017-2022) 4.2.2 Global Explosive Sales Market Share by Manufacturers (2017-2022) 4.2.3 Global Top 10 and Top 5 Largest Manufacturers of Explosive in 2021 4.3 Global Explosive Revenue by Manufacturers 4.3.1 Global Explosive Revenue by Manufacturers (2017-2022) 4.3.2 Global Explosive Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2017-2022) 4.3.3 Global Top 10 and Top 5 Companies by Explosive Revenue in 2021 4.4 Global Explosive Sales Price by Manufacturers 4.5 Analysis of Competitive Landscape 4.5.1 Manufacturers Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI) 4.5.2 Global Explosive Market Share by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3) 4.5.3 Global Explosive Manufacturers Geographical Distribution 4.6 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans 5 Market Size by Type 5.1 Global Explosive Sales by Type 5.1.1 Global Explosive Historical Sales by Type (2017-2022) 5.1.2 Global Explosive Forecasted Sales by Type (2023-2028) 5.1.3 Global Explosive Sales Market Share by Type (2017-2028) 5.2 Global Explosive Revenue by Type 5.2.1 Global Explosive Historical Revenue by Type (2017-2022) 5.2.2 Global Explosive Forecasted Revenue by Type (2023-2028) 5.2.3 Global Explosive Revenue Market Share by Type (2017-2028) 5.3 Global Explosive Price by Type 5.3.1 Global Explosive Price by Type (2017-2022) 5.3.2 Global Explosive Price Forecast by Type (2023-2028) 6 Market Size by Application 6.1 Global Explosive Sales by Application 6.1.1 Global Explosive Historical Sales by Application (2017-2022) 6.1.2 Global Explosive Forecasted Sales by Application (2023-2028) 6.1.3 Global Explosive Sales Market Share by Application (2017-2028) 6.2 Global Explosive Revenue by Application 6.2.1 Global Explosive Historical Revenue by Application (2017-2022) 6.2.2 Global Explosive Forecasted Revenue by Application (2023-2028) 6.2.3 Global Explosive Revenue Market Share by Application (2017-2028) 6.3 Global Explosive Price by Application 6.3.1 Global Explosive Price by Application (2017-2022) 6.3.2 Global Explosive Price Forecast by Application (2023-2028) 7 North America 8 Europe 9 Asia Pacific 10 Latin America 11 Middle East and Africa 12 Corporate Profiles 12.1 Orica 12.1.1 Orica Corporation Information 12.1.2 Orica Overview 12.1.3 Orica Explosive Sales, Price, Revenue and Gross Margin (2017-2022) 12.1.4 Orica Explosive Product Model Numbers, Pictures, Descriptions and Specifications 12.1.5 Orica Recent Developments 12.2 Dyno Nobel 12.2.1 Dyno Nobel Corporation Information 12.2.2 Dyno Nobel Overview 12.2.3 Dyno Nobel Explosive Sales, Price, Revenue and Gross Margin (2017-2022) 12.2.4 Dyno Nobel Explosive Product Model Numbers, Pictures, Descriptions and Specifications 12.2.5 Dyno Nobel Recent Developments 12.3 MAXAM 12.3.1 MAXAM Corporation Information 12.3.2 MAXAM Overview 12.3.3 MAXAM Explosive Sales, Price, Revenue and Gross Margin (2017-2022) 12.3.4 MAXAM Explosive Product Model Numbers, Pictures, Descriptions and Specifications 12.3.5 MAXAM Recent Developments 12.4 ENAEX 12.4.1 ENAEX Corporation Information 12.4.2 ENAEX Overview 12.4.3 ENAEX Explosive Sales, Price, Revenue and Gross Margin (2017-2022) 12.4.4 ENAEX Explosive Product Model Numbers, Pictures, Descriptions and Specifications 12.4.5 ENAEX Recent Developments 12.5 AEL 12.5.1 AEL Corporation Information 12.5.2 AEL Overview 12.5.3 AEL Explosive Sales, Price, Revenue and Gross Margin (2017-2022) 12.5.4 AEL Explosive Product Model Numbers, Pictures, Descriptions and Specifications 12.5.5 AEL Recent Developments ................ 13 Industry Chain and Sales Channels Analysis 14 Market Drivers, Opportunities, Challenges and Risks Factors Analysis 15 Key Finding in The Global Explosive Study 16 Appendix Browse Detailed TOC of Explosive Market @ https://www.industryresearch.biz/TOC/19896165#TOC REPORT COVERAGE: The Explosive Market study includes data on market size, price trends, and emerging growth, as well as a comprehension of industry features that can lead to profitable prospects for new entrants and established organisations. This study examines the market's primary drivers and constraints in depth. The market trends discussed in the studies will influence the market's future orientation. The research also contains a complete analysis of the accomplishments of the worldwide market's leading players. It also discusses crucial market trends that are likely to be beneficial. The study report's purpose is to offer a fair and truthful picture of the situation. What the Report has to Offer? - Market Size Estimates: The report offers accurate and reliable estimation of the market size in terms of value and volume. Aspects such as production, distribution and supply chain, and revenue for the Explosive market are also highlighted in the report - Analysis on Market Trends: In this part, upcoming market trends and development have been scrutinized - Growth Opportunities: The report here provides clients with the detailed information on the lucrative opportunities in the Explosive market - Regional Analysis: In this section, the clients will find comprehensive analysis of the potential regions and countries in the Explosive market - Analysis on the Key Market Segments: The report focuses on the segments: end user, application, and product type and the key factors fuelling their growth. - Vendor Landscape: Competitive landscape provided in the report will help the companies to become better equipped to be able to make effective business decisions. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: The collection and analysis of the base year data was performed using a large sample data collection module. Market data is analyzed and forecasted using consistent statistical market models. In addition, the most important success factors in market reporting are market share analysis and trend analysis. The main research methods are data mining, data triangulation and preliminary analysis and validation (industry experts) of the impact of data fluctuations on the market. In addition, the data model includes vendor positioning grid, market timeline analysis, market overview and leadership, industry positioning grid, enterprise operation analysis, metrics, top-down analysis, and vendor analysis. ABOUT US Market is changing rapidly with the ongoing expansion of the industry. Advancement in the technology has provided todays businesses with multifaceted advantages resulting in daily economic shifts. Thus, it is very important for a company to comprehend the patterns of the market movements in order to strategize better. An efficient strategy offers the companies with a head start in planning and an edge over the competitors. Industry Research is the credible source for gaining the market reports that will provide you with the lead your business needs. PARAMUS, N.J., April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gayo Azul, the famous Caribbean Hispanic cheesemakers with a Dutch influence, announce the Second Annual Gayo Azul Blue Rooster Chicken Coop Giveaway in celebration of the Easter holiday. The prize is a unique take on Easter and egg hunts, as well as a nod to their iconic blue rooster logoblue rooster being a translation of Gayo Azul. The first Chicken Coop contest garnered thousands of enthusiastic entrants so the contest is back by popular demand, 'egged' on by the public. Gayo Azul invites everyone to its second annual The Gayo Azul Blue Rooster Chicken Coop Contest, hosted on their website, at www.gayoazul.com/promotions. Three grand prize winners will be randomly selected to win a beautiful and high-quality chicken coop from The Chicken Coop Company (www.chickencoopcompany.com), along with a gift card, a few handy kitchen accessories, and a delectable assortment of Gayo Azul cheeses valued at $700. Entries for The Gayo Azul Blue Rooster Chicken Coop Contest will be accepted from April 1 until April 18, 2022, at 11:59 pm ET. There are multiple ways to earn entries for the giveaway, and Gayo Azul encourages customers to complete them all to maximize their chances of winning: Click on this link www.gayoazul.com/promotions to fill out the entry form Follow Gayo Azul on Facebook (@gayoazulcheese) and Instagram (@gayo_azul_cheese) Share the giveaway posts from Gayo Azul's Facebook and Instagram Once the contest has closed, three grand prize winners will be randomly selected. "Many of our consumers have been loyal to our brand for years, sometimes even decades," says Debbie Seife, Marketing Director of FrieslandCampina. "We like to show our appreciation for that loyalty in fun and out-of-the-ordinary ways, and I hope our consumers love the grand prize as much as we do. The last Gayo Azul Chicken Coop Contest amassed thousands of entries, so we want to open the door again based on the extreme excitement." Gayo Azul is known for their fantastic cheeses, which stand apart due to a unique combination of both Dutch and Hispanic cheesemaking. Gayo Azul boasts a rich history, beginning in the 1950s in the Caribbean, where Dutch cheeses were quickly gaining popularity. Gayo Azul began expanding their cheese portfolio, which is now loved not just in the Caribbean, but across the United States as well. By combining a passion for the craft with a strong emphasis on authentic flavor and premium quality, Gayo Azul have found themselves a staple in family kitchens for multiple generations. After decades of growth and innovation, Gayo Azul now offer a versatile assortment of cheeses, sure to satisfy any cheese lover. All of Gayo Azul's cheeses are available in convenient sizes, varieties include: NEW Cotijaa firm and crumbly Mexican aged cow's milk cheese with a sharp, slightly salty flavor. It is an unbeatable topping when crumbled over enchiladas, tacos or street corn. Dutch Goudamild taste and creamy texture, the wedges are perfect for a cheeseboard and work wonderfully shredded in a casserole or for sauces with wonderful meltability. Also available in slices, it makes for a delicious cheeseburger, grilled cheese, or cold sandwich. Dutch Edama bit firmer than Gouda, and with a rich flavor and smooth, creamy texture. It is excellent cut up for cheeseboards, shredded for baking dishes, or cubed for salads. It is known for its red wax exterior and the spherical shape of a full Edam ball. European Swissa semi-firm cheese with a sweet nutty taste and telltale round holes, also known as eyes. Available in sliced form, it is perfect for burgers and both cold and grilled sandwiches. Queso Blanco a fresh, white cow's milk cheese with a slightly salty and mild flavor. Its young age creates an irresistibly creamy, yet crumbly texture that holds shape well, making it ideal for grilling. It is also perfect when crumbled to complement any soup, salad, or rice and beans. It is great served as a table cheese with fresh fruit, marmalade or a chutney. Queso Para Freira fresh, white, cow's milk cheese with a firm texture, mild and slightly salty flavor. Known for its high melting point which softens the cheese while leaving an unmelted interior that holds its shape, it is commonly used for frying. It is also great sliced for sandwiches, crumbled over fruit salads, and melted over baked dishes. "We believe that variety is the spice of life, and we hope that the Gayo Azul Chicken Coop Contest creates awareness about the delicious varieties of Gayo Azul Cheese people can use to get creative with their cooking," says Carlee Covino, Associate Brand Manager. "We love seeing interesting recipes people come up with, and always encourage customers to share their creations with us on social media." Gayo Azul products can be found at local grocers throughout the Northeast and Southeast, including BJ's Wholesale, Fresco Y Mas, Key Foods, Market Basket, Presidente, Publix, Sedano's, and Winn Dixie Supermarkets, as well as Walmart Supercenters. To get more information about Gayo Azul and its products, find where its cheeses are available, and discover new recipe ideas, visit www.gayoazul.com or follow them on Facebook (@gayoazulcheese) and Instagram (@gayo_azul_cheese). For more information about The Gayo Azul Blue Rooster Chicken Coop Contest, go to www.gayoazul.com/promotions. For additional information: Stacey Bender T + 1 (973) 650-1218 Sbender@bendergrouppr.com Related Images Image 1 Gayo Azul, the famous Caribbean Hispanic cheesemakers with a Dutch influence, announce the Second Annual Gayo Azul Blue Rooster Chicken Coop Giveaway in celebration of the Easter holiday This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment LOS ANGELES, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Fabletics launched The Sun-Daze Collection by Vanessa Hudgens, a capsule that takes its cue from California cool girl vibes and introduces pieces that are bold, on-trend and perfect for Spring and Summer. Following a successful partnership as the face of Fableticss December Velour campaign, Hudgens has returned in a bigger way, this time for the first time to design her very own capsule and introduce new styles, patterns and an entirely new fabric, the Island Terry. The eye-catching collection is inspired by kitschy 2000s trends, made modern by Fabletics. With warmer months around the corner and so much to look forward to, the Fabletics customer cant wait to have fun, look chic and be comfortable, which is exactly what The Sun-Daze Collection is all about, said Jennifer Chevchek, VP of Design at Fabletics. We are especially excited to bolster our fabric offering by introducing the brand-new Island Terry material in Vanessas collection. It is lightweight and breathable, making it versatile enough to wear to the beach or hanging out with friends. The Sun-Daze collection by Vanessa Hudgens features Fabletics iconic activewear sets in bright, colorful prints Pink Rave Geo and Desert Leopard, a sexy new string bikini which is an all-new design and category for Fabletics, casual terry sets in Lavender Lustre and Aqua Blue, tops and baby tees, and fun accessories like an on-trend bucket hat, and playful phone charm. The size-inclusive capsule consists of 16 styles, with VIP prices ranging from $9.95 to $59.95. Im obsessed with this collection, and it couldnt be more perfect for festival season. My personal faves are the leggings for the fit and print (designed by yours truly) and the terry baby doll dress which is so cute and flattering. I wanted to do a full lifestyle collection so theres something cute in there for all the Spring moments ahead, commented Hudgens. Highlights from the collection include: The Sun-Daze Collection by Vanessa Hudgens is available for purchase starting April 1, 2022 on fabletics.com and in Fabletics retail locations across the US. About Fabletics Founded in 2013 and headquartered in El Segundo, CA, Fabletics is the largest digitally native activewear brand in the world*. By fusing style-centric designs with high-performance technology, Fabletics is creating the worlds most fashionable, high-performance active lifestyle products at an accessible price. Driven by its innovative VIP membership program serving over 2 million loyal members and powered by analysis from its Fashion OS tech platform enabling deep customer understanding, Fabletics has evolved activewear beyond the gym into every walk of life, guided by its foundational belief that everyone and every body deserves to look and feel their best. See and shop the collections in the US, Canada, Europe and in person at the brands state-of-the-art retail stores in over 75 locations. Media Contacts: Arielle Schechtman: aschechtman@fabletics.com Carli Bendetti: cbendetti@fabletics.com Alexis Blais: alexis.blais@icrinc.com *Source: Euromonitor International Limited; Based on total global retail sales in the calendar year 2020 from custom research conducted in October 2021. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fe37bd6-5093-4002-8abf-9a6707590a5f LOS ANGELES, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- February 19th, 2022, marked the 56th anniversary of the Narconon program. To commemorate this milestone, Narconon centers around the world held events spanning 14 countries over the past month. From the Gulf Coast of Florida to the Danish countryside and the foothills of Himalayan mountains in Nepal to East Sussex County in England, graduates, family members, staff, and supporters marked this special occasion with events that highlight the success of the Narconon program and its graduates. The events, attended by supporters and community leaders, provided an opportunity to spotlight program graduates who shared their stories to inspire and help others. Special Drug Free for Good Awards were presented to graduates who are giving back through their work in their communities to help others. Community leaders, including a Minister of Health, the head of a local Chamber of Commerce and a Senator, all expressed well wishes and heartfelt thanks to the staff and admiration to the graduates of the 56-year-old program. While addiction continues to affect millions and deaths continue to mount, the success found by Narconon graduates cannot be ignored. As shining points in an otherwise bleak landscape, the Narconon program continues to provide a path forward for anyone looking for true recovery. In commemoration of this anniversary, David Judice, Executive Director of Narconon Arrowhead, had this to say: "It is an honor to be part of the international Narconon network of rehabilitation centers and know that we are helping the most vulnerable those struggling with addiction. In these uncertain times, more than ever, people need real solutions to the problem of addiction. We cannot keep losing our loved ones to drug overdoses." Narconon International is proud to celebrate every graduate who has persisted on his road to recovery, every family member who has gone above and beyond until they found real help and every Narconon staff member who has been there to provide this life-saving program to those who needed it most. Narconon has been a leader in drug-free treatment for over half a century with its unique New Life Detoxification regimen and life skill tools that have helped thousands of graduates build new lives. The Narconon program's success shows there is hope for those struggling with addiction. It is possible to live drug-free for good. #NarcononDay Media Contact: Media Relations Phone: (323) 775-9292 Email: publicaffairs@narconon.org Related Images Image 1: Narconon Balkan in North Macedonia, holds a special graduation to celebrate the 56th anniversary Graduation in Narconon Balkan in North Macedonia. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment LONDON, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- La Mancha Fund SCSp (the Fund), a fund advised by La Mancha Capital Advisory LLP (La Mancha), is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, La Mancha Investments S.a r.l. (LMI), yesterday acquired 7,250,000 common shares (the Shares) of Elemental Royalties Corp. (Elemental) (TSX-V: ELE, OTCQX: ELEMF) at a subscription price of C$1.51 per Share for an aggregate subscription price of approximately US$8.5 million. The net proceeds of the subscription will be used by Elemental to fund its acquisition of the Ming Gold stream. The Fund owns 7,250,000 common shares of Elemental following completion of the subscription, representing approximately 9.3% of Elementals issued and outstanding common shares. The Fund completed the subscription and acquired the Shares for business and investment purposes. In the future the Fund may, from time to time, increase or decrease its investment in Elemental through market transactions, private agreements, treasury issuances or otherwise at any time. About La Mancha Fund SCSp La Mancha Fund SCSp (the Fund) is a Luxembourg-based deep value fund advised by La Mancha Capital Advisory LLP dedicated primarily to investments in the precious metals and energy transition metals space. The Funds general partner is La Mancha Capital Management GP S.a r.l. which has delegated investment management over the Funds investments to Notz, Stucki Europe S.A., which has further delegated the portfolio management of the Fund to G10 Capital Limited. About La Mancha Capital Advisory LLP La Mancha Capital Advisory LLP (La Mancha) advises on strategic investments made by the Fund in publicly listed and private gold and energy transition commodity companies with a global outlook. La Mancha is a long-term minded investment advisor, with a mandate to support mining companies to achieve sustained growth by providing long-term equity capital as well as operational and board level expertise, to further portfolio company performance and expansion. La Mancha Capital Advisory LLP is an Appointed Representative of G10 Capital Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 648953). Further Information La Mancha Capital Advisory LLP Vincent Benoit, vincent.benoit@lamancha.com Karim Nasr, karim.nasr@lamancha.com Dublin, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United Arab Emirates (UAE) Construction Market Size, Trends and Forecasts by Sector - Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Institutional and Residential Market Analysis, 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. UAE's construction industry to expand by 4.2% in real terms this year, compared with an estimated growth of 4.4% in 2021. The ongoing Expo 2020 event (1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022) has provided assistance to the industry, while low base effects and pent-up demand spurred the industry's growth in 2021. Activity in the commercial and tourism sector also showed an indication of recovery, with the hotel occupancy rate in Dubai reaching 62% in the first nine months of 2021 - up from 51% recorded during 2020 - and a total of nine million visitor arrivals in the first three months of Expo 2020 (October to December 2021). The report forecasts the construction industry to register an annual growth of 3.7% during the period of 2023-2026. However, rising Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in early 2022 could stifle the industry's growth over the short term. Overall, construction output in the UAE is expected to remain below 2019 levels until 2023. Growth over the forecast period will be driven by the country's development agenda of strengthening industrial, transportation, and energy infrastructures. As part of the Project of the 50, the government announced plans in September 2021 to implement a series of developmental and economic projects aimed at accelerating the UAE's development and transforming it into a comprehensive hub in all sectors, with the goal of attracting AED550 billion ($149.8 billion) in foreign direct investment (FDI) over the next nine years. In terms of railway development, the government unveiled the new AED50 billion ($13.6 billion) UAE Railway Programme in December 2021, which constitutes an integrated strategy for the country's railway sector for the coming decades, estimating to generate AED200 billion ($54.5 billion) in economic prospects. In October 2021, the UAE became the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region to commit to carbon neutrality, with the country announcing a target to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. To achieve this target, the government plans to invest AED600 billion ($163.4 billion) on renewable energy over the next three decades. In October 2021, the government announced that over 11,000 new residential units were under construction across the country, and in November 2021, it approved housing projects worth AED3.8 billion ($1 billion). In addition, the launch of Expo 2020 has increased short-term leasing, with the government aiming to turn this into a long-term uptick by positioning the UAE as an attractive opportunity for foreign investors. Over the long term, the residential sector's output will be supported by the government's plan to invest AED65 billion ($17.7 billion) on the Emirati housing programme in Dubai until 2041. Market Analysis, Information, and Insights UAE's construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, as well as an analysis of key risks and opportunities in UAE's construction industry Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, focusing on development stages and participants, in addition to listings of major projects in the pipeline. Scope Historical (2017-2021) and forecast (2022-2026) valuations of the construction industry in the UAE, featuring details of key growth drivers. Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline. Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Construction Industry: At-A-Glance 3 Context 3.1 Economic Performance 3.2 Political Environment and Policy 3.3 Demographics 3.4 Covid-19 Status 3.5 Risk Profile 4 Construction Outlook 4.1 All Construction Outlook Latest News and Developments Construction Projects Momentum Index 4.2 Commercial Construction Outlook Project Analytics Latest News and Developments 4.3 Industrial Construction Outlook Project Analytics Latest News and Developments 4.4 Infrastructure Construction Outlook Project Analytics Latest News and Developments 4.5 Energy and Utilities Construction Outlook Project Analytics Latest News and Developments 4.6 Institutional Construction Outlook Project Analytics Latest News and Developments 4.7 Residential Construction Outlook Project Analytics Latest News and Developments 5 Key Industry Participants 5.1 Contractors 5.2 Consultants 6 Construction Market Data For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/g62223 DENVER, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Baby name website, Listophile has conducted a study into the latest baby naming trends of Generation Alpha. Generation Alpha is the demographic that follows Generation Z and includes those born from 2010 to 2025. Therefore the oldest are twelve, and the youngest have yet to be born. The study showed an unprecedented growth of unique names given to Generation Alpha babies. The study suggests unique names are being used by parents as a vehicle of self-expression, and to signify their child's individualism. Listophile also identified 14 remarkably distinct naming trends of the generation. These trends ranged from an exponential rise in unisex names, to passing trends such as creative spellings of more popular names; names that are coming back into style, such as nature, vintage and virtue names; to relatively new trends such as cottagecore, word and diminutive names. Interesting, the study found the growth of unique baby names for girls is far more amplified than the growth of unique baby names for boys. Listophile attributed this trend to the strong desire of parents wanting to empower their daughters. Names Increasing the Most in Popularity: The study showed baby names that increased the most in popularity tended to be more unique and creative names. The top 5 baby names that have increased most in popularity are Oaklyn, Ainhoa, Marceline, Sevyn, and Zhuri for girls and Niklaus, Kyro, Jaxtyn, Amias, and Kiaan for boys. Names Decreasing the Most in Popularity: Names that have decreased most in popularity include baby names that were predominantly popular in the latter half of the 20th century, such as Crystal, Brittany, Megan, Natasha, and Tiffany for girls and Trent, Brett, Randy, Brendan, and Larry for boys. Unsurprisingly, the baby names Karen and Jeffrey have tanked in popularity. The number of girls named Karen has decreased 74.75% since 2010. Karen has become associated with the meme-based mockery of middle-aged women who make unreasonable demands and display brazen entitlement. While Jeffrey has associations with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. The number of boys named Jeffery has decreased by 52.47% since 2010. Names having about the same Popularity: Traditional names that have been at the top of popular baby name lists for generations are also popular with Generation Alpha parents. Names that have changed least in popularity with Alpha Generation parents include Emma, Sophia, Elizabeth, Victoria, and Claire for girls and William, Alexander, John, Simon, and Adrian for boys. More Information: To read the full study and download the dataset, click here. To request a quote, contact Listophile at support@listophile.com. Related Images Image 1: Generation Alpha Baby Names Generation Alpha baby names are seemingly bolder, fresher, and more daring compared to any other generation in history. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Park Street A/S Annual Report 2021 Copenhagen, 1 April 2022 In 2021 Park Street obtained a Profit after tax of DKK 145.4 million against DKK 145.3 million in 2020. Improvement is mainly driven by the revaluation on investment properties. EBVAT (earnings before value adjustments and tax) achieved in 2021 is DKK 56.9 million (2020: DKK 69.8 million). The Group Equity at 31st December 2021 is DKK 1,217.0 million compared to DKK 1,071.9 million as at 31 December 2020; the increase is caused by the profit of the period. The Board of Directors of Park Street A/S today discussed and approved the Annual Report 2021, which contained the following: The period in outline Yearly result was a profit of DKK 145.4 million (2020: DKK 145.3 million). For 2021 Park Street achieved EBVAT (earnings before value adjustments and tax) of DKK 56.9 million (2020: DKK 69.8 million). Net Operating Income results were below management expectations for the period. The revenues were negatively impacted primarily due to the sale of properties, intentional vacancy in order to initiate residential projects and a delay on filling vacancies due to the uncertainties caused by Covid-19, partially offset by a reduction in external consulting expenses relating to properties (-DKK 5.2 million) and service costs (- DKK 4.8 million) and an increase in income received from the hotels in the group (DKK 2.9 million). During the period, Park Street sold: Residential unit in Ballerup Land plot in Naestved A total adjustment of DKK 128.9 million in the value of investment properties was included in the balance sheet statement (2020: DKK 79.5 million). A new evaluation has been made for 2021 adjusting the yield and the estimated profit and loss for the entire portfolio of Park Street A/S and subsidiaries. The sale of two non-core properties generated a profit of DKK 1.5 million. The Group's equity was positive at DKK 1,217.0 million at 31 December 2021 (31 December 2020: DKK 1,071.9 million). Park Street's net cash flow in 2021 was DKK 144.7 million (2020: DKK -38.5 million). Positive cash flow from operating activities has been DKK 58.0 million (2020: DKK 62.0 million), while cash flow from investing activities was DKK -17.8 million (2020: DKK 137.9 million), 2020 cash flows having been mainly driven by the disposal of assets. Cash flow from financing activities is positive by DKK 104.4 million (2020: DKK -238.3 million) mainly driven by financing and re-financing activities. Subsequent events after December 31, 2021 An investment property in Loftborvej has been sold in January 2022. Significant leases for over 3,800 square meters have been signed since January 2022. The Company has announced buyback program for Class A and Class B shares. Management comments on the Annual report In connection with Annual Report 2022, CEO Pradeep Pattem states the following: In 2021 at Park Street we made substantial progress in strengthening the balance sheet with full paydown of all short term loans, establishing new financing facilities for Pulse N development and financing / refinancing further assets to improve liquidity along with sales of some non-core assets. The year remained challenging for leasing up vacant space in view of continued reservations from prospective tenants with making new investments. Higher costs associated with one off financing activities and lower than expected leasing activity reflects in the EBVAT of DKK 57 million which is below our expectations. The background diligent efforts from our team across leasing, asset management, operations, technology and design team remained consistent which should result in reduced vacancies in the year 2022. We are quite excited with the progress of development for Pulse Norrebro which is expected to launch by end of 2022/ Q1 2023. We also welcomed new colleagues to our asset management to shape the Spark Offices and Pulse strategy and related leasing efforts. The discussions over the year 2021 have also led to further new leases being signed for around 4000 sqm in the new year. We also continue to take significant steps to streamline our portfolio by disposing several assets while focussing further development of www.sparkoffices.dk and pulseliving.dk portfolio. The company expects that the EBVAT for the year 2022 will be in the range of DKK 60 - 65 million." Attached files The Annual Report 2021 and the Statement of the mandatory review of Corporate Governance, cf. section 107b of the Danish Financial Statement Act, is attached to this announcement. Copenhagen, Anita Nassar Pradeep Pattem Chairman CEO Further information For further information please contact Pradeep Pattem, CEO at nordicom@nordicom.dk Company Website: www.psnas.com Telephone Number: +45 33 33 93 03 Attachments According to article 6.2 of the articles of association, the annual general meeting of Park Street A/S is hereby called to be held on Monday, 25 April 2022, at 10 AM CEST The general meeting will be held at the companys address Svanevej 12, 2400 Copenhagen NV AGENDA In accordance with article 9.1 of the company's articles of association, the board of directors has prepared the following agenda: Board of directors' report on the company's activities in the past year. Presentation and approval of the audited annual report for the financial year 2021. Board of directors' proposed resolution on the appropriation of profit or covering of loss according to the approved annual report for the financial year 2021. Presentation of and advisory vote of the remuneration report for the financial year 2021. Re-election of members to the board of directors. Re-election of auditors. Other resolutions proposed by the board of directors and any resolutions proposed by shareholders. The board of directors has submitted the following proposed resolutions: Proposed resolution to convert 2,137,939 class B shares of nominal value DKK 1.00 into 2,137,939 class A-shares with nominal value DKK 1.00 to be admitted to trading and listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen and to authorise the board of directors to apply for such admission to trading and listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Proposed resolution to reduce the share capital by annulment of 1,338,160 class A shares of nominal value DKK 1.00 and 9,000,000 class B shares of nominal value DKK 1.00 repurchased by the company under the company's share buy-back programmes launched on 25 February 2022 and on 10 October 2020. Amendments to the articles of association. Authorisation of chairman of the meeting. Any other business. Elaboration on selected agenda items Re agenda item 2 The board of directors proposes that the audited annual report for the financial year 2021 be approved. Re agenda item 3 The board of directors proposes that the results in accordance with the approved annual report for the financial year 2021 be transferred to the financial year 2022. Re agenda item 4 The board of directors proposes that the remuneration report for the financial year 2021 be adopted. Re agenda item 5 The board of directors proposes that Anita Nassar, Pradeep Pattem, Ohene Aku Kwapong and Claes Peter Rading be re-elected to the board of directors. Re agenda item 6 Based on the recommendation from the audit committee, the board of directors proposes that PricewaterhouseCoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, CVR no. 33771231 (PWC) be re-elected as the company's auditor. The audit committee has confirmed that the committee has not been influenced by any third party and that the committee has not been subject to any agreements restricting the general meeting's election of auditors to certain categories or lists of auditors or auditing firms. Re agenda item 7a The board of directors proposes that 2,137,939 class B shares of nominal value DKK 1.00 be converted into 2,137,939 class A shares with nominal value DKK 1.00 to be admitted to trading and listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen, and that the board of directors be authorised to submit an application for admission to trading and listing of 2,137,939 class A shares on Nasdaq Copenhagen to the stock exchange and to amend the articles of association accordingly. As the class B shares (to be converted into class A shares) to be admitted to trading and listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen represent less than 20 % of the company's class A share capital already admitted to trading and listed (after registration of the capital reduction proposed in item 7b below), the company is exempted from the statutory obligation to prepare and file a prospectus according to Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (Prospectus Regulation). The remaining 44,347,935 class B shares will remain as non-listed class B shares. Increasing the base of available class A shares improves the liquidity for class A shares and could facilitate expanding the investor base for the company. Re agenda item 7b The board of directors, in order to maintain flexibility in relation to the companys capital structure, proposes to reduce the company's share capital from DKK 67,513,732 (divided into DKK 12,027,858 class A shares of DKK 1.00 and DKK 55,485,874 class B shares of nominal value DKK 1.00) to DKK 57,175,572 (divided into DKK 10,689,698 class A shares of DKK 1.00 and DKK 46,485,874 class B shares of nominal value DKK 1.00) by annulment of 1,338,160 class A shares of nominal value DKK 1.00 and 9,000,000 class B shares of nominal value DKK 1.00 repurchased by the company under the share buy-back programmes launched by the company on 25 February 2022 and on 10 October 2020. In accordance with section 188 of the Danish Companies Act, the amount from the share capital reduction will be used as distribution to shareholders per the share buyback program. Consequently, upon such share capital reduction, the company will no longer hold any class A treasury shares nor any class B treasury shares. Re agenda item 7c As a consequence of items 7a and 7b, the board of directors proposes that section 3.1 of the articles of association is amended to the following wording: "The Company's share capital is DKK 57,175,572, divided into DKK 10,689,698 class A shares of DKK 1.00 each or multiples thereof and 46,485,874 class B shares of DKK 1.00 or multiples thereof. The share capital is fully paid up." As a consequence of the company changing name and website, the board of directors proposes that 19.1 of the articles of association is amended to the following wording: "Any communication from the Company to the individual shareholders shall be by electronic mail (e-mail), and notices convening General Meetings shall be available to the shareholders at the Companys homepage, www.psnas.com, unless otherwise specifically stipulated in the legislation. The Company shall, however, in connection with each communication to the shareholders choose to use ordinary post as an alternative to electronic communication. The Company shall ask its shareholders to state an e-mail address to which information about meetings, etc., can be forwarded. The shareholders shall be responsible for ensuring that the Company will at any time have correct electronic contact information. Any communication from the shareholders to the Company shall be by electronic communication via e-mail to the address nordicom@nordicom.dk. The shareholders can be informed of the requirements regarding the systems used and the procedure for electronic communication through the Companys homepage, www.psnas.com ." Re agenda item 8 The board of directors proposes that the chairman of the general meeting, with a right of delegation, be authorised to make any such amendments and additions to the resolutions passed at the general meeting and the application for registration with the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen) that may be required by the authority in connection with the registration of the amendments passed. Documents available at the company's office and website The following documents will no later than 1 April 2022 be available for the shareholders' inspection at the company's office located at Svanevej 12, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV: (i) the notice convening the general meeting; (ii) the total number of shares and voting rights as at the date of the notice convening the general meeting (included in this notice); (iii) the agenda including (included in this notice); (iv) the complete proposed resolutions (included in this notice); (v) the audited annual report for the financial year 2021; (vi) the articles of association and (vii) the voting forms. This material will also be available at the company's website www.psnas.com. The relevant material will also be sent to each registered shareholder who has made a request to that effect. Voting requirements Adoption of agenda items 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8 is subject to a simple majority of the votes cast in accordance with article 10.1 of the articles of association and the Danish Companies Act. Adoption of agenda items 7a, 7b and 7c is subject to the proposed resolution being passed by at least two-thirds of the votes cast at the general meeting as well as at least two-thirds of the share capital represented at the general meeting in accordance with article 10.1 of the articles of association and the Danish Companies Act. Agenda item 4 is subject advisory vote in accordance with the Danish Companies Act. Postal vote Shareholders may vote by post before the general meeting. If the shareholders wish to vote by post, they must complete and return the enclosed form which must reach Computershare A/S no later than on Friday, 22 April 2022 at 12.00 CEST (Noon). Postal votes may also be cast at the company's website www.psnas.com no later than on Friday, 22 April 2022 at 11.59 p.m. CEST. Proxy Shareholders may attend the general meeting by proxy. The attendance of the shareholder or his/her proxy shall be filed with the company no later than Thursday, 21 April 2022 at 11.59 p.m. CEST. In case of third-party proxy, the shareholder must request an admission card and voting card in the name of such third party. Proxies granted to the board of directors must be proxies to cast votes only in accordance with the board of directors' recommendations or according to a proxy form. Proxies granted to the company's board of directors must reach Computershare A/S no later than on Thursday, 21 April 2022 at 11.59 p.m. CEST. Admission cards, voting cards and registration date Admission cards for the annual general meeting will be sent electronically by e-mail to the e-mail addresses stated in the shareholders' portal at the registration date. The admission card must be presented at the general meeting either electronically on a smartphone/tablet or in printed form. Shareholders having requested admission cards without specifying their e-mail address may pick up their admission cards at the entrance to the general meeting upon presentation of a valid ID. Voting cards will be handed out at the access control at the general meeting. The registration date is Monday, 18 April 2022 at 11.59 p.m. CEST.. Questions from the shareholders The shareholders may ask questions about the items on the agenda or documents etc. related to the general meeting until the general meeting by written correspondence to the company marked "Annual general meeting" or by e-mail to nordicom@nordicom.dk. Questions and answers will be available at the company's website and presented at the general meeting. Share capital and voting rights The company's share capital is DKK 67,513,732, divided into DKK 12,027,858 class A shares of DKK 1.00 each or multiples thereof and DKK 55,485,874 class B shares of DKK 1.00 or multiples thereof. Each share amount of DKK 1.00 shall carry one vote. Thus, the class A shares and the class B shares carry the same voting rights. The company holds 1,338,160 class A treasury shares and 9,000,000 class B treasury shares as of the date of the notice convening the general meeting. Voting rights cannot be exercised in relation to these treasury shares. Hence, the total number of voting rights of the Company that can be exercised at the general meeting amounts to 57,175,572. Miscellaneous ROME, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ITA Airways continues to increase the routes of its 2022 summer season. From Saturday 2 April, the company's offer will be enriched with the launch of the new connection from Milan Malpensa to New York JFK. The flight will operate 5 times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday and it will depart Milan Malpensa at 1.40 p.m., landing in New York at 5.00 p.m. local time. The return New York - Milan Malpensa flight will depart at 8.55 p.m. local time, landing at 11.05 a.m. The flight will be operated with Airbus A330-200 aircraft with three travel classes: Business, Premium Economy and Economy, offering high standards of service according to traditional Italian hospitality. ITA Airways is adding this new route to the currently operating New York JFK Rome Fiumicino flight, and to the connections from Rome to Miami and Boston which were launched in March. With this additional route to New York, the company continues its expansion process in the US market, the most strategic market after Italy, the home market, aiming to reach a total of 42 flights per week between US and Italy by August 2022. ITA Airways' Summer 2022 schedule includes 64 new destinations, of which 23 are domestic, 34 international and 7 intercontinental. It is the intercontinental destinations that are the big new feature for this new season of ITA Airways, which, thanks to its latest-generation Airbus A330s and A350s, will reach the most important destinations in world tourism. In fact, in the coming months new destinations from Rome Fiumicino to Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Tokyo will be launched. All the new ITA Airways flights can be purchased on the ita-airways.com website, and through the company's call center, travel agencies and airport ticket offices. For more information: LaPresse SpA Communication and Press Office Director Barbara Sanicola - barbara.sanicola@lapresse.it +39 02 26305578 M +39 333 3905243 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eed3603a-4e07-40a5-a719-54ea31194d97 The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. Kelowna, British Columbia, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spring is a thrilling time in wine country, signifying warm temperatures, awakening of the vineyards and the release of new wines from the 2021 harvest. During this exciting time, the BC government has once again officially proclaimed April as BC Wine Month and Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC) is inviting British Columbians to celebrate the homegrown craftsmanship in every bottle of 100% BC wine. "The BC wine industry represents a complex, value-added food and beverage industry that offers customers a truly unique BC experience, says Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Wineries were amongst the first and fastest to pivot marketing and delivery strategies to meet the challenges the global pandemic presented, and it exemplifies how leading businesses grow and evolve. I applaud the resilience, innovation, and hard work that have made the growing list of BC wines so remarkable. I look forward to celebrating and promoting BC wine month. With 1,049 vineyards across the province, BCs wine industry is thriving, doing all it can to look to the future through a lens of sustainability and stewardship. There are 12,000 BC wine related jobs in communities throughout the province and every person who holds one of those positions is undeniably dedicated and passionate about BC wine. That passion only continues to grow. Many of our local wineries and vineyards are family-run businesses that have chosen farming and winemaking as their passion and their profession. This proclamation is a well-deserved recognition of the hard work and dedication of BCs winemakers and grapegrowers. says Miles Prodan, President and CEO, Wine Growers British Columbia. For this years BC Wine Month, WGBC has launched multiple campaigns and programs aimed at encouraging British Columbians to raise a glass of BC wine. Your Guide to Celebrating #BCWineMonth Pair BC Wine with Wild BC Salmon : Wines of British Columbia is thrilled to partner with Wild BC Salmon to produce a series of recipes that pair perfectly with BC wine. As part of this campaign, award-winning author Jennifer Schell sat down with Vanessa Vineyard's Master Winemaker Howard Soon to get his take on BC Rose, and how it makes the perfect companion to this Salmon Wellington: find the recipe and watch their interview here . HOT TIP! BC wine lovers can also look forward to an upcoming contest to win a Wines of BC & Wild BC Salmon gift basket ($200 value), just make sure you are following @WineBCdotcom and @GoWildBCSalmon. : Wines of British Columbia is thrilled to partner with Wild BC Salmon to produce a that pair perfectly with BC wine. As part of this campaign, award-winning author Jennifer Schell sat down with Vanessa Vineyard's Master Winemaker Howard Soon to get his take on BC Rose, and how it makes the perfect companion to this Salmon Wellington: find the recipe and watch their interview . HOT TIP! BC wine lovers can also look forward to an upcoming contest to win a Wines of BC & Wild BC Salmon gift basket ($200 value), just make sure you are following @WineBCdotcom and @GoWildBCSalmon. Pour More BC : Follow the Wines of British Columbia marketing campaign in support of local BC restaurants pouring BC wine. Download the Wines of BC Explorer App to discover the offers from participating restaurants (the App will be continuously updated throughout the month), and subscribe to The Vine e-newsletter for all the details including incredible feature deals! : Follow the Wines of British Columbia marketing campaign in support of local BC restaurants pouring BC wine. to discover the offers from participating restaurants (the App will be continuously updated throughout the month), and for all the details including incredible feature deals! Become a BC Wine Ambassador: In celebration of BC Wine Month, WGBC is offering complimentary access to the Wines of BC Ambassador Program Level One online certification, valued at $75+gst. Suitable for all levels of wine knowledge, youll love getting to know BC and its remarkable wines! Use the promo code BCWINEMONTH. Learn more here . DOWNLOAD MEDIA ASSETS HERE With every bottle that comes off the shelf, is delivered to the table, or opened at a tasting bar this April, ensure to raise a glass to the creativity, pride, and passion that goes into every drop of BC wine. Key BC Wine Facts British Columbia is home to 1,049 vineyards, including more than 370 licensed wineries (from just 19 in 1990) that welcome over one million visitors each year The BC wine industry contributes $2.8 billion annually to British Columbias economy There are nine GIs (Geographical Indications) and six sub-GIs in British Columbia The most widely planted red grapes are: Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah/Shiraz, and Gamay Noir The most widely planted white grapes are: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier Suggested Tweet: April kicks off #BCWineMonth and @WineBCdotcom knows the perfect ways for you to celebrate! -End- Attachments WASHINGTON, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtru , a global leader in data security and inventor of the Trusted Data Format, today announced the general availability of its support for Google Workspace Client-Side Encryption, uniquely delivering Zero Trust Data Control protection across the entire suite of Google Workspace products. With over 5,000 joint Google Workspace customers, Virtru is the only Zero Trust platform that provides a holistic solution for meeting sensitive data protection use cases across the entire Google Workspace suite. This update equips organizations to make their data indecipherable to Google using encryption across Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, including additional file types stored in Drive, such as Office files, PDFs, and more, without sacrificing Googles market-leading collaboration capabilities. The beta program for Google Workspace Client-Side Encryption launched in June 2021, and this week, Google announced its general availability to Enterprise Plus and Education Plus customers. To take advantage of Google Workspace Client-Side Encryption, customers need to select a data protection partner for encryption key management. Virtru is the only Google-recommended key management partner that provides holistic security solutions across the Google portfolio, including support for Gmail, Workspace, and Google Meet, and GCP as well as other SaaS applications such as Salesforce and Zendesk. Virtru is proud to be Google Workspaces first recommended data protection partner and to have helped architect Googles Client-Side Encryption capability with Google, in concert with our strategic enterprise partners. We are thrilled that Google Workspace Client-Side Encryption has become generally available for enterprises worldwide, and to include other partners in this open and extensible ecosystem, said Virtru CEO John Ackerly. In a cloud-first world, Zero Trust Data Control is fundamental to safeguarding organizations most valuable information including intellectual property, financial data, and other highly sensitive content. With Virtru and Google, enterprises can leverage the cloud to collaborate in real-time with greater security, privacy and confidence than ever before. Virtru gives Google customers full control of the keys to encrypt their data. By managing their encryption keys separately from the data, organizations can ensure that their information remains indecipherable to both Google and Virtru, maintaining data sovereignty and full ownership at all times. This method of encryption key management is foundational to an effective Zero Trust Data Control strategy, and one that Virtru recommends for heightened security and confidentiality especially for industries handling regulated information. Virtru, a FedRAMP-authorized data protection platform, is a longstanding Google partner and was the first Google-recommended encryption provider for Gmail and Google Drive. Virtru is valuable for organizations that need to meet strict compliance requirements, such as ITAR, CJIS, CMMC, and HIPAA. Its Zero Trust Data Control solution portfolio is powered by Virtrus Trusted Data Format (TDF), an open standard that is widely adopted by over 7,000 organizations and millions of users, including government agencies and the intelligence community. To learn more about Virtrus Google Workspace Encryption offering, click here . SALISBURY, N.C., April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In partnership with customers, Food Lion Feeds is providing 1.6 million meals to feed food-insecure neighbors as a result of its annual Orange Bag campaign. From March 2 22, customers purchased specially marked Food Lion Feeds orange bags or made a cash donation at the register during checkout at Food Lion stores. Each bag sold helped provide five meals* to the stores local Feeding America member food bank. The amount of meals provided to each local food bank was based on the number of eligible bagged oranges sold and cash donations received in each food banks service area. Food Lion is so grateful to our customers who participated in this campaign to support their neighbors, said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. Caring for the towns and cities we serve is at the core of everything we do. The Orange Bag campaign is a direct reflection of how Food Lion customers and Food Lion Feeds rallies to make an impact on our neighbors in need. Since 2014, Food Lion Feeds has provided more than 900 million meals to neighbors in need. The company has committed to providing 1.5 billion meals to individuals and families in need by the end of 2025. Part of this commitment includes hosting retail campaigns, like the Orange Bag, as well as providing meals through the 20-year-old Food Lion Food Rescue program where near-date fresh produce and pantry staples are donated to a network of local feeding agencies. For more information on Food Lion Feeds, visit www.foodlion.com/feeds. *$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Through the Orange Bag campaign, $0.50 (monetary equivalent of 5 meals) from each bag purchased was donated to Feeding America and member food banks. Food Lion guaranteed a minimum donation of $100,000 (monetary equivalent of 1 million meals.) from March 2 22, 2022. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com/feeds. About Food Lion Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and employs more than 82,000 associates. By leveraging its longstanding heritage of low prices and convenient locations, Food Lion is working to own the easiest full shop grocery experience in the Southeast, anchored by a strong commitment to affordability, freshness and the communities it serves. Through Food Lion Feeds, the company has donated more than 900 million meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com or job applicants may visit www.foodlion.com/careers. About Feeding America Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 6.6 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. CONTACTS: Food Lion Media Relations 704-245-3317 publicrelationsteam@foodlion.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b4a77cb2-506d-47f0-8fad-8290b9122494 BLOOMING PRAIRIE, Minn., April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The future of Stinar is bright and the new location is just one step in taking the products, and customers, to new heights. Dedicated to ensuring process and efficiency improvements in all areas of the business, Stinar is making sure their products are top-of-the-line today and will support their customers well into the future. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e80e35e7-bae5-4ff8-b6cb-1e80e8f64a58 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ed0af08-4b63-4c8a-afde-b6f2c577144f As a continuation of their efforts to build the best, Stinar moved to a new manufacturing facility at 500 Stinar Way, Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, in January 2022. From the floor plan layout to the energy-saving lighting in the ceilings, the new Stinar facility provides their team with more space, better work areas, and greater organization so they can focus on getting their customers the products they need. While the total square feet is comparable to the prior facility, Stinars new space was built and designed for manufacturing so they can continue to do what they do best, and save time doing it. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d68365ea-660c-4680-a2a5-d0c01fb6c6c9 In October 2021 at the GSE Convention in Las Vegas, Stinar showcased their modular units featuring one chassis, an electric motor, and endless capabilities. Stinar is committed to bringing their customers products that are environmentally friendly and meet the needs of the changing industry. Their new facility supports an efficient workflow with new top-of-the-line shears, brakes, and plasma cutters. Stinar strongly believe that in order to bring their customers the best products, they must use the best materials and equipment to build them. Craig Kruckeberg, CEO states: Giving our employees more work room and a better space to do what they do best improves and advances the products they are producing for our customers. And when the time comes that we need to expand, our new location includes space for an additional 50,000 square feet. Stinar LLC, an entity of Kruckeberg Industries, has been an industry-leading manufacturer of ground support equipment since 1946. Your #1 source for flight line equipment needs, Stinar continues to improve production, quality and technology while promoting superior delivery times and utilizing state-of-the-art equipment designs and materials that are simply built to last. Unique to our trade, we are committed to providing parts and service throughout the life of your product. NEW ADDRESS: Stinar 500 Stinar Way Blooming Prairie, MN 55917 FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Impact Women NFT, a philanthropic project displaying exquisite artworks handmade by a talented artist, has announced the launch of its NFT project. Aimed at combating domestic violence in the previously mentioned South American country, these beautifully crafted NFTs were created by renowned, talented, and award-winning illustrator Manu Cunhas. Designed by Brazilian fintech to fight the scourge of domestic violence and abuse of women, Impact Women NFT will raise funds for non-profit organizations to take a stand against women's abuse on all levels. Current statistics show that domestic violence is at an all-time high. Brazil sits fifth in the ranking of homicides globally; one woman gets raped every eleven minutes. Five hundred and three women suffer aggression every hour, one woman gets killed every two hours, and five beatings occur every two minutes. Impact Women NFT is fighting to put an end to these crimes. Profit Shared to Non-profit Organization, Artist, and Project Producer Split into phases, the first one comprising 20 excellent, awe-inspiring, and elegantly designed artworks of remarkable and high-impact women in history, each of these NFT auctions will greatly benefit non-profit organizations. The goal of the first phase is to raise 30 ETH, ten in auction mode starting at the price of 0.15 ETH and ten in 50 units for a fixed fee of 0.05 ETH. Impact Women NFT has hand-picked eight exciting and industrious non-profits aggressively fighting violence against women in Brazil. 70% of profits garnered from these NFTs sales will be set aside for organizations, 12% to support Manu Cunhas, another 12% for Doarethe project producer and social enterprise companyand 6% for carbon credits through MOSS. The campaign will end on May 31st, 2022, and Impact Women NFT will offer rewards and surprises like special parties and airdrops in the metaverse. A project where art meets philanthropy, Impact Women NFT, will share stories of amazing women that have changed society. The founding team selects ten Brazilian and international women to show respect and admiration for the work they have put in. An Ambitious Roadmap Built on sustainability and longevity, Impact Women NFT has introduced a viable and strategic roadmap comprising detailed future events. Divided into separate phases, Impact Women NFT plans to run a decentralized autonomous organization [DAO], create and launch a native token, and a non-profit crypto fund to support organizations combating domestic violence and other forms of abuse against women. Additionally, Impact Women NFT will continue to create and release amazing, unique, well-designed, and aesthetically pleasing artworks to support life-changing non-profits. About Impact Women NFT Impact Women NFT is a philanthropic project that displays magnificent and well-crafted artworks made by Manu Cunhas. Aimed at combating domestic violence, Impact Women NFT will fund existing non-profits championing and empowering women in the country and beyond. Social Links Twitter: https://twitter.com/impactwomen_nft Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactwomen.nft Telegram: https://t.me/impactwomenNFT Discord: https://discord.gg/QdGktzSJyg Media Contact Project Name: Impact Women NFT Email: info@impactwomen.org Website: https://impactwomen.org/ SOURCE: Impact Women NFT LUBBOCK, TEXAS, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Texas Judge James Wesley Hendrix has just dismissed a lawsuit initiated by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) last year, an attempt to derail the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) that takes effect in July of 2022. The HISA, championed by U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., as well as U.S. Reps. Andy Barr, R-Ky., Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., was inked into law in December of 2020 and bans the use of race-day medication in Thoroughbred horse racing. Animal Wellness Action (AWA) executive director Marty Irby, who testified before Congress at a January, 2020 hearing on the legislation, released the following statement just after Thoroughbred Daily News broke the story: We applaud the court for validating what we knew all along, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act well within the confines of the U.S. Constitution and intent of the Commerce Clause some of the most brilliant legal minds in Congress, the animal protection space, and Thoroughbred horse racing prepared and vetted a bullet-proof measure thats now the law of the land. Its time for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to swiftly implement the new law as intended and secure a contract with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to oversee all testing and enforcement so the eradication of doping can begin. We congratulate the Authority on this tremendous victory leading up to the running of the 148th Kentucky Derby. AWA led the charge on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act in the animal protection space working with coalition partners such as The Jockey Club, New York Racing Association, The Breeders Cup, Water, Hay, Oats Alliance, and Stronach Group, and continues to work as a member of the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity to implement the HISA, and execute the legislation's intent. AWA's recent written works on the issue in the Lexington Herald-Leader and Horse Nation have urged the new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to secure a contract with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) as the Congress intended. Animal Wellness Action is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission of helping animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. We champion causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. We advocate for policies to stop dogfighting and cockfighting and other forms of malicious cruelty and to confront factory farming and other systemic forms of animal exploitation. To prevent cruelty, we promote enacting good public policies, and we work to enforce those policies. To enact good laws, we must elect good lawmakers, and thats why we remind voters which candidates care about our issues and which ones dont. We believe helping animals helps us all. Attachments TYLER, Texas, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Choice Health at Home, LLC ("Choice"), the Texas-based multi-state provider of home health, hospice, private duty, and rehabilitation services, announced today the acquisitions of the Texas assets of Abiding Home Health. These agencies operate along the 1-35 corridor from Dallas to San Antonio, Texas, and will serve to strengthen the home health service division for Choice in the region. David Jackson, Founder and CEO of Choice Health at Home commented on the transaction, "These agencies and the employees will strengthen our ability to serve one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation. The Texas Hill Country specifically has experienced substantial population surge before and throughout the pandemic. The area has considerable need for both quality home health and healthcare professionals." The transaction marks Choice's first in 2022 following a very busy 2021. The company executed on nine transactions last year within the home health and hospice space. A core focus for Choice is further development of their Southwestern U.S. footprint and the capability to provide all four service lines to Choice patients. Trina Lanier, President of Choice and Co-founder of the hospice and home health service lines, emphasized this point and how the Abiding transaction complemented the strategy: "While the increased market share is very attractive a key component for Choice is how Abiding allows us to expand organically throughout the Central Texas corridor. We anticipate the transaction will enable us to develop additional home health service territories moving both north and west within the state of Texas." Throughout the last two years, Choice has also been very vocal about the value of acquisitions as it pertains to healthcare staff. Paul McMullen joined the rapidly expanding business in March as Chief Operations Officer of the home health and hospice service lines. McMullen commented, "The acquisition of Abiding is an exciting step for Choice. We want to welcome these employees to Choice Health at Home. In combination with our current team, we feel we have a great platform to support and accommodate growth in this important region." Jackson closed the announcement with comments regarding further expansion "Our partnership with Trive Capital and Coltala Holdings coupled with the recent credit facility provided by Oxford Finance, AB Private Credit, and Maranon Capital have placed Choice in a position to grow. We will continue to look for quality businesses in the home health, private duty, and hospice space. " About Choice Health at Home Choice corporate headquarters are located in Tyler, TX and the company currently operates in Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Choice was founded in 2008 as a rehabilitation service provider, entered home health in late 2012, and launched their hospice segment in 2018. In 2020, Choice partnered with Trive Capital and Coltala Holdings in a shared vision of expansion for the post-acute company. For more information on Choice, please visit choicehealthathome.com. Trina Lanier, trina.lanier@choicetx.com Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Perth, Australia, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allure Limousines, the top Limo Hire Perth company, gives away one years worth of free limousine hire to make special events memorable for clients in the area. Established almost 7 years ago, the family-owned and operated business has raised the bar for limousine hire in Perth and surrounding areas. Over the years it has catered to clients needs for close to 1400 weddings, 678 school balls, and 959 special occasions. Allure Limousines has also been the go-to name for around 700 Swan Valley wine tours that clients have experienced in complete luxury. And today, it is Perths Biggest Wedding Car Fleet that has a wide range of sensational choices that the bride and groom can choose based on their tastes, style, and requirements. Mercedes GLS350d SUV Limousine, Asanti Chrysler 300C Stretch Limousine, Jeep Grand Cherokee Limo, 24-Seater H4 Mega Hummer are just some of the ultra-luxury options available with Allure Limousines that can tick the right boxes for clients needs. Allure Limousines - Limo Hire Pert Those looking for top-of-the-range Wedding Cars In Perth dont have to search beyond the exceptional fleet that the top limo hire company in the area has in store. Allure Limousines has a streamlined and straightforward online booking process 24 x 7, which has made things easier for clients. They can also reach out to the company via phone call and get helpful advice from the experienced team of professionals, who are always happy to help. Once clients have booked the limo, they can rest assured that their reservation is 100% guaranteed for the date and time. Besides weddings, clients can hire luxury limos for various events, including school balls, hen nights, kids birthdays, parties, etc. Allure Limousines also offer funeral care hire services in Perth for the perfect send-off to their loved ones. Style and thoughtfulness have been the hallmark of this Limo Hire Perth service, and thats why it has become the no. 1 choice for corporate clients. When people hire limos from the company, they can expect LCD TV screens to watch their favorite shows, the choice of their favorite music, and party lighting to set the mood for the event while they are on their way. Glassware, eskies, ice wells are included in the package. Allure Limousines is all about sophistication with its luxurious leather seating while keeping clients safety at the forefront. The fold-out middle entry Jet doors enable clients to make the grand entry at any event. And now, with its Limousine Hire Perth Giveaway, the company is spreading joy and luxury with the people of Perth to make their big moments truly special and memorable. About Allure Limousines Established six years ago, the company has gone from strength to strength becoming the trusted choice for limousine hire for all special events in Perth and surrounding areas. ### Media Contact Matt Smith Allure Limousines Address: 4 Jones Street, OConnor, Western Australia, 6163 Phone: 0499003001 URL: https://allurelimousines.com.au/ newsroom: news.38digitalmarket.com Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets via video link with Khalid Hilal Al Ma'awali, chairman of the consultative council of Oman, in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang on Wednesday met via video link with Khalid Hilal Al Ma'awali, chairman of the consultative council of Oman. Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said the mutual political trust between China and Oman has been consolidated and bilateral cooperation in various fields has seen positive progress under the guidance of the two heads of state. China has always viewed China-Oman relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and stands ready to work with the Omani side to consolidate mutual political trust, enhance people-to-people exchanges, strengthen anti-pandemic and practical cooperation in various fields, and further enrich the China-Oman strategic partnership, said Wang. He said the CPPCC National Committee is willing to strengthen exchanges with the consultative council of Oman and contribute to advancing bilateral ties. Ma'awali expressed consolation over the recent China Eastern Airlines plane crash, and spoke highly of China's development achievements. He said Oman attaches great importance to developing ties with China and is willing to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. The Omani consultative council is ready to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the CPPCC National Committee and play its role in the development of bilateral ties, he added. Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets via video link with Khalid Hilal Al Ma'awali, chairman of the consultative council of Oman, in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets via video link with Khalid Hilal Al Ma'awali, chairman of the consultative council of Oman, in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Pune, India, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The market has been studied for the below mentioned-segmentation and regional analysis for North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Middle East and Africa. These are the key regions where the aramid fiber market is operating currently and is predicted to expand in the near future. The manufacturers and suppliers involved in the aramid fiber market is present across various countries in the above-mentioned regions. The report provides detailed understanding of the market segments which have been formed by combining different prospects such as the product category, application, technology, end-users and others. Apart from this, the key driving factors, restraints, potential growth opportunities and market challenges are also discussed in the below paragraphs. Get Sample Copy of This Report @ https://greyviews.com/reports/global-aramid-fiber-market/32/request-sample Global Aramid Fiber Market Size by Type (Meta Aramid, Para Aramid and Copolyamide), Application (Friction Materials, Industrial Filtration, Security and Protection, Rubber Reinforcement, Optical Fibers, Tire Reinforcement, Electrical Insulation and Others), End-user (Aerospace, Automotive, Electronics and Telecommunication, Industrial and Others), Distribution Channel (Online and Offline) Regions, Segmentation, and forecast till 2028. The significant players operating in the global aramid fiber market are Teijin Ltd., DuPont De Numerous Inc., Hyosung Corporation, Kolon Industries, Kermel, SRO Aramid Co. Ltd., Yantai Tayho Advanced Materials Co. Ltd., Toray Industries, Huvis Corporation, China National Bluestar, X-FIPER New Material Co. Ltd. and Toyobo Co. Ltd. and others. To achieve a substantial market share in the worldwide aramid fiber market and strengthen their position, manufacturers are pursuing expansion methods such as current developments, mergers and acquisitions, product innovations, collaborations, and partnerships, joint ventures. Among these, Toray Industries and Teijin Ltd. are one of the most significant manufacturers and distributors present in the global aramid fiber market. Aramid fibers are well-known material in the aerospace and automobile industry. The aramid fibers are manufactured using long chain synthetic polyamide which consists of two aromatic rings. These aromatic rings are directly attached with the amide linkages. The commercialization of aramid dates back to 1960. These fibers came in limelight due to their exceptional properties, which suited many applications in various industry verticals. Aramid fibers have monomers which consist of teraphthaloyl chloride and 1,4-phenyl-diamine. These materials are yellowish in colour and are light weight. Aramid fibers are known by different trade names all over the world, however, they are identified by their superior properties. The increasing demand for lightweight, high tensile strength, resistant and durable raw material in applications such as automobile, aerospace and defense, etc. is one of the most promising drivers of the aramid fiber market. Both, aerospace and automobile industries are inclined towards the adoption of materials which are suitable for the construction of the components. Further, the use of such fibers is also required in defense applications, as it is cut resistant, flame resistant and consists of high strength to weight ratio. The developing regions are adopting the low wight materials for use in different end-users. The regional government has imposed strict regulations for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions especially the vehicle emissions. The use of aramid fiber has thus gained popularity among the countries present in both developed and developing regions. Also, the uprise trend of automotive and transportation industry, is providing lucrative opportunities to the aramid fibers market. The commercialization of newly launched aramid fibers portfolio is attracting many end-user industries. However, the fluctuating in prices of raw materials is a major restraint to the market. Further, various issues regarding the manufacturing cost and increasing use of different alternative fiber is a challenge for the market growth. Enquiry Before Buying This Report @ https://greyviews.com/inquiry/32 Segmentation Analysis Meta aramid segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in 2021. The type segment includes meta aramid, para aramid and copolyamide. Among these, meta aramid is expected to be the fastest growing type segment. Meta aramid fibers are manufactured by wet spinning technology in which the fiber is spined inside a chemical solution. This process provides with a semi-crystalline product which can be used in safety and protection applications. This particular type of aramid fiber has the tendency to withstand extreme stress even in harsh conditions. It can sustain in temperatures ranging upto 400 degree Celsius. Thus, it is the most suitable type of aramid fiber to be used in applications which deals with high temperatures. Frictional materials segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in 2021. The application segment includes friction materials, industrial filtration, security and protection, rubber reinforcement, optical fibers, tire reinforcement, electrical insulation and others. Among these, friction material is expected to be the fastest growing application segment. Aramid fibers have gained tremendous popularity as a friction material especially for automotive components. It is widely used as a replacement for conventional materials in such applications. As aramid fiber can withstand high temperatures, the manufacturers present in automobile industry is opting it to be used in components that are responsible for friction creation. Automotive segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in 2021. The end-user segment includes aerospace, automotive, electronics and telecommunication, industrial and others. Out of the end-users, automotive is expected to be the most lucratively growing segment. Automotive manufacturers are required to adhere to the vehicle emissions imposed by the regional and global agencies. Aramid fibers have been found to increase the fuel efficiency of the passenger and commercial cars. Further, their superior resistant properties against chemical and especially thermal degradation, are the primary reasons for their adoption in automobile industry. The offline segment led the aramid fiber market with a market share of around 78.43% in 2021. The distribution channel segment includes online and offline. The offline segment is the dominant distribution channel segment. Offline distribution channel includes retail shops, specialized shops and hardware stores. The aramid fiber market operates in a B2B setting. Thus, the end-users mostly buy in large quantities for the manufacturing of different products. Regional Analysis The regional analysis provides a detailed perception about the key regions and the countries. Some of the key countries analyzed for the aramid fiber include US, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Russia, China, Japan India, Brazil, Peru, UAE, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. Europe region dominated the aramid fiber market and held the 37.09% share of the market revenue in 2021. The growth of the market in the region can be attributed to various factors, such as presence of many global and regional manufacturers, availability of the required technology and abundance of raw materials. The higher pace of defense spending has brought tremendous growth in the regional aramid fiber market. However, North America is projected to register higher growth rate during the forecast period of 2022-2028. The rising investment in automobile industry along with technological developments is the significant factor behind the growing market. Covid-19 Impact Covid-19 had a major impact on almost all of the industries such as construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, automobile, etc. The demand for aramid fiber has decreased during the period owing to the regulations on social distancing and increasing focus on safety and hygiene. In most of the regions, the manufacturing facilities of aramid fiber were closed in the second and third quarters of fiscal year 2020. The major end-users were also temporarily closed during this period and thus the demand for aramid fiber significantly decreased. Buy Now Full Report @ https://greyviews.com/checkout/32/single_user_license Contact Us Rocky Shah GreyViews Pune India Phone: (+44) 162-237-1047 Email: sales@greyviews.com Web: https://greyviews.com/ Browse Related Reports: Global Automotive Interiors Market Size by Component (Cockpit Module, Flooring, Automotive Seat, Door Panel, Interior Lighting, and Other) Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, Light Commercial Vehicle and Heavy Commercial Vehicle), Material (Leather Fabric, Vinyl, Wood, Glass Fiber Composite, Carbon fiber Composite, and Metal), Autonomous Driving (Semi-Autonomous and Autonomous), and Electric Vehicle (BEV, FCEV, HEV, and PHEV) Regions, Segmentation and Projection till 2028 https://greyviews.com/reports/global-automotive-interiors-market/28 Global Epoxy Composites Market Size by Manufacturing Technology (Compression Moulding, Lay-up, Filament Winding, Resin Injection, Resin Transfer Moulding, Pultrusion, and Others), Fiber Type (Carbon, Glass, and Others), Application (Electronics and Electrical, Marine, Automotive and Transportation, Wind Energy, Aerospace and Defense, Sporting and Consumer Goods, Construction, and Others), Distribution Channel (Online and Offline) Regions, Segmentation, and Projection till 2028 https://greyviews.com/reports/global-epoxy-composites-market/37 TORONTO, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIMCO Global Income Opportunities Fund (the Fund) (TSX: PGI.UN) announced that the redemption price for the 3,176,392 Class A Units (the Units) that have been tendered for redemption on the annual redemption date of March 31, 2022 will be $8.95902 per Unit. Redeeming unitholders will also be entitled to receive the March monthly distribution of $0.05688 per Unit, payable on April 14, 2022. Payment of the proceeds of redemption will be made on or before April 22, 2022. The Manager, PIMCO Canada, retains Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (PIMCO) to provide investment management services to the Funds. About PIMCO PIMCO was founded in 1971 in Newport Beach, California and is one of the worlds premier fixed income investment managers. Today we have offices across the globe and 3,000+ professionals united by a single purpose: creating opportunities for investors in every environment. PIMCO is owned by Allianz S.E., a leading global diversified financial services provider. This is not an offer to sell Units and not a solicitation of an offer to buy Units in any region where the offer or sale is not permitted. Before you invest, you should carefully read the Funds disclosure documents and consider carefully the risks you assume when you invest in the Units. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objectives or be able to structure its investment portfolio as anticipated. Copies of the Funds disclosure documents may be obtained from your financial advisor. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expect, intend, will and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Funds. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect each Fund, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCOs current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, market factors. Although the Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors which affect this information, except as required by law. You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell Units on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX). If the Units are purchased or sold on the TSX, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying Units and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them. There are ongoing fees and expenses associated with owning Units. An investment fund must prepare disclosure documents that contain key information about the fund. You can find more detailed information about the Funds in these documents. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Each Fund is a closed end exchange traded investment fund. Closed end funds, unlike open end funds, are not continuously offered. After the initial public offering, shares of closed end funds are sold on the open market through a stock exchange. For additional information, contact your financial advisor. For a summary of the risks of an investment in each Fund, please see the Principal Risks of the Fund section of the prospectus. Units of closed end funds frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. This material contains the current opinions of the manager and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. in the United States and throughout the world. 2022, PIMCO The products and services provided by PIMCO Canada Corp. may only be available in certain provinces or territories of Canada and only through dealers authorized for that purpose. PIMCO Canada has retained PIMCO LLC as sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada will remain responsible for any loss that arises out of the failure of its sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada Corp. 199 Bay Street, Suite 2050, Commerce Court Station, P.O. Box 363, Toronto, ON, M5L 1G2, 416-368-3350 Contact: Agnes Crane PIMCO Media Relations Phone: +212 597.1054 Email: agnes.crane@pimco.com TORONTO, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mr. Francois C. Desrosiers, has been nominated as Director of RYAH Group Inc. subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange. Mr. Desrosiers, B. Com. Spec., FCSI, has for the last few years been President and CEO of Northcore Resources inc., a public junior exploration company with properties in Quebec. He also acted as an officer of Prime Blockchain before it merged with RYAH Group through a Reverse Takeover and became a publicly traded company. He has also acted as president of Cartogeographix Inc. This corporation is active in the project and exploration program management and the corporate finance field. Mr. Desrosiers was one of the initial shareholders of a number of publicly traded companies: Northcore (formerly Big Red Diamond Corp.), Nikron Technologies Inc., AntOro Resources and Korinor Resources. He was also a Director of Orbite Exploration V.S.P.A. Inc. and President of Melkior Resources Inc. Over the years he has consulted with various companies, both private and public, performing various finance, corporate and shareholder mediation mandates. He was a registered representative in the securities brokerage industry for more than 15 years, working for various brokers. Mrs. Irina Migalina has resigned as a Director of RYAH Group to pursue other professional activities. RYAH wishes to thank Mrs. Migalina for her services. 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 the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. 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. For further information contact Francois C. Desrosiers, tel.: 1-438-874-0558 Fcdesrosiers1@gmail.com Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Tajik Minister of Justice Muzaffar Ashouriyon on the sidelines of the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, March 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) HEFEI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday met with Tajik Minister of Justice, Muzaffar Ashouriyon, on the sidelines of the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province. Wang stressed China's firm support for Tajikistan to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, security and for the Tajik people to realize the development goal toward prosperity. China will be Tajikistan's reliable strategic partner, Wang said. China is willing to jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality with Tajikistan and help Tajikistan accelerate industrialization and advance agricultural modernization, Wang continued. China will accelerate construction of a Luban Workshop in Tajikistan to provide talent support and promote friendly exchanges among the youth. Cooperation in fighting the pandemic will be strengthened, Wang added. Noting that Tajikistan is committed to expanding comprehensive cooperation with China, Ashouriyon said Tajikistan is willing to deepen the Belt and Road cooperation and advance cooperation on investment, energy, and production capacity. Ashouriyon thanked China for its support for Tajikistan's fight against the pandemic. Tajikistan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in traditional medicine. The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation on safety, fight the "evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, as well as organized cross-border crimes, and safeguard regional stability. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Tajik Minister of Justice Muzaffar Ashouriyon on the sidelines of the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, March 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- "A long journey can be covered only by taking one step at a time" -- this ancient Chinese proverb from the Confucian classic "Xunzi" was quoted by President Xi Jinping on several occasions to underline the significance of accumulated efforts. Xunzi was a renowned Chinese philosopher during the Warring States Period (475 B.C.-221 B.C.) and his namesake book is a compilation of his philosophical writings. The aforementioned adage comes from the book's chapter on learning encouragement, and Xi used it to share his reading experience with officials attending the opening ceremony of a seminar at the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in 2009, when he served as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and president of the school. Reading is a long process and requires endurance, Xi told the officials, adding that the result can be surprising if one persists with reading as every little bit adds up. Though the proverb was originally meant to refer to the long-standing process of learning, it has been widely used to describe other aspects of life -- as the accumulation of tiny efforts over time can lead to big accomplishments. At the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017, Xi quoted the adage again, in parallel with the Arabian proverb "the Pyramid was built by piling one stone on another" and the European saying "Rome wasn't built in a day," to call for the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative as it is a great undertaking that requires dedicated efforts. "Let us pursue this initiative step by step and deliver outcomes one by one," Xi said. Chinese state councilor stresses cooperation among SMEs, win-win development in Asia-Pacific Xinhua) 08:44, April 01, 2022 BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong has called for efforts to boost openness and cooperation among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promote win-win economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Wang made the remarks Thursday in a video speech at the opening ceremony of the 11th APEC Small &Medium Enterprises Technology Conference and Fair. The Chinese government attaches great importance to and supports the development of SMEs, and has introduced a series of supportive policies and measures, including tax and fee cuts, according to Wang. China will continue to carry out all-round technical exchanges and economic and trade cooperation with economies in the Asia-Pacific region as well as countries and regions along the Belt and Road, Wang said. He called for expanding openness and cooperation, firmly opposing unilateralism and trade protectionism, eliminating discriminatory and exclusive practices, and jointly promoting sustained, sound and high-quality development of SMEs in the Asia-Pacific region. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) BANGKOK, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said his country hoped to further expand exports to China building on solid bilateral trade cooperation. "If we look back at the 10-year trend between Thailand and China, when we look at trade values, it has been going up," Jurin told Xinhua in an interview, saying that "in addition to increasing the bilateral trade values between our two countries, we hope to reduce the trade deficit." Jurin said Thailand and China have strong and prosperous relations for a long time, with the two countries sharing broad partnerships in diplomatic and economic relations. "China has always been very important (for Thailand)," in terms of both the tourism and export sectors, he said. The senior official noted that Thailand and China have very strong trade relations and diverse types of cooperation, including bilateral trade agreements, the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). "We do hope to see a big gain from RCEP," he said, which, as the world's largest FTA, will benefit Thailand in terms of bigger market access as well as tariff reductions. RCEP has entered into force from Jan. 1, which enables "Thailand and other member countries including China to share the prosperity," he said. China has remained Thailand's largest trading partner for nine consecutive years. Bilateral trade volume surged 33 percent year-on-year to 131.18 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, according to data from China's General Administration of Customs. The Thai deputy PM welcomed China's efforts in further opening up its economy and the hosting of the China International Import Expo (CIIE). "I'm especially impressed by the CIIE because this is a beneficial policy for many countries, including Thailand." With Thailand's tourism sector hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, "we're left with exports as our key economic driver," Jurin said, adding that the ministry set a target of growing the country's exports by 4 percent this year. The Thai government hopes to work with the Chinese government to enhance export facilitation such as checkpoints and clearance, Jurin said, "We hope to see more channels to receive Thai products, especially for our food and fruits which Chinese consumers have high demand for." He also said Thailand expected to see the transportation of more export products to China through the China-Laos Railway, with fruits, vegetables and other products being the prioritized items. In February, the cross-border railway line, which stretches over 1,000 km and links the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, carried the first shipment of 500-ton Thai rice to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Thailand is ready to use the rail route to transport fruits into China after the sanitary and phytosanitary facility at the port of Mohan in southwest China's Yunnan Province is completed by mid-year. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Aurora Innovation has launched Aurora Driver Beta 2.0, the second release of its integrated hardware and autonomy system. This release powers Auroras next-generation truck fleet and its recently unveiled Toyota Sienna test fleet. It also debuts new capabilities and critical improvements to prepare the Aurora Driver for commercial launch, including: Advanced highway and suburban capabilities, including more complex construction zone navigation, key for hauling freight across the country. Upgraded cameras with higher resolution, allowing for obstacle detection at 2x the distance. New commercial route between Fort Worth and El Paso supported by daily map updates. The Aurora Driver 2.0 is the first product release that is powering Auroras trucking fleet and its ride-hailing Toyota Sienna fleet. Auroras Common Core of Technology enables the intelligence and learnings from its trucks to easily adapt to its minivans. (Photo: Aurora) Aurora Driver Beta 2.0 unlocks more challenging highway and suburban road capabilities, allowing the Aurora Driver to safely and reliably operate on longer commercial routes. These include: Seamlessly navigating complicated construction zones that require changing lanes and nudging around concrete barriers and/or cones. Identifying and reacting naturally to temporary speed limit and lane closure signs, construction workers and vehicles, trucks hauling oversized oil equipment, and other unique vehicles and actors commonly present in long-haul trucking. Performing Texas U-turns, a road configuration commonly adjacent to Interstates and an essential maneuver for terminal-to-terminal operation. Through continued virtual and on-road testing, this release also features matured driving capabilities released in Beta 1.0, such as unprotected left turns, high-speed merges, and lane changes. Higher camera resolution. Aurora Driver Beta 2.0 features upgraded cameras with 4x the amount of pixels. The higher resolution of the Beta 2.0 camera suite gives the Aurora Driver 4x more camera data to ingest, allowing it to see the same level of detail at 2x the distance. Combined with Auroras FirstLight lidar and imaging radar, these high-resolution, long-range cameras allow the Aurora Driver to perceive and react to distant objects like road debris, vehicles on the shoulder, construction zones, and more, resulting in extremely reliable and safe operation on highways. New commercial route with enhanced mapping for daily maintenance. Aurora Driver Beta 2.0 includes several advances that enhance its ability to operate on long-haul routes such as Fort Worth to El Paso. This lane is the middle leg between Atlanta to Los Angeles, one of the busiest commercial thoroughfares in the US. The Aurora Driver is delivering commercial freight on this route on a weekly basis. As Aurora Driver-powered vehicles navigate commercial routes, Auroras HD mapping system, the Aurora Atlas, continuously updates to reflect new construction, fresh lane markings, vegetation growth, and more. These updates are shared across Auroras fleet of trucks and minivans. Now, with stronger tooling and data pipelines, the Aurora Atlas releases updates in hours, giving all vehicles powered by the Aurora Driver up-to-date and reliable information about the state of the road. One driver to power Auroras cars and trucks. The Aurora Driver 2.0 is the first version that is powering the vehicle platforms that are expected to launch both Aurora Horizon, its trucking product, and Aurora Connect, its ride-hailing product. Auroras Common Core of Technology enables the intelligence and learnings from its trucks to easily adapt to its minivans. The BMW Group continues to broaden its portfolio of electrically powered vehicles with the addition of the fully electric BMW 3 Series, which will enter the Chinese market in May 2022. The BMW i3 eDrive35L is based on the successful BMW 3 Series, which led the premium-compact segment in China in 2021. With an 11 cm longer wheelbase than a standard 3 Series, the BMW i3 eDrive35L combines a premium rear seat experience with locally emission-free driving. The BMW i3 eDrive35L comes with all the latest BMW Gen5 eDrive powertrain components already familiar from the BMW iX3, BMW i4 and BMW iX. Plus, the BMW OS8 operating system and a wide range of digital features and services such as high-end connectivity and the Digital Key are making their 3 Series debuts with this vehicle. Fine tuning of the BMW i3 eDrive35Ls suspension systems to Chinese road conditions has been carried out by the BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. R&D division in Shenyang, which also adapted some of the cars componentry to the requirements of the supply chain in China. The BMW i3 eDrive35L will be assembled exclusively for the Chinese market at the BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. plant in Lydia, Shenyang. With the BMW i3 eDrive35L, the BMW Group portfolio of fully electric cars now comprises six models. The BMW Group is aiming for fully electric vehicles to account for 50% of its global sales by 2030. BMW i3 eDrive35L key data: Hydrogen refueling station operator H2 MOBILITY Deutschland closed a 110-million investment round. Hy24, the worlds largest clean hydrogen infrastructure investment platform, led the round with 70 million. Air Liquide, Daimler Truck, Hyundai, Linde, OMV, Shell, and TotalEnergies also contributed to the capital raise. H2 MOBILITY, a leading operator of hydrogen refueling stations which already operates more than 90 stations across Germany, intends to use the funding to further expand its network to 300 stations by 2030, becoming the backbone of zero-carbon private and commercial traffic in Europe. Of these, more than 200 will be large-scale refueling stations capable of meeting demand for zero-carbon, heavy-duty and long-haul transportation on the European Continent. The expansion of H2 MOBILITY Deutschlands network will be focused on several high-traffic transportation corridors, giving it a cornerstone role in the future mobility system of the European Union. In a sign of existing demand for hydrogen vehicles, many of the companys new projects will be developed hand-in-hand with off-takers, public authorities, and fleet operatorsguaranteeing baseline offtake for the stations and a significant step towards a profitable and self-sustained refueling network. H2 MOBILITY Deutschland, with a track record of building more than 50 projects and operating more than 90 stations has the institutional knowledge and understanding necessary for practical hydrogen infrastructure development, reinforced by its existing shareholder base of leading energy and mobility players. Hy24s investment marks the first such move by any international investment fund into the hydrogen mobility spaceand it will seek to use its leading industrial and financial expertise to support the business case for the sector, helping it to profitably achieve sustainability goals. H2 MOBILITY Deutschland is leading the way in developing the necessary European infrastructure for low-carbon intensive, and heavy mobility. Hydrogen is a crucial part of achieving the European Unions Fit-for-55 plans, further reinforced by the recent REPowerEU proposal. Our investment alongside pioneers in this ecosystem also supports the European Commissions efforts to implement the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) to greatly expand the European network of hydrogen refuelling stations. It fits perfectly with our ambition to be the catalyst for a hydrogen economy at scale active across the system and value chain to effect real change for the planet. Pierre-Etienne Franc, the CEO of Hy24 The transaction is subject to the evaluation with the pertinent merger control authorities. Hy24s legal advisors for the deal were EY and Bird & Bird. Hy24 was also advised by Marsh, and PwC. H2 MOBILITYs advisors for the deal were McKinsey & Company, NOERR Partnergesellschaft mbB, HAUCK AUFHAUSER LAMPE PRIVATBANK AG, KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft. With the increasing shift toward vehicle electrification, Magna is leveraging its body and chassis expertise to provide innovative battery enclosures. The company is expanding its operations into Chatham, as an extension of its current operations in St. Thomas to support new business from Ford Motor Company. The new 170,000 square foot facility will produce battery enclosures for the Ford F-150 Lighting. Battery enclosures, which all electric vehicles require, house high-voltage batteries, electrical components, sensors and connectors, contributing to the structural and safety aspects of a vehicles frame and protecting critical components from potential impact, heat and water. The Magna innovation is the largest lightweight aluminum battery enclosure on the market and the first on a work truck. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing Nevada to work collaboratively to advance and accelerate the market for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including large pickup trucks and vans, delivery trucks, box trucks, school and transit buses, and long-haul delivery trucks (big-rigs). Nevada joins 16 other States, the District of Columbia and Quebec in this effortled by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM)to work toward a goal that 100% of all new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales be zero emission vehicles by 2050 with an interim target of 30% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2030. After passenger cars and light-duty trucks, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses are the next largest source of transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Since 2018, the State has leveraged more than $16.5 million from the Volkswagen Settlement to help agencies replace diesel-powered vehicles and equipmentincluding freight trucks, delivery trucks, school buses, and transit buseswith low and zero-emission alternatives. Signatories of the MOU represent 40% of the US population and 35% of registered medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Other signatories to the memorandum of understanding include: California Colorado Connecticut Washington, DC Hawaii Maine Maryland Massachusetts New Jersey New York North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania Quebec Rhode Island Vermont Washington Virginia The signing follows Nevadas adoption of clean car standards in 2021, which require automakers to supply an increasing amount of zero-emission passenger vehicles for sale in the state. It also builds on the work that NV Energy is doing to build electric vehicle charging infrastructure and help fleets electrify vehicles, as directed by Senate Bill 448. BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A total of 9,203 suggestions made by national lawmakers have been distributed to 208 organizations to be processed, part of China's efforts to transform people's voices into concrete actions. The suggestions were submitted by deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, during the fifth session of the 13th NPC held in March. Of the total suggestions, 22 were identified as priorities and referred to 20 departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission. Themes within the priority suggestions include high-quality development; stabilizing industrial and supply chains; advancing urbanization; raising living standards; and expediting green and low-carbon development. On the left, a young Ed Taliaferro is photographed. Telliaferro was a cashier tied up and left in the vault of the First National Bank during a robbery April 1, 1933. At the right is Taliaferro in 1985 during a visit to the Sweetwater County Historical Museum. Almost exactly 89 years ago, on April 1, 1933, Green River residents were in the middle of the Great Depression and Prohibition, so times were hard. But even then, no one expected a bank robbery in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. Ed Taliaferro certainly didn't expect to be held at gunpoint and tied up that April Fool's Day. The 29-year-old assistant cashier at the First National Bank was alone, locking up since the bank closed early on Saturdays. However, it wasn't uncommon for "old timers" to come in and talk with him, his father the bank president, and James Chrisman the cashier, even after the bank doors were closed, Taliaferro later recalled. When Taliaferro heard a knock on the door, he went to see who was there. The man who knocked said he wanted to rent a house the bank managed. Before Taliaferro knew what was happening, another man was holding a gun to his head, and he realized there "wasn't much [he] could do but let them in." The men forced Taliaferro into the vault, tied him up, and began to empty out the money. Taliaferro's main concern wasn't how much the bank would lose, however - it was making sure the robbers didn't lock him in the vault when they left, which could lead to his suffocation. Thankfully, the men left the vault unlocked as they made their getaway. Taliaferro was able to wear out the ropes restraining him on the safety deposit box shelves and call Chrisman. After escaping, the cashier began telling his story to the police and any townspeople who were around and would listen. Unfortunately, it took them a while to listen, understand and believe his story - maybe because it was April Fool's Day. While Taliaferro tried to convince others the robbery had really occurred, the robbers got away with $19,720 in cash, currency and travelers checks (the equivalent of nearly $423,000 in 2022). While it was a good haul, $20,000 was less money than banks would typically keep on hand. The First National Bank had only recently reopened after newly inaugurated President Franklin D. Roosevelt had temporarily closed Depression-stressed banks across the country to prevent runs on them. The two robbers, Jim Stoddard and Harold Bradbury, made their getaway in a stolen Reo Sedan. They drove to Rock Springs and met up with James Ormsby Costin. In April, The Green River Star reported local authorities were in hot pursuit of the local bank bandits, and they eventually caught up to and arrested them in Laramie. By June the Star reported the robbers had been put under heavy bonds. All three were eventually tried for the bank robbery, where Costin was presented as the mastermind behind it all. Costin had been living in Green River for several years and was working as a railroad machinist at the time of the robbery, but he'd already been arrested and been in prison multiple times in multiple states. Just the previous year, Costin had been convicted of grand larceny for stealing $145 worth of coyote hides from the Rasmussen horse ranch south of Green River. After the trials, Bradbury was acquitted because some witnesses couldn't positively identify him, but both Stoddard and Costin were sentenced to jail time. Costin didn't serve his full jail time, however, because he made a jailbreak from the Sweetwater County Jail in Green River along with two other prisoners almost a year after the robbery. Sheriff Mike Dankowski tracked Costin to Denver and rearrested him, sending Costin to the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins. There Costins told a story of being kidnapped while in Denver. The case was taken seriously and tried in Denver, and the men who kidnapped him were sentenced to jail time. Costin was still sentenced to eight to 10 years for the First National Bank robbery, but ended up getting out early, after which he continued his life of crime in Wyoming and multiple other states. He never again robbed a bank in Green River though. Much of the information about Costin and the April Fools Day bank robbery was collected and summarized by former Sweetwater County Historical Museum Executive Director Brigida R. (Brie) Blasi of the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center and can be read in "A Bank Robbery and its Mastermind" on WyoHistory.org. One of Blasi's main sources for the article was editions of The Green River Star from 1933 and 1934. Wyoming claims several famous outlaws with wild stories, but none as strange as disturbing as the story of "Big Nose" George Parrott. The remarkable nature of his story has less to do with his life, however, and more to do with his death and what followed. During his life, Parrott was a relatively common Wyoming outlaw. He was arrested for horse theft but acquitted. He was also believed to have kept headquarters in the Hole-in-the-Wall country west of present-day Kaycee with a number of other outlaws of the time. Perhaps one of Big Nose George's most ambitious criminal enterprises was what led to his grisly end. Parrott and his gang planned a train robbery but botched the attempt. They fled to Elk Mountain and were tracked by Carbon County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Widdowfield and Union Pacific detective Henry "Tip" Vincent. When the lawmen found the gang Aug. 19, 1878, Big Nose George and his men murdered them. Parrott and his men committed other crimes before Big Nose George was finally caught in Montana two years later. Those in Wyoming hadn't forgotten about the murdered lawmen. Parrott was tried in Rawlins, where he was found guilty of the murders and sentenced to hang. Ten days before his execution, Big Nose George tried to escape, using a pocketknife to saw through the rivets on his leg shackles and using the shackles to knock out the jailer, Robert Rankin. The jailer's wife, however, closed the door and fired her husband's revolver in the air, stopping the outlaw's plan. A group of men came running to help, but they didn't just secure Parrott. They decided it was time for him to die. The mob tried to hang Big Nose George but the rope broke and the outlaw asked to be shot. The men didn't listen, however, and simply replaced the noose and made Parrott climb a 12-foot ladder instead of the kerosene barrel they'd tried the first time. The men used leg irons to weigh him down, and this time the rope didn't break. One report estimated the crowd that gathered to watch was close to 200 people. Parrott's biggest claim to fame, however, doesn't come from his crimes or his lynching. It comes from the disturbing fate of his body after his death. Dr. John Osborne, a Rawlin's physician, had been asked to be present during the hanging to ensure the outlaw died. He and another Rawlins doctor, Thomas Maghee, claimed Parrott's body. Maghee removed Parrott's brain for study and gave part of the skull to his protege, Lillian Heath, who later became Wyoming's first female physician. Osborne made a death mask from Parrott's face, then skinned large portions of the body, had the skin tanned, and incorporated it into a pair of shoes. Years later, he wore the shoes to his inaugural ball when he was elected Governor of Wyoming. The Carbon County Museum in Rawlins has a Big Nose George exhibit which includes his death mask, a cast of his skull, and Dr. Osborne's shoes made from his tanned skin. The Sweetwater County Historical Museum has Parott's handgun, a .44-caliber Remington New Model Army, as part of the "Firearms of the American West - Single Action Revolvers" exhibit. The museum also has a new book on Parrott's life available in the book shop. "Big Nose George - His Troublesome Trail" was written by Mark E. Miller, who served for 30 years as Wyoming State Archaeologist. Dick Blust, a staff member at the museum, said this books is extensively researched, compellingly written, and easily the most authoritative work on the case yet produced. A shorter summary of Big Nose George's life can also be found in the article "Big Nose George: A Grisly Frontier Tale" by Lori Van Pelt, available on WyoHistory.org. While much of Jim Bridger's history comes directly from Wyoming, an antique gun shop in Arizona may hold more information about the mountain man's influential past. David Jonas and his wife Patty have been dealers in antique and collectible firearms since 2005. They started their store, Old World Guns LLC in Camp Verde, Arizona, as a retirement business, although Jonas said it's been more work than a typical retirement business. The shop specializes in old and unusual firearms, and Jonas enjoys looking into their history. So when someone moving out of town was getting rid of things and asked if Jonas was interested in buying an old revolver, he said yes. Jonas thought the gun itself was interesting, even though he didn't understand the inscription - he had no idea who "J. Bridger" might be. Starting by researching the gun itself, Jonas realized it is a Model 1848 1st Model Dragoon made by Colt and is one of 1,000 shipped to the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons as part of a military contract from 1849-1850, according to available Colt Military Records research. The next step was to figure out who the owner was. The originality of the inscription on the backstrap of the revolver is backed by notarized documentation Jonas has in possession dating back 100 years, so the authenticity wasn't in question, only the identity of this specific "J. Bridger." As Jonas began to research, Jim Bridger's name came up everywhere. While the famous mountain man fit the timeframe the revolver came from, Jonas wanted to be sure the gun was his. A discussion Jonas had with one of Fort Bridger Museum's experts suggested that this revolver would need connection with the 2nd Regiment which originally issued the guns, and that the revolver would likely being owned by a prominent person. Guns with inscriptions typically belonged to officers or individuals with some esteem, Jonas explained. After extensive research of available records of military personnel associated with the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons from 1850-1860 when the revolver was issued, Jonas found no matches with the last name Bridger and a first initial of J. The only other possible J. Bridger Jonas could find who might have owned the gun was Joseph Bridger, Jim Bridger's nephew. Joseph Bridger was a prominent figure, being a sheriff in San Bernardino County during 1857 and 1858. However, Joseph had no connection to the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons, so it made little sense for the regiment to have given him a revolver. Additionally, the revolver isn't the type of gun a sheriff would be likely to carry. As all the evidence continued to point toward Jim Bridger as the owner of the gun, that certainty solidified in Jonas's mind once he realized Bridger did in fact have a close connection to the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons. "We found [Bridger's] connection with the 2nd Regiment was with the Mormon Campaign," Jonas explained. "And that was commanded by Albert Sidney Johnson, which got even more interesting." Johnson was a famous military leader in three different armies - the Texas army, the US Cavalry and the Confederate army as a general during the Civil War, according to Jonas. Johnson was also the colonel in charge of the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons and led the regiment during the Utah Campaign, also known as the Mormon War, which was a confrontation between Mormon settlers in the Utah Territory and the armed forces of the US government from 1857 to 1858. During the Utah Campaign, Bridger served as a scout and guide for US forces. "The more I started looking into that, it turns out that Albert Sidney Johnson considered Jim Bridger indispensable during the campaign," Jonas said, explaining the regiment was stranded in the mountains during the winter, and the survival of 2,500 troops is mostly attributed to Bridger's expertise from living in the mountains. "Jim Bridger is probably one of the main reasons that it didn't turn out worse," Jonas said. The close connection between Bridger and Johnson and the 2nd Regiment during the Utah Campaign is explained in books like "The Utah Expedition, 1857-1858," which Jonas has been reading in his research on the revolver. Jonas has found research suggesting Bridger went with Johnson to Washington D.C. to meet with President James Buchanan regarding the Utah Campaign as well. Additionally, much of the reason the campaign started may have been based on Bridger's reports from the time when he served as a guide for the Mormons before he and Brigham Young had a falling out and Brigham put out a warrant for Bridger's arrest, Jonas said. Other books also record Bridger's importance to the campaign and note he was always included in meetings with the top leaders. It is also well-documented Johnson gave Bridger the honorary rank of Major during the Utah Campaign. Jonas said this type of promotion was unprecedented for a scout since he wasn't officially a part of the army, and such a promotion would require a special favor and shows Bridger's importance. Jonas also believes this promotion explains why Bridger would be armed with an Army-issued revolver, since the campaign was particularly dangerous and he was working directly with the military. Jonas also noted the weapon inventory for the regiment would be under the control of the commanding officer. "I'm starting to believe that it was directly given to him by Johnson," Jonas said of the gun. Further evidence suggesting the revolver did belong to Bridger comes from the fact that the book "Jim Bridger: Mountain Man" by Stanley Vestal directly talks about Bridger fighting with a revolver. Jonas also noted the sights on the revolver in his possession were modified "in order to shoot a little more accurately with what we would call mountain-man style sights." Based on all the available evidence, Jonas is 95% certain the revolver he has did belong to Bridger, and so far he hasn't found contrary evidence. "Me and a lot of other fellow collectors, we don't really have any doubts that everything fits with Jim Bridger," he said. The existence of the revolver points to Bridger's importance not only as a scout and mountain man but as an influential aid to the military. Jonas plans on traveling to Montana this summer and will bring the revolver with him so he can stop at places like Fort Bridger and Fort Laramie to show the gun to experts and continue his research in authenticating its connection to Bridger. An Arkansas man faces charges of theft and exploiting a vulnerable adult following an incident where he is alleged to have taken money from a woman trying to pay her rent. Mark Quincy Matlock, 49, of Cabot, Arkansas, is charged with misdemeanor theft and felony-level exploitation of a vulnerable adult and is being held at the Sweetwater County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash or surety bond. According to court documents, Matlock was the previous manager of the Regency of Wyoming trailer park outside Reliance, but had been let go from the company. On Aug. 15, 2021, Sweetwater County Sheriff Deputy Marie Mammano was dispatched to the trailer parks office at 50 Reliance Road lot 1A regarding a larceny report and met with the manager Melissa Strock. Strock told the deputy she had taken over management from Matlock and she had seen discrepancies in rent payments. One of the trailer parks tenants, Julie Prado, had not paid their rent for July or August, but was informed by Prado she had already paid Matlock for the year. Prado alleged Matlock told her to make a check out to him and he would cash the check and pay her rent account, writing a check for $6,370 to cover the entire year. While Mammano was at the office, Matlock drove up and spoke with Mammano. According to court documents, Matlock said he had driven to the office to pay Prados rent and had two cashier checks for $540, causing Mammano to ask where the rest Prados money was. Matlock allegedly said he didnt have it and said Regency didnt take checks from Prado and two other renters because their checks bounced. He said he gave them the option to give him cash and he would pay it through his account, as the trailer court did not accept cash. The other two tenants opted to pay with cashier checks. During an interview with Prado, she said she lived in the park since 2011 and had been in a car accident in 2020 that resulted in a head injury. As a result of the injury and being prescribed heavy medications, she asked Matlock to assist her in getting the rent paid. She alleged Matlock told her Regency had recently been sold to another company and by writing the check to him, he could easily pay her rent, though she later came to believe the claim was false after talking with Strock. She also said she had no reason to distrust Matlock because he was the landlord. After the interview, Prado also provided copies of the checks she had written. Investigators also contacted a second person, Ben Lorenz, who had moved out of the park in June. He claimed an incident with Matlock occurred a few months prior when he had given Matlock a check for $350 on the seventh of an unspecified month. However, after checking his account about 10 days later, he noticed the check had not been processed and spent the money. Matlock then told him the check had bounced and he needed to pay in cash. Lorenz said he paid $350 in cash to Matlock, but had later been contacted by Strock that he did not pay the lot rent for the month. During a later phone interview between investigators and Matlock, he allegedly said he was angry with the company for firing him and decided not to give the money Prado had intended to use for the lot rent. He also allegedly said he didnt mean to put Prado in a financial bind, but he had several outstanding monthly bills he paid, including approximately $1,500 in child support and a $1,200 bill he owed for electricity and allegedly claimed he spent all the money from Prados check. He said he was giving the trailer court three $540 money orders to help pay for Prados rent before he was fired, saying he also wanted to pay Prado or the court back, but hadnt been contacted by anyone asking for the money. In regards to Lorenz, Matlock said he gave the $350 back to him by taping the cash to his front door. When told Lorenz hadnt received the money, Matlock said the cash might have been taken from the front door of Lorenz residence. Values increased over 2021 Residents will receive their 2022 Notice of Value statements from the Sweetwater County Assessors Office. According to Sweetwater County Assessor Dave Divis, residents signed to receive their statements by email should expect them very shortly. Home values are calculated using a formula involving the replacement cost new, subtracting depreciation, adding the land value and trending for sales. Cost data is provided by the Wyoming Department of Revenue. In a press release sent by Divis, he notes the cost tables saw a significant increase this year. One cause was the cost of building materials increasing significantly over the last year. Another cause is related to sales data collected throughout the county. There were 700 valid residential sales occurring in 2021, with an average sale price of $267,402. Both residential and commercial properties will see an increase in value due to the increases seen in the cost table and sales, with some properties valuation increasing by up to 20%. Please keep in mind, assessors are required by the Wyoming Department of Revenue and the State Board of Equalization, to be in compliance with Mass Appraisal Standards. These standards require the value of residential and commercial properties to be within 95% of the sales price for these properties in calendar year 2021, Divis wrote in his press release. People who disagree with their valuation have 30 days from March 30 to discuss the valuation with the assessors office and provide further information to help the office assess the property. For veterans receiving a veterans exemption and do not find an amount printed on the lower right corner of the Notice of Value should contact the office before May 23 to receive the exemption for the 2022 tax year. Residents can contact the office at 872-3700 in Green River or 922-5200 in Rock Springs, or through email at assessor@sweetwatercountywy.gov. CHEYENNE In perhaps Gov. Mark Gordons final action regarding bills that passed the state Legislature during its recently completed budget session, he vetoed some legislation Friday and allowed others to become law without his signature. One such bill that can proceed, although without the governors explicit approval, is the Legislatures redistricting plan. State lawmakers voted to add three colleagues after the next election, and the bill therefore has gone by the moniker of the 62-31 plan. In his message explaining why he was not OKing redistricting, yet allowing it to become law, Gordon noted that the Legislatures Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee had put in an immense amount of work this past year to develop proposed legislation for reapportioning legislative districts a constitutional task required of this Legislature following the decennial census. Then, the final legislation was amended in the waning hours of the legislative session to a version that apparently establishes some districts that appear to exceed presumptively acceptable deviation limits, Gordon noted. Redistricting is an inherently legislative process and, therefore, I must assume this final product represents the best effort of this Legislature. Thus, for this reason, as well as a desire to see our elections have their best chance to proceed in an orderly and proper way, I am allowing (it) to become law. Some of the bills that Gordon has now outright opposed would have affected Wyomings burgeoning cryptocurrency industry. At least two such pieces of legislation had originated in the Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation Technology, which has been active on tech and virtual currency issues. Gordons office announced Friday night that he had vetoed the following bills: Senate File 106, known as the Wyoming Stable Token Act; Senate File 55, for insurance sandboxes to try or demonstrate new and innovative tech; and House Bill 137, State Land Exchanges-Public Notice. In his veto message on SF 106, the governor noted that Wyoming has been on the cutting edge regarding the regulation of special purpose depository institutions for the exchange of digital assets including cryptocurrencies. But he worried that any duties associated with the would-be law could overwhelm the states treasurers office. That office is struggling to keep current with its other obligations to the state, Gordon wrote. Despite assurances that the processes described in this bill are simple and straightforward, I remain unconvinced that this camel can carry even one more straw. Gordon also raised process issues with this proposal. I am concerned that not all stakeholders were consulted prior to its passage, his veto letter read. Wyomings reputation is at stake, as are the reputations of the individuals tasked with implementing the Act, should the effort fail. Moreover, unfortunately this idea emerged before there was enough time to provide even the most basic fiscal note describing the potential impacts of this Act. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle was not able to immediately reach any of the sponsors of SF 106 for their reaction. Gordon signed HB 63, County and District Attorneys-Salary Amendments, and HB 91, County Officers-salaries, but allowed HB 96, State Officials Salary, to become law without his signature. The first bill raises the salaries of the states prosecutors, while the last raises the governors salary from $105,000 to $140,000 annually. The other four top elected state officials will see their compensation rise from $92,000 to $125,000. All such pay hikes will become effective when the person elected to the position is sworn in after this years general election. CHEYENNE This past session of the Legislature was a mostly productive time for Wyomings burgeoning digital money industry. These organizations use massive amounts of computing power along with correspondingly large portions of electricity to rapidly perform calculations in order to virtually mint digital currency. They scored some legislative wins at the state Capitol in this past session, which wrapped up earlier this month. As detailed in a recent article in the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, these virtual miners got some changes to state law that they say will make it even easier for them to register their operations in this state. And legislators also passed Senate File 106, the Wyoming Stable Token Act. Industry did not get all it wanted, however. Just this past Friday, Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed the stable coin bill. He said that the state treasurers office was busy with other obligations besides potentially dealing with the currency. During the Legislatures budget session, efforts fizzled to allow for the creation of deregulated energy zones, if a county commission successfully petitioned the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners for one on state land. Senate File 71 died in the Senate Minerals Committee, following testimony from many stakeholders over a few days. Utilities generally opposed the bill, as did most others. The failure of the bill doesnt mean that the issue is dead, a wide array of stakeholders agreed in recent interviews. Crypto companies still want power, and many would ideally like to locate at least some operations in Wyoming. The issue remains that digital currency miners contend that they need a lot more electricity to expand their operations in the state to the extent that they would like. On the other side are utilities, which often cannot deliver as much power, as quickly and at as low a cost as the virtual financiers desire. Frustration over the failure to pass his bill was evident in comments from its backer, Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie. Speaking as the bill was voted down by all other members of the Minerals Committee who took part, he was upset that the issue was being punted to the interim legislative work session later this year. We have done a tremendous job over the years of wasting opportunities and not providing an appropriate regulatory framework for anybody to do anything at a large scale in the state that is new and innovative, such as with the cryptocurrency operations, Rothfuss said last month. We can push the pause button. It is what we have done before on other issues in the committee, he added. That tends to be the end-game mantra. And a lot of the time, it comes from industry, because we are changing things in a disruptive way. This was seemingly acknowledged by the legislative panels chairman, Sen. Jim Anderson, R-Casper. In a tense exchange with Rothfuss, Anderson seemed to agree with him that even though the issue of deregulated power zones for crypto companies might come up in the interim session, it might not advance further. Neither lawmaker responded to numerous recent requests for comment. On April 8, the Legislatures Management Council will meet to discuss what topics should be addressed in the interim session. Those on all sides of the issue expect that the panel will at least consider whether something like SF 71 should be a legislative topic. Many expect that the issue of electricity deregulation could come up more generally. There could be a larger utility discussion as a whole, and this will be part of it, said Shawn Taylor, executive director of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association. Utility officials, speaking in recent days, said theyre interested in entering into contracts with crypto miners. Its just that there seem to be differences in the expectations of this technology industry in how quickly and at what cost power can be provided, and the reality of needing to carefully connect those operations to the grid in a way that does not create financial shockwaves if these new companies later change plans. Rural electric cooperatives, which cover most of the states geographic territory and serve about a quarter of Wyomings electric customers, want to reach commercial agreements with crypto firms. We recognize the advantage if we can make it work that virtual currency mining would bring to the electric grid and other customers of these member-owned co-ops, said Taylor. A change in the law is necessary to get virtual currency miners the power they want, said Sean Murphy, a local digital mining expert. The situation is something that is not going to change unless the law changes, said Murphy. Murphys cryptocurrency consulting company has some clients who are interested in potentially moving to Wyoming. It has been frustrating for companies that want to come to Wyoming and just cant get the power, he said. He said that Black Hills Energy stands out for its request for proposals to solicit expressions of interest from such miners. During the hearing, and in follow-up communications with the WTE, utilities, including Black Hills, noted that they have sought requests, such as through RFPs. Some deals are in the works. Utilities respond that they want to sell more power, since that is their business. They need to make sure that if they agree to serve a miner, that the customer wont suddenly change plans and leave the power provider with a stranded investment that might need to be paid for by other customers who had nothing to do with the minting of new virtual tokens. Speaking at the Feb. 24 hearing, Black Hills lobbyist David Bush said, We have been working with crypto miners here in Cheyenne. The companys Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power subsidiary has more than 43,000 customers in the Cheyenne area. Its RFP sought expressions of interest for at least 10 megawatts for at least two years, with service interruption provisions. Black Hills officials noted that they got requests to purchase about 1.9 gigawatts of electricity, a staggering seven times the peak power load of all of Cheyenne. The RFP helps illustrate our due diligence efforts in order to protect our current customers, a company spokesperson said by email. During the Feb. 24 hearing, a representative of Rocky Mountain Power noted that it, too, had issued an RFP. The company has been analyzing responses to see what it could viably deliver, said the official. He noted, like others, that Wyoming is a net exporter of electricity to other states, and that all companies electric rates in Wyoming are low compared with elsewhere. (A hearing was also held on Feb. 23.) Rocky Mountain Power will provide the electrical service requested by residential, business and industrial customers in our service territory, including those in the blockchain technology industry, a company spokesperson wrote in an email. It is owned by PacifiCorp. Rocky Mountain Power is an example of a utility that must plan ahead when it comes to power distribution, because it operates in several states and not just Wyoming, said Shannon Anderson, a staff attorney at environmental group Powder River Basin Resource Council. There is not extra power, per se, because they have built the system for that load that is already being used, she said. Utilities like long-term planning, she said. Its not something that you can just do when someone says, Hey, we need this power tomorrow. And it doesnt work like that anywhere in the country. Montana-Dakota Utilities has received inquiries to serve crypto miners, but does not have any signed agreements, according to its spokesperson, noting that some would-be power buyers want 100 megawatts. (That is just under half of the power that Cheyenne typically consumes.) We are interested in serving these types of loads, the representative wrote in an email. Once we explain projected costs to secure additional power and upgrade our infrastructure to handle such a load, the interested entities have not pursued further discussions. Likewise at Black Hills, its spokesperson noted of the retail tariff rate under which miners could buy power that it does not provide the desired rate for the miners. Some blamed the defeat of SF 71, in part, on the process for drafting the legislation, which may not have fully included all stakeholders. Before the 2022 budget session, there was discussion of the bill in the Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation Technology, experts noted. While some got a chance to participate in such discussion of the then-draft legislation, others said they did not. Now, they are looking ahead to the interim session so that they can fully take part in any further process. I think the unfortunate part is that neither I nor any commissioner that I am aware of was ever contacted or alerted to the fact that this legislation existed and the fact that commissioners would play a critical role in the process. Had that occurred, we certainly would have brought our concerns (up) earlier, said Jerimiah Rieman, executive director of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association. (There are 23 counties in the state, and each has several commissioners.) Commissioners are not generally involved in blockchain legislation, nor would the title of the bill have given away that commissioners would play such a seminal role, said Rieman, who acknowledged that he missed it, too. Although the associations members generally want to see more businesses start up in their counties, the legislation envisioned an unusual role for them in the industrial land zone siting process, he said. These local officials were opposed to the way that the specific legislation was structured, which put them in what felt like an untenable situation where commissioners are making decisions for the state relative to these industrial power users without the benefit of much of the information that would be needed for them to make an educated decision, according to Rieman. For now, experts predict that more smaller power deals will be worked out, including for operations that can rely on alternative setups that dont involve connecting to the grid. I think there is power out there at lower amounts, such as several megawatts, instead of dozens or more, said Wyoming lawyer Will Reese. He is also co-founder of Highwire Energy Partners, which mines virtual currency using energy from gas that would otherwise be flared from wells. If something like SF 71 does eventually pass the Legislature, I think it could be very good, Reese said. In theory, it could allow you to unlock some power that is not being unlocked as every megawatt of power burned within the state is better than getting it from elsewhere, he added. Any encouragement to utilize power within our borders, I think, is for the best. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD One Trinity College student was killed and two others were injured in a crash Thursday night, police said. Hartford police said in a statement that officers were called to the intersection of New Britain Avenue and Henry Street around 11:37 p.m. for a report of a serious motor vehicle accident that involved pedestrians. Police said three victims were found at the scene, one of whom was unresponsive. All three were taken to a local hospital for treatment, where the unresponsive woman was pronounced dead. Police have identified her as 20-year-old Jillian Hegarty of Saint Johnsbury, Vt. Police said one of the other three victims was listed in critical, but stable condition, while the other victim suffered minor, non-life threatening injuries. All three were students at Trinity College, Hartford police spokesman Lt. Aaron Boisvert said during a news conference Friday. In a statement, the college said: Trinity College is deeply saddened by the profound and tragic loss of our classmate and friend Jillian Hegarty (class of 2024). Our hearts go out to the Hegarty family and to our students. The college is working to provide all available resources to support our campus community and we ask that you respect the privacy of those affected, the statement went on to say. We are grateful to the Hartford Police Department as they investigate this incident. The three pedestrians were crossing the street when they were hit by a vehicle heading east on New Britain Avenue. Police said the vehicle then fled the scene of the collision. In an update Friday afternoon, police said the vehicle, which they had described as a gray 2004-2007 Volkswagen Touareg, had been recovered in New Haven. The Hartford police Crime Scene Division was called to the scene and has assumed the investigation, police said. Police have released photos of an SUV suspected of being involved in the accident. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C) speaks during a virtual high-level pledging event for Afghanistan, at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 31, 2022. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) The UN funding appeal for Afghanistan this year is 4.4 billion dollars, the world's largest appeal for a single country. UNITED NATIONS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for urgent action to support the humanitarian response in Afghanistan. The already dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated alarmingly over the past months, he told a virtual high-level pledging event for Afghanistan. Some 95 percent of people do not have enough to eat. Nine million people are at risk of famine. The UN Children's Fund estimates that one million severely malnourished children are on the verge of death unless there is immediate action, he said. And global food prices are skyrocketing. This spells catastrophe for both Afghans struggling to feed their families, and for aid operations, he warned. "Without immediate action, we face a starvation and malnutrition crisis in Afghanistan. People are already selling their children and their body parts in order to feed their families." People visit a photo exhibition depicting Afghanistan's poverty and economic woes in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 30, 2022. The exhibition, titled "Poverty and Hope" and including scores of photos, was held here on a street to protest against the United States for freezing nearly 10 billion U.S. dollars assets of Afghanistan's central bank. (Photo by Aria/Xinhua) Afghanistan's economy has effectively collapsed. There is very little cash. More than 80 percent of the population are in debt. Key workers in vital services including schools and hospitals have not been paid for months. Businesses cannot operate. International aid agencies can barely function, and local partners face even greater hurdles. Livelihoods have evaporated and farmers cannot buy seeds or fertilizers. The UN Development Programme has warned that without action, 97 percent of Afghans could be living below the poverty line by the middle of this year, he said. Humanitarian needs have tripled since last June. And they are growing -- day by day and month by month. The international community must find ways to spare the Afghan people from the impact of the decision to halt development support to Afghanistan, and to freeze nearly 9 billion U.S. dollars in Afghan assets overseas. It must make cash available, so the Afghan economy can breathe, and the Afghan people can eat. Wealthy, powerful countries cannot ignore the consequences of their decisions on the most vulnerable, said Guterres. Workers are seen during an inauguration ceremony of a water canal project in Balkh province, northern Afghanistan, March 30, 2022. Taliban-run administration on Wednesday inaugurated the first-ever major water canal project to irrigate thousands of hectares of land in the northern region. (Photo by Kawa Basharat/Xinhua) He stressed that the first step in any meaningful humanitarian response must be to halt the death spiral of the Afghan economy. Without that, even the best-funded and most effective aid operation will not save the people of Afghanistan from an unimaginable future. The UN funding appeal for Afghanistan this year is 4.4 billion dollars, the world's largest appeal for a single country. Together with partners, the United Nations aims to reach 22 million people. So far, the appeal is less than 13 percent funded, he said. "I appeal to you to provide unconditional and flexible funding as soon as possible. I also call on all those with influence to use it to ensure continued safe, rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian staff -- women and men alike -- to all parts of Afghanistan." Last year, humanitarian partners reached nearly 20 million people across all parts of Afghanistan with life-saving assistance. So far this year, the World Food Programme has reached more than 14 million people with food, nutrition and resilience support, he noted. GREENWICH Litigation over the sale of the former Carmel Academy site on Lake Avenue is mounting. Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich last week filed a lawsuit to compel the sale of the property from Carmel Academy to Chabad, which has yet to proceed. Chabad has been planning to create a lower and middle school on the property at 270 Lake Ave. Carmel had run a school there since 2006, but closed its doors in spring 2020, while still existing as a nonprofit organization and legal entity. Chabad has been operating at the site on a rental basis and offering programming for younger children. Chabad had previously entered into a sales agreement to purchase the former Carmel Academy site. The sale has been disrupted by a legal issue a claim from the Rock Ridge Association that the sale should not go through. The neighborhood association, which was formed over a century ago, alleged that it is the beneficiary of a legal covenant that allows another property owner in the association the right to acquire any property first, ahead of any other buyers. The school site lies within the boundaries of the Rock Ridge Association. In April 2021, Alan Breed, a member of the Rock Ridge Association, claimed he was exercising his right of first refusal and has sought to purchase the property. A lawsuit was filed by the association in July 2021 spelling out the case that the sale to Chabad should not go through due to the covenant and the right of first refusal. However, the legal team for Carmel Academy said the right of first refusal applied only to the original owner of the land, Nathaniel Witherell, and said it expired when he died in 1906. The legal issue of the right of first refusal is in dispute. That case is pending before Judge Kenneth Povodator and is in the discovery phase, with various records being reviewed. A status conference is set for early May, according to the judicial website. Filed late last week in Superior Court in Stamford, the new lawsuit from Chabad seeks a court order compelling Carmel to sell the land to Chabad. That legal complaint states that the right of first refusal is non-existent. The lawsuit, filed against Carmel Academy, Breed and the Rock Ridge Association, said the litigation filed by the Rock Ridge Association had caused the New York attorney general to withhold approval of the transaction, pending the courts ruling. The New York attorney general has to sign off on land deals involving educational nonprofit organizations, and Carmel is based in New York state. Chabad should have the right to close the transaction with Carmel and take ownership of the property, not only as a matter of right it was agreed to and Chabad has relied on it but as a matter of fundamental fairness, the new lawsuit maintains. Chabads lawyers note that the ongoing educational programs are in jeopardy due to the legal conflicts over the land sale. The suit says Breed and neighborhood association set out to derail the transaction and frustrated efforts to secure financing to close the deal. The suit alleges a breach of contract. Messages left with Lawrence Grossman, an attorney for Carmel Academy, were not returned. The Chabad administration declined comment, saying the lawsuit spoke for itself. A lawyer representing Breed, Richard Colbert, says his client was legally entitled to buy the site. Colbert said a key piece of the financing for the Chabad purchase was not completed, invalidating the purchase agreement before it reached the final stages of the deal. The contract Chabad had to purchase was terminated by Carmel because Chabad failed to fulfill the terms of the agreement. Specifically, they were required to provide proof of financing without contingency. When they failed to do that, Carmel terminated that agreement, Colbert said. That termination led to Breed being approached to buy the land, his lawyer said. We were assured by Carmel that the contract had not been fulfilled, that it has been properly terminated. With those representations, Mr. Breed agreed to enter into an agreement to purchase the property. We maintain he has a valid agreement, Colbert said. He does not wish Chabad any ill will. He believes the contract was not fulfilled on their part, for whatever reason, and he wanted to purchase the property and is now proceeding to purchase the property. Breeds lawyer also insisted that the so-called right of repurchase that appears in the historical land records, as he termed it, is indeed valid. The sale has not yet been finalized. The plans to add grades at the Lake Avenue site and expand the educational operation there has been withdrawn from consideration by the Planning & Zoning Commission. Chabad was looking to create a lower and middle school at the site, while neighbors were complaining about noise and greater activity associated with the operation. Chabad has put the expansion plans on hold for now, but the schools leadership said the expansion plan was still a goal it would pursue in the future. rmarchant@greenwichtime.com Samsung US will soon offer a new self-repair program for its Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Developed in collaboration with iFixit, the Galaxy self-repair program will give Samsung device owners access to spare parts, repair tools and guides on fixing their devices. The program will launch this summer covering the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S21 series smartphones as well as the Galaxy Tab S7+ initially with plans to add more devices later on. It remains to be seen if the program will expand to more markets. Samsung users will soon be able to fix their own phones The devices confirmed at launch will get access to displays, back glass, and charge ports components. Battery replacements are not mentioned in the press release though Samsung US CEO confirmed to The Verge that display assemblies come attached with batteries which should simplify the repair process. Samsung will allow users to mail-in their old parts and will also take your broken parts for recycling. More details will be revealed when the program is ready to kick off. Source Samsung introduced the Galaxy A53 a couple of weeks back and today as the phone went on sale we managed to get a unit for review. It retains a lot of the DNA of its 2021 predecessors but comes with a couple of major upgrades that we'll go over before handing the phone to our review team. The company decided to keep the overall look of the camera bump for the quad-cam setup, and this years phones also have lovely colors - our unit came in Awesome Peach. It appears orange or gold depending on the lighting. Sadly, the Galaxy A53 does not have an adapter in the retail box in most countries much like the cheaper Galaxy A13 we welcomed recently. Theres only a SIM ejector pin and a USB-C to USB-C cable. The phone weighs 189 grams and has the same 6.5 Super AMOLED panel as the Galaxy A52s. Which is a good thing considering that it is a vibrant and bright display. There are two significant changes in the Galaxy A53 - the first being the Exynos 1280 chipset, which is making its debut here. Samsung hasn't officially detailed its latest mid-range chipset, but we now know its CPU has four performance Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and four Cortex-A55 efficiency units clocked at 2.0GHz. The other noteworthy improvement Samsung brought is the 5,000 mAh battery. It charges at up to 25W, which is as good as it gets with Samsung phones these days. We are now starting work on the full Galaxy A53 review, so stick around for our findings! The Xiaomi 12 Pro announced in China in December and launched globally last month is "coming soon" to India. Life is a show, let's make it worth the wait.#12 5 is coming soon to India! Because the show is incomplete without " ". pic.twitter.com/OEmOCb1tcy Xiaomi India (@XiaomiIndia) March 31, 2022 Xiaomi hasn't announced the 12 Pro's India launch date yet, but a picture posted by the company's Global VP, Mr. Manu Jain, suggests the smartphone could debut in India on April 12 (calendar on the table has the date marked). It's unclear if the 12 Pro will be joined by the vanilla 12 and 12X or Xiaomi will skip them in India. We'll hopefully find out in the coming days. In the meantime, let's take a look at the Xiaomi 12 Pro's specs sheet. The smartphone is built around a 6.73" 120Hz QHD+ LTPO AMOLED display and has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC at the helm. It comes with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage and runs Android 12-based MIUI 13 out of the box. The Xiaomi 12 Pro packs a 4,600 mAh battery with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging support, and you get four cameras - a 32MP selfie shooter inside the punch hole, with the camera system on the back comprising 50MP primary, 50MP ultrawide, and 50MP telephoto units. The rest of the Xiaomi 12 Pro's highlights include stereo speakers, NFC, 5G connectivity, and an in-display fingerprint reader. JINAN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- East China's Shandong Province, the country's leading grain and vegetable producer as well as a major wheat production base, has ushered in its spring sowing season with comprehensive farming preparations this year. Affected by unusual floods last autumn, Shandong's routine winter wheat sowing schedule was delayed, and its wheat crops saw a record-high proportion of weak seedlings. As late wheat sowing is one of the primary reasons for possible low yields, more precise agricultural management and seedling techniques are crucial for the province's spring farming this year. Before the Spring Festival this year, Shandong had dispatched batches of agricultural experts to the farmland, a month earlier than the previous year, to help local farmers monitor and analyze the growth of crops and provide practical guidance. "Thanks to the expert advice, I covered my wheat with mulching film beforehand and found them growing faster than those sown a month earlier," said Chang Shaobing, a farmer who owns about 11 hectares of wheat in Yanggu County of Liaocheng City. Besides assigning technical experts, field management groups have also been formed in Liaocheng's Shenxian County, with each group member responsible for specific technical support and farming supervision of every single patch of land. "A farmland of about 66 hectares is under my watch and I will keep an eye on the wheat crops here throughout the growth cycle," said Zhao Cheng, an official from Yutun Village, Liuqiao Township of Qihe County. "Setting up such a comprehensive field management system means attaching greater importance to grain production and forming a powerful synergy through concerted efforts," said Sun Xiuwei, an official with the Qihe county government. Shandong has also built a remote sensing application center, which adopts information technologies to better monitor crop growth, prevent and control pest and plant diseases as well as help formulate emergency plans for disaster prevention and mitigation. In recent years, a wide range of new business models has emerged in the province's agriculture sector. Novel public services like "crop hospitals" and agricultural service centers have mushroomed to facilitate product distribution channels and ensure timely delivery of production materials to local farmers. Farm machinery, an indispensable part of spring plowing, has been paid greater attention. In Weifang City, 40,000 agricultural machines have undergone thorough checks to ensure they function well during the critical farming season. Chu Ruiyun, deputy director of the provincial agriculture and rural affairs department, noted that Shandong requires around 2.7 million tonnes of fertilizer and 1.15 million units or sets of agricultural machinery for the spring agricultural production period. Currently, all kinds of agricultural production materials including machinery have sufficient supplies and can meet the production needs, Chu said. Local financial institutions have tailored support services for farmers in anticipation of a bumper harvest this year. Funds worth around 800 million yuan (about 126 million U.S. dollars) have been pooled into strengthening field management in the province. According to official data, Shandong's winter wheat sowing area has reached over 4 million hectares in total this year, with a year-on-year increase of 8,000 hectares. April is Autism Awareness Month and for most people, theres a lot to learn. The Center for Disease Control estimates in a 2020 study that 1 in 44 children are autistic, an increase from the 1 in 150 children estimate 20 years ago. With this in mind, creating a compassionate and informed community is more important than ever. Autism Community Together, also known as ACT, is a local non-profit started by parents of autistic sons in 2004, a time when president Evelyn Claros says there werent many educators or school administrators trained in the needs of autistic children. The group started as a way to support one another through the unique experience of raising a child with autism and to advocate for their rights. Circumstances have improved since then thanks to their work and growing awareness, but theres still more to be done. An important element of that is making sure the community surrounding families managing autism is as well informed as possible, starting with understanding what autism is. What is autism? Well, autism is really a neurological disability. Most of our kids process information differently. They have unique needs, they have unique strengths. But they also have their shortcomings, Claros said. According to the Center for Disease Control, autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorder includes conditions that can be diagnosed separately, including autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, and Asperger syndrome. The misconception is that when you say someones on the spectrum of autism that its all alike. Its not a one size fits all. The misconception sometimes out in the public is that you think theyre misbehaving or theyre naughty kids. But it could be just overstimulation, Claros said. If you put them in the mall, theres all kinds of noise going on. People talking, walking, who knows what. And people dont understand that for our kids on the spectrum that noise is too much. Its noise pollution, really. Its overstimulation and so they dont know how to react, they dont know where to go. The other thing for our kids is unfamiliar places, its not something that they cope very well with. So preparing them or going to a new place to meet people, they dont always adapt very easily. More awareness, more kindness Claros believes greater awareness of autism in the community will lead to more kindness and understanding both in day-to-day public moments of overstimulation and in long-term ways like creating employment opportunities. Our sons and daughters are entitled to everything and anything anyone is entitled to. How they cope with certain events or situations may be different. And it doesnt mean that if a child is flapping or pacing, or is screaming in a certain situation that parents are not good parents. ... Thats one of the biggest challenges as parents that we go through, the people judge that were not able to be a good parent, we cant control our sons or daughters out in public. And thats not the situation. So its really to accept them for who they are because they do have strengths, they really do, Claros said. As parents, our biggest worry is when we pass away, Who will care for my son? Thats the biggest worry every one of us has, said Claros adding that awareness will only make it easier for them to be accepted into the community and give them employment opportunities. Offering support Navigating the experience of raising a child on the autism spectrum requires support that in some cases only other parents with children on the spectrum can give. ACT offers many branches of support, including connecting with families who can learn from and lean on one another. We are here to support other parents or family members who are the primary or secondary caregivers of our sons or daughters, said Claros. Those a part of ACTs chat groups can ask for recommendations on barbers or dentists and other places that might be hard settings for their kids. ACT also collaborates with outside government and private sector groups to ensure students are fully supported and caregivers empowered with as much information as possible as their child moves through the school system and transitions into either higher education or employment. We try to offer trainings or collaborate with the Department of Education, and we also invite outside experts like the Division of Vocational Rehab. Weve invited Guam Legal Service to tell us as parents what our rights are at the age of majority for our son or daughter, what we need to do in case theyre not able to make some fair and good judgment for their medical needs or financial needs. So just the many unique basic life survival skills, they tell us what we should consider, Claros said. According to Claros, they offer what is called an IEP or individualized education plan while students are still in the educational system. This helps parents know what their rights are, what they can ask for, what services are being provided to their child and whether theyre appropriate and whether or not their needs and goals are being met. Reaching out Claros hopes that families beginning their journey with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis will reach out to ACT or join them for one of their many Autism Awareness Month events to begin accessing their network of support. When you first receive the message that your son or daughter has been diagnosed to be in the spectrum of autism, its overwhelming. A lot of emotions, What did I do wrong? Sometimes we have some families who are single parents, and so thats double the stress of having to work especially if you have other kids, and then you have a special needs child you know, survival of the day-to-day. So were here for that, thats one of our biggest missions, Claros said. Were open, were here to support you. But just to come and meet parents to know that youre not alone. If youre willing to ask for help, were there to try to refer you to other parents who may have been experiencing the same challenge you have. Or for us with older sons, we can share with you what weve been through. Claros is grateful for the businesses that already partner with the Department of Vocational Rehab and with ACT to offer older students a chance to try out various kinds of work in preparation for pursuing financial independence as adults. She hopes that as awareness increases, more business owners will look for ways they can open their doors to employees with autism. Potential employers, if they would work with the Department of Education and say I am open to having some students come to my business, Claros said. If you try, and not just autism, but anyone with a disability in general, they could be a very good employee. You just need to give them the opportunity. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Honorary Southern High School graduate Floren M. Paulino, then 94, during a ceremony at the Inalahan Senior Citizens Center in May 2019. Paulino, a master CHamoru weaver and active cultural preservationist, died March 22, 2022. LHASA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- April 1 marks International Bird Day. Southwest China's Tibet is home to one of the most pristine natural environments on earth and a paradise for birds. Tibet has seen a steady increase in endangered wildlife population, thanks to its continuous efforts over the past decades. The population of black-necked cranes has exceeded 10,000 from 1,000 to 3,000 previously. So far, Tibet has built 47 nature reserves covering a total area of about 412,200 square km, which accounts for more than one-third of the region's total area. Black-necked cranes fly in Namling County of Xigaze City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 29, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) Black-necked cranes are seen at Lhunzhub County of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Dec. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) Black-necked cranes are pictured in Namling County of Xigaze City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 29, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) A Himalayan Monal is pictured in Shannan City of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 2022. (Photo by Ningjing Wang/Xinhua) Black-necked cranes fly in Lhunzhub County of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) A flock of black-necked cranes are seen above Yarlung Zangbo River in Nyingchi City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) Black-headed gulls are seen at Longwangtan park in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) Black-necked cranes are seen at Lhunzhub County of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Dec. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) Black-necked cranes are seen in Xigaze City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao) A redshank rests at Lhalu wetland in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 2, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) Grebes are seen in the Lhalu wetland national nature reserve in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) Black-necked cranes are seen in Xigaze City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao) Black-necked cranes are seen in Xigaze City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Photo by Xia Xudong/Xinhua) Black-necked cranes are seen in Xigaze City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Photo by Xia Xudong/Xinhua) Black-necked cranes are seen in Xigaze City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Photo by Xia Xudong/Xinhua) Produced by Xinhua Global Service Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #742 GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022: Epidemiological situation: Friday April 1, 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 488,689,926 cases (+1,487,429 in 24 hours ), the day before (+1,542,476) Number of infected countries: 225 *Healings: 423,702,866 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+1,274,265), the day before (+1,382,039) *Deaths: 6,167,247 people have died of Covid-19 worldwide since the start of the pandemic (+4,328 in 24 hours), the day before (+5,577) *Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 58,819,813 cases (+208,836 in 24 hours), the day before (+154,860) Average cure rate in the world: 86.70% (=) Average mortality rate in the world: 1.26% (=) World: Number of daily confirmed cases (Day-1) Vaccination: 11.32 billion doses of vaccine injected (+10 million doses injected in 24 hours. Update March 31, 2022 (latest data available). HAITI: Warning: The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) did not make available after March 26, 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, +16 new cases of Covid-19 and its variants have been confirmed in Haiti as of March 26, 2022 (latest partial data available ) for a total of 30,545 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 (+7 cases as of March 24, 2022). Healings: 28,431 (+162) Cure rate: 93.07% (+) Deaths: 833 deaths (+0) () Death rate: 2.72% (=) 5th Wave (Omicron Dominant): Total of the 5th wave (beginning of December 27, 2021) 4,551 confirmed cases and 67 deaths Screening since the start of the pandemic: 188,012 tests (+690 in 2 days) since March 19, 2020, latest data available. Note that the very small number of people screened every day at the national level out of a population estimated at 11.6 million citizens, does not statistically allow us to make a representative estimate of the situation in Haiti, which translates into a < B>number of daily confirmed cases largely underestimated. TOP 5 of the most affected municipalities in the West (2022): Delmas: 740 (+1); Petion-ville 624 (+3); Port-au-Prince 406 (+0); Tabarre 287 (+0); Cross-Bouquets 239 (+1) Confirmed cases by department (2022 / 2021 / 2020): West: 2022: 2,552 cases; (2021: 9.890); (2020: 6,945 cases) North: 2022: 267 cases; (2021: 664); (2020: 677 cases) Center: 2022: 226 cases; (2021: 1.001); (2020: 508 cases) Artibonitis: 2022: 184 cases; (2021: 855); (2020: 593 cases) Northeast: 2022: 148 cases; (2021: 404); (2020: 314 cases) Southeast: 2022: 262 cases; (2021: 768); (2020: 274 cases) South: 2022: 214 cases; (2021: 891); (2020: 262 cases) North West: 2022: 255 cases; (2021: 383); (2020: 229 cases) Grand'Anse: 2022: 173 cases; (2021: 861); (2020: 176 cases) Nippes: 2022: 39 cases; (2021: 249) (2020: 149 cases) Cumulative deaths by department (2022-2021): West: 295 deaths (2020: 104 deaths) North: 54 deaths (2020: 34 deaths) Center: 79 deaths (2020: 13 deaths) Artibonite: 42 deaths (2020: 39 deaths) North East: 7 deaths (2020: 6 deaths) South: 51 deaths (2020: 6 deaths) Southeast: 15 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: 56 deaths 40-49 years: 80 deaths 50-59 years: 134 deaths 60-69 years: 187 deaths 70-79 years: 183 deaths 80 years and over: 137 deaths Vaccination: 163,369 Haitians (1.4% of the population) +2,205 in 6 days received a 1st dose of vaccine since July 16, 2021, date of the first injection through 149 open vaccination centers and 111,914 Haitians are fully vaccinated (2 doses, 0.96% of the population) +1.585 in 6 days. Update March 22, 2022 latest information available (source MSPP). List of the 149 Vaccination Centers open in Haiti (and hours) by department: (updated October 20, 2021, latest information available) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35051-haiti-covid-19-list-of-149-vaccination-centers-open-in-the-country.html DIASPORA: Epidemic situation : USA: *Cases since the first case (February 29, 2020): 81,780,503 cases (+39,781 in 24 hours), the day before (+54,094) *Healings: 65,236,840 healings (+163,741), the day before (+196,125) National Cure Rate: 79.77% (+) *Deaths: 1,007,320 deaths (+875), the day before (+1,389) National death rate: 1.23% (=) *Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 15,536,343 (-124,835), yesterday (-143,420) USA: Number of daily confirmed cases: (Day-1) Vaccination: 560.67 million doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, the date of the first injection in the United States (+230,000 doses in 24 hours). Updated March 30, 2022 (latest data available). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 578,020 cases (+38 in 24 hours) the day before (+72 in 24 hours). First case (March 1, 2020) Healings: 573,445 healings (+76 in 24 hours), the day before (+22) National Cure Rate: 99.20% (=) Deaths: 4,375 deaths (+0), previous (+0) Death rate: 0.75% (=) Positivity rate over 4 epidemiological weeks: 0.92% (-) Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 200 cases (-38 in 24 hours) the day before (+50) 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: Distrito Nacional: +18 new cases in 24 hours (+) Santiago: +5 new cases in 24 hours (-) Espaillat: +3 new cases in 24 hours () San Juan: +2 new cases in 24 hours () La Romana: +2 new cases in 24 hours () Vaccination: 15.50 million doses of vaccine injected since February 16, 2021, date of the first injection in the Dominican Republic (+10,000 doses injected in 24 hours). Update March 31, 2022 (latest data available). QUEBEC: Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 967,769 (+3,319 in 24 hours), previous (+3,067) Healings: 928,716 people (+1,206 in 24 hours) previous (+931) Cure rate: 95.96% (-) Deaths: 14,365 (+12 in 24h) previous (+8) Death rate: 1.48% (=) Active cases: (excluding death and recovery) 23,688 cases (+2,101 in 24 hours), previous (+2,128) Quebec: Trend of daily confirmed cases (average weekly trend) Vaccination: 18,648,742 doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection (+17,145 doses in 24 hours), latest data available - MSSS as of March 31, 2022) FRANCE: *Confirmed cases since the first case (January 24, 2020): 25,614,843 cases (+169,311 cases in 24 hours), previous (+169,024) *Heals: 23,239,145 heals (+72,250) National Cure Rate: 90.72% (-) Deaths: 142,273 (+139 in 24 hours), previous (+148) Death rate: 0.55% (=) Active Cases: 2,233,425 (+96,922), previous (+94,057) France: Number of daily confirmed cases (Day-1) Vaccination: 141.78 million doses of vaccine injected since December 27, 2020, date of the first injection in France (+40,000 doses injected in 24 hours. Update March 31, 2022 (latest data available) Previous bulletin : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36313-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-741.html See alos : 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... Arnel Belizaire operated Former deputy Arnel Belizaire, was successfully operated in a hospital in the capital after receiving 4 projectiles including two in the hip, and two in the rib cage during the demonstrations on Wednesday https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36307-haiti-flash-former-deputy-arnel-belizaire-seriously-injured-by-bullets.html . His state of health remains uncertain in the absence of an official bulletin from the medical authorities. According to his parents, who are awaiting authorization from doctors, Belizaire should be transported abroad to undergo further surgeries in Cuba or Mexico, as soon as his condition allows it. End of strike at the General Hospital The strike by employees of the General Hospital, which began on February 21, 2022, has ended, the union announced on Thursday, confirming that an agreement on short-term support measures has been agreed following talks between the Ministry of Public Health and the strikers "promises have been made". Arrest of members of the "kokorat san ras" gang Wednesday, March 30 during a police operation in "Ti Davi", (commune of Gros-morne, Artibonite) 4 alleged members of the "kokorat san ras" gang were arrested : Norvens Auguste, Shelove Previlus, Dumervil Evens and Rochener. Lambert concerned about the assassination attempt on Belizaire Joseph Lambert, the President of the Senate, says he is concerned about the circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination of former deputy Arnel Belizaire. He affirms that the Senate will remain vigilant on the investigation of the Directorate of Judicial Police and the prosecution of Port-au-Prince https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36307-haiti-flash-former-deputy-arnel-belizaire-seriously-injured-by-bullets.html Restoration of historical monuments Training session in seismic and para-cyclonic construction for the benefit of engineers and architects. This training organized by the Ministry of Culture and Communication, ISPAN, UNESCO and the Technical Execution Unit of the Ministry of Economy and Finance is part of the PAST project. The training, which specializes in the restoration of historical monuments, extends over ten days and will take place between the West (Port-au-Prince) and the North where the practical part will take place. Bocchit Edmond meeting at the Congress Haiti's Ambassador to Washington Bocchit Edmond said he was pleased to meet this week in Congress with Dominican-American Congressman for the 13th District of New York Adriano Espaillat to discuss several issues including the renewal of the HOPE/HELP Act and border projects between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. HL/ HaitiLibre Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chairs the third foreign ministers' meeting of neighboring countries of Afghanistan, in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, March 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) HEFEI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China believes that if Afghanistan responds more effectively to the concerns of all parties, the diplomatic recognition of the Afghan government will come naturally, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday. Wang made the remarks at a press conference after chairing the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and the first foreign ministers' meeting between the Afghan interim government and its neighboring countries in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province. Wang said diplomatic recognition is a major concern of the Afghan interim government and a common concern of the international community, stressing that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community. China has observed that the Afghan interim government has made significant efforts and achieved certain results in maintaining stability and state governance since its establishment, Wang said, adding that the Afghan side has demonstrated its determination to achieve development, expressed its willingness to gain more understanding and support from its neighbors and the international community, and showed a positive attitude toward foreign exchanges. Noting that the international community, including Afghanistan's neighboring countries, still has a lot of concerns and expectations involving the Afghan interim government, Wang said it is hoped that the interim government will make greater progress in promoting national reconciliation, building a more inclusive government and protecting the rights of women and children in employment and education. In particular, he expressed the hope of the international community that the interim government will take a firmer attitude in fighting terrorism and make more tangible results in this respect. "We believe that diplomatic recognition of the Afghan government will come naturally as the concerns of all parties are addressed more forcefully," Wang said. China hopes that the Afghan interim government will take steady steps and make concrete efforts in the right direction, the Chinese foreign minister added. By William Schwartz | Published on 2022/03/31 Actress Kim Sejeong recently announced that she had made a donation to Community Chest of Korea in order to assist Ukrainian refugees. According to Kim Sejeong, the motivation for this act was her desire to join in support efforts for those suffering from the war in Ukraine. She also hoped that one day the war would come to a quick end. Advertisement Community Chest of Korea spends the money they receive on water, food, and emergency medical supplies among others for Ukrainian refugees. This is not the first such charitable donation from Kim Sejeong, who has also been active in donating for COVID-19 relief, as well as for the various forest fires that have afflicted South Korea in recent years. Kim Sejeong is currently appearing the popular romantic comedy "Business Proposal" which is airing worldwide on Netflix. Written by William Schwartz A medical worker takes a swab sample from a woman for nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) SHANGHAI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. The megacity in east China on Monday began its two-phase enforcement of temporary closed-off management to track possible infections and curb the spread of the virus. Mass nucleic acid testing in areas including those on the east of the Huangpu River started Monday. Shanghai has also tightened its virus control measures and encouraged its residents not to leave the city unless necessary. From Saturday, people leaving the city will have to either show a negative nucleic acid test result within 48 hours together with a negative antigen testing result within 24 hours, or present a negative nucleic acid test within 24 hours. Shanghai reported 358 confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 4,144 asymptomatic carriers on Thursday, Wu Jinglei, director of the Shanghai municipal health commission, told a press conference on Friday. A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Community workers guide local residents to do nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A community worker helps local residents register information before nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Community workers inform residents to come for nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A medical worker takes a swab sample from a woman for nucleic acid test in Putuo District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) Volunteers guide residents to do nucleic acid test in Putuo District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) A medical worker takes a swab sample from a little girl for nucleic acid test in Minhang District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Ren Long) Medical staff take swab samples from residents for nucleic acid test in Putuo District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) Aerial photo taken on the early morning of April 1, 2022 shows areas west of the Huangpu River in east China's Shanghai. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Photo by Yang Fan/Xinhua) A medical worker takes a swab sample from a boy for nucleic acid test in Songjiang District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) Residents queue to do nucleic acid test at a community in Hongkou District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Photo by Yang Fan/Xinhua) A staff member registers information of a resident to do nucleic acid test at a residential community in Minhang District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Ren Long) Medical staff take swab samples from residents for nucleic acid test at a residential community in Songjiang District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) A volunteer works at a nucleic acid testing site within a residential community in Songjiang District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) A medical worker takes a swab sample from a woman for nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Community workers guide local residents to do nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A community worker helps local residents register information before nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Community workers inform residents to come for nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A medical worker takes a swab sample from a woman for nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A medical worker takes a swab sample from a senior citizen for nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A medical worker takes a swab sample from a man for nucleic acid test in Changning District of east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. Shanghai has launched a nucleic acid testing campaign in areas west of the Huangpu River from Friday amid the second phase of the city's closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A community worker makes phone calls to arrange vegetables delivery at a residential community during night time in east China's Shanghai, March 31, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Community workers pack vegetables at a residential community during night time in east China's Shanghai, March 31, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Volunteers prepare for a nucleic acid testing campaign at a residential community during night time in east China's Shanghai, March 31, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A medical worker prepares to do nucleic acid test in the night time at Minhang District of east China's Shanghai, March 31, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) A staff member delivers vegetables at a residential community during night time in east China's Shanghai, March 31, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows a big screen displaying "I Love Shanghai" in Chinese at the Bund in east China's Shanghai. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Local residents come to a hospital to do nucleic acid test in the night time at Minhang District of east China's Shanghai, March 31, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) Staff process pepper at a vegetable warehouse in the early morning in east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) A nurse checks on the location of an ambulance online at Ruijin Hospital in east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Yuan Quan) Photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows the night view of the Bund in east China's Shanghai. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) A man rides a motorcycle is seen on Jiujiang Road during night time in east China's Shanghai, March 31, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) Staff process broccoli at a vegetable warehouse in the early morning in east China's Shanghai, April 1, 2022. The second phase of closed-off management in Shanghai has come into force in areas west of the Huangpu River on Friday amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, according to local authorities. As scheduled, nucleic acid testing will be held from Friday to April 5 for around 16 million people, and 12 districts will be put under temporary closed-off management. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) News Release April 1, 2022 Contact information Consumers warned to avoid raw oysters from British Columbia linked to recent illnesses Oysters from Bay 14-8 linked to norovirus outbreak that sickened 29 Minnesotans Health officials are warning consumers not to eat raw oysters harvested from a specific bay in British Columbia, Canada, after linking norovirus illnesses to these oysters. The Minnesota Department of Health, Hennepin County Public Health, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture are working with federal officials and public health agencies in other states and Canada to investigate norovirus illnesses associated with oysters harvested from Bay 14-8 in British Columbia. Twenty-nine Minnesotans have been sickened in this outbreak. They became ill with confirmed or suspected norovirus gastroenteritis after eating raw oysters at Travail Kitchen in Robbinsdale on March 20. The oysters served were Stellar Bay Gold oysters harvested on March 10 from Deep Bay 14-8 CLF #1407063 in British Columbia, Canada. Travail Kitchen quickly brought the cases to our attention, and immediately stopped serving oysters, said Duane Hudson, Hennepin County Public Health, Environmental Health manager. We are grateful to Travail for their help in protecting the public from foodborne illnesses. While some parts of the harvest area have been closed, it is likely that oysters from this area are still in the marketplace. With that in mind, officials are urging restaurants and distributors to check shellstock tags and discard oysters from this harvest area. Consumers can ask oyster suppliers or restaurants to check the shellstock tag for the harvest location. Norovirus and other pathogens found in raw oysters can be destroyed by cooking to 145 degrees Fahrenheit before eating. Symptoms of norovirus typically include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach cramps that begin 12 to 48 hours after ingestion of the virus. There is currently a high level of norovirus illness activity in Minnesota, and most is not associated with eating oysters. People with norovirus can spread it to others even after symptoms stop, MDH Epidemiologist Supervisor Senior Carlota Medus said. The best way to limit spread is to wash your hands well with soap and water after using the bathroom and before preparing food for others. -MDH- Michael Schommer MDH Communications 651-373-8271 michael.schommer@state.mn.us CawthWatch: Firebrand's bad month ends but he lands speaking spot at Trump rally For U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, the Ides of March lasted the whole month. A month that featured news reports about his two speeding tickets in a five-month span, his condemnation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a thug, his (since recanted) assertion that political leaders in Washington had invited him to cocaine-sniffing orgies and his crack that the national rails to trails program is "super communist" ended with the news that U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and the top two Republican leaders of the state Legislature had endorsed his now-surging primary opponent, state Sen. Chuck Edwards. For Cawthorn, the tides of March were indeed brutal. The 11th Congressional District deserves a congressman who is fully dedicated to serving their constituents, Tillis said in a news release on Thursday. Unfortunately, Madison Cawthorn has fallen well short of the most basic standards western North Carolina expects from their representatives, and voters now have several well-qualified candidates to choose from who would be a significant improvement. I believe Chuck Edwards is the best choice. On the same day, House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger were featured guests at a lunch fundraiser Thursday for Edwards, the Associated Press and other news outlets reported. If you have clowns in office who arent serious about what theyre doing, you cant get somewhere, Moore told WNCN-TV while attending a fundraiser for Edwards. Im just kind of without the words to describe what Congressman Cawthorn is doing and saying. I mean, some of these ridiculous recent comments that continue to build on one another. "Congressman Cawthorn looks forward to securing the NC-11 nomination and uniting the party to defeat the Democrats nominee in November," Cawthorn spokesman Luke Ball said in response to the Lightning's question about the Edwards endorsement. Maybe things are looking up. Former President Trump announced that Cawthorn is one of three speakers who will appear with him at a Save America rally in Selma, North Carolina, on April 9. The event, at the Farm at 95, 215 Batten Road, Selma, starts at 4 p.m. Besides Cawthorn, other speakers are U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, whom Trump has endorsed for the U.S. Senate, and Bo Hines, a candidate for the 13th Congressional District. Trump speaks at 7. The Save America organization calls the rally "a continuation of President Trumps unprecedented effort to advance the MAGA agenda by energizing voters and highlighting America First candidates and causes." A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket takes off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the United States on Feb. 22, 2018. (SpaceX/Handout via Xinhua) Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said SpaceX's proposed project will provide internet services in the Philippines using its Low Earth Orbit satellite network constellation called Starlink. MANILA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines announced on Thursday its plan to host U.S. private space company SpaceX's Starlink project, making it the first Southeast Asian country to avail of the technology for better telecommunications services. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said SpaceX's proposed project will provide internet services in the Philippines using its Low Earth Orbit satellite network constellation called Starlink. Lopez said the launch of SpaceX's Starlink in the country will enable a much faster broadband speed, better connectivity, more capacity for telecommunications service, and more affordable rates for consumers, particularly in areas where connectivity has been difficult or impossible. He said preparations are underway for SpaceX's registration and the project is expected to be finalized before Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte steps down on June 30 after completing a six-year presidential term. Discussions on establishing the SpaceX project in the country started last November. Lopez said the recent signing of the amended Public Service Act, which allows up to 100 percent foreign ownership of public services in the country, was a critical factor in its decision to invest. SpaceX is currently establishing a local Filipino entity that will be its wholly-owned subsidiary and is targeting to deploy three gateways in the first phase. BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China has fully vaccinated 88.11 percent of its population against COVID-19 as of Thursday, a Chinese health official said Friday. As of Thursday, more than 3.27 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered across the Chinese mainland, and over 1.24 billion people had been fully vaccinated, Lei Zhenglong, an official with the National Health Commission, told a press conference. Around 224 million people over the age of 60 had been vaccinated. Of these, over 212 million people had been fully vaccinated, and over 143 million people had received booster shots, Lei said. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov on the sidelines of the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, March 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) HEFEI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday met with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov on the sidelines of the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province. Wang said that, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uzbekistan 30 years ago, the two countries have trusted and supported each other, and cooperation in various fields has been continuously deepened, reaching an unprecedented high level. He said China will continue to support Uzbekistan in exploring a development path suited to its own national conditions and stands ready to work with Uzbekistan to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state to promote the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to strengthen the docking of the Belt and Road Initiative with the plan to build a new Uzbekistan, enlarge cooperation on trade and investment and new energy, and foster a diversified and multi-dimensional cooperation framework, Wang said. For his part, Umurzakov said Uzbekistan firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is committed to deepening friendly bilateral relations. Uzbekistan appreciates China's development achievements and expects to draw on China's experience in governance, especially its experience in poverty reduction, Umurzakov said, adding that Uzbekistan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields. The two sides agreed to strengthen connectivity cooperation; explore the potential for cooperation on agriculture; advance cultural and people-to-people exchanges as well as cooperation at local levels; and deepen cooperation on health care and pandemic response. They agreed to strengthen communication and coordination in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Wang said that China fully supports Uzbekistan in hosting the SCO summit in the city of Samarkand and is willing to jointly oppose external interference and fight against the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism. The two sides also exchanged views on the Afghan issue. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov on the sidelines of the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, March 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) India receives flurry of foreign visits over Ukraine, a comfortable situation due to its autonomous stance By Zhang Han (Global Times) 08:50, April 01, 2022 Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi, India, March 25, 2022. Photo:Xinhua New Delhi is set to be busy these days as US deputy national security advisor Daleep Singh, Washington's key architect for sanctions on Russia, landed on Thursday with the expectation to pressure India to loosen ties with Russia, whose foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to visit India the following day. The almost simultaneous arrivals of Singh and Lavrov are "coincidence," according to New Delhi, but it has demonstrated how India's insistence on strategic autonomy in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has given the country a current status where both the US and Russia consult with it actively, allowing India to maximize its interests in this contentious issue of international attention, observers said. The "comfortable" situation would encourage India to maintain its strategic autonomy and reconsider how much it should join the US on Indo-Pacific affairs, as the costs of being a closer US partner could exert greater pressure on India over issues on which New Delhi does not want to take sides, they said. The White House said Tuesday that Singh's visit was to discuss the "consequences" of Russia's "unjustified war" against Ukraine and the development of an Indo-Pacific economic framework. The preparations for the upcoming "2+2" foreign and defense ministerial dialogue in Washington, likely in mid-April, are also on Singh's agenda. Multiple Indian media outlets pointed out Singh's planned trip to India comes in the midst of a flurry of "high-profile visits to the country" including those by British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and German Foreign and Security Policy Advisor Jens Plotner. The Hindustan Times reported that Lavrov will arrive on Friday after a two-day visit to China, with overcoming the fallout of US sanctions on Russia's defense and economic deals with India uppermost on his agenda. Such a flurry of visits by senior officials of leading countries in the world are uncommon. Unlike many Western powers, India has not yet criticized Russia over the Ukraine issue. It also abstained on a resolution pushed by Russia, which was "seen as reflective of its neutral position on the conflict," the Indian Express reported. Zhao Gancheng, a research fellow at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, told the Global Times that India has won itself greater room to maneuver between countries of different stances with its "neutral position" on the issue. Lavrov may discuss rupee-ruble denominated payments using Russia's SPFS system since Russia was banned from the SWIFT system commonly used in international transactions, Bloomberg said. Since March, five cargo shipments of discounted Russian oil, or about 6 million barrels, have been loaded with India as destination, CNBC reported. The amount is half of India's oil imports from Russia the previous year. India has also been firm on its stance on arms purchases from Russia, for which the US has proposed arms sales to India as a replacement. Zhao said India's resistance to Western pressure surprised and frustrated Washington which wanted a universal voice against Moscow among its allies and partners. US President Joe Biden said last week the world had mounted a "united front" across Europe and the Pacific with the "possible exception of India." Lan Jianxue, head of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, predicted mounting pressure from the US and its allies on India to sway its stance. A significant increase in Russian oil imports by India could expose New Delhi to a "great risk" as the US prepares to step up enforcement of sanctions against Moscow, Reuters cited a senior US government official as saying. India's tactical maneuvers in the past between leading powers make the US believe that India can be courted with enough interests, which is why the US tried very hard to persuade India, including engaging other QUAD members to lobby it, Lan said. The Russia-Ukraine conflict actually gave India a chance to reconsider and probably adjust its relations with the US, because "bundling with the US too tightly has significantly increased costs for India to maintain its strategic autonomy," the expert said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) BRUSSELS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Although the global economy is facing mounting uncertainty and sluggish growth due to COVID-19, economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe, which maintains sound momentum based on complementarity and mutual benefit, can act as a counter-balancing force and help stabilize the world. RESILIENCE, VIGOR Economic and trade cooperation between the European Union (EU) and China has proved to be astoundingly resilient and vigorous despite the negative consequences of the pandemic. China has overtaken the United States to become the EU's largest trading partner in 2021, with bilateral trade volume hitting record highs. Last year, the EU also became China's second largest trading partner, and in the first two months of 2022, it overtook the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the top slot. In 2021, bilateral trade between China and the EU was worth over 800 billion U.S. dollars, a new all-time high. Two-way investment exceeded 270 billion dollars. Bilateral trade increased significantly in various sectors, such as aerospace, biology, photoelectricity, electronics, and others. The two sides have upgraded and extended their communication channels including the EU-China High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue (HED) as well as regular consultations between local governments and enterprises. Juergen Friedrich, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Germany Trade & Invest, the country's foreign trade and inward investment agency, told Xinhua that China has been Germany's most important trading partner for six consecutive years and the aggregate volume of bilateral trade has reached a new record in 2021. China is one of the world's most important growth markets and is also an important partner for Germany in its efforts to tackle global challenges, such as the pandemic and climate change. Horst Loechel, a professor at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, described trade between the EU and China as a win-win for both sides, saying he expected the growth trend to continue. FREIGHT TRAINS In March 2021, a landmark agreement between the EU and China to protect over 500 Chinese and European geographical indications (GIs) entered into force. Among the early beneficiaries of the agreement were the wines produced on Greece's Samos island. "China is an extremely important market or potentially important market for Greek wines. I think that as wine is becoming more popular in China, in just a few years' time, Greek wines will conquer the market there," Greece's first Master of Wine Konstantinos Lazarakis told Xinhua. Last year also saw an increasing number of freight trains, also known as "steel camel fleets," transporting goods between China and Europe. In 2021, the number of two-way freight train trips reached 15,000, carrying 1.46 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), up 22 percent and 19 percent, respectively, year-on-year. This train connection is also highly valued by producers and importers in Spain. Gonzalo Jerez, director of Spanish logistics company TransGlory, told Xinhua that it had played a key role as a sustainable and reliable mode of logistics during the worst of the pandemic. In Serbia, the Belgrade to Novi Sad (Beno) section of the Chinese-built Hungary-Serbia railway opened in March. The ceremony was attended by Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Novi Sad. The flagship railway project has often been described as a symbol of cooperation between China and the central and eastern European region. SHARED INTERESTS China and Europe are major markets with a shared strategic interest in promoting development through green and digital partnerships. The two sides are also in sync with their ambitious commitments to a green and digital transformation, reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. China's Shanghai Electric Power Company is putting its expertise in wind, solar and hydrogen power into use on Malta's Gozo Island, which it aims to turn into the EU's first carbon-neutral island. The company is also involved in other green power projects in Malta and Montenegro. Loechel said it is vital for Europe and China to cooperate on green energy. The EU unveiled its European Green Deal in 2019 and the bloc aims at reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Meanwhile, China has committed itself to peaking its carbon emissions before 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2060. This "template for cooperation" in green energy is very important for the whole world, Loechel said. China and Europe have also made continuous efforts to strengthen their partnership in digital trade and finance. Bilateral e-commerce cooperation is booming and the sides are jointly developing cross-border e-commerce industrial parks. Several Chinese companies, such as Huawei and ZTE, are actively involved in the expansion of Europe's 5G network. The Bank of China and the China Construction Bank are also set to launch their digital currency electronic payment systems and fintech labs. Loechel also noted that Europe and China are both committed to addressing safety issues concerning digitalization and have drafted regulations and policies to protect their consumers' private data. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, March 31, 2022. The top Iranian diplomat is in China to attend the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) HEFEI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, on Thursday. The top Iranian diplomat is in China to attend the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan. Wang said under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, bilateral relations between China and Iran have maintained a strong development momentum. China supports Iran in defending its national sovereignty and dignity, and safeguarding its own legitimate rights and interests. China believes that Iran will also firmly support China in safeguarding its own core interests, Wang said. As a comprehensive strategic partner of Iran, China is committed to deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, and stands ready to work with Iran to deliver more outcomes of cooperation to benefit the two peoples. Amir-Abdollahian extended his congratulations to China on the successful hosting of a series of meetings on the Afghan issue, saying that the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders has injected strong impetus into the development of bilateral relations. He added that Iran is committed to the development of relations with China, and firmly supports China's just position. Amir-Abdollahian also expressed Iran's willingness to expand cooperation on oil and gas with China, and be a reliable energy partner of China. Both parties agreed to strengthen their cooperation in counter-terrorism. Wang noted that both countries should maintain a state of high alert against terrorist forces, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, using the situation in Afghanistan to stir up troubles. China supports Iran's efforts to improve and develop relations with its neighbors, and resolve differences through dialogue, Wang said. The two sides also agreed to jointly resist unilateral sanctions. Wang said the United States has become the "champion" of unilateral sanctions, which not only violates the basic norm governing international relations but also damages its own credibility and hurts its own interests. Sanctions will not solve any problem, but only enhance the development resilience of the countries that are sanctioned, the Chinese foreign minister added. The two sides also exchanged views on the negotiation on resuming compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue. BAGHDAD, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's prominent Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose Sadrist Movement was the biggest winner in the elections, said Thursday he gave his political rivals about 40 days to form a new government. "Here I am giving the blocking third (his political rivals) an opportunity to negotiate with all the blocs except the Sadrist bloc to form a national majority government," al-Sadr said in a tweet. Al-Sadr said he gave a roughly 40-day period for political opponents in the Iraqi Coordination Framework, an umbrella group of Shiite parties rejecting the election's results, to negotiate on forming a new government. The negotiating period would start from the first day of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which falls on April 2, to the ninth of the following month of Shawwal in the Islamic Calendar. However, al-Sadr confirmed he would not give up his right to nominate a prime minister for the new government. On Wednesday, the Iraqi parliament failed to hold a session for the third time to elect a new president after failing to reach a quorum of two-thirds of the parliament's 329 members amid ongoing political disputes. The Sadrist Movement took the lead by winning 73 seats out of the 329-seat parliament in the elections held on Oct. 10, 2021. James Harden told Kevin Durant twice during the offseason hed sign an extension agreement with the Nets, league sources tell Logan Murdock of The Ringer. Harden made those assurances when they took a trip to Greece. However, Harden began to sour on his situation in Brooklyn after Durant injured his knee in January. Harden was also upset by Kyrie Irvings refusal to get vaccinated, which led to a nosedive down the Eastern Conference standings. Durant took a philosophical approach about Hardens decision not to stay with Brooklyn long-term and instead pushing for a trade to the Sixers. It wasnt like it was a disconnect between us as individuals. I felt like we liked each other, he says. But I was focusing on rehab and he was focusing on the team. Naturally, I wasnt around the group, but I cant control how everybody feels about their situation. Durant and Irving have grown closer and theres little doubt Irving will re-sign with Brooklyn, even if he opts out this summer and re-enters free agency. Irving stated that publicly over the weekend. Were building something cool over here, Durant said. Kyries a huge, huge part of it, even though this year he was in and out of the lineup, but hes still a huge part of what were trying to do. Its one of those obstacles that has been fun to climb over, to be honest. Durant has no regrets about signing a four-year max extension last summer, despite how this season has played out with Hardens departure. Im settled, he says. Its good to know that I dont have to look over my shoulder and worry about the next season or the next two years. Just knowing that three or four years that Im locked in, I can start living my life on and off the floor with a little bit more ease. Its a good place to be in. Hyatt Place Kyoto, the first Hyatt-branded select service hotel in Kyoto, is officially open, expanding Hyatt Place brand's footprint globally in markets that matter the most to guests and World of Hyatt members. The new hotel features the Hyatt Place brand's intuitive design, casual atmosphere and practical amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and 24-hour food and beverage offerings. Because Hyatt's efforts are grounded in listening and fueled by care, Hyatt Place hotels combine style, innovation and 24/7 conveniences to create an easy-to-navigate experience for today's multi-tasking traveler. Hyatt Place Kyoto is located in central Kyoto at the southwest corner of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and close to Nijo-jo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The hotel is directly connected to the Marutamachi station on the Karasuma subway line and is about 10 minutes from Kyoto station by subway or car. Hyatt Place Kyoto also provides business travelers with convenient subway access to the Kyoto International Conference Center, a major conference facility for international meetings and where the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. Hyatt Place Kyoto offers: 239 spacious guestrooms including three suites, with separate spaces to sleep, work and play, as well as a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper including three suites, with separate spaces to sleep, work and play, as well as a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper The Kitchen featuring hot breakfast items, fresh fruit, steel-cut oatmeal, Greek yogurt, and more featuring hot breakfast items, fresh fruit, steel-cut oatmeal, Greek yogurt, and more Lobby Bar serving freshly prepared meals anytime, day or night, and also featuring specialty coffees and premium beers as well as wines and champagne serving freshly prepared meals anytime, day or night, and also featuring specialty coffees and premium beers as well as wines and champagne Necessities program for forgotten items that guests can buy, borrow or enjoy for free program for forgotten items that guests can buy, borrow or enjoy for free Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel and guestrooms throughout hotel and guestrooms Fitness Room featuring cardio equipment with LCD touchscreens Hotel website More and more, the hotel industry has seen unique brands try to break into the space. Wonder why? Hotels are sexy! Doesnt everyone want to be in the hospitality business? But on a more serious note, for most brands trying to break into the hotel space for the first time, its all about exposure. Entering the hotel space allows established brands to engage with new potential guests, therefore generating more consumer exposure. Most of these brands are starting to realize that moving into the hotel sector is a whole new ball game that requires real expertise. Hotels are a more immersive, personal experience. Where you lay your head at night and where you get ready for the day are extremely personal choices. Brands that take this leap need to understand the intricacies of hospitality to be successful in connecting with their consumers in a more meaningful, intimate way. Two brands that come to mind when discussing this topic are the newest additions to Sightline Hospitalitys portfolio: evo Hotel located in Salt Lake City and The English Hotel located in the Arts District of Las Vegas. evo is a very prominent brand known for being the leading retail expert in outdoor gear. The vision for evo hotel is to create an outdoor enthusiasts paradise taking the brand a step further to engage the consumer in the full evo experience. evo Hotel will act as a haven for outdoor enthusiasts to stay, explore, learn, and truly immerse themselves in the evo brand. The evo campus features world-class amenities such as a bouldering gym (Bouldering Project), a skate park (All Together Skate), and even a large 100,000 square foot evo retail store. The hotel also serves as a hub for guests to explore Salt Lake City, world-famous Wasatch Mountains and a plethora of national parks, further growing the evo trips through forming partnerships and creating excursion packages with surrounding outdoor experience companies. Celebrity chef Todd English is another personal brand currently entering the hotel space. Extremely passionate about his craft, Todd wants to create The English Hotel concept in Las Vegas to invite people into his world. Todd loves serving and entertaining others, so his vision is to go beyond a great dinner and present a more well-rounded hospitality experience to every guest. From the specially selected in-room cocktail carts to recipe cards featuring Todd Englishs personal favorites placed on your pillow at night, every element of the hotel is thoughtfully and carefully crafted to create a truly one-of-a-kind experience. The English Hotel is affiliated with Marriott's Tribute Portfolio brand, which allows the hotel concept to further engage with consumers through leveraging the power of Bonvoy brand loyalty. Hospitality is all about creating a personal connection with your guests. It allows your customers to trust you in a way that other industries just cant tap into. Brands will always try to gain more market share in their client base and grow a solid loyal foundation and entering the hotel sector is a way to do just that. Developing a brand strategy that bases itself on a meaningful purpose can lead to a deep, emotional connection with your clientele - one that ultimately counts more than luxury decor and a fancy menu. A sense of purpose that a guest can buy into brings an added and distinctive dimension to the overall customer experience and should not be overlooked. Experiential marketing goes beyond the five senses Great brands have a purpose, a story that connects to their customers on an emotional level. In the search for effective branding, many marketers create brand experiences, a chance to immerse customers in their brand and bring that purpose to life. Whilst some sectors struggle to bring the experiential to life, restaurants are fortunate. Restaurants are purely experiential, heavily involving the five senses. Obviously, taste . . Next, a good restaurant will consider scent : candles, incense, or a natural manifestation of a faint of cooking smells. : candles, incense, or a natural manifestation of a faint of cooking smells. Sight , the things you see, from the crockery on the tables to the art on the walls and a hundred things in between. , the things you see, from the crockery on the tables to the art on the walls and a hundred things in between. Sound , through music, or the absence of, equally powerful and quite a statement, the distant clang of pots and pans and hush of fellow diners the only auditory backdrop. , through music, or the absence of, equally powerful and quite a statement, the distant clang of pots and pans and hush of fellow diners the only auditory backdrop. And touch, the fabrics, the table linen and so on. When you think about it, there are countless sensory ways to bring your restaurant brand to life. Ironically, given the immersive nature of restaurants and the array of tools at a restaurateurs disposal to create a vivid experience, theres a complacency within the industry. Many restaurants forego any kind of brand strategy. They maximise each sensory element of the experience, whether it be delicious food, beautiful plateware or elegant design, but together they are disparate, in disharmony. Many fail to create a purpose for their brand, a story that trickles through every experiential element to bring the brand purpose to life, believing a restaurant that looks pretty and serves good food is enough. Whilst that may be true up to a certain point, the longevity of a restaurant depends on the brand and its strength. The customer experience: Restaurants with a 'transportive' purpose A restaurant can transport the guest into a different place, time, or a state of mind, offering an emotional sense of escapism. A different place can be as broad a definition as an Indian restaurant offering cuisine that spans the million km country to as narrow as a restaurant based on Wayanad, a district in north-east Kerala known for its heritage varieties of rice and frog leg curry. In either case, the experience would be completely different. The first showcases the diversity and rich heritage that spans India, where you might have North Indian tandoori ovens in the kitchen, Rajasthani Mughal paintings on the walls or table linen made from silk from West Bengal. The second brings Wayanad to life, using plateware from local artisans and ingredients sourced exclusively from the district. A different time is another powerful transportive tool. Take Gymkhana, the famed Michelin-starred restaurant in London, taking its diners back to British Raj India, or the countless number of Speakeasys transporting you to prohibition-era America. Transportive can also be to a state of mind, less radical in approach but equally effective. Take a small, basement restaurant bar down a flight of stairs in the madness that is Soho in London, an escape from the hustle and bustle, a calm sanctuary to gather yourself. Whatever the form of escapism you offer, its a powerful, emotional draw your restaurant can create. Make the difference: Restaurants with a belonging purpose These restaurants effectively assume the role of a gathering point and are an anchor in the community. In these restaurants, the concept and menu may take a slight backseat. In fact, some of these restaurants may seem to have quite a disparate, eclectic menu, but that is in fact purposeful, reflecting the tastes of the melting pot of the guests it hosts. These are often intensely personal, the waiters known by first name who notice if, say, Tim has had a new haircut, or offer emotional support to Sara when her nosy mother-in-law is in town. They know that Jack likes to be served tabasco with his oysters because he in fact intensely dislikes them, eating them only to appear sophisticated in front of his guests. Strengthening that role of community anchor, the best examples will often rely heavily on the local economy. Fish and veg from the local fishmongers and green grocers, linen cleaned at the dry cleaners down the street. Going a step further, art from local artists on the wall, decorative ceramic pots from the little vintage store. In this case, its redundant to mention examples, since these are intensely personal. As you read, you may be thinking of your own example and thats what makes this angle powerful, you develop a certain sense of ownership. Restaurants with a social agenda purpose The last angle is perhaps the most under-utilised but will only gain in importance: the restaurant as a vehicle for social change. At the centre of these restaurants is the belief in a cause which permeates the experience. Take Silo, in Londons Hackney neighborhood, their website states that the restaurant is designed from back to front, always with the bin in mind. To achieve zero waste means taking control over everything. They mill their own flour, churn their own butter, and have a nose-to-tail philosophy making use of the whole animal. In the dining room, furniture is made from up-cycled materials, tables made from reconstituted food packaging. Beyond food waste, a lesser-known example is the restaurant of mistaken orders, created to spread awareness on dementia. Their service team all live with dementia and the restaurant states They may, or may not, get your order right. This brings to light one of the realities of Japanese society in the 21st century: according to the OECD, Japan has the highest dementia prevalence. Through a restaurant and gathering around delicious food, whether a wrong order or not, awareness and a dialogue around dementia is created. Thats a very powerful thing. Strive for meaning and purpose Whether the angle is transportive, belonging or social change, the purpose behind your restaurant matters. If you have delicious food and appealing interiors, yes, people will come, once, perhaps twice, maybe youll even have a handful of regulars. But to create an emotional connection with your guests, a story they buy into, one that transports them to a different reality, makes them feel like they belong or advocates for a cause or change you believe in, thats a relationship that will never go stale. Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne Communications Department +41 21 785 1354 EHL View source Technology, in particular, is developing at a breathtaking pace, and many wonder where it will all lead. For this reason, well-researched, critical articles are more important than ever to find ones way through todays technology jungle. Even though I am the founder and CEO of a software company, I am also a passionate journalist and lecturer at various universities and am always on the lookout for new, well-prepared expertise. But where can you get that today? What many people dont realize is that most online platforms, magazines, events, and associations are largely financed by corporate partnerships, advertising, or sponsoring. So anyone who is surprised at the nonsense that is sometimes reported or presented on stages now knows why. Now, this is nothing new. But along with the decline in social norms, the level of content is also becoming more and more questionable in my view. Meanwhile, half-knowledge or even demonstrably false things are being reported, which makes my hair stand on end. The problem is that many people who are not so intensively involved with the whole issue do not understand what they see as advertising, nor is it identified as such, and thus regard the content as correctly researched and correct. This is disastrous and can have serious consequences! Independent, good journalism is characterized by the fact that articles are professionally controlled, are not only published after advertising payments, and that journalists do not do PR work for companies in addition to their actual work. Otherwise, how could one write independent, critical articles? Two examples: Months ago, an article on the topic of GDPR was published by a PMS provider on XXXX. This is technically incorrect. We have pointed this out to those responsible several times, but nothing has happened except lip service. Or on the website XXXX, the topic PMS + CRS = Success is being promoted. The PMS, as the name suggests, is a property management system, a system to manage transactions, and not a guest management or central data management system. Apparently, some PMS vendors have now discovered the importance of CRS integration and are marketing it under the buzzword of the need for a central guest profile. PMS and CRS are similar in many ways, both have one thing in common, they are not CDM. Various reasons speak against it: the inadequate data cleansing functionalities (DQM), tax aspects, performance aspects, interface problems with channel managers, etc. There are dozens of specialist articles on this. Where are the trade journalists who expose this rubbish and at the same time provide assistance for decision-makers? One of the very few independent experts I know is Douglas Rice, his column is highly recommended. But who else is there? I dont want to make a red list, neither of hotel or marketing associations nor of trade fairs, events, or online platforms. What I want much more is a listing of content providers, where hoteliers, students and all those hungry for knowledge can find technically good and correct articles. If you know of such a source, let me know and we will publish it afterwards. Criteria are: Articles are not bought based on advertising payments Articles go through a professional review by experts before publication The journalist is independent and does not work for the company in question, e.g. as a PR consultant. Lectures at events are only titled as professional lectures if they are free of advertising and have not been bought through sponsoring. A little tip on what to look out for if you dont want to fall for every so-called expert. Check: Number of articles published Number of books published Number of scientific papers that have been reviewed by an expert panel Academic degree Lectureships at colleges and universities Lecturing activities at independent institutions such as Hotellerie Suisse Please get in touch! I want to read good articles again and then share them with you! About dailypoint Software made by Toedt, Dr. Selk & Coll. GmbH dailypoint is the leading Data Management and CRM platform for demanding individual hotels and hotel groups. dailypoint collects data from all relevant sources such as PMS, POS, website, newsletter, or WiFi and automatically creates a central and consolidated guest profile. In 350 steps, the data is processed and enriched by means of artificial intelligence (AI) to create a guest profile like never before. The cloud-based SAAS solution consists of 16 modules and is complemented by the dailypoint Marketplace with almost 200 solution partners. dailypoint not only offers measurable marketing, but also covers the entire customer journey and thus supports all departments within a hotel. The integrated Privacy Dashboard is also the central element for the technical implementation of the GDPR. dailypoint is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and is sold and supported worldwide directly or through its distribution partners D-EDGE and XNProtel. For more information, please click www.dailypoint.com Michael Toedt Managing Partner, CEO dailypoint View source This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Chevrons former CEO John Watson once declared that consumers need to get used to paying $100-a-barrel oil, because thats whats required to meet world oil demand. For a company like mine and many others, $100 a barrel is becoming the new $20 in our business, Watson told CERAWeek in 2014. Eight years later, his prophecy has come true, and no amount of oil released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will make a difference. Geopolitics and economics are conspiring to keep prices high as long as oil remains our primary transportation fuel. TOMLINSONS TAKE: U.S. independence will never be secure while we rely on oil The price of Brent crude, the global benchmark, climbed from $63 a barrel last year to as high as $130 in March as the COVID-19 pandemic abated and the Russian invasion of Ukraine escalated. Russia is the third-largest producer behind the United States and President Vladimir Putins ally, Saudi Arabia. With gasoline prices rising to record highs, President Joe Biden sought to ease the pain for Americans on Thursday by releasing 1 million barrels a day of crude from the U.S. strategic reserve for the next six months, adding 1 percent to the global supply. Brent crude dropped 3 percent to $103. The meager drop, which will translate to a negligible reduction in pump prices, proves the federal governments limited ability to affect prices in a global, competitive market. Biden made the decision only after learning that the oil industrys largest cartel, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, including Russia, would ignore his pleas for more oil production. The group, which quickly took 10 million barrels off the market when the pandemic began, had only been adding 400,000 a month since demand began rising again last year. On Thursday, OPEC ratified a 432,000 barrel-a-day supply increase for May. The slight increase mocks Bidens request for a million barrels. Despite Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman claiming they do not, geopolitics is clearly playing a role. Biden has snubbed the ministers boss, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, for his oppressive assault on civil rights and the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The crown prince is also angry over the Biden administrations negotiations with Iran to reinstate a nuclear weapons deal that allowed Saudis long-time enemy to export oil again. OPEC, meanwhile, has found a friend in Putin. By including Russia and its allies in setting oil production quotas, the cartel has found greater influence in global markets and injected billions into the economies of petro-dictatorships. If OPEC had answered Bidens call for more oil and natural gas, it would have alleviated Europes reliance on Russian energy and taken away Putins primary source of funding for the invasion of Ukraine. Saudi Arabias decision to stand with Russia against the United States could signal a significant realignment. They used to say when Saudi called 9-1-1, the phone rang in Washington, but increasingly, that could change to Moscow, my friend Jim Krane, an expert on OPEC at Rice Universitys Baker Institute, recently observed. The American Petroleum Institute, a lobbying organization of U.S. oil companies, has been cranking out press releases proclaiming the industry could produce more oil if Biden and his administration would get out of the way. But a recent Dallas Federal Reserve survey proves regulations and leases are not the problems. Fifty-nine percent of oil and gas executives told the bank that investor pressure to generate higher profits was the primary reason that more companies are not producing more oil in the United States. Only 6 percent said government regulations were holding them back. More than 60 percent of executives said they need a sustained price of $80 to $119 a barrel for West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, to begin drilling again. West Texas oil trades at about a $5 discount to Brent crude. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Oil companies demanding slower transition to clean energy Biden can sell 180 million barrels of crude over the next six months, the largest release in U.S. history, but that alone will not solve the long-term challenges facing oil markets. American commuters, meanwhile, will save only a few pennies per gallon. Opening the entire country to drilling without concerns for the environment or the climate would also fail to reduce gasoline prices. Eliminating gasoline taxes would also do little but drain the accounts used to build desperately needed roads and bridges. Dictators who control most of the worlds oil want a pound of flesh before significantly boosting production. Oil companies need higher prices to pay the higher wages and input costs to get new wells pumping. Biden wants Americans to think he is doing something about gasoline prices, but as is often the case, his announcement is all politics. The problems driving prices are too complex for one action to fix. Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and politics. twitter.com/cltomlinson chris.tomlinson@chron.com Martin Meissner, STF / Associated Press The U.S. rig count rose modestly this week as global demand for oil remains high, with Texas pitching in much of the added production. The number of drilling rigs operating nationally climbed by 3 to 673 this week, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes. Texas added five rigs while Utah and West Virginia added one each, offsetting declines in Louisiana and North Dakota, whose rig counts fell by 3 and 1, respectively. Energy companies have added 243 rigs over the past year, a 57 percent increase from 430 during the same week in 2021. Spoiler: I shrieked so loudly at one point of Top Chef Houstons fifth episode that my ancient dog, drowsing on her bed, scrambled up and over to me in some alarm. Well, of course I got worked up. The stakes were primal for this Texan, and for the city I call home. A Brisket Challenge was underway, set in the big gleaming smokeroom at the new J-Bar-M Barbecue. Guest judge Greg Gatlin and 20-count-em-20 of Houstons best pitmasters had been summoned to help pass judgment on the contestants new-wave takes on this legendarily demanding cut of beef. I wasnt clear on why Los Angeles chef and restaurateur Brooke Williamson, a past Top Chef winner, was acting as the brisket master of ceremonies. Sure, shes telegenic. She had her hair in modern-cowgirl French braids. And she was wearing a jean jacket, I guess to signify Texas. But she seemed an odd choice to explain that Houston chefs had been busy, in the age of our barbecue renaissance, coming up with multi-culti ideas like brisket fried rice, brisket handrolls and brisket pho. Was Dawn Burrell busy that day? I wondered crankily. More Information 'Top Chef' The Houston-set season airs at 7 p.m. Thursdays on Bravo. See More Collapse Nevertheless, when Williamson led the 10 chefs toward the smokeroom with a Follow me, Ive got some cool things to show you, I fell in line. Cool things, indeed, those mighty Moberg smokers that are the pride of this new EaDo barbecue palace. They hulked in rows like shiny, implacable gods. During the course of the hour, these majestic tubular presences became characters in themselves. Ive been lucky enough to inspect J-Bar-Ms smokers up close, and they inspire awe. Maybe even fear in a chef who hasnt placed offerings inside one before. J-Bar-M pitmaster Willow Villarreal, one of Houstons foremost brisket adepts, was on hand to help shepherd the chefs though the process as they picked their briskets, trimmed them, seasoned them with a rub, and tucked them in for a long, slow smoke. He was his usual shy, softspoken presence, and I kept wishing the sound crew had miked him better to catch his pearls of wisdom. Jacksons admission that Texas-style brisket is one of the most difficult things to properly accomplish had me nodding in approval. Thats the proper respect, if you please. It was not a respect shown to Texas Toast, a Quickfire Challenge sprung upon the 10 chefs when they returned from shopping for their barbecue-twist ingredients. When Tom Colicchio called Texas Toast a classic barbecue side, I blurted out, no, its not. There was grumbling. And unfortunate takes. When skilled baker Monique and modernist dude Buddha both decided to confect many-layered mille feuille versions, I wanted to utter a warning shout of unclear on concept. It was a relief when the Quickfire was over and Nick, with his BLT Texas Toast, won the day. Three kinds of tomatoes, wilted-down greens, and pancetta with its fat stirred into a Colby Jack cheese spread? Id eat that and ask for more. Ive been pulling for Nick and his unaffected cooking, and it was nice to see him rewarded. Back to the 10 briskets and the 10 Brisket Ideas. Buddhas notion of a Boeuf Bourguignon caught my fancy. The rustic French original is a favorite dish of mine, and I was curious to watch his high-concept version take place around cubes of smoked brisket that he braised in a rich jus made from the trimmings. Jacksons scarpanocc pasta (now that was a new shape for me!) stuffed with brisket likewise grabbed my attention. He made fun of himself for grinding up the meat over which he had labored, as he is wont to do. When they cut to him meditating to calm his anxiety, I began to understand where his humor comes from: best to mock yourself before others do. But a genuine joy in absurdity informs his humor, too. I find myself enjoying it more each week. Ive almost forgotten I used to think of him as COVID Man. Evelyns brisket curry idea made my heart sing. I cant help rooting for our hometown hero, with her radiant smile and infectious laugh. She was jazzed to be able to show off a curry at last. Having reveled in one of her multi-course pop-up dinners over the weekend, I was eager to see how shed structure the curry dish. When she fussed over the brisket burnt-end crumble she was going to use as a finishing touch, I thought, yes! There are those layered textures youre so good at. And guess what? Those three dishes that most sparked my interest ended up as the top three of the challenge. I wanted to try them all. Buddha placed delicate raw beet petals on his bourguignon-style brisket, with a deep bar-b-jus as sauce, a beef-fat potato and mushrooms on the flanks, along with caramelized onion jam and a neat little slab of fire-roasted, double-smoked bacon on top. When chef Ara Malekian of Harlem Road BBQ said, I got all the little complexities of the flavor of a boeuf bourguignon, I could almost taste them myself. Plus the smoke, of course. Malekian got name-tagged by the graphics folks when he made this remark. I only wish all of the Houston pitmasters assembled in the J-Bar-M dining room had been treated thus. It was frustrating to get a passing glimpse of this one and a fleeting word from that one without the proper IDs. But I had to admit it was a thrill to see so many faces from the citys tight-knit barbecue community and to reflect that 10 years ago, to assemble that many bright barbecue lights here would have been a challenge. Jacksons brisket-stuffed pasta ended up with bits of burnt ends and a cornbread crumble on top. He had made a sort of beurre rouge with a North Carolina Gold barbecue sauce, and his name for it beurre-becue saucemade me laugh out loud. When it came to Evelyns brisket curry, though, the judges went a little insane. From its base of aromatic rice, to its slice of brisket, to its topknot of pickled relish and herbs, to its crumble of pistachios with fried garlic and burnt ends, they couldnt quit talking about it. Padma raved over the curry base itself and its smooth spices, properly cooked down. Gail noted the bold flavor, the aromatics, the heat that didnt annihilate. I want to tell her, just put me a pan of it in the back and let me go away with it, said Greg Gatlin. At this point I was jumping out of my skin. When Tom declared that on a menu, Evelyns curry would be a signature dish people will come for this, its like destination food I finally let myself believe she might win the night. And she did. At which point I let out that shriek. Everything after was anticlimax for me, if not for viewers less invested in the outcome. Ashleigh, whose floundering had become increasingly painful for me to watch, got sent home for an over-complicated collard-green soup in which a hard-to-eat hunk of blah brisket reposed. I felt badly for her. After being so lionized for her work in Asheville, this has to hurt. I was surprised to see the steady Jo brought down by a pasta-and-brisket bowl that never came together. And I was not surprised to see the talented but tentative Monique laid low by a French-style steak plate with brisket as the centerpiece. I switched off the show with Toms final remark to Evelyn ringing in my ears. For 19 seasons and all the curries that have been attempted on the show, Padma always had issues with them. Not tonight. alison.cook@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate After the Elias String Quartet finishes its six-night cycle of performances this week, the ensemble will take a break from Beethoven. The quartets undertaking, which began a week ago, was formidable: It is playing all 16 of Ludwig van Beethovens string quartets in chronological order through six performances over two weeks. Thats nearly 500 minutes of music as complex as it is enduring. The Elias violinists Sara Bitlloch and Donald Grant, violist Simone van der Giessen and cellist Marie Bitlloch undertook its Beethoven Project at Wigmore Hall in its home base of London in 2014. Since then, the quartet has typically broken up the music with multiple visits to a particular city, mixing up the quartets from three periods in Beethovens life. But in rescheduling the Elias after a COVID cancellation, Sarah Rothenberg artistic director of the local chamber music and jazz organization Da Camera was drawn to the idea of presenting the music in one span chronologically. When museums do a retrospective, they usually try to tie the earliest work at the beginning to where the artist ended. I wanted to hear that with this music. Elias String Quartet performs Beethovens string quartets Cycle III, VI When: 7:30 p.m. April 1, 8 Where: Hobby Center, 800 Bagby Details: $37.50-$67.50; 713-524-5050, dacamera.com Cycle IV, V When: 7:30 p.m. April 4-5 Where: Menil Collection, 1533 Sul Ross Details: $60; 713-524-5050, dacamera.com See More Collapse She felt Houston would be ready for such a program. Rothenberg says Da Cameras patrons after two years of a pandemic are starved for live music by a string quartet. The task is challenging, but not insurmountable. The Elias String Quartet has done combinations of Beethoven cycles in North Carolina and Iowa, so Marie Bitlloch says, there wont be a lot of very deep rehearsing. We wont spend hours working on one bar. Still, on a Monday morning the quartet settled into the Menil connection to get used to the acoustics and touch up a few corners we feel like we could improve on since the last time, Bitlloch says. The quartet spread the six performances over two weeks. Concerts like this, says Bitlloch, they make self-preservation important. We have to look after our bodies. Played in such a compact period of time, Beethovens complete string quartets serve as something of a creative autobiography of the composer. Having left Bonn for Vienna in 1792 to study under Joseph Haydn, Beethoven frustrated his mentor while moving toward an explosive period of creativity. In the middle of that decade he began composing his first piano trios, piano sonatas and cello sonatas. Hadyn had decades earlier made a strong impression with his own string quartets. Haydn took over the string quartet as a vestige of the old Baroque dance suite and developed it into an ambitious genre similar to the symphony and sonata, Jan Swafford wrote in his The Vintage Guide to Classical Music. By 1798 or 1799, Beethoven was working with the form, creating his first cycle of six in his late 20s and early 30s. Hed return to the string quartet in 1806 and again between 1809 and 1811. Then, after a lag of a decade or so, the composer again pushed himself into a flurry of activity between 1824 and 1826. He died in 1827 at 56. Consider a 30-year span in any life, with the slow arc of a persona in flux. I think Beethoven is one of the rare artists who continued to evolve over time in a transformative way, Rothenberg says. Theres a lifetime of experience in his quartets. His life was as extreme as his music. Add to the aging process this particular composers deafness and health issues. In one week, you can hear 10 years of his life and work, Bitlloch says. And each minute of each quartet is amazing. As a performer you have to live in the moment, but at the same time the minutes create a journey. Inked notations on a page do not change, but the music retains an organic quality through interpretation. As much as a person and composer might change over time, Bitlloch says working closely with pieces like Beethovens string quartets also offers opportunity to reflect on ones life and art. We evolve, we have babies, we take different jobs, she says. So each time we revisit these quartets, theyre charged more with our life experience. Each time we have changes with members, the whole vision of the quartet can change. And thats great. It brings a new thing. When you introduce a new performer, it adds this bonus of letting you hear something familiar again for the first time. New ideas, new feelings. Nothing is set, ever. She likens the pieces of music to a poem or a painting. There are a million ways to interpret both, Bitlloch says. As interpreters of these quartets we try to decide what the composer meant and what it means to us to deliver it, to share it. A narrative has codified around Beethovens late quartets. The composer was deaf, combative and nearing death. These little biographical elements certainly contributed in ways to the music. Its difficult to separate the slow and somber fifth movement of Opus 130, the Cavatina, from the composers state at the time of its creation. But Bitlloch points out, Even if the first six were all he composed, wed be happy and impressed. Rothenberg says the programs Cycle I on March 28 comprising Quartet in F Major, Op. 18, No. 1, Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2 and Quartet in D Major, Op. 18, No. 3 showed that he started boldly. It was an electric evening. Bitlloch says the chronological approach underscores the ways the later music can connect back to the earlier works. To me whats fascinating is when you put all these pieces together, you see little glimpses in the early quartets of what Beethoven would become later. There are signs, more than signs, movements in the early quartets that could well have been on the later quartets. There are moments in the early works where I think, Hang on, how old was he? In the nearly two centuries since his death, Beethoven never vanished from concert halls. But particular attention was to be paid to his music in 2020, which wouldve been the 250th anniversary of his birth. Because of the pandemic, many of those celebrations were tabled or canceled. But Rothenberg sees no reason to only celebrate his music on notable anniversaries. She speaks with enthusiasm about the placement of the Elias performances during this Da Camera season, nestled between an internationally-covered world premiere of a new composition by Tyshawn Sorey at the Rothko Chapel last month and a pair of late April performances by Nathalie Joachim and the Spektral Quartet that mix classical, Caribbean and electronic music. Modern as these shows bookending Beethoven are, they also draw deeply from him. Rothenberg will perform a solo piano program in May that places Beethovens Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 in between a world premiere piece written by jazz composer Vijay Iyer and another by Morton Feldman, who was the inspiration behind Soreys recent work. Sometimes Beethoven is put into the category of overplayed establishment composer, Rothenberg says. But composers today speak about his aliveness. Bitlloch says Im expecting to be slightly changed at the end of this. She laughs because shes getting ahead of herself. Im also looking forward to putting the music on the stand and turning the pages, one by one, taking it all in. andrew.dansby@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston will welcome a former U.S. president and first lady this weekend. On Sunday, Barack Obama the presidential portrait by Kehinde Wiley, and Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama by Amy Sherald, will be unveiled to museum visitors. Organizers expect around 4,000 people to attend on the free-admission opening day, though they admit they may be in for a surprise. A crowd of over 7,000 set an all-time record on March 17, the museums last free-admission day. They will be ready. The museum is hosting a Sunday Best opening event for the public, with 21 micro-events across campus, including a fashion promenade and band performances. Images of presidents have graced the walls of MFAH before, including the famous Lansdowne portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. And in 2018, a display of founding fathers coincided with local performances of the musical Hamilton. The difference between those and the Obama portraits, said MFAH Director Gary Tinterow, is the artwork itself. These are already iconic, he says. And we didnt have to wait 200 years. Dressing up Sunday Best: Celebrating Opening Day of the Obama Portraits Tour When: 1-5 p.m. April 3 Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet Details: Free; 713-639-7300, mfah.org "The Obama Portraits Tour" When: April 3 through May 30 Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet Details: Included with general admission; 713-639-7300, mfah.org See More Collapse Barack Obamas gaze follows visitors as they cross Cullinan Hall inside the MFAH. Its easy to imagine his voice, warm and familiar, booming through the Caroline Wiess Law Building, inviting onlookers to come closer. Theyre even better in person, Bobbie Nau said at the shows preview. Michelle is stunning though I think I prefer Barack. The portraits appear side-by-side, somewhere between regal and rock star. The couples posture and facial expressions suggest a statesman-like quality, as is tradition with official state portraits. Their presence is commanding arresting even, yet approachable, too. They just took my breath away, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell said after the preview. In that moment, I experienced a joy like none other. Its rare for an exhibition to contain only two works of art, Tinterow noted. And rarer still for both the subjects and artists to be African-American. Anita Bateman, MFAH associate curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, compares the artists identity to a leaked secret. The Obama Portraits Tour is presented by the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery. When the portraits were first unveiled in 2018, they doubled the National Portrait Gallerys attendance that year, from 1.1 million to 2.1 million. Wiley and Sherald have since turned their focus to other parts of their practice, declining most interviews and appearances relating to the project. Regardless, The Obama Portraits Tour has only gained traction. Houston was initially the last leg of the exhibitions five-city tour; now two additional stops have recently been added. But Houston is pulling out all the stops, Bateman said. Sunday Best touches on what this exhibit means for the Black community dressing up and, after church, being in fellowship with each other, Bateman said. People want to feel like the museum is a welcoming place. They want to see themselves represented within the galleries. Meaningful portraits Barack Obama and Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama arrived with an instruction manual. The artists and their respective studios included specifications for each piece, Bateman said. Neither are fans of white walls. Both included height requirements. Sherald prefers Michelle to be 15 inches from the ground because it creates a more intimate conversation, Bateman says. She later received studio approval to display the piece a little higher at 23 inches, which better suits the space. Were trying to fill 6,000-square feet here. Wiley expressed strong feelings about colorless backdrops, so Bateman opted for navy, inspired by Air Force One, mixed with sky blue. It gives a presidential feeling, she says of the shade. Wiley, a New York City native who earned a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and MFA from the Yale University School of Art, is known for referencing the work of Old Masters in his highly naturalistic paintings of Black subjects. Flowers within the leafy background each carry special meaning for Barack Obama: white Jasmine for his childhood in Hawaii, African blue lilies to honor his late father who was born in Kenya, and chrysanthemums, the official flower of Chicago, where his political career first blossomed. The artist portrays Americas first Black president leaning slightly forward in a Federal Revival-style chair, referenicing the time period after the U.S. gained its independence; the detail symbolizes democracy. Barack Obama is notably shown sans neck tie and with a dress shirt unbuttoned; his casual pose is similar to Abraham Lincoln in George Peter Alexander Healys portrait and Elaine de Koonings John F. Kennedy. Sherald painted the former first ladys skin in gray scale, a technique the artist uses as a nod to W.E.B. Du Bois black and white photographs and to remind viewers of the lack of African-Americans in the history of large-scale painted portraits. Michelle Obamas penchant for wearing affordable American fashion also plays an important role. She wears a dress plucked from the Milly spring 2017 runway collection. The garments geometric pattern reminded Sherald of Gees Bend, a collective of Black women in Wilcox Country, Ala., who make quilts from discarded clothing. Sunday Best The last time MFAH hosted an event similar to Sunday Best was in 2012 for the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit, a retrospective celebrating the work of a former enslaved person and first African-American painter to gain international acclaim. Women who arrived at the Museum after church wearing their big hats received free admission to the exhibition. Tinterow said visitors turned up in grand millinery for Picasso Black and White the following year, too. They asked if they could get in free since they wore their hats and I said, Let them through, he recalled. Bateman is anticipating an impressive showing of headpieces for the 2022 revival of Sunday Best. A fashion parade is scheduled for 3 p.m. Theres Music on the Plaza with Houstons Double Dutch at the Brown Foundation outside of the Glassell School of Art, Texas Southern Universitys the Ocean of Soul Marching Band and readings by Writers in Schools Youth Poets, led by Houston Poet Laureate Outspoken Bean, in the Favrot Auditorium, among dozens of other program offerings. Without question, the days biggest attraction will be the Obama portraits. A limited number of walk-in tickets have been allotted; remaining access will be admitted by timed-entry with advance reservations. People idolized the former first lady and president. Theyre the last of what we knew from the pre-pandemic world, Bateman said. Were already nostalgic for them. amber.elliott@chron.com BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry Friday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the so-called Hong Kong Policy Act Report issued by the United States. It urged the U.S. to stop its erroneous acts and speak with prudence on issues related to Hong Kong. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on the report, which "made irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs and made groundless accusations against the central government of China and the HKSAR government in total disregard of facts." Zhao said Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China. Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs which brook no foreign interference. Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the policies of "one country, two systems," "the people of Hong Kong administering Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy have been earnestly implemented, and the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents are protected under the law, Zhao noted. China enacted and implemented the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR and improved the electoral system in Hong Kong in accordance with law, in an effort to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and the principle of "one country, two systems," Zhao said. He added that the national security law in Hong Kong targets a small number of criminals who endanger national security and protects the lawful rights and freedoms of Hong Kong citizens and foreign citizens in Hong Kong. Since the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong, the rule of law in Hong Kong has improved and is guaranteed. It is an objective fact that cannot be denied, he noted. A battle with retinal cancer left 8-year-old Emanuel Salgado with vision in only one eye, but that has not dampened the third-graders interest in becoming a space scientist. Emanuel did not know what to expect when he walked up to the Houston Museum of Natural Science George Observatory with his family and saw a crowd waiting at the top of the stairs, rows of chairs lined up in front of a table draped with a cloth that read Make-A-Wish. He had even brought his GT Expo project about the solar system with him to the observatory. The anticipation was palpable as his hands instinctively reached out, his fingers brushing a star-covered blue sheet draped over an unknown object his own high-powered personal telescope to take home. I was so interested in space that Ive been researching it since the first grade, said Emanuel, who is from Houston's Willowbrook area. He already knows the subject of his next project: the Andromeda Galaxy, because it is the closest to our own, he explained. Emanuels interest in space is why he and his family had been invited to spend the evening at the observatory in Brazos Bend State Park. Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana along with Shell and the Houston Museum of Natural Science presented Emanuel with a private viewing through the George Observatory telescope. When the sheet was pulled back and his telescope was revealed, Emanuels attention shifted toward the tool he would use to explore the night sky. Emanuel barely looked up from his examination of the telescopes eyepiece and laser-guided sight as his father, Carmelo Salgado, spoke his thanks to the assembled crowd, his voice choking back emotion and tears rolling out from behind his sunglasses. It makes me grateful to know that God loves me enough to see the things I love reflected in my son, Salgado said in Spanish. later explained through an interpreter. He had loved space since he was a boy, and watching his son discover his own love of space as he grew has only strengthened their father-son bond. Its something that I shared from the bottom of my heart. After the presentation, as the sun set on a clear night over the park, George Observatory astronomer Hannah Lange pointed out constellations as they slowly appeared in the darkening sky. Inside the large dome of the observatory, director of astronomy Tracy Knauss was positioning the giant telescope inside to focus on a piece of Orions sword. Knauss own love of the stars also started as a child around the same age as Emanuel. Before the George Observatorys telescope was even at the park, Knauss was gathering with fellow astronomers in the parking lot of the Brazos Bend State Park nature center to take advantage of the relatively dark skies. Now she shares that experience with visitors like Emanuel through events like the observatorys weekly Saturday night stargazing events. The Houston Museum of Natural Science George Observatorys participation in Emanuels wish started more simply, said Kavita Self, senior director of HMNS Sugar Land and George Observatory. Make-A-Wish came to the museum for a suggestion on a make and model of a telescope for Emanuel. When they told museum staff they had an aspiring scientist on their hands, the museum realized they wanted to do much more. Because the observatory is all about showing people the wonders of the night sky, Self said, and this is where his passion was, we wanted to create an opportunity for his telescope reveal to be right here where we could teach him how to use it, and that he would actually get to try it out that night surrounded by family, surrounded by friends. With the sky dark, Emanuel, his father, mother and sister were the first to walk into the observatory and stand on the platform as it slowly lifted into place, taking the visitors up to the telescopes eyepiece. Emanuel craned his neck, stretching his body to peer into the eyepiece for a look across the cosmos. We live for the wow moment. We love that moment when youre explaining something or youre showing something, especially to a child, and their eyes light up and they get it. Because they are seeing and interacting with science in a completely different way, Kavita Self said. Its wonderful what you learn in school, she continued, but to be able to actually interact with it in real time, in real life, thats an amazing thing. So when we got to see him first put his eye up to his own telescope, and then to look in the big scope, thats really what its all about. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Officers are holding a man arrested in the stabbing of an off-duty Surfside Beach police officer on $90,000 bond. Authorities apprehended the man around 10:45 p.m. Thursday near Houston and Washington avenues in downtown Houston after a pursuit, said Lt. R. Willkens of the Houston Police Department. Police identified the suspect on Friday as 50-year-old Victor Castaneda. Castaneda is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon as well as felony evading, according to police. A magistrate ordered that he be held on a combined $90,000 bond. Investigators believe the apprehended man is responsible for a stabbing Wednesday night at a Subway located in southeast Houston. The man was allegedly exposing himself to Subway patrons when Nate Williams, the off-duty officer, showed up and escorted him out of the business. MORE: Surfside Beach officer called hero after being stabbed by man exposing himself at a Subway A scuffle ensued, and the man stabbed Williams in the leg multiple times before fleeing the scene, police said. Police obtained surveillance video of the suspect and his getaway car, and southeast patrol officers on Thursday night located a vehicle matching the description. They followed the vehicle and initiated a chase, Willkens said. The officers performed a PIT maneuver to stop the suspected driver and take him into custody. No one was injured. The accused man was in possession of a knife when he was arrested, Willkens said. Past convictions include multiple counts of indecent exposure, a misdemeanor, and an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon arrest in 2016. OTHER NEWS: Off-duty Harris County deputy dies after being shot in gunfight with 3 men, authorities says anna.bauman@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Dexter Johnson was facing execution in 2019 when a new team of lawyers asked a judge to assess whether Johnson, whose lawyers contend he is intellectually disabled, hadnt received sufficiently vigorous legal counsel. His post-conviction lawyer had waited too long to argue that Johnson was exempt from execution due to his alleged disability, they said. An appeals court granted a stay so a judge can determine whether the 33-year-old convicted in a 2006 double murder met the revised diagnostic criteria for a person with diminished capacity. If he did qualify, the state would be violating Johnsons constitutional rights if it put him to death, his new team contended. On Thursday, the lawyer accused of missing the mark gave his side of the story in a federal courtroom in Houston. And Johnsons lawyers argued, in turn, that the initial habeas lawyer had provided inadequate assistance and failed to properly assert that Johnson should be exempt from the death chamber by virtue of his intellectual disability. Johnson was convicted in Harris County of a carjacking that left 23-year-old Maria Aparece and her boyfriend, 17-year-old Huy Ngo, dead in June 2006. Johnson, then 18, and two accomplices threatened Aparece and Ngo with a pistol and a shotgun as they sat in Apareces Toyota, then took the couple on a joyride around Houston while two other accomplices followed in a separate car, witnesses said. After Johnson and his crew pulled over, he raped Aparece in the backseat while the others forced Ngo to stay and listen. Then, according to evidence at trial, Johnson shot Ngo in the head and killed Aparece. Johnson has repeatedly maintained that he did not fire the shots that killed the couple. The facts of the case and his conviction were not at stake in this weeks proceedings, but rather his sentence. In an evidentiary hearing Thursday, U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett sought to determine whether Johnson had received adequate representation from local defense lawyer Patrick McCann. In early 2019, Johnson complained about McCann to a federal court after being handed a death date of May 2 that year. The court appointed Jeremy Schepers of the Federal Public Defenders Office in Dallas to probe McCanns handling of the case. Schepers stated in court documents that McCann violated ethical and professional duties throughout his representation, a claim McCann denies. Over the course of several hours Thursday, Schepers team and lawyers from the Texas Attorney Generals Office took turns grilling McCann about his methodology in representing Johnson. Bennett is expected to rule at a future date whether Johnson should be granted a new sentencing hearing due to a disability that bars people from the death chamber. A major question during the hearing was whether McCann was obliged to submit an intellectual disability petition after the American Psychiatric Association published the fifth edition of its diagnostic manual, the DSM-V, in 2013. In the previous edition of the rule book for psychiatrists which largely relied on IQ scores to diagnose mental capacity Johnson did not qualify as intellectually disabled. The updated manual, however, broadened the scope of symptoms to include difficulty with practical skills, such as navigating directions, personal hygiene and language functioning. Johnson had demonstrated difficulty grasping these throughout his life. A psychiatrist hired by his new lawyers, using the new criteria, subsequently diagnosed him as intellectually disabled, court records show. On the stand, McCann testified that he believed Johnson to be intellectually disabled, but he did not raise the issue in legal filings because although some states had modified their criteria Texas had not yet been mandated to update its standards for assessing intellectual disability. That reform didnt come until 2017, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that another of his clients, Bobby Moore, was intellectually disabled and thus unfit to be executed under federal law in an unrelated murder. McCann testified that it was too risky to file a petition for Johnson and have it be denied. He told the court that might have damaged Johnsons chances of relief on other grounds. He eventually filed an intellectual disability claim in 2019. Everything I did was solely for the purpose of keeping Mr. Johnson alive, and to give him the best chance of relief, McCann said. By the time McCann filed the key document, federal public defenders had been appointed to take over Johnsons habeas case. Based on their arguments, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed Johnsons execution two days before he was scheduled to die by lethal injection. Another death date was scheduled four months later, but stayed again just a day before the state was due to kill him. After the public defenders and attorney generals counsel completed their questioning, Bennett invited the attorneys to submit briefings. He said he may hold additional hearings before coming to a decision. The judge then allowed Johnsons family members, three of whom had been seated in the gallery throughout the proceedings, to say goodbye to him before officials shuttled him back to death row. Johnson, wearing a gray pinstriped prison uniform with his wrists and ankles in shackles, spoke to his family across the bar dividing the court with red, teary eyes. Keep your head up, his mother said, choking back tears. These are tears of joy you see. Hug yourself, you know God has got you. Love you mama, Johnson said. Yall drive safe and give my love to everyone. This story has been updated to clarify that there has been no court determination of an intellectual disability for Dexter Johnson. Patrick McCann argued the Bobby Moore case in Texas state district court; an earlier version named an incorrect court. sam.kelly@chron.com More than 120 years ago, Ida B. Wells-Barnett was so horrified by the lynching of Frazier Baker, a Black postmaster in South Carolina, that she traveled to the White House to urge President William McKinley to take federal action. Wells-Barnett, a pioneering Black journalist and activist, traveled the South documenting hundreds of lynchings, inspired by her own harrowing experience witnessing three friends being lynched in Memphis, Tenn. Her findings, which she relayed in a petition handed to McKinley, put the oppression and terrorizing of Black Americans in stark relief: Thousands of American citizens had been lynched in the previous 20 years, without so much as a trial or anything resembling due process. These were sadistic, extrajudicial killings carried out by white mobs to maintain racial order. Nowhere in the civilized world save the U.S. of America do men, possessing all civil and political power, go out in bands of 50 and 5,000 to hunt down, shoot, hang or burn to death a single individual, unarmed and absolutely powerless, Wells wrote to McKinley. Wells-Barnetts lobbying didnt stop with McKinley. She also pushed Congress to enact a national anti-lynching law. A bill was drafted in 1900 by North Carolina Congressman George White the only Black member of Congress though it never made it out of committee. Nearly 200 subsequent attempts to pass similar legislation failed as well. On Tuesday, flanked by Wells-Barnetts great-granddaughter, President Biden finally signed into law a bill making lynching a federal hate crime, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The law is named for Emmett Till, the 14-year old Black boy murdered by a group of white men in Mississippi in 1955. Only three House members Texas Rep. Chip Roy and two other Republicans voted against the bill, and it passed the Senate unanimously. In his remarks at the bill signing, Biden referenced Ahmaud Arbery, 25, a Black man murdered in Georgia in 2020 while jogging. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., a sponsor of the House bill, told reporters that the three men convicted of murdering Arbery could have been charged with lynching if the law were in effect. The law expands federal hate crimes legislation by including cases involving the conspiracy to cause death or serious bodily injury against victims due to their race, religion or ethnicity. It also will give U.S. prosecutors a tool to pursue justice when state officials fail to investigate cases of mob vigilantism, as happened so often in the past.Its passage comes as hate crimes are being committed in staggeringly high numbers for our modern era. The FBI found in 2020 that hate crimes were at their highest levels in 12 years, with nearly 8,000 incidents motivated by bias involving race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. The anti-lynching law should not be held up as absolution for Americas past sins, but rather as the latest step toward reckoning with the most sordid chapters of our nations history. Thanks to vital reporting from organizations such as the Equal Justice Initiative, we finally have a more comprehensive account of the injustice and suffering wrought by white mobs terrorizing Black communities for decades. The EJIs report found nearly 6,500 racial terror lynchings defined as violent and public acts of torture against Black people took place in America between 1865 and 1950. Some Texans were active participants in this violence. At least four victims were lynched by mobs in Harris County, and lynchings in the early 20th Century drew large crowds here and in cities such as Dallas. Mexican nationals and Mexican Americans were also targeted, with hundreds from 1849 to 1928 shot en masse and lynched by mobs that often included law enforcement officials, including at times the Texas Rangers. From 1880 to 1940, Texas had the seventh-highest number of lynchings per capita among southern states. Compounding the horror is the fact that many such lynchings were widely attended by onlookers whose nonchalance and picnic-like revelry spoke to how racial terror had been normalized and accepted even among Americans who didnt directly participate. History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again, wrote Maya Angelou in her 1993 Inauguration Day poem, On the Pulse of Morning. It took the federal government 124 years from the moment Ida B. Wells-Barnett set foot in the White House to fulfill her wishes for an anti-lynching law. We hope the belated resolve shown by Biden and Congress will signal that at last, this countrys leaders acknowledge the painful, blood-stained past that inspired the legislation even as they work toward a future in which it would never be needed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It was another day of campaigning, and Sarah Stogner was already in a feud. No, I do not have a problem with old white guys, she said, bristling at the radio host on the line. The 37-year-old lawyer, a Republican candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, was seated on cushioned lawn furniture outside a brewery in Houston. It was raining. She rolled her eyes and clutched the phone. I said, my dads an old white guy, but he doesnt understand why I got up on the pumpjack. And I said, Well, thats because I dont have a million dollars, and I cant buy peoples attention. So what I can do, she said, is I can use social media, and I can use the assets that God gave me, and I can call attention to it. Her friend and an informal campaign adviser, Ashley Watt, began laughing in the next seat. Now, if people have un-pure thoughts, thats not my problem. Thats their problem. And thats something that they need to get right with God on. This was Wednesday, and Stogner was in town to see Commission Chairman Wayne Christian, the incumbent she has narrowly forced into a May 24 runoff for the states powerful oil and gas agency. He was speaking at a cryptocurrency conference, put on by a group called Digital Wildcatters. See might not be the best word. Stogner was there to troll him. IN-DEPTH: Lady Godiva of the oilpatch asks if nudity is worse than corruption Thats a lot of what she does now, since sling-shotting from political obscurity into serious contention for a seat that few Texans understand or closely follow. But the agency has come under fresh criticism since last years deadly winter blackouts. The natural gas operators it regulates cut production as demand for power spiked, creating a scarcity that helped bring in record profits. Christian, whose campaign is largely funded by the industry, has defended gas producers and pointed to declines in wind and solar generation during the freeze as a primary culprit, contradicting data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He wants to protect the industry from new regulations and says that helps Texans by keeping prices low. If we were a nation, Texas would be No. 3 in energy production, Christian said. I want to keep that going. Stogner made waves in February when she posted a six-second campaign ad of herself riding atop an oil pumpjack, barely clothed. She explained at the time that she was trying to get her name out against a well-funded opponent. But convincing Republican voters in the weeks since that she has an actual vision for the job hasnt been easy. Stogner is optimistic she can. A breath of fresh air Since the primary, Stogner has crisscrossed the state with help from a volunteer driver and bodyguard who goes by Hawk. Watt and a group of other close friends have stepped in as de facto strategists, helping Stogner plot out stops and Republican speaking events via group text chat. Stogner is self-funding the campaign. When shes not speaking, Stogner is usually on her phone, firing off snarky missives on Twitter and TikTok. Some campaigns have a polished quality. Hers can feel like an ever evolving first draft. Can I read you this response, Stogner asked Watt on Wednesday, after Christians campaign claimed she supports liberal environmental policies like the Green New Deal. Yep, go for it, Watt said, ready to fine-tune the message. No, I already sent it, Stogner said, laughing. Were just kind of figuring out what you as a voter would want your politicians to do, Watt said. And you would want them to be accessible. You want them to be open and you want them to be honest. So thats what were doing. Originally from Alabama, Stogner moved to Texas a few years ago with her then-husband, splitting time between Midland and Louisiana, where she worked for a law firm on insurance claims involving oil and gas. Last year, in the midst of a divorce, she moved onto Watts sprawling cattle ranch, and eventually took her on as a client in a fight against the Railroad Commission over several abandoned oil wells that have leached noxious wastewater onto the land. Watt says she has had to sell off her herd, and wants the commission to force Chevron, which drilled the wells, into cleaning up the mess. Watt says shes frustrated with the agencys reluctance to defend landowners and the resources they depend on. You start talking about CO2 and global warming and maybe the sea will be 2 inches higher in 100 years that Im not too concerned about, she said. But if you start screwing up aquifers, especially for anyone that lives in West Texas and depends on well water, like I have nothing if I dont have fresh water. Stogner acknowledges man-made climate change, and she has called on Christian and his two fellow commissioners to better enforce the agencys rules regarding abandoned wells and gas flaring when oil producers burn off gas during the drilling process. In an analysis last year, the Environmental Defense Fund found that Texas flares more natural gas than it consumes in a year. Heres somebody whos very pro-industry, but is going to talk about those things, said former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who has gotten to know Stogner in recent weeks. Thats a breath of fresh air. A Republican who favors Beto ORourke? Christian, 71, remains the front-runner. A financial planner and former state representative from East Texas, he has served one term in the agency. Christian faced his own controversy in the lead-up to the primary when it emerged that he had overruled agency staff who warned against permitting an oil and gas waste facility near a major aquifer. Three days after voting to approve the permit, in late 2020, he took in $100,000 from the company funding the venture. The agencys three commissioners, all Republicans, are heavily funded by the oil and gas industry. Christian said hes had zero complaints filed against him with the Texas Ethics Commission, which enforces state campaign finance laws, and added that if people have a problem with the rules, they should take it up with the Legislature. If you start saying OK, people who support oil and gas cant contribute to the Railroad Commission, then what do you wind up with? Only the people who dont support oil and gas, he said. His campaign has gone on offense in recent days, calling into question Stogners conservatism with a series of her tweets from last year, months before she entered the race. In one, she seemed to call on Democrat Beto ORourke to run for governor. In another, she highlighted regulatory approaches in Democratic-led states like New Mexico and Colorado. She also expressed opposition to recent Republican state laws attacking abortion, critical race theory and parents who support transgender children. Stogner has said her views on social issues are irrelevant to the work of the commission since it only deals with oil and gas. She also produced paperwork showing that she has been registered as a Republican in the past. Anyone who comes before me when I serve as a commissioner will be treated fairly and equally according to the regulations, Stogner said in a text. I will not impose my personal morality on a permit applicant, a landowner, or a growing and diverse industry. jeremy.blackman@chron.com KIEV, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted on Thursday he had discussed steps toward peace in Ukraine with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the conversation, Zelensky noted the high level of organization of negotiations of Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul. Besides, the Ukrainian leader said he appreciates the readiness of Turkey to become a guarantor of Ukraine's security. Ukraine and Russia concluded their fresh round of face-to-face peace talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Tuesday. At the negotiations, Kiev proposed to sign a new international treaty on security guarantees, which enshrines obligations for the guarantor countries to provide Ukraine with military assistance in the event of an attack. "Russia: The Inevitability of Now" at Lenox Library LENOX, Mass. The Lenox Library will host a timely and important presentation by Dr. James Hatt on "Russia: The Inevitability of Now" at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2022. This program will be held in person as well as on Zoom. Webinar details may be found on the Library's website at https://lenoxlib.org or the Library's Facebook page. The event is free and open to the public. According to a press release, from a local bureaucrat in St. Petersburg to President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has been insistent and clear that declarations of independent statehood by lands he considers inherently Russian resulted from the actions of a malevolent America. Since the Chechen war of 1999, Western powers vacillated between willful ignorance and timid acceptance of Putin's Kremlin, generating a momentum of inevitability to now, the second invasion of Ukraine since 2014. About the speaker: James Hatt is an English Barrister who joined the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and was seconded to Cable and Wireless plc, one of three companies privatized by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher that retained a "Golden Share" controlled by the Government, which allowed for state guidance on how the Company would develop its overseas operations. In 1989 Hatt went into Gorbachev's USSR and negotiated the first agreements on Soviet/European communications. He stayed throughout the Yeltsin era, working across Russia and the former Soviet world, with multiple ventures in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Siberia, and Vladivostok in far eastern Russia. His satellite joint venture in Moscow developed a pan Russia capability in conjunction with the current Minister of Defence, General Shoigu. Hatt developed cellular interests in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. In 1990, Hatt made his inaugural visit to St. Petersburg where he met Vladimir Putin, then advisor on international affairs to the Mayor Sobchak. Over the next 25 years, Hatt had numerous interactions with Putin, his advisors, and associates in St. Petersburg, Moscow, London, and Zurich. James Hatt and his wife have lived in Lenox for 20 years. Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit gestures during an interview with Xinhua in Bangkok, Thailand, March 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Teng) The senior official noted that Thailand and China have enjoyed very strong trade relations and diverse types of cooperation, including bilateral trade agreements, the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). BANGKOK, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said his country hoped to further expand exports to China building on solid bilateral trade cooperation. "If we look back at the 10-year trend between Thailand and China, when we look at trade values, it has been going up," Jurin told Xinhua in an interview, saying that "in addition to increasing the bilateral trade values between our two countries, we hope to reduce the trade deficit." Photo taken on May 20, 2020 shows a newly-picked durian in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) Jurin said Thailand and China have strong and prosperous relations for a long time, with the two countries sharing broad partnerships in diplomatic and economic relations. "China has always been very important (for Thailand)," in terms of both the tourism and export sectors, he said. The senior official noted that Thailand and China have enjoyed very strong trade relations and diverse types of cooperation, including bilateral trade agreements, the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). "We do hope to see a big gain from RCEP," he said, which, as the world's largest FTA, will benefit Thailand in terms of bigger market access as well as tariff reductions. RCEP has entered into force from Jan. 1, which enables "Thailand and other member countries including China to share the prosperity," he said. People visit the Thailand pavilion during the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) China has remained Thailand's largest trading partner for nine consecutive years. Bilateral trade volume surged 33 percent year-on-year to 131.18 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, according to data from China's General Administration of Customs. The Thai deputy PM welcomed China's efforts in further opening up its economy and the hosting of the China International Import Expo (CIIE). "I'm especially impressed by the CIIE because this is a beneficial policy for many countries, including Thailand. The object is great for China in a position as an export destination and opens up the economy for joint prosperity as well as stronger corporation and trade values." With Thailand's tourism sector hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, "we're left with exports as our key economic driver," Jurin said, adding that the ministry set a target of growing the country's exports by 4 percent this year. A train arrives at Nong Khai Railway Station in Nong Khai province, Thailand, Nov. 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Lin Hao) The Thai government hopes to work with the Chinese government to enhance export facilitation as such checkpoints and clearance, Jurin said, "We hope to see more channels to receive Thai products, especially for our food and fruits which Chinese consumers have high demand for." He also said Thailand expected to see the transportation of more export products to China through the China-Laos Railway, with fruits, vegetables and other products being the prioritized items. In February, the cross-border railway, which stretches over 1,000 km and links the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, carried the first shipment of 500-ton Thai rice to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Thailand is ready to use the rail route to transport fruits into China after the sanitary and phytosanitary facility at the port of Mohan in southwest China's Yunnan Province is completed by mid-year. Hot air balloons are seen during an event to celebrate the National Tourism Year 2022 in Quang Nam province, Vietnam, March 25, 2022. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) New products like marine tourism, cultural tourism and eco-tourism with unique features of localities have been launched in Vietnam as highlights for the upcoming summer travel season. HANOI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- With proactive and continuous efforts, Vietnam is stepping up the resumption of international tourism while flexibly adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking place here from Thursday to Sunday after two years of suspension, the Vietnam International Travel Mart 2022, the largest annual tourism trade fair in the Southeast Asian country, marked the reopening of the Vietnamese tourism sector in the new normal context. On another positive note, the country welcomed roughly 91,000 international arrivals in the first quarter of this year, surging 89.1 percent against the same period last year, said its General Statistics Office. Over the past few weeks, promotion activities have been accelerating across localities including the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, northern Quang Ninh province, and central Quang Nam province to welcome tourists back. Several new products like marine tourism, cultural tourism and eco-tourism with unique features of localities have been launched as highlights for the upcoming summer travel season. Tourists pose for a photo in the famed Hoan Kiem Lake in the capital Hanoi, Vietnam, March 16, 2022. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) On March 15, the country fully reopened its borders to foreign visitors after nearly two years of COVID-19 disruption. Accordingly, most traveling restrictions had been removed for international arrivals to Vietnam. Visitors now only need to prove that they have been fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19, with a negative test result as per requirements by local health authorities. They are also required to have insurance coverage of at least 10,000 U.S. dollars for possible COVID-19 treatment in Vietnam. Also from March 15, immigration procedures for foreigners have been restored like before the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that citizens from a list of 80 countries and regions can now apply for an e-visa for a stay of up to 30 days. The Vietnamese government reiterated its stance to treat foreign and domestic tourists as the same. Vietnam had resumed the visa exemption policy for citizens from 13 countries including Japan, South Korea, and Russia, its key tourism markets, on the same day. Prior to this, all restrictions on the frequency of international flights were officially removed since Feb. 15. Photo taken on March 16, 2022 shows the Ha Long Bay in Vietnam's northern Quang Ninh province. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) The country hosted a record number of more than 18 million visitors in 2019, the last full year before the coronavirus outbreak, compared to just 157,000 foreign arrivals in 2021 due to border closures. It has set a target of receiving over 5 million foreign tourists in 2022, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). At a recent meeting on reopening the sector, Deputy Minister of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu assessed that an assertive door-opening policy is giving Vietnam the advantage of being among "the first movers." When many countries and regions have not yet opened, the choices of tourists cannot be as diverse as before the pandemic. The advantage will, therefore, belong to the destinations that open early, actively promote and refresh their tourism image to attract tourists' attention. However, insiders have largely agreed that the reopening does not mean foreign tourists will immediately flock to Vietnam like before the pandemic. "Opening at this time is to resume the market so that we can welcome international visitors between this September and March 2023, our annual peak season," VNAT general director Nguyen Trung Khanh told local media. Tourists pose for photos on the Golden Bridge on Ba Na Hills, Da Nang city, Vietnam. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) Local experts view that it may take months or even years for the number of visitors to recover to the pre-pandemic level, citing their financial and health concerns when traveling. At this point in time, it is a big challenge to reach customers from several important markets due to certain traveling restrictions, Khanh noted, adding that Russia, as another key market, is also affected by the pandemic and the current Ukraine conflict. According to Khanh, other obstacles come from the industry's serving capacity, technical facilities and human resources. In the past two years, many tourist areas have closed, and the facilities have been degraded. Personnel in the sector are also dispersed as they were forced to switch to other occupations. Between 2020 and 2021, nearly 30 percent of travel firms nationwide had their operating licenses withdrawn, leaving only about 2,000 ones to continue to operate, Khanh said. "They are facing difficulties, especially the shortage of skilled and high-quality personnel," he said. by Xinhua writer Chen Dongshu KUNMING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Even in the era of new, magnificent high rises, 51-year-old Li Junxing lives with pride in a 147-year-old house that has been converted into a living museum. Located in the Old Town of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest China's Yunnan Province, this house-cum-museum has been the abode of four generations and is emblematic of Li's merchant family heritage. Built in 1875, the house is named 'Heng Yu Gong' and it boasts delicately-carved wooden doors and windows with dim gold-plated patterns, reflecting the history of the ancient Tea Horse Road and its own cultural significance. "My great-grandfather dealt in silk and tea in Lijiang, and after accumulating wealth, he built this house," Li said, explaining that 'Heng Yu Gong' is a trade name, which implies external wealth is based on fairness. Lijiang was an important commercial town along the ancient Tea Horse Road -- a network of caravan paths winding through the mountains of southwest China, which can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and reached as far as India, West Asia and East Africa. Li's house is 666 square meters in size and features a quadrangle layout with five courtyards, which is typical of the ethnic Naxi people that live mostly in Lijiang. The house features a unique design. In the center of the courtyard, there is a pattern of a copper coin with a deliberately-set protruding round stone within it. "The stone acts as a stumbling block and through this distinctive element, our grandfather wanted to teach us that money should be trampled and that we should not pursue desires blindly," Li said, adding that this has been the motto of his family for more than a century. Li still remembers that after China's reform and opening-up began in 1978, a German businessman came to the city and visited their house. He made an offer of 5 million Deutsche marks to buy their house, but Li's father rejected it. The businessman then offered another 100,000 yuan (about 15,730 U.S. dollars) to purchase the gold-plated carving on the front door of the main hall, but Li's father declined the offer once again. "My father told us not to sell or divide the house just for the sake of money," Li said. In 1997, the Old Town of Lijiang was successfully listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, following which many ancient houses were sold or rented out. "Back then, businessmen regularly called on my door with wads of notes. Each day, the price increased; I can recall that the highest price offered was 130 million yuan for sale and 2 million yuan for rent every year," Li said, adding that he declined every single offer, just like his father. "The root of the family and the original appearance of the ancient house should be completely preserved. Its cultural value is far greater than a lot of money," he said. Li decided to convert the heritage house into the Heng Yu Gong Folk House Museum in 2010 and open it to the public for free. Things, however, did not come easy. Li and his wife faced financial hardships, supporting themselves by selling cakes for 1 yuan apiece and rice noodles for 5 yuan a bowl. "Even during the most trying times, I didn't take down the bricks and tiles to exchange for money," Li said. Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, the museum received between 500 and 4,000 daily visitors and people were so enthusiastic that they filled 27 A4-sized guestbooks. "Their enthusiasm makes me feel that everything is worth it," Li said. "Only from such people can we know how the history of the city evolves. Every city should not lose its own culture in the fast-paced development," said Wu Xiaojing, a 28-year-old visitor. In 2016, the local government backed Li's unflinching conservation efforts. In recent years, the protection administration of the Old Town of Lijiang has made unremitting efforts to promote the integration of culture and tourism to help preserve ethnic culture. So far, 27 ancient courtyard demonstration sites, including Li's home, and 12 cultural experience sites have been established, enhancing the historic aura of the old town. Through concerted efforts of the government and the locals, the idea of preserving the ancient town has been firmly ingrained in people's hearts. People from all walks of life, including students and retirees, have joined forces in the protection efforts. Yang Fen, 26, is one such volunteer. "I come here because I live here, and the old town is my home," she said. There are at least 951 active lawsuits against Croatian journalists and media in which plaintiffs are demanding 10.3 million Euros in compensation, a Croatian Journalists Association (CJA) survey has revealed. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ) support their affiliates demands to urgently change the law to end the culture of harassing journalists and the media with lawsuits. Using SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) is a widespread practice in Croatia. Their objective is to censor, intimidate and silence media workers by burdening them with court proceedings. According to the CJA's survey, at least 951 lawsuits were presented against journalists and media outlets in Croatia, in which plaintiffs are claiming almost 10.3 million euros. However, only 26 media were covered by the survey, so the actual number is likely much higher and exceeds 1000 lawsuits, the union warned. The CJA noted with concern the fact that high-ranking state officials, local sheriffs and even judges themselves are involved in filing lawsuits. Many of the lawsuits include the offence of shaming, which is still part of the Croatian Criminal Code. Data from previous years show that very few journalists were eventually convicted, proving that many lawsuits were aimed at harassing and intimidating journalists over their reporting, not to win a case. According to the CJA, in only 11 cases was there a conviction against a journalist. The wave of lawsuits also affects the CJA, with dozens of cases being presented against its representatives and members. "What we are asking for, with no further delay, are changes in the legislation, in order to reduce the pressure of lawsuits. The CJA demands and insists that changes must be made in order to decriminalize all crimes against honor and reputation, which we have been proposing for years. We appeal to the Government to do so urgently," said CJAs president, Hrvoje Zovko. The CJA consulted publishers' representatives on solutions to reduce the massive amount of unjustified lawsuits against them and their workers. Publishers also called for changes to the the law, to harmonize court practice throughout Croatia, educate judges on media law, provide free legal aid to small local and non-profit media and conduct public campaigns to raise awareness about SLAPP practices. IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: Having at least 951 lawsuits against journalists and the media reveals that the judicial persecution of journalists in Croatia is a serious problem that must be addressed without delay. A big majority of these lawsuits are legally unjustified, but aim to intimidate and drain the financial resources of media outlets and journalists. We support CJAs call on the government to address this scourge urgently. On March 27, journalist Zahid Sharif Rana was attacked by ten men in the Bakhar region of Pakistans Punjab province. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Pakistan affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), in strongly condemning the attack, urging the Pakistani authorities to immediately launch an investigation into the assault so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Zahid Sharif Rana, a senior reporter at Daily Ausaf, was targeted by ten members of Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Pakistans ruling party, who assaulted and harassed him on the street. In a video of the incident recorded by a bystander, Rana can be seen being beaten with ropes and batons and shoved to the ground. The assailants also dropped chemicals in his ear and eyes. In the FIR, six of the men were identified, whilst four remain unknown. The journalist was targeted following a report he posted on his Facebook page about unlawful conduct by Tariq Rasheed and Irfan Rasheed, relatives of Amer Muhammad Khan, a member of the ruling party in the Punjab Provincial Assembly The video of the incident went viral on social media, which visibly showed the journalist being tortured and beaten. According to local journalists, police have arrested two suspects while the others remain free. This is not the first time Rana has been attacked for his work. On January 5, the journalist was targeted following an interview he conducted with a member of Pakistans Opposition, who accused Khan of corruption and abuse of power. The National Press Club Islamabad (NPCI) and the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) both released statements condemning the attack and demanded an investigation into the incident, calling for those responsible to be punished. The PFUJ also strongly condemned the incident. In a statement released by the PFUJ, the Secretary General, Rana Muhammad Azeem, called the incident an act of inhuman behavior and demanded that police officials and the government of Punjab arrest and sentence the culprits. The IFJ said: The IFJ condemns the attack on Zahid Sharif Rana and calls on the Pakistani authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the incident. The increasing number of journalists in Pakistan directly targeted for their work is deeply concerning. The IFJ urges the Pakistan government to fulfil its international obligations under the Pakistani Constitution and uphold press freedom. Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. 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The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Tajik Minister of Justice Muzaffar Ashouriyon on the sidelines of the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, March 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) HEFEI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday met with Tajik Minister of Justice, Muzaffar Ashouriyon, on the sidelines of the third foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province. Wang stressed China's firm support for Tajikistan to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, security and for the Tajik people to realize the development goal toward prosperity. China will be Tajikistan's reliable strategic partner, Wang said. China is willing to jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality with Tajikistan and help Tajikistan accelerate industrialization and advance agricultural modernization, Wang continued. China will accelerate construction of a Luban Workshop in Tajikistan to provide talent support and promote friendly exchanges among the youth. Cooperation in fighting the pandemic will be strengthened, Wang added. Noting that Tajikistan is committed to expanding comprehensive cooperation with China, Ashouriyon said Tajikistan is willing to deepen the Belt and Road cooperation and advance cooperation on investment, energy, and production capacity. Ashouriyon thanked China for its support for Tajikistan's fight against the pandemic. Tajikistan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in traditional medicine. The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation on safety, fight the "evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, as well as organized cross-border crimes, and safeguard regional stability. The Mumbai Police has filed a charge sheet against famous Bollywood choreographer Ganesh Acharya. The choreographer has been accused of sexual harassment, stalking, and voyeurism in a case filed by a junior dancer, a police officer, said on Thursday. Twitter After investigating the complaint, Oshiwara police officer Sandeep Shinde said the charge sheet was recently filed in the court of a metropolitan magistrate concerned at Andheri. Image for representational Purpose only Ganesh Acharya and his assistant have been charged under sections 354-a (sexual harassment), 354-c (voyeurism ), 354-d (stalking), 509 (insulting the modesty of any woman), 323 (causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention to commit an offence) of the Indian Penal Code. Instagram In her complaint, the woman wrote that Acharya had been harassing her after she turned down his sexual advances. She also accused the choreographer of making lewd comments, showing her pornographic content, and molesting her. representational image only The woman who worked as a junior dancer with Acharya added that Ganesh told her that if she wanted to succeed, she would have to have sex with him in May 2019. After she refused, the Indian Film and Television Choreographers Association terminated her membership after six months. After she opposed Acharyas actions at a meeting in 2020 that the choreographer allegedly abused her and his assistants assaulted her. Assault Reacting to the news, Acharya spoke to Quint and denied the allegations. He said he has already filed a defamation complaint and has complete faith in the judicial system. He also claimed that the allegations were fabricated. (To get the latest updates from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.) Delivery agents of popular food aggregators, including Zomato and Swiggy, have been booked by the Chennai city traffic police for violating traffic laws. According to reports, Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) booked 978 delivery agents of food aggregators and other e-commerce and rental bike mobile apps in a special drive on Wednesday. Agencies A press statement released by the GCTP claims that the delivery agents flouted rules due to pressure to deliver food in a short period. inc42 Police have collected fines worth Rs 1.35 lakh. Police also noted that the delivery agents are under tremendous pressure to deliver food and groceries as the brands have promised their customers quick delivery. shutterstock The official statement released by the police reads: Shutterstock 'To curtail these violations, awareness programs were regularly conducted for the food delivery partners concerning the importance of traffic rules and the penalties for violation. In addition to these awareness activities, a special enforcement drive was conducted on Wednesday focusing on those violating traffic rules, particularly not wearing helmets and wrong side driving.' While Swiggy agents had the maximum fines with 450, Zomato had 278, and Dunzo had 188 cases against them. The maximum number of complaints was about signal violations, followed by other violations like missing a helmet, using a mobile, speeding, etc. List of traffic violations by Zomato, Swiggy, Dunzo etc. Statement from Chennai Police pic.twitter.com/ViDTpQBQ7A Chandra R. Srikanth (@chandrarsrikant) April 1, 2022 A meeting was held with the Chennai City Traffic Police. They sought an explanation on how they expect agents to deliver food within 10 minutes as they are already violating rules and risking their lives. Dunzo The average delivery time for both Swiggy and Zomato is currently 20-25 minutes. Over the last few months, market players like Blinkit and Zepto started the trend of quick-commerce' as they aimed to establish themselves as a brand that delivers essentials in less than 10 minutes. Following suit, Zomato also announced 10-minute food delivery. The announcement sparked a debate as the rule worried the restaurateurs and triggered the gig worker unions. shutterstock The plan also outraged social media users, who strongly expressed their opinions on how the companies are risking the lives of their delivery partners. A week ago, Zomato faced backlash after they promised a 10-minute delivery. (For more trending stories, click here.) In a landmark move, Canada's British Columbia province has recognised April as Dalit History Month. The New Democratic Party-led (NDP) government took the monumental step to designate and declare April 2022 as Dalit History Month, as per the official website of the government of British Columbia. bclaws.gov.bc.ca For the uninitiated, Dalit History Month is observed every year to remember important people and events in the history of the Dalits or Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities. Since April is the birth month of Dalit icon, Dr B.R Ambedkar, it has significance for Dalits across the globe. The month is considered even significant for the community because of the birth and death anniversaries of other tall Dalit leaders like Jyotirao Phule, Mangu Ram Mugowalia and Sant Ram Udasi. Shutterstock "April is a significant month for Dalit communities because it commemorates the birth and death anniversaries of important Dalit leaders and social reformers in the movement against systemic caste discrimination, such as BR Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule, Mangu Ram Mugowalia, and Sant Ram Udasi," the government said. The British Columbia proclamation not only recognises these individuals but also acknowledges "the strength and resiliency of the Dalit community in overcoming hardships and advocating for social justice and equality for all". PTI Decreed in the name of Queen Elizabeth II, the proclamation noted that British Columbia is a culturally diverse province comprising many peoples and communities. Indigenous people, Black people and people of colour in British Columbia continue to experience systemic racism, injustices, discrimination and hate and the government of British Columbia is committed to address all forms of racism. Last year, the province celebrated the 130th birth anniversary of Ambedkar on April 14 as Equality Day. For more trending stories, click here. China urges U.S. to stop politicizing economic, trade issues: commerce ministry Xinhua) 08:59, April 01, 2022 BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The United States should immediately correct its wrong practices and stop politicizing economic and trade issues, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday. The U.S. side should provide a fair, stable and non-discriminatory market environment for companies from all over the world, including Chinese companies, to operate in the United States, MOC spokesperson Shu Jueting told a press conference. Shu made the remarks in response to a recent move by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for adding two Chinese telecom companies, China Telecom (Americas) Corp. and China Mobile International USA Inc., into its so-called "List of Communications Equipment and Services That Pose A Threat to National Security." The move is another crackdown on Chinese companies by the United States following its recent unwarranted revoking of authorization for some Chinese companies to provide telecom services in the United States, Shu said. The U.S. side generalized the concept of national security, limited market access for products and services and abused state power to impose sanctions and suppression on enterprises, Shu said. The move violated the basic market principles and internationally recognized economic and trade rules, damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and consumers, including U.S. consumers, Shu noted. China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, Shu said. Commenting on the recent remarks made by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to more actively pressure China and to change trade policies with China, Shu said the United States, as a World Trade Organization (WTO) member, should keep its trade policies and practices in line with WTO rules. The United States should not resort to unilateralism and protectionism in the name of new trade policies and practices, said Shu, adding that cooperation is the only right choice considering the huge common interests shared by China and the United States. Shu urged the United States to adopt rational and pragmatic economic and trade policies towards China, and push for the sound and steady development of bilateral economic and trade relations based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. Currently, the economic and trade teams of the two sides are maintaining normal communication, Shu noted. In response to a recent announcement by the United States on imminent investigation into a claim that Chinese solar panel manufacturers moved their manufacturing operations to Southeast Asia as a way of circumventing tariffs, Shu urged the U.S. side to avoid taking trade protectionist measures. Shu urged efforts to maintain the stability of the global photovoltaic industrial and supply chains and promote cooperation on tackling climate change. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) An engineer expounds on the building information modeling (BIM) technology in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 29, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows the business service center in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows intelligent lampposts in Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Photo taken on March 30, 2022 shows the Yuerong Park in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Aerial photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows a view of Rongdong District in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Photo taken on March 18, 2022 shows a carbon emission supervision platform in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Photo taken on March 30, 2022 shows a ditch that can collect rainwater at a park in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Aerial photo taken on March 28, 2022 shows the Yuerong Park in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Aerial photo taken on March 28, 2022 shows a view of Baiyangdian Lake in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Luo Xuefeng) Photo taken on March 30, 2022 shows an underground logistics channel in Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Staff members inspect an underground pipeline system in Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 30, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) An electric vehicle gets charged up via a robot at a charging station in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 18, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Staff members work at the intelligent operations center in Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 29, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) In this aerial photo, workers pave a road in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 25, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Aerial photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows the Xiong'an Railway Station in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) A man tries a fitness facility in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, March 18, 2022. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows an intelligent vendor vehicle in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Aerial photo taken on March 28, 2022 shows the Yuerong Park in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Luo Xuefeng) Photo taken on March 29, 2022 shows a view of the intelligent operations center in Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Aerial photo taken on March 31, 2022 shows the Xiong'an Railway Station in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Photo taken on March 18, 2022 shows a wireless charging pile at a charging station in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Aerial photo taken on March 28, 2022 shows a traditional residence in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. Dubbed China's youngest city and a "city of the future," Xiong'an New Area marks its fifth anniversary on Friday. China announced plans to establish Xiong'an New Area on April 1, 2017, to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.By the end of 2021, construction has begun on 177 key projects in Xiong'an, with a total investment of 618.4 billion yuan (97.2 billion U.S. dollars). Sixty of them have been completed. So far, the major roads to the city, the main streets in the city, the Ecological Corridor, and the urban water system have taken shape.(Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) A federal court jury in Vermont on Wednesday awarded a Florida woman $5.25 million from a doctor who used his own sperm to impregnate her during an artificial insemination procedure in 1977. The federal court jury in Burlington began deliberating on Tuesday and returned the verdict on Wednesday. The verdict form filed in federal court in Burlington said the jury awarded plaintiff Cheryl Rousseau $250,000 in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages from Dr. John Coates III. Rousseaus attorney Celeste Laramie said in an email Wednesday after the verdict was announced the jury awarded the amount they had requested and the jurors found Coates behavior to be wrongful and offensive. The jury through its punitive damages verdict sent a message to any physicians who might think about lying to their patients or using their own semen to inseminate their patients, she said. Such behavior will have serious consequences. Laramie said Rousseaus husband, Peter, was initially a party to the lawsuit, but the judge ultimately found that Peter Rousseau had failed to prove he had suffered damages. His claims did not go to the jury for consideration. Coates attorney did not say if they planned to appeal the verdict. We were surprised and disappointed with the verdict, Defense attorney Peter Joslin said in an email. Last month, the Vermont Medical Practice Board permanently revoked Coates medical license. Coates, who practiced obstetrics and gynecology in the central Vermont area in the 1970s, is now retired. Coates is also facing a second, similar lawsuit filed last year that remains pending in U.S. District Court in Vermont. The original complaint says Coates agreed to inseminate Cheryl Rousseau with donor material from an unnamed medical student, who resembled Rousseaus husband and had characteristics that she required. Rousseau had wanted a child with her husband but he had a vasectomy that could not be reversed, according to the complaint. Coates performed the artificial insemination but inserted his own genetic material, the lawsuit said. The Rousseau lawsuit said they discovered what had happened when their now-grown daughter sought information about her biological father through DNA testing. The daughter determined Coates was her father, according to the lawsuit. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Vermont The parents of a 19-year-old man who was killed by state troopers on an overpass in the Pocono Mountains filed a wrongful-death suit Wednesday, saying video that Pennsylvania State Police initially tried to keep secret shows he was pointing a pellet gun in the air and not at the troopers when they fired the fatal shots. The federal lawsuit says troopers had no reason to open fire on Christian Hall and claims three high-ranking officials state police Commissioner Robert Evanchik, Monroe County District Attorney David Christine and Christines deputy, Michael Mancuso took steps to conceal the details of the shooting in an attempt to protect the troopers. State police shot and killed Hall during a mental health emergency while he was standing with his hands up in the universal stance of surrender, civil rights lawyers Ben Crump and Devon Jacob said in a news release. Mancuso, who has said the shooting was justified, accused Crump and Jacob of pushing a false narrative. The attempts by the attorneys to mislead the public and now the filing of a frivolous suit against the DAs Office is yet another example that they are motivated not by the pursuit of justice but the allure of monetary gain, Mancuso said via email. A message was sent to state police seeking comment on the suit. Troopers went to the Route 33 overpass over Interstate 80 in Monroe County on Dec. 30, 2020, in response to a report of a suicidal man and found Hall standing on the ledge, authorities said. Troopers spent about 90 minutes trying to persuade Hall to give up and drop the weapon, saying We are here to help you and offering him food, drink and a blanket. They also parked tractor-trailers beneath the overpass to reduce Halls fall if he jumped, authorities have said. But Hall approached the troopers while brandishing a pellet gun that resembled a semi-automatic pistol and they opened fire, authorities said. Police video released by the Monroe County district attorneys office last March showed that Hall had rotated the barrel of the gun from straight out to the side and was pointing it in the air seconds before the shooting. At the time, Mancuso commended troopers for showing restraint, and characterized the fatal shooting as a classic `suicide by cop scenario. But the DAs office, in its public PowerPoint presentation of the shooting investigation, blurred out the moment of the shooting itself. In the unredacted version of the video obtained by lawyers for Halls family and subsequently released to the media, Hall was stationary, with both hands raised and the barrel of the pellet gun pointing straight up, when he was shot three times and fell to the ground. Lawyers for Halls parents said three seconds elapsed between the time he stopped moving toward the troopers and waving the gun, and the time that troopers fired. If he doesnt drop it, just take him, a supervisor said just before the fatal shots, according to the video. State police initially said in a news release on the shooting that Hall began walking toward the troopers, at which time Hall pointed the firearm in the troopers direction. The unredacted video is undisputed evidence establishing that PSPs official written statement was false and the DAs PowerPoint was intended to mislead the public; both intending to coverup the unlawfulness of the homicide, the lawsuit said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Law Enforcement Pennsylvania The United Nations on Thursday announced the members of an expert group that will scrutinize corporate pledges to achieve net-zero emissions, an effort to prevent greenwashing as private sector climate plans proliferate. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the group of 16 experts will analyze the net-zero plans of companies, investors, cities and regions in order to develop stringent and transparent standards to ensure they deliver their promises. Despite growing pledges of climate action, global emissions are at an all-time high, Guterres said. Tougher net-zero standards and strengthened accountability around the implementation of these commitments can deliver real and immediate emissions cuts. The groups formal launch, first announced at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow last November, comes as environmental groups sue companies that lack details about their net-zero plans and as regulators begin to scrutinize the climate commitments made by major companies. A recent report found that net-zero pledges by 25 top global companies from Amazon to Unilever lack clear plans to achieve them and mislead consumers. Meanwhile, in the United States, a Congressional committee has called on oil company board members to testify about how their firms plan to meet their climate pledges while an environmental group earlier this month sued Shell for failing to properly prepare for net zero emissions. Experts on the panel include former top California air regulator Mary Nichols, former Brazilian finance minister Joaquim Levy, former Malian Prime Minister Oumar Tatam Ly, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change lead author Bill Hare and board member of insurer Allianz Group Guenther Thallinger. The group will be supported by a small technical secretariat to be housed at the United Nations and will hold several high-level meetings throughout the course of the year. (Reporting by Valerie VolcoviciEditing by Mark Potter) Ukraine, a major producer of grain, oilseeds and steel products, will guarantee insurance payments to cargo vessels damaged in hostilities on its stretch of the Danube, according to the government decision published on Friday. Ukraine exports almost all its commodities through Black Sea ports now blocked due to the Russian invasion. The Danube, the second-longest river in Europe, flows through eight countries from the mountains of western Germany to Ukraine and the Black Sea. We are talking about the possibility of fully-fledged work at only three Ukrainian sea ports: Reni, Izmail, Ust-Dunaysk. Their role takes precedence, the Ukrainian infrastructure ministry said on social media. The government did not provide details of the insurance system but instructed the infrastructure ministry to develop a plan. Ukrainian agriculture analysts have said the country, which exported 43 million tonnes in the peace period of 2021/22 July-June season, could export only around 1 million tonnes of grain in the next three months, due to logistics difficulties. Before the war, the government said the grain exports could reach 65 million tonnes this season. Ukraine was the worlds fourth-largest grain exporter in the 2020/21 season, International Grains Council data shows. Russia sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it calls a special military operation to demilitarize the country. Western countries call it an unprovoked war of aggression. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; editing by Nick Macfie) Topics Trucking Ukraine This edition of International People Moves details appointments at AXIS Specialty Europe and SCOR Syndicate. A summary of these new hires follows here. AXIS Specialty Europe Names Mullarkey as CEO AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. announced the appointment of Fintan Mullarkey as CEO of AXIS Specialty Europe SE (ASE), subject to regulatory approval. ASE is AXIS Capitals specialty insurance legal entity domiciled in Ireland and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, with branches in Belgium and the UK. In this role, Mullarkey will be responsible for ASE and the legal entity aspects of its branches. Mullarkey will also join the board of directors of ASE. Fintan has been with AXIS for 18 years and he brings extensive experience in international insurance and global operations, and the financial, regulatory and leadership capabilities necessary to manage a highly regulated legal entity such as ASE, said Pete Vogt, Chief Financial Officer of AXIS Capital. Mullarkey has served as head of Finance for ASE and AXIS Re SE (ARe) for the past 10 years. He is also a Non-Executive Director of AXIS Managing Agency Ltd. Mullarkey will continue to be based in Dublin. He succeeds Helen OSullivan, who was named group treasurer for AXIS Capital in January 2022. OSullivan remains a director of ASE and ARe. *** SCOR Syndicate Appoints Archs Biggas as Active Underwriter SCORs 100% backed SCOR Syndicate announced the appointment of Marie Biggas as active underwriter and chief underwriting officer of SCOR UK, subject to regulatory approval. She will report to both Stuart McMurdo, CEO of SCOR P&C EMEA and the SCOR Syndicate, and to Olivier Perraut, global CUO Single Risks. Previously, Biggas was vice president, deputy active underwriter for Arch Syndicate 2012, and head of Terrorism, Aviation, War and Space for Arch Insurance International. Prior to joining Arch in 2014, she held several underwriting positions at ACE Group, Chaucer Syndicates, and Amlin. She has 14 years of experience in the insurance industry. Biggas is a Chartered Insurer and Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute. She holds a bachelors degree in Public Administration from Roskilde University and an Masters of Arts in Political Communications from Goldsmiths University. We are entering a new chapter in the syndicates journey. The intention is to build on two great consecutive results in 2020 and 2021 and continue delivering profitable growth in the years ahead, whilst at the same time broadening the SCOR Specialty Insurance profile and presence in the London market and Europe, commented Stuart McMurdo. We are delighted to be able to bring someone of Maries stature and ability to execute the next stage of our plans. Her appointment further strengthens our existing executive team. Topics Excess Surplus Underwriting Europe Greg Hingston, who took over as global chief executive of HSBC Holdings Plcs insurance unit in January, has had a busy quarter, closing the groups first acquisition in a decade, building out the China business and eyeing new deals to be struck. The 15-year HSBC veteran stepped in after the bank late last year won regulatory approval to take full control of its Chinese life insurance venture, a welcome sign of a thaw in the banks recent frosty relationship with Beijing. The lender is expanding in Asia with billions of dollars in fresh investments and in February completed its purchase of AXA SAs Singapore unit, a deal which effectively doubled the size of its insurance business in the city state. Inorganic growth will be an important part of how the bank looks to expand in key markets, said Hingston, whos based in Hong Kong, over Zoom. Ive done quite a bit of M&A in my career. Hingston, 50, was most recently head of wealth and personal banking for Asia-Pacific. He took over the insurance unit, which generated about a 10th of the groups adjusted pre-tax profit last year, after predecessor Bryce Johns left to join Chubb Ltd. The banks expansion in insurance fits well into the vision of HSBC Chairman Mark Tucker, who has formerly run AIA Group Ltd. and Prudential Plc. Hingston, who worked at Prudential Corporation Asia Ltd. in the early years of 2000, describes the chairman as a demanding but very rewarding individual to work with. Crucial China Europes largest lender is targeting becoming the leading bank in Asia wealth, which insurance falls under. The key to this effort will be growing in mainland China, where risks are multiplying amid sliding markets, a private sector crackdown and a renewed COVID outbreak. HSBC, which counts Hong Kong as its largest market, has had a tense time in China in recent years after it became entangled in the U.S. probe over Huawei Technologies Co. The China opportunity is crucial, we expect our China business to be a much more significant contributor over the next five years, said Hingston. Through its Chinese fintech venture, Pinnacle, the bank has hired close to 700 financial planners in five Chinese cities Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Guangzhou as of end last year. It plans to increase that number to 3,000 over the next few years, according to Hingston. Pinnacle allows the bank to add clients outside of its bank branches. It currently sells insurance products and will apply for a license to sell wealth products such as mutual funds in due course, he said. Deals Hingston also said that Hong Kong is massively important for the banks insurance business, and it plans to defend and grow that market. Its moves to expand in other markets arent driven by the situation in Hong Kong, but rather by the opportunities that exist in those markets. Mainland China and India are growing at fast rates and are two of the biggest domestic market opportunities, he said. HSBCs Chief Financial Officer Ewen Stevenson said last year that the bank was looking at bolt-on acquisitions of about $500 million each. Opportunities will likely be in places like Singapore, India and mainland China, said Harpreet Bindra, head of strategy and business development at HSBC Life and Insurance Partnerships, also on the Zoom call. In India, HSBC has notified shareholders of its joint venture, Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance, that it intends to raise its stake up to 49% from the current 26%. Punjab National Bank is planning to sell its stake in the venture. Partnerships, such as the one that HSBC has with dacadoo, a Swiss-based company that provides a health score and whose digital platform will be integrated with HSBCs, are also areas of interest, according to Bindra. Historically, HSBC has typically sold insurance through its branches to retail clients. Its now moving into health care and looking to its vast commercial bank, to cross-sell employee and health benefits. Borders Locally in Hong Kong, insurers have taken a big hit from the border closure with mainland China over the past two years. New life insurance business from mainland visitors across the industry shrank from $6.8 billion in 2020 to about $688 million in 2021, according to Hong Kongs Insurance Authority. The lack of cross border traffic has had a significant impact, said Hingston. However, he said that the bank has been able to pivot to the domestic market, connecting with younger customers through digital channels and is almost back to its pre-Covid level in the value of new business. Photograph: The HSBC Holdings Plc logo hangs illuminated outside a bank branch as a pedestrian passes with an umbrella in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. Photo credit: Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics China Ohio National Mutual Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Ohio National Financial Services, Inc. successfully completed its sponsored demutualization transaction with Constellation Insurance Holdings, Inc. Following the approval of the transaction by member vote on March 11, 2022, ONMH has converted to a stock company, renamed Ohio National Holdings, Inc. and has become an independently managed subsidiary of Constellation. Ohio National Financial Services, Inc. remains a subsidiary to ONH (collectively referred to as Ohio National). Ohio National will maintain its brand, management team and infrastructure, and will continue to be headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. As part of the transaction, Constellation has committed to contribute $500 million of capital into Ohio National Life Insurance Company over a four-year period, further strengthening Ohio Nationals strong capital position and ability to fulfill its obligations, as well as to invest in organic and inorganic growth opportunities. Agam Capital Management, LLC, an insurance provider and strategic partner to Constellation, brings substantial variable annuity risk management and insurance industry expertise, which significantly strengthens Ohio Nationals ability to capitalize on inorganic growth opportunities. Sidley Austin LLP served as legal counsel to Ohio National and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP served as legal counsel to Constellation on this transaction. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company, served as financial advisor to Ohio National and its Board of Directors. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Ohio Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys says Kansas wont enforce a federal mandate that nursing home workers get vaccinated against COVID-19, acknowledging Wednesday that it conflicts with an anti-mandate state law she signed four months ago. Nursing home workers must still get vaccines, but the federal government will charge Kansas nearly $349,000 a year to have federal teams survey nursing homes for compliance. Kelly announced the policy this week with conservative Republican legislators pushing to limit the restrictions that state and local officials can impose during future outbreaks and to weaken vaccination requirements for children enrolling in school and day care. GOP lawmakers continue to criticize Kelly ahead of a tough reelection race for her this year over actions she took in the spring and summer of 2020 to slow COVID-19s spread. Kelly said Wednesday that she met several months ago with President Joe Bidens health secretary, Xavier Becerra, and told him that the vaccine mandate wouldnt work. Wed be violating state law if our people were to be enforcing the federal mandates, she said during an interview. And so, we did work this out so that the federal government has assumed all responsibility for enforcement. Kelly signed a law just before Thanksgiving that made it easier for workers facing COVID-19 vaccine mandates to claim a religious exemption. In early November, days after Republicans won the governors race in Democratic-leaning Virginia, she broke with Biden and declared her opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Top Republicans on Wednesday dismissed her anti-enforcement policy as another attempt to keep independent and moderate GOP voters in her fold during her reelection campaign. Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the presumed GOP nominee for governor, brought Kansas into multiple lawsuits against Bidens vaccine mandates. The governor is doing anything to get elected, said Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a conservative Wichita Republican. Shes moving to the right and taking up some right territory so she can try to bring those people in and get elected. Kelly dismissed criticism of the policy as a political move, saying its consistent with the Kansas law she signed and her opposition to the vaccine mandates. She said the federal governments charging Kansas for inspections shows her action was not symbolic. I meant it when I said that it was too late for the federal government to be coming in and imposing mandates on states when, you know, two years ago, all 50 states, all 50 governors were told we were on our own, she said. House health committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said the federal government would have to increase its staff in Kansas to enforce the vaccine mandate and dismissed Kellys action as playing politics. The federal government says that nearly 86% of the employees in the nursing homes it regulates have been vaccinated so that they could receive follow-up booster shots. The figure for the more than 300 federally licensed nursing homes in Kansas at the end of February was 77%, according to the state health department. Schmidt and other Republicans argued that a vaccine mandate pushes some workers to quit, making it more difficult for homes to provide adequate care. As for Kellys new policy, Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said: Its a smart move in an election year. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Kansas An Ohio woman repeatedly raped as a child suffered injuries so severe that shes owed millions in compensation despite a state cap on pain-and-suffering awards, an attorney told the state Supreme Court Wednesday. At issue before the court is a Cuyahoga County judges 2020 decision to cut a portion of a $20 million jury verdict to $250,000. That decision was based on a 2005 law meant to limit the size of awards in lawsuits. More than five years ago, the state Supreme Court cited that same law, sometimes known as tort reform, when it threw out a $3.6 million jury award to a woman raped by her pastor at age 15. The court reduced the award to about $385,000 based on the 2005 law. The high court heard arguments Wednesday that such limits are unconstitutional when they involve underage victims of sexual assault. The court also heard an overall challenge to the caps on damages created by the 2005 law. The 2005 law did allow for exceptions to the caps, such as the loss of a limb or an injury from an accident that prevents a person to live independently. That exception should apply to the woman raped as a child, her attorney, Robert Peck, told the justices. The consequences here are so catastrophic that they are certainly more than a permanent scar on the hand or the loss of a finger or the types of things that the statute carves out as exceptions, he said. A lawyer representing the man who raped the woman noted that the same jury awarded the woman $114 million _ $14 million for pain-and-suffering for rapes that occurred before the 2005 took effect, and $100 million in punitive damages. That amount stands, attorney Marion Little told the court. You cannot say she was denied her day in court, Little said. You cannot suggest she was denied a meaningful remedy. He added that lawmakers crafting the 2005 law anticipated facts of this nature by allowing punitive damages without caps. A court decision isnt expected for months. House Democrats have successfully proposed legislation targeting the issue that would lift caps on pain-and-suffering awards for child rape victims. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Ohio Broadway is taking a riskon a musical about insurance. Insurance: The Musical opens this week in New York after a successful tryout last September in Hartford. It is Broadways first musical exploration of the property/casualty insurance industry, according to Broadway historians. Its no Lion King but its surprisingly entertaining. Its like Mama Mia meets West Side Story meets C.S.I. with plenty of greed, corruption, sex, bureaucracy and dancing. The plot revolves around a team of lawyers and doctors who stage car accidents for insurance money. They own several medical clinics and auto body shops. Two ambitious insurance company investigators are onto them and determined to break-up their fraud ring. The drama begins with the sounds and smells of a car crash and sirens off-stage; the curtain then rises to reveal the scene of devastation and injury. Following the rescue and clean-up operations, two insurance characters arrive on the scene looking like FBI agents. Thats when the singing begins, with the duet titled Third Responders. Mr. Don Summers, known for his work as the mayhem guy on TV, plays an insurance agent, Dougie, whose carrier insured various body parts of the actress injured in the crash. Mr. Summers reveals himself to be quite the talented song and dance man in the Third Responders number and later provides a glimpse of his softer side in his solo, The Credit Score Song. Dougies insurance partner in fraud-fighting is Shirley, a foul-mouthed private eye/claims adjuster and scorned predictive model. Shirley is played by Ms. Sophie Courtesy, known for her work as Glo in TV ads. Ms. Courtesy brings an anxious intensity, transparent toughness and annoying arrogance to her role. She has an unmistakable voice (Ethel Merman lives!) that shakes the rafters and she nearly brings down the house during her solo, I Put the Cuss in Customer Service. Unfortunately, she dances like she has gum on her shoes. For the bulk of the play, the two insurance pros pursue several false leads that take the audience into a seedy underworld of medical and insurance back offices until, eventually, they get their case before a jury in a fraud trial set in an auto body shop. When they are not on the trail of the fraudsters, Dougie and Shirley are falling in love while processing claims forms, which they demonstrate can be more fun than anyone imagined, especially when it is done to the hip-hop ditty, Red Flags. Mr. Jackie Boot stars as the fraud kingpin, Dr. Pill, a Harvard-educated doctor who runs medical clinics and recruits grandmothers who drive stolen cars into utility poles and then claim back injuries. His sidekick, Rex Ottos, runs the body shops that produce inflated estimates of auto damage. The musical score has a few songs that could stand on their own including Fraud Ring on Her Finger, Actuary, Act Your Age, Adjust This and Body Shop Boogie. Hours after the shows complimentary spiked Snapple had worn off, this reviewer found himself chanting little gems from the production like, She was almost 52 but her grandkids thought her cool, as she drove a new car everyday to drop them off at school And, I wont lie to you, I know youre poor, honey. Crash this car and get a lot more money Its a shame the other half-dozen musical numbers sound like big-band versions of the On Your Side jingle. Investors believe this show could find a large audience and perhaps put some men in Broadway seats along with the women for a change. If they can make a musical out of Rocky, they can do this, said the shows underwriter, known for the blockbuster, Wall Street: The Musical, which enjoyed a long run before it was shut down by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Insurance: The Musical runs only one day, today, April Fools Day. Tickets are $75 but after 15 minutes, you can save 15 percent. Everybody knows that. BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China has held a national teleconference on strengthening workplace safety to implement the instructions made by President Xi Jinping after the China Eastern Airlines plane crash. Soon after the accident happened on March 21, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, ordered all-out search and rescue efforts and the proper handling of the aftermath, and dispatched senior officials to direct related work. Xi made an instruction about workplace safety on March 24, and on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to hear a report on handling the crash and make arrangements for the follow-up work. Noting that responsibilities were not fulfilled in some localities and sectors, Xi said Party committees and governments at all levels should put people and their lives first, stay on high alert, and never relax their vigilance in terms of workplace safety. Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said in an instruction that the country still faces a complex and tough workplace safety situation and stressed the need to learn lessons from recent safety accidents. Work should be done to strictly punish violations in key sectors including mining, hazardous chemicals, construction and transportation, Li said. The teleconference took place to implement Xi's instructions. Liu He, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Work Safety Committee of the State Council, made a speech at the conference. Wang Yong and Zhao Kezhi, both state councilors and deputy heads of the work safety committee, attended the meeting. The meeting outlined a raft of measures to improve workplace safety and prevent major accidents, including an immediate nationwide inspection and strengthened oversight and law enforcement. Concrete actions must be taken to prevent frequent accident occurrences as soon as possible, according to the meeting. A national teleconference on strengthening workplace safety to implement the instructions made by President Xi Jinping is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 31, 2022. Liu He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Work Safety Committee of the State Council, made a speech at the conference. Wang Yong and Zhao Kezhi, both state councilors and deputy heads of the work safety committee, attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) After 31 years at Amica Mutual Insurance, including 17 years as its CEO, Robert A. Bob DiMuccio will retire at the end of 2022, the company announced. It has been an honor to serve as Amicas CEO. Youre only as good as the people you surround yourself with, and Ive been fortunate to work with extremely talented staff and board members who genuinely care about this company, said DiMuccio in a statement. Together, weve accomplished a lot and navigated some very challenging times most recently, the impact of the pandemic on our employees and our customers, both of whom were at the forefront of our concern. Amica said it has never been in a stronger position and DiMuccio has excelled against virtually every meaningful measure of success. Amica earned a national reputation as a leader in customer service, product offerings and ease of doing business during DiMuccios tenure. Of particular note, a few years after DiMuccio took office in 2005, the country had to face the Great Recession of 2007-09. DiMuccio worked hand in hand with the board and Amicas employees to navigate and overcome this challenging time, Amica said. DiMuccio also deserves high marks for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amica said DiMuccio and his staff developed, implemented and managed a successful work-from-home staffing plan that enabled the company to maintain its industry-leading customer service standards. A return-to-work program has been equally successful. Its the combined effort of so many people involved in putting the customer first, ensuring that we have the most up-to-date technology to serve them, increasing our brand awareness across the country, giving back to the community through our charitable foundation, and taking care of our employees with benefits that truly make a difference for them and their families, DiMuccio added in a statement. After 12 years at KPMG Peat Marwick in Providence, Rhode Island, DiMuccio joined Amica in 1991 as a vice president in Accounting, was promoted to senior vice president, and was awarded the additional title of Treasurer in 1996. DiMuccio was then named Chief Financial Officer in 2001 and executive vice president in 2003, before being named president and CEO in 2005. The title of Chairman was added in 2008. DiMuccio has been an active leader outside of Amica, serving on the Board of Governors of the American Property Casualty Insurers Association. Hes also past Board Chair of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. Other boards on which he serves or has served include the Property & Liability Resource Bureau, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, the Washington Trust Company and Crossroads Rhode Island. He has also received the Paul Harris Fellow Award, given by Rotary International for outstanding community service. DiMuccio will continue through the end of the year and be available to ensure a smooth transition to the new CEO, Amica said. Lead director Donald Julian Reaves expressed tremendous gratitude for the vision, leadership and outstanding contributions to Amica and the community that Bob has provided. Through his guidance and strategic mindset, Amica sharpened its focus on the customer, which has positioned the company for continued success in the years ahead. Ford Motor Co. is recalling 737,000 vehicles in the United States over a part that could develop an oil leak and a software error that could hinder braking, it said on Friday. The automaker is recalling 345,451 of its 2020-2022 Ford Escape and 2021-2022 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles with 1.5L engines because the engine oil separator housing could crack and develop an oil leak that might cause an engine fire. Ford said it had reports of at least eight fires that may be related to the issue but no related injuries or crashes. Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks, and replace the oil separator and seals, as necessary. Ford is also recalling 391,836 2021-2022 F-150, 2022 Ford Maverick, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles because a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system might not brake. Dealers will update the integrated trailer brake control module software. Ford has 67 reports of improper function potentially related to the issue but no reports of crashes or injuries related to the recall. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Goodman and Mark Potter) Topics USA United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced March 30 that Dewayne Coleman, age 22, of Marrero, Louisiana, was sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans. According to documents filed in federal court, Coleman,along with his co-defendants, conspired to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged accident occurring on September 6, 2017. Thus far, the total number of defendants convicted in Operation Sideswipe is thirty-two (32). Colemanadmitted that on September 6, 2017, on the I-10 near the Almonaster exit, he was a passenger in co-defendant Erica Lees 2015 RAV4 being driven by their former co-defendant, when he intentionally crashedinto a tractor-trailer owned by Averitt Express. After the staged accident, the driver exited the RAV4 and told Erica Lee to get behind the wheel of the RAV4 to make it appear that Erica Lee was driving the vehicle at the time of the staged accident. The defendants contacted the NOPD and falsely claimed that Erica Lee was the driver at the time of the collision. Coleman retained counsel and made a claim for damages. The total settlement for the Averitt accident was $30,000. On March 26, 2019, Coleman provided false testimony in depositions taken in conjunction with the Thompson Lawsuit. In his deposition, Coleman lied about the September 6, 2017 accident including, but not limited to, who was driving the RAV4 and the extent of their injuries. United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced Colemanto 12 months of incarceration, followed by three years supervised release, $ 121,076 in restitution, 100 hours of community service and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Source: U.S. Department of Justice Topics Louisiana Days before his own death, Louisiana Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth walked into a secure room deep inside state police headquarters, swore an oath and told investigators about the night he held down Black motorist Ronald Greene and repeatedly bashed him in the head with a flashlight. Gone was the bravado from Hollingsworths earlier boast _ captured on body-camera video _ that he beat the ever-living f-_ out of the man before his 2019 death along a rural roadside in northeast Louisiana. Instead, in a two-hour interrogation, Hollingsworth meekly portrayed himself as the victim in the violent arrest, saying he feared for his life even as graphic footage played over and over of white troopers swarming Greenes car after a high-speed chase, jolting him with stun guns, punching him in the face and dragging him by his ankle shackles as he wailed, Im your brother! Im scared! Im scared! I was scared, Hollingsworth said in the never-before-released recorded interview obtained by The Associated Press. He could have done anything once my hold was broke off him _ and thats why I struck him. Detectives werent buying it, describing the repeated flashlight blows to Greenes head as unjustified while peppering the 46-year-old veteran trooper with questions. Why did Hollingsworth turn off his body-camera video recorder? Why did he jolt Greene with his stun gun before the motorist could even get out of his car? Why did he resort to disproportionate force with an unarmed man who was hardly resisting? As for troopers initial account that blamed Greenes death on injuries from a car crash, fueling allegations of a cover-up, Hollingsworth said he didnt see such injuries himself but added, Im not a doctor. Nearly three years after Greenes May 10, 2019, death with still no one criminally charged, Hollingsworths internal affairs interview in September 2020 stands as a defiant, haunting voice from the grave. Widely seen as the most culpable of the half-dozen officers involved, Hollingsworth cant face justice because he died just six days after the interrogation from a high-speed, single-vehicle, crash that came hours after he was told he would be fired for his role in Greenes arrest. Though his death was ruled accidental, Hollingsworths early morning, off-duty crash into a highway guardrail in Monroe prompted widespread speculation the trooper took his own life. Hollingsworth was sober, not wearing a seatbelt and was a state police driving instructor traveling an interstate he had patrolled for decades. Crash reconstruction experts who reviewed case reports for the AP agreed the circumstances were suspicious and the probe by local police was inadequate. Its definitely consistent with a suicide but I dont have enough information to say he didnt fall asleep, said Jonathan Cherney, a California-based crash reconstructionist. But Ill tell you what, you have a hard time falling asleep when youre doing 100 miles per hour. Scott Wolleson, the lawyer who accompanied Hollingsworth to the interview and now represents his widow in a civil suit brought by Greenes family, declined to comment. Intentional or not, Hollingsworths death has complicated ongoing federal and state investigations and was particularly painful for Greenes mother, Mona Hardin, who says it robbed her of any hope for full justice while the trooper was allowed to be buried with full honors despite his misconduct. It hurts me to the core that Hollingsworth isnt here, Hardin told AP. He was front and center and they gave him all the bells and whistles on his burial. They overlooked what he did, what he confessed to. State police were so concerned about unruly groups and a major disturbance at Hollingsworths funeral, according to operational plans obtained by AP, that they kept the location of the services secret and deployed two counter snipers and a SWAT team to watch over the sea of blue uniforms that piled into a West Monroe church. The bristling security was set up at a time when the public had not yet the seen the body-camera footage of Greenes arrest, but the state police leaders coordinating his funeral had. Serving as platoon leader that day was Lt. John Clary, the highest-ranking officer at the scene of Greenes death who remains under federal scrutiny for allegedly withholding his own body-camera footage from detectives. AP last year obtained and published the graphic footage that officials from Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards on down had refused to release for more than two years. But even before that, Hollingsworth made himself a focus of the Greene investigation by his own words on the night of the arrest, what he dismissed to detectives as inappropriate cop talk. I beat the ever-living f out of him, choked him and everything else trying to get him under control, Hollingsworth told a fellow officer in a phone call picked up on his body-camera mic. All of a sudden he just went limp. I thought he was dead. Greene died before his ambulance reached the hospital. Hollingsworth was photographed there with flecks of Greenes blood dotting his blue uniform and brass badge. The governor later told police commanders to investigate Hollingsworths role in the deadly arrest. Edwards top lawyer, Matthew Block, told AP the then-head of the state police informed him when the decision was finally made to fire Hollingsworth. Edwards has since come to describe the actions of the troopers in Greenes arrest as criminal and racist. Asked late last year whether he feels any responsibility for the loss of public trust in state police, a spokesperson for Edwards told AP: The troopers on the scene _ particularly Trooper Hollingsworth _ are responsible for what happened the night of Mr. Greenes death, period. Federal prosecutors have been considering for months whether to charge the other troopers, including Kory York, who remains on the force after dragging Greene face down by his ankle shackles. The FBI also is investigating whether state police brass obstructed justice in part by rebuffing the detectives who pushed for criminal charges. One supervisor recently told a state legislative committee probing the case that his bosses instructed him not to give prosecutors the body-camera footage of Greenes arrest. That was consistent with an AP investigation last year that found Greenes was among at least a dozen cases over the past decade in which state police troopers or their bosses ignored or concealed evidence of beatings, deflected blame and impeded efforts to root out misconduct. Hollingsworth himself seemed to recognize his legal risk, refusing to provide any statement to the detectives conducting the criminal investigation in the days after Greenes death. But he was compelled _ 496 days later _ to cooperate with an internal affairs investigation focused on whether he violated state police policy. That inquiry could not be used to charge Hollingsworth but would determine whether he kept his badge. Hollingsworths story evolved significantly during the interview. He initially told detectives he struck Greene with a closed fist. Then he claimed he couldnt remember whether he struck him with an object. Finally, after the investigators replayed the video and pointed out Hollingsworths flashlight, he conceded to hitting Greene with it, even using his water bottle to demonstrate how he swung with the rounded edge down. Detectives then showed Hollingsworth autopsy photos and asked him to describe several cuts on Greenes head. Theyre like a little half-moon, Hollingsworth said. You dont think your flashlight caused those cuts? It could have, the trooper said. A reexamined autopsy commissioned by the FBI last year rejected the crash theory and attributed Greenes death to physical struggle, troopers repeatedly stunning him, striking him in the head, restraining him at length and Greenes use of cocaine. Asked to justify his use of force, Hollingsworth repeatedly exaggerated Greenes threat and resistance. I did fear that he was much bigger than I was and much stronger, he said. He had already kept two troopers from being able to handcuff him, and I was in fear at that time of him getting control of me or headbutting me. Race did not come up in the interrogation but Hollingsworth opined on the subject decades earlier in a 2002 essay at the Louisiana State Police Training Academy, writing that white police officers have to prove they are not racist on every complaint and in every court case involving blacks. Today, the first concern is if the officer is white and the suspect is black. Race is the issue and not the crime. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Louisiana The Supreme Court on Tuesday cast doubt on Texas claim that it cant be sued by a former state trooper who says he was forced out of his job when he returned from Army service in Iraq. The justices heard arguments in a dispute over a federal law that was enacted in 1991 in the wake of the Persian Gulf war to strengthen job protections for returning service members. Over 90 minutes, the justices discussed the Vietnam War, Russias invasion of Ukraine, Alexander Hamilton and even Hamilton, the musical, as they tried to sort through whether states are shielded from lawsuits filed by veterans who complain that their jobs were not protected, in violation of the federal law. At the heart of the case is Congress power to wage war and states acknowledgments that they lacked similar authority, both laid out in the Constitution. We dont know whats going to be happening in the next 50 years. We dont know whats going to be happening in the next 50 days in terms of national security and personnel, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said. The court weighing an appeal by Le Roy Torres, who spent a year in Iraq and was discharged as a captain after nearly 19 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. Torres says he suffered lung damage from exposure to open burn pits on his base in Iraq. The state and Torres dispute what happened when he returned to Texas, unable to resume his job as a state trooper because of the damage to his lungs. He eventually resigned and later filed his lawsuit. A state appellate court dismissed it, and the justices stepped in. The Biden administration is backing Torres right to sue the state. Fifteen other Republican-led states are calling on the court to side with Texas and rule out private lawsuits like Torres. Congress first allowed returning service members to sue states to keep their jobs in 1974, recognizing discrimination because of opposition to the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War is what made the statute necessary, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said. And opposition to a future war could result in a similar situation, Justice Amy Coney Barrett said. Lets say we get involved in Ukraine and states say we shouldnt be, Barrett said. The discussion briefly turned to the theater when Justice Stephen Breyer invoked Hamiltons Youll Be Back to illustrate that George Washingtons frustration with the states reluctance to pay the Continental Army led to the establishment of a national defense. George III says, `Theyll come back. Wait and see. Theyll come crawling back to me, Breyer said, capturing the sentiment, but not the lyrics to the song. Just last week, the court allowed the Navy to take account of sailors vaccination status in deciding on deployments, narrowing a lower court order. Three justices, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas, dissented from the high courts order. Gorsuch and Thomas seemed the most amenable to Texas arguments Tuesday. Im perhaps not as enamored of Hamilton as some are, Thomas said, Thomas again took part remotely Tuesday, following a nearly week-long hospital stay for what the court described as an infection. The court has not elaborated on the nature of the infection and there was no explanation of why Thomas was not in the courtroom. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Texas People who owned units in a Florida oceanfront condominium building that collapsed last year will divide $83 million for property losses, with the compensation for families over the 98 deaths still to be determined, a judge ruled Wednesday. The money for owners of the 136-unit Champlain Towers South building will come from sale of the now-vacant beachfront land as well as insurance policies, officials said. Unless they opt out, the owners who take the deal will relinquish their rights to sue individually but also could avoid an assessment because of the loss. It gives them certainty. These people need certainty and they need to carry on, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman said before approving the deal at a hearing. Maybe its not 100% of value, but its pretty close. I think its an outstanding result. Champlain Towers South, a 12-story condo in Surfside, Florida collapsed without warning early on June 24. The settlement is part of a lawsuit arguing work on an adjacent luxury condo building, known as Eighty Seven Park, damaged and destabilized an aging building already in dire need of major structural repair. The defendants associated with Eighty Seven Park deny any negligence or wrongdoing. The cause of the collapse remains unknown, although the building was in the midst of a 40-year inspection and engineers had pointed out some serious structural flaws previously. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is the main investigative agency in a probe that could take many months. Under the agreement Wednesday, each unit owner will be paid a share based on their ownership portion of a condominium unit and for personal items that were lost. It does not does not include money for wrongful death claims arising from the 98 fatalities, which will be settled later after input from court-appointed experts. We have 98 people who lost their lives and we need to keep this case in perspective, Hanzman said. Some family members of those died questioned why the property owners get the first chunk of guaranteed money. Loss of life is extremely more valuable than losing property, said Martin Langesfeld, whose sister and brother-in-law were killed. We believe it is completely unfair. Yet Alfredo Lopez, who survived the collapse with his family, said the settlement does not begin to compensate owners for the true value of their former units. We are surviving victims. We will be getting a fraction of what our homes were worth, Lopez said. The Surfside site where the building once stood will be put up for auction in the coming weeks, attorneys said. One offer for about $120 million has been on the table for months, but there may be others as the auction approaches. Hanzman said the deal approved Wednesday is contingent on the land sale going through. It is possible the sale could be for a higher amount. The city of Surfside, meanwhile, is creating committees led by Champlain Towers South families to organize an anniversary event this June and to consider how to construct a permanent memorial to the victims who died. Photo: Judge Hanzman at a hearing last year on the Champlain Towers collapse. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald via AP, Pool) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Condominium Fitch Ratings downgraded California Earthquake Authoritys Issuer Default Rating and revenue bond ratings to A- from A. The Rating Outlook is Stable. The rating action follows the vote of the CEAs Governing Board to reduce the target claims paying capacity to a return period of one-in-350 years, from the previous target of one-in-400 years, as part of a review of the companys strategic plan. The CEAs ratings reflect the risk transfer strategy that will set the minimum and maximum aggregate claims-paying levels to one-in-350-years and one-in-500-years return loss periods. The companys CPC currently remain above the previously outstanding rating sensitivity of one-in-400-years, but Fitch says it expects this to moderate as exposure grows in 2022 and CEA manages its risk transfer purchases to support CPC above a one-in-350-years return period, on a go forward basis. The CEA had nearly $19.6 billion in sources of funds to pay claims as of Dec. 31, 2021. Included was nearly $5.8 billion in available capital, revenue bond proceeds, reinsurance and other risk transfer, prospective post-earthquake assessments of participating insurers and a CEA policyholder surcharge layer. The current CPC is not expected to be reduced on an absolute basis, but relative to modelled exposure, will now be expected to cover all claims at a lower return period, according to Fitch. The principal risk is a catastrophic earthquake large enough to exhaust claims-paying resources and requiring CEA to access the capital markets or other sources to pay claims, according to Fitch. The CEAs claims-paying resources have historically been in the BBB rating category, based on the target of a one-in-400-years event. Fitch reviewed the probability of exhaustion from three independent modeling firms and the CEAs survivability scenarios against the insurance-linked security calibration matrix for the assessment. The new target of one-in-350-years moves the companys loss exceedance probability to a minimum of 0.286%, into the BBB- rating category, according to Fitch. Fitch said the CEAs financial flexibility is much stronger than similarly rated private insurers that cover catastrophe risk, enabling its final rating to be elevated a full category above the risk assessment of claims-paying resources to A-. The State of California, the insurance industry in California and policyholders in California all have an interest in the CEAs continuance as an organization. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Trends Earthquake A jury has awarded $102.5 million to two women who sued a Northern California school district over what they said was officials failure to stop a middle school teacher from sexually grooming and abusing them as minors. Parents had repeatedly complained about the former music teacher, who was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison. The two plaintiffs said they were repeatedly abused by former music teacher Samuel Neipp while students at a San Jose middle school starting in 2009 for one student and 2014 for the other, The Mercury News reported. The women, identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, were awarded $65 million and $37.5 million in damages, respectively, announced Tuesday in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Lauren Cerri, an attorney who represented Doe 1, said the verdict shows community intolerance for a school district that puts its reputation and image above the safety of children. Parents who complained year after year, that hes a predator, they didnt do a thing, and should have fired him years before, Cerri told the Mercury News. This verdict holds them fully accountable, and says this should have never happened and was so easily preventable. Neipp was arrested in 2017 after Doe 1 told police that he had threatened to post nude images of her online. She told police that starting around 2014, when she was 13 and a student at Dartmouth Middle School in San Jose, Neipp sent her text messages saying he found her attractive and spent time with her alone in his office, later engaging in sex acts with her. She also said Neipp continued to sexually abuse her as a high school student when she visited the Dartmouth campus. Doe 2 contacted police after seeing news about Neipps arrest. She told police that around 2009 when she was a middle school student Neipp began sending text messages and emails to her, regularly spending time alone with her in his classroom, and arranged for her to be his classroom aide. She told investigators that Neipp began making sexually suggestive remarks, held her hand, and kissed and touched her while they were alone together in his classroom. She also alleged that the abuse continued after she graduated and visited the middle school. Both women sued the Union School District in 2019 and accused administrators of mishandling or downplaying the teachers misconduct. Their lawsuits, which were consolidated into a single trial, said that district officials admonished Neipp but never formally punished him. He continued to receive exemplary performance reviews and was granted tenure before his arrest. In September 2019, Neipp pleaded no contest to a dozen criminal charges related to the sexual abuse and received a 56-year prison sentence. Neipp, 39, is currently at the California Correctional Institution in Kern County, southeast of Bakersfield. Superintendent Carrie Andrews, who took over the Union School District last summer, did not address the verdict in a statement but wrote: I want our community to know that the safety of our students will always be our top priority. Topics California The family of a man with mental health issues who was shot and killed by a Spokane County Sheriffs Deputy in Washington will receive $1 million. The Spokane County Commissioners approved the federal civil rights lawsuit settlement this week, The Spokesman-Review reported. Ethan Murray, 25, was killed in May 2019 in a wooded area in Spokane Valley. Deputy Joseph Wallace told investigators he believed Murray had a knife, but an investigation revealed Murray had no weapons when Wallace shot him after not complying with commands. Murrays parents, Justine Murray and Mark Jentsch, filed the lawsuit in July, alleging Wallace violated their sons constitutional rights and the sheriffs office provides inadequate training. Justine Murray has become an outspoken advocate for mental health, homeless and addiction services, along with better police training on mental health issues. She founded the Ethan Murray Fund, in part to further her goal of 24-hour mental health crisis response in North Idaho, where she lives. The county did not admit liability. In association with Washington Counties Risk Pool, the Spokane County Commissioners assessed the risk of the lawsuit and determined the best path forward was to mitigate the risk for the County and its citizens in the best way possible, the county said in a statement. The Spokane County Prosecutors Offices found Wallaces use of force justified. Wallace has since been promoted to detective. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Washington A judge in Washington has signed an order formally staying the Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidlers ban on using credit ratings to help set insurance premiums on vehicle, rental and homeowners insurance. The order consolidated two cases into Judge Indu Thomas Thurston Cpunty courtroom and put any new regulations on hold. The judge had originally issued the stay in early March as the new rules were set to take effect. In February, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, along with co-petitioners the Professional Insurance Agents of Washington, and the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Washington, filed a petition in Thurston County Superior Court challenging Kreidlers permanent rule banning the use of credit-based insurance scoring. The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies separately filed its own petition, and the court consolidated the cases at the joint request of APCIA, PIA, IIABW and NAMIC. The trade associations issued the following statement in response: Commissioner Mike Kreidlers rulemaking activity is raising rates for more than a million Washington consumers. We are pleased the court consolidated the legal challenges, transferred the separately filed petitions to a single court, and approved an immediate stay on the permanent rule. The stipulated stay has now been formally signed by the judge, and the effect of the stay is that credit-based insurance scores will continue to be available for use in Washington state through a decision on the merits and any subsequent appeals. The statement also calls the rules onerous and unnecessary and they ignore risk-based pricing fundamentals. Kreidler issued the following statement: Im grateful the parties in this case have all agreed that its in everyones best interest to get a final decision on the rule as fast as possible. This agreed order ensures the decision will be made expeditiously through the Thurston County Superior Court, which is the appropriate venue to consider the important consumer protections in this rule. Related: Topics Washington A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid test at a COVID-19 testing site in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, March 24, 2022. (Photo by Wu Ran/Xinhua) BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese health official has warned of the consequences of abandoning epidemic prevention in the fight against COVID-19. If China gives up on epidemic prevention and relies entirely on treatment of symptoms, the medical system would run the risk of being overwhelmed, said Ma Xiaowei, director of the National Health Commission, in an article published Wednesday. China has implemented a dynamic zero-COVID strategy. The policy does not seek to pursue absolute zero infections, rather it calls for measures to stamp out infections upon detection and to maintain the red line of no sizeable resurgence of cases, said the official. Demographics have played an important role in the decision to adhere to the dynamic zero-COVID policy, the official noted. According to the latest statistics, China has 267 million people aged 60 or above and more than 250 million children. Despite the onslaught of the highly contagious and elusive Omicron variant, the dynamic zero-COVID policy remains the most economical and effective containment strategy for the country to cope with the coronavirus. Ryanair chief executive Eddie Wilson has told TDs and senators that claims the airline has raised prices for refugees on flights from Poland were 'FALSE' and invented on social media. In a letter sent earlier this week to the Oireachtas joint committee on transport and communications, Mr Wilson said Ryanair and its staff have gone to significant efforts to support Ukrainians since the Russian invasion in February and would continue to do so into the future. He said he had written to the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko to address the falsehoods regarding the price of flights and offered the embassy a point of contact at Ryanair to deal with issues that arise. In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, millions have fled the country, with most leaving via the border with Poland. From there, many thousands have already made the journey to Ireland and commercial airlines were last month accused of profiteering on the backs of human misery as the price of flights from Poland to Ireland fluctuated due to increased demand. Prices were seen to vary from as little as 30 to 300 per person, dependent on demand at particular locations. Added on to that were airport taxes and baggage charges. Ms Gerasko engaged with Ryanair on the matter and the Polish ambassador to Ireland Anna Sochanska also wrote to the airline calling for discounted or free passage on its planes to Ukrainian refugees. When asked about the issue at the Cheltenham horse racing festival last month, Ryanair Group chief executive Michael OLeary said there were loads of cheap flights out there and said to suggest the airline was hiking fares was completely false. Ryanair chief executive Eddie Wilson: 'Ryanair and our people have gone to significant efforts to assist and facilitate our Ukrainian customers, our partners, refugees and their families, and we will continue to do so for as long as this invasion continues.' File picture: Dan Linehan Unable to accept Oireachtas committee invitation In his letter to the Oireachtas committee, Mr Wilson said Ryanair was unable to accept an invitation to address the committee due to heavy travel commitments. However, the issues you raise have been comprehensively dealt with in correspondence directly with the Ukrainian ambassador, he said. He said Ryanair had taken a number of actions in response to the crisis, including putting in place cash payments at Polish airports for Ukrainians whose bank/credit card facilities had been closed, and waived all passports and ID requirements for displaced Ukrainian citizens wishing to fly at short notice. Claims of rising prices for refugees on our Polish flights are FALSE, Mr Wilson said. These were invented on social media and published inaccurately by some Irish media outlets. He said the last few seats on fully booked flights are priced at our higher prices because this is what finances our low fares for forward bookings and weaker midweek flights. Mr Wilson added: Ryanair and our people have gone to significant efforts to assist and facilitate our Ukrainian customers, our partners, refugees and their families, and we will continue to do so for as long as this invasion continues. There have been calls for a full audit of Corks historic city quay walls after a partial collapse close to one of the citys oldest bridges. The incident near the South Gate Bridge is the second partial collapse of quay walls on a short stretch of this section of the Lees southern channel in just a few weeks. Last month, Cllr Mick Finn raised concerns about crumbling quay walls at nearby Frenchs Quay. Engineers conducted an urgent initial site inspection on the latest damaged area near South Gate Bridge on Thursday and are satisfied there is no immediate risk to adjoining property or to the bridge. Arrangements are being made to conduct a more detailed inspection to determine what repairs are required, a spokesman for Cork City Council said. The area will be monitored closely in the meantime to ensure there is no further deterioration, and repairs will be advanced as quickly as possible, he said. Looks like part of the quay wall has collapsed on French's Quay. pic.twitter.com/sLqPv56gfP Eileen Daly (@Dalypixels) January 25, 2022 Last month, Cllr Finn asked city officials for an update on the OPWs Lower Lee Flood relief scheme, which includes a 20m investment in the citys quay walls. He was told the scheme is at detailed design stage and could be submitted for confirmation to the minister for public expenditure later this year, and take five or six years to be delivered. There are long-term council plans to build a boardwalk from Parliament Bridge to South Gate Bridge and the flood defence works have been designed to take account of this once it proceeds, he was told. Separately, the council is developing tender documents for the repair of a 150m section of quay wall from South Gate Bridge to Clarkes Bridge as part of the Beamish and Crawford Quarter public realm works, which could be on site later this year. Mr Finn was told temporary quay wall stabilisation works at Frenchs Quay were planned in advance of this. But historian Cllr Kieran McCarthy said several sections of quayside will not benefit from OPW investment, and a full audit was required. The quays on the southern channel in this historic area have been neglected for centuries and no one has dealt with the issue properly, he said. It has fallen to our generation now and we need to get a full understanding of the problem before we can fix it. An Irish man has been arrested in Cyprus following a suspected arson attack that gutted an Irish pub. The 41-year-old, who is originally from near Cork City, was arrested in the Alsancak area of the island following the incident in the Kyrenia district of North Cyprus last Monday night. The popular Irish bar, Paddi Longs, on Dumlupnar Street in Alsancak, which claims to be the only Irish bar in northern Cyprus, was almost completely gutted in the incident. The bar was closed when the alarm was raised just after midnight on Monday. Firefighters rushed to the scene and fought the blaze but the building suffered extensive damage, estimated at around 275,000. Extensive damage Photographs posted on social media show the scale of the damage, with extensive damage to its interior and to its outdoor seating area. Cypriot police arrested a suspect soon afterwards on suspicion of arson. A car registered in the suspects name was found abandoned close to the scene. The Irish man is understood has been living with a relative in Cyprus for about a year, according to local media reports. The building suffered extensive damage, estimated at about 275,000. Owners heartbroken Meanwhile, the owners of the bar, Sally Knights and Karl Long, said they are heartbroken. They had only just completed a major renovation and reopened the venue in time for the St Patricks festivities when the incident occurred. Ms Knights said she was too upset and distraught to comment publicly while they make arrangements to try and salvage their business. In a post on Facebook, the couple appealed for volunteers to help them with the clean-up of the site this weekend. We actually dont know where to start. We thank everyone for their support during this heartbreaking time, they said. This article was edited on April 11, 2022 The usual knock against the chosen people of Cork is that they view themselves as the chosen people and arent afraid to say so. Guilty, says you. That sense of a people apart derives in part from Corks history and sense of place. Who better to talk to about those topics than a man whos written 28 books on Cork, has written over 1,100 columns on local history for the Cork Independent and maintains a website (corkheritage.ie) which doubles as a treasure trove of Leeside lore? Kieran McCarthy described himself first and foremost as your typical proud Corkonian, adding: Over the last twenty years theres been a growing interest in the city, in its history, in promoting the city. I was lucky enough in primary school to have had a teacher who taught us local history, and to have good history teachers in secondary school as well. Thats where my interest comes from. McCarthy thought of primary teaching as a career path himself before being diverted into politics and local history and regional development. Along the way he earned a PhD in geography, further developing his interest in telling stories and learning about his native place, but as he points out, those are all passions that revolve around each other. Theyre all about a sense of place, about what makes Cork tick. What have I found? That Corks a hard-working city, an intelligent city - but that it can also be quite hard on itself. Because Cork is a second city I think theres a massive drive there, but at the same time no matter whats done, Cork still wont be happy with itself, in one sense. But theres also huge wisdom in Cork. I find if Im out knocking on doors or at functions, people often share their insights and knowledge about the city and its amazing, the stuff I learn. Ive been running walking tours which explain Cork and delve into the citys history for many years as well, and Im always interested in what outsiders and tourists have to say about the city, their impressions of it, as well. Kieran McCarthy described himself first and foremost as your typical proud Corkonian. Picture: Denis Minihane. Its interesting to me, for instance, when they sometimes refer to the particular kind of light in Cork an Atlantic light, which they find very attractive. Hes also a city councillor, and the council is a forum where his expertise often comes in handy. Its great if a topic comes up and I can offer a perspective based on my work if development is proposed for an area I can say well, such and such was done here fifty years ago or one hundred years ago, they tried this and it didnt work. Now at times the other councillors might take the mick and say Im boring them, but I think theres more awareness of the importance of local history and how that feeds into planning and development compared to long ago. McCarthy makes a strong case for an integrated approach to that kind of development, offering the plans for the south quays as an example of how that integration could work. When development comes up in the council Id say this is great, lets do it, but lets try to tell part of the story of the building or the area as we move it into the modern era as well. Im not in favour of just preserving every single brick in the city either. Theres change in a city all the time, and Im well aware of how Cork has changed over the years, with different buildings coming and going. But I would have an issue with development thats placeless buildings you look at which give you no sense of the city. I wouldnt be a major fan of what I call glass buildings, Im on the record on that I would be more of a fan of taking 10, 15, 20 per cent of the existing architecture on sites and building that into the proposed development. Take the R and H Hall silos in the docklands theyre such iconic buildings, landmark buildings, that I made a submission to the council recently calling for them, or part of them, to be kept they create the area that is the docklands. I know the council has written to the developers asking them to look at the matter, but I also know that the silos are constructed from the inside out, as it were, and cant be preserved in a practical way. I got a tour of them in early January and they can either be kept as silos or taken down, theres no in-between. Take the R and H Hall silos in the docklands theyre such iconic buildings, landmark buildings, that I made a submission to the council recently calling for them, or part of them, to be kept they create the area that is the docklands". Picture: Des Barry If theres something I take from travelling in Europe its that theres a lot of hugely interesting place-making going on in many cities. We seem almost afraid to engage in place-making here but in fairness, I have to say I like some of what JCD have done with the developments on the north quays, at the first Cork-Dublin terminus. One general point, though, is that championing Cork can be quite difficult because there are so many moving parts, if you like there are so many different groups and interests that can be challenging. In fairness, in recent years theres been a lot of breaking down of silos, a lot more opening up. The Chamber of Commerce have been crucial in that regard, for instance its thought leaders council meets regularly to discuss different issues but the sheer size of the place and the different groups make it challenging to move together on different matters. McCarthys been studying Cork for almost thirty years, since he was 16, and clearly sees successive generations as key to fostering and growing a love of place. Many parents will be familiar with his primary school history projects, which have had thousands of participants over the years. Something you notice about a lot of the Cork history books youll find in the library is that theyre static, full of just facts and dates. And there are so many stories in the city to tell sometimes I think youre better off going to writers for a sense of the city. But over the years the history projects have changed, too. From just giving dates and facts I encourage the kids to have opinions about the historical events, to talk or make presentations about what they found and what they thought of those findings. With that McCarthy was off again, detailing the need for a massive oral history of Cork. No argument here when it comes to that idea for too long the history we were taught was a matter of broad sweeps of economies and armies, not the smaller dramas in kitchens and sitting-rooms. Peoples existence from day to day or the alarums and excursions of kings and generals isnt it obvious whats more interesting and relevant? By showing thousands of school kids how important it is for them to have opinions on their citys past, Kieran McCarthy has armed generations of contributors to that massive oral history and given them faith in their own judgement. More power to the work. Celebrating Cork (Amberley Publishing) is available in bookshops now. IT was a wonderfully sunny Saturday afternoon in Clare. The attendees at the Burren Law School were alternating between enjoyment of the presentations going on inside and enjoying the unseasonably warm conditions outside. As an invitee that year, I enjoyed both at this weekend event, which sadly no longer takes place. Yes, it did tick all the boxes of a middle-class intellectual talking shop set up with the aim of recreating a tradition of legal learning associated with the Brehon Law Schools, allowing the past to illuminate the present. But the talking was really interesting and it did give plenty of food for thought. A memory from that day in 2018 was hearing that one of the attendees, a member of the organising committee, had left the gathering to go into Ennis. It was 2018 and just weeks ahead of the abortion referendum. Rather than sit around discussing and delivering opinions like the rest of us, senator Ivana Bacik had made the 40-minute journey to spend the afternoon with local groups canvassing for a yes vote. Ivana Bacik with students on Merrion Square outside Government Buildings, taking part in the 2022 Global Climate Strike. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie There can be no doubting the commitment of the new Labour Party leader, over decades, to liberalising Irelands laws on social issues, from marriage equality to abortion. That day in Clare was just a small example of her commitment to bringing about change, rather than just talking about it. This is a woman who, as a student activist, was threatened with prison for providing abortion information. She is to be admired for all she has done over decades to bring about these changes. Those social issues would have seemed fairly intractable in their day. Those experiences should stand to her in her new role as leader of Labour a party which had 37 seats in 2011 and has only seven today. But the scale of the task before her what may be the last roll of the dice for the party might make divorce and abortion seem the considerably easier tasks. In her leadership acceptance speech last week, Bacik said the politics she believes in is not about contrived shouting matches or tearing people apart to score a political point. It is constructive and about positive change. This is the spirit that I want to bring to our public life, she said. A belief that together we are stronger. A commitment to the equality of all people on our island. This is the tone Bacik, who grew up in Crookstown, Co Cork, adopted for her successful Dublin Bay South by-election campaign last summer. It worked then and seemed to catch the mood of a particular moment in time, especially in the wake of a pandemic sweeping the globe and what were seemingly never-ending lockdowns. It would be nice to think this might still work now we could all do with a bit of positivity given all the awfulness that is going on in the world. But where does it fit with our current bare-knuckle politics? The more usual scenes are those of spitting fury across the floor of the Dail chamber. That then has the makings of a good video for Instagram or TikTok. In turn, your supporters can like and favourite the post to give it prominence. Detractors who voice a dissenting opinion can be subject to summary online justice, which creates even more interest. It is a non-virtuous circle where one side feeds off the other. Certain sections of the electorate do seem to expect a level of anger from their elected representatives and for their own rage to be reflected in our national parliament. Certainly those who, for instance, are affected by the housing crisis for many years would understandably want it to be raised in a pointed and sharp manner. But the tone frequently surpasses that. How will this proposed civility from the new Labour leader survive the crossfire? Ivana Bacik with former leader Alan Kelly. Picture: Damien Storan/PA Wire Although it was pleasant to see other party leaders wishing her well in her first outing as Labour leader in the Dail on Tuesday. Luck can play an important part in politics, especially when you are new in a role, and Bacik struck lucky in choosing her subject choice, calling for the expulsion of the Russian ambassador from Ireland. A short while later, Taoiseach Micheal Martin told the Dail that Ireland had just expelled four senior officials from the Russian embassy. On Sunday a Red C poll in the Business Post showed the Labour Party was up one point to 5%. For a small party in a national poll, that is not of any major significance but it certainly gives a psychological bounce to the new leadership. But these are minor issues compared to the central and incredibly tough task of ensuring the survival of Labour. A party leader does not have the protection of being part of a wider campaign and the buck literally stops with them. This means it is not good enough to call for a mini budget but to not be able to cost your own proposal when asked by a journalist, as happened on the day of her election as leader. Or to answer media questions on the departure of former leader Alan Kelly in a manner which stretched credulity almost as if he happened to wake from a vivid dream one morning and it was on the basis of what that contained he decided to stand down. BACIK needs to take the truth by the horns. Sure, tell interviewers the former leader is a great guy and that the pair of them have had lots of constructive chats in recent weeks. But be honest about how, in recent times, fear had risen among members of the parliamentary party that Labour might disappear under his leadership. The same goes for the constant harping back to the performance of the Labour Party in coalition with Fine Gael from 2011. Timidity and obsequiousness simply arent working. Own the decisions made, and the reasons for them, and move on. The other area which needs movement is the prospect of a merger with the Social Democrats. Its not said out loud but personalities have had a huge amount to do with how this has not progressed further before now. This has certainly altered on the Labour side with all the personnel changes of recent years. Its interesting to note that the co-leaders of the latter party Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy will have hit around 70 by the next general election, if this Dail goes to 2025. To be clear, neither has indicated they do not intend to run again. It would be politically unwise of them to do so at this point in the electoral cycle. But it adds an interesting aspect to future possibilities. The Ukrainian state nuclear company said on Thursday that all of the Russian forces occupying the Chernobyl nuclear power station had withdrawn from the territory of the defunct plant. There was no immediate comment from the Russian authorities. The UN nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said it is preparing to send a mission to the radioactive waste facilities at Chernobyl in northern Ukraine. Though Russian soldiers seized control of Chernobyl soon after the February 24 invasion, the plant's Ukrainian staff continued to oversee the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel and supervise the concrete-encased remains of the reactor that exploded in 1986, causing the world's worst nuclear accident. "According to the staff of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, there are now no outsiders on site," Energoatom said in an online post. State-owned Energoatom had earlier said most troops had gone, leaving only a small number behind. Russian forces have also retreated from the nearby town of Slavutych, where workers at Chernobyl live, the company said. In a separate post, Energoatom said the Russian side had formally agreed to hand back to Ukraine the responsibility for protecting Chernobyl. It shared the scan of a document signed by people it identified as a senior staff member at Chernobyl, the Russian military official assigned to guarding Chernobyl. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the document. Ukraine has repeatedly expressed safety concerns about Chernobyl and demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops, whose presence prevented the rotation of personnel for a time. Earlier this week, workers at the site told Reuters that Russian soldiers had driven without radiation protection through the Red Forest, the most radioactively contaminated part of the zone around Chernobyl, kicking up clouds of radioactive dust. Asked to comment on the accounts from Chernobyl staff, Russia's defence ministry did not respond. Energoatom said that as a result of their concerns about radiation, "almost a riot began to brew among the soldiers," suggesting this was the reason for their unexpected departure. The IAEA said it had not been able to confirm the reports of Russian forces receiving high radiation doses. Earlier on Thursday, the head of Energoatom urged the IAEA to help ensure Russian nuclear officials do not interfere in the operation of Chernobyl and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, which is also occupied by Russian soldiers. The head of the European Parliament said during a visit to Kyiv on Friday that the people of Europe stand with Ukraine and will help rebuild its towns and cities after the war with Russia. Roberta Metsola, who took over as the European Parliament's president in January, also said the assembly would support Ukraine's efforts to start the process of joining the European Union. "Please believe me when I say that the European Parliament, the European Union and the people of Europe stand with Ukraine," she said after arriving in the capital Kyiv. That is why I am here today, because we stand with you. Metsola, who is Maltese, made three promises to Ukraine. "First, (President Vladimir) Putin's criminal invasion of Ukraine puts Russia in direct confrontation with Europe, the international community and the rules-based world order. That is not something that we will let him do unchallenged," she said. "Second, the European Union recognises your European ambitions and your aspiration to be a candidate country for succession. And you can count on the European Parliament's full support in achieving this goal." "Third, we will help you rebuild your cities and your towns when this illegal, unprovoked and unnecessary war is over. We have already provided financial, military and humanitarian assistance. This will continue and it will increase," she told a joint briefing with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada, or parliament. Stefanchuk said they had discussed continuing international sanctions on Russia, humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine and procedures for EU accession. The prime ministers of EU member states Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia visited Kyiv last month in a show of solidarity with Ukraine. EU countries are among those that have imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion. Tim Scalongne is interviewed at the greenhouse of the Kunming Hasfarm Flowers company in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhao Cailin) by Xinhua writers Zheng Bofei, Cao Mengyao, Zhao Cailin KUNMING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- When Tim Scalongne's plane touched down at the airport of southwest China's Yunnan Province in 2004, the Dutchman never thought this would be the start of his decades-long experience with floriculture. Situated at a high altitude and low latitude, the province boasts long sunlight hours and good weather. It provides a pleasant environment for international business people, such as ones from the Netherlands -- the world's biggest fresh-cut flower producer -- to set up their flower farms. Scalongne's first experience in Yunnan was nothing but traveling, and the investment in Yunnan's flower businesses was a trending topic for the Dutch residents. At the start of the new millennium, the province took advantage of its location and environment and set up industrial flower parks and floral exchanges in Kunming. As a potential flower market, flower business people and botanists from countries, including the Netherlands, came to Yunnan for new opportunities. "In my Dutch network, everybody was talking about investing in Kunming's flower business. That's when I decided to jump on the board," said Scalongne. After receiving language training in Kunming, the provincial capital, Scalongne followed suit and joined one of the Dutch fresh-cut flower providers in Kunming to start his over-decade journey in this industry. However, Scalongne realized that not many Chinese households were warm to buying high-end blooms produced by Dutch investors. Export took the largest market share of Scalongne's company, whose flowers were for customers with high-quality demand in countries like Japan and Australia. "A limited number of people at that time would buy quality flowers, and some of them bought flowers only for events and hotels," Scalongne said. "The market volume was small, but many Dutch believed China would have more high-end flower consumption once the country's middle class expanded." The Chinese market did not fail the expectation of the Dutch managing director. After Scalongne got a new role as the managing director of another Dutch flower company, the Kunming Hasfarm, the Chinese market began to favor flowers with longer flowering times and more vibrant colors. "It takes time for flower buyers to demand flower quality," said Wu Mingying, a long-time flower market regulator with the agricultural and rural affairs department of Yunnan. "Gradually, you would see the increase in buying high-end products, which is also a microcosm of the whole Chinese market," Wu added. According to the department, the flower planting area in Yunnan exceeded 1.9 million mu (about 126,667 hectares) in 2020. It was up 8.3 percent year on year, with the total output value from flower planting hitting 39 billion yuan (about 6.1 billion U.S. dollars). An employee works at a workshop of the Kunming Hasfarm Flowers company, in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Cao Mengyao) In 2012, Scalongne's company had around 95 percent of its production exported to markets outside of China. But in 2022, over 70 percent is for Chinese customers. "When you see households in China's coastal regions, especially people in their 20s or 30s, they are very interested in putting high-quality flowers in their homes to enrich their lives," Scalongne said. The wait paid off in the end, and China's effort to combat poverty also yielded new opportunities for Scalongne's business. "We would hire workers living in poor households with the government's encouragement," said Scalongne. "Reciprocally, those workers can also help us alleviate labor shortage." To thank Scalongne's company, the local government awarded the company's farm in Yunnan's Qujing City the "model farm" for helping lift nearby villagers out of poverty. Similar to other companies, Scalongne also faces challenges from increased labor costs, and one of the solutions is technology upgrading. "In the future, China would see fewer plantations of low value-added flowers such as carnation like what we have seen in many countries," he commented. "But at the same time, we would see more flower breeders in China creating new varieties of flowers with higher yield and better quality." This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the Netherlands. The Netherlands has now become the second-largest trading partner of China in the European Union. An official with the Dutch Foreign Ministry said that China's investment in research, talent, and knowledge infrastructure would offer Dutch companies and institutions many opportunities. Sharing the same opinion, Scalongne believes that in this time of transition, the Chinese market would once again provide international businesses more opportunities. Interview The World Responsible for Myanmar Becoming Failed State: NUG Minister National Unity Government foreign minister Daw Zin Mar Aung. / The Irrawaddy Challenging the regimes legitimacy at home and abroad, Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG) foreign minister Daw Zin Mar Aung, 45, has engaged with foreign governments and parliaments, international aid agencies and Myanmars many armed groups. However, the elected lawmaker from the ousted National League for Democracy and winner of the 2012 International Women of Courage Award said international assistance is largely limited to moral support. She exclusively tells The Irrawaddy about the importance of international support, including funding and arms, Myanmars friends and foes and how it receives different treatment from Ukraine. It has been more than a year since the revolution against military rule was launched. We heard the revolution has received no assistance from foreign countries. Why is that? It is mainly because the international community regards the crisis as a domestic issue if we compare it with the Ukraine war. It is widely believed that countries should not interfere in domestic affairs. In diplomatic relations, they engage not with governments but with states. They recognize Myanmar as a sovereign state. In their view, what is happening between the SAC (State Administration Council), the NUG and the people is a domestic affair. They morally support us. Countries that support democracy support us diplomatically but that becomes an obstacle to providing practical support. The junta has shown its cruelty but does the international community think its atrocities are not serious enough to justify action? Some countries have an abiding interest in Myanmar. Thats why there have been prosecutions for genocide against the Rohingya. Governments, especially European Union member states and the US, are aware of that issue over the last five years. They have stressed the central role of ASEAN, considering the strategic importance of Myanmar. China, Japan, the EU and US have stressed ASEANs centrality. They are seeking ways to avoid conflict between bigger powers because of Myanmar. Many countries, including the US, endorse ASEANs centrality. But ASEAN still cannot act. And it is mostly on good terms with the regime. The US backs ASEAN though it is aware it wont be successful. What could Washington do? While the US considers ASEAN as an initial step, we cannot reject it completely. But the US should think about a Plan B in case that approach does not work. We have always called for an innovative approach. The international community should not use 20th-century definitions of sovereignty and diplomatic relations to handle Myanmar in a 21st-century context. It can no longer use old methods to approach Myanmar. It has been proven in previous decades that the old approaches were unsuccessful. And ASEAN alone cannot handle Myanmars crises. ASEAN and US envoys should work together. As the EU has appointed a new envoy, we have suggested that these envoys should collaborate and take a more innovative approach. What international assistance would you like to have for the resistance movement? We have worked to disrupt the cash flow to the regime to prevent it from procuring weapons with some success. The US, UK and EU have cooperated in imposing targeted economic sanctions against military-linked companies and cronies. We are working to get more data from regional countries. We have asked financial institutions in Singapore to stop cash flow to the regime and not to allow it to use its ports to import aviation fuel. We have to continue to push regional countries to collaborate with us. It is unlikely we will receive arms from them. We will not receive assistance like Ukraine. For now, we can only expect diplomatic recognition and diplomatic support. Do you want weapons? Long before the war in Ukraine, we were asking for support to ease our peoples suffering. If we could get a small proportion of weapons going to Ukraine, it would help overthrow the dictatorship. But people will suffer more if we just stand by. We have told other countries to send weapons if they dont want to see thousands being killed and their homes destroyed. We say problems will intensify if they dont support us. We engage continuously with the international community and ask what Myanmars people need during the revolution. Every day we are thinking about how we can bypass restrictions and meet our monthly requirements [for arms and ammunition]. The US says it stands with Myanmars people but its actions are limited to sanctions. It imposed sanctions against previous military regimes. Sanctions do not help the revolution. How has the revolution been harmed by a lack of international support? We are in dire need [of support]. We are ready to accept no-strings-attached support from any country. Countries have to consider other actors, like big powers and how to keep the global balance. We pressure them using any means. We will work on our own if we cannot receive international support. People have been fighting for more than a year. We didnt think that people could endure this much. We will continue to endure with great resilience and opportunities will come to us if we keep doing our job. The NUG still needs official recognition to attract financial support. How can the NUG achieve this? The NUG was formed last April. We are holding an internal review to strengthen various areas, from media engagement to public relations. We are as eager as the people to complete this revolution. Diplomacy plays an important role. We will try to increase virtual and in-person engagement. Some US analysts say public relations [PR] should play an important role for the NUG to gain international assistance. What is the NUG doing for PR? We accept that we have a weakness in PR. We are reviewing how we can engage better with the media and focus groups. Some messages which were supposed to be kept internal were made public and other public statements were not released. So we are trying to improve our engagement. How about the US$1 billion in frozen assets in the US? Can the NUG get that money? We have formed a committee to get back that money. It is headed by the finance minister with officials from the foreign ministry and other departments. The committee watches US policy and sees if it can secure the money. We dont want to waste energy on things that we cant achieve. It depends on how much the US recognizes our capacity. The practical question is about how we manage our finances. We have released a budget statement as part of our measures to recede the $1 billion. Would the NUG get the money if it is recognized as the legitimate government? There has been some progress from the US. The National Defense Authorization Act includes provisions to help NUG gain legitimacy. We are making our case based on that. Does the NUG have a defense budget target? We cant disclose details because the regime will disrupt us. As a revolutionary government, we have to give the lions share of the budget to defense. We are embarrassed and sorry to ask for donations from the people. But we have to keep asking for donations, especially from expats. There are still wealthy people inside Myanmar. If they join us, it will help funds flow. We continue to mobilize funds by selling bonds and working to get the $1 billion back. The more funds we have, if we can manage it effectively, the sooner the revolution will succeed and the sooner the suffering will end. We are trying our best. What other outgoings does the NUG have? Besides armaments, we are funding a defectors program. Financial aid will also pay for humanitarian assistance and help put the country on the path to federalism. Australia has offered asylum to striking junta personnel. What else is the NUG doing to offer incentives to boost the revolution? If someone defects, we try to provide security for them and their family, and we pay for transport and other costs. The burden becomes heavier as time passes. Our budget is very limited. We have asked other countries to offer asylum to offer an incentive to abandon the armed forces and reduce the burden on us. Our ministry meets representatives from foreign countries to discuss opportunities for defectors to seek asylum. Some countries are granting asylum although they have not announced it publicly. But because of the war in Ukraine, many EU countries are accepting hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees. They accept refugees based on a quota system and Myanmars share might be reduced because of Ukraine. But fortunately, Australia accepts junta defectors. Countries have limits for refugees. They allow in a number of refugees per year. So if [junta personnel] defect early, they will have a better chance of gaining asylum. European countries, in particular, have discussed offering asylum. Some countries, including the US, might review the defectors because they served in the military. Other nations do not have these restrictions and they will accept defectors like other refugees. Which countries are not helping the revolution? I told the Indian media in an interview that some neighboring countries engage with us but they also deal with the regime. We can understand them. Our revolution will win. I tell them to cooperate with us and when we win, we will remember who stood with us in our struggle. This is true for individuals. We record who our friends are and who are sitting on the fence, which will shape our future relations with them. Does that include India? Some countries want to help but lack the strength. Others have the strength but they are too focused on their interests and fail to act decisively. If they want to protect their interests, I urged them to stand by us. I guarantee that their interests will not suffer. The NUG has the publics support. The day when people dont like us will be the day we fail. Our neighbors should listen to our people, and cooperate and support the revolution. Thats why I was critical during the Indian interview. India is the biggest democracy in the world. It should more actively and decisively back democracy in Myanmar. It is a major regional power. I was critical because India should boldly shoulder its role and take action. What about China? China is important. Its political situation differs from that of India. I say democracies should act like real democracies. To be pragmatic, we have to engage diplomatically with China. Both India and China are important to us. We maintain our engagement with China. We are taking a pragmatic approach. What do you expect from China? At least China should not legitimize the junta and its leaders and say it is a legitimate government. We have repeatedly said that and asked China not to ignore the 2020 election results. We understand China does not oppose that. What is the relationship like between the NUG and China? It is just a normal communication channel. We havent had a meeting with Chinese representatives. China is cautious and wants to maintain links with the junta. There has been an exchange of information between us and China. Cambodia has increased its ties with the junta and Japanese representatives have attended the regimes events. Do these countries support the NUG? This is a difference between Myanmar and Ukraine. EU countries stand collectively by Ukraine. This gives Ukraine many advantages. But it is different in our region. There are dictatorial states and others that favor democracy. But they are also divided. Even democracies like Japan and South Korea are different. South Korea has been more decisive while Japan focuses on negotiations. Japan is concerned China might fill a vacuum if it refuses to engage with the regime. It is a balancing act. Asian countries accept the principle [of rejecting the regime]. But in reality, they do not take a tough stance and maintain ties with both the regime and us. We have to monitor their moves and engage with them. What is your message to regional countries? It is simple. When our revolution wins, it will contribute to long-term stability and development in the region. If our revolution fails, crises will keep happening in Myanmar and it will continue to be a troublemaker in the region. But if the people win, Myanmar will contribute to regional stability and development as a fully established democracy. Other countries should boldly stand by us and support our revolution. You said the international community is applying 20th-century policies to Myanmar. If this continues, can the revolution succeed? There wont be results if these policies continue. It is not only our loss but a loss for democracies across the world. How long will the revolution take if we have to fight alone without any weapons assistance? It will take another year but we are determined. We have lived under a dictatorship and understand that we dont want to live under military rule for another generation. This revolution is crucial for us and the younger generation. We strive to make sure younger generations do not suffer what we suffered. The anti-regime forces will not give up. This revolution will continue, it may take longer and people will suffer more. Myanmar might become a failed state. We alone are not responsible to prevent Myanmar becoming a failed state. Other countries, especially large powers, have responsibility too. You may also like these stories: Serbia Sold Arms to Myanmar Junta After Coup Regime Forces Kill Motorbike Rider in Central Myanmar Myanmar Regime Backs Russias Invasion of Ukraine Burma Myanmar Military Tribunal Sentences Eight More Youths to Death The seven youths sentenced to death in person on Wednesday (from left to right, top row): Ye Yint Phyo, a.k.a Peter Po; Khaung Min Tun, a.k.a. Nay Min; Nyan Hein Htet; Pyae Phyo Thu, a.k.a. Ko Sai; (bottom row) Wai Moe Naing, a.k.a Win Lwin Oo; Su Myat The; and Su Wai Hnin A Myanmar military tribunal has handed down death sentences to eight more youths accused of attacking junta targets in Yangon, bringing the total number of those facing the death penalty since the coup to over 110. They were sentenced under the Counter-Terrorism Law. One of the eight was sentenced in absentia and the others in person on Wednesday. The junta claimed in an announcement on Thursday that the eight including two women killed an alleged informant in North Okkalapa Township and were involved in gun and explosives attacks on the township police station and its forces. The junta added that the youths had associated with designated terrorist groups. Death sentences have been handed down to anti-regime protesters in townships currently under martial law, despite international condemnation. The military regime has imposed martial law in Hlaing Tharyar, Shwepyithar, South Dagon, North Dagon, Dagon Seikkan and North Okkalapa townships in Yangon, as well as in townships in Mandalay. Until late last month, the junta had sentenced 98 people to death including two minors for the alleged offenses of high treason; sedition; obstructing military personnel and civil servants performing their duties; and having ties to unlawful associations, according to rights group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The junta on Thursday also handed harsh sentences to more than a dozen young people opposed to its rule. Among them were Yangon University of Economics Students Union chair and treasurer Ko Khant Thu Aung, as well as Ma Yin Myat Noe Oo, Ko Phyo Kyawt Naing and Ko Min Hein Khant from the same university. The four were sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labor by Yangons Insein Prison Court on Thursday under incitement charges for allegedly supplying information to a foreign journalist. Ma Yin Myat Noe Oo, 22, also previously faced a three-year prison term under the same charge for putting up anti-junta posters. Dagon University student Ko Kyaw Linn Htut; Ma Su Yee Lin, a member of a Yangon-based students union; and freelance journalist Ko Zaw Linn Htut were also sentenced to three years imprisonment. In Dawei city, Tanintharyi Region, three youthsMa Soe Mie Mie Kyaw, who earlier attempted to commit suicide after being tortured, Ko Soe Pyae Aung and Ma Shar Pyae Khinwere handed an additional five years in prison on top of their previous two-year sentences by the Dawei Prison Court on Thursday. Since the coup, the junta has killed at least 1,723 people and arrested more than 13,000 including elected leaders, lawmakers, activists, medics, students and children, mostly for opposing its rule. You may also like these stories: Serbia Sold Arms to Myanmar Junta After Coup Regime Forces Kill Motorbike Rider in Central Myanmar Myanmar Regime Backs Russias Invasion of Ukraine Burma Myanmar Shadow Govt, EAOs and Regime Attend Kokang Army Founders Funeral The memorial for Peng Jiasheng at Peace Square in Mongla on Wednesday. / The Kokang Representatives from Myanmars shadow civilian government, powerful ethnic armed organizations, the military regime and Chinese government officials have attended a memorial service for Kokang rebel leader Peng Jiasheng, who created a narcotic and gambling hub in Shan State. He died of old age on February 16 aged 94. Prior to the funeral on Thursday, a two-day public memorial for the founder and former chairman of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) was held at Peace Square in Mongla near the Chinese border. More than 3,000 people attended the memorial, according to The Kokang Facebook page. Among those present at the funeral were Communist Party representatives from Yunnan, the neighboring Chinese province, according to sources. Other attendees included the vice-chairman of the Wa government, representing the political wing of Myanmars most powerful ethnic armed group; Arakan Army leader Tun Myat Naing; Taang National Liberation Front chairman and deputy chair and chief of its armed wing Taang National Liberation Army; and representatives from the Kachin Independence Army and Shan State Progress Party. Khun Bitu, the chairman of the Karenni Peoples Defense Force from Kayah State which is battling the junta, attended along with the shadow National Unity Governments deputy minister U Chit Tun. The regime was represented by the Kengtung-based Golden Triangle commander Major General Myint Tun, although the junta is currently fighting the MNDAA. Peng, a former Communist Party of Burma member, founded the MNDAA in 1989 and agreed a ceasefire with the then junta. Peng also helped organize new armed groups, like the AA. Tun Myat Naing praised Peng for giving the AA 100 firearms to get the movement started. The ceasefire with the former regime allowed Peng to create a drug and gambling empire. The peace deal collapsed in 2009 and fighting resumed with major battles in 2015 and 2017. The MNDAA is one of the four major armed groups that did not sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the military-proxy U Thein Sein government in 2015. Following the 2021 coup, clashes between the regime and Kokang forces broke out across northern Shan State. You may also like these stories: Serbia Sold Arms to Myanmar Junta After Coup Regime Forces Kill Motorbike Rider in Central Myanmar Myanmar Regime Backs Russias Invasion of Ukraine Commonwealth Bank is partnering with the Australian Business Forum (ABF) to present the inaugural SmallBiz-Week in Melbourne from 17-19 May 2022. The event will bring together thousands of business owners, government agencies and industry leaders The Commonwealth Bank says that as face-to-face networking returns, new industry data shows small business owners are planning ahead, with 40 per cent concentrating on growth over the next twelve months. Those industries most focused on growth are Retail (52 per cent), Manufacturing and Agriculture (50 per cent), Transport, Wholesale and Utilities (46 per cent) and Professional Services (40 per cent). There is renewed optimism in the sector with more than a third of SMEs (35 per cent) believing economic conditions will continue to improve. Over the next Over the next three months, nearly half of all SMEs (47 per cent) plan to purchase new office equipment and invest in their businesses more broadly, spending on number of staff employed (24 per cent), capital investment (22 per cent) and marketing (22 per cent). CBA Group Executive, Business Banking, Mike Vacy-Lyle said its pleasing to see renewed confidence in the sector, as small businesses play an important role in the ongoing strength of their local communities and the broader Australian economy. CBA is excited to be the Naming Sponsor of this years SmallBiz-Week, which will be a significant and meaningful event on the small business calendar. We are looking forward to the energy that comes from having thousands of business owners come together to connect, engage and learn face-to-face. The small business community has demonstrated, and continues to show, great resilience in the face of ongoing challenges in the sector. SmallBiz-Week is another way we are working to help businesses adapt to rapidly changing market demand and innovation updates. We want to support small businesses, by providing them with the opportunity to learn about the latest trends, solutions and opportunities for their sector, said Vacy-Lyle. SmallBiz-Week will feature six high profile events across all industry sectors, including a SME conference with presentations from top leaders and decisions makers at Australias most influential companies and government organisations such as the ACCC, ASBFEO and ATO. The CBA says it also offers the opportunity for young business leaders, entrepreneurs and small businesses to network and learn about a range of topics including funding solutions, scaling a business, cybersecurity and maximising tax incentives for small businesses, such as the tax breaks relating to new technology and skills as announced in this weeks budget. SmallBiz-Week is hosted by ABF Events, a premier business platform dedicated to showcasing and advancing entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals in the Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) sector. ABF Events CEO, Ray Evans said: SmallBiz-Weeks slogan We are in business to support small businesses to Learn, Engage and Grow is more relevant than ever. Its fantastic to see the budget support for businesses that invest in either new technology or employee training and skills development. We are all about supporting small businesses to maximise their potential. The partnership with Commonwealth Bank, Australias largest bank and a major supporter and innovator for small business, is well placed to benefit thousands of business owners and senior management, at a critical time for the business sector, post-COVID. With the continued re-engagement of the small business sector and a return of b2b events, we are looking forward to welcoming an anticipated 3,000 visitors and 1,000 delegates to attend SmallBiz-Week. The CBA says the event includes free access to Australias largest Small Business Expo, Fintech 21 Showcase and Business Essentials Seminar Series which will address critical small business topics and see cutting-edge businesses showcase their products and services to the SME market. GUEST OPINION: Whether you're a product-based or a service-based company, the only way to succeed is by bringing in more customers. This makes it crucial for you to focus on your sales and marketing strategies, as without a proper strategy you wouldnt be able to grow your business. You cant just hope people will automatically come to buy your product or service, even if you are adding value to their lives. It can work to a certain extent but a sales strategy is a must. Traditionally, the sales strategies were completely different from now, owing to the lack of technological advancement. Now, not only to the sales department, but technology has brought enormous changes to all the major departments in almost any business. So, its high-time one needs to adapt to it and reap the maximum benefits. With the help of tools like sales enablement software, you can provide training to your sales workforce to make them more competent, productive, and proactive. You can also integrate training software with CRM software so that all your data remains in one place. You can use the insights provided by these tools to direct your decisions better. There are many more benefits with technology which will be discussed below along with tips on how you can improve sales numbers for your business. 1. Improve the leads: You should try to reach the maximum number of audiences so that you have more chances to convert them. But, to generate more leads, you need to first find out your target audience. Find out the age group, income, gender, and priorities of people who would most likely buy your product. This needs thorough and detailed research so that you can cater to your target audiences. Once your target audience is clear all you need to do is reach out to them in whatever medium possible. 2. Try to solve the problem uniquely: No matter what the product or service you offer, you would try to fill gaps in the market with it or solve a common problem of your target audience. But your competitors might also be doing the same. So, what difference you bring to the table is what matters the most. Try to look at the problem from a different perspective and see what more you can add to your solution. See if you can make your product or service more affordable, improve the quality, or put up exciting offers. If you master the art of solving the problems of people, you can take your sales numbers to a whole different level. 3. Never underestimate the impact of advertisements: Advertisements used to be expensive back in the day. But thanks to the social media platforms, it has gotten much less expensive and thus, has successfully put conventional advertising aside to an extent. Within a limited budget, you can reach out to a lot of people if you do it the right way and know your target audiences. With digital advertising, you get clear data of how many people viewed your advertisement, the number of people who clicked the link provided and opened to see your product, and much more. All this data helps you to find where you are going wrong and how you can improve on it. 4. Reviews are a goldmine for sales: Whenever a potential customer checks your website or your social media profile, the one thing they notice is the customer reviews. Customer reviews help the potential buyers to find out the perspective of the person who bought your product or service. The positive reviews help them to gain confidence in your product or service which would, in turn, drive more leads. On the other hand, negative reviews can have equally negative effects on your sales numbers. So, focus on your negative reviews and see where it went wrong, and rectify it as soon as possible. To improve the volume of reviews for your products or services, ask your customers to give reviews and share feedback. Or, if you offer great service or product, some percentage of the customers would voluntarily give a review. 5. Utilize social media: With social media, you can reach our customers all around the world with little to no cost. If your target audiences are on social media, then you need to use it too. A strong social media presence would help to showcase your brand, what it is that you offer, and much more. Your customers can interact with your content and send personalized messages too. But never ignore the messages and comments of your customers as it would hamper the sales. Remember to address them politely and keep the conversation friendly when you reach out to more and more customers on these platforms. To get more reach on your social media platforms, you need to ensure you put up aesthetic social media creatives and use the right messages to communicate with your customers through your posts. Leverage platforms like Facebook and Instagram which are widely used. 6. Build a loyal customer base: When a customer buys your product or service, you shouldnt think that the job is done. You should give your best to turn one-time buyers into loyal customers. In such cases, there is a high chance that they will come back to you if they like your product or service, or can even refer you to a friend. This is how you can multiply your sales numbers to a whole different level. 7. Personalized approach: Personalization is a proven strategy to improve your sales numbers. You can send emails to your target audience by addressing them with their names, and welcome back messages when they visit your website after a long time. You can also offer them related content and recommendations. Personalization is about creating a convenient atmosphere for the customers where they get what they expect. All in all, a personalized approach can help to improve your sales numbers. Conclusion: To wrap up, there can be endless strategies that help to boost your sales figures. You need to find the strategies that are giving you results and look for more to always improve your sales figures. CARACAS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia told his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde to stop interfering in his country's internal affairs after the diplomat criticized the situation in the nation, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said Friday. "Mrs. @AnnLinde stop interfering in my country's internal politics; from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela we reject the unfounded comments of the foreign minister of the Kingdom of Sweden," Plasencia posted on his Twitter account. The official was responding to a publication by Linde on March 24, where she claimed to have been in communication with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido and called for "quick negotiations." "We regret this provocation by the Government of Sweden that ignores our democracy and sovereignty," Plasencia said, noting that "no one will be able to divert Venezuela from its determined path of comprehensive development and well-being." The official added that "the efforts of President @NicolasMaduro in favor of dialogue are the real triumph that guarantees tranquility and peace." On March 7, the Venezuelan president made public his decision to reactivate the national dialogue process with all the political sectors of the South American country. Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Variable clouds with strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 74F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Rain showers early becoming a steady light rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Security forces inspect the site of airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the truce opens the door to addressing Yemen's urgent humanitarian and economic needs, and creates an opportunity to restart Yemen's political process. UNITED NATIONS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday welcomed the agreement by the parties to the conflict in Yemen on a two-month truce, which comes into effect on Saturday. Guterres said the truce opens the door to addressing Yemen's urgent humanitarian and economic needs, and creates an opportunity to restart Yemen's political process. "This truce must be the first step to ending Yemen's devastating war," said Guterres. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has just announced the breakthrough in Amman, Jordan. Grundberg said the parties have agreed to halt all offensive military air, ground and maritime operations inside Yemen and across its borders. They have also agreed for fuel ships to enter into Hodeidah ports and for commercial flights to operate in and out of Sanaa airport to pre-determined destinations in the region. Grundberg said the parties have further agreed to meet under his auspices to open roads in Taiz and other governorates in Yemen. The truce can be renewed beyond the two-month period with the consent of the parties, said Grundberg. HIGH Court Judge Amy Tsaga has granted the late Genius Ginimbi Kadungures family leave to enjoy their inheritance pending a Supreme Court appeal. The family, through sisters Juliet and Nelia, and father Anderson Kadungure, had approached the High Court seeking permission to operationalise the order that nullified the contentious Ginimbi will. The order dismissed Patricia Darangwa as executor of the estate. Darangwa then appealed against the decision at the Supreme Court, which rendered the familys recent victory, worthless. Through their lawyer, the Kadungures claimed Darangwas appeal had no prospects of success, and it was a fact Ginimbi had left no will. In granting the order, Justice Amy Tsanga took note of the familys fears of losing their inheritance locally, in Botswana and in South Africa. It is the courts finding that the family should be allowed to enjoy what the late Genius Kadungure left them. Therefore, the application for leave to execute the order, pending the appeal at the Supreme Court, is hereby granted, ruled Justice Tsanga. In their papers, the Kadungures claim the late Ginimbis Bentley has gone missing. Some haulage trucks, and various other vehicles, were also still to be accounted for. The family was also losing sleep over one of the late Ginimbis companies in Botswana, which is facing closure. Creditors have been lining up to claim their dues. The family says it has been defending litigation processes in Botswana to try and save the company from collapsing. Ginimbi had accessed loans in Botswana and Juliet and Nelia had to step in to try and resolve the issues. Further allegations are that Darangwa recently wrote to the Master of the High Court in Botswana seeking to dispose of some properties, without the familys knowledge. H Metro A human trafficking victim Margret Kachasu died on Wednesday in Muscat, Oman after succumbing to cervical cancer. She was 40. The Zimbabwe Trafficking in Persons Advocacy (ZTIPA) chairperson Tabeth Masiyiwa confirmed the death of Kachasu who was a domestic worker for Saif Alhabsi. Margret succumbed to cervical cancer. Four days before her death she was requesting to be taken back home but unfortunately her employer could not fund the trip as he claimed that he had exhausted all his money on medical bills, she said. She reportedly bled profusely. The employer didnt know it was due to cancer till she could not work. In conversation seen by NewsDay, Alhabsi said, When we wanted to take her home she refused. Four days ago she started saying I want go go back home but the money was finished when we took her to the hospital. We didnt have any problem with her, she could do her job properly. But for the past two weeks she became seriously ill. The deceaseds brother Collin Kachasu told NewsDay that efforts were being made to repatriate the body from Oman. We went to the Foreign Affairs ministry and presented our case. We are now waiting a response from my relatives who are currently working in Oman. They said they were going speak to Zimbabwes consular. National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi told NewsDay that he had not yet received the news. Many Zimbabweans were trafficked to Oman for domestic slavery. Recently government revealed that it was working on rescuing over 18 citizens who said they were being subjected to slavery by their employers. Plans have been put in place to repatriate our citizens from that country. We have given each other tasks to ensure that our people are taken back home, Home Affairs ministry permanent secretary told journalists recently. He said police was handling 18 cases but there could be as many as 100 who were trafficked to Oman and are in need of help. Masiyiwa said her organization appreciates governments efforts. We appreciate governments efforts to have some Zimbabweans women come back home because its not safe out there. Fellow Zimbabwean women doing domestic work complain several times that theyre not given time to rest. This makes their health deteriorate. We hope that those seeking to come home will get assisted soon, she said. Newsday Ethiopia on Thursday failed to block the United Nations from funding an international committee that will investigate human rights violations by all parties in the nations recent war. The International Commission of Human Rights Experts (ICHRE) on Ethiopia was created last December by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, despite strenuous objections from the government in Addis Ababa. Led by former International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, the three-member commission has a renewable one-year mandate to investigate abuses committed in the country since war broke out in November 2020 between Ethiopian forces and Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels in the north of the country. At a meeting of the UN General Assemblys budget committee on Thursday, Ethiopia tried to pass a text that would block funding for the commission, but was not able to garner enough votes. According to a chart showing a breakdown of the vote, 66 member states voted against Ethiopia, with only 27 in favor of the text and 39 abstentions. The remaining nations of the 193-member body chose not to participate. Look, as a matter of principle, we believe that our commission (ICHRE) agreed on by member states, by the Human Rights Council, should be funded, said the UN secretary generals spokesman, Stephane Dujarric. He also stated that whether its in Ethiopia or anywhere else in the world, human rights violations need to be investigated, which is a critical part of the accountability pillar. International NGO Human Rights Watch celebrated the vote outcome. UN member countries sent a strong message to Ethiopia today that its brazen attempt to escape accountability for war crimes and other abuses by defunding the UNs human rights investigation is unacceptable, said the organization in a statement. The UN should quickly get the investigation up and running, the group demanded. On March 24, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds government announced an indefinite humanitarian truce effective immediately, saying it hoped to help hasten delivery of emergency aid into the Tigray region, where hundreds of thousands face starvation. Hours later, the rebels agreed to a cessation of hostilities, a new turning point in the nearly 17-month war in northern Ethiopia which has left thousands dead. This week, the two sides have traded accusations that the other party is blocking desperately needed aid from reaching the Tigray region, where more than 400,000 have been displaced by the conflict. Human Rights Watch has called on Ukrainian authorities to launch an investigation into possible war crimes following the emergence of video footage that appears to show its soldiers shooting Russian war prisoners in the legs. The video, which began circulating on March 27, shows three men in fatigues, hands bound behind their backs, thrown to the ground by armed men who then shoot them in the legs. While the authenticity of the footage could not be independently confirmed, AFP was able to geolocalise it to the village of Mala Rogan outside the northeastern city of Kharkiv, which Ukrainian forces had just recaptured after an offensive. AFP journalists were able to visit Mala Rogan on March 28 and saw the bodies of two Russian soldiers, shopping bags covering their heads, lying on one of the streets of the village, which was to a large extent destroyed by fighting. Two other bodies were partially visible under pieces of concrete in a well. If confirmed, the beating and shooting of captured combatants in their legs would constitute a war crime, Human Rights Watch said in a statement late on Thursday. Ukraine needs to demonstrate that it is able and willing to prevent and punish serious violations of international humanitarian law, it added. In total, AFP journalists saw around a dozen bodies of fallen Russian soldiers at Mala Rogan, with many were strewn in fields near their positions. An unknown number of Russians were taken prisoner, including a young communications officer. The Russians were targeting Kharkiv with artillery from Mala Rogan according to the Ukrainian forces who said their attack took them by surprise. A number of Russians found themselves trapped in homes and held out in caves, with Ukrainian soldiers saying that clearing operations took three days. A Ukrainian military source said a unit of local volunteers took part in the operation the first day, which provoked criticism from army units. Ukrainian presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovich acknowledged on Telegram that abuse of prisoners constitutes a war crime and should be punished. We treat prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Convention despite your personal emotional motivations, he said to Ukrainian soldiers. The head of Russias main criminal investigative force has also ordered a probe into the incident. Russian soldiers have also been accused of committing abuses since launching their invasion on February 24. In Mala Rogan, residents accused Russian soldiers of raping women they held prisoner for several days in a school. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday welcomed Pope Franciss apology to Canadas Indigenous peoples for a century of abuse committed at Church-run residential schools, calling it a step forward. Some 150,000 Indigenous, Metis and Inuit children were forcibly enrolled from the late 1800s to the 1990s in 139 residential schools across Canada, spending months or years isolated from their families, language and culture. Todays apology is a step forward in acknowledging the truth of our past in order to right historical wrongs, but theres still work to be done, Trudeau said after Pope Francis delivered the apology at the Vatican to a visiting delegation. We look forward to him coming to Canada to deliver that apology in person, the prime minister added. This was a key request by Indigenous leaders, which Francis acknowledged, expressing a willingness to visit in July. Many of the children were physically and sexually abused by headmasters and teachers, and thousands are believed to have died of disease, malnutrition or neglect. A truth and reconciliation commission concluded in 2015 that the failed government policy of assimilation amounted to cultural genocide. Discoveries of 1,300 unmarked student graves at several of the former schools since last May with ongoing searches expected to uncover many more has shocked the nation. Canadas history will forever be stained by the tragic reality of the residential school system, Trudeau said in a statement, noting that its impact continues to be felt by former students, their families and communities. We cannot separate the legacy of the residential school system from the institutions that created, maintained, and operated it, including the government of Canada and the Catholic Church, he said. As a country, we must never forget the unthinkable tragedies that took place and we must honor the children who went missing and never came home. Governor General Mary Simon, the first Indigenous woman to serve as Queen Elizabeth IIs representative in Canada, called it a historic and emotional day for Indigenous peoples across Canada. She praised the Popes apology as meaningful, and echoed Trudeaus sentiment that more work needed to be done. The apology is one step on the road to reconciliation, but it is just that: one step, she said in a statement. This is a hopeful day, but it must be backed by action. Pope Francis apologised Friday to indigenous people for abuse committed at church-run residential schools in Canada, and said he hoped to visit the country in July. I ask for Gods forgiveness for the deplorable conduct of these members of the Catholic Church, he said, telling Indigenous delegations at the Vatican it caused him pain and shame. Numerous investigations into the former residential schools are underway across Canada after the discovery of mass unmarked graves, with more than 4,000 children believed to be missing, according to authorities. Francis said he heard stories of suffering, deprivation, discriminatory treatment and various forms of abuse during meetings this week with survivors from the First Nations, Metis and Inuit groups. I join the Canadian bishops in asking you for forgiveness, he said. The 85-year old pontiff added; I hope to travel to Canada for the countrys St Annes Feast Day on July 26. Historic and meaningful The president of the Metis National Council, Cassidy Caron, told journalists after the meeting that the popes words were appreciated. His apology is absolutely historic and so meaningful to so many people. This opens the doors for us to continue on our healing journey and continue to fight for action, she said, adding that survivors deserve justice. I now look forward to his coming to Canada where he can deliver this heartfelt apology directly to our survivors and their families, she said. Gerald Antoine, regional chief of First Nations, said Friday was the day we had been waiting for. We accept this apology as a gesture of good faith, he said. Francis heard first-hand this week of centuries of abuse committed at the schools, and the delegations had pressed him for an apology for a scandal that rocked the Catholic Church. Some 150,000 First Nations, Metis and Inuit children were enrolled from the late 1800s to the 1990s in 139 residential schools across Canada, as part of a government policy of forced assimilation. They spent months or years isolated from their families, language and culture, and many were physically and sexually abused by headmasters and teachers. Pope Francis on Friday slammed the ideological colonisation of which so many children have been victims. Your identity and culture have been wounded, many families have been separated, he said. He described as chilling the unresolved traumas that have become intergenerational traumas. Thousands are believed to have died of disease, malnutrition or neglect. More than 1,300 unmarked graves have been discovered since May 2021 at the schools. A truth and reconciliation commission concluded in 2015 the failed government policy amounted to cultural genocide. In January, Canada announced a $31.5 billion agreement to reform its discriminatory child welfare system and compensate Indigenous families who suffered because of it. Ive here. Let us not forget that, independent of the British school imperialist efforts, this empire had many outstanding boosters. I have to admit, I read Neil Ferguson before he was completely out of the abyss of Empire fanaticism. Fergusons book 2001 The Cash Nexus, published before he became famous, does an excellent job of documenting how the UKs tax collection system (government employees rather than the often corrupt tax farmers like Frances) kept the UK in the spotlight in the financial markets for its time. Reliably fund their spending. This allows them to exceed their GDP weights in terms of borrowing power and thus spend as much or more on the military than France. But even so, Ferguson is threatening the United States to have a proper empire, but lacks the courage to do so. As I wrote in a review of Fergusons later book in 2003: The current administration is courageous enough, butits narrow conception of how to advance American interests is unlikely to serve America or the world in the long run. This is a verbose statement that an open democracy is right to focus on the importance of taxation, especially the importance of colonies. By Gurminder K. Bhambra, Professor of Postcolonial and Decolonial Studies at the University of Sussex and President of the British Sociological Association.Originally Posted in open democracy Various UK government ministers have emerged in recent weeks fromOliver Dowden arrive Kemi Badnoch Recently, the Minister of Education Nadeem Zahavi both glorifying the benefits of the British Empire and urging their imparting.This is the governments response to the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Differences, which raises the need for New History Demonstration Course This will provide advice on how schools can best teach these issues.Its all part of the government Inclusive UK The strategy requires us to acknowledge the rich and complex history of Global Britain. In the spirit of this appeal, I offer a complex, tangled history of colonial taxation and state welfare that continues to shape modern Britain. Few people know that colonial subjects in the Indian subcontinent paid taxes, including income tax, to the British government in Westminster. Or rather, at a time when Britains working and middle classes were exempt from paying income tax, the tax was used to ease the condition of Britains poorer people. Taxes and the way they are returned to citizens through benefits are Imagined Community Birth of a nation. That is, the relationship between taxes and benefits is part of the institution-building process and the idea of ??a nation. If we admit that this imagined community was established not only by state taxes, but by colonial taxes, how would that change our understanding of British people today? My grandfather Mohan Singh was born in 1913 in a small village in Punjab, then British India. He was 4 when his father Goodit Singh died and 17 when his uncle Hanan Singh, who had always supported him, also died. My grandfather had planned to attend the Government Academy in Lahore, but to support his mother and sister he spent six months training in boiler making. He then married Pritam Kaur and went to Calcutta to work in various factories, engineering and rolling mills. In 1942, he traveled to the British colony of Kenya later with his family and worked for the East African Railway and Port Company for 18 years. He spent the last two decades of his life in the UK as a sheet metal worker at Chalvey Engineering in Slough before retiring at Southall, west London, at the age of 65. Mohan Singh traversed three continents during his lifetime, but never left the jurisdiction of the British Empire. After the British Nationality Act 1948, he wrote in his application for registration as a British and colonial citizen: I was born in British India. He further noted that he lived and worked in India and Kenya, two British colonies. It was these connections that confirmed his citizenship and gave him the right to travel and live in the UK. He duly exercised these rights, but upon arrival he asked local residents to question them, who were either unaware or indifferent. Right-wing opponents have been calling for go home since at least the 1970s, and as part of the British government, its also plastered on the side of vans. harsh environmentpolicy in recent years. They are also implicit in an influential scholarly work oriented on issues of belonging and entitlement, advocating a preference for white working classes in public policy. This is based on the fact that they are insiders who, through taxes, contribute to wealth paid for through benefits. Former colonial subjects like my grandfather were considered immigration outsiders even when they came to the metropolis with a British citizenship passport. They are believed to have not contributed to Britains wealth by paying taxes, and they are believed to have received an unfair access to the nations heritage.as Jeff Dench, Kate Gavron and Michael YoungAs newcomers, their families cant possibly invest much in the system, so they shouldnt expect so much, wrote New East End. The British established direct rule over India following the suppression of the 1857 Indian mutiny (also known as the First War of Independence). In 1860, it implemented income tax To colonial subjects, in part to cover the costs associated with these uprisings. Initially, the tax rate was 2% for those earning between Rs 200 and Rs 500 per annum and 4% for those earning more than Rs 500 per annum. When my grandfather started working in the 1930s, the average salary of a skilled worker in British India was about 40 rupees a month. However, he is unlikely to pay income tax as his income is not enough to meet the annual threshold of Rs 2,000. Of the amount collected, about three-quarters went to the treasury, and only one percent of rupees was used for local purposes. Local purposes include building canals and roads, but not poverty alleviation, even in times of catastrophic famine. The arrival of the British in India first through the British East India Company and then through direct rule brought endemic famine across the subcontinent. The 50 years after the introduction of the income tax was one of the worst periods of such famine, with more than 14 million people estimated to have died of starvation. This was against a backdrop of grain exports by rail from famine areas (including Britain), and colonial taxes continued to be levied even in the most affected areas. In all cases, the need for sound finance trumps the need for public health, and the first thing to avoid is any idea that Indias poor should be sustained by public spending.Ensuring adequate funding for subsequent military operations in Afghanistan from taxes paid by colonial subjects Local Purpose more important than using these taxes to alleviate severe hunger and avert millions of deaths. Here we see very clearly that the concept of an imagined community created through taxation and its redistribution does not include colonial subjects. The taxes Indians pay to the treasury and local provinces do not give them any right to redistribute their income. To make matters worse, any relief provided during a famine often relies on hard labor in camps far from where claimants are located. In the most extreme case, rations offered in exchange for heavy labor were barely above the level required for basic subsistence. Temple Wages named after Lieutenant Governor Richard Temple who brought it had deadly results, and, Mike Davis Notes from Late Victorian Holocaust turned work camps into extermination camps. The death and destruction that empires brought were well known at the time. In 1925, Harry Polit, the leader of the Union of British Boilermakers said the British Empire was soaked in blood. This was in the context of debates at the Scarborough Union Congress, which culminated in a resolution by 3 million votes to 79,000 opposing imperialism and supporting the colonized peoples right to self-determination. This sentiment, however, contradicts a more stubborn understanding of the utility of the Empire to the Britons.as a laborer Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevan Announced in Parliament in 1946, I am not prepared to sacrifice the British Empire, because I know that if the British Empire were to fall it would mean a substantial reduction in the standard of living of our constituents. Here, Bevin concedes that the lives of all in Britain have improved due to the influence of the Empire. However, the Empire was an overwhelming disaster for most of those affected by it. Due to colonialism and the famines it produced, their standard of living plummeted, and in many cases, they lost their lives. One way to survive is to move. Thats why my grandfather moved from a village in Punjab to Lahore to train in boiler making and then worked in Calcutta, Nairobi and London.This is probably why his previous grandfather from famine orissa To Rajasthan to Punjab. These movements are often not seen as part of British history, global or otherwise, or have had any bearing on understanding Britain or Britishness today. The forgetting of empire also includes the forgetting of the political communitycolonial and postcolonialconstructed through taxation. Few people in Britain today understand the extent to which state programs from social welfare to cultural institutions such as country houses, museums and galleries are made possible through taxes paid by former colonial subjects. We urgently need to recognize and explain our shared history. One aspect of the culture war is the call for taxpayer input to be considered in discussions Controversial History. For example, Samir Shah, chairman of the London Family Museum, believes that since heritage institutions are funded with taxpayer money, the views of taxpayers which he believes are the silent majority should be given more attention. clear consideration. Given that colonial subjects and their descendants all paid taxes to the government of Westminster, then they/we also had a legitimate interest in how, in the governments own words, our shared history manifested itself. The teachings of the British Empire are good, but the reality is different from what these ministers thought. "Twenty Five, Twenty One" actor Nam Joo Hyuk shared his honest thoughts on his character Baek Yi Jin's "death theories." Prior to the drama's conclusion, possible endings and theories arise to satiate fans and viewers' curiosity. Here's what the actor thinks about it! Nam Joo Hyuk Debunks Character's Death Theories in 'Twenty Five, Twenty One' With only two episodes left, theories and drama conclusions surface online around "Twenty Five, Twenty One" fans who are curious as to how the story ends. On Thursday, March 31, 2022, Nam Joo Hyuk shared his honest thoughts on "Twenty Five, Twenty One" theories. In the drama, he plays the role of a former conglomerate heir who now works as a UBS news reporter after the IMF crisis hit South Korea. Nam Joo Hyuk receives praises for his top-notch performance as Baek Yi Jin, along with Kim Tae Ri, who both exude undeniable chemistry. In an exclusive video interview posted by Management SOOP, Nam Joo Hyuk's agency, the actor shared that he wants to be remembered as an excellent and hardworking actor. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Is Nam Joo Hyuk Kim Tae Ri's First Onscreen Kiss? Here's What We Know The actor also addressed the circulating "death" rumors of his character in "Twenty Five, Twenty One" with a laugh. "Now that I have the opportunity to tell you, I received a lot of calls asking me why I am dying [in "Twenty Five, Twenty One]." He added: "I don't know why they're trying to kill me, but there seems to be some negative forces. Please stop." Thanks to this, fans and viewers heaved a relieved sigh. However, some fans still think that Baek Yi Jin dies at the end of the drama. Nam Joo Hyuk earnestly asks for support in the drama's remaining episodes, and promises to show a lot of different sides of him until the end. Furthermore, "Twenty Five, Twenty One" ends on Sunday, April 3 with its 16th episode, which will be released at 9:10 p.m. KST on tvN. Watch the full interview here: Nam Joo Hyuk Clarifies Controversy Over His Hand Print at the Blue Dragon Film Awards Nam Joo Hyuk caused a frenzy at the 2019 Blue Dragon Film Awards after he showed his handprint that has fingers which were infinitely shorter than his. He took the liberty to explain the hand print through the video interview. Nam Joo Hyuk revealed that the people who specialize in hand printing told him to dip his hand onto the clay thoroughly. Because of this, the mixture was stuck in the actor's hand. Nam Joo Hyuk then asked if it was okay, and the authorities gave him a thumbs up. The hand print came out looking "weird" and "giving the dirty finger," according to fans, looking a lot smaller than Nam Joo Hyuk's hand. "My hands are big," the "Twenty Five, Twenty One" actor said matter-of-factly. "This [hand print] is just a mistake." KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Comedian and actor Lee Kwang Soo gave his honest comments on wanting to return to "Running Man" in Kim Jong Kook's latest vlog. Kim Jong Kook Invites Lee Kwang Soo for A Video Collab Kim Jong Kook had Lee Kwang Soo as his new celebrity guest on his YouTube vlog. It also made the "Running Man" fans happy, because it was a short reunion for the two. Apart from the years, they worked together in the said variety show, Jong Kook and Kwang Soo already established a solid friendship. That is why their latest video collaboration was filled with laughter and never-before-heard stories from them. Lee Kwang Soo Wants to Make an Appearance in 'Running Man' Due to This Lee Kwang Soo went to Kim Jong Kook's place and had quality time together by talking about their present careers. "The Pirates 2" actor mentioned his departure from the reality show. Then Kim Jong Kook asked the former "Running Man" mainstay about his feelings about a familiar comment online that says, "I am not going to watch 'Running Man' anymore because Lee Kwang Soo is not part of it now." In case you missed it: 'Tomorrow' Episode 1: SF9 Rowoon Officially Becomes a Grim Reaper + Kicks Off With Soaring Ratings In response, Kwang Soo jokingly said, "Actually, I was the one who wrote that comment," which made Kim Jong Kook laugh. Meanwhile, as they continued their conversation, the "It's Okay, That's Love" star expressed his interest in wanting to make an appearance again in "RM." There was an episode where volleyball player Kim Yeon Koung made a cameo in the show. Lee Kwang Soo said that he wanted to appear in that episode for he could have pulled a more interesting moment with the female athlete that will satisfy the viewers. Kim Yeon Koung and Lee Kwang Soo were teased by the "Running Man" members for being lookalike. "To be honest, there was one episode when I wanted to join the show again. It was when volleyball player Kim Yeon Koung made a guest appearance. I thought I would have done it better." The comedian added that when he will be given a chance to meet the female athlete, he wants to have a friendly swear word battle with her. Watch Lee Kwang Soo and Kim Jong Kook's Full Vlog Here! What are your thoughts about Lee Kwang Soo and Kim Jong Kook's interaction in the latest YouTube vlog? 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. A Toronto-based company on Tuesday will outline its plans for a hydrogen plant in West Kelowna during a meeting with city councillors. The provincial government today announced a new office to streamline the approval of such plants. Police attend the scene of a collision in the west end of Toronto on Thurs., March 31, 2022. Paramedics say three people have died in a collision between a flatbed truck and a car along the Toronto waterfront. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov State and local officials signed a formal agreement Wednesday on a major ecological restoration of the South Branch of the Pike River in Kenosha County. The agreement formalizes a partnership between the Army Corps of Engineers and the county on the project. This nearly $15 million project with the Army Corps of Engineers will allow Kenosha County to move forward with the largest initiative for ecological restoration in our history, said Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser. The South Branch Pike restoration will improve our environment and bring about quality of-life benefits for our community for generations to come. Kreuser said the project will address a waterway that was compromised by agricultural ditching in the early 1900s, and it will continue a restoration of the entire Pike River system that has been ongoing for several years. As part of the agreement, the Army Corps will provide nearly $10 million in support of the first phase of the project. The proposed project would provide high-quality habitat for various fish and wildlife species, addressing human-induced disturbance within the watershed that dates back to the 1800s, said Nicole Toth, project manager at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District. Flows to Lake Michigan The South Branch of the Pike River begins as a drainageway near Highway 50 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks west of Highway 31 in the City of Kenosha and flows northward, largely in a straight line alongside the tracks, before it curves eastward through the Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum in Somers and joins with the Main Branch of the Pike River in Petrifying Springs Park. The Main Branch then drains into Lake Michigan. The restoration of the Pike Rivers South Branch is an iconic investment in Kenosha Countys land, air, and water, said Dave Giordano, executive director of the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network, a key project partner. Guided by decades of planning, restoring this historic stream channel and its stormwater-absorbing wetlands will create an incredible place where people, pollinators, and Pike want to be. In its current configuration, the South Branch is listed as a high contributing factor for flooding that affects the entire Pike River system and diminishes the potential for economic development in the area. The restoration will return natural curves to the South Branch that will address flooding and water quality concerns. The project also includes the installation of a multiuse path alongside the river, providing a safe bicycle and pedestrian link between several west-side Kenosha and Somers neighborhoods. Phase I of the project includes the section of the river between Highway K (60th Street) and Highway S (38th Street). Future phases that remain in planning stages would continue the enhancements northward to Petrifying Springs. The local share of costs for Phase I was approved as part of the 2022 budget that the County Board adopted in November. Land acquisition will occur this year, with reconstruction expected to follow in 2023 and 2024. Supervisor William Grady, chairman of the County Boards Public Works and Facilities Committee, said the agreement signed Wednesday is the culmination of years of work with the Army Corps and much information-gathering and review by his committee. The physical restoration and enhancement will take it from being a flood-prone area to being an asset to the community and the region, improving the environment and bringing real economic value, Grady said. And were bringing federal money back home, getting the better part of $10 million in support from the Army Corps. Its a win for everyone. And it will be a proud day for Kenosha County when friends of the environment, property owners, and especially our children and grandchildren will be able to witness the benefits of this project. County Board Supervisor Daniel Gaschke likewise referred to the project as a win-win for the community, and a great example of public-private partnerships and federal and local government collaboration. As the chair of Kenosha Countys Planning and Development Committee, I am proud to have been a part of helping move this project forward, and I am grateful to Kenosha Countys dedicated employees who have worked so hard to help plan this project and secure the necessary funding, Gaschke said. I am also grateful to Root-Pike WIN for its help and expertise on this exciting project. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 John Poole is facing Steve Brown in the race to represent District 20 on the Kenosha Count Board of Supervisors in the spring election. Incumbent supervisor Sharon Pomaville filled non-candidacy papers and did not seek re-election. The County Board position, which is part-time, is a two-year term with a $6,526 annual salary. District 20 sits in the western portion of the county in the areas surrounding the villages of Salem Lakes and Paddock Lake, largely west of 216th Avenue and east of Silver Lake, and north of Highway C and South of Highway K. A map of the district is available on the county website. The Kenosha News asked each candidate to address and define issues they believe are most important and why they chose to run for office. Here are their responses in alphabetical order: What do you see as the issues in the election?Brown: We must support our veterans and the services they have earned and deserve, including making sure that they have access to share rides in order to be transported to the VA hospitals at Great Lakes in northern Illinois and in Milwaukee. We must make sure that the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department is smartly funded to provide law enforcement services for western Kenosha County. In addition, it is critical to fund Kevlar vests and other protective gear for our law enforcement officers. Support of senior Cctizens and the important services they need. Supporting important county services for the far western portion of Kenosha County. Poole: There are three issues that I am hearing from residents in my district the most: public safety, fiscal accountability, and economic development. Residents are worried that crime isnt just happening in the City of Kenosha; its moving west of the interstate. I believe we need to hire more sheriffs deputies to reduce speeding and fight the increasing theft and violence in our county. Kenosha County has one of the highest median property taxes in the United States. We can control costs to keep taxes low, while still providing quality services. The budget approval is the most important job of County Board Supervisors because the outcome determines a large portion of our property taxes each year. As an experienced accountant, I will use my knowledge to provide a fair and balanced budget each year. County government cannot create private sector jobs; it can only foster a positive environment for business growth. I believe that low property taxes create an environment so businesses will want to move here, which will lead to economic development and job creation. Why are you running for office?Brown: As a military veteran, I am shocked to see any politician vote against county services to our veterans. Im running to ensure that our county smartly funds its key priorities: Veterans Services, our County Sheriffs Department, and Safeguarding Care for our Elderly. We must also ensure that our Kenosha County Sheriffs deputies have up-to-date protective gear, like Kevlar vests, vehicles and other necessary equipment. Poole: Im running for the Kenosha County Board because the 20th District needs a supervisor that will bring a fiscally conservative voice to the county board. With the election of a new county executive, the County Board needs supervisors that have the experience to assist the executive to craft a fiscally responsible budget that prioritizes public safety and protects taxpayers pocketbooks. In my previous years on the County Board, I saw too much wasteful spending, and I want to fight that waste and direct those tax dollars back to the citizens of the county. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) What causes tornadoes? Tornadoes start with thunderstorms. Think of the thunderstorm as the parent of the tornado. When atmospheric conditions favor the development of severe storms, tornadoes can form. The recipe for a tornado requires a few important ingredients: low-level heat and moisture and cold air aloft, coupled with a favorable wind field that increases in speed with height, as well as changes in the wind direction in the lower levels. The right combination of heat, moisture and wind can develop rotating thunderstorms capable of spinning off a tornado or a tornado family. Thunderstorms capable of spinning off tornadoes typically develop along and ahead of a frontal boundary where warm and cold air masses meet often accompanied above by a strong jet stream. Why do tornado outbreaks seem to be getting more frequent and intense? Is climate change playing a role? Studies do show tornadoes getting more frequent, more intense and more likely to come in swarms. The most intense and longest-lasting tornadoes tend to come from what are known as supercells powerful rotating thunderstorms. The December 2021 outbreak, with more than 60 tornadoes that swept across Kentucky and neighboring states, came from a supercell. The 2011 outbreak in Alabama was another. All of this unfolds under the umbrella of global warming. While its still hard for climate models to assess something as small as a tornado, they do project increases in severe weather. Whats interesting is that despite that increase, the per capita death toll from tornadoes has actually gone down in the latter half of the past 100 years. So, as bad as these new outbreaks are, science and technology are saving lives at a faster rate than storms are killing people. Scientists can now anticipate and forecast areas where tornadoes may develop. If you look at NOAAs Storm Prediction Center website, youll see eight-day outlooks now. Thats based on scientific knowledge and technology able to target where conditions conducive to tornadoes are developing. People also know what to do now and are more likely to get warnings, and more homes have safe rooms able to withstand a tornado. Social media also plays a big role today. A few years ago, I had a student who was on his familys farm when he got a text warning that a tornado was coming. He and his family got to safety just before the tornado hit. The Southeast seems to be getting a lot more severe storms. Has Tornado Alley shifted? In 2016, my students and I published the first paper that clearly showed, statistically, the emergence of another center of tornado activity in the Southeast, centered around Alabama. Oklahoma still has tornadoes, of course. But the statistical center has moved. Other research since then has found similar shifts. We found a notable decrease in both the total number of tornadoes and days with tornadoes in the traditional Tornado Alley in the central plains. At the same time, we found an increase in tornado numbers in whats been dubbed Dixie Alley, extending from Mississippi through Tennessee and Kentucky into southern Indiana. In the Great Plains, drier air in the western boundary of traditional Tornado Alley probably has something to do with the fact that tornadoes are a declining risk in Oklahoma while wildfire risk is growing. Research by other scientists suggests that the dry line between the wetter Eastern U.S. and the drier Western U.S., historically around the 100th meridian, has shifted eastward by about 140 miles since the late 1800s. The dry line can be a boundary for convection the rising of warm air and sinking of colder air that can fuel storms. While scientists dont have a full picture of the role climate change may be playing, we can certainly say we live in a warmer climate, and that a warming climate provides many of the ingredients for severe storms. This article was updated April 6, 2022, with more severe storms and tornadoes across the South. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/tornadoes-climate-change-and-why-dixie-is-the-new-tornado-alley-178863. Licenced as Creative Commons - attribution, no derivatives. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 6 Shares Share Many years ago, doctors were relied upon to care for the health needs of their local communities. They were trusted fixtures relied upon to diagnose and treat whatever the ailment. They spent time interacting with patients, not paperwork or screens. There was no bureaucratic red tape or a long list of administrative procedures. It was pure medicine. I think it would be safe to assume that burnout barely existed. These doctors were, in fact, practicing what they spent years studying to do. No physician is surprised that burnout is getting worse within our profession. While burnout has escalated over the past two years, the pandemic has not been the root cause a surprise to many except physicians. Stress and fatigue among doctors have been climbing for years. The mounting tide of administrative work has replaced patient care, typing notes have come between face-to-face interaction and the essence of what physicians went into medicine for in the first place has eroded. As such, we are seeing physicians becoming more disengaged and retiring early, just like I did four years ago at 43 years old. A retired pediatric urologist. Burned out doctor Becoming a doctor has been a dream of mine since I was 13 years old. During my adolescence and early adulthood, I was driven to achieve that goal. Even being the first female resident in over 15 years at my six-year urologic surgery residency didnt dissuade me. Medicine has always been my passion. Yet, ten years into my clinical surgery practice, I left. I was burned out. I felt I was failing myself and my family. But being a doctor had been part of my identity for three decades. What else was I going to do? At the suggestion of a friend, I re-engaged with IVUmed, a global surgical outreach program that I had volunteered with earlier in my medical career in Ghana. I eagerly volunteered for a pediatric urology teaching workshop in Mbale, Uganda. Working with IVUmed, I learned that in places like Uganda, there were only 10-20 practicing general urologists and no pediatric urologists for over 30 million people. Parents came to us with their babies in their hands, having lost nearly all hope that their childs condition could be managed. We successfully treated their children and taught local doctors how to continue providing quality urologic care to their own patients. On one of my trips to Uganda, we treated a young male infant with a condition called Posterior Urethral Valves (PUV). If left untreated, this condition would have progressed to renal failure and, in most low surgical resource areas, death, as kidney dialysis and kidney transplantation are unavailable treatment options. PUV is a commonly treated condition in the U.S. However, the specialized scope used is expensive and out of reach for many of these low-resource health care providers. Fortunately, we were able to have a scope donated to this site, and we were able to teach local physicians how to use it. With the generous support of our volunteers and partners, this child and others like him will thrive. Immediate help Today, health care administrators are taking notice of physician burnout, the economic fallout too much to ignore. As a solution, physicians are being presented with a broad array of services from counseling, adjusted schedules, scribes, and more. These are reasonable efforts, but none quite address the root of the problem a loss of meaningful life work. Medicine is a vocation. Making a difference in peoples lives helps push physicians through the rigors and competitiveness of medical school, residency training and ultimately, their careers. One initiative that more administrators should support is global medical outreach. The ability to practice pure medicine, like the neighborhood doctor from long ago, renews a love for the vocation that physicians sought when they first entered medical school. Humanitarian outreach will help reinvigorate physician workforces immediately, allowing physicians to have the opportunity to treat patients who are overwhelmingly grateful for the care provided while also teaching local partner doctors dedicated to changing the lives of adults and children in their own community. Meaning in medicine can be found again. I know, it happened to me. Danielle Sweeney is a pediatric urologist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Tibetan antelopes seen in Gerze County of Ali Prefecture, Tibet Xinhua) 09:01, April 01, 2022 Aerial photo taken on March 27, 2022 shows a number of Tibetan antelopes in Gerze County of Ali Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Nearly 10,000 Tibetan antelopes gathered in Gerze County, a rare occurrence believed to be related to the improvement of the biodiversity and protection endeavors. (Photo by Penba/Xinhua) Photo taken on March 27, 2022 shows a number of Tibetan antelopes in Gerze County of Ali Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Nearly 10,000 Tibetan antelopes gathered in Gerze County, a rare occurrence believed to be related to the improvement of the biodiversity and protection endeavors. (Photo by Sonam Rinqen/Xinhua) Photo taken on March 27, 2022 shows a number of Tibetan antelopes in Gerze County of Ali Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Nearly 10,000 Tibetan antelopes gathered in Gerze County, a rare occurrence believed to be related to the improvement of the biodiversity and protection endeavors. (Photo by Penba/Xinhua) Photo taken on March 27, 2022 shows a number of Tibetan antelopes in Gerze County of Ali Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Nearly 10,000 Tibetan antelopes gathered in Gerze County, a rare occurrence believed to be related to the improvement of the biodiversity and protection endeavors. (Photo by Sonam Rinqen/Xinhua) Snapshot taken from a video shows a number of Tibetan antelopes in Gerze County of Ali Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 27, 2022. Nearly 10,000 Tibetan antelopes gathered in Gerze County, a rare occurrence believed to be related to the improvement of the biodiversity and protection endeavors. (Photo by Sonam Rinqen/Xinhua) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Vicky Phelan has sent a message of support to Charlie Bird ahead of his Croagh Patrick climb this weekend for 'Climb With Charlie Day'. Charlie, and hundreds of people across Ireland, are taking part in the climb to raise money for Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House. Vicky was supposed to be joining Charlie on his climb however she has unfortunately had to pull out due to her ill health. Despite this, Vicky will be well represented as her family including her mother and father who will be taking part in the climb. In a video on Instagram, Vicky wished Charlie and the rest of the participants luck with the event and said she would be there in spirit. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vicky Phelan (@vickykellyphelan) The campaigner returned to social media this week after taking a break due to her health and she shared an update with her followers. In a post the Kilkenny woman said: "I'm BACK! For now anyway....I am finally back walking on my own two feet for more than a few feet without having to use a four wheel or three wheel mobility aid and, oh boy, does it feel good "My back is still not great and I can only walk very short distances and am still in pain BUT it is manageable AND I can get out of the house." The mother of two also shared some pictures from her recent trip to Adare Manor where she treated her mother and godmother to afternoon tea for their birthdays. She continued: "And boy have I gotten out of the house in style this week. I wanted to treat my mother and my godmother to afternoon tea at Adare Manor for their birthdays, which they both celebrated in March. "Two weeks ago, I honestly thought it would never happen BUT the human body and the human spirit are AMAZING things "And so, today my aunt picked me up from my house and whisked us off to Adare Manor where we spent the whole afternoon drinking various different teas and coffees and enjoying the savoury and sweet treats that staff kept bringing to our table. "We had a most fabulous afternoon and made more wonderful memories." Ukrainians have retaken Irpin from the Russian invaders. But it's a city that now lies in ruins World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a news conference organized by Geneva Association of United Nations Correspondents (ACANU) amid the COVID-19 outbreak at the WHO headquarters in Geneva Switzerland July 3, 2020. Reuters-Yonhap The World Health Organization laid out three possible paths that the COVID-19 pandemic might follow in 2022, Wednesday with a new, more virulent variant the worst-case scenario. The WHO said the most likely way forward was that the severity of disease caused by the virus would wane over time, due to greater public immunity. But the UN health agency also said a more dangerous variant of concern than Omicron could be lurking round the corner. The WHO released its updated COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan, with the organization's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hoping it will be the last. It lays out three possible scenarios for how the third year of the pandemic will pan out. "Based on what we know now, the most likely scenario is that the virus continues to evolve, but the severity of disease it causes reduces over time as immunity increases due to vaccination and infection," Tedros told a press conference. He said periodic spikes in cases and deaths might occur as immunity wanes, which may require occasional booster vaccinations for vulnerable people. "In the best-case scenario, we may see less severe variants emerge, and boosters or new formulations of vaccines won't be necessary," he said. "In the worst-case scenario, a more virulent and highly transmissible variant emerges. Against this new threat, people's protection against severe disease and death, either from prior vaccination or infection, will wane rapidly." Tedros said that scenario would require significantly altering the currently-available vaccines, and then making sure they get delivered to the people most vulnerable to severe disease. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead on Covid-19, said the virus still has "a lot of energy left," going into the third year of the pandemic. Last week, more than 10 million new cases and 45,000 deaths were reported to the WHO, which said the number of new infections could be far higher as testing rates have dropped. At the end of last week, more than 479 million confirmed cases had been registered throughout the pandemic, and more than six million deaths, although WHO acknowledges that the true toll could be several times higher. (AFP) Angola, IN (46703) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 54F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 46F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. The Lake Geneva Fire Department announced on its Facebook page on Friday, April 1, that it has purchased a new submarine to battle hazardous underwater fires. Sub 1 is a much needed asset in our daily battle with underwater fires. Many residents are not aware of this hazard we face, the department stated in its Facebook post. They also posted where it will be located. It will be located in Station 9, the departments underwater station located at Big Foot State Park Lagoon. In case you didnt realize it, the fire department posted this on April 1, which happens to be April Fools Day. Is it a coincidence? A stage based not only on transparency and permanent communication, mutual respect, and compliance with the agreements signed by both parties, but also on restraint from any unilateral action to honour the importance of all that we share and to avoid future crises between our two countries. H.M. the King, Mohammed VI, has invited the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, to visit Rabat in the coming days to launch the roadmap that consolidates this new relationship; an ambitious roadmap, worthy of neighbouring countries and strategic partners. President Sanchez will travel to Rabat accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Albares Bueno. H.M. King Felipe VI has been informed of the details of the conversation by the President of the Government of Spain. Morocco is a neighbour and friend of Spain. Both share a common history, human ties, agreements and links that have forged similar interests over time. Morocco is also an indispensable strategic partner for Spain and the European Union in many areas such as migration control, the fight against terrorism and economic and trade relations, among others. The Government of Spain regards relations with Morocco as a matter of state. In this context, the President of the Government of Spain expressed his firm desire to renew and deepen the privileged relationship between Spain and Morocco, in a spirit of close cooperation to face common challenges together and guarantee the stability and territorial integrity of Spain and the prosperity of both countries. Non official translation New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI): India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki said on Friday its exports surged to 238,376 units in 2021-22, the highest in any financial year. The company exported 26,496 units during March 2022, clocking its highest ever monthly exports. Also Read | Morbius Full Movie in HD Leaked on TamilRockers & Telegram Channels for Free Download and Watch Online; Jared Letos Marvel Film Is the Latest Victim of Piracy?. Hisashi Takeuchi, who assumed office as Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited on Friday, said, "Today is an auspicious day for me as I take up the responsibility of MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki, that coincides with the achievement of this historic highest ever exports. "This export milestone demonstrates the dedication and hard work of team Maruti Suzuki led by Kenichi Ayukawa, from whom I have taken up this role. These export numbers are a reflection of India's manufacturing potential and the acceptance of India-manufactured vehicles, all over the world," Takeuchi said in a statement. Also Read | Indians Top as Canada Admits 108,000 New Immigrants in 1st Quarter of 2022. Maruti Suzuki has been exporting vehicles since 1986 and has achieved a cumulative export of over 22.5 lakh vehicles. India manufactured Maruti Suzuki vehicles are exported to over 100 countries. The top five export models in FY 2021-22 were Baleno, Dzire, Swift, S-Presso and Brezza. Top export markets included Latin America, ASEAN, Africa, and the Middle East. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI): The Central Government on Thursday decided to reduce the disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur after decades. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the improvement in the security situation in the northeast has resulted in a significant step by the government to reduce the disturbed areas under AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: Encounter Breaks Out Between Terrorists and Security Forces in Shopian. In Assam, where Disturbed Area Notification has been in force since 1990, the AFSPA is being removed with effect from April 1, 2022, completely from 23 districts and partially from one district. The Disturbed Area Declaration which is in force in the entire Manipur (except the Imphal Municipality area) since 2004. Fifteen police station areas of the six districts of Manipur will be excluded from the purview of the Act from April 1. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi to Address Pariksha Pe Charcha Tomorrow, To Discuss Stress Free Exams. In Nagaland, the Centre has accepted the recommendation of a high-level committee formed in the aftermath of the Mon killing to withdraw AFSPA in a phased manner, a Home Ministry release said. The Disturbed Area Notification is being withdrawn from 15 police stations in seven districts in Nagaland with effect from April 1. "In comparison to 2014, there has been a reduction of 74 per cent in militancy incidents in 2021. Similarly, deaths of security personnel and civilians have also come down by 60 per cent and 84 per cent respectively during this period," the release said. It said that to realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a peaceful and prosperous northeast region, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has held dialogues with all the states of the region on a regular basis. "As a result, most of the extremist groups have laid down their arms expressing their faith in the Constitution of India and the policies of the Modi government. Today all these persons have become a part of the democratic process and are participating in the development of the North East. About 7,000 militants have surrendered in the last few years," the release said. The Central Government in the last three years has signed several agreements to end insurgencies and bring lasting peace to the northeastern states. "For example, the Bodo Accord of January 2020, which resolved the five decades-long Bodo problems of Assam and the Karbi-Anglong Agreement of September 4, 2021, which resolved the long-standing dispute over the Karbi region of Assam. Similarly, the NLFT (SD) agreement was signed in August 2019 to bring militants into the mainstream of society in Tripura," the release said. A historic agreement was signed on January 16, 2020, to resolve the 23-year-old Bru-Reang refugee crisis under which 37,000 internally displaced persons are being resettled in Tripura. On March 29, 2022, another important agreement was signed regarding the boundaries of Assam and Meghalaya. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to make the whole of the North East region free from extremism. In this regard, the Central Government has been interacting with state governments and other stakeholders from time to time," the release said. It said that due to the improvement in the security situation, the Disturbed Area Notification under AFSPA was completely removed from Tripura in 2015 and Meghalaya in 2018. In 2015, AFSPA was in force in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, a 20 km belt of Arunachal Pradesh along the Assam border and in 16 police station areas in nine other districts of the State. "This has been gradually reduced and the Disturbed Areas Notification, is currently applicable in only three districts and in two police station areas in one other district of Arunachal Pradesh," the statement added. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that due to PM Modi's unwavering commitment and attention to the North East Region, which had been neglected for decades, the region is now witnessing a new era of peace, prosperity and unprecedented development. He also greeted the people of the North East on the occasion. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar, Apr 1 (PTI) Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd clocked a record production of over 168 million tonne in the 2021-22 financial year, registering a growth of around 14 per cent over the previous fiscal, an official said on Friday. The Odisha-based miner dispatched 176.17 mt of coal to its consumers, with a 21 per cent growth over the previous year, MCL chairman-cum-managing director Om Prakash Singh said. Also Read | Russian FM Sergey Lavrov Meets PM Narendra Modi, Apprises Him of Ongoing Crisis in Ukraine and Bilateral Initiatives. The Sambalpur-headquartered firm has set a target of producing 176 mt of coal in 2022-23. The record production of 168.17 mt in the last fiscal is 103 per cent of the target set by it, Singh said at a press conference in Bhubaneswar. Also Read | Ramadan 2022: Telangana Govt Allows Muslim Employees To Leave Early During Ramazan. He stated that the capital expenditure of the miner was Rs 3,805 crore in the 2021-22 fiscal, as the outlay would meet future goals. "We have also made advance preparations, keeping in view the monsoon season and other operational challenges, to meet the rising demand by producing more coal," he said. Singh claimed that the Miniratna public sector unit had been successful in meeting the growing coal demand during the third quarter of the last financial year, despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. "It is estimated that the demand will continue to remain high in the coming months," the official said. The firm has registered a growth of more than 18 per cent in overburden removal, which will help in increasing coal production in the new fiscal, Singh said. MCL has mining operations in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Angul districts of Odisha. (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, Apr 1 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar exuded confidence on Friday that the ongoing visit of Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to India will further strengthen the ties between the two countries. Jaishankar made the comments after he called on Deuba. Also Read | Fuel Price Hike: Bihar Power Department Staff Rides A Horse to Collect Bills. "Pleased to call on PM @SherBDeuba of Nepal during his official visit to India. Confident that this visit will further strengthen our close neighborly relations," the external affairs minister said in a tweet. Deuba, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived here on Friday on a three-day visit. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict May Affect Supply Chains of Semiconductors, Says MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar. He and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging talks on Saturday, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It is Deuba's first bilateral visit abroad after becoming the prime minister in July last year for a fifth time following a spell of political turmoil in Kathmandu. He had visited India in each of his four earlier stints as the prime minister of Nepal. (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, Apr 1 (PTI) The Delhi High Court on Friday listed for hearing on April 4 petition by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the issuance of notice to its officers by West Bengal Police pursuant to an FIR lodged by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee and asked the state police to restrain itself from taking any action in the meantime. Justice Jasmeet Singh directed that the petition by the central agency challenging the notice dated March 17 be listed before the judge hearing another plea concerning the earlier summons issued by the West Bengal Police in the case. Also Read | Kerala: Pathanamthitta Collector Dr Divya Iyer Dances With MG University Students at Flash Mob; Video Goes Viral. "We will hear it on Monday (*April 4). Till Monday, you will restrain yourself," the court said. Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for the West Bengal government, said that no action will be taken in the meantime. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: India Can Play Mediators Role Between Moscow and Kyiv, Says Russian FM Sergey Lavrov. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for ED, urged the court to protect its officers as till the case is taken up on April 4. In the petition, the central agency, which was also represented by lawyers Amit Mahajan and Nitesh Rana, stated that to "pressurize" its officer investigating the case related to the illegal coal mining in West Bengal, Abhishek Banerjee lodged the present FIR and in furtherance of the same, notices have been issued to them. "The said FIR has been registered with a malafide intention to derail and delay the investigation under PMLA being conducted by the Directorate of Enforcement", said the petition. "The Respondents (State of West Bengal) despite passing of the interim order in order to overreach orders of this Hon'ble Court has issued impugned notice dated March 17, 2022, in apparent attempt to harass, browbeat and stop the officers of Petitioner No.1 (ED) from discharging their statutory functions," it added. In December last year, the court had stayed two notices issued to ED officers by the West Bengal Police in the case. In April 2021, on a complaint by the TMC MP, an FIR was lodged by police in West Bengal under the Indian Penal Code for alleged commission of offences of forgery of records, forgery for the purpose of harming reputation, and defamation. In its earlier petition before the court, the ED had said that in order to pressurise its officers probing the money laundering case against him, Banerjee, who is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee and "enjoys clout" in the state government, lodged the instant FIR. The ED had alleged that the two notices issued on July 22, 2021, and August 21, 2021, were patently illegal, mala fide, and a "counterblast" to the investigation in the coal pilferage case. It had also claimed that the motive behind the registration of the FIR and the subsequent issuance of notices is "only to harass the officers of the Directorate and to use the State Police Machinery to halt the investigation being conducted by the officers of the Directorate against highly placed persons in the State Government of West Bengal and their suspected role in the offence of money laundering". PTI ADS (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Budgam (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 1 (ANI): With an aim to bring artisans to the mainstream markets, an artisan awareness workshop was conducted at the National Institute of Fashion (NIFT), Srinagar on Friday. The two-month-long workshop was sponsored by the office of the Development Commissioner, Handlooms and Development Commissioner, Handicrafts under the Ministry of Textiles (Government of India). Also Read | Punjab Shocker: Man Booked for Sexually Harassing Widow Tenant in Lohara. The workshop focused on enhancing the operational efficiency and competitiveness of the artisans and weavers. Artisans interacted with the NIFT faculty and students for sharing the nuances of designs, market trends, branding and the use of social media for marketing. "Purpose of the workshop is to hone the skills and improve the income sources of these tribal artisans. These artisans workers have prior experience of handling handloom and in the next two months, the institute will polish their skills in how marketing is done, and how to make better products. I hope this workshop will help them practically," Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza, Deputy Commissioner Budgam told ANI. Also Read | iQOO Neo 6 To Be Launched on April 13, 2022; Check Details Here. The workshop would serve as a catalyst in paving way for the artisans in the valley. "We are teaching them product development as it is a skill upgradation programme. All of these participants have past experience of embroidery, what we are teaching them is how to make products and develop a wider range of options thus giving them an opportunity to earn better," said Nowsheen Qazi, the Course Coordinator. The participants were also given information about various welfare schemes meant for the development of the artisan community. "I am really happy to be a part of this workshop. It is going to help us build our future. Ranging from the latest machinery to the recent techniques, we have everything here. This was not possible at home where we only focused on embroidery. We really look forward to improving our skills," said a student, Shazia Jan. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tumkur (Karnataka) [India], April 1 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah who is on a two-day visit to Karnataka on Friday attended the 115th Jayanthi and Guru Vandana program of Shivakumara Swamiji at Siddaganga Math in Tumkur city. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya were also present on the occasion. Also Read | Navaratri 2022: Chaitra Navaratri to Be Celebrated With Pre-COVID Grandeur. Shah embarked on his visit to Karnataka which is scheduled to go to the polls next year on Thursday late at night and was received by Chief Minister Bommai, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and other leaders of the state. After attending this program, the Home Minister will also attend other programmes in the state including the Foundation stone laying of the 200-bedded hospital in Sathya Sai Grama in Muddenahalli at around 2.20 pm, according to the Home Ministry. Also Read | Apple Releases macOS Monterey 12.3.1 Update. Shah will also attend Karnataka State Cooperative Conference at around 4 pm in Bengaluru Palace. Also slated later in the day is a meeting with a BJP core group of the state. The meeting assumes a lot of significance given the fact that there have been several rounds of speculations that there could be a change of leadership in the state including the Chief Minister as well as the party president. Home Minister Amit Shah will be participating in the core group meeting along with BJP general secretary Arun Singh who is in charge of Karnataka. Top sources in the BJP, while speaking to ANI, rubbished any possibility of a change of leadership in the state. "There is no question of change of leadership in the state... The president (Nalin Kateel) has been given a term and he will definitely complete that," said the sources. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 1 (ANI): After the Maharashtra Government announced that all COVID-19 related restrictions including the wearing of masks in public places will be withdrawn from Saturday, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday said that the party's 'Janta Darbar', which was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now resume from April 4, 2022. The NCP had suspended the 'Janta Darbar' following rise in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra in February 2021. Also Read | Apple Releases macOS Monterey 12.3.1 Update. "As Corona infection has been largely contained in the state. Therefore, the Chief Minister has decided to relax the rules in the state from April 1," informed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to reporters on Thursday. "Due to the relaxation of these rules, the party has now decided to resume the Janta Darbar at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mumbai," added Pawar. Also Read | Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G Teased Online, India Launch Soon. The 'Janta Darbar' is a programme started by the NCP after the party came to power in Maharashtra. The concept of 'Janta Darbar' was put forward by Pawar. In the bid to enhance the interaction with the people, the programme mandated the ministers to spend one day at the NCP headquarters. Earlier on Thursday, the Maharashtra Government announced that all COVID-19 related restrictions including the wearing of masks in public places will be withdrawn from Saturday. "We will withdraw all the COVID-19 related restrictions from the state from Gudi Padwa. The decision has been taken today in the cabinet meeting. An order will be issued for the same. We will withdraw the order which made it mandatory to wear a mask," had said Health Minister Rajesh Tope after the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Chief Minister Thackeray had said that the Gudi Padwa festival marks the new year."All COVID restrictions in Maharashtra will be lifted, as we bring in the new year this Gudi Padwa!" had tweeted the Chief Minister. The Disaster Management Act as well as the Infectious Diseases Prevention Act which were invoked with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic will be withdrawn. "Restrictions like 50 per cent capacity in buses, restaurants and cinema theatres, double vaccination compulsion in travel and buses will be withdrawn," Tope had said. However, the Health Minister advised the citizens to adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour.The Health Minister cited the decline in daily COVID-19 cases and positivity rate as the reason behind withdrawing the restrictions. Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra reported 183 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the number of active cases to 902. One fatality was reported in the last 24 hours, as per the bulletin released on Thursday. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid homage to Sivakumara Swamiji of the Siddaganga Math in Karnataka on his birth anniversary, and said "we will always remember his unparalleled community service". "I pay homage to His Holiness Dr. Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu on his Jayanti. He lives in the hearts of countless people," Modi tweeted. Also Read | Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G Teased Online, India Launch Soon. "We will always remember his unparalleled community service and his emphasis on healthcare and education. We will keep working to fulfill his dreams," the prime minister said. Shivakumara Swamiji, who headed the Siddaganga Math in Karnataka and was known as the 'Walking God' among his countless followers, passed away in 2019. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Central, Northwest India To Sizzle Over Next Few Days; Rainfall Expected Over Assam-Meghalaya Region, Arunachal Pradesh. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Apr 1 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "robbing" the state of its rights amid a political row over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent announcement that central service rules will apply to employees of Chandigarh. Mann said this while winding up the discussion during the one-day special Assembly session, in which a resolution seeking immediate transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab was passed. Also Read | Mumbai: Three Escape After Stealing 77 Lakh From ATM in Goregaon, Burning Machine. Mann, whose Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had stormed to power in the just-concluded state Assembly poll, said 80 per cent of the sacrifices were made by people from Punjab in getting India freed. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict May Affect Supply Chains of Semiconductors, Says MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar. And the prime minister of free India now is "robbing" the rights of Punjab, he said in the House. Sharing his past experience as a parliamentarian, Mann exhorted all MPs and MLAs from the state to exhibit the same spirit of unity and bonhomie as demonstrated by leaders of southern states to safeguard the rights of their states while rising above vested interests and petty personal considerations. He said MPs of states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh come together for raising their issues in Parliament. "I often used to feel why we do not come together. I used to ask them but they said their party lines are different," said Mann. Lashing out at the BJP-led Centre, Mann said its leadership indulges in vendetta politics in general and especially in states like Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, where its leadership "miserably failed" to get people's mandate for the formation of its government. He asked the Centre whether the states where the BJP was not in power were not part of the country. He said in Delhi, the permission of the Lieutenant Governor is necessary for any work. Mann said Punjab had demanded extra electricity from the central pool but it was denied, however, it was given to Haryana. "On the other hand, the PM says 'sabka saath sabka vikas'. Where is our 'saath'? Neither you take our 'saath' nor give the same to us," said Mann. He recalled that Punjab was asked to pay Rs 7.50 crore by the Centre for sending the military following the terror attack at the Pathankot airbase in 2016. Mann said he along with the then MP Sadhu Singh asked the defence minister whether the military was provided to Punjab on rent. Mann said he then had asked, "Don't you consider Punjab as a part of the country." Thereafter, the sum of Rs 7.50 crore was waived, said Mann. Targeting the BJP for questioning the intention of the resolution, Mann said the BJP should not question their intention and took a jibe at BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma, saying they get their speech straight from Nagpur, a reference to the headquarter of the RSS. "I have heard a lot about 'Nagpuri santre' (oranges from Nagpur) but I heard 'Nagpuri bhashan' (address) for the first time. They get their address straight from Nagpur," said Mann while taking a jibe at the BJP. "You live in Punjab, you eat Punjab's food and drink Punjab's water then you say no, no," he said in an apparent dig at Ashwani Sharma for not supporting the resolution. Without taking the name of former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Mann said those who used to say that it was different to run a stage or a state are now not visible anywhere. The resolution was passed by the House in the absence of the two BJP MLAs, who had staged a walkout. Except the BJP, whose state unit chief Ashwani Sharma said he doubts the intent behind the resolution, members of all political parties supported the move. The Centre has notified the rules, under which the retirement age has been increased from 58 to 60 years while child care leave has been increased from one year to two years. Until now, Punjab service rules applied to employees of Chandigarh, which was made a UT and joint capital of Punjab and Haryana more than five decades ago. Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) China spokesperson warns Australia of "high price" for interfering in internal affairs Xinhua) 09:03, April 01, 2022 BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson said on Thursday that Australia would have to "pay a high price if it insists on going down the wrong path of interfering with China's internal affairs." Responding to a press question on the AUKUS pact between the United States, Britain and Australia, China's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian noted that some Australian politicians, driven by their selfish interests, had recently been hyping up China-related issues, and repeatedly made false remarks regarding Sino-Australian relations and Taiwan-related issues. The AUKUS deal, which would enable Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines with technology provided by the United States and Britain, impairs the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, undermines regional peace and stability, and has been widely rejected by the international community, Wu told the press conference. China deplores and firmly opposes Australia's deliberate attempt to hype up the so-called "China military threat" theory, Wu said, adding that false remarks made by the Australian side on the Taiwan question are extremely "dangerous." "We hereby warn the Australian side that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and that Taiwan affairs are China's internal affairs and allow no external interference," he said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Ayodhya / Balrampur / Gorakhpur (UP), Apr 1 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday visited the temple town of Ayodhya and asked the city's municipal corporation not to impose commercial taxes on temples and other religious shrines. Also Read | Mumbai: Three Escape After Stealing 77 Lakh From ATM in Goregaon, Burning Machine. On his first visit to Ayodhya after assuming charge of the state for the second term, Adityanath also reviewed the preparation for the upcoming Ram Navami Mela in the temple town. Around 10 lakhs devotees are expected to participate in the fair that would be held after two years due to the Covid pandemic. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict May Affect Supply Chains of Semiconductors, Says MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar. At Ayodhya, Adityanath also offered prayers at the Hanumangarhi temple and paid a visit to the construction site of the Lord Ram temple. The chief minister also visited the Balrampur district later and offered prayers in three temples there. He will have a night halt at the Devi Patan temple there and leave for Siddharthnagar on Saturday. A report from Gorakhpur, meanwhile, said CM Adityanath will observe a nine-day fast during "Chaitra Navratri" beginning Saturday and will perform special puja there for peace, prosperity, health and happiness in the state and nation. In the temple town, Adityanath asked the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation not to take commercial tax from temples and other religious shrines. The municipal corporation must not charge house tax, water tax, sewer tax from monasteries, temples, 'dharamshalas' and charitable organisations at commercial rates as all these institutions do charity work and public service, the CM said. The chief minister asked the civic body to take only financial cooperation from religious shrines in the form of token monetary contributions. The CM also directed the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation to make a proposal regarding this and get it approved by the government. After the foundation-laying of the Ram temple in August 2020, this will be the first Ram Navami Mela after the Covid pandemic and the CM asked officials to organise this fair with grandeur and make special efforts for bringing Ayodhya on the world map. While reviewing the preparations for the Mela, Adityanath, in his address, said the construction of the Ram temple has started and thousands of devotees will come to Ayodhya every day from all over India. Keeping this in view, create an enchanting atmosphere and decorate Ayodhya in such a way that the devotees find the whole atmosphere full of Ramayana era, he said. During his visit, the CM met Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and senior seer of Bhaktmaal Mahant Kaushal Kishor. The report from Gorakhpur said that while keeping the nine-day fast during Chaitra Navratri, the CM will perform special puja for the peace and prosperity in the state and nation. On Saturday, along with the worship of Maa Shailputri, Durga Saptshati Paath will begin in Shakti temple on the first floor of the Gorakhnath temple Math, Dwarika Tiwari of the temple said. Acharya Ramanuj Tripathi, also of the Gorakhnath temple, said on the day of Ashtami on April 9, Nisha Pujan will be performed at the night and Kanya Pujan will be held on the Navmi which is on April 10. He hoped that the chief minister and Gorakshpeethdhishwer Yogi Adityanath might participate in the temple's Kanya Pujan program. (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, Apr 1 (PTI) Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) on Friday reported a 6.34 per cent decline in total sales at 65,495 units in March. The company had sold a total of 69,932 units in the same month last year. Also Read | Vivo X80 Tipped To Feature MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, 6.78-inch OLED Display. Domestic sales stood at 50,734 units as against 60,222 units in March last year. Exports were at 14,761 units in March 2022 as compared to 9,170 units in the year-ago month, the company said in a statement. Also Read | iQOO Neo 6 To Be Launched on April 13, 2022; Check Details Here. In 2021-22, SMIPL said it sold 7,54,938 units as compared to 5,91,846 units in the previous financial year, registering a growth of 27.6 per cent. "It is quite satisfying that despite the COVID-19 induced challenges and supply chain issues, we successfully registered a sales growth of 27.6 per cent in FY 2021-22. This growth reflects that our products have been well received by our consumers," SMIPL Managing Director Satoshi Uchida. (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], April 1 (ANI): An all-Afghan panel consisting of a scholar, former diplomat and young innovator at the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council discussed the human rights situation in Kabul after the Taliban takeover of the country in mid-August and expressed concern over the transformation of the educational system under Taliban rule which may turn Afghanistan into a hotbed of terrorism. On the side-lines of the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) organised a Webinar on March 30 on 'Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan', in order to illuminate the increasingly deteriorating situation there. Also Read | Global COVID-19 Caseload Tops 488.3 Million, Deaths Surge Over 6.14 Mn. Moderated by Junaid Qureshi, Director EFSAS, the session was joined by a large number of attendees, including human rights activists, NGO representatives, diplomats and researchers. The event was held on March 30. Mahmoud Saikal, Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra, Chair of Kabul Association of Integrity, Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan and Ambassador to the United Nations and Australia, noted that human rights violations have become commonplace under Taliban rule. Also Read | Joe Biden Authorizes Release of 1 Million Barrels of Oil Per Day From US Strategic Reserve for Six Months. "Male government employees have been forced to pray, grow a beard, and wear traditional clothes, whilst the Taliban have also banned foreign media outlets and restricted the operations of domestic media outlets. To bolster the ranks of its suicide divisions, the Taliban has started to recruit orphans," he said in a statement. He highlighted that the Taliban's transformation of the educational system is likely to make Afghanistan a hotbed of terrorism. Turning toward the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Saikal suggested that 60 per cent of all Afghans are currently in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The international response to the Taliban's takeover, Saikal argued, for instance in the case of UNAMA, has been reactive rather than proactive. He also noted that the existing UN architecture, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Human Rights Council, has been incapable of adequately responding to the deteriorating situation in the country. Saikal concluded that the Taliban's approach toward the Doha Agreement indicates that the Taliban must be judged based on its behaviour rather than its rhetoric. Dr Bahar Jalali, Associate Professor of History at Loyola University Maryland, US and founder of the first Gender Studies programme in Afghanistan, emphasized that the Taliban cannot be described as an Afghan movement as the ranks of the Taliban were recruited from Afghans who had fled to Pakistan and who had thus never experienced a traditional Afghan life. During the 1960s, Dr Jalali noted, the Afghan elite was constituted by a comparatively progressive group that promoted the introduction of a progressive constitution in 1964 that was followed by the election of the first female representatives to the Afghan parliament in 1965. Afghanistan's trajectory changed significantly following the 1978 Saur Revolution, reversing much of the progress that Afghanistan had made in previous decades. Given Afghanistan's historical record regarding female empowerment, she highlighted that the US-sponsored reforms post-2001 did not necessarily reintroduce new social norms but enabled the reaffirmation of values that had been suppressed by the Taliban. Speaking at the event Sara Wahedi, CEO and Founder of Ehtesab, Afghanistan's first civic technology startup echoed the opinions of the previous speakers and argued that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has become extremely dire with the extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions of journalists, human rights activists and individuals who oppose the Taliban regime. In addition, starvation and child labour are on the rise, while a liquidity crisis is crippling the Afghan economy. She further stated that with the presence of the Islamic State in Khorasan Province the status quo has deteriorated even more. Wahedi concluded her speech by emphasizing the importance of protecting and supporting responsible journalism - journalism that takes time and relies on a variety of sources - particularly at a time when people are overwhelmed, politicization is at play, and fake news and misinformation are proliferating. The event was followed by a very vibrant and enlightening Q&A session during which the audience and speakers exchanged opinions on various topics including Pakistan. Asking about 'How is Pakistan's foreign policy towards the Taliban going to develop in the coming months given the Taliban's support for the TTP?', Saikal said that the equation between Pakistan and the Taliban has changed since the latter came to power, as Pakistan's intelligence agency - Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) would like to keep them subservient in order to control them. As a result, Pakistan is likely to ensure that the international community does not recognize the extremist group and encourage international NGOs from Afghanistan to set up offices in Pakistan. Jalali also discussed the normalization of the Taliban in the eyes of the international community and the latter's defeatist attitude, showcasing the West's incompetence and lack of accountability. Moreover, the root cause of the problem according to her was Pakistan remains a major non-NATO ally and thus too important for the US to get sanctioned for its role in nurturing and supporting the Taliban. Saikal concluded that unfortunately, Afghanistan will become a breeding ground for terrorism to China, South Asia, Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas, yet concerned parties, including India, where the gravity of the problem will play out because of Pakistan's strategic depth policy, still seemed unalarmed. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Apr 1 (AP) Wilfred Tebah doesn't begrudge the US for swiftly granting humanitarian protections to Ukrainians escaping Russia's devastating invasion of their homeland. But the 27-year-old, who fled Cameroon during its ongoing conflict, can't help but wonder what would happen if the millions fleeing that Eastern Europe nation were a different hue. Also Read | At California Gas Station, Republicans Woo Voters Angry over Fuel Prices but Its Latest Tweet by Reuters. As the US prepares to welcome tens of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing war, the country continues to deport scores of African and Caribbean refugees back to unstable and violent homelands where they've faced rape, torture, arbitrary arrest and other abuses. They do not care about a Black man, the Columbus, Ohio, resident said, referring to U.S. politicians. The difference is really clear. They know what is happening over there, and they have decided to close their eyes and ears. Also Read | My Life is in Danger, Says Pakistan PM Imran Khan. Tebah's concerns echo protests against the swift expulsions of Haitian refugees crossing the border this summer without a chance to seek asylum, not to mention the frosty reception African and Middle Eastern refugees have faced in western Europe compared with how those nations have enthusiastically embraced displaced Ukrainians. In March, when President Joe Biden made a series of announcements welcoming 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, granting Temporary Protected Status to another 30,000 already in the US and halting Ukrainian deportations, two Democratic lawmakers seized on the moment to call for similar humanitarian considerations for Haitians. There is every reason to extend the same level of compassion, U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, and Mondaire Jones, of New York, wrote to the administration, noting more than 20,000 Haitians have been deported despite continued instability after the assassination of Haiti's president and a powerful earthquake this summer. Cameroonian advocates have similarly ratcheted up their calls for humanitarian relief, protesting in front of the Washington residence of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the offices of leading members of Congress this month. Their calls come as hundreds of thousands in Cameroon have been displaced in recent years by the country's civil war between its French-speaking government and English-speaking separatists, attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram and other regional conflicts. The advocacy group Human Rights Watch, in a February report, found many Cameroonians deported from the US suffered persecution and human rights violations upon returning there. Tebah, who is a leading member of the Cameroon American Council, an advocacy group organizing protests this month, said that's a fate he hopes to avoid. Hailing from the country's English-speaking northwest, he said he was branded a separatist and apprehended by the government because of his activism as a college student. Tebah said he managed to escape, as many Cameroonians have, by flying to Latin America, trekking overland to the U.S.-Mexico border and petitioning for asylum in 2019. I will be held in prison, tortured and even killed if I am deported, he said. "I'm very scared. As a human, my life matters too. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees TPS and other humanitarian programs, declined to respond to the complaints of racism in American immigration policy. It also declined to say whether it was weighing granting TPS to Cameroonians or other African nationals, saying in a written statement only that it will continue to monitor conditions in various countries. The agency noted, however, that it has recently issued TPS designations for Haiti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan - all African or Caribbean nations - as well as to more than 75,000 Afghans living in the U.S. after the Taliban takeover of that Central Asian nation. Haitians are among the largest and longest-tenured beneficiaries of TPS, with more than 40,000 currently on the status. Other TPS countries include Burma, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, and the majority of the nearly 320,000 immigrants with Temporary Protected Status hail from El Salvador. Lisa Parisio, who helped launch Catholics Against Racism in Immigration, argues the program could easily help protect millions more refugees fleeing danger but has historically been underused and over-politicized. TPS, which provides a work permit and staves off deportation for up to 18 months, doesn't have limits for how many countries or people can be placed on it, said Parisio, who is the advocacy director for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. Yet former President Donald Trump, in his broader efforts to restrict immigration, pared down TPS, allowing designations for Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in West Africa to expire. Although programs like TPS provide critical protections for vulnerable refugees, they can also leave many in legal limbo for years without providing a pathway to citizenship, said Karla Morales, a 24-year-old from El Salvador who has been on TPS nearly her whole life. It's absurd to consider 20 years in this country temporary, the University of Massachusetts Boston nursing student said. We need validation that the work we've put in is appreciated and that our lives have value. At least in the case of Ukraine, Biden appears motivated by broader foreign policy goals in Europe, rather than racial bias, suggests Maria Cristina Garcia, a history professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, focused on refugees and immigrants. But Tom Wong, founding director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California, San Diego, said the racial disparities couldn't be clearer. The U.S. has responded without hesitation by extending humanitarian protections to predominately white and European refugees, he said. All the while, predominately people of color from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia continue to languish. Besides Cameroon, immigrant advocates also argue that Congo and Ethiopia should qualify for humanitarian relief because of their ongoing conflicts, as should Mauritania, since slavery is still practiced there. And they complain Ukrainian asylum seekers are being exempted from asylum limits meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while those from other nations are being turned away. Black pain and Black suffering do not get the same attention, says Sylvie Bello, founder of the D.C.-based Cameroon American Council. The same anti-Blackness that permeates American life also permeates American immigration policy. Vera Arnot, a Ukrainian in Boston who is considering seeking TPS, says she didn't know much about the special status until the war started and wasn't aware of the concerns from immigrants of color. But the Berklee College of Music sophomore hopes the relief can be extended to other deserving nations. Arnot says TPS could help her seek an off-campus job with better pay so she doesn't have to rely on her family's support, as most in Ukraine have lost their jobs due to the war. Ukrainians as a people aren't used to relying on others, she said. We want to work. We don't want welfare. For Tebah, who is staying with relatives in Ohio, TPS would make it easier for him to open a bank account, get a driver's license and seek better employment while he awaits a decision on his asylum case. We'll continue to beg, to plead," Tebah said. We are in danger. I want to emphasize it. And only TPS for Cameroon will help us be taken out of that danger. It is very necessary. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Berlin [Germany], April 1 (ANI/Sputnik): The German list of weapons for Ukraine has not been agreed "with anyone" in Kyiv, German newspaper Die Welt reported on Thursday, citing a source in the Ukrainian government. On Wednesday, German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung reported that the German defense ministry had prepared a list of weapons worth 300 million euros ($334 million), which included drones and grenade launchers for Ukraine. Also Read | Imran Khan No-Trust Vote: Pakistan PM Names US As Country Behind Threat in 'Slip of Tongue' (Watch Video). Germany still refuses to supply offensive weapons, in particular, tanks and fighters, and considers the possibility to provide Ukraine with grenade launchers and anti-aircraft missiles, sources told Die Welt, adding that even these decisions were not agreed with Kyiv. According to the newspaper, Ukraine requests supply of reconnaissance and combat drones, while portable anti-aircraft and anti-tank systems are less needed. Also Read | Pakistan PM Imran Khan Refuses to Resign, Says 3 Stooges Working With Foreign Powers Against Govt. On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian forces. (ANI/Sputnik) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, April 1: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that it would be a nice idea to go into early elections after the vote on no-confidence motion and reiterated that the Opposition is part of an "international conspiracy" to remove his government. "Our people who have run away (referring to the coalition allies of PTI)... It is obvious that we can't run the government with them even if we get a majority... So it will be better for Pakistan to conduct an election so that everything is clear about who stands where," Imran Khan said during an interview with ARY News. Imran Khan used the occasion to reiterate his claims of a foreign conspiracy, and lambasted the country's Opposition, particularly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif for being part of an international plot to remove the Pakistani government. My Life is in Danger, Says Pakistan PM Imran Khan. "The Opposition is part of an international conspiracy to remove the government... I invited Shehbaz Sharif to a meeting (of Parliament's security council), but he did not come... because he is part of the conspiracy... the Opposition boycotted the meeting," Khan said. Signalling that he may lose the vote on no-confidence on Sunday, Khan raised questions about the Opposition running the government, saying that the Opposition leaders were only busy distributing portfolios among themselves. Imran Khan also underscored that he won't resign and that he will fight till the last ball is bowled and the match is lost. In an address to the nation on Thursday, Pakistan's embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan had raised a "foreign conspiracy" charge amid the opposition's growing confidence about the no-trust motion against his government that is pending in the National Assembly. "The United States", Imran Khan said in a slip of the tongue and then stated that "a foreign country" had sent a "threatening memo" which was against the Pakistani nation. "On March 8 or before that on March 7, the US sent us a...not the US but a foreign country sent us a message. The reason why I talking about this...for an independent country to receive such a message... this is against me and the country," he said. Later in the day, the United States rejected insinuations made by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding Washington's role in the alleged "foreign conspiracy" to oust him from power. "There is no truth to these allegations. We are closely following developments in Pakistan. We respect and support Pakistan's constitutional process and the rule of law," a US State Department spokesperson told ANI. In Pakistan's National Assembly, the no-trust vote against the Imran Khan government was deferred to April 3. The proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till April 3 soon after it met on Thursday to discuss the no-confidence motion. Earlier, on Monday, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif tabled the no-confidence motion.Imran Khan is the third Prime Minister to face the no-confidence motion in Pakistan. Imran Khan Says He 'Won't Resign As Pakistan's PM, Will Fight Till Last Ball' As No Confidence Vote To Be Held On Sunday. After the no-confidence motion was tabled with a total of 161 votes in favour, the proceedings of the National Assembly were adjourned till March 31. Imran Khan received a massive blow when the PTI "lost the majority" in the National Assembly after losing its key ally in the coalition Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P). The MQM announced on Wednesday that it had struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and would support the no-trust vote in the 342-member National Assembly. The government's survival depends on the support of allies such as MQM-P (7 seats), BAP (5 seats), PML(Q) (5 seats), GDA (3 seats), AML (1 seat), JWP (1 seat) and two independents. (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], April 1 (ANI): Noting that rupee-rouble trade has been going on for a long time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday took a dig at western countries over sanctions and their excluding some Russian banks from the SWIFT system and said there is need to avoid a financial system whose "masters can steal your money overnight". "The rupee-ruble has been going on for a long time. We don't want to depend on a system that would be closed anytime, and we don't want to be part of a system whose masters can steal your money overnight," he said on the exclusion of some Russian banks by western countries from SWIFT messaging system and the potential of rupee-rouble trade. Also Read | US Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.6% After 431,000 Jobs Added in March 2022. SWIFT is a messaging system that underpins global financial transactions. Rubbishing sanctions, Lavrov indicated that Russia would be keen to use non-western currencies for trade. Also Read | My Life is in Danger, Says Pakistan PM Imran Khan. The Russian Foreign Minister, who is on a two-day visit to India, also said Moscow is ready to supply oil and hi-tech weapons which New Delhi wants to buy from it. "We will be ready to supply to India any goods which it wants to buy from us. We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations," Lavrov said in response to a query by ANI on the supply of crude oil and hi-technology defence equipment to India. The US and other western countries have imposed sanctions against Russia over its "special operations" in Ukraine. The developments have also affected energy prices in the world. Asked if US pressure on India will affect India-Russian ties, Lavrov said, "I have no doubt no pressure will affect our partnership... They (US) are forcing others to follow their politics." He said bilateral ties with India have developed over the decades and said the two countries were good friends and loyal partners. "Talks are characterized by relations which we developed with India for many decades. Relations are strategic partnerships...This was the basis on which we have been promoting our cooperation in all areas," Lavrov said. He said India's foreign policies are characterized by independence and focus on real national legitimate interests "I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterized by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners." Lavrov met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday. Lavrov's visit comes days after China's foreign minister Wang Yi visited India last week. India-US 2+2 dialogue would be held on April 11. The Russian Foreign Minister reached New Delhi after his two-day visit to China. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Berlin, Apr 1 (AP) The International Energy Agency says its members agreed Friday to release further oil from their emergency reserves in response to the market turmoil caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Paris-based agency said in a statement that the agreement was reached at an extraordinary meeting of ministers. It did not provide information on how much emergency stock would be released, saying this would be made public next week. Also Read | Imran Khan No-Trust Vote: Pakistan PM Hints at Early Elections, Says Opposition Part of International Conspiracy to Remove His Govt. The agency's 31 members previously announced last month that they would release 62.7 million barrels of oil to ease shortages. It said members noted the high oil price volatility caused by the war, with commercial inventories at their lowest level since 2014 and particular difficulties in diesel markets. Russia is the world's third-largest oil producer, with about 60% of exports going to Europe and 20% going to China. Also Read | US Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.6% After 431,000 Jobs Added in March 2022. The IEA said its member hold emergency stockpiles of 1.5 billion barrels. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI): Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba met Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda at the party headquarters on Friday and discussed strengthening the ties between the Nepali Congress and the BJP. The Nepal PM was accompanied by his wife Arzu Deuba, Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka, Energy and Water Resources Minister Pampha Bhusal and Health Minister Mahendra Rai Yadav during the meeting. PM Deuba was attending the meeting at the invitation of BJP President JP Nadda. Also Read | US Sanctions North Korea Firms Over Recent Missile Tests. The discussion was held in a cordial environment and political ideas were also exchanged, BJP Foreign cell head Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale informed about the meeting. The two leaders discussed exchange programs involving youth exchange as well as women delegation exchange and said that they will take forward 'party-to-party' dialogues between the BJP and the Nepali Congress. Also Read | Imran Khan No-Trust Vote: Pakistan PM Hints at Early Elections, Says Opposition Part of International Conspiracy to Remove His Govt. Relations between India and Nepal transcend many plains including Business-to-Business relations and country-to-country relations, however, there was a gap in 'party-to-party' relations, Chauthaiwala said, adding that the BJP President emphasized that the Nepali Congress and the BJP should undertake regular dialogue. Regarding the exchange of party delegations, Chauthaiwale said that one Nepali Congress delegation had already arrived about 2-3 months ago at the invitation of the BJP. The exchange of delegations will go on, and we will regularly exchange youth delegations and business delegations through coordination between both our parties, he added. He further said that the BJP President gave a brand overview of the BJP to the Nepali PM, talking about the functioning of the party, as well as the non-political social welfare work the party volunteers undertook during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chauthaiwale further elaborated that the discussions also involved the old ties between India and Nepal and the cordial relations between the two countries, adding that the two leaders naturally discussed the cultural and civilizational relations between the two countries. "I think the 3-day visit of PM Deuba starts a new chapter between India-Nepal relations. Today's meeting is an important link in that chapter and we will see the long-term results of this meeting. I think a message of natural friendship between the two countries has been sent through this visit (of Nepal PM)," Chauthaiwale said. Earlier today, Nepal PM arrived in New Delhi to kickstart his first visit to the country since assuming office in July last year. Nepal's Prime Minister is visiting India at the invitation of PM Modi. The Nepal PM also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla later today. PM Deuba is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow at Hyderabad House, besides other engagements. Besides official engagements in New Delhi, Nepal PM will visit Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. In a press statement, the MEA said India and Nepal enjoy age-old special ties of friendship and cooperation. The last Head of State/Head of Government-level visit from Nepal was in May 2019, when then PM K P Oli visited India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. Before that PM Modi had visited Nepal in August 2018 for the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, which was preceded by a State Visit to Nepal in May 2018. PM Modi had extended a congratulatory message to Sher Bahadur Deuba soon after he won the Vote of Confidence in Nepal's Parliament. This was followed by a congratulatory telephonic conversation on 19 July 2021. The most recent meeting between PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba took place on November 2, 2021, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow. Sher Bahadur Deuba is a veteran politician of the Nepali Congress with a political career spanning over seven decades. This is Deuba's fifth tenure as PM. His first term was from September 1995 to March 1997. He has visited India several times, both when in and out of power. This will be his fifth visit to India as PM, with the last visit being in August 2018. The previous three visits took place in 2004, 2002 and 1996. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, Apr 1 (PTI) Pakistan summoned a senior US diplomat here and lodged a strong protest over America's alleged "interference" in its internal affairs, according to media reports on Friday. The US State Department on Thursday firmly rejected embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks over Washington's role in an alleged foreign conspiracy to oust him from power. Also Read | Global COVID-19 Caseload Tops 488.3 Million, Deaths Surge Over 6.14 Mn. In a live address to the nation, 69-year-old Khan discussed a 'threat letter' and termed it as part of a foreign conspiracy to remove him as he was not acceptable for following an independent foreign policy. He named the US as the country behind the threat letter in what appeared to be a slip of tongue. Dunya News quoted sources as saying that the US diplomat was summoned by the Foreign Office (FO) over a threatening letter that warned of dire consequences if the Opposition's no-confidence motion against Khan failed. Also Read | Joe Biden Authorizes Release of 1 Million Barrels of Oil Per Day From US Strategic Reserve for Six Months. The step was taken after a decision by Pakistan's National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday. The Foreign Office also handed over a letter of protest to the US diplomat over the language used by a foreign official during a formal communication. The US diplomat has been told that "interference in Pakistan's internal affairs is unacceptable", the report said. The NSC decided to issue the strong demarche to the country that, in an interaction, expressed displeasure at Pakistan's policy on Ukraine and subsequently Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Masood Khan sent a letter to the Foreign Office on the issue. Prime Minister Khan linked the letter with the no-confidence motion against him by the Opposition in the National Assembly. The National Assembly is scheduled to vote on the no-trust motion on Sunday. Khan's address came at a critical juncture of his political career when he lost majority after defection from his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Two of his allied parties also withdrew their support and joined the ranks of the Opposition. The US has asserted that it did not send any letter to Pakistan on the current political situation in the country as it sought to refute allegations of America's involvement in the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led government. Khan met President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on February 24, the day the Russian leader ordered a "special military operation" against Ukraine. Khan also became the first Pakistani premier to visit Russia in 23 years after former premier Nawaz Sharif travelled to Moscow in 1999. (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], April 1 (ANI): Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday. Both the leaders held bilateral talks, tweeted the Russian Foreign Ministry. Also Read | Global COVID-19 Caseload Tops 488.3 Million, Deaths Surge Over 6.14 Mn. Lavrov, who is on a two-day official visit to India arrived here on Thursday. This is the first trip of Lavrov to India since Moscow launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24. Lavrov's visit comes soon after China's foreign minister Wang Yi visit to India last week and ahead of the 2+2 dialogue set to be held between India and the US on April 11. Also Read | Joe Biden Authorizes Release of 1 Million Barrels of Oil Per Day From US Strategic Reserve for Six Months. The Russian Foreign Minister reached New Delhi after his two-day visit to China. On Wednesday, in China, Lavrov held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and both sides pledged to strengthen bilateral ties. Lavrov informed the Chinese side of the Russia-Ukraine talks, saying Russia is committed to easing the tensions, continuing peace talks with Ukraine, and maintaining communication with the international community. Russian Foreign Minister participated in two multinational meetings on Afghanistan along with representatives from Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Lavrov also held meetings with representatives from China and Pakistan and attended a separate meeting of the "Extended Troika" with special Afghan envoys from China and the US. Russian leaders and elites are facing Western sanctions, including an asset freeze and travel ban, over the country's invasion of Ukraine last month. The US in coordination with the EU and the G7 has imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, key members of his government and members of his inner circle and over 400 Russian elites considered close to Kremlin. Over 325 members of the Duma have also been targeted with sanctions. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], April 1 (ANI): While mocking Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, Dr Shahbaz Gill, Special Assistant to PM on Political Communication termed the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly as 'Bachoon Ka PM (prime minister of kids). While talking to journalists in Islamabad on Friday, Gill called him "the prime minister of kids" and said that Sharif's dream of becoming the PM will not be fulfilled, reported ARY News. Also Read | US Sanctions North Korea Firms Over Recent Missile Tests. Moreover, while taking a Jibe at the opposition leader, Gill said 'Bachoon Ka PM' was holding a press conference today adding that Sharif was trying to act like a dummy prime minister. He claimed that Pervaiz Elahi would become the Punjab chief minister tomorrow. He censured the political rivals, saying that the thieves could not think beyond the money transfer and public funds, reported the news channel. Also Read | Imran Khan No-Trust Vote: Pakistan PM Hints at Early Elections, Says Opposition Part of International Conspiracy to Remove His Govt. This comes at a time when PM, earlier in the day said that he will share the 'foreign-funded conspiracy' letter with senior journalists and ally party members which has evidence that outside elements are trying to topple the government. After the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was tabled in the National Assembly with a total of 161 votes in favour, the proceedings were adjourned till March 31.The no-confidence motion was submitted by the Opposition parties on March 8. The Opposition has been confident that its motion would be carried as many PTI lawmakers have come out in the open against PM Imran Khan. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bangkok, Apr 1 (AP) A report by the World Wildlife Fund shows illegal purchases of wildlife online are growing in Myanmar in a threat both to public health and to endangered species. The report released on Friday found that enforcement of bans on such transactions has weakened amid political turmoil following a 2021 military takeover. Also Read | Breakingviews Review: Pandering to Beijing Has Shrinking Payback Latest Tweet by Reuters. The number of such dealings rose 74 per cent over a year earlier to 11,046, nearly all of them involving sales of live animals. For the 173 species traded, 54 are threatened with global extinction, the report said. Researchers identified 639 Facebook accounts belonging to wildlife traders. The largest online trading group had more than 19,000 members and dozens of posts per week, it said. Also Read | Global COVID-19 Caseload Tops 488.3 Million, Deaths Surge Over 6.14 Mn. The animals bought and sold included elephants, bears and gibbons, Tibetan antelope, critically endangered pangolins and an Asian giant tortoise. The most popular were various species of monkeys, often bought as pets. Most of the animals advertised for sale were taken from the wild. They also included civets, which along with pangolins have been identified as potential vectors in the spread of diseases such as SARS and COVID-19. Shaun Martin, who heads the WWF's Asia-Pacific regional cybercrime project, said monitoring of the online wildlife trade shows different species being kept close together, sometimes in the same cage. With Asia's track record as a breeding ground for many recent zoonotic diseases, this sharp uptick in online trade of wildlife in Myanmar is extremely concerning, he said. The unregulated trade in wild species and resulting interactions between wild species and humans raise the risks of new and possibly vaccine-resistant mutations of illnesses such as the COVID-19 that could evolve undetected in non-human hosts into more dangerous variants of disease, experts say. COVID-19 is one of many diseases traced back to animals. The killing and sale of what is known as bushmeat in Africa was thought to be a source for Ebola. Bird flu likely came from chickens at a market in Hong Kong in 1997. Measles is believed to have evolved from a virus that infected cattle. Illegal wildlife trade is a serious concern from the point of view of biodiversity preservation and conservation and its potential impact on health security," said Mary Elizabeth G. Miranda, an expert on zoonotic diseases and illness and CEO of the Field Epidemiology Training Program Alumni Foundation in the Philippines. Social media and other online platforms have joined a worldwide effort to crack down on the thriving trade in birds, reptiles, mammals and animal parts. In Myanmar, much of the trade in wildlife is through Facebook, which as a member of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking online has taken action to block or remove accounts of people engaged in such transactions. But as is true elsewhere, new accounts often pop up just as soon as old ones are shut down, hindering enforcement, the report noted. Easy online access to the animals also is driving up demand, worsening the problem. Discussions of purchases of protected species often took place in open Facebook groups, suggesting that such dealings remain largely risk-free, the report said. Since payments and deliveries often are done using messenger apps, controlling the problem is doubly difficult. Highlighting the lack of enforcement, people in the illegal wildlife trade in Myanmar often use rudimentary methods of moving the animals and animal products around with buses being the usual form of transport. The study by WWF in Myanmar focused on trade online of animals and other creatures inside the country, though there were some imports from neighbouring Thailand, mainly of birds such as hornbills and salmon crested cockatoos, and of crocodiles, to India. Some deals might involve animals or parts being sent into China, it said. The conservation group said it plans future studies to better understand Myanmar's role in the global trade in endangered species. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, April 1: Taking a swipe at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday asked it to hold a "charcha (discussion)" on the paper leak and said "no bulldozer is targeting" the system involved in such acts. Her attack came after the Uttar Pradesh secondary school board's Class 12 English exam was cancelled in 24 districts on Wednesday following a question paper leak. "The BJP government should have a 'charcha on paper leak' in Uttar Pradesh. "Last year, on November 28, lakhs of youth suffered a blow due to the UPTET examination paper leak. In the name of action, nothing happened except pretentious steps," Priyanka Gandhi said. Till today, the youth of Uttar Pradesh do not know which corrupt system of the Uttar Pradesh government had carried out the paper leak, the Congress general secretary claimed, adding the result of it was another paper leak. This time also the government is not doing anything except taking pretentious steps, she said. "The journalist who reported the news of paper leak is being sent to jail." 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' 2022: PM Narendra Modi to Address Students and Parents About Examination Stress Today. "But, the paper leak system has a strong foothold in the government. No bulldozer targets it, no change comes," Priyanka Gandhi said, taking a swipe at the Yogi Adityanath government. The English paper was cancelled in 24 districts and will now be held on April 13, an official statement mentioned. Chief Minister Adityanath has ordered the Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh Police to probe the case and slap the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against those involved in the leak. Till now, 26 people have been arrested in the case. Delhi, April 1: Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India and Mr. Dan Tehan, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Government of Australia, will sign the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAus ECTA) in a virtual ceremony, in the presence of Honble Prime Minister of India, H.E. Shri. Narendra Modi and the Honble Prime Minister of Australia, H.E. Scott Morrison tomorrow. Growing India-Australia economic and commercial relations contribute to the stability and strength of a rapidly diversifying and deepening relationship between the two countries. India, Australia to Sign Interim Free Trade Deal on Saturday. The IndAus ECTA, encompassing trade in goods and services, is a balanced and equitable trade agreement, which will further cement the already deep, close and strategic relations between the two countries and will significantly enhance the bilateral trade in goods and services, create new employment opportunities, raise living standards and improve the general welfare of the peoples of the two countries. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 01, 2022 11:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The #UN Security Council has adopted a resolution to endorse the African Union (@_AfricanUnion) Peace and Security Council's decision to reconfigure the AU peacekeeping mission in #Somalia into the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. pic.twitter.com/9pVDSmZBCd IANS (@ians_india) April 1, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) I cant wait until Im 45 and get all those great parts. --Elizabeth Hartman, in a 1971 interview. The first reports of 43-year-old Elizabeth Hartmans June 10 suicide here were sketchy. Homicide detectives werent sure just who the slight woman was who had thrown herself from the fifth-story window of her efficiency apartment. A handful of neighbors volunteered what they knew. She was an unemployed actress, they thought, who had starred long ago in some movie with Sidney Poitier. She would have hated that description. Even though she was subsisting on disability insurance, Social Security benefits and family handouts, even though her days were spent with various psychiatrists or wandering through the Carnegie Art Museum or merely sitting, listening to records, when somebody asked Hartman what she did, she replied, Im a film actress. Some of her therapists thought that this was another of her fantasies. But she was. In 1965, at age 21, she was nominated for a best-actress Academy Award in her movie debut as a blind girl in A Patch of Blue (but lost to Julie Christie in Darling). She won a Golden Globe Award for most promising female newcomer. She was voted one of 1966s Stars of Tomorrow by the American Film Exhibitors. Columnist Hedda Hopper predicted glowingly that those who watch her at work tell me she cant miss. Biff Hartman (her nickname originated from her sisters childhood inability to pronounce Elizabeth ) of Youngstown, Ohio, had gone West and taken on the city that had been the object of so many of her childhood dreams. Advertisement And, in her own words, the city had won. All actresses are probably very paranoiac, she once said in an interview with the New York Times, and never accept the fact theyre good. You keep thinking: Nobody wants me, I cant get a job. That initial success beat me down. It spiraled me to a position where I didnt belong. I was not ready for that. After she died, once co-star Poitier issued the following statement: It saddens me to think shes no longer with us. She was a wonderful actress and a truly gentle person. We have lost a distinguished artist. (Another Patch of Blue co-star, Shelley Winters, declined comment. Her spokesperson at International Creative Management offered, Shes busy. She was asked to appear in a documentary about Marilyn Monroe and she turned that down, too.) (Calls by Calendar to the Warners Bros. representative for Clint Eastwood, who starred with Hartman in The Beguilded, were not returned.) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette magazine editor George Anderson had a harder edge: I think hers was a tragic American career that peaks at the beginning and has no follow-up. Its a common Hollywood story. The headline in another Pittsburgh paper summed it up. Failing Career/Mental Problems Blamed in Actress Suicide Here. Those closest to Hartman get angry when it is suggested that it was just her faltering movie career that propelled her out that window. Theres so much more to it, says her sister, Janet Shoop. Thats whats so hard for people to understand about mental illness. Its not always outward. Hartman desperately wanted to resume her career. But, in the end, it was just too difficult for her to do so. I think that sort of illness is a spiraling thing, says her former husband, screenwriter Gill Dennis (co-writer of Apocalypse Now, writer of HBOs Home Fires). It would have gotten her . . . no matter what she decided to do. But even Hartmans brother-in-law, attorney Bob Shoop, admits that the link was there: Dont forget, she was nominated for an Academy Award in her first motion picture. She lived a pretty pressure-packed life for a youngster. The pressure had built up so much, I dont think she could handle it. Its true that Hartman didnt die like Peg Entwistle, the 30s would-be starlet who hurled herself dramatically from the Hollywood sign in despair over her non-career. But it is uncomfortably coincidental that Hartman leaped to her death on June 10, five years to the day after she left movies forever. And people like Joe Don Baker, Hartmans co-star in Walking Tall (1973), do think her predicament is not unique. I was so upset when I heard, he said. But I wasnt surprised. Nothing surprises me in this town. There are a lot of (people) here who wont stick with someone when theyre down. She was a great actress. She should have been working. I keep thinking that acting is a noble profession, but its nothing but a garbage pail. I wish more people had helped her. His harsh Southern drawl softens. I wish I had helped her. All this has happened so fast, Im kind of misplaced. Im just drifting around. Im in a very strange state of mind. I used to know who Biff was, but I dont, now. Im suddenly in a different kind of world. --Elizabeth Hartman, 1965 interview. To the 21-year-old Hartman, her overnight discovery was initially part of the natural order of things. Ever since her childhood in Youngstown, she had been positive an acting career was her destiny. Although desperately shy and a loner, she could lose herself in a character to such an extent that she could tune out the world, and what she perceived as her disabilities: her timidity, her daydreaming and her desire to retreat into her private fantasies. She felt her talent could make her overcome these obstacles, that it was, ultimately, all she would need for stage and motion-picture success. She wanted to be a movie star, says Janet Shoop. But she didnt think about the glitter and glamour. She didnt dream about those parties shed be too shy to attend anyway. She wanted to be a star because of her abilities. Her success as the shy, sweet heroine Emily in a local production of Our Town (she was selected as Ohio High School Actress of the Year) and further triumphs in summer stock and at Carnegie Techs drama department, made her determined to try her luck in New York. Her excessive shyness made this initial venture a disaster. She spent five months huddled in her hotel room, too afraid of rejection to audition for acting roles. My illusions were shattered, she said later. She returned to Ohio, where she got a job as a resident actor with the Cleveland Playhouse and, later, with the Kenley Players in Warren, Ohio. John Kenley, now director of the Civic Theater in Akron, encouraged her to return to New York, but not without reservations. She didnt have the aggressiveness it takes, he recalls. She had no confidence in herself. Nevertheless, she came back, with an agent as a buffer this time, and was quickly offered two major roles. She accepted the ingenue lead in a play called Everybody Out, the Castle Is Sinking. The production closed out of town, but her performance caught the eye of MGM scouts, then casting Patch of Blue. She was brought to Hollywood to audition for director Guy Green, who owned the rights to Elizabeth Katas novel and had casting approval. The moment he saw Hartman, he says, he knew she was right for the part of the blind heroine. She wasnt a glamour girl, he says. But I gave her a personality test, and it was astonishing how well she came across for someone with no screen experience. I told Sidney Poitier I wanted to cast an unknown, and he was horrified at first, until I arranged for them to work on the set together and he, too, became very happy. Patch of Blue tells the story of the waiflike Selina, accidentally blinded with boiling water by her slatternly mother (Winters). She spends her days in the park, stringing costume jewelry beads to earn her keep, where she strikes up a friendship with a kindly newsman (Poitier), never realizing he is black. She held her own like a pro with that cast, says Green. At first, I thought she was quiet, shy and retiring, until we went to the Braille Institute so she could research the role. She immediately stopped being shy at all. She was working, and it changed her. She wanted to learn everything about the experience of being blind. She was one of the best instinctive actresses Ive ever worked with. She had it. No doubt about it. The film drew attention for several reasons. It was made on the crest of Poitiers popularity, and it was one of the first films to feature a sympathetic relationship between a black man and a white woman. At one point, Hartman gives Poitier a gentle kiss on the cheek. The scene made the film something of a civil rights cause celebre (at one screening, an executive yelled There goes Alabama), and it was excised in prints for Southern distribution. Green remembers that MGM was terrified of the controversy, but it ended up enhancing the films national box-office appeal. Although much attention was given to Winters performance (she won an Academy Award for best supporting actress), the critics fell in love with Hartman. The prize of the cast is 21-year-old film fledgling Elizabeth Hartman, wrote Time, spindly and coltish as Selina, with a plain-pretty face that can erupt unexpectedly into electric beauty. She wins genuine sympathy by playing up the spunk of her role, playing against the saccharine. She is achingly real without ever being soppy. . . . Columnists couldnt get enough of what they perceived as Hartmans endearing self-deprecation. (I was lacking the things they wanted an actress to lack . . . I was disappointed when I saw myself on screen . . . I had a different picture in mind.) They loved her shy remarks about Dennis, the aspiring director she was eager to wed (I just want to be married to the person I love, have children and live in New England and make breakfast for him every day), and her fragile, childlike qualities. She is shy, timid, wrote columnist Sidney Skolsky. She sleeps in a normal-size bed in sleeveless nightgowns. She always takes her Raggedy-Ann doll to bed with her. When Hartman was nominated for an Oscar, sister Janet remembers it was an exciting time. We had a party in our apartment. My husband was in law school then, and half the school was there, and most of the local press. We were so proud. The Academy Awards were something you watch from the time youre a little kid, and there Biff was. Hartmans daydreams had come true. Film offers began to pour in. But the overnight star, who should have been ecstatic, was surprisingly pensive. When they bring people to meet me, you can see the look of disappointment. But I cant be anything but what I am, or I couldnt sleep at night. Perhaps for this reason, my career wont be successful. And Dennis, who saw Hartman immediately after the first screening of A Patch of Blue, recalls: She said everybody else was wonderful. But she was invisible. Really, my life has been so unhappy since I made that film. --Elizabeth Hartman, 1969 interview. The film catalogue of Hartman is a very brief one. After Patch of Blue, she played a sexually repressed wife in The Group (with Candice Bergen and Joan Hackett); a shy waif in The Fixer (with Alan Bates), a psychotic go-go dancer in Francis Coppolas first major film, Youre a Big Boy Now (with Geraldine Page and Julie Harris); a repressed schoolteacher in Beguiled (starring Eastwood and Page) and the victimized wife in Walking Tall. Although her output was not prodigious, critics continued to admire her work. (Richard Schickel, who loathed Youre a Big Boy Now, wrote, If anything, she is too strong and artful for her surroundings, and the harsh light of her work, spilling over the rest of the film, intensifies ones sense of dismay with its juvenility.) Nonetheless, her career never quite took off. There are many theories why. Her former agent, Howard Rubin, claims the offers were there, but for the wrong films. We got 20 blind girls, deaf girls, crippled girls. Name the handicap and there was a script for it. Says Dennis, who married Hartman in 1969: The role in Patch of Blue was one an actress gets once in a lifetime. She wasnt perceived as a comedienne, and she was a wonderful comic actress. She wasnt offered glamorous roles. If she was going to keep getting parts where she was hesitant or insecure, she didnt want them. But the other parts didnt seem to exist. Dennis says she was offered the ingenue role in Guess Whos Coming to Dinner. But it was just another alternative on the white girl/black man theme, offered to Biff with Hollywoods usual lack of imagination. Hartman blamed the studio, claiming that her ascent began when the star-making machinery was disintegrating along with it. Im the last product of the star build-up, she said in 1971. But there was no follow-through. It got to the point where I died. But Janet Shoop believes part of the responsibility rested with Hartman herself. She was a dreamer. We kept telling her to sell herself. Wed tell her, This is a hard business. She had such an idealistic view. Shed say, You dont go selling yourself, you stand on your record. Shed audition for roles. But there was none of the using of contacts. That would seem bad to her. She liked work and applause. She liked making films better than anything else. But she didnt want to deal with the reality of the profession. She was capable of acting, but she lacked stamina, and she wasnt worldly enough to be a fighter. She never could do that very well. An example of this--Hartman badly wanted the part of Pookie Adams in The Sterile Cuckoo (for which Liza Minnelli later was nominated for an Academy Award). She told an interviewer, I read for it, and (director) Alan Pakula said, No, youre just not Pookie. What did you do? I went home, she said simply. Whatever the case, the shower of offers turned into a trickle, and Hartman became very depressed. When she returned to Broadway in 1969 to appear in a revival of Our Town with Henry Fonda, she voiced her disillusionment to the New York Times, in an article entitled prophetically, After a Patch of Blue, Gray Skies. She claimed that she had spent the past two years at home, just reading and brooding (Dennis says it was actually a few months). In a way, I expected to fail. Everybody wants to see if you can live up to your big success. Well, the parts that followed just werent that good. When the inevitable money problems occurred, Hartman was urged to take on more lucrative roles. At first, she claimed she would never do so. I wouldnt take any part because of the money, she told Seventeen. (Says Janet Shoop: That might have been another reason for the decline in parts. She was a 60s intellectual snob in certain ways.) But, in 1973, she did just that with Walking Tall, the violent story of Southern sheriff Buford Pussers campaign to clean up his town, at a risk to himself and his family. Hartman played the wife who was ambushed and killed. (Hartman hated violence and her sister says she never saw the film.) As usual, the critics had nothing but praise for her. Elizabeth Hartman is a gifted actress who appears too seldom, wrote Pauline Kael. A delicate-featured redhead with a beautifully molded brow, she has the appealing quality that the young Janet Gaynor had. You want to reach out to her, shes huggable. (Director Phil) Karlson uses her for as much tear-jerking potential as he dares. Joe Don Baker has equally fond memories of Hartman. I liked her an awful lot. She was such a sweet lady. She was fragile, a lot more fragile than I thought. There was a distant look in her eyes. But she was a wonderful actress. She helped me so much. She looked in my eyes and made me feel just like a hero. It was her last major screen role. Shortly after its release, Hartman began her descent into mental illness. Ive spent years being unhappy. What it is is that when things become so important, theyre no fun anymore. Making movies should be fun. --Elizabeth Hartman, 1975 interview. The signs were small at first. An increased paranoia, an oversensitivity to fancied slights. (Shed walk down the street, and if someone didnt smile back, shed fall apart, remembers a production assistant on one of her films.) She continued to voice her dissatisfaction about her lack of work. But when acting jobs were offered, she began to turn them down. Dennis says she rejected the Dyan Cannon role in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. She even fired her publicist. If I encouraged her to work, her ex-husband says, shed say I was betraying her. If I didnt encourage her, shed say I was betraying her. Thats the trick with mental illness. There are always reasons. She became a virtual recluse. Dennis would return home to find she had not left the house or eaten since his departure. (A reporter described her at the time as 5 feet 5 inches tall, 103 pounds, with a chalk white face.) Shed cry all day, he says, or sleep all day, and then refuse to let me sleep at night. The turning point, says Dennis, was when he was offered a job writing additional scenes for Apocalypse Now. I was told I had to stay in the Philippines a month. I realized wed be out of our financial hole. It should have been a joyous time. But the moment she heard, she became incredibly paranoid. Dennis returned home one day to find Hartman had collected a dresser drawer full of paper scraps that she claimed contained threatening messages from an unseen enemy. She said she had gathered them in the yard. He says, I knew then it had gone far beyond what I could handle. I realized what I had perceived as shyness, lack of aggressiveness and overdependence, were actually symptoms of a much greater problem. I only stayed on location for two weeks, so I wouldnt be away from her too long. But I knew then I would not be able to survive it much longer. It was an extremely difficult decision, and a terrible, terrible time. Janet Shoop says simply, Gill couldnt handle her anymore. So he sent her back home. In its Sept. 7 article on Hartman, People magazine contended that it was chiefly her growing mental problems that caused her career to come to a halt after Walking Tall. But Shoop claims that Hartmans determination to be ready for the right role--the one that never came--contributed to her fall. Biff was determined to maintain a heightened sensitivity. She felt her sensitivity gave her good qualities in acting. But the same sensitivities caused her to become unglued in real life. She didnt want to be in reality, fantasy was better. The fantasy was that she was going to get a film she would love, and be proud of, as A Patch of Blue. The reality was she was having career problems. They frightened her, and she became less and less able to cope. I wanted her to work, says Dennis. She was happier working. She got out of herself. But everything became a rationalization for her retreat, after a while. I dont want to do this role because I dont want to be typecast. I dont want to do TV. Then shed get offered a movie role, and shed find a reason for rejecting that. Its a tremendous thing, that kind of torment. Whatever the case, Hartman arrived at her sisters home in Oakmont, a suburb of Pittsburgh, not in good shape at all. She was very paranoid. She was unable to sleep, unable to talk, unable to literally do anything. She was institutionalized (the first of 19 hospitalizations before her death) and later alternated between staying with the Shoops and with her mother in Youngstown. (Her father had died in 1964.) In 1978, she was sent to the Institute of Living in Connecticut, a facility that helps the mentally ill learn to take care of themselves. Hartman spent a year there, eventually taking an apartment near the institute and even doing a bit of community theater. By 1979, she felt ready to return to Hollywood. Dennis helped her move her furniture into a new apartment. After that, he never saw her again. They divorced in 1981. I would like to play a well - adjusted girl who isnt afflicted, in a comedy like Katharine Hepburn used to do. Oh, I forgot. Nobody writes well-adjusted things anymore. --Elizabeth Hartman, 1979 interview. Hartman attempted to go back to work. Unfortunately, her absence had only lessened producer interest in her. She was reduced to taking roles in undistinguished movies like Full Moon High, in which she played a high school teacher trying to cope with a teen-age werewolf, played by Adam Arkin. Arkin, now a co-star in NBCs A Year in the Life, says: She seemed haunted, vulnerable, obviously very fragile. She kept her distance from everybody. I tried to talk to her a little bit and asked if I could do anything to make her feel more comfortable. She seemed to want privacy, but also seemed pleased--and surprised--by my intentions. However, things improved when Hartman was offered the role of Myrtle Brown in the national company of Mornings at Seven. After the Boston opening, she received the kind of glowing reviews she had gotten in the old days. But the situation had worsened. Shortly after the run began, Janet Shoop received a call from a concerned physician. She was very suicidal, she recalls. As soon as I arrived, she took an overdose of sleeping pills and was rushed to intensive care. But, the next night, she appeared on stage and she was wonderful. I spent two weeks with her to try to get her to the theater every night. She was frightened of everyone and everything. Wed go to breakfast, and shed get up and dash out as though somebody was after her. But on stage, she was functional. The second she took her bow, she wasnt. When the play came to Los Angeles as a production of the Center Theatre Group in 1981, a family friend was hired to look after Hartman. But, during the Chicago run, she felt unable to continue. She quit, says Shoop. But everyone connected with the show was wonderful and supportive about it. She returned to Hollywood. But, even though Hartman was now willing to take anything, the offers were sparse. Baker remembers seeing her in a Beverly Hills restaurant in 1982. She seemed very upset about not working, he says. Nothing was happening. She seemed very disappointed. She felt she should have been in some A movie. She accepted one final role, the voice of the mouse heroine, Mrs. Brisby, in the Don Bluth animated feature, The Secret of NIMH. But it was her final performance. On June 10, 1982, feeling depressed, disillusioned and unable to take care of herself, Hartman returned home for good. One of her last lines in the movie is: Dont let me fall. Im afraid of heights. As for the future, Id just like to be offered some roles and be healthy enough to accept them, and--ha--live a happy, peaceful, contented life. --Elizabeth Hartman, 1971 interview. For a while, she rested and read, wrote and brooded. She was hospitalized again and, for a time, lived in a halfway house. When she felt better, on the advice of a physician, it was decided that she would have an enhanced sense of self-sufficiency if she got her own apartment. It was a tiny place (all her money had long since gone to doctors and hospitals). But she felt at home. For a while, things worked well. Hartman had never learned to drive, and the apartments closeness to the museum, the grocery store and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic was convenient. She even attempted some volunteer work, setting up programs at the museum, and worked for a time as a cashier there. But Hartman could not forget her past. Once, she ran away for two weeks. No one knew where she was. Eventually, she was tracked to Los Angeles, where she checked into a hotel room, and just sat waiting, no one is sure exactly for what. She said she wanted to die. Her neighbors were vaguely aware she had been an actress, but she seldom talked about it. She didnt have any friends. She said it was too difficult for her, says Shoop. Among the few friends who remained from the old days were Francis Coppola and Geraldine Page, who continued to communicate with and support her. (Page died of a heart attack shortly after Hartman died.) I had received a letter from her shortly before her death, says Coppola. She seemed excited about acting in the theater again. She sent me an identification card from a library she was working in. It had a current picture. She made a few jokes in the letter, and seemed happy to be going on her own and thinking about acting again. I was mentally composing a letter in response to her when I learned of her death. On her good days, she did indeed think she might try to work again. Once, she gathered all her courage and went to call on the director of a local theater company. His first words, says Shoop, were Well, heres Miss Hollywood. Another director was more supportive. He even suggested another meeting. Hartman never kept the appointment. It was hard to be optimistic and encouraging after a while, says Shoop. At first, I used to say, Youll be able to work again. But I realized it was unfair. We werent seeing progress. After a while, it wasnt I want you to act again. It was Lets try to go out to lunch. In the early part of 1987, Hartman became increasingly depressed. Neighbor Vee Toner told an interviewer that she was very morbid. . . . Shed say things like Vee, Im 42 and all by myself. Shoop, too, remembers that Hartman was obsessed with age. My youngest son had graduated from high school on June 5, and Biff couldnt believe my kids were as old as they were. Then she realized my oldest son was 21, the same age as she was when she made A Patch of Blue. It threw her. On June 9, the last day she saw Hartman, Shoop remembers that Hartman was depresed but not unusually so. She wanted to take her to lunch, but Hartman said she didnt feel like it. Instead, they had coffee at her apartment and talked about a slipcover that Shoop was making for her daybed. She wanted to take Hartman to the fabric store, but again Hartman said no. Shoop, who usually called her sister at 9:30 every morning, had a meeting the next day and told Hartman that shed reach her the next afternoon. She will always regret not making the morning call. On Wednesday, June 10, something happened that upset Hartman. She called her physician and said she wanted to go to the hospital. After a discussion, she calmed down a bit and said she might be all right after all. The physician told her to lie down and relax and that Biff could come in later if she needed to see her. Instead, she opened the window. Biff was able to zero in on something so keenly she could exclude everything around her, Shoop said. It gave her a fine ability in terms of her acting. She also did that in terms of living--in that she didnt always see the whole picture. People talk about the fine line between madness and brilliance. That same thing that gave her the ability to act did not allow her to live normally. Whatever the case, Hartman is dead. Despite the conflicting theories about just why, she is certain to be relegated to the annals of those killed by Hollywood. Hartmans family doesnt think this was true. Others arent so sure. I get so damn bitter about her lack of work at the beginning, says Baker. I may be idealistic. But a good actress like that should have been working. But that doesnt surprise me in this town. I was very saddened by the news, says Arkin. But it echoed something of the condition I had seen in her. It didnt startle me; it was not a complete surprise. She seemed so haunted. I guess she just gave way to her demons. Its a difficult thing to be an actress, says Dennis. Its a horrible thing, in many ways. The great roles just dont exist. Sally Field, Meryl Streep and Cher get them right now. In two years, itll be three other people. Nobody ever knew what happened to Cinderella after the ball. Yes, dreams can come true, but, for some people, life can be even harder when they do. Whatever one believes, its likely that film buffs can catch repeated TV reruns of Patch of Blue until the interest dies down. Shoop caught it on cable TV the other night, when she was alone in the house. At first, I just lost myself in the movie, she says. As usual, I forgot it was Biff. I completely believed the character. But, shortly after it began, the camera zeroed in on her hands, stringing her beads. Biff had such childlike hands, so delicate, so sensitive . . . just like she was. Thats when it became difficult for me. After the movie was over, I just sat back in my chair and thought about Biff and all her pain. And I cried. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele gave a warning to the country's families and its children about what will happen if teenagers join the gangs. According to Al Jazeera, Bukele's message on social media came as El Salvador cracks down on gang membership after dozens of people were killed last weekend over gang violence. A LOS PADRES DE FAMILIA: Muestrenles este video a sus hijos adolescentes, expliquenles que entrar a la pandilla solo tiene 2 salidas: la carcel o la muerte.#GuerraContraPandillas https://t.co/uYsAEJ5aC2 Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) March 31, 2022 "To parents. Show your teenage children this video, explain to them that joining a gang leaves only two options: prison or death," Bukele warned on his official Twitter account. President Bukele's warning was accompanied by a video that showed tough conditions in El Salvador's prison systems. In the video, some inmates were seen sleeping on the floor in crowded cells. Some inmates were also seen complaining about food rationing and a lack of sanitation, per Al Jazeera. READ NEXT: El Salvador Heightens Security Against Street Gangs | Here's the Number of Suspects Arrested by the Authorities in Connection to the Weekend Killings El Salvador: Nayib Bukeles Admin Capture More Gang Members El Salvador's president also announced development on the continuous arrest of gang members. According to Al Jazeera, there are more than 16,000 gang members jailed in the El Salvador prison system. Desde el domingo, la comida es racionada y los 16,000 pandilleros encarcelados no han salido de sus celdas, ni han visto el sol. En estos dias hemos arrestado 3,000 mas (y seguimos). Asi que cada vez habra menos espacio y tendremos que racionar aun mas.#GuerraContraPandillas pic.twitter.com/03MbAEzMPY Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) March 31, 2022 However, Nayib Bukele announced on Thursday that his administration caught 3,000 more gang members. Bukele noted that since Sunday, food in the prison was rationed among the 16,000 prison gang members. The president added that there will be less space and the food will be rationed even more due to the additional arrest made by the authorities. Al Jazeera noted that the MS-13 gang and Barrio 18 were the major criminal groups to which the inmates belong. Earlier this week, President Nayib Bukele threatened to punish the more than 16,000 arrested gang members if the violence in the country continues, according to The Daily Mail. "Stop killing now or they (the incarcerated) are going to pay for it too," Bukele said in a statement. The president also included images showing rushing inmates that were handcuffed and wearing only white boxer shorts. Hundreds were also filmed kneeling in a row while they were watched by baclava-clad guards and police officers with riot shields, per The Daily Mail. El Salvador Heightens Prison Sentences Among Gang Inmates The update on the imprisoned gang members came a day after El Salvador's Congress on Wednesday increased the sentences for crimes committed by gang members, per Associated Press. The outlet noted that the increase in sentences was a revision to the country's penal code requested by President Nayib Bukele. Under the new rules, convicted gang leaders will be sentenced to 40 to 45 years of jail time, compared to the six to nine years previously. Meanwhile, other gang members will be sentenced from 20 to 30 years, up from three to five years before. "These reforms are intended to impose harsh penalties for these terrorists who believe they're above authority and play with the lives of Salvadorans," El Salvador's Justice and Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro said. READ NEXT: El Salvador Declares State of Emergency After Gangs Killed 62 in Just 24 Hours This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Bukele Threatens Reprisals to El Salvador Gangs Over Spike in Violence - From Al Jazeera English Melissa Cohen is the second wife of Hunter Biden, who has been hitting the headlines recently after The New York Times confirmed the authenticity of his infamous laptop. President Joe Biden's son remains under federal investigation for matters related to tax payments and his foreign work. Hunter has previously opened up about his relationship with his sister-in-law and the widow of his deceased brother, Beau Biden, in his 2021 memoir. In his memoir "Beautiful Things," Biden's son said the affair "came out of a real overwhelming grief," the Independent reported. Hunter Biden entered into a romantic relationship with his elder brother's widow, Hallie Biden, in 2017 or two years after Beau died of brain cancer. They split up in 2019. Currently, the youngest son of the president is married to South African activist and documentary filmmaker Melissa Cohen. READ NEXT: Hunter Biden Jokes With Therapist About How Father Pres. Joe Biden Has Dementia in 2019, New Book Claims Hunter Biden's Wife: Melissa Cohen Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen, who reportedly got matching tattoos, got married in May 2019 in Los Angeles. It was reported that the two first met the same month as their wedding, giving them only two weeks, according to The Sun. Hunter said he instantly fell in love with Melissa and has "fallen in love with her more every day." Melissa was previously married to entrepreneur Jason Landver. Melissa Cohen was reported to co-own Tribal Worlds, a company that works to "promote indigenous conservation." She was supportive of Barack Obama's presidency before she met Hunter. She was also known to be critical of former President Donald Trump. Hunter and Melissa have a son who was born in March 2020. Cohen's brother described their newborn son as "beautiful and healthy." Hunter had three other children with his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle namely Naomi, Finnegan, and Maisy. Biden's son had previously married Kathleen Buhle in 1993. They separated in October 2015, five months after Beau's death, and got divorced in 2017. Hunter Biden is also reported to be the father of a child born to Lunden Alexis Roberts in August 2018. The president's son has denied fathering the child, but the court determined that he was the father of the girl, identified as Navy Joan. Hunter Biden's Ex-Wife: Kathleen Buhle Last January, Kathleen Buhle has opened up about her relationship with the president's youngest son for the first time. According to People, Buhle, a nonprofit development executive, shared what her publisher calls a "story of resilience and self-discovery" in her book entitled "If We Break: A Memoir of Marriage, Addiction, and Healing." Her book is due to come out on June 14, and it will be the first time she has made any public comment since their divorce or its aftermath. The two shared 24 years of marriage before calling it quits. In filing for divorce in 2017, Buhle alleged that her estranged husband had spent money on drugs, alcohol, prostitutes, and strip clubs. According to the book's publisher, Buhle's book will shine a light on the effect of addiction on relationships. Buhle noted that she felt like she had lost the sense of who she was when her marriage ended. She added that anyone who has seen addiction ruin a relationship could tell how devastating it feels. Hunter Biden's ex-wife said that writing the book has been "incredibly healing" for her, hoping that it will also be meaningful to those who have been through addiction or divorce. Hunter Biden's "Beautiful Things" memoir also sheds light on his personal and professional challenges as he opened up about his alcohol and drug addiction struggles. 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: Hunter Biden Says Dating His Brother's Widow Was Hard on Kids - From Inside Edition Six people were killed, and two others were wounded in separate armed attacks in Mexico's state of Michoacan that happened in a 24-hour period. According to El Universal, a member of the municipal police of Sahuayo was the first victim on Thursday. Local reports said the police officer was on his motorcycle heading to the local police station when he was shot dead along Hospital General avenue in Sahuayo. Aside from the police officer, a couple was also shot inside a private home in the Felix Arreguin neighborhood in Morelia city. The man died while the woman was injured. She was taken to a hospital for treatment. Armed men also shot dead another man on the corner of Jitomate and Rafael Galan streets in Morelia city. Local authorities also confirmed the shooting of four men in the city of Jacona, with one managing to escape unharmed. The victims were reportedly driving on the Jacona-Venustiano Carranza highway when gunmen shot at them. Two of the victims who died were father and son. READ NEXT: Mexico Shooting: At Least 20 Killed in a Cockfighting Pit in Michoacan State More Armed Attacks in Mexico's State of Michoacan Late Tuesday night, several armed men entered a store in Ciudad Hidalgo city in Michoacan and shot at people who were present without saying a word. The shooting has resulted in the deaths of four people. According to Periodico AM, the store was located on commercial premises of Morelos Oriente Avenue. Three men died at the scene, while the fourth victim died while being taken to a hospital. Authorities managed to identify the victims hours later, saying they were a plumber, a cell phone repair technician, the owner of the establishment, and a merchant. On Sunday night, an armed group arrived in a cockfighting pit in Zinapecuaro municipality and started shooting at everyone present, AM reported. In a statement, the State Attorney General's Office initially said that 19 people were killed and five others were seriously injured. As hours passed, it was announced that 20 were killed, including 17 men and three women. The motive behind the attack was not immediately released, but authorities described the shooting incident as one of the deadliest armed attacks in Mexico in recent years. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Armed Attacks in Michoacan State Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the massacre of 20 people was done by armed groups in the area, AM reported. Lopez Obrador noted that it was "between one group against another." According to the president, different criminal groups operating in the area have problems with each other, which could mean that the attack in the cockfighting pit could have been an attack between various organized crime groups. Figures from the reports of the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System and National Security Commission showed that there were already 857 victims of intentional homicide in the state since January 1 this year. In March alone, a total of 256 victims of intentional homicide were recorded in Michoacan. Based on the total number of intentional homicides committed so far this year, there are around 71 victims of intentional homicide weekly, 10 per day, or one murder is committed every two hours in the state. The state of Michoacan, the largest avocado producer in the world, is known to be home to several Mexican drug cartels. The Mexican drug cartels reportedly fighting for control of the state are the Jalisco Cartel, Carteles Unidos, the remaining members of La Familia Michoacana, and the Caballeros Templarios. The Carteles Unidos or United Cartels had the support of the Sinaloa Cartel. 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: Cartel Violence Leaves a Trail of Ghost Towns in Mexico - From Al Jazeera English Six human heads and some dismembered bodies were found on a parked car in the municipality of Chilapa de Alvarez in Mexico's state of Guerrero on Thursday. According to Borderland Beat, the human heads were found on the roof of a black Volkswagen Pointer with license plates HCX7649 stationed along Eucaria Apreza Boulevard. Brga Esto ocurrio en Chilapa #Guerrero. Dejan 6 cabezas en toldo de un vehiculo y la respectiva narcomanta. Puede parecer sarcastico y cruel, pero el estado de Guerrero NO TIENE CABEZA, igual que el pais. Via @Mr_Civico pic.twitter.com/3uchTB1Zck Juan Pablo Alvarez #CPT (@JPAlvarezGuedea) March 31, 2022 The state police said they received a call about it at around 6:45 a.m. Periodico AM reported that the security forces immediately responded to the scene and found the said human heads on top of the said vehicle. Authorities also discovered eight black plastic bags with dismembered human remains inside the vehicle. Along with the heads and bags, a large poster with an intimidating message was posted beside the car. Authorities believed that the murdered individuals were victims of drug gang-related violence because of the message written on the canvas that gave a warning against kidnapping and drug selling. As translated by Newsweek, the sign read: "In Chilapa, it's strictly prohibited to sell or use crystal, kidnap, extort and steal. This is going to happen to anyone who's messing around. All these crimes have capital punishment and the rules must be followed. The square has an owner and is respected." In a statement, the State Attorney General's Office said the six individuals have not yet been identified but have been sent to the Forensic Medical Service. READ NEXT: 20 Mexican Drug Cartel Hitmen Storm Police Station in Mexico to Free Men of Los Zetas Boss 'Chuy 7' Mexico's State of Guerrero Plagued by Mexican Drug Cartels Mexico's state of Guerrero is reportedly plagued by Mexican drug cartels dedicated to drug trafficking and extortion. The Independent Cartel of Acapulco is one of the drug cartels operating in Guerrero, particularly in the city of Acapulco. The said cartel is reportedly fighting the Jalisco Cartel for control of the Port of Acapulco and other points in the state. Acapulco is known as a key entryway for South American cocaine, making the city an attractive piece of real estate for drug cartels. According to Borderland Beat, Guerrero has been hit by organized crime groups in recent years, and in 2021, the state experienced a strong wave of violence. During the first two months of 2022, the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System reported that Guerrero recorded 201 intentional homicides, of which 64 were registered in Acapulco. Independent Cartel of Acapulco Founder Who Is Among Generators of Violence in Mexico's Guerrero State Arrested Authorities in Mexico on Wednesday arrested Abdner Noe "N," alias "El Traumado," one of the founders of the Independent Cartel of Acapulco. El Traumado, who was arrested in the city of Tonala in Jalisco state, was accused of being an alleged murderer and generator of violence in Guerrero. El Tramaudo was linked to homicides and extortions against merchants and owners in public markets in Acapulco and the suburban area. Apart from being one of the founders of the Independent Cartel of Acapulco, El Traumado was also considered the leader of the criminal group Los Magnos Acevedo. According to Insight Crime, the Independent Cartel of Acapulco or Cartel Independiente de Acapulco (CIDA) is part of a wave of smaller local gangs in Acapulco that have emerged after officials dismantled larger criminal groups. The CIDA, founded in 2010, was formed as a result of Mexico's war on the Beltran Leyva cartel, which controlled the city. At that time, many of the cartel's top leaders were arrested and killed, and its drug shipments were interrupted, paving the way for the smaller and more agile Acapulco cartel to be formed. The CIDA is comprised mostly of former members of the drug trafficking group run by Edgar Valdez Villarreal, alias "La Barbie," who had long been the right hand of Arturo Beltran Leyva, the leader of the Beltran Leyva cartel. When Arturo was gunned down in December 2009, his brother Hector Beltran Leyva took control of one of the factions of the cartel and declared war on Valdez Villarreal. Amidst the violence, Valdez Villarreal tried to appoint a successor. However, those in Acapulco broke off and formed their own criminal gang - the Independent Cartel of Acapulco. After several weeks, the CIDA reportedly broke up too, and a new and rival group known as La Barredora was formed. In August 2010, Villarreal Valdez was arrested by federal police in Mexico, but the violence between the groups for the control of Acapulco continued. READ MORE: El Chapo Trial: Sinaloa Cartel Boss to Ask Supreme Court to Review His Case to Overturn Drug Trafficking Conviction This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Most Dangerous State of Mexico / Narcos War Zones / How People Live - From The People remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Laurel, MS (39440) Today Partly cloudy. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A clear sky. Low near 55F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Portlaoise Prison looks set to be the last prison in Ireland where the practice of slopping out still occurs. The practice continues in two prisons but is due to end at Limerick Prison when works are completed there later this year, Justice Minister Helen McEntee revealed in response to a parliamentary question from Eamon O Cuiv TD. When all of the works are completed in Limerick, the only area without in-cell sanitation will be the E Block of Portlaoise Prison. This currently accommodates 19 people, representing approximately 0.5 % of the prison population, said Minister McEntee. To address this final element, the Irish Prison Service is conducting exploratory work to assess the feasibility of installing in-cell sanitation at that block, she revealed. Preliminary engineering surveys have been completed which is a necessary prerequisite to assess how best the project can be undertaken in a cost effective manner cognisant of the age, condition and fabric of the building, said Minister McEntee. In conclusion, she said, I am advised that a contract has been awarded for the construction of a sample cell at E block and the outcome of this project and future operational requirements will help inform next steps in this regard. I hope to progress this necessary work as soon as possible. Ryanair has called for the Department of Transport to hold an emergency meeting of the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee (NATFAC) to deal with the security queues at Dublin Airport. Earlier this week the DAA issued a statement apologising to traveler's who had missed their fights due to the lengthy queues. The Irish airline said it wants "rapid effective" solutions to the issue, which will inevitably emerge again this coming weekend. The DAA said a "log jam" was the cause for the delays adding the recruitment and training of new staff was to blame following the disruption of international travel over the past two years due to the pandemic. Chief Executive of the DAA, Dalton Philips said staff levels need to reach 900, which at the moment stands at 600. Meanwhile airport staff have reported high levels of abuse from customers who have experienced flight delays and cancellations. Verbal and physical abuse have been reported in recent days with staff saying they have even been spat at. Security staff have said they want the now airport police or Gardai to intervene and protect them from traveler's who become angry and irate due to the disruptions. @Ryanair has called for the Department of Transport to hold an emergency meeting of the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee in order to address lengthy security queues at Dublin Airport. #Passengers have experienced lengthy delays in recent days.#DublinAirport #Airport pic.twitter.com/cPvJZEYmly Aviation World Group (@Aviationwg_en) April 1, 2022 Speaking to the Irish Mirror, SIPTU aviation sector organiser Niall Philips said: "Members have confirmed incidents of alleged pushing and spitting and abuse and other issues. "Passengers are understandably frustrated, but no level of frustration can excuse this behaviour. This is not the fault of the workers. "It is not clear if these have been isolated incidents or if they are becoming daily occurrences, but shop stewards are holding meetings to find out the issues. "There is talk of airport police and even Gardai coming in to protect workers, who are under extreme pressure." A retired prison officer from Laois is climbing Croagh Patrick in Mayo today, as part of the Climb with Charlie national challenge. Tom Gorry from Mountmellick is doing his climb this Friday, April 1. He is doing it a day ahead of Climb with Charlie to avoid expected crowds. Journalist Charlie Bird is encouraging people from all over Ireland to climb a nearby mountain or even stairs, and raise money and awarness for Motor Neuron Disease, which he is now battling. Tom is also supporting suicide prevention charity Pieta House. "Today is the the 1st of April and it's the day I will be Climbing Croagh Patrick for Motor Neurone and Pieta House in conjunction with the Charlie Bird Climbing that takes place tomorrow, This is my final chance to get donation so please keep them coming," he said. Below: Tom's grandson Shane O'Gorman who climed with him, meeting Charlie Bird. An employee of Nua Healthcare, Tom is also an active member of Mountmellick Men's Shed, who have wished him well in his tough climb. "Mountmellick Mens Shed wish member and secretary Tom Gorry all the best this Friday on his climb of Croagh Patrick as part of the Climb with Charlie taking place this weekend," they said. To donate towards Tom's efforts, see his Facebook fundraiser here. Barnardos childrens charity was joined by Paul OConnell to launch a brand-new local and national school campaign The Barnardos Big Active supported by Aldi. This school-focused campaign is designed to help students of all ages and abilities in County Kildare to be resilient in dealing with stress and anxiety, and to take care of their physical and mental wellbeing. Barnardos wants schools across Kildare to register at www.thebigactive.ie and get active to raise funds for vulnerable children across Ireland. Participating schools in your area can choose from a range of activities based on the Body, Mind and Heart. Body - Physical challenges that take care of your body Mind - Mindfulness exercises to support positive mental health and wellbeing Heart promoting the importance of charity by helping others Teachers will receive all materials to support activities including personal journals for each student to track their progress. Paul OConnell said: The best thing for me about this campaign is that is gives children the opportunity to take part in activities that will benefit them in a holistic way Barnardos has always focused on every part of the child and as an ambassador of theirs for more than 10 years I can hand on heart say how beneficial the Big Active will be for children across Ireland. Being physically active is so good for them, and the added areas of mental health and mindfulness techniques and doing something good for vulnerable children completes the package. I urge teachers and schools to think of how much this new initiative could benefit their students, and sign up today at www.thebigactive.ie." Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly said: We know the past two years has impacted on the general wellbeing of children across the country. This is why Barnardos, with the support of Paul and Aldi, have created a campaign with childrens wellbeing at its core. By taking part in The Barnardos Big Active, students will learn to observe the affect that exercise has on their mental and physical health. They will learn how to incorporate age appropriate anxiety reducing exercises into their daily lives and that giving back to your community can be rewarding for themselves as much as others. All funds raised will go towards Barnardos work with vulnerable children and their families. Register your local school or class, start your own big active, and set up your own online fundraiser here. A therapeutic farm has been granted planning permission from Kildare County Council to build a new facility in Straffan. The project by Kyrie Therapeutic Farm CLG will house 40 people at the former Portree Stables in Boston. The facility includes a new two-storey communal building, eight single-storey residential buildings, a reception building and a shop with a cafe. The therapeutic farm will provide therapeutic services with the farm as an essential element of the overall programme of healing and recovery. An existing farm building on site will be demolished as well as other structures. The new build elements will comprise: a new two storey communal building centrally within the farm comprising of kitchen/dining, office, therapy, meeting, yoga and meditation and various other rooms. Also planned are eight single storey residential buildings to provide accommodation for up to 40 guests and a single-storey reception building A single storey shop/cafe building is also in the plans. The proposed buildings will be clad in vertical timber cladding. Some 41 car parking spaces are proposed for the therapeutic farm use and 20 car parking spaces for the shop/cafe. The plans include landscaping including the provision of a lake for irrigation and ecology, internal farm tracks and roads, fencing and planting. A Senator from Kildare has raised awareness over the presence of dangerous potholes in Newbridge Cemetery. Labour Senator Mark Wall, along with Newbridge Labour Representative Gerard Delaney, both said that they are 'happy to advise that Kildare County Council (KCC) has carried out a comprehensive survey which includes significant internal pathways remedial and other maintenance works and this has now gone out to tender.' They added that KCC further advise that, as a result of the above, the required repairs should be completed in a timeframe of approximately two months. Welcoming the news that Newbridge Cemetery will have the necessary repairs carried out shortly, Senator Wall said: "We are delighted that our representations have been taken and board by KCC and that the current unacceptable and dangerous walkways at Newbridge Cemetery will be repaired in the coming weeks. File Pic: Labour Senator Mark Wall "Sadly due to Covid restrictions many families have not had the opportunity to mourn their loved ones as they would have wished and dangerous pathways within Newbridge Cemetery has also meant many could not gain access to gravesides to mark special occasions, we are very grateful to KCC for their work to date and look forward to the completion of the required works." Mr Delaney added: "The current state of the walkways at Newbridge Cemetery is simply not acceptable and may lead to serious injury if not urgently addressed. "This matter has been raised with KCC on several occasions and I am very happy to see the issues will be resolved in a timely manner. He continued: "With the restrictions eased and as the weather improves the number of visitors to Newbridge Cemetery is bound to increase and the very least those who want to pay their respects to their loved ones should expect is to be able to make their way to the graveside safely. "I can understand that the restrictions made addressing repairs difficult and we would like to thank the Director of Services for their assistance in ensuring that visitors to Newbridge Cemetery will be able to access the graves of their loved ones safety once the repairs are completed." In related news, Senator Mark Wall recently welcomed the publication of the Circular Economy Bill, which provides legislation which would allow CCTV and other technologies to be used once again by local authorities to catch illegal dumpers. The five-day Punchestown Festival which will draw over 100,000 people, is expected to generate a massive 100m boost to the local economy, according to County Kildare Chamber. The event, which takes place from April 26 to 30, is the first Festival since 2019 to have spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And CEO of County Kildare Chamber, Allan Shine said 20,000 visitors from the UK will also attend the National Hunt showpiece. Mr Shine told the Leader: Four weeks until Irelands favourite sporting festival and Kildare is getting ready to welcome in excess of 100,000 people to the thoroughbred county. The festival is worth in excess of 100 million to the local economy. The economic boost is very welcomed this year and we look forward to welcoming approximately 20,000 UK visitors to Kildare. The five-day festival will see a huge spin off to our hotels, bars, restaurants and retailers at large in Kildare. What is very pleasing this year is that once again so many local businesses are sponsoring races at the festival. Corporate Ireland will be in Kildare in late April with over 18,000 in attendance at the festival. After two long years, it is great to see businesses out again supporting Punchestown and entertaining clients. Meanwhile, the Bollinger Best Dressed competition starts on Tuesday, April 26 and will run throughout the week until the Grand Finale on Friday, April 29. Conor ONeill, Punchestown CEO, said: People make Punchestown. We say it time and time again. We welcome a huge number of guests from throughout Ireland, the UK and beyond. Manguard Plus, Irelands largest privately owned Irish security company won the majority of awards at the first ever Outstanding Security Performance Awards ( OSPAs) to be held in Ireland . The Kildare company had the highest number of finalists, and ultimately winners, in the much anticipated independent awards, and won accolades including Outstanding Contract Security Guarding Company, Outstanding Contract Security Manager/ Director and Outstanding Security Consultant. Its founder and Managing Director, Sean Hall won the Lifetime Achievement Award in tribute to the huge contribution he has made to the professional security company in Ireland and beyond. The independent awards, established by leading respected Professor of Criminology, Martin Gill, were launched in Ireland to recognise companies, people, products and initiatives that make a significant contribution to the Irish security sector. The judges were selected by the leading security associations in Ireland, and all signed up to a strict ethics policy to ensure no conflict of interest. Professor Martin Gill, Founder of the OSPAs says; We are delighted by the interest we received especially in this first year. These awards are different as they serve to recognise the whole industry; they are independent and are run on strict ethical principles creating a level playing field for all. The judging panel had no easy task in assessing the winners, as the score threshold was incredibly high. Those who won are literally outstanding in their field We very much look forward to building on the success of this year when we return in 2023. The OSPA judges said Manguard Plus had demonstrated commitment to excellence and professionalism through its continual dedication to both upskilling its own staff and latterly, the entire security industry. In particular they singled out the part paid by Manguard Plus and the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO), who entered into a joint agreement to provide IFPO-certified security courses to the Irish security sector. The joint initiative saw the first Certified Protection Officer (CPO) examination in Ireland, with 35 security professionals successfully completing the exams. This year, 20 security professionals are to sit the Certified Supervisor and Security Manager (CSSM) for the first time. The courses are available for all security sector employees in Ireland, regardless of their employer. Judges felt that this initiative was ground-breaking and provided a globally recognised education pathway for the security industry in Ireland. Sean Hall, Managing Director of Manguard Plus expressed his delight at the numerous wins for the company. We are consistently stiving to be the best at what we do and the fact that we won so many OSPAs is a ringing endorsement of our work. Im particularly proud of the fact that the huge work we do around professional training, upskilling and equipping our team has been recognised. Our staff are our best asset, our clients have confidence in us because of the excellent professionalism and dedication of our staff, and to see them winning in really important sections is an incredible but much deserved achievement," he said. I would also like to pay tribute to the Manguard Plus employees who reached the final as that was no mean feat, competition was very tough. I am delighted for all the staff at Manguard Plus, it is their team effort that has made us what we are today The 2022 winners representing Manguard Plus are: Outstanding Contract Security Manager/Director employed by a contract security company Leo Harris Chief Operating Officer Manguard Plus Outstanding Contract Security Company (Guarding) Manguard Plus Limited Outstanding Security Training Initiative IFPO Certified Security Training Programmes Manguard Plus & IFPO International Outstanding Security Consultant Garry Bergin Manguard Plus Lifetime Achievement Sean Hall, MD, Manguard Plus Winners were announced at a networking lunch following an industry-wide Thought Leadership Summit at the Radisson Blu in Dublin. A man who left a shower running in a Naas hotel was found by a garda in the water in his bare feet, Naas District Court heard on March 16. John Jacob, 24, whose address was given as 18 Grove Heights, Robertstown, was prosecuted for allegedly damaging room 309 on November 6 last. Det Gda Christine Brady said the defendant deliberately blocked the water with a towel and the court heard that quite a considerable amount of damage was done. The court heard that the incident happened at 9.30pm-10 pm. Read more Kildare news The court also heard that there was damage to carpets, a corridor, a room below, a lamp, a wardrobe and a hair dryer. Some 3,600 worth of damage was caused. Det Gda Brady said the defendant was staying with his dad and his dad left. There was a bit of an issue with him and his father left, she added. Solicitor Jackie McManus said the defendant is employed in Munich as a work rider and had never been in trouble. The court heard that he wants to go to Dubai to work. He had a cocktail of different drinks and he got violently sick. He doesnt drink any more, said Ms McManus, adding he wants to pay for the damage. Mc McManus said the judge would never see him in court again. Sgt Brian Jacob described the incident as stupid behaviour by an intoxicated man. He was so drunk he had vomited, said Sgt Jacob. Ill give him a chance, said Judge Desmond Zaidan, opting not to convict the defendant on the basis that he would make a charitable donation of 1,000. PALLASGREEN-TEMPLEBRADEN celebrated one great of the parish last Saturday week and they will honour the memory of another this weekend. A large crowd attended the unveiling of a plaque in Old Pallas on March 19 to mark the centenary gold medal victory by local man Paddy Ryan in the 1920 Antwerp Olympic games. Covid had delayed the ceremony for the elite hammer thrower for two years. Continue reading below or click 'Next' for more photos. The plaque was due to be unveiled by his grandson former Tipperary and Dublin hurler Ryan ODwyer and great grandson current Limerick hurler Brian OGrady. However, due to his involvement with the Down hurlers Ryan couldnt make it. But they didnt find a bad substitute in Limerick hurling manager John Kiely to do the honours with Brian. Standing at six foot three, built like a tank and strong as an ox with no strength and conditioning in those days, John says he definitely would have a found a spot for Paddy Ryan on the Limerick panel. The guests of honour were three of Paddys daughters Bernie ODwyer, Catherine OGrady and Mary Weatherhead. His other two daughters Josephine Killian and Christine Donovan would have loved to have attended but they reside in New York and London. As well as John Kiely, Suzie OKelly, MC, introduced speakers Cllr Martin Ryan, cathaoirleach of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District; Minister of State Niall Collins; Michael Ryan, chairman of Pallasgreen-Templebraden Community Council; Peter Weatherhead, on behalf of the Ryan family; and artist blacksmith Eric ONeill who handcrafted the beautiful plaque. Ger OConnell, of the organising committee, said not every parish has a gold and silver Olympic medallist and a world record holder from their locality. And there would have been more medals only for World War I. Its important to show the next generation what they can aspire to. That particular spot where the plaque is erected is where three roads meet. One leads to Nicker where Paddy was born. Another is Old Pallas where he came to live and farm after he returned from America, and up the road is Old Pallas cemetery where he is buried. Its the cornerstone of his life, said Ger. This Saturday, April 2, they will remember another person who represented the parish with pride former Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council Mary Harty. Cllr Harty, who passed away in 2014, had motor neurone disease Pallasgreen-Templebraden Community Council have registered with Climb with Charlie in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House. All are welcome at 11.30am to climb Nicker Hill in solidarity with Charlie Bird. It commences at the reservoir gate. A candle will be lit for everyone who has a terminal illness and for all who are in a dark place. Refreshments will be provided afterwards in the community hall. Click here to donate. . MINISTER for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue visited the best dairy farmers in the country and arguably the best ag college in Ireland on a trip to Limerick. The minister called to Michael, Mary Ita and Alex McCarthy in Feenagh (pictured below). The family were the overall winners of the prestigious NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards last year. Prior to that, Minister McConalogue attended Salesian Agricultural College where he officially unveiled a 50 unit Dairymaster Swiftflo rotary milking parlour. The Donegal man was accompanied by representatives of the Salesians, board of the college, principal Derek ODonoghue, Teagasc and Dairymaster. Addressing the crowd, Minister McConalogue said the completion of this new facility represents significant investment for the benefit of the future of farming in Ireland. He also paid tribute to all those involved in delivering the rotary parlour during difficult and challenging times. Mr ODonoghue said the opening of the new facility is part of the growth strategy planned for the college. Numbers are growing year-on-year and with more attractive facilities the plan is that this trend will continue to increase. The founding tradition of the college is in providing educational training based on real needs and employment opportunities. The economy will once again be calling on the need for food and agricultural education is thankfully in high demand, said Mr O Donoghue. Great to attend my alma mater @SalesianAg Pallaskenry for the opening of the new state of the art milking parlour with @agriculture_ie Charlie McConlogue pic.twitter.com/pe9EU1Z9VG Cllr Emmett O'Brien (@EmmettOBrienIND) March 26, 2022 Minister for State Niall Collins welcomed the fact the facility will attract visitors both nationally and internationally to experience a world class education and training facility. He said Salesian Agricultural College has been educating farmers for over 100 years and this state-of-the-art rotary milking parlour shows they remain at the cutting edge of agriculture in 2022 and will do so long into the future. It is vitally important that the next generation of farmers - male and female - have the very best equipment and training available to them, said Minister for State Collins, who commended the Salesians, board of the college, and principal Derek O Donoghue for making this major investment. We in County Limerick can be proud to have an agricultural college to match the hard-working men and women farmers locally who provide food on our tables, contribute massively to our exports and support the rural economy, concluded the minister for state. A LIMERICK lady who lost her husband while visiting family in Australia has raised over 10,000 for a charity which gave her family immense support. Despite the pain of losing John, her husband of almost 40 years in January, Marian Keane set up a fundraiser for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust which provided both emotional and practical backing for the bereaved family after the shattering news. Based in Newry, the trust aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the body of loved ones who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances. Their daughter Rosemarie Cronin said: We werent even allowed to pay ourselves. They wouldnt allow us to do it. The undertakers over there recommended to use Kevin Bell, and they were incredible. The more people who try and fundraise for them, the better. This way, at least other people will know about them too. And, in a sign of just how popular the father-of-three was that dozens have logged on and made donations to the fundraiser page Marian who lived in Caherdavin before moving to Shelbourne Avenue with John established. He was very popular. theres not a person who could ever say anything bad about him. He was always smiling, always happy, always laughing. Everyone says their father is the best but there will never be another man in the world who can compare to my father, Rosemarie said. Marian and John, who were to celebrate their ruby anniversary in October, were Down Under to visit Saoirse, the youngest daughter of their eldest son David, 37. Saoirse was born in August, when the Covid-19 pandemic was still restricting travel, so the pair could not go sooner. But with family so important to John, who worked as a plasterer, it was natural that he would go as soon as the chance came. Rosemarie said: Everything was about his family. It was all he ever wanted. Some people, youd ask what they wanted for Christmas or your birthday. Dad just wanted to go for an ice-cream cone and be with his family! To go off for a day-trip to the beach, or sit at home and get a Chinese. He was much loved by everyone. Marian also paid a special tribute to Linda Ledger and her staff at St Munchin's Community Centre who, she said, were "fantastic" in the days leading up to John's funeral. "They went out of their way for us - their generosity we will never forget," she said. The centre's pancake Tuesday fundraiser raised 600, which was donated to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. Click here to support the fundraiser. LIMERICK Fire and Rescue Service were called to two different incidents within the county late last night. One incident involved a suspected chimney fire at a residence in Pallaskenry. Three units from Rathkeale were dispatched to the scene at 9.42pm and returned to base at approximately 1am last night. The Limerick Leader was also informed of a fire at Athea Wind Farm. A spokesperson confirmed that the 16 turbine West Limerick renewable energy site is hit regularly with fire outbreaks. One unit was sent from Abbeyfeale at 9.40pm and returned at 1am. A spokesperson for Limerick Fire and Rescue Service also confirmed that there were no reported casualties at either incident. India on Thursday defended its decision to look for "good deals" for its energy requirement amid volatility in the market, while pointing out that Europe has been a major buyer of Russian oil and gas even after the crisis in Ukraine unfolded. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made the remarks in the presence of visiting British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss at the India-UK Strategic Futures Forum, shortly after holding extensive talks with her on a range of issues, including the situation in Ukraine. "When the oil prices go up, I think it is natural for countries to go out into the market and look for what are the good deals for their people," Jaishankar said. "But I am pretty sure if we wait for two or three months and actually look at who are the big buyers of Russian oil and gas, I suspect the list would not be too different from what it used to be and I suspect we won't be in the top 10 on that list," he said. Jaishankar's comments came on a day Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in India on a two-day visit. The visit by Truss to India on Thursday came amid increasing disquiet in the western capitals over India not criticising Russia for its attack on Ukraine and its decision to buy discounted Russian crude oil. Severely critical of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Truss said at the India-UK forum that her country will end its dependence on Russian oil by the year-end and added that India is a sovereign nation and she is not going to tell it what to do. She was asked at the forum to comment on India's decision to buy discounted oil from Russia. "It is interesting because we have seen for some time what looks almost like a campaign on this issue. I was reading a report today that in March, Europe has bought, I think, 15 per cent more oil and gas from Russia than it did the month before," Jaishankar responded. "If you look at the major buyers of oil and gas from Russia, I think you will find most of them are in Europe," he added. Jaishankar said India gets the bulk of its energy supplies from the Middle-East and around 7.5 to 8 per cent from the US, while the procurement from Russia in the past was less than one per cent. Click here to read the full article. There have been plenty of television shows set in workplaces, but theres never been one that looks quite like Severance. The Apple TV Plus science fiction series is set in the headquarters of Lumon Industries, a mysterious, cult-like company that surgically alters the memories of select employees to split their consciousness in two: their work selves and their outside selves. These severed employees work on their own floor in the company building, and its a world in itself: a sprawling labyrinth of stark white halls that stretch into eternity, and massive, void-like office rooms with eye-catching green carpeting. Production designer Jeremy Hindle drew from a wide array of sources when crafting the sets of the series, from the 1967 French film Playground to the aesthetics of pharmaceutical companies. His guiding principle for how Lumon should look was taken from the John Deere World Headquarters in Moline, Ill. , designed by the architects Eero Saarinen and Kevin Roche in the 1960s. While doing research into the building, he learned about how the offices are designed to be very classic, stunning work environments inspired from a time when peoples work lives and home lives were kept completely separate. All those companies in the 50s and 60s, they had so much style, they had the most beautiful spaces, and they were proud of what they were doing, Hindle says. They believed in it and their aesthetic was part of that. It was about power and control and commerce and everything rolled into one. For the exterior of the Lumon building, Hindle and his team traveled to New Jersey to scout the recently restored Bell Labs building, which was also designed by Saarinen. The massive complex, which occupies over 470 acres, has the same aesthetic of work designed to do work, as Hindle describes it, and its sheer size helps to communicate the themes of the series. Several times over the course of the show, the main character Mark (Adam Scott) is often framed as a tiny speck in the giant parking lot of the corporation he works for. To construct the interior Lumon locations, Hindle initially had only two soundstages, and although they later got one extra, he jokes that they probably could have used five. On the first soundstage, his team built the major office spaces seen throughout the show, and then built a hallway around the entire perimeter of the stage, with each run measuring around 140 feet. To create the maze-like, seemingly endless corridors of the series, the designers would rearrange the hallways to represent different areas, and used some VFX work to stretch the spaces out. Every hallway was the same width, but on the third stage Hindles team built a series of wider hallway runs, representing the areas of Lumon the characters explore deeper into the series. The main setting of the show, and the one set that Hindle considers to be the most important, is the Macrodata Refinement office that houses Mark and his team. The room is massive, measuring 80 by 40 feet, with low ceilings to create a feeling of being trapped. While designing the space, Hindle envisioned it as a playground of sorts, one where the newly severed employees are put and monitored after emerging from the womb the boardroom where they first awaken. To convey that, he gave the room a carpet with a grassy shade, resulting in the odd mix between sterile whites and deep greens that dominates the color palette of the series. Hindle also envisioned the color green as acting as a lifeline of sorts for the severed characters, who are locked deep within the walls of Lumon with no way to escape. Green is the most common color to your eye, like thats the theory that its calming, it makes you feel calm, Hindle says. Some of the colors, the theories were kind of who they are as characters and what they needed to survive. I think green is something you need to survive. Hindles vision of the MDR office as a playground extended to the designs of the employees computers, which are used to sort through mysterious data for a purpose unexplained to the audience and the characters. While creating the office supplies, Hindle established rules for the shows world, chief among them that all items would be manufactured internally by Lumon as opposed to being outsourced from other companies. He based the design of the computers on bulky, toylike early computers like iMacs, and built the screen using CRT glass with a touch screen glass. For the mouse, he created a trackball for the actors to operate, with the goal of making it feel anachronistic and slightly alien. If they explained this to somebody, theyd be like thats insane, theres no such thing, Hindle says. So it was something that had to be functional for them, functional for an actor to play that character, but it doesnt make any sense to most people. As the MDR employees venture further into the depths of Lumons offices, they encounter more bizarre spaces, which Hindle describes as being based partially on the aesthetics of M.C. Esther. One of the most notable is the Perpetuity Wing, a dark void housing bizarre artifacts like a Wall of Smiles, with photos of employees flashing their teeth, and a full-size replica of the companys founder Kier Eagans house. According to Hindle, most of the exhibitions in the wing came from the script by series creator Dan Erickson. For the house, Hindle designed a full-scale replica of a vintage, period house based on photographs he found at a museum in the Bronx. To finalize the Lumon aesthetic, Hindles team also had graphic designer Tansy Michaud design the logo for the company. According to Hindle, Michaud took around two months and hundreds of drafts to arrive at the finished design, which shows the name Lumon in an artistic rendering of a global map, with a droplet forming the center of the O. Hindle explains they took inspiration from various pharmaceutical companies to form the design, and the idea for the droplet came as a way to indirectly reference the implant that the company puts inside the heads of its severed employees. Although Severance is ostensibly set in a world where work lives and home lives are completely separate, in practice, the influence of Lumon extends beyond its workplace. The main character Mark lives in corporate housing provided to him by the company, which was shot in a neighborhood in Nyack, New York. Hindle scouted at least 60 locations before selecting the neighborhood, which is located on a hillside and consists of several different blue houses with the same basic design. According to Hindle, what made the location interesting is that although all of the houses visually look very similar, there are noticeable architectural differences that make it slightly off; Marks neighboring house, owned by his boss Cobel (Patricia Arquette), is roughly half the size of his own. It felt like the same thing that hes processing, hes so twisted and fragmented and broken and it felt like it needed the same kind of aesthetic, Hindle says. Its cold. Its also really comfortable like its beautiful. it really felt corporate but individualized in a really strange way, a really unsettling way. A frequent motif of the show is that a line will be placed in the center of the frame to represent the division between the two worlds. Mark and Cobels houses are often shown divided by plants, while inside the office, the divisions of desks are often placed at the center of the frame. Hindle, however, says that most of the shots arent truly symmetrical; the sets and shots have protruding walls or unequal divisions, which serve to disorient the viewer and remind them of the truly unequal division between the home and the workplace. It was trying to make things that were symmetrical, but its slightly wrong, because its the show, Hindle says. Everythings just a little bit off, which is really uncomfortable. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Indian filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, renowned for his landmark films in the gangster genre, is debuting in the streaming space with MX Player series Dhahanam (Funeral). MX Player is Indias largest AVOD service and recently set a content deal with BBC Studios. It has more than 300 Monthly Active Users globally and has achieved the one billion download milestone. Varmas iconic films include Shiva (1989), Satya (1998), and Sarkar (2005). Produced by Varma, Dhahanam is directed by Agastya Manju (Coronavirus). The cast includes Isha Koppikar, Abhishek Duhan, Naina Ganguly, Ashwatkanth Sharma, Parvathy Arun, Sayaji Shinde, Abhilash Chaudhary and Pradeep Rawat. Originally made in the Telugu language, the seven-episode series is also dubbed in Hindi and Tamil. Set in rural India, the series turns on the murder of Sri Ramulu, a communist worker. His son, Hari, is a rebel operating from the forest in a guerrilla war with the landlords and is enraged by the news of his fathers death. He takes it upon himself to hunt down the culprit behind the murder of his father, which leads to a war between the most powerful people in the village. Varma said, Thrilled to announce my first ever web series Dhahanam in collaboration with MX player. The story runs in a grey area between two contradictory quotes An eye for an eye will only succeed in making the whole world blind, said by Mahatma Gandhi, and Revenge is the purest emotion, as quoted in the Mahabharata. Dhahanam tells not a story of just revenge, but the story of a circle of revenge. Its not a crime thriller but its about thrilling crimes which are designed to create an adrenaline pumping exhilaration, adds Varma. With this show, we have not gone one extra mile, but went many miles with intense method actors living in their roles to do justice to the storys violent demands. Dhahanam streams from April 14. Watch the trailer in Telugu with English subtitles here: And in Hindi with English subtitles here: Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Eclipse by Natasa Urban has picked up the top Dox:Award at Copenhagen Intl. Documentary Film Festival. It was awarded at a ceremony in the Danish capital, which opened with a homage to Ukraine where fest organizers announced they would be screening Daniel Rohers Navalny in theaters across the nation immediately after the festival to show that there is another Russia. The Eclipse was competing with 11 others for the top award half of them had their world premiere at the fest, part of no fewer than 76 world premieres during the event. Focusing on the events of Aug. 11, 1999, when most of Serbias population barricaded themselves in their homes and nuclear bunkers in fear of a total solar eclipse, the film uses the rare natural phenomenon as a metaphor for a nations unclean conscience about the consequences of its political choices. In the process, Urbans documentary essay confronts her countrys wartime and criminal past, and the evil that is still on the loose today. This film broke me down and Im still picking myself up. It was indescribably difficult to make that film, but I will do it again, said Urban as she received the award on behalf of herself and her team. Handing out the award, the jury said: The Dox:Award goes to a film that affirms a vocation for the moving image in a time of global crisis. The director dares to look in the mirror of a troubled present and reckon with the ghosts of a bloody past, arguing that historical amnesia is a burden carried across generations. We were stirred by the films rage, moved by its tender beauty, and roused by the ugliness it courageously makes its subject. As our present of war and violence threatens to one day become yesterdays news, this film tells us in unambiguous terms: do not look away; do not forget. The New:Vision Award, which is dedicated to experimental and artists films, went to What About China? by film artist and theorist Trinh Minh-ha, who returns to film and photography she shot in rural China in the early 1990s in an essayistic reflection on the rich and complex history of the country. The jury commended her film for a timelessness fashioned not just through the structure of looking back 30 years, but through a lucidity that assumes a contemporaneity without insistence. Special Mention went to Congress of Idling Persons by Bassem Saad from Lebanon, who brings together artists, musicians and intellectuals from around the world on a performative reflection on political protest and migration. Lena Karbes Black Mambas won the F:act Award dedicated to films spanning investigative journalism and documentary. It follows a group of women from the communities around Kruger National Park in South Africa who have formed the Black Mambas a military-trained network that fights against poaching, in what is also a fight for womens liberation. The jury congratulated the filmmaker, saying: A seemingly simple story that quietly reveals its complex layers, Black Mambas touches upon a multitude of themes, acknowledging but also defying stereotypes. In an ideologically charged landscape we get to experience the struggles and empowerment of young women against the persisting power structures, within the frame of race, family dynamics and the tight grip of colonialism that refuses to let go. Alex Pritzs The Territory, about indigenous activists in the Amazon who fight government-backed farmers that are eating into their territory, was awarded a special mention in the F:act category. The Nordic:Dox Award for Nordic documentaries was picked up by Ivalo Frank for The Last Human, a moving tribute to Greenlandic scientist Minik Rosings landmark discovery of the first traces of life on Earth, described by the jury as a singular film that dares to assemble a multitude of styles into a collage of image and thought. A film that is both a sensitive tribute to a land and opens itself up to the vast questions of life itself. Tsumu Where Do You Go With Your Dreams, a youth film about hope, dreams and the right to be yourself in turbulent times by Kaster Kiertzner nabbed a special mention in the Nordic:Dox category. The jury commended it as a film that gives the power of storytelling to its protagonists: dedicated friends, teenagers with dreams who carry the weight of growing up in a place where their generation is thought to be lost. To voices from a remote society fighting to overcome the vicious circle that is laid out for them. CPH:DOXs prize for emerging filmmakers and artists, Next:Wave, went to Kash Kash Without Feathers We Cant Live by Lea Najjar. Handing over the award, the jury said, From a tiny anecdote, this film expands its cinematic universe and unveils the disillusionment of an entire city an entire country. From the opening scenes claustrophobic setting, to the final wide eye of an artificial pigeon, witnessing the place it took flight from. Moosa Lane by Anita Hopland received a Special Mention by the jury which described it as a feeling rather than just a place. An in between place one can never fully contain nor grasp. We fade in and out of time through the directors delicate yet conflicted gaze on a family history that drifts inside her memory. Sundance and Thessaloniki sensation A House Made of Splinters by Simon Lereng Wilmont, set in an orphanage in Eastern Ukraine, was awarded the Politiken Danish:Dox Award for best Danish film of the year by film critics at leading Danish newspaper Politiken. In their statement, they said: The winner is a film that enters into the most present conflict of todays news, but it was made by a director who traveled to Ukraine long before the rest of the world found it interesting to really bother. While this is not a film about the present war or even the present conflict, it brings testimony about the people who live in Ukraine, dealing with the hardships of life while the war dogs are barking in the distance. The Politiken jury also awarded a Special Mention to Mr. Graversen by Danish filmmaker Michael Graversen, where the director travels back to his childhood home where he is met by a new version of his father, which they described as a film full of love, of mature insight and forgiveness. On the industry side, the festivals financing and co-production event, CPH:Forum, handed over the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award to The Last Nomads by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazic. An ambitious co-production between Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Belgium and France, it is a tumultuous family drama that unfolds against the backdrop of land militarization in Montenegro, where the question of violence against women echoes in the violence against nature. Its a very good sign [that we won] because we are coming from the outskirts of Europe and we cant think of this film without a heavy co-production, said Biljana Tutorov after receiving the award. Its also one of the most complicated projects coming out of our region, especially in the light of recent events and the problem of the militarization and the impact on the ecology. Co-production partners are Swiss outfit Cut Up, Croatias Kinematograf and French art-house production company Les Films de loeil Sauvage. Toronto-based Syndicado is handling sales. We are looking forward to getting this project out there, its important because Montenegro has been independent for nearly 16 years and the people of Montenegro deserve a film like this which puts their country on the map, said Syndicados Aleksandar Govedarica. Commenting on their choice, the jury, composed of Final Cut for Reals Anne Kohncke, Vesna Cudic of Met film Sales and Albanian actor, scriptwriter and director Eduart Makri, stated: We were impressed by this project which brings us to a place we didnt know existed, a place of striking beauty and importance to humanity. A story of the human being in a David against Goliath battle, urgently reminding us not to lose our way in the fog of war. Its been absolutely incredible to be back in the cinemas and have everyone back in person, the festivals managing director, Katrine Kilgaard, told Variety. It shows us once again that there is so much happening even without you knowing, its like rings in the water you put something out there and it takes on its own life. Thats what a festival is all about. A selection of titles will be available on CPH:DOXs streaming platform Doxonline.dk from April 1 through April 10. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Oscars producer Will Packer is finally speaking out about the very intense scene that erupted backstage after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock across the face during Sunday nights Oscars, including just how close Smith came to an actual arrest. Breaking his silence in an interview with ABCs Good Morning America, Packer says Los Angeles Police Department officials were ready to take Smith into custody, but it was Rock who saved him from a trip to jail. The show airs on Friday at 7 a.m. ET. They were saying, you know, this is battery was the word they used in that moment, Packer told ABC News T.J. Holmes. They said, We will go get him. We are prepared. Were prepared to get him right now. You can press charges. We can arrest him.' LAPD previously revealed Rock declined to file charges against Smith, but it wasnt clear until now that police spoke directly to Rock in person and let him know Smiths fate was in his hands. They were laying out the options. And as they were talking, Chris was being very dismissive of those options. He was like, No, no, Im fine. He was like, No, no, no. And even to the point where I said, Rock, let them finish. The LAPD officers finish laying out what his options were. And they said, you know, Would you like us to take any action? And he said, No,' the Oscars producer recalled. EXCLUSIVE: #Oscars producer Will Packer tells @GMA what happened behind the scenes after actor Will Smith slapped host Chris Rock live on stage. @tjholmes https://t.co/AeoYcGkM32 pic.twitter.com/xe9E2cFo8N Good Morning America (@GMA) April 1, 2022 An LAPD source tells Rolling Stone that considering the battery charge would have been a misdemeanor: It would take the victim stepping forward for us to get involved. Packer also told Holmes that he did not speak directly with Smith at all the night of the Oscars. Its not clear if he communicated with the actor through an intermediary. Additionally, Packer said that his co-producer Shayla Cowan told him that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was ready to remove Smith from the building before the Best Actor award was presented. Packer said he wasnt part of those initial discussions, but immediately intervened, telling them thats not what Rock wanted. I said: Chris Rock doesnt want that, I said: Rock has made it clear that he does not want to make a bad situation worse,' Packer said. That was Chris energy. His tone was not retaliatory, his tone was not aggressive and angry, and so I was advocating what Rock wanted at that time, which was not to physically remove Will Smith at that time. Because as it has now been explained to me, that was the only option at that point. It has been explained to me that there was a conversation I was not a part of to ask him to voluntarily leave. EXCLUSIVE: #Oscars producer Will Packer tells Good Morning America about the frenetic aftermath of actor Will Smith slapping host Chris Rock live on stage on Hollywoods biggest night. https://t.co/AeoYcGkM32 pic.twitter.com/8z35t8TPFw Good Morning America (@GMA) April 1, 2022 During the interview, Packer offered some additional details about how the slap played out behind the scenes. He noted that Rock had a full slate of jokes pre-written when he got up to present the award for Best Documentary, but instead of reading them off the prompter, the comedian immediately started ad-libbing. He didnt tell one of the planned jokes, but you cant make it up, Packer said. He was just immediately freestyling. But I tell you, if theres anybody that you dont worry about going out in front of a live audience and riffing off the cuff, [its] Chris Rock. Nobodys better. Packer even admits that as the incident unfolded, he like many thought the slap was a pre-planned bit Rock and Smith had conceived together. It was only after Smith started yelling at Rock from the stage after sitting back down, that Packer said, My heart dropped. He continued, Ive got people, everybodys still in my ear, you know, saying: OK, what are we doing on camera two? Is he still up there? Are we doing the best documentary category? And Chris was keeping his head when everybody was losing theirs But my heart at that point was just in my stomach, because of everything about it and what it represented and what it looked like and who was involved. All of that was just I never felt so immediately devastated like I did in that moment. According to the Academy, Smith was asked to leave the Oscars ceremony after he slapped Rock but outright refused and defiantly accepted his Best Actor award for his role in King Richard in person. In a statement Wednesday, the Academys board of governors also said Smith could face suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions for violating the groups standards of conduct. Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated. While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently, the statement obtained by Variety said. Sources told Rolling Stone on Thursday that Academy CEO Dawn Hudson was one of the Academy officials who relayed to Smith that she wanted him to leave the Dolby Theater for the remainder of the telecast. Smith stayed in his seat and then delivered a lengthy acceptance speech for his Best Actor award, apologizing to the Academy and the shows audience but not to Rock directly. On Monday, Smith apologized to Rock via social media, saying he reacted emotionally to the comedians joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smiths buzzcut, which relates to her struggle with alopecia that shes shared publicly. I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. Im embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I wanted to be, Smith wrote. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness. This story has been updated with additional quotes from Packers interview. Webb County residents woke up to a hazy day Thursday as a result of two northern active fires generating smoke that was blown from the northeast. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Corpus Christi, the morning-noon smoke was likely blown in from the Cotulla area fire. The NOAA added that while the smoke was estimated to disperse around noon, eastern wind will bring back smoke to the city of Laredo in the evening. Furthermore, the Laredo Fire Department predicted that the haze will continue, as more smoke is blown from the 60,000-acre King Ranch fire. LFD reminded citizens that the fires were north and northeast of Laredo, and that there is no fire within the city. And while there is no estimated time until both fires are dealt with, LFD stated that the Encinal fire is 80% contained. In the event that any further threats are developed, the LFD stated it will advise the community. As for now, TXDOT shut down State Hwy-97 -- between FM 469 and the La Salle-McMullen County line -- due to the fire. Earlier in March, a brush fire along the Rio Grande reached El Cenizo, where it was reported that the fire came in from Nuevo Laredo. LMT reported then that while it did not present El Cenizo much danger, the fire was approximately five to six miles long on the Mexican side. Rio Bravo Fire Department Chief Juan C. Gonzalez told LMT that the fire was attributed to warmer temperature and the dead vegetation of the area. Soon after, another fire occurred on the other side of the border as Laredo Fire Department found themselves in an all-night battle with a blaze locally. David Calvert/Getty Images Jefferson County law enforcement have arrested a woman just outside Austin who was wanted for murder of a 16-year-old girl. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Liberty Hill Police Department, and Williamson County deputies arrested 24-year-old Chelsea Shipp around 3:40 a.m. at a home in Liberty Hill on Thursday, March 31, according to a news release. Jefferson County issued a murder warrant after deputies found 16-year-old Katelynn Nicole Stone of Vidor dead on Sunday, March 27 at a home at the 14000 block of Kolbs Corner in west Jefferson County. Deputies say Stone had been shot and her family has been notified. 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. If there is one name thats synonymous with Longfords long established retail sector its the Davis. The well respected and forward thinking family are celebrating the unveiling of their new look, ultra modern SuperValu store in a move which will see it become one of the most contemporary and customer focused stores in the country. It comes after a nine week large-scale investment of its near 20,000 sq ft premises at the county towns Hazelwood Shopping Centre. The impressive finished product was revealed last week amid much excitement and enthusiasm among customers and its 70 strong workforce alike. Among the many new eye-catching additions include a fully furnished Scratch bakery that will provide fresh bread and cakes on a daily basis, making it the only bakery of its kind in the county. A newly refurbished deli, together with a wide ranging upgrade of both the stores butchers and fish counters likewise form part of the stores striking new layout. One of the most exciting improvements is the rollout of a new kitchen which will provide for the preparation of freshly made, ready cooked meals thereby taking the hassle out of cooking for busy households. Throw in the introduction of a new, bespoke Happy Pear section which will offer customers the choice of healthier, plant based products, its not hard to see why Davis SuperValu is arguably Longfords leading grocery giant flagbearer. Whats more, the store is now stocking a larger range of freshly cut cheese while its overriding belief in supporting local producers has seen it stock a wide array of products from the likes of O'Halloran's & Green's fresh eggs, Dromod Boxty, Richmond Cordial and St Mels Brewery. In a further move and in keeping with the family run firms approach towards sustainability, the store has been fully retrofitted with LED energy saving lighting and modern energy efficient refrigeration. Its that ethos in sustainability, evidenced by its biodegradable coffee cups and plastic bags, which has taken centre stage in the companys continuing drive to reduce its carbon footprint. The remarkable overhaul coincides this year with the 65th anniversary of a family which can trace its retail lineage back no fewer than three generations. Those origins can be traced back to 1957 when Fred and Amy Woods purchased a small shop on Ballymahon Street. There, the husband and wife team converted the over the counter shop into the first self service store in the midlands. When their eldest daughter Hazel married Ken Davis in 1964, aborted plans for the newly married couple to emigrate to New Zealand saw them take a leading role in the family business, where they remained until their retirement in 2010. That came more than a decade and a half on from the business relocation from Ballymahon Street to the Market Square and more pivotally at a time which saw it join Irelands largest independently owned grocery and food distributor, SuperValu. The familys unerring desire to set the benchmark for an industry it had already been immersed in for the best part of a half a century saw the Davis's acquire a property at Townspark Industrial Estate in 2006. It was a transition which ultimately paved the way for the construction of an 18000 sq ft purpose built supermarket alongside 180 car parking spaces and additional units for rental. Four years later, a decision by Hazel and Ken to bow out into retirement saw the couples son Roy and wife Hilary assume the reins of the firm. More than a decade later, the seal on arguably the business most breathtaking of chapters is all but sealed. As part of that feat, Roy and Hilary have taken time this week to acknowledge all those who played their part in its successful realisation. They include Oscar Bacete the Store Designer in Musgraves, our SuperValu Regional Manager Eoghan Jones & Fresh Food Managers Denis Nolan & Enda Tobin and the fresh food team from SuperValu who provided training and advice on a new range of products. Similar thanks were afforded to Tommy & Paul from Cloverhill who worked hard training the stores team of bakers in developing a new range of products for their in-store bakery now trading as Mrs D's. Suppliers such as Coolrite Refrigeration, Domas Lighting, Storefit, Footfall, Quinlan Engineering, Kevin Wilson Ceiling & Walls, City Tilers, Blenders, Carthy Meats, Morgans Fresh Fish, Mark Leavy and his crew of merchandisers as well as the business own talented member of staff Pauline O'Reilly who provided the decorations and beautiful window displays for the opening. The project wouldn't have been completed on time without the help of our plumber Steven Reilly and electrician John Farrell who burnt the midnight oil on many nights over the 9 weeks, said a plainly delighted Roy and Hilary. There are many others who bailed us out during the renovation but we have to single out our manager Martina Craig and our wonderful staff who pulled out all the stops to get the shop ready for (last) Thursday. We would also like to acknowledge our loyal customers who put up with the chaos over the past nine weeks and we hope you enjoy the new shopping experience at Davis SuperValu. From the evidence over the past week and more, its an experience which looks set to revolutionise Longfords supermarket industry for not just years, but decades to come. A former county council worker and a woman are to stand trial in connection to an alleged burglary in Longford last year that left a man in hospital. Paul Owens (42), 27 Oakvale, Longford and Shauna Harper (28), 12 Park View, Charlestown, Co Mayo, were sent forward for trial accused of robbery at Sannis Place, Great Water Street, Longford on May 26, 2021. The pair, together with a third co-accused, had initially appeared before a sitting of Mullingar District Court two days after the alleged incident. The court was told on that occasion that Mr Owens was a father of four and a former Dublin County Council employee for 19 years. Defence solicitor Fiona Baxter said her client was unemployed at the moment and would therefore be seeking legal aid. Solicitor for Ms Harper, Frank Gearty also made an application for legal aid, both of which were granted by Judge Bernadette Owens. In doing so, she gave both defendants the alibi warning, telling them that if they intended to use an alibi in their defence, notice must be given to the State solicitors office within 14 days. Both Mr Owens and Ms Harper were remanded on continuing bail until a sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court on May 17. Community, Charity & Cause By Chris Boyle Published: April 01 2022 It was wonderful to be part of such a beautiful display of affection and love for our communitys newest centenarian, Legislator Drucker said. Nassau County Legislator Arnold W. Drucker (D - Plainview) had the recent pleasure of joining in the 100th birthday celebration for Gertrude Burstein at The Bristal at Jericho. During his visit, Legislator Drucker presented a Nassau County Legislature Citation in commemoration of her milestone birthday. It was wonderful to be part of such a beautiful display of affection and love for our communitys newest centenarian, Legislator Drucker said. I wish Gertrude many more years filled with good health, happiness, laughter and special birthdays! Local News, Religion By Long Island Published: April 12 2022 New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a consumer alert urging New Yorkers to be mindful of potential discriminatory pricing practices at car washes in the days leading up to Passover. New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a consumer alert urging New Yorkers to be mindful of potential discriminatory pricing practices at car washes in the days leading up to Passover. In previous years, there have been reports of car wash businesses in predominantly Orthodox Jewish communities in New York City raising prices by as much as 50 percent for Jewish customers seeking cleaning services close to Passover. In advance of Passover, many Jews clean their homes, cars, and other spaces to remove chametz, or leavened products, from these spaces because they are not eaten for the duration of the holiday. According to reports provided to the Office of Attorney General (OAG) from Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein, some companies have advertised specials for car washing services related to Passover, but instead, charged higher prices to Jewish customers. Attorney General James also sent letters to two organizations representing car wash owners in New York to remind their members that any such business practice is illegal and should be reported to OAG. Its shameful that we even have to warn Jewish communities about the possibility that companies would take advantage of them during the holidays, said Attorney General James. If we learn of any businesses engaging in such disgusting and antisemitic practices, we will not hesitate to take swift and serious legal action. No New Yorker should ever be forced to pay more for a service because of their religion, race, gender, or sexual orientation, and I urge anyone who has been a victim of this discriminatory behavior to report it to my office immediately. The Passover season is expensive enough and unfortunately many local families struggle to make ends meet at this time of year, said Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein. Given the Jewish tradition of cleaning our homes, our cars, and our possessions before the Passover holiday, car washes provide an essential service during the pre-Passover season. In the past I have received multiple reports of car wash establishments in my district and beyond that have raised their prices up to 50 percent during the pre-Passover weeks for the exact same service that they offer all year round. Shameless overcharging before the holiday is clearly religious discrimination and totally unacceptable in this industry or any industry. I thank Attorney General James for giving this issue the attention it deserves and issuing this pre-season warning to car wash establishments, ensuring that this discriminatory practice does not continue this year. Scammers try new methods to trick you all the time, even during religious holidays, said Assemblymember Nily Rozic. As the Jewish community prepares for Passover, it's crucial consumers are mindful to look out for opportunistic price gouging. Im thankful to Attorney General James for her continued efforts to crack down on discriminatory practices. New Yorkers should not have to tolerate exploitative business practices, especially ones that target individuals based on religion, gender, or race, said Assemblymember Daniel Rosenthal. That message was made loud and clear today by Attorney General James, who is taking a proactive stand against discriminatory and predatory practices. On behalf of the Jewish community and all New Yorkers, I thank her for her vigilant advocacy and leadership. If you believe you were charged more for services because of your religion, race, or background, or know of businesses using these discriminatory practices, please file a complaint with OAG. (Sharecast News) - London stocks were set to edge lower at the open on Friday as investors eyed the latest US non-farm payrolls report. The FTSE 100 was called to open down 12 points at 7,5014. Consensus expectations are for a 490,000 increase in payrolls in March from February but Oxford Economics is more optimistic, pencilling in a jump of 550,000. It expects the unemployment rate to have ticked down to 3.7% from 3.8%, which would be a new cycle low. Lead US economist Lydia Boussour said: "A key focus will be on average hourly earnings and whether the surprisingly soft February print was a blip or an early signal. In our view, the February reading likely understated wage growth. "With labour market metrics still pointing to an extremely tight job market, we expect a robust 0.4% gain in average hourly earnings lifting wage growth 0.4ppts higher to a hefty 5.5% pace - the same pace as in January and the fastest since May 2020." In corporate news, Mitie Group said it had bought P2ML, a specialist telecoms tower design company for 2.1m on a cash and debt-free basis. The deal will further expand Mitie's telecoms acquisition, design and construction capabilities after the acquisition of DAEL Telecoms last year. Homewares retailer Dunelm announced that Karen Witts will take over as chief financial officer on 9 June. Witts, who joins Dunelm from Compass Group, will succeed Laura Carr, who will step down from the board on 8 June. (Alliance News) - Petropavlovsk PLC is gathering advisers including AlixPartners for assistance in restructuring its debt, Sky News reported Friday. On Thursday, the London-based miner with operations in Russia explained that it had a USD200 million committed term loan and USD86.7 million revolving credit facilities between itself and Gazprombank. An interest payment of USD560,000 due on the term loan is currently prohibited due to sanctions. The rouble equivalent of USD9.5 million under its revolving credit facility has also not been paid as a consequence of the regulations. This comes after Gazprombank was last week included on the UK Sanctions List. Sky News reported that the alternative options available to Petropavlovsk were unclear, and would partly depend upon the length of the sanctions affecting its Russian lender. https://news.sky.com/story/london-listed-miner-petropavlovsk-lines-up-advisers-for-crunch-debt-talks-12579657 Shares in Petropavlovsk closed 15% lower at 3.40 pence on Friday in London, and has fallen 86% in value over the last 12 months. By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Quiz PLC on Friday said it expects to report an annual profit, helped by the fashion brand's revenue coming in ahead of expectations. Quiz shares jumped 36% to 14.64 pence each in London on Friday morning. For the financial year which ended March 31, Quiz expects to post revenue of GBP78.0 million, which would top expectations and be up 96% from GBP39.7 million from the year prior. "Positive sales momentum" it saw over the Christmas period continued into the final quarter of its financial year. "This encouraging momentum was achieved across both the group's store and concession portfolio as well as its e-commerce website, and resulted in like-for-like revenues broadly consistent with those generated in FY 2019, prior to the impact of Covid-19," Quiz said. The Glasgow, Scotland-based company explained its gross margins for the final quarter were "consistent" with financial 2019, before the onset of the pandemic. Quiz said: "This was driven by strong full-price sell through of Quiz's trademark occasionwear and dressy casualwear products in response to the increased prevalence of social occasions such as weddings, and holidays compared to the previous year." The company expects earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of no less than GBP4.3 million for financial 2022. Pretax profit is expected to amount to no less than GBP500,000. In financial 2021, Quiz's Ebitda amounted to GBP10.7 million, though it reported a loss of GBP4.9 million on an underlying basis. It had posted pretax profit of GBP6.0 million, but a GBP9.6 million underlying pretax loss. Quiz posted a GBP15.6 million non-recurring gain in financial 2021, stemming from its disposal of its Kast Spain unit. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - RBG Holdings PLC said on Friday it delivered on its upgraded expectations for 2021 as it noted rises in annual profit and revenue. The London-based professional services company increased pretax profit by 25% in 2021 to GBP9.2 million from GBP7.4 million the previous year as revenue surged 87% to GBP42 million from GBP22.4 million. RBG said its legal services revenue rose 56% in the year and was now more evenly split across Dispute Resolution at 36%, Corporate at 35% and Real Estate at 29%. Chief Executive Nicola Foulston said: "Overall, the group has had an excellent twelve months which is reflected in our improved revenue and profit growth. With strong demand for all group services, we delivered the upgraded market expectations for the 2021 financial year from January's trading update. "While acknowledging that macro-economic conditions continue to be volatile, the new financial year has started as expected giving us cause to look forward to the coming year with optimism. We are excited about the long-term prospects for the group." For 2021, the company's dividend totalled 5 pence, up 67% from 3p the previous year. This, RBG commented, reflected its confidence in the company's continued prospects. In the first quarter of 2022, RBG said its trading has been as expected. Historically, it explained, the Corporate business is quieter at this time of year; however the group said it was creating opportunities in other areas of the business at this time. Shares in RBG were up 3.6% at 116.50 pence on Friday morning in London. By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Telecom Plus PLC on Friday said that it disposed of two of its non-core units for GBP2 million to focus its efforts on its core business as a fully integrated supplier of utilities. The London-based multi-utility supplier said the non-core businesses comprise its wholly-owned meter operator UW Home Services Ltd and its 75% owned boiler installation business Glow Green. Telecom Plus noted that neither of the disposals are expected to have an impact on profit in 2022. The company sold UWHS to specialist meter operator Lowri Beck Holdings Ltd for GBP1 million in cash. The value of UWHS' gross assets in the last audited accounts were GBP7.6 million and it made a pretax loss of GBP3.0 million in the year to March 31. Telecom Plus agreed to sell its stake in Glow Green to Charles Wigoder, Telecom's own executive chair, for GBP1 million in cash. The company noted that Glow Green has been consistently loss-making since it was purchased in 2018. This has contributed to a cumulative funding requirement of over GBP6 million that will remain with Glow Green as a debt to Telecom Plus and will be repaid over time. Shares were up 0.4% at 1,536.00 pence each on Friday morning in London. By Abby Amoakuh; abbyamoakuh@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. The Queen's speech in May last year included the British government reviewing the 15-year voting rule for expatriates which was extended by former Prime Minister Tony Blair. As a result, British expatriates who have been living outside of the UK for more than 15 years lost their rights to vote in UK general elections. However, 100-year-old Harry Shindler, who lives in Italy and has tirelessly campaigned to give Britons living or working abroad the right to vote, appears to have won his campaign, for which he was awarded the MBE. Shindler challenged the current 15-year limit on voting rights in the High Court in 2016 and in the European Court of Justice in 2018 and the proposed scrapping of the law has been given the green light by the House of Lords. The election bill will now be reviewed before returning to Parliament where MPs will vote on the proposed change. The limit has been a long-standing point of contention. This was especially true during the 2016 Brexit referendum. Tens of thousands of expatriates were blocked from voting after finding out they had exceeded the time limit. The Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, Lord True, said at the time: "In an increasingly global and connected world, most British citizens living overseas retain deep ties to the United Kingdom. Many still have family here, have a history of hard work in the UK behind them, and some have even fought for our country. "These measures support our vision for a truly Global Britain, opening up our democracy to British citizens living overseas who deserve to have their voices heard in our Parliament, no matter where they choose to live." Britons now look set to have more of a say in issues spanning foreign policy, defence, immigration, pensions and trade deals. Electors will also be able to reapply for a postal vote or refresh their proxy vote at the same time as renewing their voter registration. This will streamline the process, helping to ensure overseas voters have appropriate voting arrangements in place ahead of an election. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MANISTEE Edna Holmberg will turn 103 years old on Monday, and she has no plans to slow down. Holmberg plans to help Sheila Lavender owner of Lavender Florals in creating Mother's Day baskets next month. Holmberg was living independently until a fall last week put her in the hospital, according to her daughter, Karen Bruchan, She is currently rehabbing her injury at Green Acres of Manistee. During the week, Holmberg is active in the senior center exercise program, according to Bruchen. In the past, Holmberg and her husband would attend local craft shows. However, when Holmberg's husband Warren died, Bruchan became her craft partner. According to Bruchan, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Holmberg "was unable to go to any shows and so decided to take all of her left over yarn and make 'COVID potholders' in wild and crazy colors." Bruchan said that Holmberg sent the "COVID potholders" to family and friends. Holmberg was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 4, 1919. Her mother was from Varmland, Sweden, and her father was from Wocester, Massachusetts. She had three sisters and one brother all of who died. Holmberg and her siblings grew up speaking Swedish until they went to school. "The school came to the parents and told them they had to speak English to the kids, no exceptions. So, none of them retained Swedish," Bruchan said. Edna married Warren Holmberg on April 3, 1943. Warren's birthday was April 4, 1914 the same day as Edna's. They were married the day before both their birthdays. Warren Holmberg died on May 17, 2000. Bruchan said that her mother spent most of her life in the Chicago area and worked as a Bell Telephone operator and a legal secretary. When Holmberg moved to Rockton, Illnois with her husband, she took up a job at a childrens home. Holnberg and her husband both retired in 1976. Bruchan said her mother "was an excellent crafter (sew, knit and crochet) and cook specializing in Swedish cookies, coffee bread and meatballs. If you were her neighbor you could expect cookies at Christmastime. Some of her recipes are in the senior center cookbook." Related Content REACHING A MILESTONE: Edna Holmberg celebrates 100th birthday On her 100th birthday, when Holmberg was asked her secret to reaching 100 years of age, she said, I think it was more luck than brains." Russia's invasion in Ukraine has ostracized them from the rest of the world, they even stopped sending oil barrels everywhere and president Joe Biden has a solution for that. As a result of Russia's isolation from the rest of the world, gas prices have been soaring in the United States and many parts of the rest of the world where Russia usually sells oil. Germany is going through this issue as well, the United Kingdom too. But the United States does have a massive reserve that is only for emergencies, president Joe Biden made a massive decision about this reserve. He just announced a 1 million barrels per day going to the population of the country in order to lower gas prices on every state. That's about 180 barrels for the next six months, meaning Biden expects Russia to be isolated from the rest of the world for that long. Ever since the invason in Ukraine began, gas soared up to nearly $6 per gallon, which is an all-time high. Many Americans have been suffering from this increase in price and there has even been talk of a gas stimulus check that would help them with the crisis. In order to prevent prices from going further up, Prsident Biden made an unprecedented announcement about the reserves. Barred importsof not only oil but other Russian commodities are set to remain for a long time, at least until Vladimir Putin is no longer in power. President Biden also urged local producers to stop thinking about getting profit from the crisis in Ukraine and think about increasing local production for the citizens of the country. According to the president, this is a time to be united as if the country was going through a war against another country. Biden'ts announcemtn about oil barrels. This is the announcement president Joe Biden made about oil barrels: "Today I'm authorising the release of one million barrels per day for the next six months - over 180 million barrels. This is a wartime bridge to increase oil supply until production ramps up later this year. And it is by far the largest release from our national reserve in our history. If we want lower gas prices, we need to have more oil supply right now. But some companies have been blind. I say enough. Enough of lavishing excessive profits on investors with payouts and buybacks. The American people are watching, the world is watching. US oil companies made nearly $80 billion in profit last year." Malaysia signs MOU with China on traditional medicine development Xinhua) 09:08, April 01, 2022 KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The governments of Malaysia and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday for cooperation in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. The agreement, signed by Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Yu Wenming, commissioner of China's National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), is an extension of a similar agreement signed in 2011, the minister said in a statement following the signing ceremony held virtually. The agreement marks a milestone in the development and propagation of traditional Chinese medicine in Malaysia and focuses on the four key areas of practice, medicinal materials and products, education and training, and research and development, Khairy said. "These four areas of cooperation are vital to strengthening the position of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) in the national health care systems of both countries based on strong scientific evidence," he said. "These collaborations are made in recognition of the contribution of T&CM towards sustainable well-being and universal health coverage (UHC). They are also motivated by the aspirations of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)," the minister added. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Ganesh Acharya, the well-known choreographer, who choreographed Allu Arjun and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the hit Pushpa song Oo Antava and garnered a lot of accolades, is in legal trouble. The Mumbai Police has filed a charge sheet against the dance master and his assistant, according to reports. As per a police officer, Acharya has been accused of sexual harassment, stalking, and voyeurism in a case filed by a co-dancer in 2020. As reported by Hindustan Times, the charge sheet was submitted in the court of a metropolitan magistrate concerned in Andheri, according to Oshiwara police officer Sandeep Shinde, who is investigating the case. Ganesh Acharya and his assistant have been charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 323 (causing hurt), 354-a (sexual harassment), 354-c (voyeurism), 354-d (stalking), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman), and 34 (common intention to commit an offense). In her complaint, an assistant choreographer has accused Acharya of harassing her after she declined his sexual advances. He has been accused of making obscene remarks, showing her a pornographic film, and molestation. Six months later after she refused to cooperate with him, her membership was terminated by the Indian Film and Television Choreographers Association. When she spoke up against Acharya's activities at a meeting in 2020, the choreographer's assistants assaulted her. Talking about the same, the woman revealed, "The female assistants beat me up, abused me and defamed me after which I went to the police who refused to lodge a complaint and merely registered a non-cognizable case. Then I contacted a lawyer to take the matter further". While Acharya hasn't yet commented on the development, his lawyer, Ravi Suryavanshi, stated that the police hasn't informed them about the charge sheet. He said, "I dont have the charge sheet so I cannot say anything, but all the sections in the FIR were bailable". On the career front, Ganesh Acharya has choreographed many hit songs featuring popular stars. He has also appeared in several music videos and acted in films too. For his choreography in the songs Hawan Kund from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Gori Tu Lath Mar from Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, he got the National Film Award for Best Choreography. Half of the ownership team at Ore Dock, which also encompasses her marriage to her husband Weston, Andrea Pernsteiner often doesn't even tell customers at first that she's one of the owners of Ore Dock Brewing in Marquette. "I never introduce myself as the owner of the brewery," Pernsteiner said. "They'll ask me how long have you worked here? And I generally get a look of surprise on their face when I say I own it. The assumption usually from customers is that a man owns it." The numbers behind brewery ownership back the customer's assumptions. According to a study by the National Brewers Association in 2021, only 7.5% of brewers are female, and only 2% of breweries are wholly owned by women. About 51% of breweries are owned by a male/female team. You can add Ore Dock to that list. Pernsteiner was quick to point out that while customers may assume male ownership, she has always felt welcome in the brewing world. "I've never felt that being a woman has ever been limiting in this industry," she said. "I've never really felt different from any other brewery owner." Perhaps her comfort in a male-dominated industry comes from her background as an engineer. Prior to opening Ore Dock in 2012, both she and her husband worked as biomedical engineers in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Andrea is a Badger, having graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, while Wes had a tie to the Upper Peninsula, having gotten his undergraduate degree from Michigan Tech in Houghton. Her background has served her well at Ore Dock. "I am an engineer, which is also not a woman-centered business," she explained. "I already could navigate the industry feel of being a minority. Of not being seen as someone who is knowledgeable or able to problem solve in your chosen industry. But I enjoy a challenge, and I enjoy problem-solving. That's what an engineer does, and that is what owning a business is, solving problems." The couple fell in love with beer together, during their adventures throughout the midwest and eventually, Europe. They quickly realized that while they did love the liquid in their glass, they almost love the community around craft beer even more. Ore Dock Brewing/Courtesy Photo "Traveling we would try out the local breweries and beers of the community," she said. "We'd always find someone at the bar who could tell us all the happenings of the town. The breweries were always a community meeting spot, surrounded by great craft beers." Not quite finding the craft beer scene in St. Paul and Minneapolis that they were looking for, the couple traveled farther out and quickly fell in love with what was happening in Duluth, a charming city located on the western shores of Lake Superior. Visit the brewery: Ore Dock Brewing 114 W Spring St Marquette, MI 906-228-8888 Oredockbrewing.com Festival of the Angry Bear April 9, 2022 Angry Bear 5K 1 p.m. Festival starts at 3 p.m. Live Music Lineup: Blanco Suave Them Coulee Boys Lalo Cura The Brothers Quinn Ramble Tamble Outlaw'd WhoDat Brass & the March of the Angry Bear See More Collapse "We solidified our love of the craft beer world in Duluth," she said. Visiting Fitger's Brewhouse Brewery and Grille in Duluth got them thinking about what their own brewpub might look like someday. "The brewery is also located in a restored building, located right off the lake," Pernsteiner said. "They always had live music. Any time we went to the North shore we always brought our growlers and made sure to stop." When Wes was offered a new job in Marquette, the couple decided to make the move to Michigan's North shore. "At that point, the Vierling existed, it was the oldest in town, but really it was more of a restaurant," she said. The Vierling is nestled in a historic building on the shores of Lake Superior, overlooking the original ore dock that was built in 1911. They are known for their fresh whitefish, and for their hand-crafted beers that are made in a very limited quantity. "We started thinking about what a craft brewery could look like in Michigan," she said. This is one brewery origin story that doesn't start with someone homebrewing, which is a bit of a surprise. Instead, the Pernsteiners had a deep love of beer, but an even deeper love of the community that surrounds a brewery. Visits to Europe confirmed this idea. Ore Dock Brewing/Courtesy Photo "It really resonated with us, the bringing together of communities that beer provides," she said. "Visiting historic breweries in Austria and Germany, where this has been happening for hundreds of years, helped us embrace that vision." Together, the couple found a historic building in downtown Marquette on Spring Street, and the work began. And I mean the real work, at least for Andrea. She found out she was pregnant with her first child the day that they started to pull up the flooring in the brewery. "It's been a journey, starting a brewery and starting a family," she said. The couple now has one brewery that is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and three kids, ages 9,7, and 5. The atmosphere they've created at Ore Dock "is very family-focused," Andrea said. "Lots of our employees have kids," she said. "The brewery was often where we would try to do events that were family-friendly. Where we could all meet each other, meet the kids. The employees understand the importance of family, and are always very understanding of kids." Andrea explained that it's been really good for staff to realize that "everyone has a life outside of the brewery." Once the couple realized that they were going to open a brewery, they did try homebrewing. "We weren't very good at it," Andrea said with a laugh. They hired Nick VanCourt as their original brewer at Ore Dock, which was a great fit. VanCourt has since moved on to his own brewery Barrel + Beam, also in Marquette. Jake Shea is the current brewer. "It was about finding the people that we could go on this journey with, that cared about the product and the beer, as much as we cared about creating the community," Andrea explained. With VanCourt and Shea's expertise, the brewery offers up a variety of beers, with a mix of Belgian, English and American styles on tap, plus a scattering of seltzers. All made with some of the freshest, cleanest water you can find on the planet, which luckily for Ore Dock, is right down the street. You'll find special beers rotating on tap at the brewpub, and also in the distribution in cans all over Michigan. Look for Reclamation, a copper-colored "mid-coast" IPA brewed with British ale yeast. The hazy and juicy Berzerker hazy IPA has become a favorite, while the easy-going Beach Bum wheat is perfect to grab and go on any U.P. adventure. Ore Dock Brewing/Courtesy Photo I asked her what people could expect during a visit to Ore Dock. In the summer season, "you can see the lake when you walk in, and see the ore dock. You'll find friendly staff who will pour you a variety of beers and seltzers, and a community gathering place, where you can meet friends, or meet someone new. We often have live music on weekends, and community events happening all the time." The Ore Dock's biggest party of the year, the Festival of the Angry Bear, is Saturday, April 7. On hiatus for the last few years, this shindig is "a spring awakening for Marquette, when we all come out of hibernation," according to Andrea. "We are ready to break out and all be together." The festival features a 5K run, and then one heck of a hootenanny out in the street, with food trucks, three stages featuring live music, and of course, plenty of beer, including a huge cache of barrel-aged sours that Ore Dock has been aging all year. Come dressed as your favorite woodland party animal and you just might win a prize. Frank King/Courtesy of Ore Dock Brewing True to their dedication to being family-friendly, this year the brewery will also be hosting a Baby Bear party on Thursday, April 7. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes, and there will be a parade, balloon animals, a scavenger hunt, and arts and crafts to do. Andrea finally quit her day job designing pacemakers and defibrillators a few years ago, and now works at the brewery full time. She's also gotten involved with the Michigan Brewers Guild, and currently serves as a director on the Guild's board. "Andrea has been a welcome addition to the Board," said David Ringler, owner of Cedar Springs Brewing Company and the current vice president for the Guild. "She's brought some fresh energy and a really helpful perspective. I've enjoyed getting to know her better." One thing that has been a bit of a challenge for Andrea is staying connected to the downstate brewing community. "I do feel a little isolated with the scene downstate," she said. "COVID has made it a little easier, doing things over Zoom, and bonding over similar challenges. It's allowed us to feel a little more comfortable reaching out." Frank King/Courtesy of Ore Dock Brewing A visit last summer by fellow brewery owners Kris and Jason Spaulding and their kids were inspiring for Andrea, not just to discuss owning a business, but also to get to connect with another family doing the same thing. "Getting to see Kris' journey through the Michigan beer scene, and now she's on the (Brewers Association) national board, she's really made a name for herself and for Brewery Vivant, I really admire her," Pernsteiner said. "I wish I could have spent more time with her, but they had their kids with them. And that's what we do as owners, the parents shared a beer, and the kids had root beer, this is what we do". "I can say that I am very excited to have Andrea on the Michigan Brewers Guild board," Kris Spaulding shared. "Both to have an awesome female in that role as well as someone from the U.P. for more geographical diversity. Her focus on hospitality and drive to keep innovating their product offerings are admirable." Andrea has certainly learned a lot over the last ten years. Her advice? "Not just being in the brewing industry, but owning any business, you really need to be sure of yourself," she said. "You are only one person. Operate with integrity, and do your best. There are so many highs and lows, owning a business is such a roller coaster, but I try to look at every challenge as an opportunity. Women have a wonderful ability to ride that roller coaster, and recognize we can only do so much. Multitasking is a very women's centric trait. We have that nature to navigate many things at once." This talent has served her well over the years, as she grew, not just a brewery, but also raising her young family. "You have to trust yourself, trust your gut, and try not to overthink things," she said. "And in the end, have fun. It's so fun, try to remind yourself that that is part of why you are doing this." MANISTEE -- Michigans ample supply of freshwater may be its most valuable natural resource, but for decades, the states waterways have been marred by pollutants. That is according to a report by the Environmental Integrity Project, which is painting a dire picture of Michigans waterways. The nonprofit looked at waterways and bodies of water in all 50 states by surveying the most recent available state Integrated Water Reports filed with the Environmental Protection Agency. Rivers and streams The report, The Clean Water Act at 50: Promises Half Kept at the Half Century Mark, found that 95% of rivers and streams and 43% of lakes and reservoirs are impaired for swimming and recreation in Michigan. It defines impaired waters as those that are too polluted to meet safety standards for swimming and recreation, aquatic life, fish consumption or for use as drinking water. That means more than 54,000 miles of rivers and streams in the state are polluted with things like nitrates, bacteria or other contaminants which could make them unsafe for swimmers. Indiana tops the list of states with the most dirty waterways. Indiana has 24,395 total miles of rivers and streams listed as impaired for swimming and recreation. Oregon has the most overall miles of rivers and streams categorized as impaired for any use at 122,800 miles, followed by California with 83,361 impaired miles. Michigan is third with 54,687 impaired miles. About 96% of Michigans rivers and streams are deemed impaired for fish consumption, and 15,776 miles were listed as impaired for aquatic life, according to the report. The report assessed 1,426,619 miles of rivers, streams and creeks across the U.S. and found that over half were impaired for any use. Lakes and reservoirs More than half of assessed lake acres nationally have been designated as impaired for at least one use, according to the report. The study assessed a total of 814,808 lake acres in Michigan, and found that 91% of inland lakes and reservoirs were impaired for water contact recreation, and fish consumption. However, only 3,318 acres were assessed for water recreation impairments. For comparison, Houghton Lake, the largest inland lake in Michigan, has a surface area encompassing 20,044 acres. Over 378,000 acres were assessed in Michigan for fish consumption. The study also found that 3% of assessed lake acres were impaired for aquatic life. Nationwide, the states classified 11.2 million acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs as impaired, which was about 55% of assessed lake acreage. Great Lakes Michigan assesses both the open water of the Great Lakes and the health of their shorelines. For its portion of the Great Lakes, Michigan reported in a 2020 Integrated Water Report, that 100% of assessed open water was impaired for fish consumption, under EPA quality standards. But the state either had insufficient information or did not sample enough to determine the impairment status of other uses of open water, such as to support aquatic life, reads part of the Environmental Integrity Project study. Michigan has more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shorelines, but it only assessed 240 of these miles for water recreation. The state concluded that only 2% of these or 5.8 miles were impaired for swimming and recreation. EPA categorizes the Great Lakes differently than other inland lakes. Some parts of the Great Lakes are international waters, shared with Canada, making the responsibility for assessing them more complex. The states bordering the Great Lakes also use different methods for evaluating and classifying these water bodies. Of those that provided recent assessments, both Ohio and Illinois found 100% of their assessed waters were impaired for fish consumption. Michigan-based data for the report came from a 2020 Integrated Water Report to the EPA. Conclusions The U.S. Congress passed the federal Clean Water Act in a series of votes from March to October of 1972. The law promised fishable and swimmable waters no later than 1983, and the elimination of all discharges of pollutants into navigable waters by 1985. But this report concludes that the Clean Water Act has fallen far short of achieving these ambitious goals. The causes vary, and include things like agricultural runoff and drought, according to the report. To address these problems, Environmental Integrity Project researchers recommend the EPA update its regulations, enforce those already on the books and allocate more resources and staff to do so. The Clean Water Act should be celebrated on its 50th birthday for making Americas waterways significantly cleaner, stated Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project and former Director of Civil Enforcement at EPA in a press release. However, we need more funding, stronger enforcement and better control of farm runoff to clean up waters that are still polluted after half a century. Lets give EPA and states the tools they need to finish the job we owe that much to our children and to future generations. The authors note that this data does not provide a complete picture of the nations water pollution woes because of differences in how states monitor their waterways. "It is important to keep in mind that in some cases, states reporting higher levels of impairment may actually be doing a better job of monitoring waterways or are using more stringent criteria to assess water quality," reads part of an Environmental Integrity Project press release. "Although the most recent available state water quality reports to EPA make clear that about half of assessed river and stream miles and lake acres are impaired, the true extent of the nations water pollution is unknown because few states monitor all their waterways as required." For more information on the Environmental Integrity Project, visit environmentalintegrity.org. MECOSTA COUNTY Senator Joanne Emmons, who represented Mecosta County and the surrounding area in the Michigan Legislature for 16 years, died on Thursday. Emmons represented Mecosta County as part of the 23rd and 35th Senate District from 1991 to 2002, and as State Representative for the 99th District from 1987 to 1990. Senator Rick Outman, who represents the 33rd Senate District, which includes much of the same area Emmons represented, told the Pioneer that she was a good friend, a great mentor and a remarkable stateswoman. As I got to know her, we would talk a lot about politics and how you represent your people and what your priorities should be, Outman said. One thing I know about her is that the people of her district were always her number one priority in everything she did down there (in Lansing). In every decision she made, she definitely had a face in front of her mind of someone from her district and that it was relevant to them. In addition, he said, Emmons was always willing to help those who would follow in her footsteps. The reason she was so involved in helping those that followed her was because she knew how important it was to have good service to the area, he said. She took a vested interest in them because she had a stake in the claim. She wanted them to be represented well. Former Senator Judy Emmons no relation echoed those same sentiments saying Emmons was very much the stateswoman and was very valuable to her in her first election to the state House of Representatives. She went on to explain that it was her first campaign and things werent coming together as well as they could have, so Joannes husband John took some old signs from Joannes first campaign and repainted them with Judys name and spread them all around the district. It was remarkable that they would go to that much trouble, and it was quite a story back then, Judy Emmons said. People still confuse the two of us, but it has never bothered me and I never dispute it. It was no offense ever. In fact, it was quite an honor. She was just a great person to have in my corner and I tried to pattern my legislative career after her. Outman and Judy Emmons both agreed that knowing Joanne Emmons was of great benefit to their own work in the legislature. It was always fun to talk to her because she had such a vast knowledge of everything that happened before and that is important to someone like me in the day and age of term limits, Outman said. I dont always know why some laws were put in place, what the ramifications were or what the impetus for them was. She could walk me through that and tell me why things happened the way they did." Judy Emmons added, The thing about her is the invaluable history that she had of why certain legislation was passed and how it came to be, the deals that were made up to that point to get the votes. That is so valuable when you have term limits. The information she could share and the perspective she gave was really invaluable to us." Emmons' work on boards and committees In addition to her legislative career, Emmons served a numerous boards and committees including: Mecosta County Republican Committee; The 10th District Republican Executive Committee; Big Rapids Industrial Development Corporation; Michigan Township Board of Directors; Michigan Municipal Treasurer's Association Board; Central Michigan Mental Health Board; West Michigan Health Systems Mental Health Planning Commission; Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board; West Michigan Health Systems areawide review commission; and Lutheran Child and Family Services Board of Directors. See More Collapse "She was always good with advice and insight on the issues that were facing the townships and counties and she knew the people in local government," she continued. "She was the go-to person for any insights and her memory was fantastic. Longtime family friend, Pat Currie said the late Emmons was pioneer as a woman in Big Rapids, citing her work with the Big Rapids Township and St. Peters Church and School, as well as her overwhelming victory in the House and Senate elections. She was very much involved with the Big Rapids Township in making what it is today, Currie said. Then she ran for state representative and was the underdog and wound up winning with overwhelming support from Mecosta County. She was just a wonderful lady, and we were grateful and honored to be her friend, he added. She was very loyal to the Big Rapids community and has done so much for Mecosta County. Judy Emmons said, for her, the late Emmons' passing is a great personal loss, as well as a loss for Mecosta County and the entire area she served. "She was a great public servant in the very best sense of the word. It is a privilege to honor somebody who has had such a significant impact," she said. Outman added, She was a wonderful lady, and she is going to be missed by so many people in the community and certainly I am going to be one of them that misses her greatly. In a statement issued from his office, Congressman John Moolenaar said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Emmons and joined her family and friends in mourning the loss. "She was a dedicated public servant for almost three decades and our state is better off today because of her leadership and commitment to public service," Moolenaar said. "She provided outstanding assistance to her constituents, and she was a faithful steward of taxpayer dollars, while always fighting to defend the lives of the unborn." Emmons' accomplishments Emmons served as the Big Rapids Township treasurer for ten years, from 1976 to 1986, prior to running for state representative, and during her tenure in the Michigan Legislature, she was instrumental in procuring grant funding for the township in establishing the Big Rapids Township Industrial Park at Roben-Hood Airport, according to former Big Rapids Township clerk Vivian Smith. She was a good representative for a lot of years, Pat Currie said. She always had her ears to peoples voices and concerns. She was very well respected in Lansing and got a lot of things done that were important to the economics of Michigan. Upon leaving the Senate at the end of her term a resolution in her honor was adopted stating the Senator Joanne Emmons is bringing to close a distinguished chapter in her life of unselfish public service. The resolution recognized her for her outstanding leadership, hard work and commitment. She has devoted herself to community involvement throughout her life. She channeled her talents and energies through a host of positions in local government, numerous civic and community organizations and community boards. Her understanding of public policy and the intricacies of the legislative process propelled her to a leadership post as the Senate majority floor leader where she has been most effective, it went on to say. Emmons was born in Big Rapids and attended Mecosta High School, graduating in 1952. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Michigan State University and taught home economics at Mecosta High School from 1956 to 1958. She was active in St. Peters Lutheran Church, the Mecosta County Farm Bureau, the Mecosta County Right to Life and the Michigan Association of Extension Homemakers. I have known her (Joanne) my whole life. She did a tremendous job for us in Mecosta County and the rest of her district. Her heart was always here in Mecosta County, said longtime resident of Big Rapids and Emmons family friend, John Currie. Just shy of 35 years since a woman was found murdered in her southwest Michigan home, police arrest a suspect after a team of Western Michigan University students helped crack the case, authorities said Thursday. Patrick Gilham, 67, charged with murdering Roxanne Leigh Wood, 30, in 1987 pleaded no contest and agreed to be sentenced this week to at least 23 years in prison. He is accused of breaking into Woods home in Niles Township and cutting her throat. Wood was bowling with her husband the night she was killed, but they drove home separately with Roxanne getting back first. When her husband got home, he found her dead, according to reporting by The Associated Press. The killer sexually assaulted Wood and his DNA was left at the crime scene. After Gilham was identified as a suspect, undercover units surveilled him extensively, and he was interviewed on two separate occasions, according to reporting by Click on Detroit. Gilham was directly implicated when DNA evidence from a cigarette found outside his South Bend home during three-day-long surveillance matched DNA evidence found on Woods body, police say. Wood's case is the first Western students were involved in as part of the university's Cold Case Program, which was launched in partnership with the Michigan State Police in 2021. The program helps to lighten the caseload for detectives, according to a WMU press release. Photo provided/Western Michigan University Program Director Ashlyn Kuersten estimates doctoral students Ashley Chlebek and Carl Huber put in about 1,200 hours of work over eight months on Wood's case, organizing several boxes of files that had been amassed during the investigation. "Primarily, our goal was to pour over the documents, organize them, scan them and give (the MSP) our assessment of what we thought they should look into going forward," said Huber in the WMU release. "When you stop to think about the actual impact that participating in a project like this has on the real world, on the people whose lives were forever impacted by the events that had taken place, it's humbling." The students had regular meetings with detectives throughout the investigation to identify potential new leads or share loose ends that needed to be tied up. Chlebek and Huber also sat in on a conversation between detectives and the suspect in Wood's murder when they first brought him in for questioning. "We were able to sit in a room and listen to what the detectives were doing in real-time in terms of how they were going to approach it," said Huber in the WMU release. "It was very interesting to see the inner workings (of the case)." Chlebek and Huber got an early start on the Cold Case Program as Kuersten was developing it. The first undergraduate cohort joined in fall 2021, representing a variety of majors. They were able to take part in Michigan State Police homicide investigation training to bolster their investigative skills alongside law enforcement professionals. Kuersten says dozens more students have shown interest in applying. "Psychology, forensics, social work, you know, there are just so many different fields that are relevant to these cold case murder files," said Kuersten in the WMU release. "It's really a win-win situation because the educational possibilities for students are just phenomenalnot only the research work but also the contacts that they're making." There are dozens of unsolved cases in the southwest district of Michigan alone, but many law enforcement departments lack the time and resources to take another look, according to the WMU release. Detective First Lieutenant Chuck Christensen says having students who can handle important administrative tasks that go into the organization of files is a "force multiplier" for his team. An arrest is a milestone in any case, but this one was personal for Christensen. He's been involved in the investigation since 2001 and has had multiple conversations with Wood's brother. "He has always tried to keep this case in our minds, in the forefront," said Christensen in the WMU release. "So, to solve this onethey're all importantbut this one, I had a lot of personal time spent on it. And then through the years talking to the family, it's a wonderful feeling to get to this point." Christensen estimates there are more than 20 unsolved homicide cases in his district that are more than a decade old. In the future, Western students will help organize and catalog cases for detectives, looking for potential new leads or evidence that could be revisited with technology that's developed since the crime happened. "It's going to be a phenomenal opportunity for students to utilize their education while in college, gain some extremely valuable skills and experience for the job market, help them to investigate and discover a career that best suits their talents and give back to their community by assisting police in their investigation efforts," said Kuersten in the WMU release. MIDDLETOWN Our board of directors comprises over 20 individuals who help move our organization forward and show up for their community in other ways. They are true difference-makers, and this week, we are excited to highlight an upcoming event supported by one of our directors. Board member Gary Wallace of the Community Health Center is involved in a six-business Ukrainian Firefighters Equipment Drive that will support multiple fire services in Ukraine. The event collaborators include Middletowns South Fire District, the Community Health Center, Community Foundation of Middlesex County, Wesleyan University, Keystone Paperbox, and Action Moving. The agencies also are teaming up with the Lviv Oblast Fire Department in Ukraine. The donation drive will take place April 9 and 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Fire District Firehouse, 445 Randolph Road in Middletown. All items collected will be used to support the Ukrainian fire service agencies and will be packaged and shipped directly to Ukraine. When asked about his involvement in the drive and what it means to him, Wallace responded, Being a Navy veteran from the Persian Gulf era and a former law enforcement officer, I have seen all too often the impact of traumatic events inflicted on innocent people. I am grateful and humbled to take part in this medical supplies drive for the firefighters in Ukraine, he added. Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone across the globe experiencing this type of treatment. I wish that we could help them all. Items that the drive is looking to collect include sealed-container pain relievers (ibuprofen or acetaminophen), backpacks, bandages, water-gel burn aid, first aid kits, Cravat bandages, knee pads, medical adhesive tape, multi-trauma dressings, medical gloves, compression bandages, triple antibiotic ointment, eyewash, emergency Israeli Battle dressings, cervical collars, CPR masks, IV supplies, EMT shears, tweezers, safety boots, safety glasses, safety pins, stainless steel hemostats, splints, tongue depressors, suture supplies, and tourniquets. You can find many of these items at local drug stores and shopping centers. Monetary contribution may sent to the Community Foundation of Middlesex County Ukrainian Firefighters Equipment Drive. Donations may be made online at bit.ly/MCT-Fireor mailed to CFMC at 49 Main St. Middletown, CT,06457 please note the Ukrainian Firefighters Equipment Drive in the memo line. We are proud of our board members work and are continuously inspired by their dedication to doing good and making a difference. If you have additional questions about the drive, please contact Gary Wallace at 860-883-1442 and wallacg@chc1.com. Middlesex United Way is a locally based organization in Middletown. Boeing this month discovered the latest in a long line of glitches on its KC-46 aircraft: Some trim hanging down above the over-wing emergency exit doors prevents them from opening. Though the KC-46 is designed as a troop transport as well as an air-to-air refueling aircraft, Boeing somehow missed this basic exit flaw in the tanker's emergency egress system. Every commercial airplane Boeing designs, including the 767 that is the basic airframe for the KC-46, is tested during certification to make sure all passengers can evacuate in an emergency within 90 seconds. For this defect-plagued military variant, which entered service in 2019, no such test was run. "We are carefully examining our processes to determine why this issue was not identified sooner," said Boeing in response to Seattle Times questions. The timing of the discovery is awkward. At a media roundtable last Friday, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told reporters that the Pentagon will likely not allow Airbus to compete for the next tranche of Air Force tankers, as had been expected, but will instead opt to stay with Boeing and ask only for "a modified KC-46." Fixed with Velcro The newly discovered door trim problem affects all KC-46 tankers previously delivered, including the 57 already being flown by the U.S. Air Force and the two tankers in service with the Japanese military. Boeing will have to retrofit all those tankers once it comes up with a permanent fix. In the meantime, Boeing released a service bulletin to the Air Force with instructions to unscrew the piece of trim that interferes with the doors and attach it with Velcro instead. Boeing said this provides "a temporary solution to ensure continued safe operation of the aircraft." In a statement acknowledging the problem, the Air Force said, "This change removes the associated emergency risk until a permanent modification can be made." Boeing said it identified the problem on March 17 "and immediately notified the Air Force." The service letter with the temporary Velcro fix was issued on March 21. The KC-46 is primarily an air-to-air refueling tanker. For that mission, it has only a flight crew aboard and they have their own emergency exit doors in the forward section of the aircraft. However, the plane can also be configured in the rear cargo cabin for an aeromedical mission carrying injured personnel or with passenger seats installed as a troop transport. "There have been missions with passenger or aeromedical configuration," Boeing said. The exits over the wing are there to help quickly evacuate from this area of the plane. The Air Force statement said the door trim problem could "hinder egress during an emergency." It wouldn't entirely prevent passengers exiting because there is one other pair of emergency exit doors in the aft area not affected by the door trim obstruction. Boeing said no event has arisen in service that would have tested the over-wing exit doors. "In the more than 7,000 sorties the KC-46 has flown there have been no emergencies requiring use of the over-wing emergency door," Boeing said. Series of tanker problems The company said it doesn't yet have a cost estimate for developing the fix and retrofitting the tanker fleet. The military has not characterized the door trim issue as a serious deficiency, as it has for multiple previous design and manufacturing problems that have plagued the tanker program and for which costs have mounted. Boeing has since 2014 written off a total of $5.4 billion on the tanker. In 2019, Boeing was forced to ground the KC-46s it was then flight testing after the Air Force expressed concern about loose tools and other debris found inside the completed airplanes. The most serious outstanding problem is with the remote vision system used to operate the plane's refueling boom. That requires a complete redesign, a project expected to take several years. Airbus, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, had hoped to take advantage of Boeing's troubles and offer its A330-based tanker for the Pentagon's pending second big tanker contract. And yet last week, Air Force Secretary Kendall indicated Airbus may not even get the chance to compete for that contract. "As we ... look further out, the requirements start to look like a modified KC-46 more than they do a completely new design," Kendall told reporters. "I think there's still a possibility of a competition out there, but as we've looked at our requirements, the likelihood of a competition will come down." Army Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, who has earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star during his military career, took over leadership of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday during an event at the Tampa Convention Center, according to a press release from the command. Kurilla previously commanded the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and served as the CENTCOM chief of staff from August 2018 to September 2019. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, with graduate degrees from Regis University in Denver and the National War College in Washington, D.C. "I'm honored to serve alongside the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardians, Marines, coastguardsmen and civilians of this command," Kurilla, who was nominated by President Joe Biden in January and confirmed for his role by the Senate in early February, said during the ceremony. Read Next: Ukraine Aims High with Request for F-15 and F-16 Jets. Here's Why It Probably Won't Happen CENTCOM oversees military missions in 21 countries throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and parts of South Asia. For the past 20 years, it has covered the focus of U.S. operations overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. "U.S. Central Command will continue to thrive under the steadfast leadership of General Kurilla during a critical time in a region that remains dangerous and complex," Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who commanded CENTCOM between March 2013 to March 2016, said in a press release. Kurilla replaces the outgoing CENTCOM leader, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie Jr. McKenzie began as commander in March 2019. At the end of a storied career spanning four decades, McKenzie was responsible for managing the U.S. military exit from Afghanistan, which ended in the Taliban's ultimate control over Afghanistan, and included the loss of 13 American service members as a result of a bombing during the evacuation and the death of 10 Afghan civilians as a result of a drone strike in the waning days of the campaign. "For the past 21 years, CENTCOM has been the only combatant command in close and enduring contact with America's enemies," McKenzie said in a press release Friday. "I can think of no one better qualified to write CENTCOM's next chapter than Erik Kurilla." Kurilla will lead more than 44,000 military service and family members overseas, and roughly 5,000 personnel in Tampa at headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, in ongoing operations to deter threats from Iran and defeat ISIS in Syria and Iraq. -- Jonathan Lehrfeld is a fellow at Military.com. Follow him on Twitter @lehrfeld_media. Related: Biden Taps Combat-Hardened Officer to Lead Central Command The Navy has identified the sailor who was the sole fatality in Wednesday's crash of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft off the coast of Virginia. Lt. Hyrum Hanlon, assigned to Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 120 out of Norfolk, Va., died when the plane crashed near Wallops Island and Chincoteague, Va., on Wednesday, a Navy press release announced Friday. Hanlon had almost five years in the Navy at the time of his death. He was commissioned out of Arizona State University in May 2017 and reported to VAW-120 late in January 2021. Read Next: Ukraine Aims High with Request for F-15 and F-16 Jets. Here's Why It Probably Won't Happen Hanlon's commanding officer, Cmdr. Martin Fentress Jr., called the perished sailor courageous and patriotic before adding that he "will be truly missed by his family and the Hawkeye community" in the press release. Lt. Hyrum Hanlon. (U.S. Navy) The Navy announced the crash shortly after it happened around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, with two of the plane's crew rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Hanlon was found dead in the aircraft that evening, the statement noted without identifying him. The Navy said the crew was conducting "routine flight operations" at the time of the crash. Adm. Mike Gilday, the Navy's top officer, said the Navy grieves "for the loss of our U.S. Navy shipmate" in a tweet Thursday. "To the two injured Sailors, we wish you swift healing. We have the watch," Gilday added. The Navy noted that it is working with state and local officials on plans to salvage the crashed aircraft. "The health and safety of the local community is a top priority during recovery efforts; overflight aircraft confirmed no pollution or discharge of fuel in the area," Friday's press release said. A statement released Thursday noted that "all reports indicate that the fuel tanks on the aircraft remain intact, with no concerns to public health." The cause of the incident continues to be under investigation. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: US Navy Names Ship After Late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Ukraine is asking for more modern F-15 and F-16 fighter jets from the U.S. and western allies that it says could be pushed into the fight against Russia within weeks, but experts say the proposal is unlikely and unrealistic. "In the sky, the greatest need is for fighter jets -- F-15s and F-16s of the fourth generation or higher would be sufficient," the country's Air Force tweeted on Thursday, "pilots can learn to fly these with just 2-3 weeks of training." It would take more than a couple of weeks to train new pilots on the advanced American aircraft, and providing that high-tech aircraft would ultimately create more problems than solutions for the U.S. and Ukraine, according to John "JV" Venable, a research fellow with the Heritage Foundation, a think tank in Washington, D.C. Read Next: Poland's Plan to Give US its Fleet of MiG Fighter Jets for Ukraine Blindsides American Officials Venable, a 25-year Air Force veteran with more than 2,000 hours of flight time on the F-16, said supplying and training Ukrainians on those planes would be nothing short of a "herculean effort." The U.S. is the largest operator of the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, which have been used in numerous conflicts in recent decades. Both were introduced to the service in the 1970s and have since been adopted by countries such as Israel, Japan and Germany. They were developed for lightning fast speed, durability in a variety of weather environments and are armed with high-tech radar and long-range missiles. Venable said it would take a proficient pilot like himself upward of six weeks to retrain on the F-16, a plane he is already very familiar with. Additionally, a shipment of F-15s or F-16s would require a lot of financial and logistical commitment from the country supplying the fighter jets. "Where would Ukraine receive that training?" Venable said. "The host nation would have to completely stock their own training pipeline, and no nation is going to do that. It's a false hope." Along with just the necessary pilot training, providing Ukraine with F-15s and F-16s would mean any donor nation would also need to supply an abundance of parts, maintenance crews to train their military and runway preparation. The Ukrainian Air Force's request is the latest example of the tense back-and-forth conversations the U.S. and European allies have had with Ukraine as they figure out how best to deliver air support in their effort to repel Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February after massing more than 150,000 troops around its border over the past year. Last month, conversations between Poland and the U.S. focused on supplying Ukraine with Russian MiG-29 jets because their pilots are already trained on flying that aircraft, but the talks broke down over the complexities of delivering the aircraft. Those planes were more up to date than what their country's air force had in their possession, meaning the transition would have been more seamless. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, President Joe Biden's administration has provided more than $1 billion worth of aid to their military, including Javelin and Stinger missiles to fight against aircraft, as well as thousands of rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition. And while Ukrainian forces have made great use of the weapons and continue to stymie Russian advances, their military and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continue to plead for more advanced defenses. In a tweet thread on Thursday, Ukraine's Air Force said it can't compete with Russia's missile systems and requested high-tech American-made Patriot missile systems. The long-range Patriot batteries are used by the U.S. military and are capable of taking down ballistic missiles and aircraft. Venable said all of these "asks" would be a logistical nightmare for the U.S., and more than likely, Ukraine is testing the waters for future weapons acquisitions. "They're asking for the moon and hoping they land somewhere around there," Venable said. Karl Mueller, a senior political scientist at the nonprofit Rand Corp. who specializes in national defense strategy, said Russia was expected to sweep Ukraine's Air Force and has fallen short. Mueller added that while providing Ukraine with American missile launchers and advanced aircraft may not work for the short term, it's laying the groundwork for their country to get major military upgrades when the dust settles. "Providing them with more up-to-date western aircraft is a more long-term question," Mueller said. "I assume, now that we know they're not going to be conquered by Russia ... there will eventually be a flow of weapons to make sure Ukraine can stay secure." -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Ukraine Strike on Russian Territory Reported as Talks Resume The Navy has announced a future oil ship (T-AO 212) will be named the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg in honor of the late U.S. Supreme Court associate justice. Ginsburg is noted for being the second woman to serve on the nation's highest court and for authoring the majority opinion in the landmark 1996 Supreme Court case United States v. Virginia that ended the Virginia Military Institute's male-only admissions policy. "As Secretary of the Navy, it is my aim to ensure equality and eliminate gender discrimination across the Department of the Navy," Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said in a press statement revealing the decision. "She is instrumental to why we now have women of all backgrounds, experiences and talents serving within our ranks, side by side with their male Sailor and Marine counterparts." Read Next: Advocates Worry About Uncommon, But Growing Radicalization Among Veterans Ginsburg was also a military spouse. In June 1954, before both she and her husband, Martin (Marty) Ginsburg, were accepted into Harvard Law School, the future justice moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma with Marty, who was teaching field artillery while serving in the Army. Both Ginsburgs are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The Ginsburgs' daughter has been named as the ship's sponsor, according to Del Toro. This will be the eighth John Lewis-class replenishment oiler for the Navy, each of which is named after a historic American who fought for civil and human rights. The class and lead ship, T-AO 205, received its namesake from the late Congressman John Lewis. Other ships in the fleet include those named in honor of the former attorney general and senator Robert F. Kennedy and the first Black Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall. A $3.2 billion contract with General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego paid for the design and construction of the first six ships in the John Lewis class, each of which will measure roughly 742 feet in length, according to a Navy press release. So far, the USNS John Lewis and one other ship in the class have been completed, with the rest under construction or on order but experiencing delays. The fleet is operated by Military Sealift Command and used for transferring fuel to the Navy's operating carrier strike groups at sea. The fleet will eventually replace the Henry J. Kaiser class of oilers (T-AO 187) and is expected to include 20 ships in total, according to the Government Accountability Office. -- Jonathan Lehrfeld is a fellow at Military.com. Follow him on Twitter @lehrfeld_media. Related: Navy Names the Ships It Wants Scrapped as Congressional Protests Grow SIOUX CITY From the moment the Navy announced that one of its newest ships would be named after Sioux City, local civic leaders swelled with pride, vowing to support the ship and its crew. Barely three years after joining the Navy's fleet, the USS Sioux City will need every bit of that support to remain in service. A U.S. Navy budget proposal unveiled Monday recommends the decommissioning of the USS Sioux City and 23 other ships. Just like that, the ship could be mothballed when memories of the joyous 2018 commissioning ceremony still remain strong in the minds of many. Though the ship's future is now uncertain, the community will continue to stand behind the ship's crew members and their mission, said Chris McGowan, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president. "We will continue to do our very best to support the courageous men and women who serve on the USS Sioux City and remain focused on expanding and enhancing the incredibly strong relationship we have built with these sailors," said McGowan, who co-chaired the ship's commissioning committee with retired Rear Adm. Frank Thorp. The Navy's decommissioning recommendation must be approved by Congress, and lawmakers could block the plan. Thorp, a 28-year Navy veteran, said Thursday that process ensures the USS Sioux City will not disappear overnight. "The budget still needs to be approved by Congress, so this has a long time to play out. And then if USS Sioux City and the other Freedom class LCS are approved for decommissioning, it will take some time to make that happen. That is important because the crew needs that connection with her namesake city now more than ever," Thorp said. The proposal is part of a five-year budget plan that calls for decommissioning 24 ships, including eight other Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ships, or LCS, similar to the USS Sioux City, for a total savings of $3.6 billion, Navy officials said at a press briefing Monday. Navy officials said other ships can perform the USS Sioux City's anti-submarine warfare mission, and mechanical problems with the water jet propulsion systems have plagued the LCS Freedom class vessels. "... it's a hard thing to make a decision to decommission ships, but what we are looking at is what offers the best capability against the threats that we are facing," Meredith A. Berger, acting Under Secretary Of The Navy, told reporters. "And so as we think about how to build a force that we can sustain within the budget that we have, that's how we've made some of these, again, tough decisions. And as we look across LCS, this is a place where we have identified that there are real costs, especially at the for the Freedom class to be able to make some of the repairs that are needed on those as we measure that against what is the best contribution to the capabilities that we need." When commissioned, Navy leaders said the USS Sioux City's expected lifetime would be 30 years, probably more. Mayor Bob Scott said the Navy's decision would be a waste of taxpayer money if the $362 million ship were decommissioned after serving just a fraction of that time. "It's amazing they can spend that amount of money and then decommission it. It's unbelievable," Scott said. "We have a relationship with a lot of people who have served on that ship, and it's hard to believe that ship is unsalvageable. "I would hope we at least try to voice our objection to this." It was just 10 years ago that the Navy announced to an enthusiastic crowd at City Hall that the 11th ship of the LCS class would be named after Sioux City. That enthusiasm never waned. Large numbers of Siouxlanders traveled in January 2016 to the ship's christening at a Wisconsin shipyard. Hundreds more traveled to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, to witness the ship's commissioning on Nov. 18, 2018. Before and since the ship's commissioning, ship commanders and crew members have received warm welcomes when visiting Sioux City, and more than $250,000 was raised to create a legacy education fund to help USS Sioux City crew members and their families pay for educational expenses. Thorp repeatedly said during his many visits to Sioux City before the commissioning that he'd never seen a city embrace a namesake ship as Sioux City had done. "The support for the ship and crew is unparalleled," Thorp said. "The other thing I would say is that the sailors who have served on USS Sioux City will forever stand proud, arguably prouder than most if not all of the other ships on the waterfront, because of the great support of the people of Siouxland." Since its commissioning, the USS Sioux City and its 75-member crew have been based in Mayport, Florida, and deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South's mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. In recent months, the USS Sioux City and its crew, working with the U.S. Coast Guard, stopped two vessels in the Caribbean Sea, seizing approximately 1,080 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $44 million. News of those missions has been a point of pride, McGowan said. "We are very proud to serve as the namesake city for LCS 11 and we will remain so for as long as the USS Sioux City continues to serve our nation in the defense of freedom," he said. "Obviously, these decisions will be made at the highest levels of our federal government, and their sole criteria ought to be what is in the best interest of our national defense and protecting the security of the American people." ___ (c)2022 Sioux City Journal, Iowa Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Even Chesty couldnt explain why he picked up the nickname. Born Lewis Burwell Puller in 1898, the man who would retire as Lt. Gen. Puller almost denied the United States Marine Corps one of its most legendary heroes by trying to join the Army in 1916. The Corps should hang a portrait of Martha Puller in the Marine Corps museum for refusing to allow him to join the military before he was old enough. Lewis was the kid who grew up listening to the romantic stories of the Civil War. These were not just stories about the big names of men who led armies and won battles. Puller grew up listening to the personal tales of the veterans who fought in those battles. He wanted to have stories of his own. He probably never thought hed be the most decorated Marine ever -- or that telling him good night would be a Marine Corps slogan for the next century (or more). Here are just a few more facts about Lt. Gen. Lewis B. Chesty Puller that will explain the Corps love for this one man. 1. Hes Relatable to Every Marine. No matter what kind of Marine you are, Chestys been there. Hes the Marines Marine because hes been both officer and enlisted, served on both active duty and the Reserves and in peacetime and in war. Chesty Puller, who died in 1971 at the age of 73, did it all in his 37 years of service. He not only worked his way up from private to lieutenant general; he had to earn a commission twice. He first attended Virginia Military Institute but wanted to get into World War I so badly that he enlisted and went to boot camp at Parris Island. He never made it to Europe, but he went to NCO training and officer candidate school. Despite pinning on second lieutenant, postwar force reductions meant he got bumped back to corporal and sent to the Reserves. 2. He Served in Four Wars. Some historians tend to gloss over those years between World Wars I and II as the interwar years when it comes to the United States, but it was an important and busy time for United States Marines. Puller was sent to Haiti, where he fought some 40 battles with Haitian rebels and earned his promotion to second lieutenant. Puller later was sent to the occupation of Nicaragua, where he earned his first two Navy Crosses fighting Sandinista rebels over some three years. He commanded Marines in China and the United States before World War II and the Korean War kicked off. 3. He Really Is the Most Decorated Marine. Although he never was recommended for the Medal of Honor, the United States highest award for valor in combat, he doesnt need one to be considered the most decorated Marine ever. Over the course of his four wars, countless engagements and instances of solid leadership, he earned more than his share of chest candy. He was awarded the second-highest award six times, five Navy Crosses and one Army Distinguished Service Cross, along with the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit with combat V, a Bronze Star with combat V and three air medals -- just to name a few. Puller surveying the land before mobilizing in the Korean conflict. 4. Chesty Is Also the Most Quotable Marine. If not the most quotable U.S. military officer ever. Which is saying a lot, considering U.S. military personnel used to say the coolest lines all the time, as if they had their own team of writers. None of them ever will come close to the bon mots Chesty Puller used to drop, even in official correspondence during a war: All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us ... they can't get away this time." "Great. Now we can shoot at those bastards from every direction." Take me to the Brig. I want to see the real Marines. 5. He Didnt Let His Fellow Marines Down. Letting down a Marine was, in Pullers words, the worst thing you could do as a Marine. And when the stuff hit the fan, he really lived those words. At Guadalcanal, three companies of his Marines were cut off from the main force by a much larger Japanese force. Marines tried to break through to them, but some believed they were lost. Nope. Puller went out to the beach to flag down the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Ballard and organized a relief force to land on the beach again. He also coordinated the destroyers guns to shell the Japanese, allowing the trapped Marines enough latitude to make an escape. A week later, Chesty and his Marines came back to this part of the island and wiped out the Japanese defenders. 6. Chesty Puller Did Not Accept Defeat. Later in the fight for Guadalcanal, Chestys battalion of Marines and a battalion of soldiers from the U.S. Armys 164th Infantry Regiment fought and held Henderson airfield on Guadalcanal from a larger Japanese force. Despite being outnumbered, they held the field, inflicting a heavy toll of more than 1,400 casualties on the enemy. The intensity of the fighting earned Puller his third Navy Cross. He recommended two of his own Marines for Medals of Honor during the firefight, one of them being Marine Corps legend John Basilone. 7. He Was Not Intimidated by Anything. When Puller and his Marines landed at Inchon during the Korean War, the North Koreans held much of the peninsula. The United Nations forces were landing deep behind enemy lines and faced the possibility of being pushed back into the sea. The Marines didnt flinch and were moving and fighting within a day. Looking at a potential combat death in the face didnt stop at Inchon. When the Marines advanced within mere miles of the Yalu River, North Koreas border with China, the Chinese intervened. A massive force of Communist soldiers surrounded the Marines at the Chosin Reservoir. Massively outnumbered, Puller was quoted as saying, We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." It wasnt just bravado. The Marines fought their way south while putting so much hurt on the Chinese that nine out of the 10 attacking divisions never saw action again. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. June 14 should be considered one of the most patriotic days in America. Not only is it Flag Day, celebrating the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official U.S. flag, but its also the birthday of one of the United States most trusted institutions: the Army. After British regulars and colonial militiamen exchanged gunfire at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, in April 1775, three other colonies sent men to assist the Massachusetts minutemen, and the situation became real. The colonies were in revolt. Luckily, colonial leaders had been preparing for an armed conflict for years before the 1775 outbreak of violence. The four forces met in Boston, forming a loose regional force that laid siege to the British troops at Boston. But militiamen werent trained or equipped for a protracted siege. The colonies needed a force of professional soldiers who were trained, funded and equipped for extended military maneuvers. They appealed to the delegates of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. On June 14, 1775, the Congress passed a resolution forming the Continental Army. "Resolved, That six companies of expert riflemen, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia [and] as soon as completed, shall march and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as light infantry, under the command of the chief Officer in that army." The Congress even wrote an early oath of enlistment for the new recruits: I have, this day, voluntarily enlisted myself, as a soldier, in the American continental army, for one year, unless sooner discharged: And I do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the government of the said Army. A bunch of farmers beating the world's top military power at the Battle of Lexington. (William Barnes Wollen/National Army Museum) On June 15, 1775, the legislative body of the rebel colonies named George Washington to the post of chief officer of the new fighting force, citing the generals patriotism, valor, conduct, and fidelity. The Continental Armys effectiveness evolved throughout the war. Although the regulars of the Continental Army were much more highly regarded by the British than their militia counterparts, it wasnt until 1778 at Valley Forge that the fledgling U.S. Army evolved into a real army. That February, a Prussian military officer known to history as Baron Friedrich von Steuben arrived at the Continental Armys harsh winter quarters and began training those men in close-order drill in an advanced Prussian style. He crushed them with harsh discipline, forced them to learn shooting and reloading like expert soldiers and taught them the importance of learning to fight with a bayonet. Although it was a harsh winter for the demoralized American regulars, they walked out of Valley Forge much stronger than when they went in. Just nine days after breaking camp, the Americans met the numerically superior British force under Lord Cornwallis at Monmouth, New Jersey, and fought it to a draw. Though the battle was strategically irrelevant, the Americans maintained the battlefield, forcing the British to return to New York. It lay to rest any misgivings Congress had about Washington as commander in chief, and the general kept his job. The Continental Army would have seven birthdays after its foundational June 14, 1775, congressional resolution. Washington had ideas to develop the new U.S. Army further, but they were ignored by Congress. The Continental Army was disbanded, save for a handful of soldiers of Fort Pitt and West Point in 1783. Almost immediately, the Army was reinstated, as the need for a national defense made itself apparent on the American frontier. The U.S. Army has been rolling along ever since. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. As humans go through their daily lives, their perception of where they are in relation to everything around them, including the earth, is constantly updated by what they can see, feel and hear. This constant update of information is part of what allows us to move through the world without even thinking about the effort. In a high-speed aircraft flying in a three-dimensional environment, sometimes at night and in thick cloud cover, these updates can feel definitive even when they're inaccurate. Pilots can actually lose the ability to determine their true body position, motion and altitude relative to the earth or even what's around them while in flight, a condition known as spatial disorientation. It can cause a pilot to think they're flying upright and level, even when they aren't. It's a big issue and always has been, but only relatively recently has the perception of it changed. Once considered a pilot's personal failing, the U.S. military has had to develop a means of keeping pilots oriented, and for good reason. It can take pilots up to 30 seconds to reorient themselves, a long time while behind the stick of a jet aircraft. The estimated damages caused by spatial disorientation cost the U.S. military an estimated $300 million every year, along with the lives of around 30 pilots. To combat the dangers, Dr. Angus Rupert, then a flight surgeon at the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory and later the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, created the Tactile Situational Awareness System (TSAS), a vest that turns what a pilot can't see into tactile signals a pilot can feel. Later, even NASA would help develop the technology. It was an idea that required a lot of unorthodox thinking and experimentation. In 1974, the future Dr. Rupert was skydiving naked while he was a student at the University of Illinois. He noticed that the rush of air on so much bare skin kept him oriented, even as he spun and twirled in midair. He considered how increased tactile sensations might be useful for pilots in mid-flight. Years later, with a Ph.D. in neurophysiology and a medical degree, Rupert signed on at the aerospace medical lab and has focused on disorientation ever since. Rupert's first prototype used a 69-cent toy to provide the necessary tactile stimulation to reorient a pilot. More than 30 years later, vibrations are the main indicators. The TSAS vest was developed for fixed-wing and rotary pilots to use the vibrations to inform the pilot about aircraft pitch, roll, airspeed and heading information, acquired from flight instruments. For example, if a pilot banks too far to the left, the vest vibrates on the left; too far to the right will cause a vibration on the vest's right side. TSAS keeps pilots so well-oriented that they are able to fly an aircraft upside down while blindfolded and still maintain their spatial orientation. Rupert tested the vest while flying a Stearman biplane upside down with his vision impaired, as did many other pilots in his 1999 series of flight tests. Dr. Angus Rupert flying upside-down with his vision impaired while testing a new tactile vest that maintains his orientation with the earth. (U.S. Navy) That series of tests not only kept the pilots oriented in the air, it actually improved their situational awareness while decreasing their workload, even as the researchers purposely inhibited their ability to see visual cues and tried to disorient them. Today, Rupert is a senior research development scientist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. Although the development of the vest has been decades in the making, research on spatial disorientation continues. Current efforts include enlarging the vest to be able to include pitch and roll information for helicopter pilots. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. As part of the selling Ghana to the world agenda, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey is urging citizens to cherish and patronise indigenous products. In a recent interview with Kafui Dei on GTV, Hon. Okraku Mantey stated that by so doing, Ghana will easily make attractive appeal to the rest of the world. He stated that it will be critical for citizens to rely greatly on locally manufactured items. We cannot sell to the outsider if we are not proud of ourselves. What are we going to sell? We have to begin to have more confidence in the Ghanaian language and Ghanaian food, he said. According to him, he was not happy with how some indigenous items are been Europeanized to meet the international market. This he said does nothing but make the item lose its identity. Hon. Okraku Mantey made reference to the Ghanaian rice and beans meal, Waakye, saying I think the Waakye we know has been changed too because it is not the same as it used to be. He noted that he was not happy with the way media personalities pronounced certain things on air, therefore urging them to pronounce indigenous names correctly at all times. He however lauded the Heritage Month celebration, indicating that it was a good initiative. I dont know who started it but I think its a good thing. But I knew it started from the media but I do not know in particular is behind it. We can only reinforce it and make it bigger, he emphasised. Scanning through Kofi Kumados book on Introduction to The Law of Torts in Ghana (2nd Edition) Page 95 on Private Nuisance, I chanced on an interesting question he asked on excessive noise during sexual intercourse and the legal implications. This question stems from the definition of Private Nuisance. Indeed, private nuisance is defined in Bamford v Turnley 1860 as any continuous activity or state of affairs causing a substantial and unreasonable interference with a [claimant's] land or his use or enjoyment of that land. Kofi kumado held the view that the crux of nuisance then is unreasonableness of a conduct. Consequently, he said, the problems in nuisance really turn on reasonableness. For instance, in determining the reasonableness, the Courts look at both the defendants conduct and its effect on the plaintiff. He further explained that when interference as alleged has to do with a plaintiffs enjoyment, the surrounding circumstances are relevant, but not so relevant when the alleged interference is with material injury to property. Some common forms of private nuisance are: noise-excessive tolling of church bells; Vibrations; Pestilential smells and Escaping fumes from factories. As private nuisance represents a balancing of conflicting interests (eg. Radio music, taxi horns), and the courts are principally concerned with mutual adjustment of rights. The challenge we faced today is that, we are living in close communities where one has to put up with a reasonable degree of nuisance. The Courts and Loud Sex Noise The courts have rarely been asked to rule in a case where the sound of female sexual rapture is a legal issue, but it has happened in some jurisdictions. In the Ghanaian Courts, we are yet to witness any of such case. We however, explore some cases in other jurisdictions which could have persuasive effect. In October 2007, at the magistrates court in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, the humdrum proceedings were interrupted at one point by the sound of a gasping female voice in an advanced state of excitement. The voice was the hi-fi ringtone on the phone of a man in the public gallery. As the sounds of ecstasy became progressively louder the court proceedings froze. The man with the extraordinary ringtone fumbled desperately to turn off his phone. He was identified and told he could be held in contempt of court and imprisoned, although the magistrate ultimately exercised mercy. One missed call, one missed cell. Cases In Uganda, there is a report by the LuciPost (2019) of a couple in Meru , arrested and charged for noisy sex . According to a court hearing, three people, 24-year-old Chacha Mwiti and 31-year-old Joan Makokha were having the loud sex claiming they were stuck while Magoola Twaha, a 27-year-old Ugandan man who posed as a witch doctor, pretended to be helping them out. In Australia, another first case is reported by The Advertiser (2012) of Colin and Jessie who will have to give quiet sex a go or perhaps issue headphones to their neighbors. They were charged after repeated complaints about their passionate but noisy love-making, which prompted police to force to step in to give their neighbors some peace and quiet. The couple became the first to be charged with offences under the Environmental Protection Act - as a direct result of their noisy sex. In Cartwrights bedroom case(2009), Caroline Cartwright, 48, was remanded in custody and later charged with three breaches of her Asbo( anti-social behavior order) in just 10 days. The four-year order was imposed by magistrates in Sunderland on April 17 and prevented Cartwright making excessive noise anywhere in England. However, Houghton le Spring Magistrates Court heard police arrested her on April 18, on April 22 and again on April 26 after reports from neighbors she was flouting the ban with husband Steve. She was subsequently charged with three counts of breaching her Asbo by making excessive noise that can be heard by neighbors. The court heard that her neighbor Rachel O'Connor called the police after hearing Cartwright shouting and screaming for 10 minutes during lovemaking on the morning of March 14. The next day O'Connor's partner Vince Wilson also called police after the defendant could be heard singing at the top of her voice to dance music blasting out from her terraced house. The court was told police officers, who attended the neighbors flat, heard 20 minutes of loud music and singing before arresting Cartwright. Prosecutor Claire Ward said neighbors had complained to police on three occasions about early morning noises of shouting, moaning, groaning and a bed banging against the wall coming from the Cartwrights home. Cartwright was convicted for five breaches of an abatement notice and fined a total of 515, and magistrates also imposed the Asbo. Another case was reported by Gena Kaufman (2014) of Romeo Artemio Lori, a 42-year-old man in Italy who was also jailed after his neighbors filed a civil lawsuit over the loud noises of his lover's screaming, which disturbed the peace and "the building's decorum." The charge against him was actually for stalking, but he argues that he was punished for being too good at sex. He was found guilty and jailed for six months. They were further ordered to have sex only in the daytime after the mans wails of ecstasy provoked complaints from neighbors. Retirees next door, who claimed the grunts equaled decibel levels of a jackhammer, will now be able to sleep soundly after a Rome judge imposed a sex ban from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on a married couple. This is the third case of roof-raising sex to hit Italian courts in a year; all three judges have imposed a blackout on sonorous love making at night. In Birmingham city council v Gemma Wale(12 May, 2015), the respondent, Wale was given a two-week prison sentence after a civil court judge concluded that she had breached the order by screaming and shouting while having sex at a level of noise that annoyed a neighbor. The judge Kelly concluded that Wale had breached an antisocial behavior order. She said Birmingham city council took legal action after a neighbor complained. Kelly said the antisocial behavior order had barred Wale from making loud sex noises and from causing nuisance by playing loud music, shouting, swearing, making banging noises, stamping and slamming doors. The judge concluded that she had also breached the order by arguing with her boyfriend, swearing at a neighbor, banging around the house and running around in the property. She imposed separate two-week jail terms on Wale for each breach but said all terms would run concurrently. The judge indicated that Wale lived in a property owned by Birmingham council and said she had heard evidence from a council housing officer and one of Wales neighbors. Kelly said a neighbor had complained that at about 5am on 29 January that paragraph 3 of the order had been breached. Gemma started screaming and shouting while having sex, which woke us up, said the neighbor. This lasted 10 minutes. The judge concluded: I am satisfied that during the course of the early hours of 29 January 2015, at around 5am, the defendant was guilty of screaming and shouting whilst having sex at a level of noise which caused nuisance or annoyance to (a neighbor). Unreasonabless The question is how much is unreasonable in nuisance in bedroom sound? In Cartwrights case, the local council recorded the noise at 47 decibels which is more than the 45 decibels. The EPA states : Noise levels for various areas are identified according to the use of the area. Levels of 45 decibels are associated with indoor residential areas, hospitals and schools, whereas 55 decibels is identified for certain outdoor areas where human activity takes place. The level of 70 decibels is identified for all areas in order to prevent hearing loss. Take home We state that its not illegal to have consensual sex, but it can also be heard of as nuisance by neutral bystander(s). For Cartwrights case, she appealed claiming that she is unable to stop the loud shouting and screaming she makes during lovemaking with her husband Steve. However, she lost the appeal against an order banning her from making loud noises during sexual activity. The British Court said she cant have loud sex. Hence, we urged everyone to keep it safe and keep it down, as there are possible legal implications of loud noise during sex. It will be interesting to explore the law on this in Ghana. The authors: Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu is a law student and Martina Akusika Mensah is a Lawyer and a Gender Activist. E-mail: [email protected] 01.04.2022 LISTEN The National President of the Ghana Association of Barbers And Barbering Saloon Owners (GABBSO) Mr. Ibrahim Musah has appealing to government for support to train the youth in vocational skills. Mr Musah made the call in an interview with this reporter on Tuesday March 28, 2022 at the Centre for National Culture in Kumasi. The occasion was aimed at electing a ten member executives to run the affairs of the regional Association for a period of four years. The President expressed worry that many of the youth are idling about eith any meaningful life. These youth he reiterated, blame their joblessness on non existent jobs in the country. He noted that it was against this background that the Association is ready to recruit more youth to gain practical experience in the barbering. Mr Musah indicated that barbering is a profitable business stressing that since the establishment of the Association in August 12, 1995, members have made great improvements in their businesses. The National Deputy Organizer of the Association Mr Francis Kobia on his part expressed his gratitude about the successful elections. He said the Association has drawn a comprehensive program that could help improve the skills of members this year 2022. Aside that the Association has also partnered some Barbering outfits in the United Kingdom for exchange programs. The Deputy National Organizer entreated members to remain resolute and back the executives in their quest to transform the Association. The President of the Council of Zongo Chiefs at Atwima Mpasatia in the Atwima Mponua District of Ashanti Region, Chief Abdulai Mohammed has called on government to bring back the suspended toll payment. The chief observed that the suspension of the toll payment has not only rendered many traders at such points jobless, it has also caused government to lose revenue daily. Speaking to the correspondent in an interview, the chief to bring back the toll booths to gather more revenues to cushion Ghanaians from the economic shocks. Going forward chief Abdulai underscored that the agenda of the toll booths policy did not only come to generate revenue to maintain roads, but it also helped to create jobs for Ghanaians especially the Physically Challenged persons who served as attendants. The chief also suggested effective supervisory measures to ensure transparency at the various toll booths centers to properly account for all revenues collected. France's weather bureau has forecast a particularly chilly weekend ahead, with snow and ice warnings for the north of the country from Friday. The expected sub-zero temperatures are a bad sign for fruit tree farmers still struggling to bounce back after a devastating frost period ruined crops just under a year ago. France's national weather bureau Meteo France has issued an "orange level alert", warning that snow and ice could be expected from in much of France, particularly in the north. Temperatures are to drop as low as minus 3 degrees in some places, with strong winds accentuating the cold. This is due to "polar air", coming down from northern Scandinavia, explained Veronique Ducrocq, head of forecast operations for Meteo France, in a press briefing. As of Saturday morning, several regions are likely to experience frost, which could be of concern for orchards where many of the trees have begun to flower due to warm weather in March. Repeat of history? It's exactly this kind of scenario that has professionals in the fruit-growing business worried, as it echoes two devastating cold snaps in April 2021. For many nights in a row, fruit tree farmers did everything they could to limit the damage, such as lighting candles and fires amid orchards and vineyards. Faced with Thursday's forecast, Charlie Gautier, the vice-president of the national fruit producers federation (FNPF) says growers must brace themselves for the worst. In the Loire region, David Feuillette, an arborist, told BFM TV he intends to spend each night watching over his fruit trees to protect them from frost. He plans to sleep in his car, near the orchards with an alarm set so he can check the temperatures every 15 minutes. This year, he intends to sprinkle water over the trees to create a protective shell. He is hoping the light layer of ice will insulate the young flowers and fruits from the frost. During last year's cold snap, he lost between 50 and 85 percent of his harvest. And that's after spending 26 nights a row in sleeping in his car. "If the temperatures go below zero, there won't be anything to harvest, and as you can imagine, without a harvest, our business cannot survive, we'll have nothing to pay the wages," he said. Around 3-5 cms of snow can be expected during the day on Friday across much of France, with up to 5-10 cms in the Hauts-de-France, creating difficulties on roads. Between 1-5 cms of snow might fall in the Paris area, however forecasters say it is unlikely to stick to the ground. It is not rare to see snow in April, however. In 2008, a light snowfall was recorded in Paris and the north of the country. In 2013 and 2018, it snowed in Normandy. Its only a heartless person like Nana Akufo Addo, who can do what the president did. To convey a seriously sick person with an ambulance to the parliament just to pass E-Levy is the most inhuman and wicked thing any reasonable person will do to his fellow human being. I can imagine the vegetative and mental states of the Ahanta West Member of Parliament, Hon. Ebenezer Kojo-Kum, being removed from his sickbed and placed in a parked ambulance to be driven from his house to pass the controversial fraudulent E-Levy. Sorry, Ebenezer Kojo-Kum, to pass through such painful circumstances because of illegal E-Levy by this heartless President called Akufo Addo. I wish you a speedy recovery Neither Akufo Addo nor the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta deserve to take the E-Levy from the common people because the NPP government has denied them jobs for over five years, above all, the same government promised them to cut taxes. This is ample evidence of how heartless Akufo Addo is. Any time, I say this cunning and corrupt president doesnt only disrespect Ghanaians but also doesnt care about the common people, the tribal bigots get angry. If this greedy man values the life of a human being, he wouldnt have arranged for an ambulance to bring a seriously sick Member of Parliament to pass E-Levy. I don't know how much money was given to the MP's wife to allow such an abominable thing to be done to her husband. The heads of churches and elders of the Islam community without hesitation should immediately let the president know the abominable thing he has done. I have no words to describe this shameful thing. I am sure if John Mahama has done this, oh, my God, Im sure he will be lynched. Why after passing the controversial E-Levy, the Member of Parliament, Ebenezer Kojo-Kum, was taken back to his house but didnt stay in parliament? That means he is sick and incapable to perform any official duties. This makes what transpired in parliament a criminal case. This is indeed a criminal act that can never happen in any developing country, apart from Ghana, let alone a developed country. Desperate people do desperate things and the way I see this, the outcome will be very bad for Akufo Addo and his government. They will still fail altogether with the E-Levy. Ghana under Akufo Addo hasn't been a successful country because the president apart from being incompetent, is also a liar and corrupt. He doesn't even feel ashamed of allowing politicians and journalists involved in corruption into his government. At the same time, all the heads of churches, including Duncan Williams, Mensa Otabil, the Christian Council, the Islamic leaders, and CHRAJ are hypocrites. They are also responsible for today's carnage in Ghana. Why are all of them quiet today when they were so noisy during the era of Mahama? Ebenezer Kojo-Kum should have stayed at home until he is completely fit to come back to the parliament. It may be likely that Ghana is the first country in the world to bring a sick man to the parliament to pass E-Levy. I fought so hard against the E-Levy because its a fraudulent means of tax generation any honest government will impose on citizens the same government has denied jobs and lied to for five years. Even though I failed together with many others against the passing of this illegal E-Levy, I didnt lose a minute of my sleep when I heard that it has been passed for two reasons. Firstly, the president has confirmed what I have been saying every time that he has no value for the life of people. And secondly, since Akufo Addo is a dishonest person who never speaks the truth, doesnt know how to create jobs or without any leadership skills, he is not going to achieve anything significant with the E-Levy even if he can secure millions or billions of loans with it. He is a waste. I dont choose my words carefully when writing about Akufo Addo because I am confident in what I write. If after five years of becoming president, he only incurred a huge debt on Ghana with the country's gold, bauxite, diamond, timber, oil, cocoa, etc, are you a fool to believe Akufo Addo will do something special with E-Levy even if he gets a $1000 billion loan with it? Thats why I will assure the common Ghanaians who have been deeply hurt, disrespected, and lied to by Akufo Addo, not to be worried. In your entire life, you have continued to endure, therefore, you'll survive this fraud and injustice, to see the fall of this abysmal government, no matter how hard they try to hold on to power. Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin is blaming the disagreements in Parliament over the formation of a quorum for voting on the Supreme Courts recent judgement. According to him, the Supreme Courts judgement presents a contrary view on what constitutes a quorum in Parliament. Most of these things are happening because of the recent judgement of the Supreme Court, and that is the good reason why I asked for a review [of the judgement], he said. Bagbin said he expected the Supreme Court to seek their view on the matter before going ahead to make a definite pronouncement in its judgement on the voting rights of Deputy Speakers and the issue of quorum in Parliament. Even before my arrival, there were a lot of issues about quorum and the house had to be adjourned a number of times because of the interpretation of our understanding of quorum as stated in the judgement of the Supreme Court As people who were going to be affected by that ruling, Parliament should have been given notice for us to have also stated our understanding of the law, he added. Bagbins comment was on the back of complaints by the Minority that the Clerk deliberately marked some of its members as absent, although they were present in the Chamber on the day the E-levy bill was passed. The Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak also faulted the Clerk for not capturing the Minoritys walkout in the records of the day, accusing the Clerk of being politically motivated. Majority Whip Frank Annor-Dompreh, however, took exception to the accusations against the Clerk of Parliament, arguing the development could've been an error. But Bagbin in expressing his view on the development said in his understanding, being present in Parliament was not restricted to being in the Chamber as parliamentary work includes committee meetings and other duties hence so long as an MP is within the precincts of Parliament and others can testify of his presence, he must be marked present. The work of an MP in Parliament is not restricted to the floor of the chamber. Much of the work of the MP is done at the committee level. You can be on the floor, at a committee meeting, in the washroom, but you are still in Parliament and this must be known. Being in Parliament means being in the precincts of Parliament. The constitution did not say being present alone, but added and voting. You can be present and decide not to vote, or be disqualified by law not to vote. These are matters that are known to Parliament and unknown to the courts, he stressed. citinewsroom Heading north from Mombasa, the unmistakable whiff of a foul stench in the air was as reliable as any mile marker for motorists taking the highway along the Kenyan coast. "You would always know you were near Shimo la Tewa Prison," said Stephen Mwangi, a government scientist who has lived for decades in the coastal region where thousands of inmates are incarcerated in a maximum security jail. The smell wasn't coming from the prison itself but its septic system, which had collapsed from overuse. Every day, a small river of sewage flowed downhill into Mtwapa Creek, which empties into the Indian Ocean. The contamination threatened fishing grounds, waterside hotels and restaurants, and the tropical reefs of Mombasa's protected marine park, a jewel of the tourism industry just offshore. Motorists pinched their noses as they passed over the creek but on the prison grounds, the stench was inescapable. The prison complex can house as many as 6000 people -- not just inmates by wardens, court officials and hospital workers -- but the septic system has collapsed from overuse and untreated wastewater was polluting the environment.. By Simon MAINA AFP Government lodgings used by prison wardens and hospital staff were deemed uninhabitable, and abandoned over public health concerns. "Those who were living in the quarters were really affected by the smell," said Erick Ochieng, deputy officer in charge of Shimo la Tewa Prison. "It was not good." Harnessing nature In an effort to solve the perennial menace, a low-cost "green tech" approach is being adopted to treat the wastewater. An artificial wetland is being constructed on the prison grounds -- a simple yet efficient system that mimics the way nature cleans pollutants from water using vegetation, soil and microbes. In an effort to solve the problem, an artificial wetland is being constructed on the prison grounds that will mimic the way nature filters pollutants from water.. By Simon MAINA AFP Once fully operational -- expected by end-April -- sewage will first pass through an improved septic tank where solids are separated. From there, the semi-treated water percolates through underground beds of sand and gravel, filtering out pathogens and other impurities. The end result should be safe not only for the creek, but irrigating farms or fish ponds around the prison, said Mwangi, a scientist with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, which is involved in the project. Reeds planted on the surface of the wetland help with filtration and absorb nutrients from below, attracting birds and other wildlife, and beautifying a space few dared linger in the past. "There will be no smell. We will actually have a very good environment," said Mwangi. Climate friendly Sewage passing through this man-made wetland should emerge clean enough not just for the creek, but for irrigating farms or fish ponds around the prison.. By Simon MAINA AFP The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which sponsors the project, said artificial wetlands offered an affordable and versatile solution for sanitation, while storing carbon and helping cool the planet. Champions of the technology say big cost savings are possible thanks to relatively inexpensive materials that filter the waste through simple gravity. Traditional sewage systems require huge volumes of concrete to create retention ponds for the waste, and pumps and other electricity-gobbling machinery to treat it. GreenWater, the Kenya-based company building the Shimo la Tewa system, has constructed sustainable wetland systems for schools, homes, businesses and farms. The prison complex houses as many as 6,000 people -- convicts but also jail wardens, hospital staff and courthouse officials -- and the project serves as a model for other built-up areas on waterways and beaches. Home to 40 percent of the world's population, coastal areas are among the most densely populated parts of the planet, UNEP says. Creeks and inlets along the Kenyan coast self-clean by flushing out water with the ebbing and flowing of tides, said ecologist David Obura. "The problem is now with just so many people, and so much pressure... that cleaning function has been overwhelmed," said Obura, director of CORDIO East Africa, a Kenya-based oceans research institute. "It's not working anymore. And you can see it on the Kenyan coast." Artificial wetlands are relatively cheap and offer a green approach to sanitation in areas where wastewater is dumped into the ocean, including along densely-populated parts of the Kenyan coast.. By Simon MAINA AFP Sewage dumped into creeks around Mombasa -- Kenya's oldest and second-largest city -- drifts north on the winds and currents, turning beaches brown and harming coral reefs, seagrass and fisheries. Obura said it was too late for a major overhaul of sewage systems in crowded cities like Mombasa, but artificial wetlands were a "key tool" for policymakers trying to address the pollution crisis. "We need to have locally-driven treatment using natural systems, and then I think we can really start to resolve some of these challenges." Minority in Parliament is demanding answers from government on some GH2 billion allocated to support the operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). According to the caucus, the government has released GH127 million out of GH2 billion allocated for the National Health Insurance Fund. Addressing the media on Thursday, March 31, 2022, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the Ministers responsible must address the anomalies. The law of the National Health Insurance Act is clear that when you collect these monies, you are supposed to log it into the National Health Insurance Fund within 30 days after the collection. And you are supposed to appear before Parliament every six months to account for the money within the year, Mr. Akandoh added. He said these concerns necessitated the appearance of the Finance Minister and Health Minister to answer to the concerns being raised. With these two reasons, we have asked the officials of the National Health Insurance Authority to go back and bring the minister responsible for health, the minister responsible for finance to explain why they have not lodged the GH2.056 billion into the National Health Insurance Fund. Citi Newsroom The Economic Fighters' League has chided government for pushing through with the unpopular Electronic Transfer Levy, despite the opposition by Ghanaians. In an interview with Citi News, the Fighter General of the Economic Fighters' League, Hardi Yakubu, also accused the Minority in Parliament of conniving with the government to have the E-Levy passed. It noted that the Minority had been inconsistent in its opposition to the levy, first suggesting it would accept a levy of 1 percent instead of the original 1.75 percent. The Minority then insisted it would not accept the levy in any form. We saw early their [the Minoritys] flip-flopping trying to confuse the people as to what the real position of the paid opposition should be. We expected the paid opposition to be very clear and straightforward in their rejection of the momo tax, Mr. Yakubu said. The Minority Caucus is challenging the passage of the e-levy after it complained that it had been blindsided by the unexpected laying of the controversial tax. It has subsequently moved to challenge the passage of the levy at the Supreme Court. The Minority MPs on the suit are the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, Mahama Ayariga of Bawku Central, and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of North Tongu. They are arguing that Parliament did not have the right numbers to form a quorum for the passage of the E-levy Bill into law. President Akufo-Addo assented to the Bill yesterday after it was passed on March 29, 2022. The levy, which was eventually amended from 1.75 percent to 1.5 percent on Tuesday, will be a tax on electronic transactions, which includes mobile-money payments. The charge will apply to electronic transactions that are over GH100 on a daily basis. The government had hoped the levy would widen the tax net and raise an extra GH6.9 billion in 2022 when it was first announced in the budget. The government expects systems that will pave the way for the implementation of the electronic transfer levy to be ready by May 2022. Citi Newsroom Fire has razed a mechanic shop at Awoshie Mangoase in Accra. The fire, which caught the communitys attention around 5:15am on Friday, spread to a nearby church and a chop bar behind the mechanic shop. The chop bar was also burnt to the ground. The fire service got to the scene about 45 minutes after distress calls were made. Bishop Edward Tetteh, the head pastor of Remoulding Destiny House Chapel, the affected church, said people around started trying to fight the fire on their own with water while waiting for personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service. It took the firemen about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control. The owners of the mechanic shop were not around at the time of the fire. An eyewitness, Prince Welbeck, told Citi News that the fire service personnel delayed because they thought it was an April fools prank. Citi Newsroom Management of Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has reacted to a series of stories by Onua TV and 3news.com on aggrieved staff of the programme demanding the immediate removal of the caretaker minister and the Chief Director of the Gender, Children and Social Protection over non-payment of their salaries. Management admits that the salaries of the workers were delayed as reported by Onua TV and 3news.com but efforts are being made to address the issue. A statement on Thursday, March 31 said we admit that salaries of staff of the Programme have been delayed for some months now, and management in consultation with our supervising ministry is taking the necessary steps to address the issue. Read below the full statement: GHANA SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME (A GHANA-UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS PROGRAMME ON HUNGER & EXTREME POVERTY) MARCH 31, 2022 REJOINDER: AGGRIEVED SCHOOL FEEDING STAFF DEMAND REMOVAL OF CARETAKER MINISTER, CHIEF DIRECTOR OVER UNPAID SALARIES The attention of the Management of Ghana School Feeding Programme has been drawn to your online publication of Thursday March 31, 2022 suggesting that some angry staff of the programme are demanding the immediate removal of the caretaker minister and the Chief Director of the Gender, Children and Social Protection due to nonpayment of their salaries. We admit that salaries of staff of the Programme have delayed for some months now, and management in consultation with our supervising ministry is taking the necessary steps to address the issue. However, the issue at stake does not in our view warrant a call from staff for the removal of the caretaker minister and the Chief Director who are doing their very best to handle the issue. Management wants to state emphatically that the salary delay is a systemic challenge and must therefore not be blamed on certain individuals. Your publication has been very debilitating one, and has the tendency to destroy the good relationship that exists between Management of School Feeding, the Minister and the Chief Director. It is unfortunate the so-called angry staff completely disregarded our management structures and failed to use the appropriate channels to have their concerns addressed. Management therefore wants to apologise to the caretaker minister and the Chief Director for the unwarranted and undeserving attack on their personalities. We would like to also inform all staff that all processes leading to the payment of their outstanding salaries have advanced and they would soon receive their monies. Management wants to request your media station to give our rejoinder the needed prominence and attention. SIGNED MANAGEMENT OF GSFP 3news.com Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said it is regrettable that President Nana Akufo-Addo failed to assure the diplomatic community that his government will respect the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 196, in his State of the Nations Address (SoNA). Mr Ablakwas comment comes on the back of the demolishing of the Nigerian High Commission properties and the Bulgarian Embassy in the country. In Mr Ablakwas view, the State of the Nations Address was an opportunity for President Akufo-Addo to have assured the diplomatic community that such occurrence will not happen under his government again but he missed it. In a Facebook post, the lawmaker raised concerns that Justice Retired Kwasi Anto Ofori-Atta who was appointed to probe the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy was given seven days from the 18th of March, 2022, to conclude his work and report to the Lands Minister, its been 14 days since and there has been no formal communication to the Ghanaian people and the international community on the status of investigations. Meanwhile, he bemoaned that the culprit who demolished the embassy building, Dr. Yaw Adu Ampomah remains at post at the NDPC. He advised the Akufo-Addo-led administration to exhibit more seriousness and a sense of urgency in such grave matters. Source: Classfmonline.com The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has announced to inform the general public that it is currently not embarking on any recruitment or enlistment exercise. The notice was posted on the Twitter page of the Ghana Armed Forces on Thursday, March 31, 2022. The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to draw the attention of the general public that it is not currently engaging in any recruitment and enlistment exercise. Any such exercise would have been advertised in the national dailies when due, GAF said in a tweet. The Ghanaian public is advised to take note of the Ghana Armed Forces statement and not allow unscrupulous people to defraud anyone. A group calling itself Graduate Unemployed Nurses and Midwives Association has hinted of plans to embark on a protest dubbed "Clear and Post now", on Wednesday, 20 April 2022. The demonstration according to the group is to register its displeasure of governments refusal to release their financial clearance and post them. The intended protest is scheduled to take place at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge, at 8am. The group consisting of 2019 graduates has, therefore, called on the government to post them before the intended date, or else the protest stands. Source: classfmonline.com The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has denied claims it is embarking on a recruitment exercise. The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to draw the attention of the general public that it is not currently engaging in any recruitment and enlistment exercise, it stated in a Public notice on Thursday, 31 March 2022. According to the GAF, Any such exercise would have been advertised in the national dailies when due. Public Notice on enlistment and recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces. pic.twitter.com/FauEEMlKHN Ghana Armed Forces (@GhArmedForces) March 31, 2022 The GAF is the unified armed force of Ghana, consisting of the Army (GA), Navy (GN), and Ghana Air Force. The armed forces are managed by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff. Source: classfmonline.com The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nhyiaeso in the Ashanti region, Dr. Stephen Amoah has vowed to deal with people dealing and smoking weed in his Constituency. Speaking at Apraman Catholic School during a visit to make a donation, the MP lamented over how drug abuse has become a major problem in his jurisdiction. He disclosed that efforts are underway with the security agencies to deal with weed dealers to help curb the school dropout problem in the constituency. I have carefully visited several marijuana selling and smoking camps in my constituency, I have peaceful interaction with the dealers and the users, they admitted what they are doing is wrong. At the moment I have engaged security agencies in Kumasi and Im declaring war on their illegal activities. Very soon we will go after them to dismantle the camps, Dr. Stephen Amoah declared. The Nhyiaeso MP continued, Im acquiring a pickup vehicle which will be used for security patrol in the constituency. Any child we found in the weed camps will be arrested. This I believe will check school dropouts in my constituency. During his visit to the Apraman Catholic School, Dr. Stephen Amoah donated 20 computers, printers, and one thousand one hundred dual desks to support the school The donation is part of the MPs commitment to stocking classrooms with comfortable sitting desks to foster effective teaching and learning for students. Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has complained about the delay in releasing the annual report on the staff at the Presidency. According to him, the delay in the release of the report undermines the authority of the legislature. Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Ablakwa said, we cannot accept this as a House. If this delay continues, it undermines the authority of this institution. He has raised similar concerns in the past about breaches of Section 11 of the Presidential Office Act. Virtually every year, the president is in breach of this provision and I have to be screaming and crying and yelling before the presidency will comply, he said. Section 11 of Act 463 of the Presidential Office Act states that the President shall within 3 months after the end of each financial year submit to Parliament an annual report containing the following information; the number of presidential staff employed at the Office, the rank or grade of such staff; and employees in the other public services assigned to the Office. In his criticism, Mr. Ablakwa said the President had breached the law in a violent manner. Reacting to this, the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, took issue and demanded a withdrawal of the submission, which led to a heated argument. We as parliamentarians must know the appropriate words to use and the words he used in describing the president is unacceptable, Mr. Afenyo Markin said. More than 6,800 Ukrainian children are now enrolled in French schools, colleges and high schools mainly in Nice and Versailles the Ministry of Education announced Friday. The latest figures come from the "Ukraine unit" set up in the ministry, which works daily to anticipate the arrival of Ukrainian children in French classrooms. A total of 6,873 pupils have been enrolled, with that number increasing rapidly. It's already rising sharply since Monday when there were 5,266 Ukrainian pupils enrolled in France, a figure that had already "multiplied by 20 since 8 March". The schools with the highest number of Ukrainian pupils are in Nice, Versailles, Grenoble and Lyon. In the very short term, perhaps as early as next week, there could be 10,000 pupils enrolled, with the Ministry of Education stressing that it still had the capacity to receive more. Reception plan Last month Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said crisis cells had been set up in every local education authority as part of the reception plan. To help integrate the children, the government said it would involve parents by opening free municipal courses to teach them French and the "values of the republic". Despite swift efforts to get Ukrainians into the French school system, many obstacles remain. Blanquer's plan has yet to be finalised and some schools are only able to act as emergency reception centres, with zero interaction between the school's own teachers and pupils. So far, the number of refugees fleeing Russia's war in Ukraine has crossed 4.1 million, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said Friday. Some residents of Ntroboso community in the Atwima Mponua district of the Ashanti Region who had their properties accidentally destroyed during an operation Halt II activity may be compensated subject to the final investigative report by government, Hon. George Mireku Duker, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has hinted. He stated this when he paid a working visit to the community on Thursday, March 31 2022 to gain first hand information of the incident that occurred. He relayed the message of regret and comfort from the Sector Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor to the victims. Government, he said is ready to support the man who lost properties in the incident,. Mr Duker however, lamented how illegal mining activities in the area have utterly degraded the environment and water bodies in the area especially River Offin. According to him, illegal mining threatens the very survival of the people within the community and made a passionate appeal to the chiefs and elders to help the government rise up against the menace. He disclosed that government will scale up its anti-galamsey operations in the area and rid the River Offin of all mining equipment particularly the Chan fa. The Deputy Minister motioned an alternative and a more sustainable and responsible mining method as replacement for the destructive galamsey. He announced that the MP for the area, Hon. Isaac Asiamah has secured a Community Concession for the area and that by the end of April, it will be operationalized and government will also provide the new gold catcher for a responsible and sustainable mining to take place. He reminded the community and Ghanaians not to view the onslaught on illegal-small scale mining as an attack on their livelihoods but rather a measure to protect the country's resources and grow the industry. Mr Duker, as part of his visit to the Ashanti Region, has inaugurated the Atwima Mponua District Mining Committee with a call on them to stamp out illegal mining in the area. He told the members of the community to be vigilant and firm in dealing with mining issues in the district and deal decisively with any person or institution who flouts the rules governing mining in the country. The Member of Parliament for Atwima Mponua, Hon. Isaac Asiamah commended the Sector Minister and the Ministry for taking steps to deal with issue. He also joined the campaign against illegal mining, warning the residents that they risk drinking unsafe water if they don't end galamsey activities. He listed some development projects executed so far and appealed to the community to keep faith with government. Source: 3news.com|Ghana Chinese FM meets Qatari counterpart Xinhua) 09:09, April 01, 2022 HEFEI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on Wednesday with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province. The Qatari top diplomat is in China to attend the "neighboring countries of Afghanistan plus Afghanistan" foreign ministers' dialogue. Wang said Qatar has participated in the political settlement of a number of hotspot issues and made great contributions to international peace and cooperation. China supports countries in the Middle East to strengthen their unity and development and build a collective security structure in the region. He called on the two sides to continue to support each other in safeguarding their core interests and strengthen the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Qatar's development strategy. China is willing to be a long-term, reliable, and stable energy cooperation strategic partner of Qatar and actively expand cooperation in the whole industry chain. Mohammed spoke highly of China's significant role in addressing the Afghanistan issue, lauded China's objective and fair position on Palestine, and congratulated China on the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Mohammed said Qatar attaches great importance to the Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to be an active participant. Qatar will also continue to facilitate Chinese enterprises' investment in Qatar. Mohammed said Qatar firmly supports the one-China principle and opposes foreign interference in China's internal affairs. He added the economic and trade cooperation between Qatar and China has continued to expand. China has become the most important energy partner of Qatar, and Qatar is willing to be China's sustainable and stable energy supplier, Mohammed said. The two sides agreed to promote the upgrading of cooperation between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Mohammed expressed his support for the signing of a free trade agreement between China and the GCC at an early date. The two sides also exchanged views on other topics, including the Iran nuclear issue. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Parliaments Committee on Health on Friday April 1 sent away officials of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and demanded the presence of the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to answer questions. The NHIA officials had appeared before the committee with formula for allocation for 2022. During the meeting, it emerged government has released less than 10 percent of the over 2 billion cedis due the authority. The Finance Minister, the officials disclosed has directed the authority to cut its allocation which has been approved by Parliament by 30%. Speaking to the media Deputy Ranking member on the committee Kwabena Mintah Akandoh disclosed the development is affecting operations of the NHIS. He said As we have always indicated to know how much the government of Ghana has collected in the name of the National Health Insurance Scheme with respect to 2021. As part of the practices of the House, the National Health Insurance Authority is supposed to appear before us every year especially with respect to their formula. Today, as part of the procedure they appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health. They presented a document to us which is titled ; National Health Insurance Authority , National Health Insurance Fund allocation for 2022. We checked, page 10 by their own records, says the government of Ghana has collected 2.056bn in the name of National Health Insurance in the year 2021 and they have released 127million, less than 10 per cent of the amount collected in the year 2021. Again, when we considered the 2022 budget of which an Appropriations Act has been passed, we approved an amount of about 3.3 billion cedis. When you look at their formula, they are formulating their formula around 2.6billion whiles the budget s appropriations act has approved 3.3 billion. Clearly, there is some disparity. When we asked them, the response we had was that they have received instructions to cut down this budget by 30 per cent. We dont make laws on the floor of the House for people to sit in their office to alter them the law. So with these two reasons, we asked them to go back and come with the Minister responsible for Finance because the NHIS Act is clear that when you collect these monies you are supposed to lodge it into the NHIS Fund within 30 days after the collection. ---3news.com The Senior Programmes Manager at the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Mr. Benjamin Cheabu has said the rise in new HIV/AIDS infections in communities is fast becoming a worrying situation for the UNAIDS and CHAG. He called for the need for all stakeholders to come together to help fight this epidemic as men between the ages of 15 to 24 years are getting new HIV infections. Mr. Cheabu noted that it is even more worrying because people getting infected are at their most productive age in life. He said sex workers globally account for 28 percent of HIV/AIDS infections, gay, 14 percent, transgender women, one percent, clients of sex workers also contribute 27 percent and 28 percent for the rest of the population. Mr. Cheabu disclosed this during a media engagement organized by CHAG Community System Strengthening held in Accra to create awareness of HIV/TB Infection. He added that their goal is to reduce TB incidence by 25 percent from 148 in 2019 to 111 per 100,000 population in 2025. Mr. Cheabu said the organization aims at reducing new HIV infection by 42 percent by 2023 while making sure the stigmatization reaches zero percent. According to Mr. Cheabu, CHAG will also target HIV-positive women to deliver HIV-negative babies Source: Classfmonline.com The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Hon George Mireku Duker together with member of Parliament for Atwima Mponua Constituency and the DCE for Atwima Mponua District yesterday on 31st March paid a courtesy visit to the residents of Ntobroso community in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region. The deputy minister stated that the visit was to gain first-hand information about the incident that occurred a month ago when the anti-galamsey military taskforce set ablaze excavators which accidentally gutted houses. He said government may compensate the resident who lost his properties after an investigation has been conducted and concluded. He said government is willing and ready to support any resident who lost his/her property in the incident. "By the end of April, our brother who lost his property will smile," he stated. He noted that illegal mining threatens the very survival of the people within the community and made a passionate appeal to the Chiefs and the elders to support government fight the menace. Mr Mireku disclosed that government will scale up its anti-galamsey operations in the area to rid River Offin of all illegal mining activities. He urged small scale miners to use more sustainable and responsible ways of mining to protect the environment and water bodies. The MP for the area, Hon Isaac Kwame Asiamah urged the community members to help government fight illegal mining in the area. "I commended the Lands end Natural Resources sector and the Minister for taking steps to deal with such issues and am very much grateful," he stated. He mentioned the developmental projects executed so far by government and appealed to the community members to keep faith with President Akufo-Addo. 01.04.2022 LISTEN It has been the norm in the public sector that salaries are paid a few days earlier before the end of the month. At the beginning of each year, the Controller and Accountant General's Department released a signed document stating the dates for which salaries would be paid to the public sector workers each month. This helps workers financially plan their month. It is very unfortunate that the CAGD have breached its own timelines as regards salary payments for the past two months (February and March) while keeping expectant workers in the dark as to when they would be paid. February and March Salaries were expected to be paid on 25th January and February respectively according to CAGD but were both delayed by at least 6 days. It is quite surprising that we just entered April with the salaries for March still yet to be paid. Few banks who have started paying from yesterday are only doing so with their own money while awaiting monies from the government. In a Volta Regional tour of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in the Akatsi South District, Mr. Thomas T. Musah, the General Secretary for GNAT is purported to have hinted on the payment of salaries from next week because monies would be sent to banks on Friday 1st April and may reflect from next week. This corroborates with responses from earlier inquiries from various banks who all confirmed that vouchers were sent to them without monies. In the face of an egregious breach of payment timelines, the CAGD owe workers an explanation wrapped in an apology for this unprecedented and undue delay in salary payment. The CAGD should also review their payment schedule if they feel they cannot meet the earlier timelines for planning purposes. Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. 01.04.2022 LISTEN Paul Amaning, the Eastern Region New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman hopeful, has renewed calls on Ghanaians, especially the youth, to support the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) bill. That, he said, was a better alternative to raise more revenue for development than seeking help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He noted that the E-levy is a more viable alternative in terms of solving revenue shortfalls than seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Ghanaians must embrace the E-Levy policy since it will prevent the government from seeking support from the IMF, Paul Amaning exclusively told Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7 Paul Amaning, maintained that the panacea to generating more revenue to revive the economy is to do that domestically through vehicles like the proposed E-levy. I dont support us going to the IMF now. This is the time we have to stop this NPP and NDC thing and get [going]. I dont think we need to go to the IMF because there are two things that will happen about policy descriptions and the amount of money we will get because they wont give us more than half a billion dollars which is peanut and less than half of what E-levy will give us. So we need policy direction changes and actions, and we can do it domestically. Some analysts have proposed seeking an IMF bailout as a better alternative amidst public disapproval of the E-levy, but the government has said it will have none of that. Others have also brushed off calls for the government to go under an IMF programme, insisting that the options left for Ghana to consider are fiscal discipline, a reduction in wasteful expenditure, and the sealing of revenue leakages. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assented to the e-levy bill passing it into law on Thursday, March 31, 2022. Parliament approved the bill on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 after the minority staged a walkout. The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta revealed on Wednesday, March 30 that deductions will start in May this year. According to him, that was the assurance he has been given by the Controller and Accountant General (CAGD) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), who will be the revenue collectors. I write to draw the attention of the Ghana government and some heads of the law enforcement institutions, including the Attorney-General, the Chief Justice, the National Security Minister and the Interior Minister to ensure that justice is served in the recent riot in Tarkwa area among two small-scale mining groups that led to the death of one person and recorded degrees of injuries. The unfortunate deadly incident happened when some assailants and murderers bushwhacked a businessman-cum-licensed small-scale miner, Mr. Emmanuel Kutubebi and his security team on the Bonsaso-Tarkwa road in the Western Region. In my view, considering the seriousness of the matter, it should be expeditiously probed and all the perpetrators subsequently prosecuted with a long term of imprisonment to calm down nerves as well as avoiding any potential civil disorder. This despicable crime gives cause for concern, especially as it relates to the safety and security of the citizens. As a mining consultant and a researcher, I am well informed that injustices in dealing with natural resources minor conflicts have triggered into devastating civil wars in some countries. Studies have shown that such heightened unrests have been difficult to resolve within a short time, as they sometimes take years. Notable among the countries where natural resources linked to their civil wars include DR Congo, 1996 (gold, diamond, copper, coltan); Angola, 1975 (diamond, oil); Liberia, 1989 (gold, diamond, iron); Sierra Leone, 1991 (diamond); Sudan, 1953 (oil); Cambodia, 1978 (gems); Morocco, 1975 (oil, phosphate); Colombia, 1984 (gold, oil); Indonesia, 1969 (gold, copper); Papua New Guinea, 1988 (gold, copper); Afghanistan, 1978 (gems, opium) and Burma, 1949 (gems, tin, opium). I developed interest in following up on this case, after listening to the Tarkwa Police Commanders briefing on Adom FM. According to Superintendent George Andrew Kumah, guys from one mining group crossed the other on the Tarkwa-Bonsaso highway to cause the attack and the riot began in the process. During the radio interview, the police officer said dangerous weapons that were retrieved from the assailants included 2 foreign pistols, 10 machetes, 2 jackknives and a pump action gun. The gunmen were led by Mr. Mohammed Awal, popularly known as Apakaloo, who was severely injured during the riot and currently receiving treatment at Korle-bu Teaching Hospital in Accra under police guard. It should be noted that a natural resource is a blessing to a nation but it can equally be a curse if not properly managed. Narrating his ordeal on the matter during a press conference held in Takoradi on Monday March 28, 2022, Mr. Emmanuel Kutubebi emphasized that the gunmen numbering about five (5) and led by Apakaloo attacked his team on the highway. In the attempt by his men to defend themselves, the security head of his group called Alhassan Ali, died in the struggle and the rest sustained various degrees of injuries. According to him, Apakaloo who was mentioned by the police officer is a known security team leader for a galamsey kingpin in Western Region called Nana Amponsah, popularly known as Okobeng. Emmanuel said the assailants who targeted him and his team were driving a white Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number GM 8700-13. They used their car to cross his Toyota Landcruiser first but he managed to swerve them, escaped their trap and drove off to save his life, although they tried to chase him. Unfortunately, as the assailants missed Emmanuel who was their target, they turned to attack his private security men who were driving behind him in a white pick-up truck. He further stated that he was surprised that people are trying to link the barbaric act with the Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister in Charge of Mining, Hon. George Mireku Duker, who doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuem Constituency in the Western Region. According to him, his small-scale mining business had no connectivity with the work of the Minister. Emmanuel added that he formed a security team for protection, after Okobeng himself and some assailants earlier threatened to kill him with evidence of their purported voices presently at the police custody in Tarkwa. Ghanaians can recall that in December 2021, the police in Tarkwa and Takoradi arrested alleged assassination plotters who attempted to kill Mr. Emmanuel Kutubebi and another person called Mr. Adjei Ben. During the police interrogations, the attempted murderers mentioned that Okobeng truly contracted them to cause the planned murder. In the investigative process, the police intercepted the phone conversation between Okobeng and the gunmen. During their conversations, Okobeng categorically stated that he had given them the killing assignment to execute and he promised to provide the assailants with an additional pump action gun to help speed up the killing job. Furthermore, Okobeng instructed the gunmen to monitor Emmanuels locations and kill him. In the tape, Okobeng mentioned that upon killing either Emmanuel Kutubebi or Adjei Ben, he believed nobody could compete with him concerning a mining concession that they were battling for. He could envisage that the rest of the small-scale miners would be terrified to enter the site. The police upon receiving the purported voice arraigned Okobeng and the assailants before the Takoradi Circuit Court A on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 and charged them with conspiracy to commit murder. Surprisingly, the Judge granted all of them bail which came as a shock to lots of Tarkwa residents. Some people in the Tarkwa areas had earlier predicted that the court might discharge them because of Okobengs wealth and his strong political connections in the NPP government. After listening to the tape on the attempted assassination, Emmanuel petitioned the Tarkwa police for protection but his request was denied, as the police responded that they could not assign a police officer to him because of unavailability of adequate personnel. Based on the police response, Emmanuel organized private men to protect him and his family. Now the big questions are as follows: On what basis did the court grant bail to persons involved in attempted murder case, after the voice captured on a tape showed that there was truly a planned assassination attempt? Why did the Judge grant them bail in the first place, knowing that the assailants and their sponsor, Okobeng were dangerous individuals who could cause murder? Is Okobeng above the law, such that he could be allowed to kill people because of his political affiliation? If Okobeng and his allied assailants were not granted bail, would this unfortunate riot that led to death, injuries and damages happen? These two separate cases have proved that Okobeng and his group members have been putting lives around the Tarkwa area in danger, hence the laws must deal stringently with them. Inability to strictly apply the rules will completely infringe upon the rights of the deceased family and the other people who received various degrees of injuries. Also Mr. Emmanuel Kutubebis life as well as his family will continuously be put in danger, if these assailants are left off the hook. On a more serious note, any unreasonable outcome from this murder case may push other citizens to take the law into their own hands and repeat similar barbaric and despicable acts. This can lead to a serious uncontrollable open lawlessness in the Tarkwa area and the nation as a whole. Finally, murderers pose national security threats to every nation and the law enforcement agencies, including the Police, the National Investigative Bureau and the Judiciary should take keen interest in this particular case to ensure that justice is served in this matter. Failure to enforce the laws to demonstrate that these institutions are constitutionally sanctioned to fight crimes, protect the citizens and ensure effective security in the country, can set dangerous precedence for the current and future generations. In my humble opinion, the entire galamsey problems in Ghana should be properly addressed as soon as possible to prevent any potential public disturbances as they happened to other countries. Concerned Ghanaians across the world are all anxiously monitoring this case from afar. God bless our homeland Ghana. Written by: Solomon K. A. Owusu, PhD Colorado, USA Some supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party NPP in the Northern Region have expressed disappointment in the regional director for National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Alhaji Hindu Abdalla for his alleged inability to use his office to help them find jobs and personal development. The NPP supporters made the comments when they phoned into Radio Tamale's evening talkshow dubbed - 'Yelivuhi Dundong'ni' yesterday evening during a discussion with Alhaji Hindu who is the NPP former regional organizer, describing him as "non impactful" politician. One of them identified as Yussif Sabonjida told the host, Abdul Shakun Omain that, "It is so pitiable looking at what Alhaji has said. We are the NPP supporters in Sabonjida. Since Alhaji became regional Organizer till, he lost the elections, whom has he helped? He has not helped anybody. If I tell you what we did for him at his house, but our efforts ended in vain." The angry NPP serial caller added, "Now that we have a saviour, Chairman Samba who is helping us, you have suddenly found your voice?" The NADMO director was speaking on the recent polling station executives and electoral area coordinators elections relative to the upcoming constituency elections slated for this month. He alleges that the current regional executives have not managed the process well. Alhaji Hindu who did not mince words criticizing the executives concluded that the regional chairman was solely responsible for the challenges that hit the entire process since February 18 when the nominations were opened. According to him, this was enough to change the current NPP Regional Chairman, Mohammed Bantima Samba Adam, saying that the best replacement is Alhaji Inusah Amadu (Dagomba Boy) who has declared intentions to contest the position. Alhaji Hindu also contested for the chairmanship position in 2018 and was able to poll only 25 votes, whiles the incumbent Chairman Samba had 312 to beat Daniel Bugri Naabu with 116. Amadu Inusah Dagomba Boy also managed to poll 99 votes. The Exporters and Importers Association of Ghana (EIAG) has urged maritime technocrats to properly the government on the nuances of maritime trade and port operations to guide the formulation of policies. Mr. Samson Awingobit Asaki, EIAG Executive Secretary reacting to the no duty, no exit policy at the Meridian Ports and Services (MPS) Terminal 3, said the policy was a demonstration that the government was not technically briefed on port matters. The Minister of Finance announced the immediate enforcement of the No Duty No Exit policy at the MPS Terminal at the Tema Port, as one of the seven measures to improve revenue collection. Mr. Asaki, however, told the Ghana News Agency that operational inefficiencies, and safety, among others, would be some of the fallouts from such a decision and therefore called for the immediate reversal of the policy. According to him, the Finance Ministry must have confidence in the National Security, and the preventive wing of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to ensure monitoring of cargoes leaving MPS. He explained that when MPS was set up, it was not given the mandate to do an intrusive examination of cargoes such as spare parts, second-hand clothing, and second-hand cars, adding that such cargoes were supposed to go to the Golden Jubilee Terminal, while the cars were transferred to Safe Bond Car Terminal. Mr. Asaki added that there was also a dedicated terminal for dangerous cargo, indicating that it would not be safe to keep such dangerous cargo at MPS and handle them among the rest of the cargos. I see no reason why an importer would pay his duty at MPS and still allow the container to go to Golden Jubilee Terminal, Reefer Terminal, or Tema Bonded Terminal, and stay for days, to come back and pay demurrages and rent before taking it to the warehouse, that would not work, he stressed. The EIAG further said the policy would lead to the creation of chaos and overcrowding at MPS, a situation he said would compound the already challenging clearing process in the country. Mr. Asaki said the Association would officially engage the Finance Minister, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Customs, and other relevant institutions on the matter to see the way forward. The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has tasked women to break the psychological and mental barriers in order to thrive under this current global dispensation. Nanahemaa Akosua Frimponmaa Sarpong Kumankuma CPP Chairperson has stated that the way we see gender roles is formed and perpetuated by our interactions with our social environment. Our perceptions about these roles unconsciously influence how we value the contribution of individuals around us. The CPP Chairperson stated at the eleventh monthly stakeholder engagement seminar organized by the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office which is a platform rolled out for state and non-state actors to address national issues. The eleventh stakeholder engagement was also used to climax the GNA Tema Regional Offices month-long activities to mark the 2022 International Womens Day celebration and also mark the first anniversary of the stakeholder engagement. Speaking on the topic: The path of women entrepreneurs: Challenges and Prospects, Nanahemaa Kumankuma stressed that women have a lot of potentials that could be harnessed to scale up national development. Nanahemaa Kumankuma explained that article 17 (1) and (2) of Ghanas 1992 Constitution guarantees gender equality and freedom of women and men, girls and boys from discrimination based on social or economic status among others. She, therefore, urged women to pick up the tools and break the glass ceilings, stressing that efforts for gender equity would continue to be a mirage if women failed to confront the issues. She noted, however, that issues of concern include: Inequality in access to social protection by the marginalized, vulnerable, and the poor. Inequalities in the burden of extreme poverty, education, skilled training gaps, and excess maternal mortality; and Unequal access to socio-economic power and justice, including lack of respect for and inadequate protection and promotion of human rights of women. Inequalities between women and men in sharing of power and decision making at all levels as well as dealing with all kinds of conflicts and insecurities and threats on women, she said. She stated that the Ghanaian woman when given the opportunity could make lots of gains for the family and nation. According to her, women formed the majority of the population saying that more women must endeavor to take up leadership roles to help fine-tune the needs of the public. Nanahemaa Kumankuma also said it was time for women to learn to be entrepreneurs stressing that only three percent of the entire population were employed in government institutions, a situation she said could be remedied if people acquire skills to be self-reliant. Mrs. Sedem Darko, Head of Motor Claims SIC Insurance Company said women play a catalytic role in the achievement of transformational economic, environmental, and social changes required for sustainable development. But limited access to credit, health care, and education are among the many challenges they face, she said. Speaking on the topic: Prospects of women in the insurance industry: Womens contribution to the SIC Mission, Mrs Darko said women are beginning to assume leadership roles in the insurance industry, breaking the stumbling blocks set out by society. Mrs. Sika Ramatu Lawson, a Project Electrical Engineer at the Department of Electrical Engineer at Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) who spoke on Prospects of women in the oil refinery sector: Womens contribution to the success story of the Tema Oil Refinery, said the refinery which was a purely engineering-oriented field of work, was predominantly male-dominated as fewer women study and work in that area. It is worthy of mention that at the moment in TOR we have several gallant ladies who apply modern technology in various positions as instrument/electrical technicians and engineers, process technicians and engineers, chemists. Laboratory technicians as was as administrators, finance, procurement, insurance professionals, lawyers, and health personnel, all playing sensitive roles in the process delivery, Mrs. Lawson stated. Mrs. Lawson was accompanied by Mrs. Matilda Adane Okrah, Maintenance Planner at TOR, and Ms. Phillipa Joy Essien, TORs Learning and Development Officer. The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie has disclosed that Ghana in 2019 exported food items worth $100 million abroad. Speaking to Asempa FM on the Ekosii sen programme on Friday, April 1, 2022, the Minister said contrary to ridiculous claims that the country is not producing enough, Ghana is producing food in large quantities and will soon have more than enough to avoid importation. It is true we are producing a lot of food and exporting more to neighbouring countries. Over 100 Millon worth of food was exported out of Ghana in 2019. We have the data to prove this. We are not just saying it but we have the data to speak to is, Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie shared. According to him, the food items exported number up to 19 including plantain, yam, as well as rice. He said there is an opportunity for the private sector in agri-processing in the value chain of agriculture that needs to be tapped. If that opportunity is explored, it will provide money employment for the people of this country. The banks should help the private sector to go into this venture. It will help the country a lot, Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie stressed. Ghana according to the Agric Minister produces about a million metric tonnes of rice annually. Dr. Akoto said that despite the successes of rice farming in the country, two million metric tonnes of rice must be produced before the country can become self-sufficient. He has, as a result, called on banks in the country to support rice farmers in the country with the capital to produce rice in large quantities. Ms Esther Tawiah, the Executive Director, Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED), has urged young women to be focused and be fully challenged in creating a space in the political world. Often time people turn to ask questions such as to what can this young woman do when given the power to take up the leadership role which could be assigned to a man and how will the woman deal with the tough decisions which will help in the development of the country, she said. Madam Tawiah, therefore, urged young women to pick up the challenge and break barriers and set new standards to demonstrate their ability to perform any role in the political and governance sphere. The GenCED Executive Director stated at the third edition of the West Africa Young Women in Politics Forum in Accra, to sensitize Young Women in Politics on how to enhance their growth within political parties and be politically conscious to contribute to the development of their respective countries. The initiative is aimed at helping young women develop their capacity and improve their leadership skills. The two-day forum was on the theme: Accelerating the growth of young women within Political Parties in West Africa, and was attended by more than 50 participants, mostly young women from Ghana, Burkina Faso, the Gambia, and Nigeria. Ms Akosua Manu, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority noted that women should push beyond their limitations and do away with stigmatization hence and pay attention to current issues on the ground, and get involved in decision-making with intelligent contributions. You need to go beyond your limitations, it speaks volumes of what a woman is capable of doing to help in the development of the country and with such vision, no one can take that from you. It would pave way for recommendations made on excellent judgments from friends and even the people on grounds as you make the efforts. Young Women in politics should not rest but always be creative, push harder, sacrifice and also volunteer whenever there is an activity going on within the party. The challenges are enormous; violence, receiving baskets of insults in the media, threats from oppositions would definitely come your way but that should not stop you from achieving your dream as a leader, she stressed. Ms Manu however, called on stakeholders and political parties to find a way in addressing these practices to encourage more women to participate in politics. Topics such as; How Young Women effectively engage in political party activities and ascertain their presence, Existing structures in political parties within the sub-region, to explore gaps in political party structures with regards to the political growth of young women among others were discussed at the forum. The calls for more stakeholder involvement in sensitizing the public especially young women with the passion of engaging in political party activities and how to get to the highest level against all forms of violence against women and perception that young women in politics were for sexual objectification, were heightened. 01.04.2022 LISTEN The renowned Osofo Nkuto in the Ghanaian christendom has suffered public humiliation on Thursday, 31 March 2022. He was booed and chased out of the one-week traditional funeral observations for the late Major. Major was his junior pastor that he parted ways with for reasons only best known to themselves. Many a Ghanaian, especially those within the Christian fraternity and were aware of the relationship between Osofo Nkuto and Major, are very suspicious about the untimely demise of Major. They suspect Osofo Nkuto of having a diabolic role to play in the sickness and death of Major. Therefore, he was considered a persona non grata at the funeral ground. However, he attended the funeral not only as an uninvited person but also, wanted to exercise a show off authority over the bereaved Major's family, friends and sympathisers. His pompous action infuriated some Kumawuman citizens so much so that they had to boo and chase him and his entourage out of the funeral grounds using sticks and stones. Osofo Nkuto had better comport himself, re-examine his prophetic work and remorsefully go on his knees to beg for God's forgiveness of sins. Major was my nephew. I had the chance to introduce myself to him while on his sick bed in his father's house when l paid his father a visit. He neither knew me, nor did l know him since he was born while l was living outside Ghana. Major and Osofo Nkuto are not only from Kumawu but are somehow related through Major's father's clanage to Osofo Nkuto's mother. Can Osofo Nkuto exonerate himself from blame with regard to the circumstances leading to the death of Major? Rockson Adofo Friday, 1st April 2022 President Nana Akufo-Addo, left Ghana Thursday, 31st March 2022, for Charlotte, North Carolina, in United States of America, and for London in the United Kingdom. At the invitation of Bishop T.D. Jakes, President Akufo-Addo will deliver the keynote address at this years International Leadership Summit, on Friday, 1st April 2022, a statement from the Presidency said. Since 2011, the International Leadership Summit (ILS), formerly the International Pastors and Leadership Conference, has cultivated aspiring and tenured entrepreneurs, leaders, and influential change agents with invaluable leadership insights. After the event, the President will travel to London, where he will launch one of his governments flagship tourism drive projects, dubbed Destination Ghana, and hold bilateral discussions with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, MP, and by officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry. President Akufo-Addo will return to Ghana on Wednesday, 6th April, and, in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead. 01.04.2022 LISTEN The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Northern Region Police Command has picked up Hanan Shamrock, a proprietor of a basic school at Bilpela, a suburb of Tamale in the Northern region for allegedly impregnating his fourteen-year-old biological daughter. The suspect is currently in police custody assisting with investigations. Police have indicated that the suspect will be arraigned after investigations. The victim (name withheld) after realizing that she was pregnant attempted to abort the pregnancy. She was subsequently rushed to the hospital ( hospital name withheld) following complications. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that the victim attempted an abortion. The mother and her auntie ( names withheld)who were shocked about the issue interrogated her before she confessed that her father has been sexually abusing her. The mother and auntie reported the incident at the Tamale police station. The incident was again reported to the Vittin chief palace where the issue was described as an abomination which the palace demanded some animals and an amount of Gh 1,500 to be used to cleanse the gods. The victim in an interview with journalists said her father told her that a spiritualist told him to sleep with the daughter to boost her confidence. When my father told me this I didn't mind him then he told me that if I do not agree to his request he would kill my mother. I got scared and I didn't want to lose my mother so I gave in to his request. According to her, the father inserted his finger into her private part saying he wanted to confirm if she is still a virgin. The second time he came to me in the living room and instructed me to undress so I did and he started sexually abusing me when I attempted to shout because I was feeling the pain he covered my mouth with his hands. It happened the third time again and by then I didn't know I was pregnant so I went to my mothers place and I was afraid to tell her that I am pregnant because she will be very disappointed in me. I told my friends and they advised me to take abortion pills which I did and about two weeks later I was feeling abdominal pains and I was bleeding as well so I had to confess to my grandmother who also told my mother about it. ---DGN online 01.04.2022 LISTEN The police at Yamfo in Tano North District of Ahafo Region have picked up a 32-year-old woman, Stella Owusu, for using a hot iron to burn her seven-year-old sons thumbs to stop him from sucking them. After the wicked act, she went further to use a razor blade to inflict harm on the burnt fingers. The little boy, Joshua Osei, has since been referred to a medical facility for medical attention while the mother, who is also nursing a baby, according to the police will be referred for a psychiatry examination to determine whether she is sound or not. Sources at the Yamfo Primary 'A' Methodist School where Joshua attends school say due to the burns and incisions on his fingers, little Osei is unable to hold a pencil or any writing material to write though his colleagues have started writing their midterm examinations. When contacted, DCOP David Eklu, the Ahafo Regional Deputy Police Commander said the woman has been arrested, describing her action as wicked and unfortunate. She is being handled by officers at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service (DOVVSU) and we would prefer appropriate charges against her after she is diagnosed by a medical facility for us to determine whether she is sane or not, DCOP Eklu disclosed. Little Joshua is said to be the third of five children of Stella Owusu and her husband. However, neighbours say she is cruel to the children. ---DGN online In his quest to fulfill his earlier promise to Junior Secondary School students at Kumawu Dadiease in the Sekyere Kumasi District of the Ashanti region, Hon Kofi Adade Assemblyman for the Kumawu-Dadiase Electoral Area who is also a journalist working with the Oyerepa FM in Kumasi has donated a student mattress, trunk, chop box and electric iron to a student, Master Elvis Marfo to enable him continue his education at the Adesadel Senior High at Cape Coast in the Central Region. Kofi Adade's gesture followed the student's performance as the best student at Dadease in the recent BECE examinations. Speaking to the media after the presentation, the journalist indicated that the donation is in fulfilment of a promise he made that if any BECE candidate from Dadease gets aggregate 6 to 10 he will support the student. Receiving the items Master Elvis Marfo, the best student thanked Kofi Adade for the kind gesture. He said as a young boy he aimed at becoming a successful medical officer in the future to serve the country. He noted that donation will motivate him to study hard in Senior High School. On his part the father of the student, Mr Marfo expressed his gratitude to the journalist for the offer. He advised parents to keep a close eye on their children to prevent them from bad attitudes and friends who can destruct them from focusing on their studies. 01.04.2022 LISTEN Ghanaians must protect and sustain the fisheries industry by developing a taste for tuna, Mr. Richester Nii Amarh Amarfio, Secretary for the Ghana Tuna Association (GTA) has stated. Mr Amarfio said that even though Ghana had enough tuna to feed the needs of the country and beyond, the European Union (EU) market remained the only hope for the survival of the industry. Europeans eat a lot of tuna both raw and canned so the majority of it goes to the EU market, he stated. He added that creating an internal market could also come in a form of developing dishes that would make use of tuna, stressing that, I have not seen hotels in Ghana using tuna in their dishes apart from the canned ones they use for salads. Mr. Amarfio, who is also the Director of Operations for Laif Fisheries, stated at the Ghana News Agency-Tema Regional Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue, which is a media think-tank platform for commercial and business operators to communicate to the world. He noted that there was the need to have a full stakeholder engagement to revive the industry, especially food and agriculture because a lot of purpose are being struck down, and there is the need to take stock. He said, at Mankodze a lot of women are selling tuna, we supply them with tuna to sell so they make a lot of contributions to the day-to-day activities like the factories that are into cannery and the women who smoke the fish and those who buy from the market. Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Tema Regional Manager of the GNA, on his part said, as industrial new hub, we found the need to engage those in the industry on national issues to educate the public. As Industrial News Hub, GNA-Tema has created a platform for industrial players to use, for other stakeholders to reach out in a proactive means while serving as grounds to address national issues, he said. He said it was common knowledge that a lot of things happened at sea and in the fishing industry that the public needed more enlightenment on, therefore the need to engage the GTA to throw light on its sector. Mr Ameyibor explained that, activities on the sea is one of the most dynamic but under-reported from the media therefore the agency has created a platform to offer stakeholders news channel to reach out to the world. He noted that GNA-Tema office branded as the Industrial News Hub, seeks to help fill ocean news gap, the need for better reporting on sea and fisheries issues, as life on the sea affects the general livelihood people as the level of consumption of fish in the country is large. Morocco has inaugurated the International Center for Research on the Prevention of Child Soldiers with the aim of contributing to the fight against the recruitment of child soldiers, through the dissemination of research to be carried out by the Center. Speaking at the inaugural conference of the Centre, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita stated that the creation of the Center, was to contribute to the debate by formulating concrete proposals for the security-development and coordination of efforts of the international community. Mr. Bourita added that the objective of the Center is to provide accurate, qualitative and quantitative data to formulate an informed action through academic research. The Minister further noted that the Polisario-forced recruitment of children in the camps of Tindouf fuels instability in North Africa and the Sahel. He said the indoctrination and enlistment of children by the Polisario armed militia is an inhuman crime, and a denial of the basic rights of the children recruited, as well as a flagrant violation of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council on this matter, he said. Mr. Bourita further called for an end to impunity for those responsible for the recruitment and criminal use of children and other grave violations, by supporting systematic UN monitoring and reporting of child rights violations in conflicts. He stated that the proportion of children living in conflict zones who are at risk of recruitment and use by armed groups has tripled from less than 5% in 1990 (99 million children) to more than 14% in 2020 (337 million children). The problem of child soldiers is neither marginal nor circumstantial and contrary to popular belief, this phenomenon is not exclusive to Africa, he added, noting that children take part in 75% of conflicts in the world, more than 460 million children live in a conflict zone in 2022 and more than 15% of child soldiers are girls. In the last 25 years, 170,000 children have been released from armed groups. However, only a limited number of former child soldiers have been identified in a limited number of countries surveyed, he said. The Chief Executive Officer of the Center, Abdelkader Filali on his part stressed that the Center will focus its missions on studies, research and consultations on the prevention and exploitation of children in conflict zones. Mr. Filali, also a professor at the University of Ottawa, noted that this structure will be equipped with mechanisms for international advocacy within United Nations organizations in the various fora, in collaboration with civil society around the world and civil authorities working in this area. According to him, the Research Center has executives, academicians and university graduates who will be equipped with mechanisms for monitoring the various violations in conflict zones around the world. The International Center for Research on the Prevention of Child Soldiers will join efforts with United Nations agencies, international and regional organizations, international networks and civil society to develop a common research program in order to address the vulnerability of children who are exploited and used in armed conflicts. Through academic research, partnerships and collaborations, the Center will deploy strategies to deal with all forms of enlistment of children and conduct an assessment and census of unregistered child soldiers, while offering innovative solutions to combat their exploitation in armed conflicts. The Center will also focus on research on the African continent, with the aim of disseminating data on a large scale. Other dignitaries present at the ceremony were the Wali of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, Governor of the Province of Oued Eddahab, Lamine Benomar, the Ambassador, Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), Mohamed Methqal, and elected officials, as well as Consuls General of several African countries in Dakhla. The Deputy Ranking Member on the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Francis-Xavier Sosu says President Akufo-Addos approval of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy) is an act of lawlessness. The President assented to the E-levy Bill on Thursday, despite a challenge at the Supreme Court by the Minority in Parliament against the passage of the Bill. Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Sosu said the act by the President serves as disrespect to state institutions. It is quite disappointing that the President being very much aware that the process leading to the passage of the Bill is a subject matter of a challenge at the Supreme Court will go ahead and assent the bill to become law. It is also a stab of the claim of the President to be an ardent adherent to rule of law and due process. The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has downplayed the lawsuit filed by the Minority in Parliament over the passage of the 1.5% electronic transfer levy. Mr. Ofori-Atta who moved the motion for approval of the levy indicated that the claims are not factual. The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, signed into law the E-levy, two days after it was passed by Parliament under controversial circumstances. His action now paves the way for the implementation of the levy. his came barely a day after some three members of the Minority NDC in Parliament filed a suit at the Supreme Court to challenge the passage of the levy, insisting Parliament did not have the numbers to pass it. I believe that, the claim of someone who is an ardent follower of democratic processes, belief in independent institutions must reflect in how things are done. So once the Bill has been passed in ways that have been challenged before the Supreme Court, one will have expected that the President abides by the decision of the Supreme Court before assenting to the Bill, Mr. Sosu added. Parliament passed the E-Levy in the absence of the Minority MPs, who had walked out before the Bill was seriously considered. The Minority had complained that it had been blindsided by the unexpected laying of the controversial tax. ---citinewsroom The speaker of Tunisia's dissolved parliament was questioned Friday over allegations of "conspiracy against state security", after lawmakers met online in defiance of President Kais Saied. Rached Ghannouchi, the 81-year-old speaker who also heads the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, attended in response to Thursday's summons from judicial authorities of the anti-terrorism unit, the parliament's leadership said in a statement. An AFP photographer said Ghannouchi left the judicial premises in Tunis after about an hour of questioning. He is accused of "having plotted against state security", said party spokesman Imed Khemiri, who was also summoned, dismissing the charge as setting a "dangerous precedent". Ghannouchi has said at least 30 parliamentarians have been summoned for questioning by anti-terrorism police. The president dissolved parliament on Wednesday, dealing another blow to the political system in place since the North African country's 2011 revolt which sparked the Arab Spring. It came eight months after Saied sacked the government, froze parliament and seized sweeping powers, later moving to rule by decree in moves opponents have dubbed a "coup". The president's latest decision came hours after MPs held a plenary session online -- their first since Saied's power grab -- and voted through a bill against his "exceptional measures". Ghannouchi, who did not attend the session, subsequently rejected Saied's dissolution of parliament. Many Tunisians initially welcomed Saied's moves against political parties often seen as self-serving and corrupt. Some have blamed Ghannouchi's Ennahdha -- which has dominated Tunisia's post-revolution politics -- for Tunisia's political stalemate and economic problems faced over the past decade. But Saied's moves have prompted accusations that he is taking Tunisia back towards autocracy. Saied, a former law professor elected in 2019 amid public anger against the political class, has given himself powers to rule and legislate by decree, as well as seizing control over the judiciary. The parliament building in Tunis has remained closed off and guarded by security forces for the past eight months. A 33-year-old Andrews Donkor is believed to have been killed by security personnel at Nkroful during an attempt to disperse an agitated crowd who massed up in front of the Nkroful District Court after some 28 illegal small scale miners (galamseyer) were brought to the court. According to an eyewitness, Solomon Eduku Ackah, the illegal miners were arrested on the concession of Adamus Resources Limited this dawn and the youth of Teleku Bokazo rushed to the court premises to witness the case after the police brought them to court. He alleged that the bullet which hit the victim, who later died at the Ekwe Hospital, came from security personnel who wanted to disperse the crowd from the court premises leading to the youth currently besieging the Essiama police station. About 30 of the galamseyers who visited Adamus pit to mine were arrested by military persons who were sent on operations by the company. These guys were sent to Nkroful Police Station and instantly processed for court at Nkroful Magistrate Court. When the news of the arrest broke to the community, the youth of Teleku Bokazo rushed to the court premises to witness the case, he said. While they were sitting outside, the military men began shooting at them and the bullet, unfortunately, killed one of them by name Andrews Donkor who was sitting somewhere witnessing the event. The bullet entered his heart and he lost his life while they were taking him to the Ekwe hospital, he added. Citi News is yet to get an official account from the police as to whether the alleged bullet came from the police or the Adamus Resources Limited security personnel. Residents demand justice for illegal miner burnt by Adamus security personnel Residents of Anwia-Bokazo in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region are yet to recover from the shock of the brutal assault and subsequent death of a 27-year-old man, allegedly assaulted and burnt by security personnel of Adamus Resources. In December 2021, the deceased, Michael Derry, was captured on a mining concession belonging to Adamus Resources and was allegedly molested before being set ablaze. He passed on at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Sunday after he was referred there due to the severity of his wounds. ---Citinewsroom Sudan's de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan threatened Friday to expel UN special representative Volker Perthes over alleged "interference" in the country's affairs. Perthes, in an address Monday to the United Nations Security Council, said Sudan was heading towards "an economic and security collapse" unless its civilian-led transition, upended in last year's military coup led by Burhan, was restored. Perthes also warned of rising crime and lawlessness, killing of anti-coup protesters, violence against women "by members of the security forces" and increased targeting of activists. Burhan warned Perthes "to stop overstepping the mandate of the UN mission and blatant interference in Sudanese affairs, as that would lead to his expulsion from the country". He also urged the UN and the African Union (AU) "to facilitate dialogue among Sudanese and avoid overstepping their mandate", in a statement released by the armed forces. On Thursday, the armed forces' newspaper's chief editor Ibrahim al-Houri, in an article, accused the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission Sudan headed by Perthes of "not adhering to the principle of neutrality". UNITAMS has rejected the charge but insisted it is "not neutral with regard to its commitment to protect human rights, freedoms and democracy". Regular mass protests have rocked Sudan since the coup, in the face of a violent crackdown by security forces that has so far killed 93 people, according to medics. Perthes said UNITAMS along with the AU and regional bloc IGAD, have agreed on joint efforts to facilitate Sudanese-led talks. The Friends of Sudan, a grouping which includes the United States, Britain and the European Union, have also thrown their weight behind latest efforts to facilitate dialogue. The group has called for the restoration of the civilian-led transition that had followed the 2019 ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir as it "would pave the way to restore economic assistance and international debt relief". Empire Foundation, spearheaded by EIB Boss, Nathan Kwabena Anokye Adisi (Bola Ray) and his wife, Mrs. Dorcas Anokye Adisi has donated some items to the SOS children's villages. The foundation as part of its annual visit to the Childrens Village donated items donated such as bags of rice, cooking oil, cleaning supplies, sanitary products, noodles, exercise books, drinking water, beverages, clothes, shoes and an undisclosed amount of money. Accepting the foundations kind gesture, the Board Chairman of SOS Childrens Villages, Mr Christian Appiah heaps praises on Bola Ray and his wife for supporting the Childrens Villages consistently for 13 years. He said, As Ambassador for SOS Childrens Villages, we are grateful for your constant support, thank you for supporting the well-being of children for 13 years and we also entreat you to invite others to come to our aid. According to managers of the foundation, Ongoing welfare monitoring of the previous years beneficiaries indicates that our annual donations go a long way to supplement the resources available to the children. With help from our benevolent partners in 2017, we were able to adopt a house for 12 months, which ensured adequate shelter, nourishment, education, outfitting, upkeep, and nurturing of over 10 beneficiaries." They noted that the home provides a loving home to children who are no longer able to live with their parents for a myriad of reasons, according to operators of the home. Bola Ray speaking on behalf of the foundation also added that We will ensure that there will be more support even from the diaspora to backing this advocacy. Empire Foundation will always be back to support the SOS Bola also acknowledged, JayKay Industries Limited Twellium, Lele Foods and all individuals for supporting the donation. Bola Ray and his Empire Foundation have made it a duty to help provide the needs of the children. The donation took place at the SOS Childrens Villages headquarters at Asylum Down on Friday, April 1,2022 Empire Foundation supports the SOS Childrens Villages, Ghana to enrich the lives of the children housed there. The Childrens Village, which provides a community for a perfect family strengthening system, was opened in 1974 and has since raised many astute and talented children. The Mile Seven Police Command have arrested a man who allegedly kidnapped his daughter and pretender she was missing. The suspect Kojo Dyunie, an undertaker, age 33, whose accomplice is currently at large was said to have kidnapped the victim, Dzifa Dyunie, who was living with a guardian at Lapaz-Tabora junction, Accra. She was a class three pupil at the Salvation Army Preparatory and Junior High School in Lapaz-Chantan. The suspect is also reportedly threatened to kill the victim if she disclosed her ordeal to anyone. A source within the Mile Seven Police Command said the guardian, Hajia Zuweratu Osman, popularly known as Hajia Gaskiyah reported the case to the Israel Police Station in Accra the day the victim went missing thus, Saturday October 23, 2021. It was gathered that she went to several media houses where announcement was made about the missing child but efforts to find the victim proved futile for more than five months until she was found to be in the care of an orphanage, kind courtesy of the Ashaiman social welfare. It was gathered she was sent to the social welfare by Ashaiman Police Command when she was loitering around Ashaiman late last year. Read more here: https://www.modernghana.com/news/1116055/accra-13-year-old-girl-missing-at-tabora.html According to police sources, when the victim was interrogated, she mentioned her father, Kojo Dyunie, as the one who arranged with an accomplice to pick her up from Hajia Zuweratu Osman's house and she was asked to ensure she stole her guardians money and phones which she complied. Explaining further, the police said the suspect brought noodles for the victim and gave her GHc210.00 and asked her to wait for him whiles he escorted his friend but the victim got stranded when it started raining that morning. Therefore, the suspect couldn't locate the victim again until she was sent to the Ashaiman Social Welfare. The police source said the victim also accused her father of often luring her to steal mobile phones of mourners at funeral ceremonies. The suspect is currently in Police custody assisting with investigations. Meanwhile, the Police said efforts are being made to arrest all other persons involved in the crime because the Inspector General of Police, George Akuffo Dampare has been monitoring the incident. US oil and natural gas producers have been urged to drastically increase production both to ease supply concerns stemming from Russias invasion of Ukraine and to help lower high energy prices. Discussions around those calls have included disinformation, and analysts at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas attempted provide a clearer picture in a community town hall focused on energy and the economy. Michael Plante, senior research economist and advisor, pointed out that US production has grown 4 percent and forecasts are for an additional 5 to 8 percent growth this year. One of the major points facing public companies the guys traded on the stock market is that investors are protecting higher returns and that comes at the expense of higher production growth, Plante said. Lutz Killian, senior economic policy advisor, agreed, saying investors are much opposed to large-scale increases because who knows what oil prices could be in a couple of years. Companies cant afford to go against the wishes of their investors. Plante added, I will also note, as has been mentioned, the industry is running into issues with labor constraints and supply chain bottlenecks, as have other industries. We are seeing modest growth. If companies want to accelerate that growth rapidly in 2022, theyll run into those issues and exacerbate the problem. Corporate executives are also thinking about the trade-offs and considering if accelerating growth is worth it. Theyre also concerned about the regulatory environment. A shale well could cost roughly $7 million to drill, he pointed out, and though oil prices are in triple digits today, they could fall significantly in the near future and the oil companies would bear the economic risk, which he said is truly large. He also addressed a criticism that has come from the Biden administration and others that oil and gas operators hold about 9,000 drilling permits yet to be used. It is true there is a large outstanding stockpile of drilling permits, he said. Its not natural to exhaust all permits in a short period of time just given how the process works. Plante explained that the process doesnt take a couple of weeks but instead could take a couple of years, from obtaining the permit to planning the drilling program. The planning process also means permits arent quickly used. Companies have a portfolio of opportunities, and some permits get used and some wont be used as theyre not worth the money. Thats also a reason for outstanding permits, he said. And even if activity does increase, he said, it will take six months in the best of scenarios before that new production shows up. Production from the Gulf of Mexico or Canadian oil sands could take several years. Another proposal, to ban exports and keep that production for domestic use would also have unintended consequences, Plante said. We trade gasoline and diesel on global markets, he said. Having an export ban wont change that fundamental reality but will introduce distortions. We do produce in the US whats called a sweet crude from the shale areas. Our refineries are not set up to process as much of that sweet crude as we want, so we export a lot of it. A consequence of an export ban would be a lot of that crude would be trapped. That would mean lower oil prices, which would mean less drilling, which would result in less production. That refinery setup is one reason US shale crudes would not be the best substitute for the Russian crude the US has now banned, Killian said. Its also why the administration is talking with other countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela, which produce the heavier crudes US refineries are set up to process, he added. Ultimately, an export ban would not help consumers, said Plante, because less supply would drive up prices. And a price ceiling, as was tried during the oil shocks of the 1970s would have a similar effect because if the cost of producing gasoline exceeds that ceiling, its not in the refiners interests to produce as much gasoline as consumers want, which means shortages. A windfall profits tax, which was implemented in the 1970s and lasted into the 1980s and is being discussed, would make US operators less profitable, discincentivize drilling when oil prices rise and investors would lose the upside potential for profits when oil prices are high, Plante said. The industry has had trouble in recent years because they had failed to produce returns for investors, thus the demand for capital discipline and returning cash to investors. Again, he said, less drilling activity eventually translates to less production and rising prices. Theres no perfect solution for gasoline prices, Plante said. Unless the shortfall of petroleum exports from Russia can be contained, were looking at a large and persistent increase in oil prices in order to suppress demand to levels consistent with supply, Killian warned. While he said the US will be impacted, because Europe is so much more dependent on Russian petroleum exports as well as coal from Russia and Ukraine the impact will much more substantial. He listed a couple of scenarios that could impact what he called a dismal outlook for energy prices. One is a shock or shocks that could significantly reduce global demand for crude. One such shock is currently taking place in China, which is locking down millions of citizens to combat a fresh COVID-19 outbreak. That will not only reduce Chinese demand for crude but ripple through supply chains and could impact global oil demand, reducing prices. That, he said, has already been seen in the recent retreat in oil prices. A second scenario is the strong public support throughout Europe for banning energy imports from Russia, which would make it difficult for European financial institutions to fund those imports. Right now, he said, enough Russian petroleum is making it through despite sanctions that significant shortages are being avoided. But if that changes, he said the economic impact may trigger a response from Russians harmed by the sanctions. Chef Chip Hight has been preparing to open Mister Chips Kitchen and Bar since December. The signage is up, the staff are trained, and now he is wrapping up details on his newest establishment downtown. He said Midlanders will need to keep an eye on their social media notifications for Mister Chips Kitchen and Bar opening announcement. Hight gave the Reporter-Telegram early access and a taste of what will be on the menu on Thursday afternoon. The previous Basin Burger building has been transformed with the help of Hights sister Beth Harris. There is still more crane artwork to put up in the almost 5,600-square-foot space. Guests will be able to order when entering or at the bar area. The space has been decorated with dragon print wallpaper, steamer basket lids, panel artwork and green leather seating. Guests will also be able to order while seated with a QR code offered at each table. The restaurant will have a covered outdoor seating area with retractable garage doors in part of the patio. There will be cornhole, Connect Four and Jenga on the patio. The restaurant is keeping the fireplace, which will be used during the colder months. The restaurant can seat up to 150 people. Mister Chips will feature a variety of Asian fusion dishes like noodles, dumplings and more. The bar will have a creative sake, wine and cocktail offering too. The sweet potato fries, crispy brussels, Mongolian beef and egg roll were offered during the sneak peek paired with the John Woo (Paloma), Mister Chips Manhattan and Altstadt Kolsch from Fredericksburg. The sweet potato fries are seasoned with furikake, sesame seed and seaweed seasoning and spicy aioli. The sweet potato fries were probably one of the most impressive dishes served and offered a different take on the appetizer. Opals Tables famous crispy brussel sprouts will be getting a different interpretation at the restaurant. Instead of Worcestershire glaze, Mister Chips Kitchen will have a soy glaze with fresh jalapenos and shaved almonds. The Mongolian beef should be on any spicy fanatic's must-eat list. The dish is served with green bell peppers and red Sichuan peppers. It might be best for those who dont like too much spice to leave the Sichuan peppers as a garnish instead of biting into one. Hight is also offering a larger-than-normal egg roll with sweet and sour sauce. Carrots, cabbage and pork are wrapped in an egg roll wrapper then fried to perfection. Like everything else on the menu it is a delicious take on a classic. The bar will have a specialty cocktail menu featuring Mister Chips Manhattan and the John Woo, a take on a paloma that has a Sichuan salt rim. The Bites Want to know more? Visit https://misterchipskitchen.com/?fbclid=IwAR01lQMAWZpMVucrbRK3C_CBDPRWzphq59WZYwOuIE9d9MfJeUVAocVGxG4. See More Collapse --Tea2Go TeaNergy Greenwood has announced itsgrand opening Friday at 1805 S. County Road 1105, suite C1. The event will start at noon, and the first 25 customers will get a free gift card. --The Mule Barn Cantina will launch a brunch menu Saturday starting at 10 a.m. The menu will feature sweet corn tamale cakes, breakfast nachos, poached huevos rancheros, tres leches french toast and more. There will also be manmosas, Arnold Palmer mimosas, Irish coffee and sunset screwdrivers on the drink menu. --Cake and Berry tasting, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, 4400 W Loop 250 N., suite 104. The event will feature cake and chocolate-covered strawberry tasting at Menchies. --The 3rd annual crawfish cook-off with special guest judge Stalekracker will be from noon to midnight on April 9 at The Tailgate. The event will feature crawfish races, drink specials, guest judges, a crawfish eating contest, live cajun music and more. There will also be a special performance by Treaty Oak Revival. Stalekracker is a TikTok star focusing on all things crawfish. Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/crawfish-cook-off-tickets-269213925097. --CAF High Sky Wing will host the 14th annual Hops and Props fundraiser from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on April 9 at 9600 Wright Drive. The event will feature more than 50 beers and appetizer sampling from area restaurants. Tickets are available at https://cafhopsprops.ticketleap.com/. Guam police detectives park their vehicles next to a cluster of canopies Thursday afternoon as they investigate the death of a toddler found at the scene off Ysengsong Road in Dededo. Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Joshua D. Miller, 31, of 604 Illinois Route 267, Murrayville, was arrested at 11:50 p.m. Wednesday on a domestic battery charge after being accused of punching a woman in the face in the 1000 block of West Morton Avenue. Carl R. Stark, 22, of 104 Woodfield Blvd. was arrested at 10:04 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of criminal trespass to state-supported land after police said he was found at a location in the 100 block of West Independence Avenue from which he was prohibited. ACCIDENTS Isabella A. Thompson, 29, of Jacksonville was cited at 8:58 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident after the car she was driving and one being driven by Rebekah G. Lewis, 22, of Jacksonville collided at Westgate Avenue and Westfair Drive. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer I believe in affirmative action, but its not meant for Clarence. Thats what Eminem taught us in his iconic semiautobiographical movie 8 Mile in 2002, when a poor white boy from Detroit, just a few miles from where I grew up, schooled a rich Black boy from the suburbs in a rap showdown. But I know something about you, You went to Cranbrook thats a private school. Whats the matter, dawg? You embarrassed? This guys a gangster? His real names Clarence. Surrounded by Black city kids who roared in approval as he won the rap battle, Eminem created a seminal cultural moment in showing that this spectacular new art form was not the exclusive province of African-Americans. Economic class mattered more than skin color. By sheer chance, I have personal connections with the two states that gave rise to the most consequential legal challenges to affirmative action in higher education since colleges and universities began using race as a factor in admissions more than a half century ago. I was a new student at UC-Berkeley in 1977 when the Supreme Court took up the case of Allan Bakke, a white college graduate who claimed hed been denied admission to the UC-Riverside medical school because it reserved 16% of its slots for minority students. Bakke said he was more qualified than some of the applicants who were accepted. In the grand tradition of student activism at Cal what its loyalists call the states flagship public university there was a lot political foment on campus. There were protests of UC investment in South Africas apartheid regime, protests that eventually compelled the university to withdraw its funds. There were marches demanding a nuclear freeze and the closing of the UC lab in Livermore, 40 miles southeast of Berkeley, which had helped develop the first atom bombs. There were demonstrations against the Shah of Iran, whose U.S.-backed government would fall two years later in the revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini. Bakkes case got less attention than those headline-grabbing issues, yet there were angry protests on campus in June 1978 when the Supreme Court ordered Bakke admitted to the medical school and struck down strict racial quotas of the sort it had used. That ruling, which still allowed schools to consider race as one among multiple factors, didnt satisfy opponents of affirmative action. A quarter century later the high court reviewed the case of Barbara Grutter, a white student who claimed that the University of Michigan Law School had rejected her over less qualified minority applicants. By then, I was long gone from Berkeley, working as a political journalist in Washington. The Supreme Court again upheld affirmative action, but this time by the narrowest of margins, 5-4. And importantly, its justification shifted from that used in the Bakkedecision. Then, justices said affirmative action was necessary to redress historical wrongs suffered by Black Americans, starting with slavery. In 2003, the split court defended it on different and, in the views of some legal experts, weaker grounds: Justice Sandra Day OConnor, the first female justice following her nomination by Republican president Ronald Reagan, wrote for the bare majority that the university had a compelling interest in obtaining the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body. Shifting the basis of affirmative action from indisputable historical wrongs to a disputable (however laudable) policy of promoting diversity put the Supreme Court on a slippery slope that it now must navigate as it weighs two new challenges to the admissions practices at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. With the Supreme Court having become more conservative, due to Senate Republicans blocking of a Barack Obama nominee and their promotion of three Donald Trump nominees, justices may further weaken affirmative action in college admissions or outlaw it altogether. In the end, high school graduates access to the nations most prestigious universities depends on the quality of education they receive before college. Property taxes fund public schools. Study after study has shown that property values are still tied to skin color; theyve shown that Realtors list the same home in the same neighborhood at a lower price if its owned by Blacks than by whites. These cruel realities reveal that race and education are still inextricably linked. As long as that is true, color blind college admissions remains unfair and affirmative action remains necessary. Health official warns against abandoning epidemic prevention in China Xinhua) 09:10, April 01, 2022 A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid test at a COVID-19 testing site in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, March 24, 2022. (Photo by Wu Ran/Xinhua) BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese health official has warned of the consequences of abandoning epidemic prevention in the fight against COVID-19. If China gives up on epidemic prevention and relies entirely on treatment of symptoms, the medical system would run the risk of being overwhelmed, said Ma Xiaowei, director of the National Health Commission, in an article published Wednesday. China has implemented a dynamic zero-COVID strategy. The policy does not seek to pursue absolute zero infections, rather it calls for measures to stamp out infections upon detection and to maintain the red line of no sizeable resurgence of cases, said the official. Demographics have played an important role in the decision to adhere to the dynamic zero-COVID policy, the official noted. According to the latest statistics, China has 267 million people aged 60 or above and more than 250 million children. Despite the onslaught of the highly contagious and elusive Omicron variant, the dynamic zero-COVID policy remains the most economical and effective containment strategy for the country to cope with the coronavirus. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Beni, DRC (PANA) - A military Court has sentenced 13 activists arrested during a peaceful protest in Beni, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to 12 months in prison, Amnesty International said on Friday California Attorney General Rob Bonta View Photo Sonora, CA Last year, California law enforcement, while hampered by COVID pandemic restrictions, mounted an aggressive push to collect guns from prohibited people through a unique California program that seized nearly 1,500 weapons. At a Wednesday press conference, Attorney General Rob Bonta broke down that number, stating, 602 guns that were previously unknown to us. 39 ghost guns, 28 assault weapons and 5 machine guns. And we removed 329,826 rounds of ammunition off our streets. The California Department of Justice reported that agents investigated more than 6,600 people in 2021 through the Armed and Prohibited Persons System, known as APPS, and implemented in 2006. Using this state registry, which is the only one in the nation, to cross-match databases to find people who legally purchased weapons but are now banned from ownership allows state and local authorities to seize the weapons. Noting that the states efforts were hampered by the pandemic during the first half of last year, Bonta explained, While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic required agents to limit in-person contact during the first half of the year, the APPS team redoubled their efforts as soon as COVID restrictions allowed, returning monthly productivity to pre-pandemic levels in the second half of the year. To make up for lost time during the earlier part of the year, agents conducted four regional large-scale sweeps in the second half of last year, resulting in 55 arrests. In January, they cracked down on Bay Area counties, and last month they targeted people in the database in Los Angeles County, with Bonta praising, They get deadly illegal firearms out of our communities. The APPS system to date has 24,509 people listed since the beginning of this year and continues to add more. CDPH Covid Hospitalizations View Photo Booster Shots Tuolumne and Calaveras Public Health note that the CDC has issued updated Interim Clinical Considerations regarding booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Based on the FDA Emergency Use Authorizations, individuals may receive a second booster dose at least four months after their first booster dose if they are age 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, or 50 years and older who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised, or age 18-49 years old who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised and who received Janssen COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary series dose and booster dose. More information can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html. Calaveras Public Health will begin offering second boosters beginning April 1 through its mobile vaccination team. Appointments in Tuolumne can be made through myturn.ca.gov and are required in Calaveras. Schools On April 6, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will update the K-12 guidance to permit asymptomatic exposed students to continue in-person instruction regardless of vaccination status or exposure location. Exposed students remain strongly recommended to wear a well-fitting mask around others, test 3 to 5 days following exposure, and monitor closely for symptoms. The guidance in effect April 6, 2022 is here at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/K-12-Guidance-2021-22-School-Year.aspx. Tuolumne County Public Health reports nine new community cases and no new Sierra Conservation Center cases or hospitalizations this week. There are 16 active community cases and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reports two currently active inmate cases. Last week, including Saturday and Sunday there were a total of 15 new community cases, and one confirmed death. The newly reported community cases this week include four cases age 60 or older. The new Covid cases demographics: one man age 18 to 29, one man in his 30s, one woman and one man in their 40s, one man in his 50s, one woman and one man in their 60s, one man in his 70s and one woman in her 80s. The total current case rate, a 14-day average for Tuolumne County decreased to 2.5 from 3.8 per 100,000 population. A total of seven more are counted as released from isolation, in all 10,619 have been released from isolation. The 7-day test positivity rate is 1.7% up from 1.4% and 62% of the population eligible to get vaccinated has been vaccinated. Tuolumne County moved to the least severe low (green) level according to the CDC last week as detailed here. The CDPH Events Playbook is now available for use for those planning any live events and gatherings. View the document here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/Events-Playbook.pdf Positive actions to protect ourselves and those around us including anyone not fully vaccinated, children under 5 who cannot be vaccinated yet, and those with weakened immune systems from illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 are to get vaccinated (including a booster), wear a mask in public (Masking is not required but is still strongly recommended. State guidance on face coverings here, requires that all individuals regardless of vaccination status wear a mask on public transit, in healthcare settings, and in emergency shelters and cooling centers. Public health also recommends that individuals keep six feet of distance and avoid crowds when possible, wash hands and clean surfaces frequently, and stay home when sick. Calaveras Public Health reports nine new cases since last Friday. Last week there were 13 new cases. From now on the Covid-19 dashboard will be posted once weekly every Tuesday at 4 PM. Calaveras County Health Officer, Dr. Rene Ramirez says, COVID mRNA vaccines remain safe and highly effective in the prevention of severe infections and complications related to COVID-19. The CDC recommends that all eligible individuals stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. Calaveras residents 5 and older who have received or will receive a COVID-19 vaccination, including second boosters, from the period of July 1, 2021 until April 30, 2022 can receive a $45 gift card for each COVID-19 vaccination for up to two vaccinations. Additional dates, times, and locations for the COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive Program have been released for April 2022 details are here. Mariposa Public Health reports six new cases so far this week (Saturday through Thursday). There are two active cases and one resident hospitalized with Covid. COVID-19 Testing Beginning Monday, April 4th, new days of operation for the Mother Lode Fairgrounds Covid testing site will Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7 AM to 7 PM. Schedule an appointment at the LHI State Covid testing site at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds by going to www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. The Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools Office has rapid tests available for all public and private school students in Tuolumne County. If you were not able to pick up a testing kit at your childs school, you can pick one up at the County Schools Office between 8-5 next week, Monday Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM at 175 Fairview Lane. No appointment is needed and there is no cost. COVID-19 Vaccine The CDC recommends people receive a booster shot if they completed a Pfizer series at least five months ago, the Moderna series at least six months ago, or a J&J vaccine at least two months ago. Vaccine appointments can be made through myturn.ca.gov by calling 833-422-4255 or through local pharmacies, more details are here. California is moving to an endemic approach with the SMARTER Plan as detailed here. County Date New Active (Hospital) Total 2022 All Cases (All Deaths) Amador 3/24 to 3/31 3 7 (3) 1,748 5,933 (77) Calaveras 3/26 to 4/1 9 6 (0) 2,553 7,266 (122) Mariposa 3/26 to 4/1 6 2 (1) 1,166 3,013 (30) Mono 3/25 1 N/A 997 2,967 (9) Tuolumne 3/26 to 4/1 9 16 (0) 5,243 13,454 (181) Due to the use of at-home antigen tests (unreported), Stanislaus is not updating their dashboard. Reported cases at end of 2021 and 2020 are used to estimate cases in 2022. Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - A violent group attacked a helicopter flying opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday, damaging the aircraft which was forced to land immediately, the opposition leader said The Hale County Child Welfare Board will host its annual kickoff ceremony to commemorate the start of Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. The event is set for 11:30 a.m. at Millennium Park on the 700 block of Broadway. The reason we do this is we want to bring attention to child abuse in Texas and in our area, said Karen James, this years chairperson of the Hale County Child Welfare Board. In 2021, there were 68,517 confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect reported in Texas and 174 in Hale County. Those numbers are suspected to be underreported, noted Anna Rigler, a member of the Hale County Child Welfare Board. Rigler is a former president of the board and currently serves on the Regional Child Welfare Board and the Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards. The local Child Welfare Board is partnering with Child Protective Services, Rainbow Room and Saint Francis Ministries along with foster families to host Fridays event and bring awareness to those numbers with the goal of bringing those statistics down, said James. Abuse is defined as the mistreatment of a child that results in harm or injury, Rigler said. That can be emotional, physical or sexual in nature. Neglect is failure to provide for the childs basic physical, medical and emotional needs. If you see something, say something, Rigler said noting the boards motto. The hotline to report suspected child abuse or neglect is 1(800)252-5400. Fridays event will include a proclamation from the Plainview Mayors Office, a recognition and explanation of the importance of the cause. The board encourages everyone to wear blue in recognition of the month. The 2022 Go Blue Day will be celebrated on a larger scale across the state on April 8. Blue Sunday is also set for April 24. On that day, churches are encouraged to pray for those impacted by child abuse and neglect and to pray for all those who follow their calling to assist, whether it be in a CPS capacity, foster family capacity, a volunteer or another capacity. firina/Getty Images/iStockphoto The Catholic Charities Diocese of Lubbock will host a free Easter Egg Hunt events on Friday at Lloyd C. Woods Park in Plainview. The event is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 5th and Joliet. There will be food and prizes. This event will be a first come, first served basis. On the week of March 30-April 4, 1985, the Fairmount Hotel was relocated half a mile south from its position at the intersection of Bowie and Commerce Street to La Villita. The six-day pilgrimage took place exactly 37 years ago. At the time, many doubted if the 3.2 million pound building could bear the journey. Through the mutual efforts of burgeoning architecture firm Alamo Architects, building owners, a plucky engineer named Rusty Gormand, and just about every civic branch you can think of, they were able to pull it off. Today, the historic relocation still claims the Guinness World Record for largest hotel ever to be moved. At the time, it made headlines nationally, as well as in over 30 foreign counties, according to The Fairmount Hotel's website. While the fact may dazzle local kids buying out Scholastic Book Fairs, the world-record isn't the mark that leaves the lasting impression for one of Alamo Architects Founding Principals, Mike McGlone. Jose Barrera/San Antonio Express-News "I think that we're actually more proud of the fact that, you know, it was sort of an incredible challenge that we were able to help accomplish," McGlone tells MySA, who was in the early stages of his career at the time. While many arms of the the local government had questions on whether the 65 feet wide and 45 feet tall structure could be moved, McGlone and his three partners who were all 29 and 30 at the time were confident. "I guess it's one of those things about youth, you just believe you can do everything. So we didn't have any doubt, we didn't have any doubts it could be done," says McGlone. In 1984, before the move was committed to history, the hotel was the subject of hot debate. Many wanted to demolish it in order to make room for new retail spaces and lodging. To the delight of conservation buffs the world over, the old Fairmount Hotel was heroically purchased by C. Thomas Wright, Virginia Van Steenberg, and Belton K. Johnson. Soon after, the space was gutted for the $1 million move. Paid for by the San Antonio Conservation Society, according to McGlone. When the fateful week arrived, the hotel was all exterior, just brick-and-mortar supported by I-beams and wooden boards. According to early Express-News reporting, the massive structure was transported by a cable-and-pulley system that involved 36 rubber-tired hydraulic dollies, a crane for torque, as well as six gravel-packed dump trucks. When the structure arrived at its new home, it was built into another building and renovated into a 37-suite hotel. It officially reopened on September 5, 1986. Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News John G. Davenport/San Antonio Express-News Immediately after the dust settled, McGlone, his partners, and others found themselves in La Villita enjoying a celebratory beer. The fire chief and the police chief were there, as was the public works director. They had been alongside one another during long meetings in the months leading up to the move, lead by Mayor Henry Cisneros, an apparent visionary throughout the whole process. McGlone remembers one meeting where Cisneros singularly quelled the skepticism of multiple city department heads. "Mayor Cisneros came into the room and said, 'I know some of you may have doubts about this project, and whether it can be done or should be done, but this is what we do in San Antonio. We make things happen, and I'm tasking every one of you to get this done,'" McGlone says. Over beers at La Villita, the consensus amongst all of them at the end of the road was simple and almost obvious: it really is amazing what you can do when you work together. "I think that spirit still exists in our city, sort of uniquely," McGlone says. "I think San Antonio really treasures its past and goes to extraordinary lengths to preserve it and to do extraordinary things. I don't think this would have happened in another city, in the state, and probably hardly anywhere else in our country." Click here to read the full article. Police in Washington, D.C. have discovered five fetuses in the home of an anti-abortion activist, according to a statement the Metropolitan Police provided Rolling Stone on Thursday. On Wednesday, Mar. 30, around 12:30 pm, the statement said, police responded to a tip about potential bio-hazard material at a house in the citys Capitol Hill neighborhood. When officers arrived, they found five fetuses inside the residence. According to local news reports, the home was occupied by anti-abortion activist Lauren Handy. Earlier this month, Handy, who founded the anti-abortion group Mercy Missions, and eight other anti-abortion activists were indicted by a grand jury after they allegedly blocked access to a D.C. abortion clinic and livestreamed it on Facebook. Handy posed as someone named Hazel Jenkins, the indictment alleges, and made an appointment for reproductive health services for 9:00 am on October 22, 2020. After Handy had checked in for her appointment as Hazel, she and several of the other defendants allegedly stormed the entrance of the clinic, knocking over a nurse and causing her to sprain her ankle. Some of the defendants, allegedly at Handys direction, then blockaded the entrance to the clinic by tying chairs together and sitting in them, prosecutors claim. The defendants are charged with two counts: conspiracy against rights and obstructing access to the clinic. The conspiracy charge is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. A crew from CBS affiliate WUSA9 was outside the residence while police removed biohazard bags and coolers. The channel reported Handy did not speak on camera but told WUSA9 she had assumed the raid would happen sooner or later. She also told the station people would freak out when they heard what was in the coolers, although she declined to specify what that was. The D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner collected the fetuses and an investigation is ongoing. The Metropolitan Police did not respond to a request for further comment or updates. Handys public defender did not immediately answer requests for comment. Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) Mauritius has launched the National Policy Dialogue on Green Economy project, under the SWITCH Africa Green (SAG), aimed at facilitating an ecological transition in line with the islands vision 2030 John Moore/Getty Images U.S. Customs and Border Patrol found an unresponsive 32-year-old Guatemalan woman two miles northwest of the Tornillo port of entry on March 17, according to a March 30 CBP press release. The woman was pregnant, but her fetus died on March 18, the release said. The woman was pronounced brain dead on March 20 and was removed from life support by her family on March 25, according to the release. The woman was found after a Border Patrol agent operating video surveillance equipment saw six suspected undocumented migrants climbing the international border barrier in the El Paso sector, according to the release. Border Patrol agents arrived on scene and then called the Border Patrol Sector El Paso to request emergency medical services, the release said. Google Maps San Antonio-based fast-food chain Whataburger continues to grow its business, firing up several stores in Georgia. The beloved Texas company announced on Thursday, March 31 how it plans to open its first Atlanta area stores in the spring and fall. Whataburger currently operates one Georgia restaurant located in Thomasville, near the Florida state line, according to a news release from the business. Whataburger will open two more locations in Georgia in 2022, as well as six additional stores in 2023. William Luther /San Antonio Express-News The San Antonio Police Department released footage from the officer-involved shooting that occurred on the Westside of San Antonio on March 14. The incident led to tensions rising after SAPD clashed with a crowd that gathered and confronted them after the shooting off Culebra and I-10. In the footage released on Friday, April 1, the video shows SAPD officers approaching the wanted suspect, Kevin Johnson, in the 200 block of Carter Street. Johnson initially fled on his bicycle when officers first attempted to contact him, the footage shows. He then got off his bicycle and fled on foot as officers chased him. Alienating your most important natural gas provider (in Spains case: Algeria) is a bad idea even at the best of times. And right now, with the world facing its biggest energy crisis in at least half a century, these are not the best of times. Yet this is exactly what Pedro Sanchez government has done by calling an abrupt end to Spains decades-long position of neutrality over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which was a Spanish colony until 1975. Until ten days ago, Spain, in line with the United Nations, had called for the Saharawi people to determine their own future through a referendum. But all that changed when the King of Morocco Mohammed VI read out on live TV a letter from Sanchez describing Rabats plan for sovereignty over Western Sahara as offering the most serious, realistic and credible way of resolving the conflict. As I warned at the time, this subtle but significant policy change risks torpedoing Spains commercial relations with its biggest provider of natural gas, Algeria, a staunch defender of the Sahrawi peoples right to self-determination. It didnt take long for the blowback to begin. First, Algiers recalled its ambassador to Spain. Then it announced that it would refuse the return of African migrants intercepted at sea on their way to the Spanish coast. It has also cancelled some flights from Algeria to Spain while increasing the number of air connections with other European countries. At home, Sanchez has faced virtually unanimous opposition to his unilateral decision to back Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, including among his own coalition partners who were not even forewarned about let alone consulted on the decision. The mood was best summed up by Basque Nationalist Party spokesman Aitor Esteban at last weeks Foreign Affairs Committee: When you go to Rabat, remember that you do not have the backing of this Parliament. Another blow came earlier this week when Algiers sat down for talks with the government of the European country most likely to supplant Spain as Algerias number-one gas customer: Italy. On Monday an event was held at the Algerian Embassy in Rome whose attendees included Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Chakib Kaid, secretary general of the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Unsurprisingly, the main topic under discussion was energy. Before Russias invasion of Ukraine Italy procured roughly half of its natural gas from Russia. With that supply now in danger, Italy views Algeria as a key strategic partner in all respects, Di Maio said, adding that Rome is angling for a 360-degree strategic partnership to intensify political dialogue, further strengthen economic and energy cooperation, and to work together for the stability of the Mediterranean. As Arab News reports, Algeria is already Italys second-largest supplier of gas after Russia: Gas imports are piped from the Hassi RMel field, the largest natural gas field in Africa, through Tunisia to Sicily via the TransMed pipeline. Italian energy companies Eni, Enel and Edison have long-term contracts with Algeria, which last year shipped about 21 billion cubic meters of gas to Italy, about 20 percent of the countrys gas imports. Reversal of Roles Spain should not be surprised by what is beginning to happen, Yahia Zoubir, an analyst of Algerian origin closely connected to the Algerian establishment told the Spanish daily El Independiente. Algeria is going to look for a new partner in Europe, which will be Italy. They will focus on the oil pipeline that goes from Algeria to Italy. In the medium and long term, Italy will replace Spain as the main route of gas supply to Europe. Chakib Kaid said that Algeria will review all agreements with Spain, in all fields, though he ruled out immediate consequences in the sale of oil and gas. Kaid also confirmed that Madrid did not inform Algiers of its policy reversal toward Western Sahara; they only learnt of it through a press release from the Moroccan Royal Palace. Italy has a clear interest in reducing its energy dependence on Russia, which until recently provided almost half of the natural gas it consumes. Unlike Spain, Italy has not changed its posture vis a vis Western Sahara. In a statement provided to the Algerian newspaper El Moudjahid Italian President Sergio Mattarella reiterated Italys support for Algerias role (in resolving the Western Sahara dispute) and its commitment within the UN framework with Western Sahara. The Transmed, a 2,475km-long natural gas pipeline completed in 1983 to transport natural gas from Algeria to Italy via Tunisia and Sicily, has the capacity to deliver 30.2bcm/y (billion cubic metres per annum) of natural gas. That is roughly equivalent to the combined capacity of the two pipelines connecting Algeria with Spain, the larger of which, the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline (MGE) which passes through Morocco into Spain, has been closed since November 1, 2021. First Mover While the Italians were charming the Algerians in Rome, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was sitting down with his Moroccan counterpart Naser Bourita on the other side of Mediterranean. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. was the first major Western government to break with protocol and recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. To seal the deal, all Morocco had to do was recognize the state of Israel, becoming the second Arab country in North Africa after Egypt to do so. That was during the final months of the Trump Presidency. Since then France, Germany and now Spain have all followed suit, backing the Moroccan plan for Western Sahara, much to the frustration of the Sahrawi nationalist movement, the Polisario Front, and its backers in Algiers. We continue to view Moroccos Autonomy Plan as serious, credible, and realistic, and one potential approach to meet the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara, said Blinken. For his part Bourita called on other European nations to follow France, Germany and Spains example and recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara: Autonomy for the Sahara is the only solution supported by Washington, France and African countries, and recently Spain and Germany. One of the main reasons why Morocco is so determined to maintain control of Western Sahara is, ironically, energy, as a recent piece in The Conversation explains: Western Sahara is very sunny and surprisingly windy a natural renewable energy powerhouse. Morocco has exploited these resources by building three large wind farms (five more are planned) and two solar farms (another is planned). But these developments have made Morocco partly dependent on Western Sahara for its energy supply. Morocco already gets 18% of its installed wind capacity and 15% of its solar from the occupied territory, and by 2030 that could increase to almost half of its wind and up to a third of its solar. Thats according to a new report Greenwashing the Occupation by Western Sahara Resource Watch, a Brussels-based organisation I am affiliated with. In its nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the Paris climate agreement, Morocco reports on developments in occupied Western Sahara which it calls its provinces sud (southern provinces) as if they were in Morocco. This energy dependence entrenches the occupation and undermines the UN peace process. According to Saharawi researchers, several Saharawi families have been forcibly evicted from their homes to make way for some of these solar farms. My colleagues have also documented forced eviction associated with the development of the wider energy system in Western Sahara. Main Motives So, what does the Spanish government hope to gain from sabotaging its own diplomatic (and potentially commercial) ties with its biggest natural gas supplier? One thing it hopes to achieve is to stabilize its historically rocky relations with Rabat, and thereby put an end to Moroccos use of the migrant crisis as leverage in its relations with both Spain and the EU. As with Turkey, the EU has provided Morocco with financial assistance in exchange for preventing refugees from travelling into Europe, primarily through the two Spanish enclaves in Northern Morocco, Ceuta and Melilla. But as in Turkey, the policy has backfired. As Politico pointed out last year, whenever Spain does something Morocco doesnt like, Rabat can play hardball by opening up its borders, however briefly. That is exactly what happened in May 2021. Morocco withdrew its border guards from a beachhead, allowing more people to cross into Ceuta on one day than arrived in both Ceuta and Melilla in all of 2020 or 2019, after it discovered that Madrid had allowed Brahim Ghali, the 73-year-old leader of the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi rebel group that disputes control of Western Sahara with Morocco, to enter Spain to receive medical treatment for COVID-19. There are also other benefits for Madrid to improved relations with its direct neighbor to the south, notes Politico: Spain relies heavily on the cooperation of its southern neighbor to monitor and police jihadism. In addition, the new understanding is expected to keep at bay sovereignty claims Morocco has made on Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares made a carefully worded announcement that the new agreement guarantees the integrity and sovereignty of Spain. A New LNG Hub But energy is also a key driver behind the recent developments. In Europes new energy paradigm that is hastily being constructed Spain will become Europes hub of liquified natural gas (LNG), much of which will of course be coming from the U.S. At the same time, much of the gas flowing from Algeria will be piped into Italy. As the Associated Press reported this week, Spain and Portugal, both already leaders in renewable energy thanks to solar, wind and hydraulic power, are now poised to reap the benefits of long-term investments in liquefied natural gas, or LNG. At least thats the plan: With six LNG plants in Spain including Europes largest, in Barcelona and one in Portugal, the Iberian neighbors account for one-third of Europes LNG processing capacity. The port-based terminals turn boatloads of supercooled LNG back into gas that then flows into homes and businesses. Clearly, this infrastructure gives us more flexibility and strengthens our gas distribution system in comparison to those of other European countries that depend on pipelines, said Claudio Rodriguez, spokesman for Enagas, the company that runs Spains natural gas network. Spain and Portugal are set to receive more gas imports, along with the rest of Europe, after the United States announced last week that it would help its allies reduce their dependence on Russian gas. The U.S. said it will boost LNG exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic meters this year, with even larger shipments coming in the future. The U.S. already surpassed Algeria as Spains leading source of natural gas at the start of the year. There are, of course, a number of problems with this plan. First, there is no way that the US, even together with gas-rich countries in the Middle East, will be able to replace EU imports of Russian natural gas, which totaled 155 billion cubic meters last year. There are even doubts as to whether the U.S. will be able to meet its commitment of boosting its LNG exports by 15 billion cubic meters this year. Second, almost all of the new gas entering Spain will be in the form of LNG, which is much more expensive to ship than gas that flows through a pipeline (as most of the Algerian gas arriving in Spain does). With Spains consumer price index (CPI) just hitting 9.8%, its highest level in 37 years, the price pressures are already almost unbearable. To help ease the pressure, at least during the short term, the EU has temporarily released Spain and Portugal from the common market rules, giving room for electricity prices to fall, however briefly, in the coming weeks. Third, when the LNG arrives in Spain, there is no easy way to ship it on to other parts of Europe. Spain and France share two small gas pipelines that can transport the equivalent of seven boatloads of LNG each month, but that is nothing compared to what is needed. A large pipeline connecting the two countries the so-called Medcat was under construction but work on the project stopped in 2019 in the Catalonian town of Hostalric, roughly 100 kilometers short of the French border. Until work on the pipeline is restarted and finally finished, which will take some time, most of the LNG arriving in Spain will have to be shipped onto other destinations using, well, ships, which brings us full circle back to one of the biggest obstacles preventing Europe from becoming an LNG wonderland: the acute shortage of LNG terminals and processing facilities at major ports. While Alegria has ruled out shutting off the one remaining pipeline serving the Spanish market, the so-called Medgaz, it is talking about raising natural gas prices. In a desperate, cynical ploy to make amends that has backfired spectacularly, Madrid deported the asylum seeker Mohamed Azzouz Benhalima, a former corporal in the Algerian army and member of the Rachad Islamist movement. Despite receiving supported by Amnesty International, Azzouz Benhalima is back in Algeria where he is almost certainly undergoing torture. Seemingly unimpressed with the gesture, Algeria has, if anything, hardened its stance toward Spain while criticism of the Sanchez government intensifies. Yves here. Let us not forget, independent of the effort to empire-burnish in UK schools, that empire has many prominent boosters. I have to confess to having read Niall Ferguson before he went completely off the deep end in his imperial fandom. Published right before he became famous, Fergusons book 2001 The Cash Nexus did a fine job of documenting how the UKs tax collection system (government employees rather than often corrupt tax farmers, as in France), enabled the UK to be perceived in the financial markets of its time as reliably able to fund its spending. That allowed them to punch above their GDP weight in terms of ability to borrow and thus spend as much or more than France on its military. But even then, Ferguson was hectoring the US for being able to have a proper empire but lacking the guts to do so. As I wrote in 2003 in a review of a later Ferguson book: The current administration has plenty of nerve, but.its narrow conception of how to advance American interests is unlikely to serve either the United States or the world well in the long run. That is a long-winded way of saying that openDemocracy is correct to focus on the importance of taxes, and even more so of colonies. By Gurminder K. Bhambra, Professor of Postcolonial and Decolonial Studies at the University of Sussex and President of the British Sociological Association. Originally published at openDemocracy Recent weeks have seen a variety of UK government ministers fromOliver Dowden to Kemi Badenoch to, most recently, education secretary Nadhim Zahawi both extol the benefits of British Empire and urge the teaching of those benefits. This follows on from the governments response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, which set out the need for a new model curriculum for history which would advise schools on how best to teach these issues. This is all part of the governments Inclusive Britain strategy which calls on us to acknowledge the rich and complex history of global Britain. In the spirit of this call, I offer one account of the complex, entangled histories of colonial taxation and national welfare that continue to shape modern Britain. Few people know that colonial subjects from the Indian subcontinent paid taxation, including income tax, to the British government in Westminster. Or that that taxation was used to alleviate the conditions of poorer people within Britain at a time when the working class and middle class here were exempt from paying income tax. Taxation and the ways in which it is returned to citizens through welfare is one of the main ways in which the imagined community of the nation comes into being. That is, the relationship between taxes and welfare is part of the process of constructing institutions and the idea of the nation. If we were to recognise that this imagined community was built not only through national taxes, but also colonial ones, then how might that change our understanding of what it is to be British today? My grandfather, Mohan Singh, was born in 1913 in a small village in the Punjab, in what was then British India. He was four years old when his father, Gurdit Singh, died and 17 when his uncle, Harnam Singh, who had been supporting him, also passed away. My grandfather had planned on attending the Government College in Lahore, but needing to support his mother and younger sister he instead spent six months training as a boilermaker. He then got married to Pritam Kaur and travelled to Calcutta to work in a variety of factories, engineering works and rolling mills. In 1942, he travelled to the British colony of Kenya bringing his family over later and worked for 18 years at the East African Railways and Harbour Company. He spent the last two decades of his life in the UK, working at Chalvey Engineering in Slough as a sheet metal worker before retiring at the age of 65 in Southall, west London. Mohan Singh criss-crossed three continents during his lifetime, but he never left the jurisdiction of the British Empire. In his application for registration as a citizen of the UK and Colonies in the aftermath of the British Nationality Act of 1948 he wrote: I was born in British India. He further noted that he lived and worked in India and Kenya, two countries that were colonies of Britain. It was these connections that confirmed his citizenship and gave him the right to travel to and live in Britain. He duly exercised those rights but, on arrival, he had them called into question by the local population, who were either unaware of them or indifferent. Calls to go home have been the refrain of right-wing opponents of immigration from at least the 1970s as well as having been plastered on the sides of vans as part of the UK governments hostile environmentpolicies of recent years. They are also implicit in an influential body of scholarly work oriented to questions of belonging and entitlement that argue for priority in public policy to be given to the white working class. This is on the basis of them being insiders who have contributed through their taxes to the wealth that is disbursed through welfare. Former colonial subjects, like my grandfather, are regarded as immigrant outsiders even when they come to the metropole carrying passports of British citizenship. They are not seen to have contributed to the wealth of Britain by paying taxes and they are regarded as unfairly gaining access to the national patrimony. As Geoff Dench, Kate Gavron and Michael Youngwrite in The new East End: As newcomers, their families cannot have put much into the system, so they should not be expecting yet to take so much out. Britain established direct rule over India after suppressing the 1857 Indian Mutiny (also known as the First War of Independence). In 1860, it implemented an income tax upon colonial subjects, in part to pay for the costs associated with those revolts. Initially, a 2% rate was imposed on those earning between 200 rupees and 500 rupees a year and a 4% rate on those earning above 500 rupees annually. When my grandfather started work in the 1930s, the average wage for a skilled worker in British India was about 40 rupees a month. He was very unlikely to have paid income tax, however, as he would not have earned enough to meet the threshold, which by then was 2,000 rupees a year. Of the amount that was collected, around three-quarters went to the imperial treasury, with only one rupee in a hundred for local purposes. Local purposes included the building of canals and roads, but not the alleviation of poverty, not even in times of catastrophic famine. The arrival of the British in India first via the English East India Company and then through direct rule had brought endemic famine across the subcontinent. The 50 years after the implementation of the income tax saw one of the most intense such periods of famine, in which it is estimated over 14 million people died of starvation. This was in the context of grain being exported by rail from the famine regions (including to Britain) and colonial taxes continuing to be collected even in the worst-affected areas. In all cases, the demands of sound finance trumped those of public health and the primary thing to be avoided was any idea that the poor in India should be maintained at public expense. Ensuring sufficient funds for the ensuing military campaign in Afghanistan from the taxes paid by colonial subjects for local purposes was of more importance than using those taxes to alleviate severe hunger and avert the deaths of millions. Here, we see quite clearly that the idea of the imagined community created through taxation and its redistribution did not include colonial subjects. The taxes that Indians paid to the imperial treasury and to local provinces did not give them any entitlement to the redistribution of that income. Worse, any relief provided during famines was often dependent on undertaking hard labour in camps at a distance from a claimants locality. The most extreme instance was where the rations provided in return for heavy labour were scarcely above the level required for basic subsistence. The Temple wage named after the lieutenant-governor, Richard Temple, who brought it in produced lethal results and, as Mike Davis notes in Late Victorian Holocausts, turned the work camps into extermination camps. The death and destruction brought about by the Empire were known at the time. In 1925, Harry Pollitt, the leader of the Boilermakers Union in the UK, stated that the British Empire was drenched in blood. This was in the context of debates at the Trades Union Congress in Scarborough, where a resolution was eventually adopted by three million votes to 79,000 against imperialism and in support of the right of self-determination of those who were colonised. Such sentiments, however, came up against more hard-nosed understandings concerning the utility of the Empire to those in Britain. As Labour foreign secretary Ernest Bevin proclaimed in Parliament in 1946, I am not prepared to sacrifice the British Empire, because I know that if the British Empire fell it would mean that the standard of life of our constituents would fall considerably. Here, Bevin acknowledged that the life of all within Britain was enhanced as a consequence of Empire. However, Empire was overwhelmingly disastrous for the majority of people subject to it. Their standard of life fell considerably as a consequence of colonialism and the famines it produced and, in many, many cases, they lost their lives to it. One mode of survival was to move. This is why my grandfather moved from a village in the Punjab to train as a boilermaker in Lahore, before working in Calcutta, Nairobi and London. This is likely why his grandfather before him moved from famine-struck Orissa to Rajasthan to Punjab. These movements tend not to be seen to be part of the histories of Britain, global or otherwise, or of any consequence to understanding Britain or Britishness in the present. The forgetting of the Empire involves also the forgetting of the political community colonial and postcolonial that was constructed through taxation. Few in Britain today understand the extent to which national projects from social welfare to cultural institutions such as country houses, museums, and galleries have been enabled through the taxes paid by former colonial subjects. There is an urgent need for us to recognise our shared histories and account for them. One aspect of the culture wars is the call to take the views of taxpayers into account when discussing contested histories. Samir Shah, the chair of Londons Museum of the Home, for example, argued that as heritage bodies are funded by taxpayers money, then the views of taxpayers those he considers the silent majority ought to be taken more explicitly into account. Given that both colonial subjects and their descendants paid taxes to the government in Westminster, then they/we also have a legitimate stake, in the governments own terms, in how our shared history is represented. There is a benefit to the teaching of British Empire, but the reality is different from what these ministers suppose. 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. P.P.S. One of our mods is on holiday till the end of the month, so comment liberation may take longer than usual. We are very sorry! Please be patient. * * * New Research Decodes the Sea Cows Hidden Language Scientific American Global dealmaking falls to lowest level since start of pandemic FT Climate #COVID19 China? How Japan survived covid-19 British Medical Journal Japan Wont Exit Joint Oil Project With Russia, PM Kishida Says Bloomberg India But: Terrible precedent. Corbevax has been approved in India for children by the government sidestepping expert advisory committees, without any public data whatsoever and without even pediatric trials being completed. Surely, poorer countries deserve no less than we do for approvals. https://t.co/UXIx7aHpt0 zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) March 30, 2022 New Not-So-Cold War UK/EU Supply Chain Our Famously Free Press The news flow: This is a masterpiece pic.twitter.com/hXSiwKcqjV Kevin Dalton (@KevinForBOS) March 31, 2022 Wartime Propaganda Classics: It's worth reminding youngsters that when SEAL Team 6 finally caught up with him he was living in the Pakistan equivalent of a McMansion, next door to the Pakistan Military Academy in suburban Abbotabad. https://t.co/sD3oj38yIM Charlie Stross (@cstross) March 31, 2022 Zeitgeist Watch As Part of His NFT Debut, Jeff Koons Will Launch Sculptures Into Space and Place Them Permanently on the Moon Artnet. Cant we launch Koons instead? Black Injustice Tipping Point White Anxiety, Redefined African-American Policy Forum. A bit more intellectually disciplined than Robin DiAngelo. Americas Retirement Crisis Is a Financial Crisis Too Bloomberg. Maybe we could turn to Andy Cuomo for a final solution? Class Warfare Ban Secret Deals Boondoggle. NDAs for economic development deals. What could go wrong? Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. 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. Follow William Williams 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 Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN Refugee Agency, alongside the Government of Uganda and humanitarian partners, is assisting some 10,000 refugees in the countrys southwest Kisoro district after they fled violent clashes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which began on 28 March 2022 (Natural News) Ukraines Director of Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants (ISPNPP) Anatolii Nosovskyi claimed that looters had made off with radioactive ingredients that could be used in creating dirty bombs. According to Nosovskyi, radioactive isotopes at a Chernobyl monitoring lab have gone missing as Russian troops occupied the nuclear power plant and disaster zone. When mixed with explosives, radioactive isotopes could make a dirty bomb. (Related: DIRTY TACTICS: Ukraine claims without evidence that materials for DIRTY BOMB were stolen from lab near Chernobyl.) A dirty bomb, or radiological dispersal device, is any kind of explosive device that has been mixed with radioactive material, such as radioactive powder or pellets. When it explodes, it does not create a nuclear blast. But it does spread the radioactive material into the surrounding area, which can cause immediate serious illness to people who live within the proximity of the initial blast. Nosovskyi branded the attack on Chernobyl along with other nuclear installations in Ukraine as a state-sponsored nuclear terrorism. After the ISPNPP lost contact with Chernobyl and the lab, Nosovskyi said the fate of these sources is unknown to us, causing worries that the dirty bomb ingredients could be missing. But it is well known now that Ukraine has or at least used to have radioactive ingredients that could be used in creating dirty bombs. Russian tanks, armored vehicles going through the Red Forest Workers at Chernobyl said Russian soldiers who captured the area drove their armored vehicles without radiation protection through a highly toxic zone called the Red Forest, kicking up clouds of radioactive dust. Soldiers in the convoy did not use any anti-radiation gear, two Chernobyl workers told Reuters. This was suicidal for the soldiers because the radioactive dust they inhaled will likely cause internal radiation in their bodies according to one Chernobyl worker. Both workers said they had seen Russian tanks and other armored vehicles going through the Red Forest, which happens to be the most contaminated part around Chernobyl. Concerns have also been raised about the wildfires that broke out on March 11, which were kindled in the neighboring radioactive forests that shelter radioisotopes spewed in the Chernobyl accident and taken up by plants and fungi. Fires still burning at Chernobyl Exclusion Zone According to Nosovskyi, Russian troops have stopped firefighters from coming to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The fires are still burning and could become more extreme as the weather warms or could lead to significant deterioration of the radiation situation in Ukraine and throughout Europe. There is no information on the real situation in the exclusion zone, warned Viktor Dolin, research director of the Institute for Environmental Geochemistry in Kyiv. Meanwhile, Lyudmila Denisova, commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for human rights, said there are more than 10,000 hectares of forests are burning in the exclusion zone in the CAEC [Chernobyl] area due to combat action aggravated by dry and windy weather. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk blamed Russia for its irresponsible acts over the occupied power station that could send radiation in a large part of Europe. She called on the United Nations Security Council to take immediate measures on the situation. Vereshchuk stated in a Facebook post that Russian President Vladimir Putins military pose a very serious threat not only to Ukraine, but also to hundreds of millions of Europeans while also accusing Russia of using old and unconditional ammunition and creating a danger of damaging the containment vessel constructed around the stations wrecked fourth reactor. Follow Radiation.news for more news related to Chernobyl. Watch the video below about Chernobyl nuclear plant labs that appear abandoned. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Russian forces capture Chernobyl power plant; media expresses concern over possibility of radioactive leak from site. Conflict at Chernobyl could spread radioactive dust across Europe, warn Ukrainian authorities. Nuclear watchdog says it lost contact with Russian-controlled Chernobyl. Sources include: DailyStar.co.uk DailyMail.co.uk Brighteon.com (Natural News) If any reasonable, thinking American doubted the existence of a deep state before Donald Trump became president, they were treated to a four-year object lesson in just how real it is. Trump, the ultimate outsider candidate who had no political skeletons, was too popular to be canceled, and could not be bought off because he was already a billionaire, rankled and frightened the powerbroker elite in Washington because he really did believe in his America First agenda that they will never accept because they profit off of selling America out. As such, the deep state went after Trump with a vengeance that was unprecedented against a president, even prior Republicans like Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, the latter of whom is fully ensconced in the elitist D.C. power structure. The intelligence community came together like never before to spread lies about Trump, drop false narratives and plant fake stories that were eagerly parroted by the legacy left-wing media that serves as little more than the propaganda arm of the Democratic Party. To emphasize just how hard the deep state went after Trump, he became the first president to be impeached twice, and on the flimsiest of reasons, though both times the Senate refused to convict him. The final act of the politically weaponized deep state, however, came just a few weeks prior to the 2020 election in November. In mid-October, the New York Post, citing emails, photos and other materials found on a laptop Hunter Biden had abandoned at a computer repair shop in Delaware in 2019, published a series of bombshell reports detailing what a scumbag he is and how he used his fathers connections to land lucrative business deals and positions with foreign governments and companies, with a kickback percentage going to Daddy Joe. While Big Tech and Big Media colluded to censor and discredit the reports, 51 officials within the deep state intelligence community gave them cover by signing a letter claiming that, while they did not know for sure, it appeared that the details contained in The Posts reporting had all the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign. But in fact, The Posts reporting was based on legitimate factual information gleaned from Bidens laptop and the intelligence community experts knew that. But their objective was to get rid of Trump and derail his MAGA agenda, a goal shared with an eager-to-be-duped media that wanted Trump gone because they just didnt like his conservative America-first agenda. It was only after the election and Joe Biden had been safely installed in the White House that some media outlets began to confirm The Posts original reporting. Politico did last year; The New York Times did so just last week in a report noting that Hunter Biden remains under investigation by the Justice Department for potential violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) and tax fraud. By the way, The Post followed up with those 51 now-former intelligence community officials, and in an editorial published earlier this week, the paper noted that it had tried to contact all of them to see if they had any remorse for claiming falsely that Bidens laptop may have been Russian disinfo. None did. Here is the list, per The Post: Mike Hayden, former CIA director, now analyst for CNN: Didnt respond. Jim Clapper, former director of national intelligence, now CNN pundit: Yes, I stand by the statement made AT THE TIME, and would call attention to its 5th paragraph. I think sounding such a cautionary note AT THE TIME was appropriate. Leon Panetta, former CIA director and defense secretary, now runs a public policy institute at California State University: Declined comment. John Brennan, former CIA director, now analyst for NBC and MSNBC: Didnt respond. Thomas Fingar, former National Intelligence Council chair, now teaches at Stanford University: Didnt respond. Rick Ledgett, former National Security Agency deputy director, now a director at M&T Bank: Didnt respond. John McLaughlin, former CIA acting director, now teaches at Johns Hopkins University: Didnt respond. Michael Morell, former CIA acting director, now at George Mason University: Didnt respond. Mike Vickers, former defense undersecretary for intelligence, now on board of BAE Systems: Didnt respond. Doug Wise, former Defense Intelligence Agency deputy director, teaches at University of New Mexico: Didnt respond. Nick Rasmussen, former National Counterterrorism Center director, now executive director, Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism: Didnt respond. Russ Travers, former National Counterterrorism Center acting director: The letter explicitly stated that we didnt know if the emails were genuine, but that we were concerned about Russian disinformation efforts. I spent 25 years as a Soviet/Russian analyst. Given the context of what the Russians were doing at the time (and continue to do Ukraine being just the latest example), I considered the cautionary warning to be prudent. Andy Liepman, former National Counterterrorism Center deputy director: As far as I know I do [stand by the statement] but Im kind of busy right now. John Moseman, former CIA chief of staff: Didnt respond. Larry Pfeiffer, former CIA chief of staff, now senior advisor to The Chertoff Group: Didnt respond. Jeremy Bash, former CIA chief of staff, now analyst for NBC and MSNBC: Didnt respond. Rodney Snyder, former CIA chief of staff: Didnt respond. Glenn Gerstell, former National Security Agency general counsel: Didnt respond. David Priess, former CIA analyst and manager: Thank you for reaching out. I have no further comment at this time. Pam Purcilly, former CIA deputy director of analysis: Didnt respond. Marc Polymeropoulos, former CIA senior operations officer: Didnt respond. Chris Savos, former CIA senior operations officer: Didnt respond. John Tullius, former CIA senior intelligence officer: Didnt respond. David A. Vanell, former CIA senior operations officer: Didnt respond. Kristin Wood, former CIA senior intelligence officer, now non-resident fellow, Harvard: Didnt respond. David Buckley, former CIA inspector general: Didnt respond. Nada Bakos, former CIA analyst and targeting officer, now senior fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute: Didnt respond. Patty Brandmaier, former CIA senior intelligence officer: Didnt respond. James B. Bruce, former CIA senior intelligence office: Didnt respond. David Cariens, former CIA intelligence analyst: Didnt respond. Janice Cariens, former CIA operational support officer: Didnt respond. Paul Kolbe, former CIA senior operations officer: Didnt respond. Peter Corsell, former CIA analyst: Didnt respond. Brett Davis, former CIA senior intelligence officer: Didnt respond. Roger Zane George, former national intelligence officer: Didnt respond. Steven L. Hall, former CIA senior intelligence officer: Didnt respond. Kent Harrington, former national intelligence officer: Didnt respond. Don Hepburn, former national security executive, now president of Boanerges Solutions LLC: My position has not changed any. I believe the Russians made a huge effort to alter the course of the election . . . The Russians are masters of blending truth and fiction and making something feel incredibly real when its not. Nothing I have seen really changes my opinion. I cant tell you what part is real and what part is fake, but the thesis still stands for me, that it was a media influence hit job. Timothy D. Kilbourn, former dean of CIAs Kent School of Intelligence Analysis: Didnt respond. Ron Marks, former CIA officer: Didnt respond. Jonna Hiestand Mendez, former CIA technical operations officer, now on board of the International Spy Museum: I dont have any comment. I would need a little more information. Emile Nakhleh, former director of CIAs Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program, now at University of New Mexico: I have not seen any information since then that would alter the decision behind signing the letter. Thats all I can go into. The whole issue was highly politicized and I dont want to deal with that. I still stand by that letter. Gerald A. OShea, former CIA senior operations officer: Didnt respond. Nick Shapiro, former CIA deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to the director: Didnt respond. John Sipher, former CIA senior operations officer: Declined to comment. Stephen Slick, former National Security Council senior director for intelligence programs: Didnt respond. Cynthia Strand, former CIA deputy assistant director for global issues: Didnt respond. Greg Tarbell, former CIA deputy executive director: Didnt respond. David Terry, former National Intelligence Collection Board chairman: Couldnt be reached. Greg Treverton, former National Intelligence Council chair, now senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies: Ill pass. I havent followed the case recently. Winston Wiley, former CIA director of analysis: Couldnt be reached. Sources include: NYPost.com USAFeatures.news (Natural News) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is refusing to comply with requests for data surrounding adverse side effects caused by Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, so Judicial Watch is suing. According to reports, the legal watchdog group has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) suit against the HHS for ignoring an August of 2021 request for: All emails sent to and from members of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee regarding adverse events, deaths and/or injuries caused by investigatory vaccines for the prevention or treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and/or COVID-19 currently produced by Pfizer / BioNTech, Moderna and/or Johnson & Johnson. HHS of course failed to procure any of this information, so Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, did what he usually does: take action. The governments unlawful stonewall on this issue, which will now take a federal FOIA lawsuit to resolve, suggests that there is something to hide, Fitton says. Americans have a right to know about any and all safety issues tied to the COVID vaccines. America: Your government is working against you, not for you In an article he wrote for The Federalist, Dr. David Gortler, a pharmacologist, pharmacist, and an FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and health policy fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, questioned why the government is insisting upon keeping Americans in the dark about Fauci Flu shots. The FDA, Centers for Disease Control, Pfizer, and Moderna knew about myocarditis and pericarditis risks from the mRNA vaccines since day one, yet made no formal warnings to Americans in the form of recommending labeling changes or any other warnings, such as letters to warn physicians, pharmacists, or the American public, Gortler writes. Elementary drug safety education tells us that when any risk appears in small, preliminary, highly controlled, manufacturer-sponsored initial studies with specially selected subjects by the sponsor, there is significant potential that it would translate to many people having that risk when that same drug is administered to, say, much of the planet. It is critical, Gortler added, that those conducting these trials, as well as the government, pay close attention to any adverse events that manifest during the early stages of experimental drug testing, including with the all-new mRNA (messenger RNA) technology that was used in the injections from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Under the normal run of things, the responsibility of notifying consumers and prescribers of updates in safety and efficacy would fall upon manufacturers, Gortler maintains. But since COVID-19 vaccinations were mandated by the White House for all workers until the Supreme Court took action (they are still mandated for health care professionals), and the fact that Pfizer and Moderna still have a federally granted liability shield, the duty of safety monitoring must fall under the auspices of the FDA. Has the FDA done its duty, though? Hardly. As far as we can tell, the FDA has done nothing but hide the truth while fast-tracking approval for the drugs at warp speed, putting hundreds of millions of American lives at risk. Much of that risk has already become reality for the millions of Americans who now suffer from deadly, spike protein-induced blood clots, cardiovascular problems, neurological damage, and other jab-caused illnesses. Today, unquestionably serious cardiovascular, thrombotic, and neurologic adverse events related to the vaccine have occurred around the world, Gortler says. The FDAs own vaccine adverse event tracking system (the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS) shows substantial and serious risks from the vaccine, even though the FDA only collects an estimated 10 percent of all adverse events. Despite all this, federal agencies like the HHS refuse to tell the truth to the American public. Why do you think that is? More related news about Fauci Flu shots can be found at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources include: HarbingersDaily.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) In a rather interesting twist to the closely watched nomination of Judge Ketanji Jackson Brown to the U.S. Supreme Court, it turns out that President Joe Bidens pick for the high court happened to be the judge on a case involving a man who shot up the Washington D.C. pizzeria implicated by Pizzagate conspiracy theories. (Article by Isa Cox republished from WesternJournal.com) Pizzagate arose in 2016, in the days leading up to the historic political standoff between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. It posited, based on allegedly covert language found among thousands of leaked emails, that Clinton and her Deep State cronies were involved in high-level child sex trafficking which involved the use of the restaurant Comet Ping Pong in Washington. Jackson presided over the trial for Edgar Maddison Welch, who stormed the eatery with an AR-15 and a handgun. Considering Jacksons lengthy professional history of advocating for lenient sentencing for child pornography offenders, this is certainly the sort of stuff that fuels Pizzagate-type conspiracy theories. Im just saying. Jackson who will likely be confirmed thanks to swing-voting Senate Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who said on Friday he would issue a yea for the Biden nominee was selected out of a pool of black female judges, as this was the presidents primary criteria for his pick. So her confirmation hearing has largely been covered in a predictable manner. The mainstream media have been dotted with indignant op-eds arguing that the GOPs concerns over Jacksons history are unfounded. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley first drew attention to her history ahead of the hearing, highlighting, among other things, her pattern of handing down sentences to child pornography convicts well below the recommended minimum sentence. Its worthy of note that, while sentencing the Pizzagate shooter, she did say that Welch may have thought when he stormed Comet Ping Pong that he was being helpful. However, she said she could not overstate her concern that other people will see what you have done and be inspired by it. No matter how well-intentioned, people are not allowed to take matters into their own hands, she said, as ABC News reported at the time. Welsh was given 48 months, although his attorney gave a heartfelt plea for a far lower sentence, arguing that 18 months would be more than sufficient. Compare this, just for the sake of it, to some of Jacksons stunningly short sentences for child pornography offenders, which Hawley uncovered: 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 In United States v. Chazin, the offender had 48 files of child porn, which he had accessed over a period of years. The Guidelines recommended 78-97 months. Judge Jackson gave him 28. 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 Why were men who possessed child pornography worthy of drastically reduced sentences, but not the man who, as Jackson seems to believe, thought he was attacking a hub of child sex traffickers? Im certainly not saying that Welsh was motivated by proper morals or accurate information when he stormed Comet Ping Pong, by any means. I am saying youd think it would be more worthy of note that she had these ties to wild conspiracy theories about pedophiles in high places and she also ideologically fights for leniency for child pornographers. You know? I mean, the White House even linked Hawleys attacks on the QAnon conspiracy theory, which came after Pizzagate and bears many similarities. And you know, its always seemed odd to me that the Democratic Party scoffs at Pizzagate/QAnon-type conspiracy theories about pedophilia in high places, only to turn around and emphatically defend teaching wildly progressive values on sexuality to small schoolchildren, regardless of how their taxpaying parents feel about the matter. I mean, President Joe Biden himself once voluntarily made a bizarre reference to the wilder theories that powerful politicians feed on the blood of the children, all on his own, without being asked about it. The majority of Americans who are upset about the degree to which our society seems to be headed down the dangerous path of normalizing pedophilia and the sexualization of children dont need to spend an hour going down a YouTube rabbit hole to see theres something really concerning going on here. We just need to follow the mainstream news. I mean you dont need to be a Q fanatic to be a bit concerned about the trajectory of the American lefts sexual ethics, here. Yet, thanks to the hysterical tribalistic rhetoric of our time, many left-leaning Americans are being given the impression that any and all concerns over a deliberate attempt to normalize pedophilia are false nonsense, to which no decent, upstanding citizen pays the slightest bit of attention. If the establishment media and the Democrats had been interested in it, a major scandal could have arisen surrounding Jacksons history of going soft on child pornographers and also being linked to the Pizzagate shooter case the latter, if only because its a rather politicized case. And lets not kid ourselves: Jacksons nomination to the court is only the latest in a long series of incredibly politicized nominations. So why, at a time when the increase of child pornography is one of the most indescribably evil ills our country is facing, was it not a bigger deal that Jackson had this in her past? All this, mind you, while an ideology that regards sexuality as an inborn trait that cannot be changed and must not be subject to moralizing as is the sex-positive philosophy behind both Comprehensive Sexuality Education and the sorts of entities that work to destigmatize pedophilia enjoys the emphatic support of tribalistic modern culture warriors who regard anything other than the doctrine of woke political correctness as bigoted, ignorant and woefully ill-informed. Are Americans brushing off one of the most pressing social issues of our time because they think the only people who are upset by it are crazy, right-wing nutjobs? Has the fight to normalize sexuality among children become the new culture war front? Thats a truly terrifying thought. For all you believers out there, this sounds like something about which we need to go on our knees and wage spiritual war against in prayer for our children and their future. Read more at: WesternJournal.com (Natural News) A fourth-year medical student enrolled at Wake Forest University (WFU) in North Carolina purposely harmed a patient after that patient made a comment about gender pronouns that the student found to be offensive. Kychelle Del Rosario bragged on Twitter about intentionally missing the vein of the man during a blood draw so that she could stick the needle into him a second time. This is a form of medical malpractice, not to mention violence and medical assault. I had a patient I was doing a blood draw on see my pronoun pin and loudly laugh to the staff, she / her? Well of course it is! What other pronouns even are there? It? I missed his vein so he had to get stuck twice, Del Rosario wrote on her now-deleted K. Del Twitter account. Del Rosarios tweet was a response to another from Shirlene Obuobi, a medical doctor who tweeted about how she wears pronoun pins on her name badge to help [her] patients & colleagues who fall under the trans umbrella feel a little more comfy. The Twitter account Libs of Tik Tok picked up on Del Rosarios tweet and made it go viral, along with a caption about how Del Rosario says she abused a patient because he laughed at her pronoun pin. She has since deleted her account. Wake Forest School of Medicine gives pathetic response, no apology The school responded to all of the rightful outrage over Del Rosarios medical assault with a tweet of its own that offered no apology and very little in the way of what corrective action it is taking against the student. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, the official Wake Forest School of Medicine Twitter account tweeted. This students tweet does not reflect how Wake Forest University School of Medicine treats patients and provides patient care. We are taking measures to address this with the student. This is hardly an adequate response and really says a lot about the quality of education provided by WFU. Would you trust a doctor educated at WFU to properly care for you, based on this response? It turns out that Del Rosario has an extensive history of pro-transgender activism and extremism. Back in March of 2021, for instance, she screamed and howled against North Carolinas Bathroom Bill, which requires individuals to use the correct bathroom based on their sex organs. Policies like these have consequential impacts on the health of transgender people, Del Rosario complained at the time, making no mention about the impacts her own activism would have on a young girl who has to see a grown man with male genitals in the womens bathroom. Around that same time, Del Rosario spoke about how she was going to turn her medical career into an outlet for promoting the trans agenda. WFU did nothing at that time, either, to stop Del Rosario from basically heading down the path of medical terrorism. Del Rosario also preached about how she is a leader in a safe zone that is trying to affirm more transgender policies at the state level for The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. Ironically enough, Del Rosario virtue signaled repeatedly about making sure that transgender patients in her care are treated well, even as she now mistreats and abuses non-trans patients while bragging about it on social media. Keep in mind that WFU, after reading Del Rosarios work on the subject, rewarded her with a fellowship instead of punishing her. The school is just as complicit as she is, in other words, and the injured patient now has every right to sue both Del Rosario and WFU for medical assault. More related news stories about the downfall of America due to diversity can be found at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: CitizenFreePress.com ThePostMillennial.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Reports show that Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) booster shots lose their effectiveness rapidly, with protection starting to drop by the fourth month. This data, which was presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) itself, follow the same pattern of effectiveness displayed by the primary COVID-19 shot series. With data showing that the COVID-19 vaccines failed to end the pandemic, health officials pushed for the third or booster dose at least five months after the first set of shots. However, evidence shows that boosters become significantly less effective in just four months, which opens the possibility of getting ongoing shots in the future. A recent study funded by the CDC involving data from ten states collected from August 26 to January 22 showed that within months of the second COVID-19 shot, protection against the disease went from 69 percent to 37 percent. More COVID-19 shots on the horizon The CDC data also confirmed statements made by Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel in January that the efficacy of the third shot is likely to decline over several months. Thus, another shot is necessary after. I will be surprised when we get that data in the coming weeks that its holding nicely over time I would expect that its not going to hold great, Bancel said. Moderna is also working on an omicron-specific vaccine, which it hopes to release soon. With the effectiveness of COVID-19 booster shots dropping to just 31 percent after five months, regulators are already opening the door for another dose of the vaccine. The finding that protection conferred by mRNA vaccines waned in the months after receipt of a third vaccine dose reinforces the importance of further consideration of additional doses to sustain or improve protection against COVID-19associated ED/UC encounters and COVID-19 hospitalizations, the CDC said. Peter Marks, one of the top vaccine experts from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said in a virtual session that there may be a need for people to get an additional booster in the fall a fifth dose. He stated that an FDA advisory committee will discuss the matter, but if another booster is authorized, it could be tweaked to defend against a particular variant or a mixture of variants. Its not actually clear yet what the optimal booster should be, he said. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a press briefing that there may be a need for another boost for those who received the mRNA vaccines. (Related: FDA considering approval of FOURTH vaccine dose despite dangers.) Modernas Bancel, meanwhile, said they are working with public health experts like Faucis team to come up with a shot for the fall season and annual boosters after, including combination shots that could put a flu shot and a respiratory syncytial virus shot in one dose in 2023, to avoid compliance issues. Were going to do this by preparing combinations, were working on the flu vaccine, were working on an RSV vaccine, and our goal is to be able to have a single annual booster so that we dont have compliance issues, where people dont want to get two to three shots a winter, but they get one dose, where they get a booster for corona, and a booster for flu and RSV, to make sure that people get their vaccine, he said. While Moderna, Pfizer and other vaccine manufacturers have started their clinical trials for COVID-19 shots that specifically target the omicron variant, many have questioned the move, as Big Pharma companies will always be one step behind the latest variant, and studies have so far failed to show any advantage of the new shots. A study that tested an omicron-specific shot showed that an omicron-specific boost may not provide greater immunity or protection. Even among mice subjects that have not previously received COVID shots, the omicron-specific dose only produced high levels of antibodies against omicron and wasnt effective against other variants. (Related: Fully vaccinated and boosted make up vast majority of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the UK.) COVID analyst Marc Girardot noted that artificially inflated antibodies caused by repeated booster shots signal that a person is always infected, and the resulting immune response could prove to be detrimental to health, leading to a death zone that accelerates the development of autoimmune conditions. Follow Vaccines.news for more news related to COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Watch the video below that talks about endless future booster shots. This video is from the zolnareport.com channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Fauci says third COVID shot necessary for full vaccination status, fourth shot required in the future. FDA officials resign in protest after White House pushes COVID-19 booster shots for POLITICAL reasons. Moderna just declared its own vaccines are failing; now it says everyone needs a third booster shot before winter. Pfizer CEO aggressively pimping FOURTH booster shot, proving it was always going to be a SERIES of shots that didnt stop covid. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com FiercePharma.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) In a bold but clearly disingenuous statement from its famed Editorial Board, a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate, and certain longstanding values, the New York Times issued a cautionary statement: (Article by Tony Lyons republished from RWMaloneMD.Substack.com) For all the tolerance and enlightenment that modern society claims, Americans are losing hold of a fundamental right as citizens of a free country: the right to speak their minds and voice their opinions in public without fear of being shamed or shunned. The Editorial Board pounded the point home: People should be able to put forward viewpoints, ask questions and make mistakes, and take unpopular but good-faith positions on issues that society is still working throughall without fearing cancellationFreedom of speech requires not just a commitment to openness and tolerance in the abstract. It demands conscientiousnessWe 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. Of course, the New York Times should be teaching by example. In fact, it has not supported free speech, protected the First Amendment, or allowed honest debate. It has not allowed competing perspectives about the most important issues of the day. It has been a mouthpiece for greedy corporations and corrupt government officials. In support of their interests, and at the expense of those of American citizens, it censored The Real Anthony Fauci by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in every conceivable way. It ranked the book #7 on its non-fiction bestseller list even though Kennedys book outsold any other book in America that week by thousands of copies. Then it refused to allow Skyhorse Publishing to place an advertisement for the book because its censorship division, ironically called Standards Management, decided that the book itself constituted misinformation, despite their stated policy that Standards only looks into whether an ad itself is non-defamatory and accurate. The New York Times followed up with a scathing hit piece targeting Kennedy as a leading voice in the campaign to discredit coronavirus vaccines and other measures being advanced by the Biden White House to battle a pandemic that waskilling close to 1,900 people a day. It accused him of circulating false information, without indicating what that information is or explaining why its false, and of comparing the government pandemic response to the Holocaust, even though he clearly didnt do that. Finally, they refused to review The Real Anthony Fauci or so much as comment on its historic grassroots success, even though its become a cult classic, selling over 1,000,000 copies, and launching a worldwide movement against government corruption and corporate greed. Despite all the lying, or maybe in reaction to it, Tucker Carlson wrote, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is becoming a legitimate folk hero. He is a folk hero because he stood up, grabbed a bullhorn, and spoke truth to power. Hes risked everything and lost a lot. Hes realized that you either care about justice or you care about personal consequences. And for him there have been many. After suppressing freedom of speech for two years, after defending a specific, myopic and harmful narrative, the Editorial Board of the New York Times decided it was the perfect time to take a strong stance against censorship and cancel culture. The irony of the most powerful and impactful violator of First Amendment rights lamenting the lack of free speech and offering up ideas to protect the rights of Americans was palpable, inescapable, and despicable. Like Captain Renault in the movie Casablanca, when he closes Ricks Cafe Americain and proclaims: Im shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here, the New York Times gladly accepted its winnings. Their profitability has soared during the worst and most pervasive period of censorship in recent American history. They have done absolutely nothing to protect the free speech rights of hundreds, if not thousands, of doctors, nurses, scientists, and concerned citizens who have tried to discuss views, make arguments, and analyze scientific studies that challenge the prevailing Covid narrative. They have silenced debate, worked tirelessly to chastise, vilify, and discredit those whose positions they disagree with, and failed to investigate serious claims of government corruption. Nevertheless, they claim to lament that when public discourse in America is narrowed, it becomes harder to answerthe urgent questions we face as a society. What could be more important, more urgent, than the truth about corruption at the highest levels of government, about a pandemic response that led to more serious illness and death than was necessary, about the most powerful public health official in the country being more concerned with helping Big Pharma maximize return on investment and mitigate risk, than protecting people? As the NYT wrote, the worst kind of censorship is cancel culture and the worst kind of cancel culture is the piling on kind. Why then, one might ask, did the NYT run a hit piece about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that covered essentially the same subject matter as a dozen other hit pieces against Kennedy? Why now? Why this target? His family thinks hes wrong about vaccines, the Times noted. His friends think hes wrong about vaccines. Dr. Fauci thinks hes wrong about vaccines. Ever heard that before? Any analysis about vaccine safety? Any facts? Any citations? Any discussion of Dr. Faucis despicable corruption as described in The Real Anthony Fauci, Kennedys recent and epic takedown of Fauci. No, no, no, no, and no. What was the New York Times doing when the whole world was attacking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? Where was the New York Times when Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Robert Malone, Dr. Judy Mikovits, Dr. Pierre Kory, Dr. Paul Marik, Dr. Ryan Cole and so many other impressive voices were being stifled? Heres an easy answer: they were piling on. The NYT has stated that it wont publish ad hominem attacks, but it does publish hit pieces that any rational person understands are meant to discredit a book that they dont mention and obviously havent read. They protect corrupt government officials against the unsuspecting public by forwarding policy statements or official memos that they have not thoroughly vetted, investigated, or corroborated. They are the worst kind of co-conspirators: the kind that claim to be protecting their victims. The New York Times writes that: At the individual level, human beings cannot flourish without the confidence to take risks, to pursue ideas and express thoughts that others might rejectWhen speech is stifled or when dissenters are shut out of the public discourse, a society also loses its ability to resolve conflict, and it faces the risk of political violence. Thats where we are in America today. There is no debate, no public discourse, and we have lost the ability to resolve conflict. We have separated the country into two Americas, at least partially because of the policies and practices of the New York Times. The New York Post has pointed out that the New York Times published lies to serve a biased narrative. They accused the Times of malicious misreporting and cite a book called The Grey Lady Winked by Ashley Rindsberg. Rindsberg is quoted as calling the New York Times a truth-producing machine. He believes that the fabrications and distortions theyve peddled since the 1920s were a system of twisting facts to manipulate public opinion about everything from Hitlers Germany and Stalins Russia to Vietnam and the Iraq War. The reporting is designed to support a narrative aligned with the corporate whims, economic needs and political preferences of the New York Times. He believes that they have consistently created false narratives. The New York Post says the Times has the resources to do it: With close to $2 billion in annual revenue, the Times has the money, prestige, experience and stature to set the narratives that other news outlets invariably follow. Rindsberg alleges that a former Times bureau chief in Berlin was a Nazi collaborator and that another star reporter for the New York Times parroted Soviet propaganda to defend Stalin. The NYT coverage in the lead up to the Vietnam and Iraq wars seemed like government disinformation designed to support going to war. More recently Rindsberg points to the stories that the New York Times published about Russia putting a bounty on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, which the Biden administration later conceded was misinformation, and the story about Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick being murdered by rampaging Trump supporters, though it was later proven that he had died of a stroke. Similarly, Glenn Greenwald accused the New York Times of participating in one of the most successful disinformation campaigns in modern electoral history. The Times, which before the 2020 election dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop as Russian Disinformation, later conceded that it was authentic. It seems likely the New York Times coverage of the Covid Pandemic isnt any different than its coverage of Hitler, Stalin, Vietnam, the Iraq War, January 6th, the Russian bounty on American soldiers, or the Hunter Biden laptop. Like most of the major big tech platforms, they appear to have worked closely with Dr. Fauci and others, as representatives of the U.S. Government, to control and propagate a specific narrative and to do what the government cant legally do itselfcensor ideas that it disagrees with or narratives that might be harmful to its corporate partners. As discussed above, the New York Times actively suppressed Robert F. Kennedy Jrs book and his allegations of corruption against Dr. Anthony Fauci. It defended Dr. Fauci without any investigation, without a full, free and fair discussion of what is clearly the most important book of the decade. By ignoring Kennedys book, by refusing to review it, by not allowing advertisements, by misrepresenting its success on its bestseller list, it clearly did everything in its power to avoid any debate whatsoever about the real science behind the origins of Covid or the best practices for controlling the virus and protecting the public. The New York Times has shown a total disregard for the scientific process, individual due process rights, or for any real search for truth. And, once again, it did all this while lecturing us about the importance of free speech. We have arrived at Orwells 1984. Doublespeak is the universal language. The paper of record floods the world with disinformation, claims to be working tirelessly to protect the American people, and has clearly become The Ministry of Truth. Reading Robert F. Kennedy Jrs book, The Real Anthony Faucithe book Big Pharma, Dr. Fauci, the U.S. Government and the New York Times will do absolutely anything to prevent you from readinghas become an act of rebellion, a blow to fascism, and a clear message that censorship in America just doesnt work. About the Author: Tony Lyons, President and Publisher at Skyhorse, and an attorney, was Publisher at The Lyons Press between 1997 and 2004. He founded Skyhorse in 2006 and has been involved with every aspect of the book publishing process. Starting with a small team of people, some of whom still work for Skyhorse, Tony has steadily built the company from a start-up to an increasingly prominent mid-sized publisher. Read more at: RWMaloneMD.Substack.com (Natural News) A shocking new advertising campaign has hit the far-left enclave of Portland, where human reproduction is fast becoming a taboo offense. Large billboards featuring a cartoon image of a baby with a general prohibition sign plastered over the top of it are popping up all over the city along with the phrase Stop Having Kids in large letters. The billboards include a link to a website with the same name along with a campaign started by a mystery group that identifies as a collective liberation movement. Their goal is to stop all human reproduction. At least three associated billboards have appeared around Portland with this or similar messaging. One of them also reads: A Lot of Humans Wish They Had Never Been Born, the suggestion being that by not having children, lives that never wanted to live in the first place will be saved. Turning Point USA, David J. Harris, and the Hodge Twins create parody of Stop Having Kids campaign in Portland The background behind the movement and how its billboards are being funded remains murky, but this has not stopped some in the conservative movement from making fun of it and exposing it as just another ridiculous leftist circus act. A parody Twitter account that mocks many popular libtard trends, including things gender pronouns, open borders, endless government spending, and unquestioning support for Ukraine, created a digital mock-up of one of the billboards that add the word white into the phrasing of it. The modified image says Stop Having White Kids along with a link to the website StopHavingWhiteKids.org. That image quickly went viral. The first thing that appears on the parody website is the words, If you came to this site because you agree with it, check your heart, along with a classic meme of the 1987 hit song from Rick Astley, Never Gonna Give You Up. This is known as rickrolling, and it was apparently put together by conservatives David J. Harris, the Hodge Twins, and Turning Point USA to draw attention to the lunacy of the real anti-life campaign that is being spread around Portland. Turning Point USA, by the way, has been at the forefront of the fight against mandatory Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination. The groups founder and president, Charlie Kirk, launched a campaign last summer to stop schools from forcing the jabs on students, as well as against companies that tried to force them on employees. David J. Harris hosts a podcast called The David J. Harris Jr. Show that features discussions on many relevant topics, including the war in Ukraine and the fraudulent 2020 election. The Hodge Twins, also known as the Conservative Twins, offer comedic commentary on political issues and current events. Many videos featuring Charlie Kirk, David J. Harris, and the Hodge Twins can be found at Brighteon.com, so be sure to look for and check out their content there. The original Stop Having Kids billboards, just like the Stop Having White Kids parody billboard image, are obviously meant to shock. The original aims to stop people from procreating, while the latter draws attention to the fact that Portland probably will see an actual Stop Having White Kids campaign at some point in the future. According to reports, the Stop Having Kids campaign raises donation funds through merchandise sales and donates said funds to groups like React19, an organization that is working to increase our understanding in the role of COVID-19 in those who experience systemic and prolonged symptoms, after acute infection or after vaccination. More related news can be found at Libtards.news. Sources include: WWeek.com Twitter.com StopHavingWhiteKids.org NaturalNews.com Audacy.com YouTube.com New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday urged private investors businesses, cities, states and regions, to do more to cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions, launching a new group of experts to help with realising a net-zero future (Natural News) In a bid to stem the surge in Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases while keeping the economy running, the communist authorities in Shanghai have resorted to imposing localized lockdowns on the population, causing widespread panic. On March 29, China reported 6,886 new domestic COVID-19 cases nationwide. Around two-thirds of these cases more than 4,400 cases were detected in Shanghai, which has become the epicenter of the countrys latest and worst COVID-19 wave since the early days of the pandemic. (Related: World braces for renewed supply chain crisis as COVID outbreaks shut down highly vaccinated China.) Images filtering out of Shanghai show supermarkets all over the city almost completely cleared out by residents rushing to stock up on essential goods before being forced into lockdown. After being unable to grab any groceries this morning, I went back to sleep, and all I dreamt about was buying food at the supermarket, wrote one resident on Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like social media and microblogging platform. Id never have thought that society today would be worried over buying groceries. The queues I saw at supermarkets and wet markets stretched out the door and down the street with some only letting in a limited number of customers at a time, said one resident in an interview with BBC. At a busy wet market on a side street, a butcher pulled out a fresh slab of pork. Customers crowded around him, pointing and calling out to get a cut. Our days are filled with chaotic COVID testing and hectic online shopping. Ive set an alarm to wake up at 6 a.m. every day so that I can make an online order for fresh food, as sometimes orders get canceled because items are out of stock or there arent any available delivery drivers, said another resident. There is a lot of waiting, and little answers. While many people in Shanghai are worried about having enough food to last the entirety of the lockdown, others are worried they will be fired due to their long, involuntary absence from work. Shanghais airports, railway stations and ports that cater to international shipping remain operational. The municipal government is also offering tax and rent relief for businesses affected by the lockdowns. Lockdown part of Beijings modified zero-COVID strategy In the past, when Beijing heard of cities experiencing outbreaks, it would implement its so-called zero-COVID strategy and order tyrannical lockdowns that prevented affected populations from leaving their homes for almost any reason. This strategy has been increasingly challenged by the lack of evidence proving its effectiveness. In Shanghai, the financial center of the Chinese economy, local leaders first attempted to control the outbreak using localized lockdowns that completely isolated certain neighborhoods or buildings while keeping the rest of the city running as normal. On March 27, Beijing decided to step in and enforce a lockdown that split the city into eastern and western halves along the Huangpu River. Residents living in the Pudong district on the eastern bank of the river were told they would enter lockdown for four days starting on March 28. Meanwhile, people living in the historic Puxi area of the city, composed of seven districts on the western banks of the river, will enter lockdown starting April 1. Other programs in Beijings zero-COVID strategy were still being implemented, including mass COVID-19 testing. Several exhibition halls around the city were already converted by communist authorities into quarantine centers. Conditions in these quarantine centers are terrible. The conditions of the makeshift quarantine center Im in are pretty tough, said Wang, a Shanghai resident in Pudong interviewed by AFP, who entered one of the centers on March 26 after testing positive. She and around 2,500 people were forced into camp beds grouped in the quarantine centers main hall. The bathroom conditions are not good enough, they are cleaned twice per day, but there are too many people [using them], she added. Its pretty bad. Read more COVID-related stories at Pandemic.news. Watch this short clip of a supermarket in Shanghai, taken at 3 a.m. on March 24, as people rush to purchase essential supplies for their brief lockdown. This video is from the Chinese Taking Down Evil CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: China stocks on a DOWNHILL trend as COVID cases rise. Children in China develop LEUKEMIA after getting injected with COVID shots. China quarantines more than 80 cities as coronavirus continues to spread and kill as school dorms turned into disease-ridden prison camps. BRUTAL: Chinese leaders to sacrifice coronavirus-infected cities to save 11 others; prepared to accept millions of fatalities. Forced COVID lockdowns in China are starving people to death. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com HongKongFP.com BBC.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) revealed that deaths caused by the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines have surpassed those caused by all other vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccine fatalities have also occurred in a 15-month period, compared to the other vaccine deaths that happened in the span of three decades. Health Impact News founder Brian Shilhavy pointed this out in a March 28 article, citing VAERS data as of March 18. He wrote: One does not have to look very far to see the damaging effects of [the] COVID-19 vaccines. [VAERS data show] that there are unprecedented increases in recorded deaths and injuries since they were issued emergency use authorizations (EUAs), as compared to [those from] all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccines for the previous 30 years. VAERS recorded a total of 26,059 deaths caused by the COVID-19 vaccines, almost a threefold increase compared to the non-COVID vaccines that killed 9,066 people. COVID-19 vaccines also caused permanent disabilities in 48,342 people, more than half of the 20,096 people who suffered from permanent disabilities after being injected with non-COVID vaccines. (Related: Dr. Peter McCullough: One COVID vaccine death is too many.) There were 76,992 people hospitalized after being injected with other vaccines per VAERS data. But for those injected with the COVID vaccines, this increased to 143,198. Meanwhile, there were 13,572 people who suffered life-threatening injuries following injection of non-COVID shots. Those who experienced life-threatening injuries after COVID-19 vaccination amounted to 29,443. Shilhavy also cited the marked difference between the number of strokes and cardiac inflammation cases between COVID-19 vaccines and non-COVID vaccines. During the 15-month period that the vaccines were authorized for emergency use, there were 2,992 reports of stroke on VAERS. On the other hand, there were only 104 stroke reports on VAERS attributed to other vaccines for the past 30 years. VAERS data also showed that during the 30-year period before the COVID-19 vaccines were approved, the reporting system recorded 1,162 cases of cardiac inflammation such as myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) and pericarditis (heart lining inflammation). But following the EUAs for the different COVID-19 vaccines, this rose to 21,340 within a 15-month period. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have been linked to cardiac inflammation in children and young adults. Reports of COVID-19 vaccine injuries in VAERS are increasing The majority of cases now found in the [more than 31-year] history of VAERS are from after Dec. 1, 2020 when the FDA granted EUA for the COVID-19 vaccines. This is mass murder and genocide, wrote Shilhavy. Earlier in March, VAERS data revealed that cardiac inflammation reports in the first two months of 2022 alone surpassed those for the entire 2021. The Blaze Senior Editor Daniel Horowitz pointed this out in a March 11 piece, saying that this common vaccine side effect used to be a rare disorder discussed mainly in academic literature. Reports of myocarditis and pericarditis are so prevalent now that just in the first eight weeks of 2022, were already at 47 percent of the total VAERS submissions for 2021. There were 24,177 reports of pericarditis [and] myocarditis submitted to VAERS in 2021. In 2022, just through Feb. 25, there were 11,289 reports which is nearly half of last years total. Horowitz projected that if the reporting of myocarditis and pericarditis continues at this rate, well see over 73,000 cases this year. He asked: What have we done to a generation of young hearts, and what is being done to detect, diagnose and treat the problem? The senior editor for the Blaze proposed two possible explanations for the sudden influx of VAERS reports in the first two months of 2022. Either more people and doctors know about VAERS and know [how] to look for myocarditis, or there is a time bomb with many more people now realizing they have heart problems months later, he said. Either way, this means that the initial estimates of case prevalence were just the tip of the iceberg, and we are likely to see young hearts damaged for years to come. Find similar stories at VaccineDeaths.com. Watch independent researcher Karen Selick proving that COVID-19 vaccine deaths outnumber all other vaccine deaths in VAERS below. This video is from the Karen Selick channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Federal lawsuit claims VAERS reporting system is HIDING actual number of coronavirus vaccine deaths. Analyst says systematic flaws prevent VAERS from accurately tracking adverse reactions to vaccines. VAERS records overwhelming adverse events from COVID-19 vaccines in first two months of 2022. VAERS data shows skyrocketing number adverse events following COVID vaccinations. CDC caught removing Covid vaccine injury reports from VAERS. Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca TheBlaze.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) An animal rescue in Fairfax, Virginia, has taken on the monumental task of orchestrating the intake of 400 beagles so the dogs can experience loving forever homes instead of lives spent in research. (Article by Amada Thomason republished from WesternJournal.com) Envigo, a facility that breeds beagles for research, was left with hundreds of surplus beagles after the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down demand. It reached out to the Homeward Trails Animal Rescue to see if something could be worked out. The result was great news for families looking to add one of the bouncy hounds to their repertoire. Yesterday Homeward Trails took part in the first phase of what was one of the most memorable and meaningful efforts of our 20-year rescue activities, Homeward Trails Animal Rescue posted on Facebook on Feb. 12. We successfully facilitated the transfer of 150 perfectly adorably young Beagles from a Virginia based breeding facility. Homeward Trails has chosen to play the role of trusted partner, working in collaboration with the facility to secure a positive outcome for the dogs they can no longer use in their programs. We have already taken several dogs ourselves, all of whom have been adopted and will continue working with them in the coming weeks and months to take others. We are grateful to be able to offer adoptive homes to these dogs. The rescue didnt have the space or resources to take on hundreds of dogs, but its executive director, Sue Bell, said the decision to head up the operation was a no-brainer. While certainly a monumental task, this is not something I had to think about for more than a second before agreeing, Bell said in a statement, according to People. It is truly an honor to be able to give these dogs the lives they deserve. I would love nothing more than to have 400 Beagles at our shelter, that is obviously not possible, she said. We have been lucky to have the amazing support of groups like the Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Wyoming, Priceless Pet Rescue in California, the Richmond SPCA, and other Virginia groups stepping up to take these dogs in. The rescue asked that people refrain from negatively commenting on the controversial source of these beagles as it has been able to form a partnership with Envigo that it said is in the best interest of the dogs. Without the rescue working with the facility, there is a chance that the extra dogs would have nowhere to go and would face either a lifetime of research or euthanasia. Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, and its founder Sue Bell, help find permanent homes across the country through a strong network and a true passion for animals, Envigo said in a statement, according to People. Her organizations professionalism and principles go hand-in-hand with ours, and we are always confident that every animal they place will be in a loving and happy home. The rescues page has been full of information and updates on their operations as they move large batches of beagles to shelters and organizations where they will be able to find new families. Last week in pouring rain we transferred another 155 BEAGLES! Homeward Trails posted on Wednesday. It was many hours of mud, rain, sloppy Beagle kisses. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. But we loved every minute of this special transfer. These amazing former breeding dogs made their journey both near and far to start their new lives. We still have a few at our Adoption Center still not spoken for and hope to have several more coming to us next week. To date, we have taken more than 360 Beagles from this facility and are so, so honored to play this role. These dogs will have the families we know they deserve. Read more at: WesternJournal.com (Natural News) The black hole of depravity known as Hunter Bidens Laptop dilates ever wider as the rickety Joe Biden regime chugs towards its event horizon of disgrace and collapse, throwing off the jetsam of our nations remnant honor in its toxic vapor trail. The memos and emails on the device could not be clearer: Joe Biden and his grifting family sold out their country. (Article republished from Kunstler.com) The mentally incompetent husk of a crooked old pol is owned by every foreign interest in his decaying orbit, and owned as well by the foul and perfidious intel mafia lodged like a cancerous mass eating away at what used to be known as the American government. Face it: this false president, installed by malignant forces allied with his Party of Chaos, is a menace to our nation. The Russian clean-up of Ukraine has exposed the operational base of the Biden Familys flagrant crimes. The laptop confirms that Hunters Rosemont Seneca front company invested in the chain of bio-weapons labs set up by the CIA and Department of Defense and operated through their front company Metabiota, with tendrils reaching to the Wuhan, China, virology lab that was the most likely point-of-origin for SARS-CoV-2, a.k.a. Covid-19. Money money money everywhere along the trail for the Biden Family, fees-for-service from the crooked Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky, chairman of Burisma, the gas company that provided walking-around money for Hunters insatiable drug habit and degenerate sexual adventures more millions from shady sources in Russia and then billions more from the board rooms of Chinese companies connected with the intel and military arms of the CCP. If the American public had known of these entanglements, Joe Biden would certainly not have been the beneficiary of the engineered balloting irregularities that determined the 2020 election. But the public, still reeling from the mindfuckery of Covid 19, was left ignorant through the combined operations of the CIAs captured social networks along with a tractable legacy news media. Of course, the FBI had Hunters laptop in its possession in January of 2020. How is it possible that the device and all its incriminating contents were withheld as evidence in the momentous impeachment trial of Donald Trump which, after all, was instigated by Mr. Trumps inquiring phone call about those very matters involving the Bidens and Mykola Zlochevsky? Answer: Because the FBI was already rattled by the unravelling truth about its seditious role in the RussiaGate folly, and the agency was wholly invested in the removal of Mr. Trump before top agency officials found themselves in grand juries federal crimes on top of federal crimes by federal officials. How do we stand for that? And they continued to sit on and hide the laptop through the first fifteen months of Joe Bidens astoundingly calamitous term in office to the dangerous point that America has arrived at today, the potential brink of a nuclear exchange with Russia all a product of our decade-long interventions and machinations in sad-sack Ukraine, a train-wreck of foreign policy blunders that can only be explained as a product of the most extreme and ruinous organizational hubris seen since Germanys misadventure invading the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, 1941. And now the suits in Americas intel, state, and war offices are apparently thinking that the Joe Biden operation has got to be thrown overboard before it is too late to dissociate themselves from it, and its slime-trail of crime. All hinges on whether a percentage of the mesmerized American public those buffaloed by the combined effects of Woke hysteria and mass formation psychosis might rouse from their induced trance and recognize the ominous shape that reality has assumed while their minds were hostage. Too many can see that everything now in American life is going south. Joe Biden has knocked the remaining props out from under the countrys assumed standard-of-living. We are on track to go medieval in months, not years: no replacement parts for our machines, no money (or else money thats worthless), no food, no heat, no light, no getting from Point A to Point B, soon no hope. And if were really unlucky, the very land itself and the things weve built upon it reduced to cinders and ash. One thing you must know: we are not entering the wishful robotic anti-utopia of social credit control, QR code management, and World Economic Forum / Klaus Schwab transhumanism. We are veering, rather, off-the-rails into epic historic political disorder, something much more perplexing than the clear-cut crack-up of the 1860s. In this new pandemonium, the best of us will remember what has been best about us: liberty, the rule of law, freedom of speech and the press, the dignity of work, our sense of obligation to a common good, and the decorum of truth-telling. For now, strive to stay sane against all the inducements of the wicked. Read more at: Kunstler.com (Natural News) An arbitrator in Canadas Ontario state ruled that Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited was justified in suspending workers who have not been injected with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine without pay. In his March 17 decision, Arbitrator Mark Wright ruled that the bottling company had the right to suspend unvaccinated employees without pay. He argued that while Coca-Colas vaccine mandates infringe on employees rights to privacy and bodily autonomy, it was reasonable due to the perceived threat of COVID-19. The [mandatory vaccination] policy is a response to a global health pandemic that has so far claimed six million lives worldwide. There is no question that it is extraordinary for an employer to enact a workplace rule or policy that impacts an employees right to privacy and bodily integrity, but there can be no dispute that the global COVID-19 pandemic is an extraordinary health challenge. According to the arbitrator, employers such as Coca-Cola are obliged to ensure that the health and safety of an employee is always protected and statutorily required to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker under the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Act. It strikes a reasonable balance between an employees right to privacy and bodily integrity and the employers right and statutory obligation to protect the health and safety of the workforce. It was therefore reasonable for the company to put non-compliant employees on unpaid administrative leave effective Jan. 31, 2022. Coca-Cola announces vaccine mandate, consequences for unvaxxed workers Back in October 2021, Coca-Cola announced the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for workers at its facility in the city of Brampton in Ontario. It gave a deadline of Jan. 1 for employees to get vaccinated, with those refusing to do so set to face onerous conditions such as consistent COVID-19 testing and compulsory wearing of masks. In response, UNIFOR Local 973 which represents Coca-Cola workers in its Brampton and Hamilton facilities filed a policy grievance in November 2021. The union alleged that the vaccine mandate was unreasonable and a breach of the collective agreement between the company and the Brampton facilitys approximately 700 employees. In December, Coca-Cola announced that employees only partially vaccinated by Jan. 1 would be required to wear face shields over their masks whether on-site or in the field effective Jan. 3. A subsequent announcement mandated unvaccinated employees to undergo company-shouldered rapid COVID-19 testing on their own time effective Jan. 17. It warned of repercussions for failure to comply with the policy, such as being subject to additional protocols and rules, including leave without pay, and the possibility of significant discipline up to and including termination. By Jan. 12, unvaccinated workers were told that they would be indefinitely placed on leave without pay with Coca-Cola sending out letters to their homes. Wright stated: Since the implementation of the policy, 48 employees at the Brampton facility have been placed on unpaid leave of absence due to noncompliance, 11 of whom have yet to obtain a second dose of the vaccine. Given this, the arbiter advised that no discipline should be issued for failing to become vaccinated before April 4. (Related: Nike marketing manager FIRED for refusing to upload COVID vaccination details.) COVID-19 cases rose among the fully vaccinated Wright lauded the COVID-19 vaccines as being safe and effective at combating not only the transmission of the virus, but also at providing significantly greater protection from serious illness, hospitalization and death for fully vaccinated people. However, his own ruling proved these claims false. In January alone, 409 employees had tested positive for COVID-19 in both the Brampton and Hamilton facilities, which amounted to approximately 13 percent of the workforce. This number of COVID-positive cases was significantly more than in any other month. Incidentally, this coincided with the unpaid suspension of unvaccinated employees meaning that only those injected with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were allowed to report for work on site. More than 870 workers in Coca-Colas two facilities in Ontario had tested positive for COVID-19. Of this total, 224 workers both union and non-union came from the Brampton facility. As of March 9, 96 percent of Coca-Cola employees had received two doses of the vaccine. Visit MedicalTyranny.com to read more stories like this. Watch this interesting video that talks about a sample of Coca-Cola returning a positive COVID-19 test result. This video is from The Smiths of Liberty channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Australia experiencing pandemic of the fully vaccinated as cases surge among double-jabbed and boosted population. The vaccine mandate is a hoax, and no entity or person in America is obliged to follow it. Canadian government sued over discriminatory air travel vaccine mandate. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com CanLII.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) Emails obtained from Hunter Bidens laptop show that his dad, Joe, helped secure funding for Metabiota, the Pentagon contractor involved in disease research at high-security biolaboratories in Ukraine. Joe, Hunter and Hunters brother James, the email trove shows, were all entangled in various overseas business ventures not only in Ukraine but also in Qatar, China and Russia. Hunter Biden was actually talking about his ties to one of these labs in Ukraine that was, in fact, developing pathogens that could cause pandemics, explained Joshua Philipp during a recent Crossroads Q&A session he held. The DailyMail Online (U.K.) reported that the Russian government held a press conference about the issue, showing that Hunter helped finance United States military bioweapons research programs in Ukraine, which probably explains why the Biden regime is up in arms over Russias invasion of Ukraine. emails and correspondence obtained by DailyMail.com from Hunters abandoned laptop show the claims may well be true, the outlet revealed. The emails show Hunter helped secure millions of dollars of funding for Metabiota, a Department of Defence contractor specialising in research on pandemic-causing diseases. He also introduced Metabiota to an allegedly corrupt Ukrainian gas firm, Burisma, for a science project involving high biosecurity level labs in Ukraine. Goldman Sachs helped fund the Biden crime familys overseas treason Hunter and his colleagues invested $500,000 in Metabiota through their firm Rosemont Seneca Technology Partners. They also obtained several million dollars in funding from investment giant Goldman Sachs, as well as from several other firms. Russia claims that the biolabs were then used to create bioweapons, which would make sense since we just passed the two-year mark since the start of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) plandemic, which appears to have started in these biolabs. The U.S. government of course denies all of this, alleging that Russia is just spreading propaganda. Social media giants like Facebook and Twitter agree, which is why they have been censoring the Biden crime familys treason since Hunters laptop was first discovered. Twitter claimed that hacked materials were used to manufacture false evidence on Hunters laptop, though the Jack Dorsey operation failed to provide any proof to back this. Fast-forward 18 months and now even The New York Times has picked up the story, touting it as real despite what Twitter claimed a year-and-a-half earlier about it being fake. Philipp admits that it is possible the Russian government is coming up with false conclusions about the true purpose of the Biden crime familys biolabs. This is how psychological warfare works. When you talk about psychological warfare typically the way it works is youre altering the conclusion that people may come to from the information, he says. And so, its the interpretation of the surface information. Yes, there were biolabs in Ukraine. What were they being used for? That is where the propagandists would come into play. Now, who is telling the truth in terms of what the purpose of these labs was? That is for you to decide. Knowing what we know about how the U.S. government lies and manipulates the truth, the same could be said in the opposite direction. Chances are those biolabs are, in fact, linked to the creation of deadly bioweapons, which have been used by the likes of Tony Fauci and Bill Gates to spread disease and death around the world. Its not falling apart, though, is it? Because nothing will be done, wrote a commenter at the Daily Expose about how the Biden crime family seems to be untouchable when it comes to crime and treason. The latest news about the Biden crime family can be found at Treason.news. Sources for this article include: DailyExpose.uk NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Numerous intel briefings from military and scientific experts showed that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are bioweapons that deliver payloads for mass genocide and dehumanization. CRISPR technology is being used to alter human genes, and they have graphene oxide as hardware to get inside the body. In a clip from the Dr. Jane Ruby Show, the host said people are being injected with hardware and repeated injections are bringing software under the guise of helping people avoid what is essentially the flu. A German researcher said his team is working on a transporter system to deliver payloads supposedly for targeting and delivering medications to difficult places in the body. Graphene microbubbles are used as transporters, but the payload could be anything else. It could be drugs, gene signals through modified RNA synthetic strands or unknown chemicals and entities that are likely designed to be deployed later. Numerous scientists behind the scenes are also concerned that some of the entities can be programed for later: in months, even years. Vaccine manufacturers are also testing to see how people are tolerating them physically, maybe even mentally. Ruby also said there had been people emailing her about the effect of the vaccines, making them more aggressive and short-tempered. While Ruby noted that she didnt really have a response to these observations as they are not scientific, she did mention that the number of queries she received has been more frequent. She also mentioned the presence of carbon nanotubes that engage with peoples brains and short-circuit them. Its all boiling down to three focal points. Mass genocide, building and controlling hybrid people from within and thirdly, inserting and testing circuitry in humans, Ruby said. She also shared that there is a particular theory emerging that indicates there are many different components to this bioweapon that must be injected at different time points in an effort to mimic biochemical reaction, to make the weapon as close to what the body would normally do. Essentially, what is happening in the body is that there are multiple programs going on at once. First is distributing graphene intra-body for future circuitry. The graphene flagship project has been given billions of dollars worldwide to develop all kinds of sub-technology. (Related: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warns that Fauci, Gates are committing mass genocide against humanity.) It plays a role in circuitry, in possibly one of the components, or part of the components in the lipid nano transporter that moves the synthetic mRNA into different cells in the human body. The second program that is happening is the use of multiple HIV proteins. It is being postulated to disarm a persons immune system and weaken it. The third program is the use of COVID boosters, which are being forced on people. Genocidal globalist Dr. Mylo Canderian recently became popular on social media because of his genocidal views. It is still not clear if hes a true person or just a fictional character, but many call him the genocidal globalist because hes supposedly very supportive of Klaus Schwab and the Great Reset. Canderian follows the Precept Ten of the Georgia Guidestones that posits there should only be half a billion people on the planet. The Georgia Guidestones are granite monuments erected over four decades ago in Elbert County, Georgia. It sets ten guidelines, the first of which states: Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature. It is Canderians opinion that 95 percent of the worlds population are useless eaters who need to be euthanized as quickly as possible. He is confident that the vaccines will put an end to the human cancer upon the earth. The graphene oxide in vaccines plays a huge role in that. Any hematologist could see within seconds under a microscope the percentage of blood affected or contaminated by graphene oxide, which shows the end of cycle calculation. To illustrate, a vaccinated person who has 20 percent graphene oxide deterioration in their blood will live for eight years (10 years less 20 percent). A person with 70 percent graphene oxide deterioration, meanwhile, will not live more than three years. In Canderians viewpoint, it is easy. Let them all die. (Related: As covid injections spread autoimmune disease and VAIDS, media pivots to incoming AIDS vaccine that will only accelerate the vaccine genocide.) The more shots and boosters the imbeciles get, the worse their blood will look under a microscope, and the quicker they will turn to fertilizer, he said. Follow Vaccines.news for more updates on the biological weapons that the government and Big Pharma are trying to force people to take. Watch the video below to learn more about how Big Pharma and scientists are delivering payloads for mass genocide. This video is from the FalconsCAFE Sharing is caring channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The genocide continues through the vaccines, as the CDC scrambles to deceive the public. Top FDA vaccine officials RESIGN to avoid prosecution for crimes against humanity as White House, CDC commit GENOCIDE. Situation Update, Mar. 1st Vaccine depopulation weapons and the GOPs pro-vaccine stance against humanity. Twitter complicit in GENOCIDE by censoring large-scale study revealing ivermectin can prevent 68% of covid deaths. GENOCIDE in the U.S. continues: 3,848 DEATHS and 118,902 injuries following COVID injections Children now being reported as dying. Sources include: Brighteon.com Basboon.com (Natural News) For years, reports have connected the Biden family to shady business deals with foreign nationals in countries known to be hostile to the United States, and that is especially true of first son Hunter Biden. When his dad, Joe Biden, was vice president serving under Barack Obama, Hunter used his fathers connections to land a number of lucrative business deals in countries like Ukraine China, and Russia, at times partnering with the children of other insider Democrats like John Kerry. But it was bombshell reporting by the New York Post in October 2020 that really unmasked the Biden familys corruption. Those Post reports were based on materials, emails and data gleaned from the hard drive of a laptop Hunter Biden abandoned at a computer repair shop in Delaware in 2019, a laptop that was eventually confiscated by the FBI though, strangely, the FBI official who ought to know where the laptop is and its current status told a House committee this week he had no idea. But those reports came out just weeks before the 2020 election that was already in the process of being stolen by the deep state and its Democratic allies, so those reports were ignored by the legacy media or discounted as little more than Russian propaganda. Also, 51 deep state intelligence officials all signed a letter claiming that the information on the laptop sure looked like a Russian propaganda operation, which gave the legacy media cover to report as much and dismiss the NY Posts bombshells. Now, after Joe Biden has obviously demonstrated time and again that he has early-stage dementia or worse, the same legacy media outlets who ignored the original stories about Hunter Biden are suddenly rushing to publish deep dives into those allegations, which has led long-time Washington watchers to conclude that the deep state has decided the time has come to ditch the old man before he slips up and talks the nation into a war with Russia and China. A Washington Post report titled, Inside Hunter Bidens multimillion-dollar deals with a Chinese energy company: A Washington Post review confirms key details and offers new documentation of Biden family interactions with Chinese executives, essentially repeats previously reported details about Hunter Bidens dubious foreign business dealings: While many aspects of Hunter Bidens financial arrangement with CEFC China Energy have been previously reported and were included in a Republican-led Senate report from 2020, a Washington Post review confirmed many of the key details and found additional documents showing Biden family interactions with Chinese executives. Over the course of 14 months, the Chinese energy conglomerate and its executives paid $4.8 million to entities controlled by Hunter Biden and his uncle, according to government records, court documents and newly disclosed bank statements, as well as emails contained on a copy of a laptop hard drive that purportedly once belonged to Hunter Biden CNN has also gotten into the expose Hunter act: A Justice Department investigation into Hunter Bidens business activities has gained steam in recent months, with a flurry of witnesses providing testimony to federal investigators and more expected to provide interviews in the coming weeks, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The probe, led by the US Attorney in Wilmington, Delaware, began as early as 2018 and concerns multiple financial and business activities in foreign countries dating to when Bidens father was vice president. Investigators have examined whether Hunter Biden and some of his associates violated money laundering, tax and foreign lobbying laws, as well as firearm and other regulations, multiple sources said. And two weeks ago, The New York Times, in a story that was also about how a federal probe into Hunters alleged tax fraud and illegal foreign lobbying is heating up, confirmed as well that the laptop contents were valid. Again, none of this reporting is new; its all been reported before. So the question is, why are these legacy media outlets dumping on Hunter Biden now, just as Joe Biden appears to be faltering? The answer seems obvious. Sources include: WashingtonPost.com CNN.com USAFeatures.news (Natural News) The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) draft guidance for human gene therapy products. Entitled Human Gene Therapy Products Incorporating Human Genome Editing; Draft Guidance for Industry, the document provides recommendations to sponsors developing human gene therapy products incorporating genome editing of human somatic cells. Medical professional and veteran pharmaceutical drug development expert Dr. Jane Ruby told host Stew Peters during a recent episode of The Stew Peters Show that the FDA has been actually creating guidance documents since 2015 and that these documents tell pharmaceutical companies how they want them to run studies and look at safety and efficacy in gene editing or human genome editing. Genome editing is an area of research seeking to modify genes of living organisms to improve the understanding of gene function and develop ways to use it to treat genetic or acquired diseases. And you know this is why I want to reiterate that its so incredibly important to stop calling it a vaccine. Youve heard Dr. David Martin say youre using the words of the criminals. By continuing to call it a vaccine, youre really saying you dont have to use as many safety studies, you dont have to do as much follow up [when developing a vaccine]. Youre putting them off the hook, said Ruby. At least one Big Pharma executive has already admitted that the mRNA vaccines are actually a form of gene therapy. It may not be long before federal agencies like the HHS and the FDA do the same. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are really for gene editing The host of Live with Dr. Jane Ruby and The Dr. Jane Ruby Show pointed out that the mRNA vaccines are really for gene editing and these were seen in the vials that had been analyzed. She added that Big Pharma companies like Moderna and Pfizer have also talked with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which is the equivalent of the FDA, to let them live with just 50 percent of the vials containing mRNA and the rest as a sort of leeway that they can do anything they want. Peters noted that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) shots cant be called vaccines because they dont protect people or provide immunity from anything. He added that the COVID-19 shots have negative efficacy and that you are more likely to get sick after the injection. They are also not experimental shots. Theyre not experimenting with anything. They experimented with this stuff way back when they develop this stuff. These are not experimental. This is a planned bioweapon, Peters explained. Peters added that the so called adverse events or side effects are actually intended and planned consequences. If you let them keep calling it a vaccine and youre not calling it gene editing, human genome editing, theyre getting away with not looking at safety and efficacy, stressed Ruby, who added that the FDA itself has laid out certain parameters in the new guidance document. CRISPR snips out portion of human gene Ruby said gene editing technology like CRISPR is chemically snipping out a portion of the God-given human genes in a line and a double strand of DNA to insert something else. She warned that a person has no idea what is going to happen to their body over the years when they undergo gene editing. (Related: Dr. David Martin tells Clay Clark: mRNA vaccines are gene therapy designed to harm and enslave humanity Brighteon.TV) She added that Moderna and Pfizer are now actively seeking the approval for emergency use authorization of mRNA jabs for six-month-old babies. Its all about control, according to Ruby. Thats why they want you to keep taking it. Its a priming mission. The more graphene you get into your body, the more you are filled with what is going to potentially be self assembling circuitry for the ability to control functions in your body from an external source. And Im not getting conspiracy theories. Im actually basing this on a whole host of evidence documents. Its more than just patents. This is known information, Ruby explained. Follow Vaccines.news for more news related to COVID-19 injections. Watch the video below to know more about the genome editing guidance released by the FDA. This video is from the FalconsCAFE Sharing is caring channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Big Pharma admits mRNA injections are gene therapies, but no one seems to care. BOMBSHELL: Genetic editing via CRISPR may cause widespread cancer, study warns. Bayer executive admits mRNA vaccines are an example of gene therapy. Sources include: Brighteon.com DrJaneRuby.com NIH.gov CQRCEngage.com (Natural News) As regular ZeroHedge readers know, the New York Post was excommunicated from social media shortly before the 2020 US election by Big Tech for reporting on shady international business dealings by the Biden family particularly in Ukraine and China, contained within a trove of emails, text messages, photographs and financial documents that were on a laptop Hunter abandoned at a Delaware computer repair shop in April 2019. (Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com) Covering for the Bidens to help him win the 2020 election, people like Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) insisted it was Russian propaganda, and outlets which reported on the laptop were smeared as conspiracy theorists. FBI & DOJ concur w/ Ratcliffe that Hunter Bidens laptop & the emails in question werent part of a Russian disinformation campaign. Adam Schiff last Friday: This whole smear on Joe Biden comes from the Kremlin. pic.twitter.com/1ryEj27KCP Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 20, 2020 More than 50 former senior intelligence officials signed a pre-election letter proclaiming the laptop story has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation. The Tide Turns Two weeks ago, the New York Times confirmed the laptop exists, and is legit and confirmed several previously reported aspects of the story, including correspondence between Hunter and his business partner Devon Archer, both of whom served on the board Ukrainian energy giant Burisma. Today, the Washington Post and CNN are piling on with the post confirming yet-more details of the laptop contents, and CNN running a blistering segment and reporting that the federal investigation into Hunter is heating up. The Washington Post, meanwhile, reports on Hunters multimillion-dollar deals with a Chinese energy company. Whats going on here? Whatever the case, Glenn Greenwald isnt about to let the MSM get away with this U-turn unscathed. Just fucking amazing: now the WashPost, 10 days after NYT, admits that the contents of the Hunter Biden laptop are genuine and uses them in their reporting. Yet **not one** corrupt outlet that spread the CIAs pre-election lie that it was Russian disinformation has retracted. Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 30, 2022 I dont care that I talk about this a lot. Its not talked about enough. The CIA, Big Tech and corporate media all conspired in the weeks before the election to spread a clear lie to manipulate the election: that these emails were forged by Russia. Now *they ignore the proof*. Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 30, 2022 Permit me to ask this one question about the US media: Other than that they genuinely see their role as lying for noble ends, what could possibly justify their refusal to retract their CIA lie that the Biden archive was Russian disinformation or at least acknowledge the proof? Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 30, 2022 Read more at: ZeroHedge.com 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 (Natural News) The latest multinational corporation to join the chorus of anti-Russia hatred and racism is Johnson & Johnson (J&J), which just announced that it will no longer sell any personal care products in the former Soviet Union due to President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Pharmaceuticals and medical devices made by the company will still flow freely in and out of Russia because those are excluded from Western sanctions. Products like J&Js cancer-causing baby powder, on the other hand, are now banned. Roughly 1 percent of J&Js sales come from Russia, and about half of that constitutes pharmaceuticals. The other half is made up of consumer health products, including over-the-counter drugs and other related items. J&J is one of the biggest drugmakers in the world and also has a sizeable consumer health business that sells skin care, beauty, and oral care products under brands including Neutrogena, Aveeno, and Listerine, reported The Epoch Times. AbbVie, which owns blockbuster wrinkle treatment Botox, said earlier this month it had temporarily suspended operations for all its aesthetics products in Russia. J&J stops enrolling Russians in clinical trials in show of support for Ukraine Many Western-based multinationals are making similar moves in solidarity with Ukraine, including PepsiCo Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. and Nestle SA, which will continue supplying only basic items like nutrition and hygiene to Russia. J&J has also reportedly stopped enrolling Russians in its Russia-based clinical trials in order to take a stand against Putin and show support for Ukraine. Other drugmakers such as Eli Lilly and Co. and Pfizer are following suit by pulling back investments and promotions in Russia. They will also continue selling drugs and medical equipment there, however, as these are major cash cows for Big Pharma. None of this is enough for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, who urged all of Big Pharma to withdraw from Russia completely. If it looks Russian or sounds Russian, in other words, Zelenskyy and his allies want it cut off from the rest of the world. No more international trade with Russia will be allowed if Zelenskyy gets his way, essentially. J&J stops selling lucky Russia, wrote someone at The Epoch Times about how J&Js consumer products withdrawal from Russia is almost certainly a good thing for the Russian people, who will no longer be poisoned by its toxic products. Russia is starting to look more and more like a resort for people to recover their physical and mental health no fast food, no soft drinks, no Big Pharma, no woke social media, wrote another, pointing to all the junk food corporations and other toxic Western companies that no longer have a presence in Russia. And no Western propaganda, added another. Many other commenters echoed these sentiments, including one person who says he continues to feel as though Russians are getting the better end of the deal with all of these sanctions. Literally everybody thats trying to kill them is not going to Russia anymore to do business, this person wrote about how great it is that toxic consumer products from the United States are no longer flowing into Russia. No ovarian cancer for women using J&J baby powder in Russia take that, Putin! joked another. And the sunscreens, added someone else. Aveeno and Neutrogena both got pulled for cancer-causing chemicals last year. Another person pointed out how even if these products were safe, depriving the Russian people of access to them only punishes them, not Putin or Russias government. The U.S. is just as atrocious, this person wrote about how America is hardly any better than Russia when it comes to honesty and integrity. More news stories like this can be found at Chaos.news. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Mike Brown, a patriot from Utah, told host Ann Vandersteel during the March 28 episode of Steel Truth on Brighteon.TV that the justice system has once again failed its citizens. He was speaking from experience. Brown was first charged by their school board for using the districts own organizational chart to show that parents rights for their children actually supersede the school boards. And last month, he was removed from a public Senate Bill hearing because he was wearing a We the People shirt and had a sticker in his hand that said Yes to HB 60, alluding to a bill that supports the ban on vaccine passports. Vandersteel showed a video clip of Brown having a discussion with Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) troopers before he was removed from the hearing, which was on a recess at that time. (Related: Expert raises concerns about coronavirus restrictions following arrest of Canadian pastor.) Arrested for wearing We the People shirt, Yes to HB 60 sticker Brown called his arrest ridiculous and cited that in previous capitol committee hearing meetings, people had worn stickers to show their support for a particular issue. The man from Utah recalled that he took down his customized sticker when the chair of the meeting took a recess but was later told by a police officer that he was being removed from the meeting because of his shirt. Brown was charged with Class B misdemeanor for disrupting a public meeting by wearing a shirt that said We the People and having a sticker about House Bill 60. According to Brown, the chair of the committee and the president of the Utah Senate said they want the county attorney to drop the charges against him. Theyre just giving him a lip service, it appears, because all charges against him remain. Brown said he is looking at all options. The UHP had treated him poorly, holding him in confinement down in the basement without being able to see an attorney. He also blamed Senator Dan McKay, who was in charge of the meeting, for not doing anything to stop the police from doing what they did to him. McKay represents District 11, Utah and Salt Lake Counties as a member of the Utah State Senate. Looking for deeds not words There are many violations. And so Im looking at all options to try to get justice here. I initially want the charges just to be dropped because theres been a lot of lip service from people in high places, but nothings happened. So deeds not words is what Im looking for, Brown said. Brown added that he is right now looking for several lawyers, including attorney and human rights activist Lee Taylor Dundas, to make the best decision on what to do going forward. Ultimately I hope the charges will be dropped first. But that has not yet happened. So its very frustrating. A lot of people are frustrated here in Utah because this actually caused a firestorm; because it was so out of line the way I was treated. And people are so upset, Brown said. And I know the Highway Patrol and Senator Dan McKay have received hundreds of emails, phone calls, but as of yet theres been no public apology or no dropping of the charges. So its ridiculous. And its very sad for me to see that this can happen in America, especially here in Utah where were known for supposedly supporting the Constitution and standing up for our freedoms, Brown said. He added that the incident has caused a lot of people to think and realize that this was not right and that it can happen to them. Were very patriotic here. And I just happen to be the person there that didnt want to be quiet about challenging the rules that they were making up. This could happen to anybody, so if they can beat me down theyll do it to the next person. Follow Tyranny.news to know why the current justice system is failing the American people. Watch the full March 28 episode of Steel Truth below. You can catch Steel Truth with Ann Vandersteel every weekday at 9:30-10:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Canada expands COVID-19 vaccine mandate, violates basic human rights. DHS to label people extremists if they go against the official narrative on almost anything. With staged arrest of Roger Stone, justice is DEAD in America. Sources include: Brighteon.com SenatorMcCay.com (Natural News) Listening to the news these days, one is led to believe that everything is falling apart economically and agriculturally because Russia invaded Ukraine. The truth, however, is that this engineered takedown of the global economy began many years ago and is only now becoming visible. Two years ago when the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) plandemic was launched, it was being reported that the United States government was quietly paying farmers to destroy their own crops and depopulate livestock. Watch the video from Brighteon.com below for more: This video is from channel Freedom on Brighteon.com. This was reiterated again about a year ago when actual farmers started sharing videos on social media about how the food supply was being tampered with by government officials. One example of this can be viewed below: This video is from channel Warrior68 on Brighteon.com. If your family goes hungry, ask your government why it destroyed the food supply with your tax dollars It would appear as though the plan all along was to quietly start throwing a few wrenches into the supply chain at that time in order to get the ball rolling. It was easy to blame the resulting problems on COVID, and this continued for a full two years. As the two-year anniversary of the plandemic approached, things got increasingly more chaotic. And now we have reached a point of no return, it seems, which is why the narrative shifted from COVID to Vladimir Putin. The timing of Russias invasion of Ukraine is suspect because it occurred just as the consequences of several years of planned and engineered famine were really starting to become apparent. This provided cover for the media to blame Putin for even higher gas and food prices and the coming prospect of global food shortages. For the past month, we have been told that because of the invasion and associated sanctions, natural gas is now in short supply. Natural gas, it turns out, is used to produce the fertilizer for food crops. It is almost as if somebody wants food to become scarce so that the people become easier to control. With Putin as the new fall guy (it was COVID prior to this), the next engineered phase of the global plandemic can simply be blamed on Russia. You may recall that we reported numerous times in years past about bad weather conditions that interfered with crop yields. We warned that in the future, these losses would catch up with the supply chain and cause problems. What we did not know at the time is that a plandemic was going to be launched to create a perfect storm type of situation in which the dominoes would begin to fall more quickly and more severely, creating confusion as to the cause. This is how the powers that be are keeping all eyes off of themselves. They launch chaos event after chaos event while quietly knocking over the dominoes on purpose in the background undetected. Watch the two videos above and ask yourself: Why did the American government use American tax dollars to destroy precious food resources? And how is it impacting the world now as the very real prospect of mass starvation looms over the world? If we do not hang together against this murderous takeover, we WILL hang separately! wrote someone at Brighteon.com. Opposing this as a majority is our only hope. If we do not stand up together, they will put us down for good. More related news about the engineered destruction of the old world order can be found at Conspiracy.news. Sources include: Brighteon.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) A coalition of 21 states led by Florida filed a lawsuit against health officials in the Biden administration over Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) mask mandates on public transportation. Florida Attorney General (AG) Ashley Moody filed the complaint on March 29, alongside 20 other states represented by their respective AGs. Defendants named in Moodys lawsuit include Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Transportation Security Administration head David Pekoske and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. The 20 other states that served as co-plaintiffs are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia. Faced with a government that displays outright disdain for the limits on its power, especially when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, plaintiffs seek vacatur of that mask mandate and a permanent injunction against its enforcement, the suit stated. It added that the 21 plaintiffs are sovereign states that have the authority and responsibility to protect [their] public fisc and the health, safety and welfare of [their] citizens. The lawsuit put forward three points to bolster its petition to drop the CDCs unlawful mask mandate for public transportation. First, states are being forced to expend resources to enforce the mandate under risk of civil and criminal penalties from Washington. Second, the mandate harms plaintiffs sovereign interests as it conflicts with laws or policies prohibiting or discouraging mask requirements in contexts where the mask mandate applies. Third, the CDCs face covering requirement harms the plaintiffs quasi-sovereign interests in the health, safety and welfare of their citizens. It cited the negative repercussions of making face coverings mandatory for toddlers, which include psychological harms, reduced oxygenation, reduced sanitation and delayed speech development. First announced in January 2021, the CDCs mask mandate for public transportation took effect the following month and was set to expire in March. However, health officials extended it until at least April 18. (Related: CDC issues nationwide mask mandate for travelers.) Florida leading the way once more on the issue of health freedom Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proceeded to denounce the CDCs mask mandate during a March 29 press conference at the state capital, Tallahassee, where Moody was also in attendance. If you look at whats going on around the country and in Florida, weve been very clear that we want people to be able to make their own decisions. We dont believe in COVID theater, said DeSantis, adding that forcing people to wear masks on airplanes is not something thats grounded in any science. According to DeSantis, the mask mandate hurts Floridians who depend on tourism. Were the No. 1 state people seem to want to come to. I think more people would want to fly if they did not have to [mask up], he commented. Florida has led the nation in standing up to misguided federal government policies and fighting back against heavy-handed mandates that have no scientific backing. If politicians and celebrities can attend the Super Bowl unmasked, every U.S. citizen should have the right to fly unmasked. It is well past time to get rid of this unnecessary mandate and get back to normal life. The Sunshine States lawsuit against health officials in the Biden administration followed an open letter by a coalition of 10 major U.S. air carriers. The March 23 letter addressed to President Joe Biden urged the chief executive to rescind federal transportation travel restrictions, including pre-departure COVID-19 testing and mandatory face coverings, that are no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment. The science clearly supports lifting the mask mandate, [and doing so] in airports and onboard aircraft can be done safely. It makes no sense that people are still required to wear masks on airplanes yet are allowed to congregate in crowded restaurants, schools and at sporting events without masks. HealthFreedom.news has more stories about COVID mandates. Watch this advertisement from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pointing out the double standards of COVID-19 mask mandates. This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Group files suit over CDCs mask mandate for travelers. Fauci says people will have to wear masks inside airplanes FOREVER. Airline CEOs call on Biden to stop with the inconsistent, draconian COVID air travel mandates. Nearly every major airline is calling on Biden to drop mask mandate, pre-departure testing requirements. Florida governor calls out hypocrisy of elites who flout mask mandates while insisting those around them wear masks. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com MyFloridaLegal.com [PDF] TheEpochTimes.com Airlines.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) A dossier is a file containing detailed records and various documents relating to the affairs of a particular person or subject, and those affairs can be medical, criminal, or both. The first part of the word, dos, is French with origins in the Latin dorsum, as in the dorsal fin on the back of a whale. A new dossier is being compiled as you read this, and its 400,000 pages of documents already. Pfizer has now admitted in writing that humans who were vaccinated for Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) can SHED, through skin contact with other humans, the pathogens contained in the syringes. Look deeper and you will see thats just the tip of the iceberg, or the back fin of the whale, because hiding beneath the surface of the admission are MORE documents and data that reveal the Pfizer vaccine makes the injected people 300 percent more likely to contract the virus. This whale of secret information is contained in the new COVID-19 Dossier that a former employee (biotech analyst) of Pfizer has provided. Now, a federal judge in Texas has demanded the release of the REDACTED versions of the dossier, including 10,000 pages in April, 80,000 more pages by July, and the rest released at over 50,000 pages per month. Pfizer booster shot could be more deadly than the first one, and its all documented in the secret Dossier about to be exposed by a Texas Judge Federal judge Mark Pittman, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District in Texas, could cause the Pfizer name to be tarnished forever, leading to the recall of every Covid vaccine and booster shot they make and have made. The list of offenders includes health care providers and certain family members around trial participants. Were the clinical trials corrupted, falsified, and illegally altered to gain FDA approval for emergency use and now for deadly boosters? Are Pfizers booster shots really just the nails in the coffin for billions of people who are already suffering myocarditis and blood clots from the first jabs? How long can the deadly clot shots be circumvented with excuses and delays before the executives are tried in court for war crimes, medical fraud and murder? Pfizers COVID-19 Dossier could prove to be highly incriminating Pfizer crooks are now on the hook after trying their best to delay the release of the Dossier that reveals dark and desperate measures to conceal the results of the clinical trials they used to justify the emergency mass distribution of deadly gene-mutating injections for Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19). Top gurus at drug-and-vaccine peddler Pfizer wanted the world to wait 50 years to see their clinical trial information. Pfizer executives do NOT want to admit how long their gene jabs provide immunity, and thats IF they provide any immunity at all. The Dossier documents reveal more than 35,000 participants were injected with the Pfizer Covid clot shots, and those who got the shots earliest had a 5-times more likely chance of catching the lab-made Wuhan virus than the group who got the booster later on. This is devastating to Pfizers credibility thats already in the gutter from fraud and corruption just over a decade ago when they paid out the largest criminal fine ever levied against any drug company on Earth. That case was based on illegal off-label marketing of drugs. Pfizer, now known as repeat offenders, admitted to felony crimes and paid out over $2 billion in fines and fees when that dossier revealed kickback payments to doctors for pushing nine different drugs, including Lipitor and Viagra. Pfizer COVID-19 Dossier reveals the virus INCREASED for each group of study participants as time increased post-Dose 2 The Dossier will be revealed to the world shortly, and the conclusion of the research shows that if you have two doses of Pfizer, your rate of getting infected INCREASES over time, jumping from before infection at a rate of 1.3 percent, way up to over 4.3 percent within 4 months, meaning the participants experienced less infection when they had NO protection. That makes the vaccines more than useless, but simply dangerous and ineffective. Thats the opposite of the 75-year mantra of all so-called vaccines that every drug maker and the CDC regurgitate regularly safe and effective. While Pfizer and its credibility are about to go down the drain for good, it is still manufacturing and shipping its deadly coronavirus jabs all over the world, injuring and killing more innocent people. In fact, the US government is helping with this biological warfare program on its own people, pushing them on senior citizens and anybody with an already compromised immune system (thats everyone with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or previous Pfizer injections). Boosters are next, while the Dossier gets published for the world to see. How many people will die or become permanently maimed before the whole truth gets out? Only time will tell. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental scamdemic Covid vaccines and boosters that cause blood clots and other horrific side effects. Sources include: NaturalNews.com PHMPT.org Pandemic.news TruthWiki.org (Natural News) The World Health Organization (WHO) is determined to stay in power and make its pandemic leadership permanent, to the point that it will extend into the health care systems of all member countries of the United Nations (UN). The WHO proposed a new pandemic treaty that it hopes will be accepted by enough member countries by 2024. This treaty is seen as a direct threat to countries sovereignty in making decisions for their citizens. The treaty includes questionable parameters that the world should consider before agreeing to. In an interview with Shabnam Palesa Mohamed, a member of the steering committee of the World Council for Health, the treaty gives the WHO an inordinate amount of power to make decisions in sovereign countries as to how people live and how they deal with pandemics, from lockdowns to mandates over treatment. In other words, the organization will create a one-size-fits-all approach to diseases, without regard for the varying situations in individual countries. Based on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, this approach is already known to be ineffective. (Related: WHO using COVID omicron variant to push for global pandemic treaty.) Moreover, the treaty will cost each member country millions of dollars to participate in the process, which will see the need to go through voting at the World Health Assembly in 2023. The UN and the WHO will need a majority for the treaty to pass, and if so, all member countries will be bound by it. Mohamed also raised the fact that many countries do not even know the existence of the treaty as of yet, and its possible that the WHO may be trying to push for an earlier implementation without public participation or output. She noted that the move is undemocratic and unconstitutional, making it invalid and unlawful. She also highlighted the fact that the WHOs many health policy failures have been intrinsically linked to conflicts of interest. In an open letter to the WHOs pandemic treaty, the World Council for Health wrote that the proposed agreement is unnecessary and is a threat to sovereignty and inalienable rights. It also cited the WHOs suffocating power to declare unjustified pandemics, impose dehumanizing lockdowns and enforce expensive, unsafe and ineffective treatments against the will of the people. Further, the WCH also believes that people have a right to participate in any agreement that affects their lives, livelihoods and well-being. The WHO has not engaged in a public participation process, which is evidence that its priority is to gain more power for itself and its corporate accomplices instead of serving the interests of the people. Pandemic treaty an act of WHO power grab Martino also said while the treaty claims to be focused on pandemic planning and responses, there is serious concern that it could also be expanded to cover other areas of health. Mohamed agreed that this treaty has the potential to be expanded with the WHOs constitution as the basis for said expansion. Specifically, Article 2 of the organizations constitution stated that functions of the organization shall include acting as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work, and can propose conventions, agreements and regulations, as well as make recommendations on international health matters. (Related: Belgian health experts demand full investigation into WHO for faking COVID-19 pandemic.) The power that the WHO holds is already very significant, and the goal is to turn itself into a global health dictatorship, as is virtually written into its constitution. Moreover, the WHO removed the specificity of mass casualties as per the definition of a pandemic, so that it can include any disease that occurs in multiple countries. With the treaty, the WHO can claim power over healthcare systems in any number of ways, if they are given the chance. This treaty is one of the reasons the WHO is reluctant to declare the pandemic over. With the treaty in place, the WHO can have the power to mandate vaccine passports and vaccinations worldwide. It is already working on creating a global vaccine passport or a digital identity program. Moreover, the treaty would give the WHO the power to censor health information worldwide. Based on the European Councils web page discussing the treaty, the agreement is said to set the foundation for better communication and information to citizens. It also stated: To redeem citizen trust, concrete measures should be foreseen to improve the flow of reliable and accurate information as well as to tackle misinformation globally. Follow Pandemic.news for more updates on COVID-19. Watch the video below for more information about the controversial WHO pandemic treaty. This video is from the What is happening channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: WHO cares more about not offending people than protecting the public against the coronavirus pandemic. Sign this petition to stop the WHO from destroying U.S. sovereignty in times of health emergencies. WHO calls for new global public health world order to take advantage of future plandemics. WHO: Omicron variant could spell end of pandemic in Europe. World View Report: WHO concerned that vaccine boosters increase risk of longer pandemic. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com WorldCouncilForHealth.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) A Chinese researcher reportedly pressured the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to delete information about Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) genetic sequencing during the plandemic. Emails obtained by a nonpartisan whistleblower and government oversight group reveal that the NIHs decision to comply created quite the stir in scientific circles as it became clear that corruption was steering the narrative. Empower Oversight, as that whistleblower group calls itself, presented email evidence showing that a Wuhan University researcher submitted virus sequence information to the NIHs Sequence Read Archive in March 2020, the same month that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global plandemic and roughly two months after the virus was declared to be circulating in Wuhan. Three months later, that same researcher made an additional submission on the virus, though later that day he asked the NIH to retract it claiming it was done by mistake. The NIH responded by saying it preferred to edit submissions rather than replace them. A few days later, the same research submitted a third request to withdraw the genetic sequence from the NIH database entirely. One day after that, the NIH agreed while asking for clarification as to whether another submission should also be deleted. I had withdrawn everything, an unnamed NIH official told the Wuhan researcher in a response email. These emails exchanges, which were obtained by Empower Oversight via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, are available to read at JustTheNews.com. Fauci and Collins were lying when they claimed COVID originated from Wuhan wet market These same emails show that an expert had advised then-NIH Director Francis Collins, as well as National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) head Tony Fauci, that COVID did not, in fact, come from a Wuhan wet market as the media was falsely claiming at that time. This occurred before both Collins and Fauci told the world that the virus had come from a wet market and that there was no reason to believe otherwise, meaning they lied to the public. As for the deleted information at the NIH, further emails show that the agency under Collins directed reporters to more favorable coverage about the deletion. Off the record: we think this WaPo story does a good job characterizing the situation, the NIHs Renate Myles wrote to a reporter at the Hill, dropping a hint about where to find the doctored-up version of what happened. Myles also directed the journalist away from the New York Times story about the deletion because its tone was too incriminating. These documents raise several questions that need further investigation to answer fully, read a report from Empower Oversight, which was founded by a former top staffer for Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley. Congress should press the NIH for answers on why it is stonewalling Senate inquiries and dragging its feet on basic transparency through FOIA. The most disconcerting elements found in the emails is evidence showing that the NIH refused to participate in a transparent process of data evaluation about the deleted sequences, according to Empower Oversight. Most importantly, why has NIH refused to examine archival copies of deleted sequences in an open scientific process to determine whether any of that information might be able to shed light on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic? the group asked. NIH official Steve Sherry claimed that the agency cannot participate in an honest and transparent investigation into the deletion because when data sets are withdrawn from the database, the status does not permit use for further analyses. The latest plandemic news can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources include: JustTheNews.com JustTheNews.com NaturalNews.com Japan eases its two-year pandemic-related restrictions to commemorate the long-awaited hanami season, one of the most popular times of the year in Japan. Just like in many countries, the cherry blossom season marks the arrival of warmer weather, traditionally embraced by locals. As the beautiful pink colors peak this month, crowds gather to view the two-week blooming period. However, the lifting of the quasi-emergency restrictions sparked concerns for several cautious Tokyo folks, worried that the event may fuel resurgence, according to The Guardian. Since the Covid-19 measures have been relieved on 21 March, the country has seen notable rise in infections, between 20,000 and 40,000 cases daily. Nonetheless, the flower blossoming seems to make some people feel like life has finally gotten back to normal after 2 years. "Here in the downtown area, people have waited for this for so long," said Takanori Shiwaku, a 62-year-old cafe owner. Hanami-goers Urged to Observe Vigilance According to head of government's coronavirus advisory panel, Shigeru Omi, hanami-goers were urged to wear masks and avoid crowded parties or places, and observe preventive measures in general sense. Municipalities also regulate the going in and out of large parks for blossom-viewing. "Every year, rookie employees are asked to reserve spaces at Ueno Park for hanami," Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told the Japan Times. "But we want people to avoid holding such parties where people sit down and have food and drink, and simply stroll through" the park to look at the blossoms. "People may think it should be all right because it's outdoors. But we have experienced clusters from barbecue parties in the past," said Koike. "We need to be vigilant about a possible rebound (in cases)." Also read: Deadly Fungus That Pierces Ants' Gut Cells are Wiping Out Invasive Ant Colonies in the U.S. The Best Time and Place to See Cherry Blossoms All Around Japan The Japan World Travel suggests the best time to view the beautiful cherry blossoms in Japan is somewhere between March and May, depending on the location and the weather conditions. The Kanto, Kansai and Kyushu regions tend to be the earliest to start while the Tohoku region and Hokkaido are the latest. In Tokyo, cherry blossoms are expected to fully bloom on Monday. "I won't ask people not to go for cherry blossom-viewing and not drink alcohol even for a bit," Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said Friday. "But I want people to avoid partying hard with a large number of people." According to Meteorological Agency who monitors Tokyo's cherry blossoms, the blooming began earlier on Sunday, four days earlier than the average year. The following day, Japan recorded 29,740 new infections, just slightly higher than the previous week. On Tuesday, Tokyo reported 7,846 new Covid-19 cases - more than twice the 3,533 a week earlier. Japan's record brings the country's total to about 6.4m, including about 28,000 deaths. The governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike reported that there is evidence of BA.2 subvariant of Omicron replacing the existing variant "with significant speed". He advised Japanese people to prevent "taking hugs away from Italians". Related article: 80% of Traditional Orchards Vanished in England And Wales Ever Since 1990's A strawberry squid (Histioteuthis heteropsis) was spotted in the Pacific Ocean off the western coast of California. The squid resembles a fruit-colored creature with a mixture of pinkish or red-like colors. Sightings of the giant squids are considered to be uncommon on the California coast. Strawberry Squid In a recent YouTube video posted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) on March 24, it can be seen the strawberry squid is swimming in the dark ocean or 'twilight zone' in the submarine valley Monterey Canyon, off the Pacific coast of California. The giant squid's eight arms and two tentacles were captured twisting deep into the ocean abyss. According to Bruce Robinson, a senior scientist at the MBARI, the population of strawberry squids are far from abundant although they can be seen through a deep dive, as cited by Live Science. Also Read: Giant Squid Carcass: Could World's Most Elusive 'Kraken' be Monogamous? Ocean Twilight Zone The sighting occurred back in February using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) called Doc Ricketts, equipped with a water-proof ultra-high-definition (UHD) 4k resolution video. The ocean twilight zone area of the Monterey submarine canyon is as deep as the Grand Canyon, as per MBARI. According to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the ocean twilight zone is a part of the sea with a depth of approximately 650 to 3,300 feet (200 to 1,000 meters) below the ocean surface. It is a layer that stretches across the Earth's waters. Also called midwater or mesopelagic, the area is characterized by its dark surrounding and cold temperature, wherein its ocean surface is beyond the reach of sunlight, as per WHOI. Furthermore, the ocean twilight zone houses some of the planet's weird-looking marine animal species, including microscopic organisms. This is due to the fact that most animals at this depth have spent the rest of their life in such an environment-deprived of light compared to the upper layers of the ocean. As a result, evolutionary changes are quite different for marine creatures in the twilight zone. Giant Squid Giant squids (Architethus dux) have remained a mystery to scientists for centuries. They are the largest invertebrate on the planet which can reach up to dozens of feet in length and weigh nearly a ton. Their normal size is comparable to a bus. Dubbed as the Kraken or the Leviathan, an alleged ancestor of the carnivorous giant squids has been one of the subjects of myths and modern pop culture. Based on the legend, fishermen or voyagers purportedly often claim of encountering squid-like giant sea creatures that can pull ships beneath the oceans, as per NPR, an American non-profit media organization both held as a private and public entity. From this rationale, scientists have explained that the sightings of the legendary sea creatures were likely the same as the contemporary giant squids that we know of today-which are mostly hard to study due to their deep marine habitat. In modern history, some sightings of the twilight zone-dwelling creatures took place after dead giant squids are washed ashore. In 2004, scientists from Japan took their first images of a live giant squid, confirming their existence but not to the extent similar to the Kraken. Related Article: Giant Squid Devoured by Shark While Eating Last Dinner, Fossils Show For the first time, the percentage of wind and solar in global power generation has surpassed 10%, as China and Japan joined more than 50 other nations in 2021. Wind and Solar Gaining Traction Wind and solar are the fastest increasing sources of power, according to the new report from Ember in the United Kingdom. If present rates are maintained, they might provide enough capacity to help keep average global warming below 1.5C. The issue is that, following a Covid-caused delay, fossil fuel output and emissions have increased in the past year, and more coal is being burnt since gas has become too expensive. According to David Jones, principal author of Ember's third annual Global Electricity Review, "wind and solar have arrived." The transformation of the current energy system has begun. Increased Production According to Jones, solar generation increased by 23% last year, while wind generation increased by 14%, bringing the total output to 10.3% of worldwide power generation, up from 9.3% a year earlier and more than double the 4.6 percent in 2015, when the Paris climate pact was signed. Despite coal's highest yearly growth since 1985 to a new record high, all clean power sources - including nuclear (10.1%) and hydro (15.3%) - produced 38 percent of the world's electricity in 2021, which was greater than coal (36 percent). Combatting Global Warming To stay on a path that maintains global warming to 1.5 degrees, wind and solar must expand at a 20 percent compound annual pace until 2030. Jones claims that this is the same pace of increase as the previous decade. This is now eminently possible: wind and solar are the cheapest sources of power on a levelized basis. There is a growing body of knowledge on integrating them into networks at high levels throughout the world. It is apparent that these technologies are delivering, with 50 nations currently generating more than 10% of their power from these quick-to-deploy resources and three countries now generating more than 40%. Also Read: Improving Bitcoin Codes Can Significantly Reduce Energy Consumption by 99% Transitioning Jones points out that nations such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada are so confident in clean energy that they expect to switch to 100 percent renewable energy in the next decade and a half. However, with coal prices rising and power demand growing, all governments with carbon-intensive systems must now act with the same bravery and ambition. Denmark, Uruguay, and Luxembourg are the countries leading the transition to wind and solar, with shares of 52 percent, 47 percent, and 43 percent, respectively. Australia's Renewable Power With a share of more than 22%, Australia ranks pretty high. It also emphasizes South Australia's outstanding performance, with a 62 percent share of wind and solar in 2021. In addition, Australia is one of three nations - together with the Netherlands and Vietnam - that have moved more than 8% of their total energy consumption from fossil fuels to wind and solar in only the previous two years. This isn't bad for a country whose federal government has done all it can to halt the transition and whose energy minister has repeatedly and publicly argued that the system has too much wind and solar. In reality, Australia's world-leading solar efforts demonstrate how much it has added to the local grid in percentage terms since 2015. Rooftop solar is included in the statistics. China, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Argentina, Hungary, and El Salvador are among the nations that have achieved a 10% wind and solar share of their local grids in the last year. Although coal and power emissions have reached new highs, Jones believes the global electricity transformation is well underway. Generating Clean Energy More wind and solar energy is being integrated into networks than ever before. And not just in a few nations; it's happening throughout the world. They can provide the bulk of the clean power required to phase out all fossil fuels while also contributing to increased energy security. However, despite Russia's conflict with Ukraine, high gas prices have a great chance of returning to coal, jeopardizing the global 1.5 degree climate objective. Clean power must now be constructed on a heroic scale. Leaders are now seeing the urgency with which they must transition to 100 percent renewable power. Related Article: Resurgence of Coal Mining May Direly Affect Global Climate Goals For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! On Wednesday morning, a tornado slammed through Springdale, Arkansas, injuring at least seven individuals, two of whom were severely injured. CDT, according to authorities. Tornado in Arkansas After the twister, Mayor Doug Sprouse issued an emergency proclamation, stating that no deaths had been recorded in the city, located in northwest Arkansas near the Oklahoma and Missouri borders, roughly a three-hour drive from Little Rock. Many people have been evacuated from their homes, and countless companies have suffered major losses. At least two of the victims were critically injured, according to Springdale police, and all seven have been taken to the hospital. A gymnasium at George Elementary School in the city and surrounding homes were directly struck. According to AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell, the school's cafeteria and kitchen were also severely destroyed. Silver Lining Because the school had not yet started for the day, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced on Twitter that there were no pupils inside the school at the time. According to officials, school officials went door to door to check on the pupils and their families. Wendi Pickard, an educational facilitator at George Elementary School, told Wadell, "There's a lot of devastation, but their concern is their students and making sure they're alright." "They're worried. They're petrified. They want hugs and know that someone is thinking about them, and their parents appreciate it." Also Read: Exposure to Major Disasters Can Cause Long-Term Mental Health Problems Assessing the Situation A survey crew from the National Weather Service office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, gave the twister a preliminary assessment of "at least EF2." "toughness. The ultimate grade was raised to EF3 as the damage survey progressed. The Springdale Fire Department reported "severe damage" in the city's southeast, and police stated several roadways were blocked due to toppled power lines, trees, and traffic lights. Drone footage from the area indicated that the EF3 twister, which blasted through with wind gusts of up to 145 mph, flung a family's SUV into the air and left it sitting upside-down next to the residence, tore the roofs off of numerous homes, and destroyed several structures. According to PowerOutage.us, more than 12,000 homes and businesses in Arkansas were without power Wednesday afternoon. Tornadoes Tornadoes are fast-spinning columns of air that span from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground, with wind speeds up to 300 miles per hour. Tornadoes are formed by intense thunderstorms and can strike without warning. Tornadoes can kill people and destroy entire neighborhoods in a matter of seconds. Tornado damage tracks can be more than one mile broad and 50 miles long. Tornadoes exist in a variety of sizes and forms. Due to rain or low-hanging clouds, some large tornadoes might be practically undetectable, while others can be over a mile across. The lowest section of the funnel is frequently encircled by a cloud of debris churned up by the tornado's forces. Even if the funnel isn't visible, this debris cloud can help locate a tornado. Tornadoes may strike at any time of year, although they are more likely in the summer. The months of June through August are the most active for tornado development in the Northeast, with August seeing the most tornadoes. Twisters in the US The United States encounters 100,000 thunderstorms every year, with 1,000 tornadoes resulting from these storms. Tornadoes hit more than 80% of the time between midday and midnight. A tornado will only linger on the ground for around 20 minutes on average. Related Article: Intense Storm to Ravage the US Southeast, Potential Tornadoes Incoming For more climate and weather updates, don't forget to follow Nature World News! A mysterious forest filled with massive stone jars going back thousands of years has been uncovered in India. But no one knows what they were used for, why they were buried, or who made them. During a tour of the region in 2020, researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) uncovered the monolithic site in Dima Hasao Province, Assam, India. Research In a paper published in the journal Asian Archaeology, researchers noted that strange, buried limestone jars were initially discovered in Assam in the early 1900s. Still, they were not recorded systematically until the mid-2010s. During the 2020 survey, the crew discovered four megalithic jar sites. They had intended to investigate the known jar sites in Assam, but as they explored the deep jungle, they discovered an increasing number of these odd limestone jars. Other nations, such as Indonesia and Laos, have already discovered enormous ancient stone jars. Assam Site The Assam site is likely related to jar sites discovered in Laos, 500 kilometers to the southeast, and has been researched more thoroughly. Some of the jars in Laos are gigantic, reaching a height of 10 feet and a width of 6.5 feet. These contained cremated human remains, suggesting they were most likely made for funeral purposes. According to Nicholas Skopal, the study's author, they have barely "scratched the surface" of the stone jar sites in Assam. "We've begun to look for more," he added. "There's a lot of jungle and woodland; we've only looked at a small portion of it; there must be more since we discover new sights every time we venture out." Also Read: Authorities to Restore Parts of the Stonehenge Connection Skopal believes the Laotian and Assamese sites are related. The jars in Assam have yet to be dated, while those in Loas date from approximately 1,000 BC, with further graves dating from roughly 1,000 AD. They don't know if the civilization is the same or if new tribes have arrived in the area, but there has been activity surrounding the location for at least 2,000 years. They want to date the Assam jars using a procedure that involves removing sediment and analyzing it to determine when it was last exposed to sunlight. Once they know how ancient the Assam jars are, they should be able to tell whether this civilization originated in Laos and then went to Assam. Jar Conditions The jars have been exposed to the elements, and reports indicate that the contents have been removed over time. They're hoping to uncover jars in more distant areas that haven't been tampered with, according to Skopal. This would give us a better idea of what the jars were for and why they were utilized. "At some places, you'll find larger jars surrounded by smaller jars." The jars appear to have been cut out of stones, according to Skopal. In Assam, there is evidence of a quarry, although the stones might have originated from a stream bed or riverbed where rocks would have existed. Inside the jars grooves, where an instrument was used to carve them. "After that, they had to transfer it, which would have required hundreds of men to pull it or load it into a trolley." Looking for More The team now intends to return to Assam to locate other jar sites before they are destroyed due to forest clearing for planting. "Once the sites have been registered, the government can engage with local communities to conserve and manage them so that they are not destroyed," Skopal said. Related Article: Archeologists Found Evidence of Powerful Biblical Earthquake in City of David For more similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! The driver of the Soller-Puerto de Soller tram arrives to Puerto de Soller in the Spanish Balearic Island of Mallorca on July 14, 2021. - Inaugurated in 1912, the Palma-Soller railway line is one of the oldest routes still in operation in Spain. The wagons and locomotives retain their original designs, with maintenance and repairs carried out in the railway's own workshops, respecting the initial model. (Photo : Photo by JAIME REINA/AFP via Getty Images) As the railway rolls beside the Maresme coastline, north of Barcelona, the ocean glitter and caresses down the coasts, greeting the handful optimistic spring beachgoers as well as boarders. The Spanish Railway Line At times as per DailyAdvent news, Spain's historic rail network passes so near to the coast that it seems like you 're riding on the water directly. Tremendous surges ripped a massive swath across the shore, endangering to destroy a piece of rail and causing the transport operator to institute a transit shuttle connecting La Pineda and Malgrat de Mar. This was not the only occasion, and it won't be the very last: beach flooding and increasing ocean tides have placed the legendary Maresme line's survival in peril. According to the stament given by Vilaplana to The Guardian, the five ports throughout the coastline also play a role. As tidal streams convey the dunes from north to south as result of biological cycle of replenishing the coastlines, but the marinas' wharf operate as stratigraphic snares. Furthermore, Vilaplana believe that it is hard to rationalize undertaking none on reasonable terms when they're wasting billions on high-speed train services which no one uses, referring to Spain's high-speed railway system, which is number two mostly to China in terms of range enclosed but has battled to attract sufficient commuters to be commercially feasible. Concrete measures like coastal structures and coastal barriers exacerbate the weathering crisis, so the remedy is even harsher than the illness, as suggested by Antoni Esteban of Preservem el Maresme, an apex body organization portraying sustainability. While there is strong consensus that the route should be moved inland, he claims that the strategy has been stymied by an absence of democratic freewill, with a 30 billion price tag, funds. Also read: Tokyo Celebrates 'Hanami' Cherry Blossoms Viewing After 2 Years of Cancellations Spanish Railway Line being Devoured by the Sea The shifting of the track away from the coast could be the finest sustainability answer, large numbers of travelers will miss the strange but thrilling pleasure of riding on a subway that appears to make the journey by ocean. Community commercial fishermen, according to Marcos, are concerned regarding the implications on aquatic existence of continuously trawling the ocean floor for soil to regenerate the shorelines following each wintry downpour. Greenpeace's Pilar Marcos concurs: "Constructing barrier inland is a big investment of taxpayer's funds that will answer none in the coming decades as cyclones become heavier and much more regular." Not only will this ensure the train's security and competitiveness, Marcos claims it is just by chance that there hasn't been a severe disaster but it could also liberate up land, allowing for bigger beaches, which studies indicates is the strongest defense over erosion. A 50 million plan to build 28 breakwaters, each 150 meters long, along the shoreline may exacerbate the situation. Moreover, some reviewers argue that in Barcelona, in which a sequence of coastal structures were developed to prevent erosion, minimal dust is rising the coastline than ever before. As the water depth on the Catalan shoreline has risen by 3.3mm annually over the last three decades, Vilaplana feels that the only long-term option is to relocate the railway inland, close to the highway. Neither the typhoons getting nastier, but storm surges are causing the currents to travel even farther inland. The mayor of Santa Susanna, which itself is located halfway around Pineda de Mar and Malgrat de Mar, Joan Campolier, has urged for a permanent fix, although it entails ignoring the route for an extended period of time. Related article: Scientists Uncover Giant Sinkholes in Northern Canada's Seafloor HOMESTEAD, FL - MAY 19: Honeybees are seen at the J & P Apiary and Gentzel's Bees, Honey and Pollination Company on May 19, 2015 in Homestead, Florida. U.S. President Barack Obama's administration announced May 19, that the government would provide money for more bee habitat as well as research into ways to protect bees from disease and pesticides to reduce the honeybee colony losses that have reached alarming rates. (Photo : Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Forensic science students at George Mason University (GMU) in Virginia found a partner in honey bees against crime involving missing bodies of people. In the United States, more than 600,000 people go missing every year, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). While many children and adults in general have been recovered and found alive, tens of thousands of individuals remain missing for more than a year and eventually turn to "cold cases". The system estimated 4,400 unidentified bodies recovered each year, with approximately 1,000 remain unidentified after one year. Students at Honey Bee Initiative and the Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory, GMU, teams up with honey bees, the "latest crime fighters", to find these missing persons, Newsweek reported. Here's how: Forensics Honey Bee Experiment Honey bees contain proteins with biochemical information that's already been widely used by scientists in detecting illegal pesticides in vegetables and fruits, or microplastic pollutants in the air, says Anthony Falsetti, an associate professor in GMU's forensic science program, in US News. "Whatever's in the environment, gets into the plant. ... Bees take in a sample of the environment wherever they go," Falsetti said. Alessandra Luchini, a biologist at GMU, brought to Falsetti this process of extracting said proteins from honey, but instead of determining if the bees had ingested pesticides, the GMU forensic science students will be searching for human proteins that could exist in the small samples of honey. "We thought, well, if bees are feeding on flowering plants that are near decomposing bodies, would the chemical compounds of human decomposition be part of the proteins that the bees ingest? And if they ingest it, will they deposit it in their honey?" Falsetti explains. The new experiment will take place at the university's outdoor forensics laboratory, scheduled to open this spring at George Mason's Science and Technology Campus in Manassas, where bodies are buried in 5-acre facility of "pre-dug graves" at varying depths. Also read: Zombifying Virus Manipulates and Hijacks Caterpillars Senses Into Killing Themselves A "Very Unbiased Method" According to Luchini, proteins can precisely tell a lot about what organisms have touched and interacted with. The same technology used for years in cancer and infectious disease research will be used in the GMU honeybee experiment. "It spits out hundreds of thousands of different proteins without having any presumption," Luchini said. "It's just a very unbiased method." Falsetti added that the experiment could one day aid in criminal investigations in a larger area involving missing persons, or determine an approximate location where the body might be found. Luchini believes it can even help solve the biggest crime of the century, in just a small spoon of honey. Former FBI agent and now director of GMU's Forensic Science Program, Professor Mary Ellen O'Toole, told Newsweek that outdoor crime scenes were always challenging to investigate, and honey bees could make it easier for forensics to examine human remains. "A lot of times the victims are left outside," O'Toole said. "They're left in the environment. And the environment can do some crazy things to human remains. It could be the result of the weather, it could be the result of predators, bugs...all of those things can impact decomposition." Related article: Deadly Fungus That Pierces Ants' Gut Cells are Wiping Out Invasive Ant Colonies in the U.S. In 1997, Rosie the Shark was caught in a family's tuna-fishing net and kept in a formaldehyde tank before being abandoned. But now she's being brought back to her former grandeur. Rosie the shark would perish after breaking their tuna nets, despite the fact that the guys who discovered her had no intention of trapping an apex predator. The great white shark, caught off the coast of South Australia in 1997, was a two-ton beast with razor-sharp teeth that would be marveled at for decades. Abandoned Rosie In 2018, a video showing Rosie left within the tank went viral, garnering millions of views from around the world and prompting calls for the big shark to be removed. Unfortunately, the video's success attracted criminals to the park, who shattered the outer covering of two panels and threw trash into the tank. The liquid Rosie was trapped in began to drain as the lid of the tank was lifted, exposing the tip of one of her fins, while the garbage that had been thrown in had damaged her body. The landlord determined Rosie needed to either find a new home or be destroyed at this time, and movements to "Save Rosie the Shark" quickly arose, as per Ladbible. Rosie the shark, who lived for 70 years, had traveled the seas for dozens of years. Nothing, however, would compare to her adventure after death, when overwhelming demand for her massive corpse turned her into a tourism destination at the Wildlife Wonderland theme park long before internet has made her renowned, as per All That's Interesting. Rosie the Shark spent more than a decade in a bespoke tank soaked with formaldehyde after being delivered to the park on a refrigerated truck. Rosie, on the other hand, was left behind after the park closed, until one urban explorer documented the well-preserved animal for all to see online. Read more: Rising Number of Shark Attacks in Australia Reveals A Darker Story When Rosie is Alive Rosie the shark was first seen in Australia in 1997, after she ate her way through a tuna enclosure off the coast of Louth Bay. The regional authorities decided to track Rosie down since seafood enterprises and local divers rely on those waters. Rosie's species wasn't yet actively protected, so initial preparations considered tranquilizing her. It's no surprise that the event didn't create as much of an impact. There were only approximately 70 million individuals online that year, which seems ancient in comparison to today's 5 billion users. However, according to historian Eric Kotz's book The Jawsome Coast, the shark's adventure had just begun. The monster piqued the curiosity of citizens and animal parks alike. Although the Seal Rocks Life Center made an initial offer, they later backed out, forcing Wildlife Wonderland to remove Rosie from competitive waters. She traveled 900 miles from South Australia to Bass, Victoria, on a refrigerated truck. However, she was detained by the authorities before she arrived because a local lady had gone missing, and all eyes were on Rosie. Before Wildlife Wonderland creator John Matthews packed her with Dacron and placed her in a gigantic custom-built tank full of formaldehyde, a grisly necropsy exonerated her as a suspect. Related article: Hoffman's Dragon Shark: Mexican 'Godzilla Shark' Finally Given a Proper Name Regardless of the fact that a massive 7.2 earthquake rocked the Pacific's Loyalty Islands, there seemed to be no need for alarm. Also, there appears to be no tsunami risk from that earthquake throughout the Pacific, including Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington. The 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck at 7:44 p.m. Hawaii time / 1:44 a.m. ET, according to the Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The earthquake's epicenter was found at 22.7 South, 170.3 East, roughly southeast of the Loyalty Islands. The earthquake in the pacific After the earthquake, a series of aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 4.7 to 5.9 occurred in the same location during the next hour and a half, following the initial quak, as per Express. Following the quake, the US Tsunami Warning Center issued a rising tide warning for areas within 186 miles of the epicenter on Vanuatu's neighboring coast. The warning was withdrawn after further examination following the occurrence. There have been no reports of casualties or damage to neighboring islands as a result of the quakes. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred at a range of roughly 6 miles and also was generated by seismic activity along a decreased fault zone or near a tectonic plate boundary between the Australian and Pacific plates, according to the US Geological Survey. "Focal mechanism solutions imply that the earthquake occurred on either a shallow dipping fault striking northwest or a steeply dipping fault striking southeast," they stated via Weatherboy. Based on publicly available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is just not expected, and that there is no tsunami threat for Hawaii, according to the Tsunami Warning Center. There is no tsunami threat to Hawaii, they added. Also Read: 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Guam; Aftershocks are Likely in the Coming Hours Tsunamis caused by earthquakes There are additional essential aspects to consider than earthquake magnitude when it comes to tsunami formation, as per USGS. It must have been a deep marine quake that caused the seafloor to move. Tsunamis are significantly more likely to be generated by thrust earthquakes (as opposed to strike slip earthquakes). However modest tsunamis have been generated by big strike-slip earthquakes in a few situations. Magnitudes ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 Tsunamis caused by earthquakes of this size are very deadly. Small variations in sea level may be seen in the area around the epicenter, though. In this magnitude range, tsunamis capable of causing damage or deaths are uncommon, but they have happened owing to secondary impacts such as landslides or underwater slumps. Magnitudes ranging from 7.6 to 7.8 Tsunamis might be generated by earthquakes of this magnitude, especially near the epicenter. Minor adjustments in sea level can be seen from a great range. Tsunamis that may cause damage over long distances are uncommon in the magnitude range. Magnitudes of 7.9 and higher Near the epicenter, destructive local tsunamis are probable, as are severe sea level shifts and destruction across a larger region. It is indeed worth mentioning that an aftershock of magnitude 7.5 or more is conceivable after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake. Related article: Researchers Discovered a New Type of Earthquake Triggered by Hydraulic Fracturing Neanderthals have remained a mystery to scientists, especially in the events that led to their disappearance between 50,000 and 40,000 years ago in Europe. However, a new archaeological study revealed that Neanderthals were capable of engaging in technological activities. In Spain, a team of archeologists unearthed a so-called "Neanderthal workshop" in the Chatelperronian in the Northern Iberian Peninsula, Aranbaltza II. The workshop consisted of ancient stone tools that highlight the start of human technology around 45,000 years ago. This is considered the most advanced technology that was found from Neanderthals before they disappeared and were replaced by modern humans. Neanderthal Workshop In a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE on Wednesday, March 30, the archaeologists discovered that not only the ancient humans used the stone, they also exhibited their craftsmanship in creating the tools called ancient stone tools. This highlightee the evidence that a previous culture of Neanderthals disappeared thousands of years prior to the arrival of the Neanderthal toolmakers. This is apparent when the archaeologists claimed the disappearance of Neanderthals was due to a series of "local extinction episodes" in Europe. Throughout history, modern humans, or Homo Sapiens have been studied and paid attention more compared to their Neanderthal counterparts. The history of Neanderthals is easy to be missed, according to the study's lead author, Joseba Rios-Garaizar, as cited by the Interesting Engineering (IE) site. Also Read: Neanderthal's Extinction May Be Caused By an Entirely Different Reason Ancient Stone Tools Based on the new paper, the Neanderthal workshop site at Aranbaltza was called the same place "home" by different generations of Neanderthals. Instead of a dwelling place, the Neanderthals purportedly used it as a tool workshop similar to factories and manufacturing facilities in contemporary times. During the excavation of the site, more than 5,000 pieces of rocks or ancient stone tools as part of primitive manufacturing, as per IE. The toolmaking practice reportedly lasted for tens of thousands of years prior to the Neanderthals' extinction. The research added that some of the primitive humans decided to make innovations in the form of making blades instead of flake tools. A similar site and ancient yet distinct technology was also found in the caves in the Paleolithic industry of Chatelperronian in France. Scientists call this a techno-cultural complex or technocomplex, which spanned from Paris to Spain. Neanderthal Extinction Neanderthals are considered to be a separate species of humans who lived and thrived in Europe for hundreds of thousands of years. After their extinction 40,000 years ago, several theories have emerged to explain how their disappearance transpired. One of these was through a brutal wipeout. Nevertheless, a recent study claimed that Neanderthals and H. Sapiens coexisted for more than 10,000 years in Europe before the former went extinct. This showed that the Neanderthals were not forced into extinction by the modern human species, as per the study published in Science Advances, as cited by the BBC. In light of the new study about the Neanderthal workshop and ancient stone tools in Spain, the understanding of archaeologists and other scientists on how Neanderthals lived before their disappearance will develop their historical narrative. Related Article: Human Innovation/Weapons Didn't Bully Neanderthals into Extinction Prehistoric mammals prioritized bulking up their bodies instead of using their brain in order to survive, according to new research. This has been the case in a post-dinosaur world within 10 million years after an asteroid strike apparently ended the reign of the colossal predators. Brawn Before Brains It seems that intelligence must not necessarily come first before physical prowess, especially in a world where the animal kingdom and global climate are adjusting in the aftermath of a planet-extinction event. Scientists from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland have discovered this notion. Their study has been published in the journal Science on Thursday, March 31, the scientists found that prehistoric mammals exercised brawn before brains strategies to boost their chances of survival-whether it is from other predators or natural phenomena. The scientists in Scotland suggested that mammals' brains decreased in size since their bodies grew at a faster rate. Despite the disproportioned brain-body mass, the animals still relied on their sense of smell, while their sight and other senses are still less developed at that time. These findings were based on the newly discovered fossils from the 10-million-year-period post-dinosaur world called the Paleocene, as per Phys.org. Also Read: Early Mammals Rapidly Diversified After Dinosaur Extinction Mammalian Brain Development In a separate study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior in 2018, scientists emphasized that growth duration, brain size, and longevity are important factors when it comes to mammalian brain development. The study also emphasized that the continuous process of neural development is a key factor in brain size. Accompanied by evolutionary changes, the study put forward that social ecology was also important in mammalian brain development. The scientists claimed that mammals, including humans, were only able to achieve such brain development through a so-called socio-biological through our "grandmothering" life history. Grandmothering Hypothesis According to the grandmothering hypothesis, putting infants into a unique social ecology contributes to early neural development. In relation to mammalian brain development, the scientists are likely pointing out that the adult brain size of mammals is a byproduct of this early exposure. Furthermore, the grandmothering hypothesis suggested that mammal grandmothers in the animal kingdom have greatly contributed to the evolution and the continuance of a species. For instance, these "caretakers" nurtured the physical and social needs of baby mammals, while the father is away hunting. The onset of evolution, under the theory, suggested the substitution of the so-called caretaker grandmothers also provided mother mammals to have more children. Regardless of the theory, scientists are still clueless about how the prehistoric mammals during the post-dinosaur world initially developed their brains. Extinction Event The leading extinction theory that wiped out the dinosaurs was due to the massive impact of the Chicxulub asteroid 65 million years ago. According to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), the extinction event blocked sunlight, changed the global environment, and led to global wildfires. Although the extinction event killed almost all animal and plant life on Earth, leading to the post-dinosaur world were some living organisms, including mammals, have survived. It would take tens of millions of years again before certain mammals will hone both their muscles and brains, the Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens. Related Article: Prehistoric Evidence Shows Mammals Evolved Rapidly When Dinosaurs Went Extinct Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Turkey may host Russian, Ukrainian FMs again Xinhua) 09:11, April 01, 2022 A resident walks past a damaged building in Mariupol, March 28, 2022. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua) ANKARA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Turkey may host Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers for peace talks within two weeks, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday. "We are working to bring the foreign ministers together," Cavusoglu told A Haber broadcaster, adding that Ankara aims to bring the leaders of Russia and Ukraine together. The minister said he was in contact with both Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov for the meeting. "Both sides said they wanted to come when they were ready. It is not possible to give an exact date. They said there might be a meeting in a week or two," Cavusoglu said. Turkey hosted a face-to-face meeting of Russian and Ukrainian negotiation teams in Istanbul on Tuesday, during which Ukraine presented written proposals. The Turkish minister reiterated that Moscow and Kiev have achieved progress on some topics of the talks. The meeting was the first high-level talks between Moscow and Kiev since Russia launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine on Feb. 24. Elaborating on the presence of Russian businessman Roman Abramovich at the peace talks in Istanbul, the minister praised his role as a "backchannel" figure for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Abramovich was "sincerely" working to end the conflict and making "contributions" to the process, Cavusoglu said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Cloudy with occasional light rain during the afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 55F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 45F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. A small, preliminary study of an investigational new drug being studied for mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease suggests it is safe and may be associated with improvements in executive function, thinking and memory skills. The study is released today, March 31, 2022, and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 74th Annual Meeting being held in person in Seattle, April 2 to 7, 2022 and virtually, April 24 to 26, 2022. The drug, called SAGE-718, is also in clinical trials for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Cognitive impairment is often one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease, can be very difficult for patients and their families, and represents an area of great unmet medical need. These results support further research with larger numbers of people to determine whether this therapy is safe and effective in treating cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and in improving how well people can function independently in their everyday lives." Aaron Koenig, MD, study author, Sage Therapeutics in Cambridge, Mass Sage Therapeutics is the maker of the investigational drug. The study involved 26 people with an average age of 67. They had an average score of 20.7 points on a common cognitive test, indicating cognitive performance consistent with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. The participants took SAGE-718 daily for two weeks and were then followed for another two weeks. They completed tests of thinking and memory at the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment, and after one month. Both the participants and researchers knew that SAGE-718 was being administered. The study was designed mainly to gather data on the drug's safety. There were no serious side effects of the drug. Five people had mild or moderate side effects believed to be related to the drug, such as headache or constipation. After one month, the participants' scores on the cognitive test had improved by an average of 2.3 points, to 22.8 points. Koenig said some participants also had improvement in assessments of how well they were able to complete their daily activities, especially in complex activities such as using a computer, carrying out household chores, and managing their medications. This coincided with consistent improvement on multiple tests of executive functioning that were administered during the trial. Koenig said, "If replicated in future studies, such improvements suggest that this drug may eventually provide meaningful benefits to people in their everyday lives." SAGE-718 is a type of drug called a positive allosteric modulator of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. The study's limitations include its small size and that participants and researchers knew that the drug was being administered, which could lead to bias. The study was supported by Sage Therapeutics, Inc. Faculty from the Departments of Microbiology, Medicine Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Pathology and Molecular Cell-Based Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai play key roles in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program set up to provide a real-time risk assessment of variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The program, called SARS-CoV-2 Assessment of Viral Evolution (SAVE) and described in a paper published March 31 in Nature, assesses how the variants might affect transmission, virulence, and resistance to both disease-induced (convalescent) and vaccine-induced immunity. The SAVE program was established by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of NIH, in January 2021 to address the global public health threat caused by increasing SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity and the emergence of viral variants that jeopardize the protective antiviral immunity following infection or vaccination. It uses a coordinated approach to identify and curate data about these variants, their impact on immunity, and their effects on vaccine protection. Collaborative science and open sharing of results in near real-time amongst an international team of scientists has defined the SAVE program and has facilitated rapid prioritization, reagent development, testing, and assessment of SARS-CoV-2 variants. The SAVE program serves as a template for response to not only SARS-CoV-2 variants but for other emerging pathogens." Florian Krammer, PhD, Mount Sinai Professor of Vaccinology at Icahn Mount Sinai, Co-Chair of the SAVE program's In Vitro group and co-corresponding author of the paper The SAVE program is composed of an international team of scientists with expertise in virology, immunology, vaccinology, structural biology, bioinformatics, viral genetics, and evolution. It was formed as a critical data-generating component for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG) and to facilitate rapid data-sharing with global partners and the scientific community. Each team member is responsible for key contributions ranging from curation of viral mutations, bioinformatics analysis, development of novel reagents, assay development and testing, in vitro characterization, and in vivo model development to countermeasure testing. The SAVE program is divided into three working groups: (1) Early Detection and Analysis group; (2) In Vitro group; (3) In Vivo group. The Early Detection group uses public databases and analysis tools to curate and prioritize emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. The In Vitro group evaluates the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on humoral and cell-mediated immune responses using in vitro assays. The In Vivo group uses small and large animal models to test vaccine efficacy, and define immune mechanisms and correlates of protection.. Collaborative efforts between the Early Detection geneticists and evolutionary biologists, and the In Vitro group of virologists/immunologists allow for rapid determination of relationships between viral evolution and neutralization sensitivity. In turn, these results enable the In Vivo team to assess and evaluate protection provided by vaccination and/or previous infection in animal studies. The emergence of the B.1.1.529 variant (Omicron, which includes BA.1, BA.1.1 and BA.2), which contains more than 30 mutations in the spike protein, threatened to reduce the effectiveness of clinically approved COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapies and infection- and vaccine-induced immunity to the virus. The SAVE program rapidly responded by generating plasmids and spike protein, identifying the first Omicron cases (BA.1) in New York City, isolating, propagating, and distributing authentic Omicron viral stocks, sharing reagents, performing binding and neutralization assays, and evaluating virus infection across different animal models. The data from these studies were rapidly shared with government agencies and submitted as manuscripts on pre-print servers to inform the wider scientific community. Icahn Mount Sinai faculty members who are key to this effort include: Harm van Bakel, PhD Serves as a member of the Early Detection and Analysis group. His lab leverages data they generated as part of the Mount Sinai Pathogen Surveillance Program, as well as data from public repositories to identify and prioritize novel emerging variants for isolation and further characterization. Serves as a member of the Early Detection and Analysis group. His lab leverages data they generated as part of the Mount Sinai Pathogen Surveillance Program, as well as data from public repositories to identify and prioritize novel emerging variants for isolation and further characterization. Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, PhD, and Michael Schotsaert, PhD Lead the In Vivo efforts through the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens and Tisch Cancer Institutes at Icahn Mount Sinai. Their labs have set up SARS-CoV-2 animal infection models and have vaccinated animals available that can be used to test efficacy against variants of concern as soon as they emerge. Lead the In Vivo efforts through the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens and Tisch Cancer Institutes at Icahn Mount Sinai. Their labs have set up SARS-CoV-2 animal infection models and have vaccinated animals available that can be used to test efficacy against variants of concern as soon as they emerge. Viviana Simon, MD, PhD Serves as a member of the In Vitro group and oversees the charachterization of disease-causing viral variants cultured from samples collected from patients seeking care at the Mount Sinai Health System. Serves as a member of the In Vitro group and oversees the charachterization of disease-causing viral variants cultured from samples collected from patients seeking care at the Mount Sinai Health System. Florian Krammer, PhD Serves as co-chair of the In Vitro group. In addition, the Krammer laboratory provides critical insights into how well sera from COVID-19 vaccinated individuals continues to neutralize variants. "As is described in the paper, there are many critical and time-sensitive components that are involved in a successful response to emerging variants," said Viviana Simon, MD,PhD, Professor of Microbiology and Medicine and faculty member of the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute at Icahn Mount Sinai, and a member of the In Vitro group of the SAVE program. "Partnerships like the SAVE program must continue to include scientists from around the world to ensure that variants are rapidly identified and characterized so that we can effectively counter the constant threat emerging pathogens pose against global public health." "All Mount Sinai members of the SAVE program want to emphasize the major role that institutional support and collaborations with other Icahn Mount Sinai groups have played in our ability to participate in the SAVE program. This would have not been possible without the biosafety supervision of Randy Albrecht and the support from the institution in expanding our biocontainment capabilities, as well as without collaborations with many clinical and basic research colleagues at Mount Sinai," said Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, PhD, Director of the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute and member of the In Vivo group of the SAVE program. "And of course we do not want to forget our young members of our group, the research assistant professors, instructors, postdoctoral students, doctoral students, lab supervisors, technicians, andpre-doctroal students, who participated in the studies of the SAVE program. We could not do anything without them." To prevent diabetic foot ulcers, research scientists at The University of Texas at Arlington have developed footwear technology that relieves pressure on areas of the feet that experience high stress during walking and other activities. Muthu Wijesundara, principal research scientist and head of the Division of Biomedical Technologies at the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI), and his team have received a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a dual-layer insole apparatus for diabetic foot lesion prevention. The technology was developed in partnership with the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Due to numbness in their legs and feet, people with diabetes often are unable to detect and respond to stress-related pain by adjusting their foot loading. This can result in repeated stress to high-pressure foot regions such as the heel or toes and can worsen blisters, sores and ulcers to the point of severe tissue loss or life-threatening infection. For many, foot ulcers can lead to amputation of a toe, foot or leg. Diabetes is a leading cause of amputation worldwide, and there is a major role that technology can play to prevent its devastating effects. We are now one step closer to finding a solution to reduce risk of complications related to diabetic foot ulcers." Muthu Wijesundara, principal research scientist and head of the Division of Biomedical Technologies, University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute The removable shoe insole designed by Wijesundara's team relieves stress by periodically regulating and redistributing pressure across all areas of the foot. Using fluid-filled cells, the dual-layer apparatus provides variability in a person's foot-loading patterns to reduce prolonged pressure to any given area. The insole can automatically adjust and is designed to accommodate people of various weights. In addition, the insole can be substituted for a total contact cast during the healing of a foot ulcer, and it can provide gait and ground force analysis. Wijesundara's team is working with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center on a pilot study funded by the National Institutes of Health to test initial prototypes. Three years ago, Lauren Bryant was walking across Appalachian State University's campus with several other Black students when they were verbally assaulted with a racist tirade. "This guy in a pickup truck stopped at the light, rolled down his window, and just started calling us a bunch of N-words, she recalled. It wasn't the only time Bryant has had an experience like this at the overwhelmingly white campus in Boone, a town in one of North Carolinas most conservative regions. Whether it's the ubiquity of Confederate flags, Ku Klux Klan members handing out literature, or a parade of pickup trucks flying flags in support of President Donald Trump, she believes they're all intended to signal that students of color are unwelcome there. College campuses are a microcosm of racial strife happening across the nation. From 2018 to 2021, the Southern Poverty Law Center identified 1,341 incidents of white supremacist pamphleteering on college campuses. The Anti-Defamation League recorded around 630 incidents of white supremacist propaganda being distributed on campuses in 2019. Black students at predominantly white institutions report everything from instances of thinly veiled racism, homophobia, and sexism to outright racial hostility and intimidation. Experiencing such incidents has consequences that go well beyond feeling uncomfortable. A growing body of research has documented the detrimental health effects of both interpersonal and structural racism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that centuries of racism have had a profound and negative impact on the mental and physical health of people of color. The American Public Health Association calls racism a barrier to health equity and a social determinant of health akin to housing, education, and employment. Racist incidents can take a toll on students' overall health and well-being, undermine their self-confidence, and affect academic performance, said Dr. Annelle Primm, senior medical director for the Steve Fund, a nonprofit focused on supporting the mental health of young people of color. "These kinds of feelings go hand in hand with students at predominantly white institutions, where they may feel isolated or like they dont belong," she said. "The experiences are associated with issues such as depression, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating or sleeping." A UCLA study published in the journal Pediatrics in 2021 shows that the problems aren't necessarily transitory. Young adults who experience discrimination are at higher risk for both short- and long-term behavioral and mental health problems that are exacerbated with each new incident. For a variety of reasons, students of color are not getting the kind and amount of help they need. A recent University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill study of first-year college students found that Black students had the highest increase in rates of depression. However, a study in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that treatment use is lower among students of color relative to white students, even when controlling for other variables. This is consistent with a 2020 report from the Steve Fund that said students of color are less likely than their white peers to seek mental health treatment even though white and Black students experience mental health issues at the same rate. College campuses are having trouble recruiting enough therapists to meet the mental health needs of students overall. And few predominantly white colleges employ counselors and mental health professionals who are representative of the racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the students. This can be problematic for patients of color in any setting who doubt white counselors can provide culturally competent care, which acknowledges a patient's heritage, beliefs, and values. When Daisha Williams spoke to a white counselor outside of campus about being alienated from her mother's side of the family for being biracial, her pain was trivialized: "She was, like, 'Sorry that happened. That sucks. They really missed out.' And that was it." The history of racism in the fields of psychology and psychiatry makes many Black people leery of seeking help. Last year, the American Psychiatric Association apologized for the organization's "appalling past actions" and pledged to institute "anti-racist practices." Months later, the American Psychological Association issued its own apology. But even a Black counselor may not be enough to overcome reluctance. In a joint survey conducted by the Steve Fund and the United Negro College Fund, 45% of students at historically Black colleges and universities said they would not speak to a mental health professional if they were in crisis. Primm said a student's background and belief system may be a factor. "They may have been raised to 'put it in Gods hands' or may be told that they could overcome these feelings if they prayed hard enough," Primm said. "Certainly, prayer and religious activity are important and helpful for mental health, but sometimes you may need some additional support." Black students account for nearly 4% of the more than 18,000 undergraduates at Appalachian State, and Black residents make up fewer than 3% of Boone's population. Bryant, the programming chair for the university's Black Student Association, believes that having a university with so few Black people in a town where Black residents are even scarcer emboldens those who commit racist acts. Bryant was well aware of the demographics of the school and the region before she arrived. But during a campus tour, university representatives assured prospective students that they valued diversity and would ensure that Black and other students of color felt as if they belonged. "We were under the impression that they would make sure we are supported, but the reality of how things really are changed that dynamic," she said. "We did not expect the amount of fight wed have to contribute towards things that might affect our education. And sometimes the racism the students face is more subtle than hurled epithets but still deeply unsettling. In 2017, Williams said, she eagerly anticipated discussing Ta-Nehisi Coates' essay "The Case for Reparations" in one of her Appalachian State classes, but the conversation soon became upsetting. A white student asserted that any residual economic or social inequality resulted from Black people's lack of initiative, not the nation's failure to atone for historical wrongs. "He kept saying extremely offensive things like 'They should just work harder' or 'They should try to better their lives and educate themselves,'" Williams recalled. "At one point, he made some comment about lynching. Once he said that, I just got up and left." Williams was especially disturbed by what she saw as the professor's encouragement. "Rather than saying, 'You're making the students of color feel unsafe and unwelcome,' she kept saying, 'Elaborate on that.'" Although institutions cannot control or eliminate these occurrences, they bear responsibility for how they respond. When asked about what happened to Williams and Bryant, Appalachian State Associate Vice Chancellor Megan Hayes called the incidents "abhorrent" and said the university "is committed to fostering an inclusive, safe and supportive environment for all students, faculty, and staff." Still, such incidents continue to happen nationwide. A white Georgia Southern University student gave a class presentation on white replacement theory, which has been linked to white supremacist ideology. When Black students complained, the university defended the presentation as free speech. At Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, pro-Nazi postings were directed at Black students and a banana was taped to the dorm room door of two Black male students. At Northern Illinois University, the N-word was spray-painted on the Center for Black Studies building. A student at the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry posted a video showing two men firing guns at a tree as one yells, "This is what we do to n." In the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020, Appalachian State student organizations spoke out and led protests against what they deemed as the oppression and trauma that Black and other students of color routinely encountered. Marches through campus, into downtown Boone, and to the Watauga County courthouse drew condemnation and threats of arrests. But the backlash and vitriol often directed at students who engage in social justice activism can take its own mental health toll. The work is often all-consuming. "It gets challenging," Bryant said. "We shouldnt have to advocate against things that should never have happened in the first place." Ebony McGee, an associate professor of diversity and STEM education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, cautions students to jealously guard their emotional well-being. "The best way students can protect their mental health is realize that they can't change the system," McGee said. "The best way you can support racial activism is to get your degree, because then youll have greater power and a greater voice within your community." Were pleased to announce we have been awarded our second Queens Award for Enterprise in five years! Not only that; we have also been awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade in recognition of our outstanding international growth. Meaning we are one of only a handful of businesses who have won multiple awards this year. With waste to energy capability Continued investment has given us the capability to design, manufacture and install our own purpose-built products in-house. This has been significant for us and has provided us with the ability to create our own unique product which combines a general or medical waste incinerator with a waste-to-energy converter, enabling the production of clean hot water or air. This combination is particularly attractive when employed in response to disease or natural disaster situations, as seen during the Ebola crisis, where there is a requirement for the safe disposal of large amounts of waste, coupled with the demand for reliable, clean energy to provide hot water and drying facilities. Our solution, which is housed in a standard shipping container, was designed to be mobilised quickly and efficiently meaning it provided real benefit to the region. It was this product, and the humanitarian solution it provides, which has been recognised by the Queens Award for Innovation. Alongside this, we were also awarded the Queens Award for International Trade on account of our consistently strong growth. The business exports around 90% of its products globally, to 172 countries, and has grown into a 5.5 million operation in just 10 years. These new awards complement our previous Queens Award for International Trade, which we received in 2012. Vince Ferguson, founder of Inciner8, said: Receiving these awards is an honour. We feel a real sense of achievement that our work has been recognised, and that we have been able to contribute to important humanitarian projects in some of the most challenging global environments. We have a clear vision for how we plan to continue growing, and are looking forward to working with our partners across the world to realise that vision. Mr Ferguson will attend a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in July, where he will receive the awards on behalf of the company. He added: We are especially proud that we have been able to buck the trend by achieving substantial growth at a time when UK manufacturing has been declining at its fastest rate for decades. It shows there are innovative, ambitious British businesses still able to make their mark on the global stage, and we are delighted to be among those doing so. The Queens Awards are made annually on the Queens birthday, and recognise the outstanding achievement of British businesses which have demonstrated excellence across a number of categories. Southport-based waste management specialist, Inciner8, is celebrating after receiving two top accolades last week, as it was named International Business of the Year by the Echo Regional Business Awards and received a Highly Commended distinction at Insider Medias Made in the UK Awards national final. A manufacturer of market-leading clean air incinerators, Inciner8 was recognized by the Echo Regional Business Awards for its achievements in attaining the highest and most sustainable levels of international growth through exporting. One of 12 awards presented at the 25th annual gala event, Inciner8 overcame a rich crop of entries from across Merseyside. Recognizing excellence in manufacturing from across the country, Insider Medias Made in the UK Awards saw Inciner8 receive a Highly Commended distinction in the Export Award category. This follows its award win in theMade in the North West regional heat, in which the company was recognized as the regions most outstanding exporter in terms of international presence, export growth and exports as a proportion of sales. Founded in 2003 by Liverpool born and raised entrepreneur, Vince Ferguson OBE, Inciner8 has become a respected name and go-to strategic partner in global waste management, boasting a diverse portfolio of clients that includes the United Nations, World Health Organisation, MSF, Red Cross and the British Foreign Office. Originating in the UK farming industry, Inciner8 has demonstrated a continued commitment to research and development, which has seen the firm enjoy strong international growth year-on-year, with 85% of Inciner8s business taking place within international markets and it exporting to 172 countries last year. Vince Ferguson OBE, founder & chairman of Inciner8, said: Being awarded these two regional and national accolades is another real milestone for Inciner8 and once again demonstrates the strength of our business on a global scale. Being an innovative British business and world-leading advanced manufacturer is one of the key reasons why our clients buy from us. We pride ourselves on our ability to work across every marketplace and our constant focus on solving clients waste management problems means that we are unrestricted by geography. The caliber of businesses that were represented at these awards demonstrates the quality of the competition, whilst illustrating the strength of entrepreneurship in Merseyside and the national manufacturing sector as a whole. It was a real honor to receive these two accolades and recognize our entire teams success, as without them, our reach wouldnt stretch as far, nor be as impactful. Inciner8 is also a triple Queens Award for Enterprise holder, being recognized for both its International Trade and Innovation success. A recent article posted to the Research Square* preprint server analyzed the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) neutralizing capacity of sera samples from two-dose BNT162b2 vaccinated Japanese subjects. Background Following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread internationally at an unprecedented rate. To date, SARS-CoV-2 has caused more than 485 million cases and 6.1 million deaths across the globe. Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, pharmaceutical companies and scientists worldwide have been working hard to produce vaccines effective against COVID-19. There are over 30 clinically approved SARS-CoV-2 vaccines so far, and they have minimized the COVID-19-related deaths greatly. However, the subsequently emerged SARS-CoV-2 Delta, Beta, Gamma, and Alpha variants of concern (VOCs) and the Kappa variant under monitoring (VUM), have enhanced the viral fitness and immune evasion capacities against COVID-19 or its vaccination-induced immune responses. About the study In the current prospective work, the researchers monitored 225 medical personnel vaccinated with two doses of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine with a three-week gap from Kumamoto General Hospital, Japan, for more than 150 days. The 50% neutralizing activity (NT50) of sera samples against 10 SARS-CoV-2 isolates, including the wildtype (WT) strain and nine different variants (consisting of Delta, Gamma, Beta, and Alpha VOCs, and Kappa VUM), were analyzed 60 days following the initial dose. This evaluation was done in 211 sera samples against the WT strain and 45 samples against the other nine SARS-CoV-2 variants using Vero E6 transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) cells. Instead of pseudo or recombinant SARS-CoV-2 viruses, the SARS-CoV-2 strain and variants employed in this work were infectious viruses isolated from patients at hospitals or airport quarantine stations in Japan. Antiviral activity or half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in 45 sera samples against the 10 SARS-CoV-2 isolates was assessed 60 days-post first dose BNT162b2 vaccination. The antiviral activity was estimated in sera samples from people categorized as high (IgGhigh) or moderate (IgGmoderate) responders according to their neutralizing activity against each SARS-Cov-2 variant versus the WT strain. The IgG concentrations of the sera samples from 25 subjects at 28-day, 90-day, and 150-day timeframes were estimated. Subsequently, the time-dependent changes of IgG activity in these sera samples against the 10 SARS-CoV-2 isolates were evaluated. Results and discussions The results indicated that the SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant comprising D614G, N501Y, E484K, and K417N mutations in the spike (S) expressing region had the highest reductions in susceptibility profile towards COVID-19 vaccinations. The reductions in average NT50 of the Beta VOC were 83.4% and 88.5% for moderate and high responders, respectively, relative to the SARS-CoV-2 WT isolate. The absolute EC50 estimates of IgGhighs against the WT isolate and VOCs and VUM were 1.9 to 3.2-times lower than the EC50 estimates of IgGmoderates. According to the authors, this difference was either due to better quality of IgG in high responders or a significant abundance of SARS-CoV-2 S-specific IgGs in high responders than moderate responders. The neutralizing activity of sera from high responders at 28, 60, 90, and 150 days following the first COVID-19 vaccine dose was superior and only waned slowly relative to moderate responders. The time order of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants was the WT strain, Beta VOC, Alpha VOC, Delta VOC, Kappa VOC, and Gamma VOC. Nevertheless, the vulnerability of the 10 evaluated SARS-CoV-2 isolates towards vaccine-induced neutralizing activity did not reduce according to the temporal sequence of their emergence. These findings show that the SARS-CoV-2 variants did not arise in chronological order based on evolutionary characteristics. In addition, they also suggest that SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge via local evolution and transmission, and a co-expansion propensity of each virus throughout nearby nations and areas with varied origins and transmission channels exists. The SARS-CoV-2 Kappa and Delta variants that originated from India displayed a distinct time-dependent reduction in antiviral characteristics of IgG induced by the BNT162b2 vaccination. Kappa had a moderate to robust immune evasion phenotype, likely attributable to the E484Q mutation in its S-encoding region, while the Delta variant has no mutation in this amino acid. The IgG from two-dose BNT162b2 vaccinated Japanese people exhibited comparatively long-standing, i.e., nearly 150 days following the initial dose, neutralizing activity against the Delta VOC. Conclusions The study findings depicted that the NT50 of Day-60 sera against the SARS-CoV-2 Beta VOC demonstrated the highest drop compared to other SARS-CoV-2 isolates assessed. The IgG of moderate responders (IgGmoderates) and high responders (IgGhighs) displayed equal fold of EC50 changes against all SARS-CoV-2 variants relative to the WT strain. Nevertheless, absolute EC50 of IgGmoderates was two to three times greater than the IgGhighs EC50 against all SARS-CoV-2 variants. The EC50 of IgG measured at several time intervals from 28 days to 150 days timestamps demonstrated a time-dependent decrease in IgG activity against various SARS-CoV-2 VOCs and Kappa VUM. Yet, both IgG had significantly long-standing beneficial EC50 at least at the 150 days timestamp against the Delta VOC. Altogether, the present work strongly implies that the quick expansion of vaccine delivery in Japan was extraordinarily efficient in containing the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic via the spread of the Delta VOC. This study also provides deep insights into the antiviral effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine-induced host immune responses. *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. A recent study posted to the Research Square* preprint server assessed the efficacy of two severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer-BioTech) against Omicron infections and disease-related hospitalization in the Denmark population. Background The World Health Organization (WHO) designated the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529, called Omicron, as a variant of concern (VOC) on November 26, 2021. Omicron has since spread swiftly around the globe, including in Denmark, despite the country's high SARS-CoV-2 vaccine coverage. The longevity and levels of protection imparted by existing SARS-CoV-2 vaccines against Omicron infections and infection-associated hospitalizations remain unknown. SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and mitigation strategies in Denmark mainly included bulk reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing since 2020. As a result, the rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) PCR testing in Denmark are among the world's highest, with nearly 25% of the population testing each week in December 2021 and January 2022. About the study In the present study, the researchers aimed to determine the protection of two SARS-CoV-2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccinations against hospitalization or infection with the Omicron VOC by month after the receipt of two or three doses of the vaccine. For this, the researchers combined the COVID-19 PCR screening data in Denmark and data from other national registries to obtain near-complete details on all comorbidities, SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations, and COVID-19-linked hospitalizations at the population level. Of note, this nationwide Danish cohort study was conducted between December 28, 2021, and February 12, 2022, a period when the Omicron was the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in Denmark. The eligible participants for two and three doses of COVID-19 vaccines assessment groups were Danish citizens aged above 12 years and 18 years on December 28, 2021, respectively. Additionally, these individuals also should not have had a prior SARS-CoV-2-positive RT-PCR result. Cox regression was used to determine trends in vaccine efficacy following two to three doses of COVID-19 mRNA-1273 (Moderna) and BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccines. Individual-level data on SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations were gathered from the Danish Vaccination Registry. Person-level RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases were identified from the Danish Microbiology Database. Details on comorbidities and COVID-19-associated hospitalizations were procured from the Danish National Patient Registry. Data about gender, vital status, age, and the residential region were gathered from the Danish Civil Registration System, and all datasets were connected via a unique civil registry number granted to all Danish citizens. Findings The results illustrated that the protection against COVID-19 during the initial timelines following the two doses of mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines was approximately 37%, with a drastic decline in the next three months. People who were immunized 121 days earlier demonstrated minimal residual protection against SARS-CoV-2. Of the third mRNA dose vaccinees, vaccine-elicited protection against COVID-19 hiked to about 48% and exhibited minimal waning in the following months. Although the estimations were relatively inaccurate, vaccination efficacy against COVID-19-associated hospitalization following two doses with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine varied from 42.6% to 51.6%. Nevertheless, COVID-19-related hospitalizations dropped from 88.8% to 79.0% for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during the initial four months following the third dose. Similarly, after the third dose of the Moderna vaccine, SARS-CoV-2-associated hospital admissions declined from 90.2% to 83.6%. The vaccine-induced protection against Omicron infections observed in this investigation was remarkably lower than those against the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta variants. Nevertheless, the substantial degree of protection against SARS-CoV-2-related hospitalizations, particularly after the third dose, indicates that both the mRNA vaccines evaluated in the present study could protect from severe forms of COVID-19. Additionally, the two mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines had surprisingly identical vaccine efficacy estimates in modeling hospitalizations or infections and by time following immunizations. Conclusions The present nationwide cohort research from Denmark demonstrated that the mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccines had poor efficacy in safeguarding from asymptomatic or symptomatic Omicron infections. This observation agreed with prior reports on this topic. However, vaccine efficacy against SARS-CoV-2-linked hospitalizations was significant following the third dose of both the evaluated COVID-19 vaccines. The estimations of vaccine efficacy following three doses of the two mRNA-based vaccines against SARS-CoV-2-linked hospitalizations reached 90% in the initial timestamps and were maintained at 80-90% during the first four months following immunization and then declined subsequently. On the whole, the present work states that infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC was substantially less likely than infection with the Delta VOC to result in hospitalizations in three-dose vaccinated people, regardless of the levels of protection imparted by COVID-19 vaccination. Thus, the study emphasizes the need for a third dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-based vaccines to minimize hospitalization rates during the Omicron-dominant period. *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. (Newser) Against a backdrop of changing marijuana laws and a worker shortage, more employees are testing positive for drug use. Quest Diagnostics, one of the largest testers, found that 3.9% of the 6 million urine tests it processed last year came back positive, up 50% from 2017. In that same period, the number of states where recreational use of marijuana is legal went from 8 to 18, plus the District of Columbia, the Wall Street Journal reports. Despite the increase in positive testsor because of itfewer employers tested for THC last year, Quest said. "We've been seeing year-over-year declines in those recreational-use states," said Barry Sample of Quest, "but by far the largest drop weve ever seen was in 2021." Also, some states prohibit companies from considering test results in hiring decisions. Quest's annual analysis showed the percentage of specimens it tested for THC fell 6.7% nationwide last year and dropped 10.3% in states that allow recreational marijuana use. Overall, the share of American workers testing positive for one of the list of drugs Quest looks for hit 4.6% last year, the highest point since 2001. A Detroit-based staffing agency said employers' attitudes have changed recently, especially when their jobs went begging. "So many of our clients were adamant, in pre-COVID, that they would not accept anyone that could not pass a drug test, even if it was THC," co-owner Tammy Turner said, per the Journal. With encouragement from the agency, some relaxed their position. They then "were able to fill many of those jobs," she said. The industry with the largest jump in positivity rates was transportation and warehousing, which climbed from 4.4% to 5.5%, per Safety & Health magazine. The only field to not show an increase was finance and insurance. (Read more drug testing stories.) (Newser) Police found five fetuses in the home of a self-proclaimed anti-abortion activist who was indicted this week on federal charges alleging that she was part of a group of people who blocked access to a Washington, DC, reproductive health center. The Metropolitan Police Department said officers were responding to a tip about possible potential bio-hazard material at a home in Southeast Washington on Wednesday when they located the five fetuses inside, the AP reports. WUSA9 captured video of police searching the home and reported that the home belonged to Lauren Handy. The 28-year-old was one of nine people charged in an indictment that was made public on Wednesday that accused the group of traveling to Washington, blocking access to the reproductive health center and streaming the action on Facebook. The TV station said Handy told a reporter that "people will freak out when they hear" what detectives found in her house. Handy did not respond to a message sent to her Facebook profile seeking comment. Police said the five fetuses were collected by Washingtons medical examiner and the investigation is ongoing. In the indictment, prosecutors said Handy had called the clinic pretending to be a prospective patient and scheduling an appointment. Once there, on Oct. 22, 2020, eight of the suspects pushed their way inside and began blocking the doors, according to the indictment. Five of them chained themselves together on chairs to block the treatment area as others blocked the employee entrance to stop other patients from coming in, the indictment alleges. Another suspect blocked people from coming into the waiting room, prosecutors charge. Handy and the eight others were charged with conspiracy against rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. (Read more indictment stories.) (Newser) In what may be the most Canadian of crimes yetand the "stickiest," per the BBCthe nation's high court this week ruled that a "major player" in a scheme to steal a massive amount of maple syrup must pay a $7.2 million fine. That player is Richard Vallieres, currently serving an eight-year prison sentence for his role in the $14.4 million heist that saw 3,300 tons of the breakfast condiment go missing. Between 2011 and 2012, Vallieres and his team of sticky fingers targeted a Quebec warehouse that stockpiles an emergency reserve of syrup for the Quebec Maple Syrup Producers. The thieves then sold their spoils throughout Canada and the US. Vallieresfound guilty in 2016 of theft, fraud, and traffickingadmitted at his trial to having sold $8 million worth of syrup himself, of which $800,000 was profit that stayed in his pocket. And so that's the amount that the Quebec Court of Appeal originally ruled he should be fined, knocking the number down from a much higher one. But in a unanimous ruling on Thursday, the nine-judge Canadian Supreme Court overturned that appeals court decision, ruling instead that Vallieres should fork over the value of the entire amount he sold, not just what he took home. "Distinguishing between an offender's income and expenses in order to determine the offender's profit margin would essentially amount to legitimating criminal activity," the high court's ruling read, per the CBC. The scheme, which involved the thieves replacing syrup in the barrels at the Quebec warehouse with water, was discovered in 2012: During a regularly scheduled survey, an inspector almost knocked over one of the empty barrels, which normally would've weighed close to 600 pounds if filled with syrup. USA Today, citing original reporting by the AP and Bloomberg, notes it was a big enough theft to "put a dent in the global supply of maple syrup," as Quebec produces more than 70% of the world's maple syrup. Vallieres now has 10 years to come up with the cash to pay the fine, or he'll have six more years tacked onto his current sentence. (Read more Canada stories.) (Newser) After the Oscars slap heard 'round the world, Los Angeles Police Department officers approached Chris Rock and made it clear they would arrest Will Smith if that's what he wanted, according to an Academy Awards producer who sat down for an interview with Good Morning America that was teased Thursday on ABC's World News Tonight. The latest: "They were saying, This is battery. That was the word they used in that moment," Will Packer said, per ETOnline. "They said, We will go get him. We are prepared. We will go get him right now. You can press charges. We can arrest him.' They were laying out the options, and as they were talking, Chris was, he was being very dismissive of those options. He was like, 'No, Im fine' ... The LAPD officers finish laying out what his options were. And they said, Would you like us to take any action?' And he said, 'No.' The interview will air in full Friday. Meanwhile, news has come out that Smith apologized during a Zoom video call with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences leadership earlier this week, and that they told him there would be "consequences," sources tell CNN. Even that call is now causing controversy, Deadline explains, because the Academy's Board of Governors, which started disciplinary proceedings against Smith in a meeting yesterday, didn't know about the meeting until it made headlines. "Why would they keep this from us? one person who participated in the Wednesday meeting says. It only contributes to an atmosphere of suspicion and lack of leadership." Says another, "What else dont we know about whats happening or what happened on Sunday?" They say the "lack of transparency" will make it difficult to find a resolution. Another issue that lacks clarity is just how firmly Smith was asked to leave the ceremony. The Academy said in a statement that Smith "refused" to do so, but sources close to Smith say he wasn't actually asked to leavethe idea was "floated," in Deadline's words, via Smith's publicist. One of CNN's sources says Academy leadership "firmly asked" the publicist to get Smith to leave, but the actor "refused and that was communicated back to Academy leadership." Meanwhile, new videos from the ceremony are making the rounds. In one, Jada Pinkett Smith appears to laugh after Rock says that Smith "just smacked the s--- out of me," then appears to laugh again after the comedian says it was "the greatest night in the history of television." In another, Rock can be seen looking "stunned" after he finished presenting the award he was doling out at the time. Watch at Yahoo News. (Read more Chris Rock stories.) (Newser) The parents of a 3-year-old boy who died of a brain-eating amoeba contracted at a splash pad in Arlington, Texas, have settled with the city. Tariq Williams and Kayla Mitchell, who initially sought at least $1 million in a wrongful death lawsuit, will receive $250,000, which their lawyer said was the maximum allowed against a city under the Texas Tort Claims Act, CNN reports. Their son, Bakari Williams, spent five days in a hospital before dying of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba on Sept. 11. The amoeba, believed to have entered his brain through his nose, was later detected at the splash pad he'd visited at Don Misenheimer Park, which had gaps in water testing. Arlington said the settlement will include a "significant investment in the installation of health and safety equipment and other improvements for our public pools and splash pads." The city will be required to install the new equipment related to water testing and amoeba prevention by Memorial Day weekend. Under the "Bakari Williams Protocol," visitors to splash pads will be able to scan a QR code for real-time information on water quality, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Should the water quality move out of permitted ranges, technology will automatically turn off the splash pads. The city will also be required to prepare a presentation on the lessons learned from the incident, to educate other municipalities, per KTVT. Bakari's parents said the city agreed to all of their demands for improvements, which were made with the goal of preventing another death like that of their "sweet, beautiful and innocent child." "We want to make certain that what happened to our son, our family, does not happen again," Mitchell said at a Thursday press conference, per the Star-Telegram. "He did not deserve to die in the manner that he did." "At this point, I'm nervous of water, period," said Williams. "That's not something that's specific to Arlington." He added "I trust the protocols." But "trusting people to take responsibility and trusting their employees to take whats being handed to them and actually implement it? That's a different thing." (Read more brain-eating amoeba stories.) (Newser) Georgia State University students are speaking out against a professor who called the police on two students who arrived two minutes late for her English class. In a TikTok video posted Wednesday, student Bria Blake says professor Carissa Gray asked her classmates Taylor and Kamryn to leave after they arrived late for the class at Perimeter College, NBC reports. Blake says that when the students refused to leave, telling Gray they had paid to be there, the professor left and returned with two armed officers. The two students involved are Black, as is Gray. Blake says that because of police violence against Black people, Taylor and Kamryn were "terrified of what could happen to them" when officers were called. "Calling the police on two students for being two minutes late to class is extremely unreasonable and dangerous," she says in the video. "Stuff like this cannot keep happening to Black youth in America." Georgia State University says it is looking into how the incident was handed by the professor. "Campus police arrived after being called by the faculty member and immediately de-escalated the situation between the students and faculty member," the university said in a statement, per NBC. "Clearly, no crime had been committed so there were no arrests." The school's code of conduct says an instructor can call police if a student "poses an immediate threat to the safety" of themselves or anybody else in the classroom. (Read more university stories.) (Newser) Russian troops left the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early Friday after returning control to the Ukrainians, authorities said, as eastern parts of the country braced for renewed attacks and Russians blocked another aid mission to the besieged port city of Mariupol. Ukraines state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received significant doses of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. But there was no independent confirmation of that, the AP reports. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed by Ukraine that the Russian forces at the site of the worlds worst nuclear disaster had transferred control of it in writing to the Ukrainians. The last Russian troops left early Friday, the Ukrainian government agency responsible for the exclusion zone said. Energoatom gave no details on the condition of the soldiers it said were exposed to radiation and did not say how many were affected. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin, and the IAEA said it had not been able to confirm the reports of Russian troops receiving high doses. It said it was seeking more information. Edwin Lyman, a nuclear expert with the US-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said it seems unlikely a large number of troops would develop severe radiation illness, but it was impossible to know for sure without more details. He said contaminated material was probably buried or covered with new topsoil during the cleanup of Chernobyl, and some soldiers may have been exposed to a hot spot of radiation while digging. Others may have assumed they were at risk too, he said. The exchange of control happened amid growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were just a military tactic to build up forces for new powerful attacks in the southeast. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) Russian authorities say Ukrainian helicopter gunships launched an attack over the border early Friday, striking an oil storage facility 25 miles inside Russia. If confirmed, the attack on the facility in Belgorod will be the first Ukrainian strike across the border since Russia invaded its neighbor more than a month ago, the Guardian reports. Missiles fired by the helicopters caused a major fire at the facility, according to Russian authorities. "There was a fire at the oil depot because of an air strike carried out by two Ukrainian army helicopters, which entered Russian territory at low altitude," the regional governor said Friday. The governor said nobody was killed. Belgorod, north of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, is a major supply hub for Russian forces. "If these unconfirmed reports are correctflying at night, well into Russian territory, to launch an attack on an enemy fuel depot would have required extraordinary braveryas well as finely honed flying skills," says BBC correspondent Jonathan Beale. He says that while the alleged attack won't "dramatically alter the battle," it could "show Ukraine has managed to keep its air force functioning, and give a huge boost to the morale of Ukraine's military." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the strike was not "something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions" for the continuation of peace talks, which are set to resume Friday, the AP reports. He said Vladimir Putin had been told about the strike and Russia is working to ensure fuel supplies are not disrupted. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday summarily dismissed reports claiming he was upset with Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil. "I have complete faith in HM Patil and he is doing a good job," Thackeray said in a statement here this afternoon, making the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance breathe easy. The CM's clarification followed some sections of media speculating of an alleged rift between Thackeray and Walse-Patil and certain Shiv Sena leaders allegedly seeking the latter's removal, hinting at fresh tremors in the ruling MVA. Earlier this week, Walse-Patil had also rejected contentions that Thackeray was displeased with his work, especially after his hard-hitting replies in the Assembly last month to the Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis's accusations that the MVA hatching a conspiracy to frame Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. On the contrary, the usually soft-spoken Walse-Patil said that Thackeray had called him to congratulate him for his pointed reply to Fadnavis' allegations in the house debate during the Budget Session. He added that there was no such discussion on the issue during his meeting with Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Friday, as widely rumoured in some media circles, but they merely discussed some public related matters. Since the past couple of days, there have been reports quoting unidentified sources about "differences" cropping up between the CM and the Minister, with broad hints at a larger rift among the MVA - comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress, but now all parties have scotched the rumours. (Newser) A Dallas woman who claimed her 3-year-old son was killed in a road-rage shooting is now in custody facing charges including child endangerment. Lacravivonne Washington, 26, initially told investigators that her son, Jalexus Washington Jr., was shot by an aggressive driver who had been following her. But police say they found no evidence to support her version of events, the Dallas Morning News reports. They say an autopsy determined that Jalexus had been shot in the face at very close range, meaning it was impossible for the shot to have been fired from a passing vehicle. Police say two of Washington's other children, ages two and four, were in the vehicle during the incident. Washington has been charged with endangering a child and tampering with physical evidence, NBC reports. Police say the latter charge is because she "concealed a handgun during the investigation." According to a police affidavit, Washington told police that there were no firearms in her vehicle, but a search found a handgun in the glove compartment "where the children could easily reach it." Police say there were no child seats or restraints in the car. Investigators say Washington was seen at a donut shop with the boy around 20 minutes before she took him to a hospital with the gunshot wound. Police have not accused Washington of shooting the boy. According to an affidavit, Washington told officers in a follow-up interview that she reached for the handgun twice during the alleged road-rage incident but never pulled it out. She said she heard two gunshots while her children were climbing back and forth from the back seat to the front seat and found her son wounded, police say. Washington is being held on bail of $25,000 and could face up to two years in prison if convicted of child endangerment, the AP reports. (Read more Dallas stories.) (Newser) The friendship between Gerard Depardieu and Vladimir Putin has become yet another victim of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The French actor, who has praised Putin in the past and received a Russian passport and a hug from the leader in 2013, has strongly denounced the invasion. "The Russian people are not responsible for the crazy, unacceptable excesses of their leaders like Vladimir Putin," Depardieu said in a statement to AFP. Depardieu also spoke out against the war and called for negotiations soon after the invasion last month. "Russia and Ukraine have always been brother countries," he said. Depardieu said Thursday that he would direct the proceeds from three nights of concerts in Paris to the "Ukrainian victims of this tragic fratricidal war," the BBC reports. The Kremlin responded to Depardieu's remarks by saying he doesn't understand the conflict, reports Politico. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Depardieu "hardly understands what is the bombing of civilians, he is unlikely to know about the nationalist elements." Peskov said "we will be ready to ... explain it so that he understands better." Depardieu, who took Russian nationality after complaining about French tax laws, said earlier this year that he has been spending most of his time in Mediterranean countries and is now also a "Dubai citizen." (Read more Gerard Depardieu stories.) (Newser) A flight from Salt Lake City to DC made an unexpected landing this week, with passengers now expressing gratitude that things didn't turn out much worse. While a statement from Delta Air Lines to ABC4 simply notes that the Thursday flight was safely diverted to Denver after a "maintenance issue midflight," passengers relay that it was a cracked windshield that forced the change in plans. They say that around 90 minutes into the trip, when the plane was cruising at more than 30,000 feet, crew members made an announcement about the shattered windshield and informed passengers they were heading to the Colorado capital to land, per the AP. "They kept coming on saying for everyone to stay calm, to be calm, and we were calm, so being told to stay calm while we were calm made us feel a little panicky," passenger Rachel Wright tells KUTV, via the AP. Once the plane landed, at least one passenger took a picture of the windshield, which didn't just have a few cracksits entire face was pretty much marred, though the glass stayed intact inside the frame. According to commercial pilots, airplane windshields of this sort are typically made of multipaned glass that's a couple of inches thick. It's not clear what caused the crack, but passenger Kirk Knowlton tweeted it apparently occurred "spontaneous[ly]." Passengers were able to board a new plane at the Denver airport that was set to arrive in Washington shortly before midnight. "Out of an abundance of caution, the flight crew diverted into Denver and the plane landed routinely," Delta's statement notes. "We sincerely apologize for the delay and inconvenience to [passengers'] travel plans." Knowlton tells FOX 13 the crew handled the situation "very nicely" and that "we are grateful for safe flights." Wright echoes that sentiment: "I've never been more grateful to spend an extra three hours in an airport." (Read more Delta Air Lines stories.) Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jonathan Ramos, section team leader for the 103rd Civil Support Team, gives an exercise brief before down-range operations during Van Winkle 2022 in Juneau, Alaska, March 22. The chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive response exercise enhances interoperability between state, federal and local first responders. Exercise participants included CST units from the Alaska, Montana, Connecticut, Mississippi and North Carolina National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Victoria Granado) (Victoria Granado) The Armys network modernizations efforts focus on data, multi-path transport agnostic capabilities, and security. These priorities underpin capability set network modernization, including the Armored Formation On-The-Move Network Pilot, supported by the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, seen here at Fort Stewart, Georgia, on February 8, 2022. (Amy Walker, PM Tactical Network, PEO C3T public affairs) Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba arrived in India on Friday on a three-day visit, during which he will meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and hold bilateral talks to strengthen bilateral relations. Prime Minister Modi will host a luncheon in honour of his Nepal counterpart. During his stay, Deuba will also address a gathering of business leaders. Deuba is accompanied by a 50-member delegation, including secretaries in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Water Resources, Health and Population, Agriculture and Physical Planning. The visit will further strengthen the multifaceted, age-old, and cordial ties between Nepal and India, according to the External Affairs Ministry. Besides official engagement, the prime minister of Nepal will be visiting BJP office on the invitation of party chief J.P. Nadda. He is also scheduled to visit Varanasi before wrapping up his trip on April 3. India and Nepal enjoy age-old and special ties of friendship and cooperation. "In recent years, the partnership has witnessed significant growth in all areas of cooperation. The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review this wide ranging cooperative partnership and to progress it further for the benefit of the two peoples," the ministry said. India's relationship with Nepal had deteriorated two years ago over the border issue. India in the meantime sent Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and Research and Analysis Wing chief Samant Kumar Goel to cement the relationship between both the countries. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain yesterday granted Turkey the status of approved partner for the International Centre for Sea and Air Freight Services in the Kingdom. The decision came during the seventh meeting of the Bahraini-Turkish Joint Committee jointly chaired by Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Minister of Finance and National Economy, and his Turkish counterpart Noureddin Nabati. Announcing the decision, Shaikh Salman said the move aims at attracting investment to enhance the economic and trade partnership between the two countries and allows Turkey-based companies to apply for accreditation as an operator of Freight services. The Finance minister expressed hope that this step would take the Bahrain-Turkey bilateral relations to broader horizons. The ministers also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in various sectors and standardisation of activities. Discussions also focused on investment opportunities and exchanging experiences between the two sides. The meeting also shed light on Bahrains economic recovery plan. The plan, the minister said, has its basis on five main priorities. These include facilitating commercial procedures and increasing their effectiveness to attract investments by 2023, implementing major development projects in partnership with the private sector, developing promising sectors like tourism, logistic services, financial services, industry and information technology. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com International healthcare professionals from Pfizer, Google, and Meta, today joined Bahraini healthcare specialists to discuss at the Harvard COVID-19 International Symposium, held at the Wyndham Grand Manama, to discuss pandemic learnings and Bahrains successful mitigation measures. The hybrid symposium, powered by CISCO and co-led and managed by Harvard University, welcomed speakers from global health institutes to contribute to panel discussions on Geonomics, Surveillance, and Testing of COVID-19 Pandemic, Therapeutic Efforts for COVID-19, Global and National Response to COVID-19, Social Platforms & Global Response to COVID-19 Experience. The chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, HE Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, delivered the symposiums keynote address, during which he highlighted Bahrains rapid and comprehensive pandemic response. HE Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohammed cited His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas directives and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifas leadership as being crucial to the success of Bahrains public health response. During his address, HE Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah detailed the strategies that Bahrain employed to mitigate the spread and impact of the virus. Measures included the provision of free PCR tests, treatment for those infected, and vacations for both citizens and residents. Bahrain was one of the first countries to provide access to all FDA approved vacations, with other effective vaccines, such as Sinopharm, also being made available. Elsewhere, most entry restrictions for those arriving in Bahrain have been removed and Bahrain International Airport is in the process of introducing a dedicated medical protocol for COVID-19 cases. A robust multi-lingual media strategy underpins Bahrains public awareness campaign, which delivers regular pandemic developments, reiterates the necessity of following restrictions, and promotes getting vaccinated. Infectious Disease Consultant and Microbiologist at the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, and member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Lt Col Dr Manaf Al Qahtani, participated in the Genomics, Surveillance and Testing of COVID-19 Pandemic panel. While Infectious and Internal Diseases Consultant at Salmaniya Medical Complex, and member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Dr Jameela Al Salman; and CEO of Primary Healthcare Centers, and member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Dr Jaleela Al-Sayed Jawad. Harvard University spokesperson Marcia Castro said, It was a pleasure to discuss the pandemic with my global peers including and hearing about Bahrains response to the pandemic. As the percentage of vaccinated individuals continues to increase worldwide, Bahrain is a country that is pre-emptive rather than reactive with over 82% of the Bahraini population having received two doses of the vaccine, and 85% of the eligible population having received a booster dose. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain will tomorrow join the other nations in marking World Autism Awareness Day, which falls annually on April 2. The United Nations designated the annual day in 2008 to encourage member states to take measures to raise awareness about people with autistic spectrum disorders, including autism and Asperger syndrome throughout the world. The 2022 World Autism Awareness Day is being held this year under the theme Inclusive Quality Education for All focusing on inclusive education that will help in achieving sustainable goals in the longer run. In a statement on this occasion, the Minister of Labour and Social Development Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan highlighted Bahrains strides over the past years in grasping autistic spectrum disorders, including autism and Asperger syndrome throughout the world. He stressed the ministrys coordination with the High Committee for Disability Care and other relevant institutions to draw up the executive plan for the National Strategy for Disability Rights (2022-2026). The minister said that the draft blueprint is expected to launch during the second quarter of 2022, stressing the importance of supporting autistic students and children. Agencies | Moscow The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that he had signed a decree saying foreign buyers must pay in roubles for Russian gas from April 1, and contracts would be halted if these payments were not made. "In order to purchase Russian natural gas, they must open rouble accounts in Russian banks. It is from these accounts that payments will be made for gas delivered starting from tomorrow," Putin said in televised remarks. "If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default on the part of buyers, with all the ensuing consequences. Nobody sells us anything for free, and we are not going to do charity either - that is, existing contracts will be stopped." His decision to enforce rouble payments has boosted the Russian currency, which fell to historic lows after the Feb. 24 invasion but has since recovered. Western companies and governments have rejected the move as a breach of existing contracts, which are set in euros or dollars. An order signed by Putin set out a mechanism for buyers to transfer foreign currency to a special account at a Russian bank, which would then send roubles back to the foreign buyer to make payment for the gas. Frances economy minister said France and Germany were preparing for a possible scenario that Russian gas flows could be halted - something that would plunge Europe into a full-blown energy crisis. Japan will not abandon its stake in the Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Russia as it is essential to energy security, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday, his clearest comments yet on Tokyo's plans for the development. The Ukraine crisis has put Japan's involvement in the Sakhalin-2 project and similar ones in Russia in sharp focus since Western oil majors have said they would pull out in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia calls its actions there a "special military operation." While resource poor Japan has been ramping up sanctions against Russia, Tokyo has repeatedly said that Russian LNG is essential to energy security. "Japan has a stake in Sakhalin-2, which is contributing to securing long-term, stable and low-priced supply of LNG. It is an extremely important project for Japan's energy security," Kishida told parliament. "It is not our policy to withdraw," Kishida said, adding his government would continue seeking ways to reduce Japan's dependence on Russian energy sources. More than half of Netflix's global users used the streaming service to watch anime in 2021, and the future of Japanese animation premiering on Netflix appears promising. "Anime is one of the cornerstones of our investment in Japan, watched by nearly 90% of our members here last year," Kohei Obara, Netflix's Anime Creative Director, told Variety. "At the same time, interest in anime has grown worldwide, and more than half of our members globally tuned into it last year. From diversifying our slate to bringing back fan favorites, we want to continue growing our members' discovery and love for anime, both in Japan and around the world with this next chapter of anime on Netflix." Netflix plans to continue investing in anime and will debut 40 series on the service in 2022. Returning series include episodes 13-24 of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, the latest season of the long-running fan-favorite show featuring Jolyne Cujoh, her father Jotaru Kujo and their powerful Stands. Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045 Season 2, continuing the adventures of Major Motoko Kusanagi following Season 1's debut in 2020, will also arrive on Netflix in May. Season 1 of Spriggan -- the long-awaited anime reboot of Hiroshi Takashige's manga series, which was first adapted into an animated film in 1998 -- is another major series to debut on the streaming service in June. New shows on Netflix include Thermae Romae Novae, a series about a Roman architect who time travels to a modern Japanese public bath, Kotaro Lives Alone, the tale of a 4-year-old boy who moves into an apartment next to a manga artist, and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh, a two-part film spinning off of The Seven Deadly Sins, a shonen series focusing on a group of knights in a fantasy version of Britannia. ...continue reading Residential property developer CDL Investments New Zealand Limited (NZX: CDI ) and its wholly owned subsidiary CDL Land New Zealand Limited (CDLL) are both pleased that the High Court has dismissed the judicial review proceedings brought by Winton Property Investments Limited last year. In a decision dated yesterday, Justice Gendall stated that none of Wintons grounds of challenge to the consent decision could be made out and for that reason the application for judicial review was dismissed. CDL Lands Executive Director Jason Adams CDL Land was actively continuing to progress with its consenting and development of the Iona Block in Havelock North. Obviously we are very happy with the decision and this lifts a burden from our shoulders. We are on track with the master planning and consenting applications for the first stage of our development for the Iona Block and we are absolutely committed to fulfilling the vision we have for this important land, he said. -ENDS- Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. 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Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEWTOWN A fine that can escalate into six figures within days began on Friday for the embattled Infowars host Alex Jones after a Connecticut judge overseeing the defamation case he lost to eight Sandy Hook families denied his request to lift the sanction while he appeals. State Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis said the escalating $25,000 daily fine in response to Jones defying her orders to answer questions under oath last week would stand, even though Jones said in court papers that he would sit for two days of depositions starting April 11. If Jones does travel to Connecticut to answer pretrial questions in the Bridgeport offices of the families attorneys, he can apply to the court for a refund, Bellis said. [S]hould Mr. Jones choose to purge the contempt, as this motion suggests may be the case, he can move the court to return the funds, Bellis wrote in a 100-word order on Friday. If Jones holds to that schedule, his running fine total as of April 11 would be $525,000. Norm Pattis, the New Haven attorney representing Jones in his Connecticut defamation case, would not comment directly on Bellis ruling. We will turn to the appellate courts for relief, Pattis said. On Thursday, Pattis had asked Bellis to stay her fine while Jones awaits the results of an appeal to Connecticut Supreme Court. In the appeal, Pattis calls Bellis fine an extraordinary order (that) works a substantial injustice. The Bridgeport attorneys representing the FBI agent and 14 people from eight families that lost loved ones in the Sandy Hook massacre disagreed. Last week, Alex Jones chose to go on the air rather than go under oath, wrote the families attorneys from Koskoff, Koskoff and Bieder on Friday morning, before the judges ruling. The escalating fines were imposed to compel his appearance and should not be set aside merely because Mr. Jones has yet again said he will appear. Jones himself said he did not appear for court-ordered depositions because he was dealing with cardiovascular symptoms from a 2021 COVID-19 infection and was under a lot of stress. Jones, who lost three defamation cases in Texas and Connecticut after he called the slaying of 26 first-graders and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School staged, synthetic, manufactured, a giant hoax, and completely fake with actors, faces three jury trials to determine damages. The first two trials will be in Texas, beginning on April 25. The Connecticut trial will start on Aug. 2. Jones made national headlines earlier this week when he offered four Sandy Hook parents in the two Texas cases and the 15 people in the Connecticut case $120,000 each to settle. The Connecticut families rejected the offer. The families in the Texas cases have not responded, although one Sandy Hook father said this week that he would fight Jones at the trial. The parents lead attorney in Texas would not comment on the settlement offer on Friday, except to say that he was ready for trial. I can guarantee you 100 percent that this going to trial, said Mark Bankston. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 Even the workers in the Constitutional Convention process are themselves organizing a union. by Taroa Zuniga Silva On March 13, 2022, two days after Gabriel Boric was sworn in as the president of Chile, Minister General Secretariat of Government Camila Vallejo told 24 Horas during an interview that her duty is to accompany and support the constitutional process, when asked about the governments priorities during 2022. These two processesthe formation of Borics government and the writing of a new constitutionrun parallel to one another and are important to the shaping of a new Chile. President Gabriel Boric Both these processes have emerged out of a long period of mobilization by the Chilean people, who first put an end to the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, which lasted from 1973 to 1990, through the 1989 plebiscite and then fought in a cycle of protestsparticularly during the student mobilization movements of 2006, 2011 and 2015 and the social outburst of 2019to throw out the 1980 constitution introduced by Pinochet and end the status quo supported by the right-wing governments that followed the end of Pinochets dictatorship. Chile has paid a high price during the Pinochet dictatorship and in the decades since then as the Chilean people fought for democracy in their country. In recent years, the repression against the demonstrators has been brutal. Vallejo acknowledged this during the interview with 24 Horas, saying, there are many people who were left behind in the process of ensuring democracy and a new constitution for Chile. There are many people who lost their eyes, who were mutilated, who were victims of aggressions of different kinds, who died for this constitutional process [and] then obviously we put our strength and our energy into winning the approval in the exit plebiscite [of 2020, and] we can say that from now on, we will have a constitution, [the writing of] which we will all participate in [equally]. Building the Constitution Chile voted on May 15 and 16, 2021, to elect the 155 members of the Constitutional Convention tasked with drafting the new constitution for the country. The convention began its work on July 4, 2021. Many of the members created volunteer networks to assist them in holding meetings and gathering input and feedback from citizens in their constituencies. Only around 50 of the Constitutional Convention members belong to political parties; the rest are independent members, a clear sign of the impact the popular movements have had on the constitutional process. Currently, following the resignation of one of its members, the convention has 154 members, 77 men and 77 women. Ursula Eggers is the president of the Plurinational Union of Workers of the Constitutional Convention, which was formed on November 4, 2021, and of the Providencia Human Rights Coordinating Committee. She knows about the violence against the demonstrators who fought for democratic reform in Chile because she participated in the 2019 demonstrations as a human rights observer. As part of her work, Eggers documented the human rights violations and then participated in the defense of the victims of police violence. We know the cost that this [constitutional] process has had [for the people of Chile], she tells me. She is not alone. There are 370 people who have been employed as advisers to the Constitutional Convention delegates. Many of those who work in the convention have formed or are part of various social movements, which for decades have been fighting for several causes in Chile, such as the water defense, housing and education, as well as unrestricted respect for human rights. These convention workers are sensitive to the violence inflicted by the state over the years against what they see as just demands. Bringing their experience of social movements, the various workers in the Constitutional Convention who work for the delegates decided to form a unionthe Plurinational Union of Workers of the Constitutional Convention. They accept Vallejos statement that the constitution must be written with the participation of all. The members of this plurinational union include the 370 advisers who are employed by a government ministry known as the General Secretariat of the Presidency (SEGPRES), and other members of the workforce employed by the convention, such as cleaners, security personnel, secretaries and volunteer workers, especially from the universities. The advisers, Eggers says, do work beyond what one might assume. We do all the necessary administrative work, but also [do] research, writing, photocopying and buying food, she says. [We do] everything necessary, on a daily basis, to move the convention forward [toward achieving its goal]. We are the human resource that makes the convention work the convention members play a political role, and it is good that this is so, but we are the ones who write the rules that are now being voted on, and we write them at 2 a.m., 3 a.m., or 4 a.m., with meetings [taking place] from 8 in the morning to 8 at night. The work is intense because the convention is working on a tight deadline, to finish writing the constitution in nine months (with the possibility of getting a maximum extension of up to 12 months). This has resulted in an increase in the workload for the workers, who have been putting in extra hours beyond their daily work schedule to meet the huge demand put forth by this deadline. Working Class What we hope for the new Chile, Eggers tells me, is [that it is a place] where a range of people are valued, where [a person can be] valued for their capacity and their experience, without the need for a professional degree. The conservative sections wanted to professionalize the work of the advisers, setting requirements such as years of professional experience and university degrees. However, the views of workers such as Eggers finally prevailed. We do not belong to the social sector that has large additional resources or a lot of savings or a large network to borrow from, Eggers says. Nor do we belong to the political sector that has large foundations behind it, adds Eggers. Of the 50 members of the Constitutional Convention who belong to political parties, 37 belong to right-wing parties that have their own think tanks, such as the Jaime Guzman Foundation or the Cuide Chile Foundation, which are institutions that have defended the Pinochet dictatorship and have recently complained about being censored during the constitutional process. The progressive convention members, meanwhile, have staff who come from social movements and do not have access to outside money. We do not identify ourselves as advisers but as workers, because we are working class, Eggers tells me. The larger class struggle in Chile is mirrored in the struggle for better working conditions for the workers within the Constitutional Convention. A Plurinational Union The plurinational union was formed on November 4, 2021, because of the multiple violations of labor rights such as the non-existence of contracts, unpaid salaries the lack of spaces to work and eat, working hours from Monday to Sunday [for] 12 hours [a day] or more, according to their press release. It is telling that the union members all come from the left and from popular movements. Not because we have excluded the right, says Eggers, the union president, but because they usually solve their problems on their own. While dignity seems to be a word used frequently in the Constitutional Convention debates, some of the rights of its workers seem to have been overlooked during the constitutional process. As we write the future social agreement for the country, Eggers tells me, we cannot do it by violating the rights of the workers. For the first four months of their work, the advisers and other staff were not being paid. We had to raise our voices, Eggers says, because we were not being valued. The union has managed to regularize the salaries of 93 percent of the workers, which was its first objective. Other issues, so central to the convention debates about safeguarding the interests of the wider society, seem to have been neglected when it comes to affording the same protection to their own workers. These include the provision of day care facilities for the workers and finding a place for the advisers to do their work. SEGPRES, the state agency responsible for providing technical, administrative and financial support for the convention, is now headed by Giorgio Jackson, a former student leader. This could mean a change. When I spoke with Eggers about how it seemed unlikely that the workers will be successful in shortening the long working hours considering how tight the 12-month deadline to complete the new constitution is, I expressed doubt that there was any way out of the problem at this point. With collective organization, there is always a way out, she tells me. At least we are not going to keep quiet. This article was produced by Globetrotter. Taroa Zuniga Silva is a writing fellow and the Spanish media coordinator for Globetrotter. She is the co-editor with Giordana Garcia Sojo of Venezuela, Vortice de la Guerra del Siglo XXI (2020). She is a member of the coordinating committee of Argos: International Observatory on Migration and Human Rights and is a member of the Mecha Cooperativa, a project of the Ejercito Comunicacional de Liberacion. The new RBC Mental Health Short Stay and Transitional Age Youth Unit is designed to improve the experience for young adults and features six newly-designed patient rooms, two patient lounges and innovative technology to improve patient safety, staff safety and overall work flow. This new unit is possible thanks to RBC Foundation, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and its partners, Cheese Boutique, Solidifi, The Mackay Family and Macdero Construction and the St. Joe's Plate Committee, its sponsors and attendees and other donors. "This is meaningful contribution for all of us at RBC because it is providing direct support to young people at-risk due to mental illness," says Daniel Sadler, Regional Vice President West Toronto, RBC Royal Bank. "Statistics clearly show the need for better mental health care, especially for those who are transitioning to adult care. We are pleased to play a part in improving the system to ensure youth have easy access to the services they need." Donors are also supporting programs to train and give our teams the skills and tools they need to care for those with mental illness. "Mental health care is needed more than ever, especially for youth who are most at risk," says Maria Dyck, President of St. Joseph's Health Centre Foundation. "The Ihnatowycz family, the Keenan Family Foundation and the Beresford Foundation are donating to create new programs that improve how we offer care for those needing mental health support both within and outside St. Joe's." The incredible support received from donors gives the St. Joe's mental health team the education, tools, technology and resources needed to improve early intervention and provide a comprehensive and personalized approach to treat everyone who turns to St. Joe's for mental health care. St. Joseph's Health Centre has one of the largest, most comprehensive mental health programs in Toronto with more than 60,000 visits annually. "Our teams are highly-skilled in treating people with mental illness," says Dr. Tim Rutledge, President and CEO of Unity Health Toronto. "We have specific units for children and youth, for those who need emergency mental health care, for people looking to recover from drug and alcohol dependencies and a mental health intensive care unit. This new unit is focused specifically on young people moving from adolescence to adulthood. For many, this age is when they have their first mental health issues and specialized care can make a huge difference to them now and moving forward. We are very grateful to all of our donors for making the new unit and its programs possible." For more information: About St. Joseph's Health Centre Foundation St. Joseph's Health Centre Foundation supports St. Joseph's Health Centre, a part of Unity Health Toronto, in meeting the health-care needs of Toronto's west-end community. Nearly a century ago, the Sisters of St. Joseph founded St. Joe's with the promise to take care of the west end, now home to more than 500,000 people. The Foundation ensures we keep this promise by partnering with donors, partners and neighbours to support the most critical needs of the Health Centre. For more information on St. Joseph's Health Centre, visit unityhealth.to and to learn more about the impact of giving, go to supportstjoes.ca. About Unity Health Toronto Unity Health Toronto, comprised of St. Joseph's Health Centre, Providence Healthcare and St. Michael's Hospital, works to advance the health of everyone in our urban communities and beyond. Our health network serves patients, residents and clients across the full spectrum of care, spanning primary care, secondary community care, tertiary and quaternary care services to post-acute through rehabilitation, palliative care and long-term care, while investing in world-class research and education. For more information, visit unityhealth.to. SOURCE St. Joseph''s Health Centre Foundation For further information: Valerie Picher, 647.289.5873, [email protected] The protest was staged over the worsening economic situation in Sri Lanka. As per a Daily Mirror report, six people have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital after sustaining injuries following clashes between protestors and police. At least ten people have been reported injured after a demonstration outside Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksas residence turned violent on Thursday. As per a Daily Mirror report, six people have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital after sustaining injuries following clashes between protestors and police in Mirihana. Another four patients were admitted to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila. A bus attached to the Sri Lanka Army and a jeep were set on fire by protesters. Moreover, police have imposed a curfew in several areas in Colombo. The protest was staged over the worsening economic situation in Sri Lanka. The island nation has been facing a terrible economic crisis due to the collapse of its tourism sector as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This, coupled with a national debt that has reached 101% of its GDP, has crippled the Sri Lankan economy. The Sri Lankan currency has seen a devaluation by almost SLR 90 against the US dollar since March 8. The country has had to cancel school exams due to the unavailability of forex reserves to import paper. Amid a shortage of fuel, power and gas, 10-hour daily power cuts have become a norm in Sri Lanka. The crisis has also resulted in a shortage of medicines in the country. Peradeniya Hospital in the central district of Kandy announced the temporary suspension of all routine surgeries due to the shortage of medicine. India recently provided Sri Lanka with a credit line of $1 bn to help the nation survive the crisis. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asked the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka to direct resources to help resume suspended operations in the Peradeniya Hospital as soon as the cry for help came to the formers attention. A platter with pulled pork, ribs, beans and cornbread, and a "pit bomb" sandwich with meat, mac and cheese, slaw and bacon bits. A platter with pulled pork, ribs, beans and cornbread, and a "pit bomb" sandwich with meat, mac and cheese, slaw and bacon bits. Lisa Nichols Darryl Thomas grew up around a competitive barbecue environment, he says, as his grandfather, father and uncles would battle it out to see whose food was best. He watched, listened and learned for years, and eventually turned his hobby into a catering business. Four years ago, he left his job in education as the dean of students at a charter school in Springfield, Mass. to pursue his barbecue dream full-time. After two successful years catering with his food truck, he decided to open Thomas' Smokey Pit Stop, a small, takeout-only storefront in Manchester. His grand opening date? March 18, 2020, just two days after Gov. Ned Lamont ordered restaurant dining rooms closed due to rising COVID-19 cases. As a takeout restaurant, Thomas was in a good position to thrive, but he said it was still nerve-wracking to face the effects of a pandemic as a brand-new business owner. But Manchester locals were quick to rally and support him, and now hes celebrating two years at his West Middle Turnpike space. I can say one thing that benefited me over other businesses [was] that I had to learn today, and move forward for tomorrow, he said. They had to forget yesterday, learn today and move forward for tomorrow. The food: Thomas smoked meats include pulled pork, pulled and jerk chicken, chopped or sliced brisket, smoked spicy sausage and ribs, available by the pound or as BBQ platters with sides. Pulled pork, chicken and brisket are served on sandwiches with Carolina-style slaw. Pit bomb sandwiches are supersized, loading mac and cheese, slaw and bacon bits on top of your choice of meat. Guests also love the loaded grilled cheese sandwiches with pulled pork, chicken and brisket, Thomas said, and another signature item, the pit-tato, stacks meat atop a baked spud with butter, cheese sauce, sour cream, bacon bits and chives The sides are all lovingly adapted from family recipes. The macaroni and cheese is Thomas moms (its been a staple in my family for years, since I was crawling, he said) and the baked beans are his late fathers version. Candied yams borrow from his sister, Southern green beans with smoked turkey come from his uncle, and the collard greens are his grandmothers. Lisa_Nichols Lisa Nichols A grilled cheese sandwich with brisket, and an assortment of desserts (peach cobbler, banana pudding and coconut pound cake) at Thomas' Smokey Pit Stop in Manchester. Lisa Nichols Dessert isnt an afterthought here: Thomas offers sweets like peach cobbler and banana pudding, and brings in cakes from Perfect Poundcakes in East Hartford and The Wright Slice of Cheesecake, a baker based in Manchester. Eat in or take out? Thomas is takeout-only, and offers online ordering and delivery through third-party apps. This article will appear in the May 2022 issue of Connecticut Magazine. You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. Sign up for our newsletter to get our latest and greatest content delivered right to your inbox. Have a question or comment? Email editor@connecticutmag.com. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. Woodbridge Police Department / Contributed Photo WOODBRIDGE Members of the Woodbridge Police Department donated numerous ballistic vests and medical supplies to Ukrainians as they continue to fight against the Russian invasion, the police department announced Friday. Officer Joseph Kubik reached out to his Ukrainian friend and a Woodbridge resident, Yuriy Faryna, several weeks ago on how to help the people of Ukraine. Faced with a surge of new abortion restrictions in Republican-led states, Connecticut lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation that would shield doctors, nurses and patients from out-of-state penalties associated with abortions performed here. The legislation one of a several measures being sought by Democrats this session to ensure ready access to abortions in Connecticut was described as a response to new laws in Texas and Idaho that impose some of the nations most stringent restrictions on abortions by allowing lawsuits against anyone participating in most of the procedures after the sixth week of pregnancy. Conservative lawmakers in other states, including Missouri, have proposed taking those restrictions a step further by allowing their residents to sue people in other states for aiding anyone who seeks to access to an abortion by traveling over state lines outraging many Democrats and pro-choice advocates. The prospect of American women fleeing from one state to another because of the actions of opportunist politicians is horrifying, said state Rep. Pat Dillon, D-New Haven. In order to protect those seeking abortions in Connecticut, a bill filed by two pro-choice Democrats would forbid state courts and other agencies from cooperating with out-of-state legal actions related to abortion, including a prohibition against assisting depositions, delivering subpoenas or turning over medical information through legal discovery. In addition, the proposed law would allow anyone in Connecticut who faces an out-of-state judgment for participating in an abortion to counter-sue in state court to avoid incurring the costs associated with the original lawsuit. After a public hearing that included opposition from various religious and anti-abortion groups, along with support from pro-choice and civil liberties advocates, the Judiciary Committee voted along party lines Thursday to send the bill to the House floor. Even Republicans, who voted against the bill, expressed concerns with the actions of their counterparts in other states to go after abortion providers with civil and criminal penalties. One GOP lawmaker, state Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, questioned whether laws such as the Texas statute would permit lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies in Connecticut that manufacturer abortion-inducing pills. In the end, however, each of the Republicans on the committee who spoke said the remedy proposed by Democrats raised its own legal and constitutional concerns by attempting to thwart lawsuits in other jurisdictions. We are going down a dangerous path here, said state Rep. Doug Dubitsky, R-Chaplin. This sees the problem, and raises an additional problem. While Connecticut codified abortion rights in state law beginning in 1990, lawmakers are seeking to take those protections a step further this year by enshrining abortion rights in the states constitution through a popular vote. Such an action could come as the U.S. Supreme Court issues its most significant decision on abortion rights in America since its 1973 decision affirming a persons right to chose in Roe v. Wade. That decision could come before the end of the courts session in July, experts say. The likelihood of conservative-majority court overruling or at least clawing-back aspects of that decision have led both Republican and Democratic-controlled state legislatures to enact a flurry of legislation either restricting or expanding abortion rights. Roughly half of the states are likely to ban abortions altogether if Roe is overturned, according to the Pew Research Center, and at least 12 states have so-called trigger laws that would go into effect immediately upon a new Supreme Court precedent. Those bans, which would cover millions of Americans, would likely cause a surge of people traveling across state lines in search of safe and legal abortions, advocates say. WEST HAVEN A long-awaited audit report concluded that roughly 80 percent of the citys expenditures from $1.15 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds should have been disallowed as either ineligible or lacking sufficient documentation. The state Municipal Accountability Review Board Friday voted to accept the audit report, which stemmed from an investigation into the citys management of its allocation of CARES Act funding and its financial processes. The 25-page audit report found $892,887 in CRF expenditures not to be allowable under federal guidelines, including $7,675 for a marching band and at least $58,712 in payouts of compensatory time to department heads. Auditors with CohnReznick said $433,038 in payroll expenses for the citys health department paid through CRF grant funds lacked supporting documentation and could not be properly reconciled. The audit was ordered by former OPM Secretary Melissa McCaw in October 2021 following the arrest of former Democratic state Rep. Michael DiMassa, who worked as an administrative assistant in West Haven City Hall. DiMassa is alleged to have abused his position and authority granted to him by the City Council to manage the citys $1.15 million allocation of CARES Act funding to steal federal pandemic funding through a shell company. I need to read the findings and only then the city can rebut the findings the city doesnt agree with, and the city can give additional documentation, Mayor Nancy Rossi said Friday. The city will not comment until we have had sufficient time to thoroughly go through the report. The audit report also highlights several problem areas where it is alleged the city has no written financial policies or lacks critical oversight and documentation. Where there are written policies, the audit report concluded that sometimes the city does not follow them. CohnReznick requested copies of the Citys policies and procedures regarding, among other things, accounting and reporting, purchasing, invoice approval and payment, vendor maintenance and payroll. After multiple requests, the City advised CohnReznick that such written policies and procedures do not exist and that City personnel follow unwritten or unofficial procedures in many of these areas, the report said. Auditors also reported finding invoices older than six months had not been submitted to the finance department by department heads and that only 5,584 of 27,622 vendors in the citys purchasing system had a tax identification number on file. The report also noted that more than a million dollars that allegedly had been stolen by a City Hall employee was excluded from the citys CRF expenditures. The MARB on Friday also released a draft copy of recommended measures for the city and MARB, which is set to be discussed at a special meeting April 5. Notably, the nine-page document raises the possibility multiple times that West Haven a Tier III municipality under the MARB may be recommended for greater state oversight under a Tier IV designation. If the MARB determines that City leadership does not have both the ability and will to implement needed corrective actions, it may consider recommending the City be designated at Tier IV. It should be noted that there are limitations on the degree of oversight provided under Tier IV. Even under a Tier IV designation, complete day-to-day management of the Citys finances may not be attainable, the draft states. The draft document said West Haven is responsible for safeguarding its assets and implementing proper controls, which the MARB argues the city has not done. Since the questionable and potentially fraudulent use of Covid Relief Funds and other irregularities surfaced, the City has taken little action to address the seriousness of vulnerabilities to further losses. A number of the findings in the CohnReznick report echo issues raised previously by independent auditors and the MARB, the documents said. Republican state Sens. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, and Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, said in a statement Friday that the report is a stunning indictment of alleged misuse of COVID-19 relief funds and an administration that allowed such neglect and waste to occur. If this could happen in one town, how do we know it isnt happening in others? the pair said. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com "The General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University ( KDU), in partnership with the U.S. Embassy, hosted a conference on A Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific on March 31. Conference participants discussed the Biden Administrations new Indo-Pacific Strategy and how it aligns with regional initiatives that promote shared prosperity, democracy, and security," the joint press release issued by the US Embassy in Colombo and KDU has noted. US Envoy in Colombo addressing the Conference - PHOTO: US Embassy in Colombo The release reads further as follows; U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu delivered the keynote address emphasizing that the Indo-Pacific Strategy is meant to show that we do not stand against a country or a group of countries. Its meant to show that we stand for something. We stand for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Ambassador Julie J. Chung noted, in her opening remarks, that the United States envisions an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure and that builds upon many decades of partnership across the region. Ambassador Chung added that Sri Lanka, with its strategic location next to vital shipping lanes, has a key leadership role in the Indo-Pacific. In his welcome remarks, Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University Major General Milinda Peiris highlighted the importance and timeliness of the discussion stating that The Indo-Pacific is increasingly a focus of international geopolitical attention due to the rising influence of both China and India [and therefore] forums such as this are imperative in charting a way forward in bridging the policy academic research nexus. Panel discussions were moderated by well-known regional analyst Professor C. Raja Mohan and considered different perspectives on the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy, South Asian security challenges, and regional economic issues. Panelists included U.S. experts and regional analysts from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. Held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo, the conference was attended in-person and virtually by over 300 participants. A COVID-19 surge may be starting in Connecticut, according to Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, but she said broad mandates are probably not in the offing. According to Juthani, the state is experiencing an uptick in COVID activity, but she said not to expect any kind of statewide mandate of any sort. I think masks are always in the cards for personal choice, she said in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. I do not see masks becoming something that is mandated. Juthani said that while masking right now is available to anyone who feels they want to protect themselves, many people are choosing to not to mask up even though its strategy has been very effective. For many people, theyre sort of beyond COVID and feeling like life can move on, she said. That being said, Juthani said not to expect any large-scale government interventions. Were not talking about shutting anything down, she said. On Friday, the state reported a daily positivity rate of 3.68 percent with 501 new infections found among 13,622 tests. COVID-related hospitalizations decreased by a net of seven patients for a total of 81 statewide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week approved a second COVID vaccine booster for patients 50 and older who received their last dose of either Moderna or Pfizers COVID vaccine at least four months ago. While some Connecticut public health experts have questioned the timing of that authorization, Juthani said she would suggest a second booster for many older adults. Older adults are more vulnerable to severe reactions from a coronavirus infection, and she noted that Easter and Passover gatherings are approaching. I would say that its an advisable thing to do, she said, especially if they are gathering for a family holiday in the days and weeks to come. Federal regulators said the authorization was intended to combat waning protection from COVID vaccines. Current evidence suggests some waning of protection over time against serious outcomes from COVID-19 in older and immunocompromised individuals, said Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Juthani said that may be true in Connecticut, where the first booster was made available late last year. For many people, they got that booster dose in October, she said. Its been six months since they got their booster dose. Housing is a human right. We demand that the city of West Haven invest more of its COVID relief money into housing Safe, dignified housing is a human right and an essential component of a healthy life. But in West Haven, working-class families struggle to afford renting a home. Because of monthly rent increases, the average tenant in West Haven is $13,000 short of affording a two-bedroom apartment, according to a 2019 report by DataHaven. The federal government states that for housing to be considered affordable, it must cost 30 percent or less of a familys monthly income. By this definition, an individual needs to be earning a minimum of $27 dollars an hour in West Haven to afford a two-bedroom apartment. This is more than twice minimum wage. Affording rent was hard enough before the pandemic, and COVID-19 has only made things worse. We all know someone who lost their job, or had their hours severely reduced, or had to quit to take care of loved ones who were sick. When youre working paycheck to paycheck, these hardships mean the difference between eviction and having a home, with long-term consequences for families but also entire communities. It also means never having the possibility to save. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, increasing access to affordable housing is the most cost-effective strategy for reducing childhood poverty and increasing economic mobility in the U.S. Without affordable housing, families have constrained opportunities to increase earnings. Many families in our community live in apartments that are much too small and crowded, even though their parents work around the clock to provide for their families. While federal housing subsidies exist, the wait lists far exceed the number of available affordable units. We, the Sisters in Diaspora Collective, want to see the urgency of this housing crisis reflected in the citys spending and priorities. Last year, the city of West Haven received a one-time payment of $29 million from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan to help recover from the effects of COVID-19. Mayor Rossi has proposed a plan to allocate just $1 million of this fund towards housing, creating a housing crisis fund that would establish short-term emergency housing facilities for families experiencing an unavoidable housing crisis. Meanwhile, the mayors plan proposes to allocate $2.4 million in bonuses to police officers for the next two years. This plan demonstrates the mayors willingness to prioritize policing, a move which community members and organizers across Connecticut and the U.S. have opposed at least since 2020, over providing affordable housing for West Haven community members. We urge the West Haven City Council to reject the current proposed plan in favor of one that centers the basic living needs of West Havens working-class residents. Given the severity of the citys housing crisis, and the limits of existing housing access programs, we urge our city to take advantage of this federal funding to create real solutions for the thousands of people who dont have access to the basic human right of safe, affordable housing. As a start, we propose that 50 percent of ARP funding, or $14.5 million, be used to provide rent relief for six months to West Haven families. We also urge the city to invest funds over the next few years in structural solutions to the housing crisis, such as increasing the number of affordable housing options in this city. By accepting these proposals, Mayor Rossi and the City Council can take meaningful first steps towards alleviating the housing crisis in West Haven, and show that they are listening to their constituents and prioritizing their needs. Sisters in Diaspora Collective is a group of mainly immigrant and refugee women. 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